Georgia Dome Awaits Stewart’s Race to Three-peat
Rookie Cianciarulo Races for Win Number 2
With seven races in the books for the 2014 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship season, James Stewart became the season’s first back-to-back winner, and as the championship heads to Atlanta, the Yoshimura Suzuki rider hopes to have a repeat performance of last year, where he captured the Main Event win. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo, who is a rookie in the Eastern Regional 250SX Class, wrote the perfect story to what appears to be an incredible career by winning the first race of his career.
Some key insights to this weekend’s race include:
- James Stewart races his 48th career 450SX Class win
- Adam Cianciarulo is the first rider since Trey Canard in 2008 to win the first start of his 250SX Class career
- Stewart is the first rider to win back-to-back races this season
- Stewart’s wins in San Diego and Arlington gave him his first back-to-back victories since St. Louis and Seattle in 2011; it was Suzuki’s first back-to-back wins since Ryan Dungey did it in 2010 at Phoenix and Anaheim 2
- Justin Barcia earned his first podium of the finish, is he ready for his third 450SX Class win?
Last year, Stewart took home his first 450SX Class win of the season at the 2013 Atlanta stop. GIECO Honda’s Wil Hahn led wire to wire in the night’s Eastern Regional 250SX Class race en route to the first victory of his career. Now that Hahn has moved to the premier class, he’s yet to finish inside the top five; he tied his career-best finish in Arlington with eighth place.
“I’m so happy,” exclaimed Stewart from the podium in Arlington. “I thought we needed to be better for the Main Event and we were. The track was really difficult and I knew I had to get myself to a certain point in order to make a pass and control the race. The championship doesn’t matter right now. We just need to keep riding like we are. If we do that, then we’ll be good.”
Three-time Monster Energy Supercross Champion Ryan Villopoto finished fourth to maintain his lead in the season standings, which now sits at 12 points over Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen, who finished sixth. Stewart moved into third place, 14 points out of the lead.
By virtue of his victory, Stewart assumed control of the Toyota Triple Challenge and holds a one-point lead over Villopoto and Barcia. With one race remaining in the Triple Challenge from East Rutherford, N.J., on April 26, Stewart is now in position to win a new Toyota Tundra if he maintains the advantage. The wins by Reed and Stewart in the first two races mean that no rider will claim the $250,000 bonus for winning all three Main Events.
Discount Tire/TwoTwo Motorsports’ Chad Reed, who suffered an injury on the final lap of competition one week ago in San Diego, attempted to practice on last Saturday despite a broken scapula, collarbone, and T1 vertebrae, but ultimately pulled out of competition. He fell from third to sixth in the championship and will likely miss the remainder of the season.
Cianciarulo made a statement early as he captured the Nuclear Cowboyz® Holeshot Award, with his teammates Martin Davalos and Blake Baggett with him through turn one. Davalos, who was the fastest rider in practice, made a pass for the lead on the opening lap but crashed on Lap 3 allowing Cianciarulo to reclaim the top spot and Baggett to take over second.
Out front, Cianciarulo and Baggett opened a significant advantage over the rest of the field before Baggett made a pass on Cianciarulo for the lead on Lap 7. Cianciarulo responded quickly and regained the lead in the next turn.
Cianciarulo became the first rider since Trey Canard in 2008 to win in his first career Monster Energy Supercross start. Baggett finished second while Davalos rebounded from a pair of crashes to climb his way from sixth to third and secure a podium sweep for Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki.
“I couldn’t be more pumped,” said Cianciarulo, who became the 93rd different 250SX Class winner in Monster Energy Supercross history. “This is for everyone who has stuck behind me through all the good times and bad. It’s taken a lot of good days and a lot of bad days to get to this point. I cannot believe it, all these fans cheering for me and giving me the support. I just can’t believe it. We did it.”
This will be the 36th time the Georgia Dome has hosted a 450SX Class race and the 28th time the gates have dropped for a 250SX Class race. In 2012, supercross drew in a record crowd of 71,009 fans. In years before, Atlanta supercross have again and again averaged over 67,000 fans per race.
The first supercross race held in Atlanta was on March 5, 1977 and Bob Hannah won on a Yamaha. On February 22, 1986, Honda rider Keith Turpin won the first-ever 250SX Class Main Event in Atlanta. To date, Ricky Carmichael sits on top of the 450SX Class’ all-time win list at the Georgia Dome with five wins. Carmichael, Brian Swink and Christophe Pourcel share the 250SX Class’ all-time win record with two.
