— Rookie Barcia Soars to First-Ever Monster Energy Supercross Win in Phoenix
— Tomac Opens 250SX Class With Back-to-Back Victories
PHOENIX (January 12, 2013) – Honda/Muscle Milk’s Justin Barcia captured the first 450SX Class win of his career tonight at Chase Field in front of 50,109 fans. GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac won his second consecutive Western Regional 250SX Class Main Event and now has a six-point lead in the season point 
standings.
Barcia, who is in his rookie season, picked up the Nuclear Cowboyz® Holeshot Award in the 450SX Class Main Event as last week’s winner, Davi Millsaps and TwoTwo Motorsports Honda’s Chad Reed trailed in second and third, respectively. On Lap 1, two-time defending Monster Energy Supercross Champion Ryan Villopoto spun out and dropped from fourth to eighth place.
Honda/Muscle Milk’s Trey Canard passed Reed for third place on Lap 11 and then passed Millsaps for second place on Lap 14. Villopoto rebounded and moved into fourth place aboard his Monster Energy Kawasaki on Lap 13, and then passed Millsaps’ Rockstar Energy Racing machine on Lap 15 for third place. Canard and Villopoto engaged in a battle for second place for several laps until Canard crashed on the last lap, allowing Villopoto, Millsaps and Reed to re-pass him. Villopoto finished second and Millsaps finished third, keeping the 450SX Class lead in the season point standings.
“I can’t tell you how excited I am right now,” said Barcia, who became the 56th different winner in 450SX Class history. “I didn’t think this win would come so soon. I kept it smooth out there, but the track was super slick. It was a great night for me.”
Lucas Oil/Troy Lee Designs/Honda’s Jessy Nelson earned the Nuclear Cowboyz® Holeshot Award in the 250SX Class Main Event, leading Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Martin Davalos, of Ecuador, and GEICO Honda’s Zach Osborne who followed in second and third, respectively, through the first turn. On the opening lap, Davalos, who suffered a frightening crash in his Heat Race earlier in the evening, moved into the lead.
After a fifth-place start, Tomac made his way to second place and passed Davalos on Lap 7 en route to his ninth 250SX Class race win with a 10.193 second margin of victory. Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen, of Germany, passed Davalos on the last lap to secure the runner-up spot. Davalos held on for a season-best third place.
“I am totally stoked,” said Tomac. “I am now two-for-two this season, and to get a win here in Phoenix is huge because I have a lot of family and friends here. I haven’t had a lot of great races here in the past, so picking up the win is awesome.”
Monster Energy Supercross will continue next Saturday night, January 19, at Angels Stadium in Anaheim, Calif.
— 450SX Class Results
1. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda
2. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Honda
3. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
4. Chad Reed, Australia, Honda
5. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda
6. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki
7. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki
8. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
9. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda
10. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha
— 450SX Class Points
1. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki – 45
2. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda – 39
3. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda – 38
4. Chad Reed, Australia, Honda – 36
5. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM – 33
6. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki – 31
7. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Honda – 27
8. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda – 27
9. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki – 27
10. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha – 21
— Western Regional 250SX Class Results
1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda
2. Ken Roczen, Germany, KTM
3. Martin Davalos, Ecuador, Kawasaki
4. Cole Seely, Newbury Park, Calif., Honda
5. Jessy Nelson, Paso Robles, Calif., Honda
6. Zach Osborne, Chesterfield, S.C., Honda
7. Ryan Sipes, Ekron, Ky., Suzuki
8. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha
9. Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., Honda
10. Christian Craig, Wildomar, Calif., Honda
— Western Regional 250SX Class Points
1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda – 50
2. Ken Roczen, Germany, KTM – 44
3. Cole Seely, Newbury Park, Calif., Honda – 38
4. Ryan Sipes, Ekron, Ky., Suzuki – 29
5. Zach Osborne, Chesterfield, S.C., Honda – 29
6. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha – 23
7. Tyla Rattray, South Africa, Kawasaki – 22
8. Max Anstie, England, Suzuki – 22
9. Martin Davalos, Ecuador, Kawasaki – 21
10. Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., Honda – 20
— Reed Report
TwoTwo Motorsports Chad Reed has maintained consistency, finishing fourth at the second round of the 2013 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship at Phoenix’ Chase Field tonight.
Reed, who was sixth and twelfth in the morning practice sessions, produced a solid fourth place finish in his 8-lap heat race.
The Australian got a good start in the 450SX ’Main Event’ and maintained third for the first half of the race.
Reed was passed by fellow Honda rider Trey Canard on Lap 11 and lost another position to defending Champion Ryan Villopoto on Lap 13 of the 20-lap duel.
