— This Week in Monster Energy Supercross: St. Louis
— Five Different Winners Through 8 Races Headline Historic Championship Battle at Half-way Point of Season
Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, will travel to the Midwest on Saturday with its annual visit to St. Louis’ Edward Jones Dome. One week ago, Team Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart became the fifth different winner in eight races this season. However, it will be Rockstar Energy Racing’s Davi Millsaps who leads the field into action tomorrow night as the 450SX Class points leader.
After arguably his worst Main-Event start of the season in his hometown race at the Georgia Dome, Millsaps managed to battle his way into a podium position. The two-time winner this season asserted himself in third place and stayed there to claim his seventh podium finish in eight races, albeit losing a little ground in the championship. The result was even more impressive considering Millsaps is enduring an illness.
“I’m feeling a little better this week, [but] I still have sinus problems,” said Millsaps. “I don’t know what it is. It’s pretty bad and I’ve been taking medicine for it. It gets to the point where I can’t see very well, and I’m definitely having trouble breathing. All in all, the cold is gone but these symptoms are just lingering. I’m pretty over it and I’m not going to let it hold me back anymore. [James] Stewart and [Ryan] Villopoto just rode a really good race and I didn’t get the best start. I was trying, [but] I was just making little mistakes everywhere. I was worried about them and [Justin] Barcia. I need to quit doing that and just worry about myself. I’m just pumped to be on the box again and go into St. Louis.”
After an up and down season littered with misfortune, Stewart definitely needed the kind of performance he provided in Atlanta. The Georgia race tends to serve as Stewart’s adopted hometown event, so he had the privilege of winning in front of a lot of family and friends. After capturing the holeshot, Stewart dominated en route to a wire-to-wire win and his 45th career 450SX Class victory. Stewart reclaimed seventh in the championship standings and has his sights set on a continued upward climb.
“What can I say, we won,” said Stewart. “I felt good and I was just trying to stay in my head and focus. I have to give it up to the Yoshimura Suzuki team. They’ve been working so hard and they’ve stood by me [during] this up-and-down year. Now I’m looking forward to building on this momentum and heading to St. Louis.”
Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto shed two points off his deficit to Millsaps in the championship, thanks to a strong runner-up finish in Atlanta. Villopoto was the only rider to stay within striking distance of Stewart throughout the Main Event and ultimately moved into second in the standings. With three wins this season, Villopoto leads all riders and heads to a venue where he is the defending race winner.
“We moved into second in the standings last week,” said Villopoto. “And now I just need to keep doing what I can to score as many points as possible. The field is really deep with talent so I know I have my work cut out for me to get another title. I won in St. Louis last year, so I hope I can get back on top of the box again.”
Fellow Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Jake Weimer made his return to competition last weekend after suffering broken ribs several races ago. Weimer posted a solid top-10 finish in eighth and began his process of climbing back up the championship standings, where he currently sits 12th. With another week of rest under his belt, Weimer will look to improve his results in St. Louis.
“Last week I wasn’t 100% but I knew I could finish the 20 laps,” said Weimer. “Now I’ll have another week of recovery, and I think I will be close to or even at full strength for the race. I’m glad we are in domes right now so we don’t have to worry about weather as much.”
Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey had a four-race podium streak entering Atlanta and was in possession of second place in the championship. However, Dungey did not get good starts in either his Heat Race or the Main Event and was forced to battle from behind all evening long. Despite starting outside the top 10 in the Main Event, Dungey fought his way to a solid sixth-place finish but fell to third in the championship and now has a deficit to Millsaps that goes beyond one race.
Team Honda Muscle Milk’s Trey Canard is still looking for the speed that made him a title contender in the early portion of the season. Since his last podium finish at the second race in Anaheim in January, Canard is averaging just over a sixth-place finish, which has, in turn, forced him to lose ground in the standings. However, he still maintains possession of fourth place as he looks to establish some consistency on the heels of a fifth-place effort in Atlanta, where he also needed to qualify for the Main Event through the LCQ.
Fellow Team Honda Muscle Milk rider Justin Barcia continued his recent string of strong results with a fourth-place finish at his home race in Atlanta. Barcia pressured Millsaps for third for a good portion of the Main Event, but rather than risk losing positions, he took the points and now continues his upward progress in the championship, sitting in sixth place, 11 points behind Chad Reed for fifth.
