Continuing his successful rookie season, American Honda’s Trey Canard grabbed his third win of the season with a start-to-finish win at round 13 of the AMA Supercross Championships in Dallas on Saturday night.

One week after claiming his second career win in Toronto, Kawasaki’s Dean Wilson went back-to-back in the Supercross Lites class.

As the Supercross class headed into the first turn of its 20-lap main event, it was KTM’s Mike Alessi who grabbed the holeshot. As the field sorted itself out throughout the remainder of the opening lap, the five title contenders in the championship asserted themselves into the top five on the track with Canard leading the way.

Australian Chad Reed (Honda) and Yamaha’s James Stewart battled for second throughout the first portion of the race.

As Canard extended his multiple-second advantage over the field, Reed and Stewart came together on lap eight when Stewart lost control of his motorcycle through the whoops, ultimately running into his rival and taking both riders off the track.

As the pair looked to re-enter the race, defending champion Ryan Dungey (Suzuki) and Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto assumed the vacated positions. Stewart would remount in fifth while Reed dropped to eighth.

While running second, Dungey made contact with a lapped rider and fell to the ground, allowing Villopoto to take over second while Dungey remounted in third. They would cross the finish in that order, over two seconds behind Canard.

“I’m so grateful,” said Canard. “So many people from home are here. This is such an awesome day and I’m just so thankful. I knew I needed another good start and it happened again. I tried to put in (20) solid laps, (but) the whoops were really tough. We’ll see (about the championship). I’m just going to keep doing the best I can. That’s all I can control.”

Villopoto’s runner-up effort ended two weeks of frustration and also moved him back into the top spot in the championship standings.

“Tonight was crazy,” said Villopoto. “I got an ok start. There was a little problem with my bike, but nothing major. I just kept plugging away and things worked in my favour. The track was really tough for 20 laps, so sometimes you just got to sit back and let things happen.”

Following their incident, Stewart and Reed finished in fourth and eight, respectively.

Honda’s Justin Barcia was the first rider out of the gates to claim the holeshot to start the Supercross Lites class main event.

Settling in behind the current points leader was Yamaha’s Ryan Sipes and Wilson. The three riders paced one another before Sipes made a pass for the lead at the conclusion of the first lap. Barcia followed closely and reassumed the lead on lap four.

Just one lap later, Sipes experienced trouble and crashed out of the main event. Wilson took over second and set his sights on Barcia.

After consistently chipping away at Barcia’s advantage, Wilson put himself into position to make a pass for the lead on Lap 12. The pair swapped the top spot on several occasions over the next two laps before Wilson made a pass stick for good on lap 14.

“This (win) means so much,” said Wilson. “It wasn’t an easy race. I’ve been battling the stomach flu all day. I just kept pushing and didn’t give up. It went all to way to last lap, which was fun for everyone here. I made a pass on him and he got me back, then I got by again, he stuffed me and I stalled. I had one last chance to get him and I stuck it.”

Barcia followed in second and has finished on the podium in all seven races in the Supercross Lites Eastern Regional Championship. Honda’s Blake Wharton rounded out the podium in third.

 

Supercross Class Results: Arlington

1. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda

2. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki

3. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki

4. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha

5. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda

6. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM

7. Tommy Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Yamaha

8. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Honda

9. Austin Stroupe, Lincolnton, N.C., Yamaha

10. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM

 

Supercross Class season standings

1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki – 255

2. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Honda – 249

3. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki – 248

4. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda – 239

5. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha – 234

6. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM – 174

7. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda – 150

8. Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C, Yamaha – 141

9. Davi Millsaps, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha – 128

10. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki – 114

 

Eastern Regional Supercross Lites class results: Arlington

1. Dean Wilson, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki

2. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda

3. Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda

4. Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki

5. Matt Lemoine, Collinsville, Texas, Kawasaki

6. Darryn Durham, Butler, Pa., Honda

7. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki

8. Gannon Audette, Cairo, Ga., Yamaha

9. Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda

10. Tyler Bright, Sumter, S.C., Honda

 

Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class season standings

1. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda – 160

2. Dean Wilson, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki – 147

3. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ky., Yamaha – 119

4. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki – 114

5. Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda – 109

6. Matt Lemoine, Collinsville, Texas, Kawasaki – 96

7. P.J. Larsen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM – 80

8. Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki – 73

9. Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda – 59

10. Lance Vincent, Youngsville, La., Honda – 56

© Photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com