A mistake by Canard on the last lap of the race allowed Reed to move into fourth and consolidate some good championship points.
“We have come away with some safe points but we really do need to step it up now,” Reed said.
“Its no secret that I wasn’t happy with how I rode at A1 and while tonight I felt that I rode a bit better there is still work to do with the bike.
“We had a long debrief after the race tonight and will be back at the test track early next week,” Reed added.
The third round of 2013 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, sees the series return to Anaheim’s Angel Stadium on Saturday 19th January.
— KTM Report
Red Bull KTM Factory rider Ken Roczen chalked up his second straight podium of the season when he finished second overall in the 250SX class East Coast competition at the second round of the Monster Energy Supercross, an FIM World Championship held at Chase Field.
Roczen was placed in the first heat where he nailed the holeshot and pulled out to an early lead. Out front, he repeatedly knocked off fast laps and had pulled to a 6 second lead by the halfway point. He led every lap to the checkers to take his second heat win of the season so he went into the main event with plenty of confidence
But Roczen missed the start when the gate dropped and found himself in mid-pack around the first corner. He quickly set to work picking up positions but lost valuable time to the front runners as he moved through the pack. The young German rider was in the top five at the halfway point and one lap later he made a pass on both Jessy Nelson and Cole Seely to move into podium position. With four laps to go, he set his sights on the second place ride of Martin Davalos and began to reel him in. Roczen went on the attack in the final lap and went on to take his second podium of the season.
“I am disappointed in my start tonight,” stated Roczen after the race. “I just had a bad start and had to spend too much time coming through the pack. My focus this last week has been my starts and I’ll keep working on them so I can get up from early and battle for the lead in the next rounds.”
Hard fought eighth place for Dungey in 450 class
It was a tough day at the office for Red Bull KTM Factory rider Ryan Dungey made a valiant charge after a poor start in his 450 class main event to fight his way back to eighth place at the final flag. After two rounds, Dungey now sits 5th in the overall point standings.
Dungey got off to a poor start in the first 450SX heat and came around the first corner in eighth. Then just after the first lap another rider crashed and fell into Dungey, pushing him right off the track right at the peak of a triple jump. He shook himself off after what was a hard rash and got back in the race at dead last. Despite some fast laps he failed to move up to qualifying position and went back to the pits to prepare for the LCQ.
Dungey found himself in a mid-pack position off the start of the LCQ but he had moved into third at the end of lap one and was second at the halfway point to go on to take the final transfer spot to the main event. His qualifying position gave him final gate pick for the main event, which put him in the farthest outside gate for the start of the race. Then when the gate dropped, he got pushed outside and was sent off the track. He came around the first lap of the race back at eighteenth place.
By the halfway point, Dungey had moved into eleventh and advanced to top ten two laps later. He spent the remaining laps reeling in Kevin Windham and Andrew Short and eventually crossed the line in eighth at the end of the twenty-lap race. Although disappointed in his night, Dungey is more motivated to return to the third round and put his KTM up front.
Red Bull KTM Factory Team Manager, Roger DeCoster: “Unfortunately, Ryan didn’t have great starts tonight which affected his overall results. He came from the rear of the field to finish a solid eighth place and we are grateful to salvage those points. Overall, the bike was running great tonight and once we perfect the starts we should be in the running for a win.”
Good night for JDR/J-Star/KTM rookie Savatgy
JDR/J-Star/KTM rider Joey Savatgy was the talk of the day at the second round of the Monster Energy Supercross Series held at Chase Field after turning in an impressive heat race and finishing inside the top ten in the 250SX class in only his second professional Supercross race. The rookie Supercross star was joined by both his teammates, Malcolm Stewart and Josh Cachia, in the main event, which allowed the entire team to be well represented for the night show.
Savatgy went on to be the team’s star performer on the night with Australian Cachia eventually finishing in fourteenth and Stewart in eighteenth position.
— Kawasaki Report
In the frigid air of the desert in Phoenix, Ariz., Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto fought to his first podium of the season at Round 2 of Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM Championship at Chase Field on Saturday. Villopoto started the night with a third-place finish in his heat race to transfer to the main event. When the gate dropped for the main, Villopoto was battling his way to the front before sliding out in a corner. Destined for the podium, he quickly remounted his KX™450F and fought to take second place. Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer rode consistent to sixth place. In the 250SX class, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Martin Davalos recovered from a spectacular crash in his heat race to finish on the podium in third. Teammate Tyla Rattray recovered from a first lap incident to finish 12th. Blake Baggett injured his wrist last week in Anaheim and after trying to ride in practice, decided not to race.
