Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto won his sixth Supercross Championship race of the 2011 season last night at Rice Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.

And, in front of nearly 40,000 fans, Honda’s Eli Tomac rode a flawless 15 laps en route to his second Western Regional Supercross Lites class win of the season.

Yamaha’s James Stewart opened the Supercross class main event with the holeshot with Australian Chad Reed (Honda) close behind.

Villopoto started fourth and moved into third place on lap two.

Villopoto moved around Reed on lap 8 to secure second place. On the same lap, Stewart crashed and moments after remounting, he crashed again and lost several positions, handing the lead over to Villopoto. Reed moved into second and defending champion Ryan Dungey (Suzuki) moved into third, where they would finish. Stewart finished 10th.

Villopoto has a nine-point lead over Reed heading into the finals next weekend at Las Vegas’ Sam Boyd Stadium

“We have all done our work this year, and it is paying off,” said Villopoto. “It is a lot easier going into Vegas with a nine-point lead. Hopefully, I will be standing on top of the box next weekend.”

Tomac started the Western Regional Supercross Lites class main event with the holeshot with Kawasaki’s Josh Hansen, who came into the  night’s race two points out of the championship points race, and his team-mate Broc Tickle following in second and third, respectively.

On lap 2, Hansen attempted to make a pass on Tomac and crashed. Following the crash Hansen was stuck under his bike and lost valuable positions before re-joining the race near last place. On lap 7, KTM’s Ken Roczen moved around Tickle to assume second place.

“Tonight’s track was technical, and it was hard to make passes,” said Tickle. “I am not happy because I wanted to win. I want to be strong heading into Las Vegas next weekend.”

Roczen finished second and Tickle finished third. Tomac moved within two points of Tickle’s championship points lead heading into next weekend’s season finale.

“That was out of control for me tonight,” said Tomac. “Hansen (Josh), and I got into one another, and I had to lean into him; that’s just racing. I’ve dreamed of winning the championship as a rookie, and I am getting closer.”

The Monster Energy Supercross finals take place next weekend at Las Vegas’ Sam Boyd Stadium, where the Supercross class, Western/Eastern Regional Supercross Lites class champions will be crowned.

Supercross Class Results: Salt Lake City

Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki

Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Honda

Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki

Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM

Davi Millsaps, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha

Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda

Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki

Tommy Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Yamaha

Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C, Yamaha

James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha

Supercross Class Season Standings

Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki – 318

Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Honda – 309

Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki – 306

James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha – 295

Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda – 255

Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM – 214

Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda – 202

Davi Millsaps, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha – 172

Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C, Yamaha – 153

Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Yamaha – 139

 

Western Regional Supercross Lites Class Results: Salt Lake City

Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda

Ken Roczen, Germany, KTM

Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki

Cole Seely, Corona, Calif., Honda

Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha

Tyla Rattray, Wildomar, Calif., Kawasaki

Ryan Morais, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki

Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., Suzuki

Travis Baker, Temecula, Calif., Honda

Ben Evans, Garden City, Idaho, Kawasaki

 

Western Regional Supercross Lites Class Season Standings

Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki – 165

Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda – 163

Josh Hansen, Elbert, Colo., Kawasaki – 151

Cole Seely, Corona, Calif., Honda – 131

Ryan Morais, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki – 124

Tyla Rattray, Wildomar, Calif., Kawasaki – 111

Ken Roczen, Germany, KTM – 105

Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha – 105

Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., Suzuki – 95

Ben Evans, Garden City, Idaho, Kawasaki – 68

© Photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com