Eastern Regional 250SX Class Results: Arlington
- Adam Cianciarulo, Port Orange, Fla., Kawasaki
- Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki
- Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., Kawasaki
- Vince Friese, Cape Girardeau, Mo., Honda
- Justin Bogle, Cushing, Okla., Honda
- Cole Thompson, Brigden, Canada, KTM
- Blake Wharton, Beaumont, Texas, Honda
- Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Honda
- Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha
- Mitchell Oldenburg, Alvord, Texas, Honda
Eastern Regional 250SX Class Season Standings
- Adam Cianciarulo, Port Orange, Fla., Kawasaki, 25
- Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki, 22
- Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., Kawasaki, 20
- Vince Friese, Cape Girardeau, Mo., Honda, 18
- Justin Bogle, Cushing, Okla., Honda, 16
- Cole Thompson, Brigden, Canada, KTM, 15
- Blake Wharton, Beaumont, Texas, Honda, 14
- Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Honda, 13
- Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha, 12
- Mitchell Oldenburg, Alvord, Texas, Honda, 11
450SX Class Results: Arlington
- James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
- Justin Barcia, Pinetta, Fla., Honda
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
- Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C., Yamaha
- Ken Roczen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
- Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki
- Wil Hahn, Menifee, Calif., Honda
- Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Suzuki
- Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM
450SX Class Season Standings
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 144
- Ken Roczen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 132
- James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki, 130
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 116
- Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C., Yamaha, 114
- Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Kawasaki, 111
- Justin Barcia, Pinetta, Fla., Honda, 109
- Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM, 83
- Wil Hahn, Menifee, Calif., Honda, 65
- Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki, 63
Toyota Triple Challenge Standings
- James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki, 39
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo Wash., Kawasaki, 38
- Justin Barcia, Pinetta, Fla., Honda, 38
- Ken Roczen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 37
- Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C., Yamaha, 31
- Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Kawasaki, 25
- Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM, 23
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 22
- Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki, 16
- Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki, 14
2013 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
2013 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
Past Winners in Atlanta – 450SX Class
- February 23, 2013 James Stewart
- February 25, 2012 Ryan Dungey
- February 26, 2011 Ryan Villopoto
- February 17, 2010 Ryan Dungey
- February 21, 2009 James Stewart
- February 23, 2008 Davi Millsaps
- February 24, 2007 James Stewart
- February 25, 2006 Ricky Carmichael
- February 26, 2005 Ricky Carmichael
- February 28, 2004 Chad Reed
- February 22, 2003 Ricky Carmichael
- February 23, 2002 Ricky Carmichael
- February 24, 2001 Ricky Carmichael
- February 26, 2000 Jeremy McGrath
- February 20, 1999 Jeremy McGrath
- February 21, 1998 Jeremy McGrath
- February 22, 1997 Damon Huffman
- February 24, 1996 Jeremy McGrath
- February 25, 1995 Mike LaRocco
- February 26, 1994 Jeremy McGrath
- February 20, 1993 Damon Bradshaw
- February 22, 1992 Damon Bradshaw
- February 23, 1991 Damon Bradshaw
- February 24, 1990 Jeff Ward
- February 25, 1989 Jeff Stanton
- February 22, 1986 Rick Johnson
- February 23, 1985 Mark Barnett
- February 25, 1984 Johnny O’Mara
- March 5, 1983 Mark Barnett
- February 27, 1982 Bob Hannah
- February 28, 1981 Mark Barnett
- March 1, 1980 Chuck Sun
- March 3, 1979 Bob Hannah
- March 4, 1978 Marty Tripes
- March 5, 1977 Bob Hannah
Past Winners in Atlanta – 250SX Class
- February 23, 2013 Wil Hahn
- February 25, 2012 Justin Barcia
- February 26, 2011 Dean Wilson
- February 27, 2010 Christophe Pourcel
- February 21, 2009 Christophe Pourcel
- February 23, 2008 Trey Canard
- February 24, 2007 Ryan Dungey
- February 25, 2006 Josh Grant
- February 26, 2005 Grant Langston
- February 28, 2004 James Stewart
- February 22, 2003 Brock Sellards
- February 23, 2002 Chad Reed
- February 24, 2001 Nathan Ramsey
- February 26, 2000 Stephane Roncada
- February 20, 1999 Ernesto Fonseca
- February 21, 1998 Ricky Carmichael
- February 22, 1997 Ricky Carmichael
- February 24, 1996 John Dowd
- February 25, 1995 Mickael Pichon
- February 26, 1994 Ezra Lusk
- February 20, 1993 Doug Henry
- February 22, 1992 Brian Swink
- February 23, 1991 Brian Swink
- February 24, 1990 Denny Stephenson
- February 24, 1989 Damon Bradshaw
- February 22, 1986 Keith Turpin