“Overall the night went okay,” stated Barcia, who had won the last two seasons in Atlanta as a 250SX Class rider. “This is basically my home race so I was really hoping for a podium finish, but it is an improvement from last weekend. I felt good in the main and stayed close to [Davi] Millsaps, but was never able to make a solid attempt at a pass. I know what we need to work on, and I am ready to head to St. Louis.”
TwoTwo Motorsports Honda rider Reed suffered one of his worst outings of the season in Atlanta, finishing ninth. Reed wasn’t able to get a good start and had difficulty making passes in his quest to move forward through the talented field. Reed is still winless in 2013 and is in the midst of a 22-race winless streak that dates back to Los Angeles last season.
GEICO Honda welcomed current Western Regional 250SX Class rider Eli Tomac to ride in the 450SX Class in Atlanta. Tomac will make the move into the premier class next season and assumed control of Kevin Windham’s machine for the remainder of his break from the Western Regional 250SX Class season. In his debut ride, Tomac rode smart and ultimately posted a seventh-place finish.
“There is so much talent in this class; it really is no joke,” said Tomac. “I learned a lot this race and have some things I want to change on the bike that I hope will help. I need to work on making passes quicker, but overall am happy with how the night went. Hopefully it will all come together in St. Louis.”
One week after signing with BTO Sports KTM to compete for the remainder of the 2013 season, Andrew Short suffered his worst race of the year in Atlanta. Short has not ridden a KTM since the 2011 season and will still need to acclimate himself to the bike, but he will be looking to turn things around in St. Louis after posting his first finish outside the top 10 in 14th.
After an up and down season littered with misfortune, Team Yohsimura Suzuki’s James Stewart definitely needed the kind of performance he provided in Atlanta. The Georgia race tends to serve as Stewart’s adopted hometown event, so he had the privilege of winning in front of a lot of family and friends. After capturing the holeshot, Stewart dominated en route to a wire-to-wire win and his 45th career 450SX Class victory. Stewart reclaimed seventh in the championship standings and has his sights set on a continued upward climb.
“What can I say, we won,” said Stewart. “I felt good and I was just trying to stay in my head and focus. I have to give it up to the Yoshimura Suzuki team. They’ve been working so hard and they’ve stood by me [during] this up-and-down year. Now I’m looking forward to building on this momentum and heading to St. Louis.”
Toyota/Yamaha/JGRMX’s Justin Brayton didn’t have the results he was hoping for in Atlanta, finishing outside the top 10 for just the second time this season in 13th. Brayton will look to turn things around in St. Louis.
The second race of the Eastern Regional 250SX Class Championship produced its second winner in as many races inside the Georgia Dome. After a dominant outing in the opening race by Dean Wilson, veteran rider Wil Hahn stepped up in Atlanta to break through for his first career win.
Wilson entered Atlanta little sore after a crash in training earlier in the week. Despite that, he still rode strong and kept Hahn within is sights throughout the 15-lap Main Event. The second-place finish ensured that Wilson maintained control of the points lead and after another week to recover from the effects of his get off, he’ll be looking to reassume control of the championship in St. Louis.
“I need to make sure I keep doing what I can to extend my points lead,” said Wilson. “Last week it was difficult to make a pass and I had to settle for a runner-up spot. In St. Louis, I want to make sure I get out front early to get another win.”
Fellow Pro Circuit rider Justin Hill followed up his solid professional debut with another strong ride in Atlanta, finishing in sixth to give him fifth and sixth-place results to begin his career.
“Every week I keep trying to learn as much as I can,” said Hill. “In Atlanta, I got a good start off the gate, but I wasn’t aggressive enough to hold my position. This week I’ve been working to make sure I stay aggressive for all 15 laps and get the best result I can.”
Hahn’s big win was a pleasant surprise for everyone at GEICO Honda and confirmation that he is a championship contender this season. After grabbing the holeshot, Hahn led all 15 laps to capture the biggest moment of his career. He moved into second in the standings by virtue of the win, sitting just two points behind Wilson for the lead.
“This whole feeling is very surreal,” stated Hahn. “It went exactly how I would have wanted; I got the holeshot, put in solid laps, stayed calm, and took the win. I wanted to make a really hard push in the beginning to put some breathing room between (Dean) Wilson and myself because I knew he was back there. It worked and I was able to ride consistent all the way to the checkered flag.”
Hahn’s GEICO Honda teammate Zach Bell bounced back from a misfortune-plagued pro debut in Arlington to finish with a 10th-place effort. Bell has a lot of speed, which has already been on display, but is working on generating some consistency as he hones his talents in supercross.
