Three-Time Defending Monster Energy Supercross Champion Ryan Villopoto Looks to Make History as the Championship Heads to Lucas Oil Stadium This Saturday Night
Through the first eight Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, races there have been four two-time race winners, and this Saturday when the championship heads to Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium, points leader Ryan Villopoto can become the first rider this year to post three victories and the first rider to win five consecutive races at Lucas Oil Stadium.
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Some key insights to this weekend’s race include:
- There can be a three-time winner for the in the 2014 season this weekend
- How will Dean Wilson do in his first-ever 450SX Class race for Chad Reed’s Discount Tire Racing/TwoTwo Motorsports team?
- Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki has a four-race win streak (two on the East and two on the West)
- Ken Roczen can earn his first back to back 450SX Class races
- With a win by Ryan Dungey this weekend, he can give KTM their first season with two different winners
- Through eight races, there have been three two-time winners
Last weekend at Atlanta’s Georgia Dome, Red Bull KTM’s Roczen won his second-consecutive 450SX Class race of the season as a rookie and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Martin Davalos captured the first Eastern Regional 250SX Class win of his career.
Smartop/Motoconcepts Racing’s Mike Alessi earned his first Nuclear Cowboyz® Holeshot Award of the season with Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Villopoto and Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart, whose lone win in Indianapolis came in 2007, following in second and third respectively.
Stewart quickly moved into first place on the opening lap as Roczen took over third. Stewart, who came into Atlanta on a two-race win streak, crashed in a turn moments after taking over the lead position and remounted in last place.
Villopoto moved into second place on Lap 4 and passed Alessi for the lead on Lap 5. Alessi was also passed by Roczen and Red Bull KTM teammate Dungey for the second and third spots respectively. On Lap 14, Villopoto failed to jump the triple and, as a result, Roczen moved into the lead. Villopoto finished second and Dungey finished third.
“I don’t believe this,” said Roczen. “Getting on the podium is one thing but a win is another is such an awesome feeling. This proves that hard work pays off and helps build my confidence.”
Villopoto has a nine-point lead over Roczen in the season standings. Stewart finished 11th and is third in the season standings.
Through eight races, there have been four different two-time winners, marking the first time this has happened in the sport’s history.
To open the Eastern Regional 250SX Class Main Event, Monster Energy Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo, who came into tonight’s race as the points leader, led Davalos through Turn 1, winning the Nuclear Cowboyz Holeshot Award. It didn’t take long for Davalos to answer back and make the pass for the lead, and by Lap 7, he opened a 5.1 second advantage.
Factory Metal Works’ Vince Friese was passed by Yamalube/Star Racing/Yamaha’s Anthony Rodriguez on Lap 1 for third place. Near the halfway point of the race, GEICO Honda’s Justin Bogle took over the number-three position. Cianciarulo finished second and Bogle finished a season-best third place.
“At the beginning of the race, Martin [Davalos] started to pull away, but toward the second half of the race, I was able to catch up,” said Cianciarulo. “Then, I made a stupid mistake. I guess you live and learn.”
“I am just so happy to be able to give this win to my team,” said Davalos. “There have been so many people that have supported me, and this feels great.”
Cianciarulo has a two-point lead over Davalos in the season standings.
Last year in front of a sold out crowd in Indianapolis, reigning 450SX Class champion Villopoto captured his sixth win of the season, and Red Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin, who is injured and will not race this season, took home his second consecutive 250SX Class win.
The first supercross race held in Indianapolis was on March 21, 1992 and Jeff Stanton won on a Honda. This will be the 23rd time the gates will drop in Indianapolis and the fifth time that Lucas Oil Stadium has hosted the championship.
