— Five Different Winners in Eight Races Highlights the Return of Monster Energy Supercross to St. Louis’ Edward Jones Dome
— Parity-Driven Season Still Controlled by Rockstar Energy Racing’s Davi Millsaps
After a tumultuous year mired by injury and misfortune, former two time champion James Stewart and Team Yoshimura Suzuki broke through for their first victory together inside Atlanta’s Georgia Dome last weekend. The eighth race of the 2013 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, produced the fifth different winner this season and now the parity-driven battle for the 450SX Class title fight makes its annual visit to St. Louis and the Edward Jones Dome on Saturday night for the ninth stop on the schedule. In addition to the star-studded field of the 450SX Class, the fastest up-and-coming riders of the Eastern Regional 250SX Class Championship will also be in action for their third race of the season.
Stewart dominated en route to his first win of the year, ending a 14-race winless streak that dates back to Daytona of last season. Through the first seven weeks of the championship, 2013 was anything but memorable for the Suzuki rider. After suffering an injury to his knee in practice at the season opener in January, Stewart has been forced to ride through the pain associated with it, in addition to dealing with some hard luck on the track. Two weeks ago inside Cowboys Stadium, Stewart appeared to have returned to the level of performance that has made him one of the most successful riders of all time. However, a broken clutch prior to the Main Event ended his night before it really even began.
Despite experiencing arguably the most adversity of his hugely successful career, Stewart refused to quit despite not having the chance to challenge for the win or even the podium in some cases. On Saturday night, everything came together as Stewart secured the holeshot and led wire-to-wire for his 45th career 450SX Class win, going relatively unchallenged. It marked the ninth consecutive season in which Stewart has claimed at least one victory, joining the elite company of Jeremy McGrath and Chad Reed in this category. Additionally, Stewart’s maiden Monster Energy Supercross victory aboard a Suzuki is the third different brand he’s taken to the top of the podium, becoming the seventh different rider in history to achieve such a feat.
“I mean what can I say, we won tonight,” said Stewart. “It [means] a lot; this whole season has been 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 [front] in a while.”
With his win, Stewart moved to eighth in the 450SX Class standings and although he sits 74 points out of the championship lead, he will simply focus on winning for the remaining nine races.
Stewart joins Rockstar Energy Racing’s Davi Millsaps, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto, Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey, and Team Honda Muscle Milk’s Justin Barcia as winners this season. However, the championship battle has developed into a three-rider battle between Millsaps, Villopoto, and Dungey.
Millsaps has led the championship since claiming victory at the season opening race in January. Since then, he has extended his advantage over the field nearly every weekend, finishing on the podium in seven of the eight races this season, including a pair of wins. In Atlanta, Millsaps overcame a mid-pack start to once again finish on the podium in third in front of his hometown crowd. His lead in the championship currently sits at 22 points over Villopoto.
Villopoto, the reigning back-to-back champion, was the only rider to challenge Stewart inside the Georgia Dome. Following a strong start of his own, Villopoto asserted himself in second place and paced Stewart throughout the 20-lap Main Event. While he maintained a consistent gap, Villopoto was never in a position to challenge for the lead. However, with that performance he was able to move past Dungey in the standings to assume control of second. With the most wins this season at three, Villopoto has a chance to close the gap on Millsaps on Saturday night as the defending race winner in St. Louis.
Dungey was enjoying a four-race podium streak heading into Atlanta, which was the sight of success for the KTM rider in years past. However, after starting outside the top 10 in the Main Event, Dungey needed all 20 laps in order to battle his way into sixth. He dropped to 26 points behind Millsaps and is four points out of second behind Villopoto.
This trio of championship leaders will headline the highly-talented lineup of riders set to invade the Edward Jones Dome on Saturday night. While the five aforementioned winners this season look for continued success, Team Honda Muscle Milk’s Trey Canard and TwoTwo Motorsports Honda’s Chad Reed are still in search of their first wins this season.
During the 2012 stop at the Edward Jones Dome in front of a record crowd of 59,742, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto broke Kawasaki’s 11-year losing streak in St. Louis by taking home his fifth win of the season.
The first two races of the Eastern Regional 250SX Class Championship has produced two different winners to start the season. One week after Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Dean Wilson assumed control of the points lead with a win in the opening race, GEICO Honda’s Wil Hahn broke through for the first victory of his career inside the Georgia Dome.
Hahn compiled a perfect performance in the Main Event, capturing the holeshot and fending off Wilson throughout the 15-lap Main Event for a wire-to-wire victory. Following a third-place finish at the opening race, Hahn moved into second in the championship to within two points of Wilson.
“I put in a lot of hard work, and it paid off here tonight,” said Hahn, who became the 89th different winner in 250SX Class history. “I stayed positive out there and rode a smart race. It’s an amazing feeling to get my first win here at the Georgia Dome in front of so many fans. This has been a long time coming.”
Wilson’s strong runner-up effort still puts him in control of the championship. Red Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin finished third last weekend, moving him into fourth in the standings, five points behind Rockstar Energy Racing’s Blake Wharton.
Last season’s Eastern Regional 250SX Class action inside the Edward Jones Dome resulted in the third consecutive win to start the 2012 season for eventual champion Justin Barcia. The former back-to-back Eastern Regional 250SX Class Champion is now a rookie in the 450SX Class. In three years, Barcia went undefeated inside the Edward Jones Dome. The last rider other than Barcia to win the 250SX Class in St. Louis was Wharton, who captured his first career victory as a rookie during the 2009 season.
The first 450SX Class race held in St. Louis was April 27, 1996, when Jeff Emig, a Missouri native, won for the first time on a Kawasaki and snapped a 13-race winning streak by Jeremy McGrath. Ricky Carmichael and Chad Reed are tied with the most wins inside the Edward Jones Dome at four each. For the past six seasons, six different winners have stood atop the 450SX Class podium, making St. Louis one of the most competitive venues in the championship. James Stewart, Chad Reed, Ricky Carmichael, and Kevin Windham have all won in St. Louis in both the 450SX Class and 250SX Class. A rider hasn’t won consecutive 450SX Class races since Reed did it in 2003 and 2004. Windham claimed the first 250SX Class victory in St. Louis back in 1996 aboard a Yamaha. GEICO Honda has captured the 250SX Class victory for the last five seasons.
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.