“Overall I am happy with how Atlanta went,” said Bell. “I am coming away healthy, and I am slowly starting to build my confidence up.”
Rockstar Energy Racing’s Blake Wharton missed out on claiming his second consecutive podium finish to start the season, ultimately landing in the fourth spot. However, thanks to his runner-up effort at the opening race, Wharton still maintains control of third in the championship and sits just seven points out of the lead. This weekend Wharton returns to the sight of his first career supercross victory back during the 2009 season.
“Atlanta was pretty good,” said Wharton. “It definitely had some different lines. I don’t think anyone can argue that. The dirt was pretty good. In both my heat [race] and the main [event] I got pretty decent starts. This week was better because I didn’t have to go to the LCQ, but I didn’t do as good either. It was like a trade off. The end result wasn’t as good, but it was alright. I rode up front for a little while, but I rode kind of tight. I’m glad I salvaged fourth.”
Red Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin was the fastest rider in practice during the afternoon in Atlanta. However, the Frenchman was unable to get a good start in the Main Event and had to work his way through the field rather than establish his own pace out front. Nevertheless, Musquin was impressive in his climb to third, which resulted in his first podium finish of the season and gives him some momentum heading into St. Louis.
450SX Class Results: Atlanta
- James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
- Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
- Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda
- Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
- Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda
- Chad Reed, Australia, Honda
- Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki
- Mike Alessi, Hilliard, Fla., Suzuki
450SX Class Points
- Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 174
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 152
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 148
- Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda, 135
- Chad Reed, Australia, Honda, 127
- Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda, 116
- Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM, 102
- James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki, 100
- Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda, 91
- Matt Goerke, Lake Helen, Fla., KTM, 79
Eastern Regional 250SX Class Results: Atlanta
- Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda
- Dean Wilson, Scotland, Kawasaki
- Marvin Musquin, France, KTM
- Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Suzuki
- Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha
- Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Kawasaki
- Gavin Faith, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Honda
- Kyle Peters, Greensboro, N.C., Honda
- Vince Friese, Cape Girardeau, Mo., Honda
- Zach Bell, Cairo, Ga., Honda
Eastern Regional 250SX Class Points
- Dean Wilson, Scotland, Kawasaki, 47
- Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda, 45
- Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Suzuki, 40
- Marvin Musquin, France, KTM, 35
- Kyle Peters, Greensboro, N.C., Honda, 31
- Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Kawasaki, 31
- Gavin Faith, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Honda, 28
- Vince Friese, Cape Girardeau, Mo., Honda, 24
- James Decotis, Peabody, Mass., Honda, 20
- Lance Vincent, Youngsville, La., KTM, 20
KTM Junior Supercross Challenge
- Evan Ferry, Largo, Fla., KTM
- Hamden Hudson, Danville, Va., KTM
- Ragon Cochran, Macon, Ga., KTM
- Nathan Ellenburg, Union Mills, N.C., KTM
- Ivano Van Erp, Netherlands, KTM
- Kaleb Wells, Dry Ridge, Kent., KTM
- Augustas Oslund, Duvall, Wash., KTM
- Coen Eiklenborg, Tuscon, Ariz., KTM
- Gray Leadbetter, Morgan, N.C., KTM
- Cameron Eason, Hinesville, Ga., KTM
- Alexander Brion, Fort George, Md., KTM
- Zach Cannon, Rome, Ga., KTM
- Cale Vamey, Georgetown, Ohio, KTM
- Niklaus Tolliver, Bluefield, W.V., KTM
- Hunter Collins, Kevil, Kent., KTM
Past Winners in St. Louis
450SX Class
March 3, 2012: Ryan Villopoto
April 9, 2011: James Stewart
April 17, 2010: Ryan Dungey
March 21, 2009: Chad Reed
April 19, 2008: Kevin Windham
March 3, 2007: Ricky Carmichael
February 18, 2006: Chad Reed
March 5, 2005: Ricky Carmichael
March 13, 2004: Chad Reed
March 22, 2003: Chad Reed
April 6, 2002: Ricky Carmichael
March 31, 2001: Ricky Carmichael
March 18, 2000: Jeremy McGrath
March 27, 1999: Jeremy McGrath
March 28, 1998: Kevin Windham
April 5, 1997: Jeremy McGrath
April 27, 1996: Jeff Emig
250SX Class
March 3, 2012: Justin Barcia
April 9, 2011: Justin Barcia
April 17, 2010: Justin Barcia
March 21, 2009: Blake Wharton
April 19, 2008: Trey Canard
March 3, 2007: Ben Townley
February 18, 2006: Davi Millsaps
March 5, 2005: Grant Langston
March 13, 2004: James Stewart
March 22, 2003: Branden Jesseman
April 6, 2002: Chad Reed
March 21, 2001: Travis Pastrana
March 18, 2000: Travis Pastrana
March 27, 1999: Ernesto Fonseca
March 28, 1998: Ricky Carmichael
April 5, 1997: Stephane Roncada
April 27, 1996: Kevin Windham
Arlington 450 Class Report:
Well, James Stewart finally put 20 laps together without falling on his head and has managed to win round 8 of the AMA Supercross held in Atlanta last Saturday night.