Past Winners in Indianapolis – 450SX Class
- March 16, 2013 Ryan Villopoto
- March 17, 2012 Ryan Villopoto
- March 12, 2011 Ryan Villopoto
- February 20, 2010 Ryan Villopoto
- February 28, 2009 Chad Reed
- March 1, 2008 Chad Reed
- March 24, 2007 James Stewart
- March 4, 2006 Ricky Carmichael
- February 12, 2005 Ricky Carmichael
- March 20, 2004 Mike LaRocco
- March 1, 2003 Ricky Carmichael
- February 8, 2002 David Vuillemin
- February 10, 2001 Ricky Carmichael
- February 12, 2000 Jeremy McGrath
- April 24, 1999 Ezra Lusk
- February 14, 1998 Jeremy McGrath
- February 15, 1997 Jeff Emig
- March 30, 1996 Jeremy McGrath
- March 18, 1995 Jeremy McGrath
- March 19, 1994 Jeremy McGrath
- April 24, 1993 Jeremy McGrath
- March 21, 1992 Jeff Stanton
Past Winners in Indianapolis – 250SX Class
- March 16, 2013 Marvin Musquin
- March 17, 2012 Blake Wharton
- March 12, 2011 Ryan Sipes
- February 20, 2010 Christophe Pourcel
- February 28, 2009 Austin Stroupe
- March 1, 2008 Trey Canard
- March 24, 2007 Ryan Dungey
- March 4, 2006 Davi Millsaps
- February 12, 2005 Davi Millsaps
- March 20, 2004 Josh Hansen
- March 1, 2003 Branden Jesseman
- February 9, 2002 Chad Reed
- February 10, 2001 Travis Pastrana
- February 12, 2000 Michael Brandes
- April 24, 1999 Ernesto Fonseca
- February 14, 1998 Ricky Carmichael
- February 15, 1997 John Dowd
- March 30, 1996 Mickael Pichon
- March 18, 1995 Mickael Pichon
- March 19, 1994 Ezra Lusk
- April 24, 1993 Doug Henry
- March 21, 1992 Jimmy Button
Eastern Regional 250SX Class Results: Atlanta
- Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., Kawasaki
- Adam Cianciarulo, Port Orange, Fla., Kawasaki
- Justin Bogle, Cushing, Okla., Honda
- Bale Wharton, Beaumont, Texas, Honda
- Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki
- Vince Friese, Cape Girardeau, Mo., Honda
- James DeCotis, Peabody, Mass., Honda
- Cole Thomson, Brigden, Canada, KTM
- Matt Lemoine, Pilot Point, Texas, Kawasaki
- Michael Oldenburg, Alvord, Texas, Honda
Eastern Regional 250SX Class Season Standings
- Adam Cianciarulo, Port Orange, Fla., Kawasaki, 47
- Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., Kawasaki, 45
- Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki, 38
- Justin Bogle, Cushing, Okla., Honda, 36
- Vince Friese, Cape Girardeau, Mo., Honda, 33
- Blake Wharton, Beaumont, Texas, Honda, 32
- Cole Thompson, Brigden, Canada, KTM, 28
- Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Honda, 22
- Mitchell Oldenburg, Alvord, Texas, Honda, 22
- Jimmy DeCotis, Peabody, Mass., Honda, 20
450SX Class Results: Atlanta
- Ken Roczen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
- Wil Hahn, Menifee, Calif., Honda
- Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C., Yamaha
- Mike Alessi, Hilliard, Fla., Suzuki
- Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki
- Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki
- Josh Grant, Corona, Calif., Yamaha
- Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM
450SX Class Season Standings
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 166
- Ken Roczen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 157
- James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki, 140
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 136
- Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C., Yamaha, 130
- Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Kawasaki, 111
- Justin Barcia, Pinetta, Fla., Honda, 109
- Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM, 94
- Wil Hahn, Menifee, Calif., Honda, 83
- Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki, 77
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: Indianapolis
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
- James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki
- Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
- Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda
- Chad Reed, Australia, Honda
- Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM
- Matt Goerke, Lake Helen, Fla., KTM
- Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda
- Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki
Eastern Regional 250SX Class Results: Indianapolis
- Marvin Musquin, France, KTM
- Kyle Peters, Greensboro, N.C., Suzuki
- Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda
- AJ Catanzaro, Portland, Conn., Kawasaki
- Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Kawasaki
- Vince Friese, Cape Girardeau, Mo., Honda
- Mitchell Oldenburg, Alvord, Texas, Honda
- Gavin Faith, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Honda
- Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Suzuki
- Peter Larsen, Menifee, Calif., Honda