After a disappointing start to the season in Anaheim, Villopoto began his mission to regain the points lead. He was at the top of the charts all day, qualifying hundredths of a second off of the fastest time. In the heat race Villopoto overcame a mid-pack start and finished third. When the gate dropped for the main event, he quickly made some passes and rounded the first lap in third. Pushing the limits and making time on the leaders, Villopoto made a small mistake and lost the front end on the slick and difficult dirt. Remounting just inside the top-10, he put on a charge to the front. Villopoto methodically made his way through the pack, passing for the second on the last lap. He now sits seventh overall in the points standings.
“Tonight was a lot better than Anaheim,” said Villopoto. “I wasn’t too happy with my heat race, but the main was a step in the right direction. It still wasn’t quite what I wanted, but the potential is there. We’re continuing to work on the bike during the week and working to adapt to the different conditions each week. If we can stay on the box every weekend we should be in good shape.”
Davalos showed impressive speed at last week’s season opener, but was unable to get the results he deserved due to a first turn pile-up. In Phoenix, he was ready to get back on top. In his heat race, Davalos got off to a great start on his KX™250F and latched on to the rear wheel of the leader. Searching for a place to pass, he made a move with two laps remaining, but a mistake in the rhythm section sent him flying through the air in spectacular fashion off the track. Although physically beat up from the crash, Davalos went out and won the last chance qualifier and lined up for the main event in the very outside gate. As the gate dropped he rocketed down the start straight and swept around the outside, nearly missing the holeshot but taking the lead shortly after. Davalos led for more than half the 15-lap race before dropping third place and taking his first podium of the season in third.
“My day started really well,” said Davalos. “Everything was going great until I made a mistake and got kicked over the quad. I got a great start in the main and led for a while, but started to tighten up and finished third. Considering my night I’m really happy with third and we’ll rest up this week and be ready next weekend.”
Unlike many of the top contenders having one off-weekend so far, Weimer has been very consistent. In Phoenix he hovered around the top-five times in qualifying and in his heat race he raced to third place. In the main event, Weimer got a good start from the inside on his KX450F and rounded the first turn in the top-five. He dropped to sixth and held a steady gap over the rest of the field to finish there. Weimer sits sixth in the points standings and remains itching to make the podium.
“I was in good position off the start of the main,” said Weimer. “The first lap I struggled getting into a flow and was coming up short in spots and over-jumping in others. I couldn’t quite get into my groove and made too many mistakes. I need to step it up and continue to improve during the week so I’m ready to race on Saturday.”
Motivation
Rattray’s day started slow as it took him a few laps to get a good feel for the slick conditions at Chase Field. In his heat race he quietly raced to a solid fifth place finish and was ready for the main event. Rattray hugged the inside around the first turn and came out inside the top-10, but moments later he tangled with another rider before the whoops, which ruined his momentum and shuffled him to the back of the field. Rattray was able to climb back to 12th place and sits seventh overall in the points standings.
“I struggled with the track tonight,” said Rattray. “After tangling with a guy before the whoops, my hand came off the bars and set me way back. It was really tough to pass and the only time you could make a clean pass was if someone made a mistake. The track was really slick, but I’m going to keep my head up and try to do better at Anaheim 2.”
Last weekend in Anaheim, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Baggett was clipped by another rider’s rear wheel amongst a pile-up, dislocating his wrist. In agonizing pain, Baggett soldiered through the full 15 laps in hopes of salvaging points and being able to continue. Unfortunately, after riding the first two qualifying practices, the track was too strenuous on his wrist and he was forced to pull out of competition. He will have his wrist further diagnosed this week and will be back in action as soon as possible.
After Davalos rebounded from such a horrific crash in his heat race to win the LCQ and finish on the podium, his mechanic Dave Feeney was awarded the Top Technician Award this weekend recognizing him for his work on Saturday. After the heat race, Feeney was forced to work quickly to repair the bike and get him down to the start line for the LCQ. After a LCQ win and a podium finish in the main event, his hard work was well worth it.
A cold front hit the Phoenix area leading up to Saturday creating below freezing temperatures. Experts claim it had been over 20 years since the Phoenix area had seen such frigid weather. Riders on Saturday could be seen bundled up to stay warm and taking a few extra minutes doing warm-up exercises before taking to the gate. Chase Field was the first stadium built in the United States with a retractable roof, but with temperatures that low, the roof remained closed throughout the day.
Round 3 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship returns to Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif., for the second of three visits, dubbed “A2”. Villopoto will be looking to continue to climb up the standings and return to the familiar spot on top of the podium on January 19, 2013.