Bubba got his first holeshot of the year and despite constant attention from defending champ Ryan Villopoto the Suzuki pilot managed to keep just enough gap to stop RV going for a pass.
Now, I am not a fan of Stewart but I take my hat off to the unpredictable/un-safe/dumb-arse former champion and if I had to describe his Atlanta ride I would call it very ‘Milsaps’ like. Stewart is the fifth different main event winner this season and that fact alone is very cool.
“I mean, what can I say, we won tonight,” said Stewart. “It means a lot, this whole season has been going crazy and to get a victory and to get a start, it was almost a perfect day. I was fastest in practice, fastest in the heat race, I got the holeshot in the main event and led every lap. I’m not going to lie, I was a little nervous because I haven’t been out there in a while.”
Villopoto sat in second place the whole race and made several charges at the lead but just couldn’t string enough laps in the 52 second mark to get to the lead but the 22 points earned at Atlanta has moved RV into second place in point standings, coincidentally 22 points shy of championship leader Davi Milsaps.
Milsaps got his worst start so far this season but simply blew by Mike Alessi, Jake Weimer and Justin Brayton then sat in third for the final 19 laps and was actually closing in on Villopoto at one stage but didn’t get anywhere near catching his closest rival for the championship.
Justin Barcia smashed in to his teammate Trey Cannard during their heat race causing Cannard to go to the LCQ and in the main event it took ‘Bam Bam’ just one lap to drop Brayton on his head before having a serious crack at passing Milsaps but the experience of the Suzuki pilot was simply too fast and consistent leaving Barcia to settle for fourth place.
Cannard managed to secure 5th place in the main keeping Ryan Dungey at bay for most of the race while Eli Tomac’s first ever 450 race was a come from behind effort for an eventual seventh place.
Chad Reed actually got a decent start but a bobble on the opening lap saw the Aussie dropped back to 12th then it took Chad far too long to get by Mike Alessi leaving the former champion to settle for 9th place just behind Jake Weimer.
Chad’s problem was basically his lap times, while JS7, RV and Milsaps spent most of the race in the 52/53 second lap times, Reed was in the 54/55 seconds per lap and that just doesn’t cut it when the top 10 are so close in skill.
Championship Summary: Three Dog Race?
We are almost at the half way mark of a 17 round series and Milsaps has a 22 points lead over RV while Dungey sits a further four points back and then it starts stretch out with Cannard 39 points back from the championship leader and Chad another five points behind Cannard, a massive 57 points back from Milsaps.
Is it now a three rider race for the championship? Um..no, there are 225 points up for grabs just for the race winners over the next nine rounds (9 x 25) so there is a lot to play out between now and Vegas and if I am any judge there will be a major up-set along the way and don’t be surprised if that involves and big fall out among several of the top riders.
I am thinking CR22, Bam Bam, RV Park, TC41 and JS7 punching on at the hotdog stand BEFORE the race even starts…..while Milsaps walks away chewing a ‘Superdog’ through his smiling gob!
450SX Results
Main Event: 1. James Stewart. 2. Ryan Villopoto. 3. Davi Millsaps. 4. Justin Barcia. 5. Trey Canard. 6. Ryan Dungey. 7. Eli Tomac. 8. Jake Weimer. 9. Chad Reed. 10. Mike Alessi. 11. Matt Goerke. 12. Broc Tickle. 13. Justin Brayton. 14. Andrew Short. 15. Peter Larsen. 16. Josh Hill. 17. Chris Blose. 18. Les Smith. 19. Jimmy Albertson. 20. Robert Kiniry
450SX Points after 8 of 17 Rounds: 1. Davi Millsaps 174. 2. Ryan Villopoto 152. 3. Ryan Dungey 148. 4. Trey Canard 135. 5. Chad Reed 127. 6. Justin Barcia 116. 7. Andrew Short 102. 8. James Stewart 100. 9. Justin Brayton 91. 10. Matt Goerke 79. 11. Broc Tickle 77. 12. Jake Weimer 61. 13. Mike Alessi 60. 14. Josh Grant 40. 15. Weston Peick 39. 16. Kyle Chisholm 37. 17. Matt Lemoine 34. 18. Jimmy Albertson 31. 19. Vince Friese 30. 20. Robert Kiniry 24.
— Arlington 250SX Class Report:
When Wil Hahn pulled the holeshot just ahead of last week’s winner Dean Wilson most would have thought that is was just a matter of times before Wilson caught and passed Hahn for his second main win of the season but that isn’t how it panned out.
Fresh from the Asterix Medical centre getting his big toe sewn up after an incident during his heat race Hahn fronted the gate for the 15 lap main event confident in ‘at least’ getting a good start on his Geico Honda and that is exactly what Hahn did then exceeded all expectations by pulling a three second gap over Wilson to take his first ever main event win.
“My toe is shattered,” said Hahn. “They stitched it up in the Asterisk Medical Trailer and I’ll need to get it examined again but it looks pretty bad. Still, I wasn’t going to let it stop me, I have been riding with Eli and just the team behind me. I felt like I had it coming into the season. But you don’t know when you’ve never won one. It’s that burden that’s always there. And I’ve been in this class a while. It’s always there and you’re like, ‘I just need to check that off.’ For me to finally do it, now you really know.”
Pro-Circuit Kawasaki’s Wilson rode his own race to secure second maintaining his points lead in the championship while KTM’s Marvin Musquin took a few laps to get by veteran Blake Wharton for third place then made a run at getting to the back wheel of Wilson but couldn’t quite get close enough to make a pass.
2012 Australian Supercross Champion Gavin Faith looked solid again at Atlanta with a second in his heat to Dean Wilson but a poor start in the main forced the Suzuki pilot to charge up to an eventual seventh place just behind class rookies Jeremy Martin and Justin Hill while Aussie Jackson Richardson looked good with a seventh in his heat but a mechanical dnf while in 15th in the main put pay to the 17 year old’s race.
Championship Summary: Hey Deano, It’s Not That Easy!
This championship is only two rounds in and I have a feeling that championship favorite Dean Wilson won’t exactly get things his way and if Musquin, Hahn, Wharton or Gavin Faith for that matter get to the front early in any of the races they won’t be easy to get by for the win, no matter who is having a crack.
Wilson believes he belongs in the 450 class and not one of these riders gives a shit!
250SX Results
250SX Main Event: 1. Wil Hahn. 2. Dean Wilson. 3. Marvin Musquin. 4. Blake Wharton. 5. Jeremy Martin. 6. Justin Hill. 7. Gavin Faith. 8. Kyle Peters. 9. Vince Friese. 10. Zach Bell. 11. Mitchell Oldenburg. 12. Lance Vincent. 13. Cole Thompson. 14. James Decotis. 15. Steven Clarke. 16. Gareth Swanepoel. 17. Adam Gulley. 18. A J Catanzaro. 19. Kurtis Mccabe. 20. Jackson Richardson.
250SX East Points after 2 of 8 Rounds: 1. Dean Wilson 47. 2. Wil Hahn 45. 3. Blake Wharton 40. 4. Marvin Musquin 35. 5. Kyle Peters 31. 6. Justin Hill 31. 7. Gavin Faith 28. 8. Vince Friese 24. 9. James Decotis 20. 10. Lance Vincent 20. 16. Jackson Richardson 11.
250SX West Points after 6 of 8 Rounds: 1. Ken Roczen 138. 2. Eli Tomac 121. 3. Cole Seely 95. 4. Jason Anderson 88. 5. Kyle Cunningham 83. 6. Martin Davalos 82. 7. Zach Osborne 82. 8. Joey Savatgy 62. 9. Christian Craig 62. 10. Jessy Nelson 60. 17. Josh Cachia 29.
Next week we head to St Louis and for Chad Reed and Ryan Dungey it is time to lift their respective games if they want to add to their SX championship win record in 2013.
