Villopoto Heads Home to Seattle’s CenturyLink Field with Monster Energy Supercross’ Point Lead
Anderson Pads Western Regional 250SX Class Points Race
As the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, returns to Seattle’s CenturyLink Field this Saturday night, Monster Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto, who is from nearby Poulsbo, Wash., carries a 45-point lead in the 450SX Class point standings. With his fourth win in the Western Regional 250SX Class Championship, Rockstar Energy Racing’s Jason Anderson continues his pursuit of winning his first title.
Some key insights into this weekend’s race are:
- Villopoto has his sights set on his 70th 450SX Class victory
- Justin Barcia attempts to earn for his fifth top-five finish
- In his first two races back from injury, Trey Canard earned back-to-back top-five finishes for the first time since races three and four in 2013
- Anderson earned the fifth 250SX Class win of his career
- Cole Seely, who finished fourth last weekend, is the only rider to have a top-four finish in each race this year
Last weekend, Villopoto won his fourth race of the 2014 season in front of 49,759 fans at NRG Stadium.
Despite a difficult path to the Main Event that included a hard crash in his Heat Race and a needed win in the Semi, Villopoto put himself up front early after racing to the Nuclear Cowboyz® Holeshot Award to start the 20-lap 450SX Class Main Event.
“It was awesome tonight considering everything we had to overcome,” said Villopoto. “With the start the way it was, I don’t think I could have asked for anything more and it made my life easy. The track was tough, but our Kawasaki was able to handle everything. That’s not the way I wanted the Heat Race to go, but we were able to bounce back even stronger.”
Team Honda/Muscle Milk’s Justin Barcia secured his third consecutive podium finish in second, while Dungey’s teammate Ken Roczen finished on the podium for the first time in three races in third. Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart, who was battling an illness all day, rode to a fifth-place finish that allowed him to take over second in the 450SX Class standings while Dungey battled back from his opening lap crash to pass 11 riders and finish seventh.
En route to his win, Villopoto extended his lead in the championship to 45 points over Stewart as he chases a fourth straight title with three races remaining.
Saturday night’s Western Regional 250SX Class Race was the first since the San Diego stop on February 8, and Anderson welcomed the challenge as he built on the four-point lead he brought into Houston.
“It feels great to come back strong after such a long break. I’m super stoked to get the win,” said Anderson. “We did a lot of work over the break and it paid off. We killed it off the start and were able to run our own race. That’s going to be the key to winning this championship over the last few rounds, put myself up front and move into a position so we can do what we need to do.”
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Dean Wilson overcame a dislocated shoulder he suffered in a crash during his Heat Race to finish second and grab his third podium in four races, while Troy Lee Designs/MAVTV’s Malcolm Stewart posted the third podium result of his career in third. Anderson’s main challenger in the Western Regional Championship standings, Cole Seely, finished fourth aboard his Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil Honda.
Anderson’s lead over Seely in the championship now sits at 11 points with two races remaining in the Western Regional 250SX Class Championship.
In front of a crowd of 53,862 fans during the 2013 race in Seattle, Barcia took home the second 450SX Class win of his career. Roczen captured his third Western Regional 250SX Class victory in four races last season in Seattle.
The first race in Seattle was held on February 18, 1978 and Jimmy Ellis won on a Honda. The first 250SX Class race was held on February 8, 1985 and Bader Mannea won on a Kawasaki. The 2014 season marks the 43rd time the gates will drop for a supercross race in Seattle.
450SX Class Results: Houston
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
- Justin Barcia, Pinetta, Fla., Honda
- Ken Roczen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
- Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda
- James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki
- Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
- Mike Alessi, Hilliard, Fla., Suzuki
- Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda
- Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Honda
450SX Class Season Standings
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 293
- James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki, 248
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 247
- Ken Roczen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 235
- Justin Barcia, Pinetta, Fla., Honda, 198
- Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C., Yamaha, 196
- Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM, 181
- Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki, 126
- Wil Hahn, Menifee, Calif., Honda, 122
- Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Suzuki, 112
Western Regional 250SX Class Results: Houston
- Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.M., KTM
- Dean Wilson, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Kawasaki
- Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Honda
- Cole Seely, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda
- Zach Osborne, Chesterfield, S.C., Honda
- Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha
- Shane McElrath, Chesterfield, S.C., Honda
- Jake Canada, Sun City, Calif., Honda
- Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Kawasaki
- Jessy Nelson, Paso Robles, Calif., Honda
Western Regional 250SX Class Season Standings
- Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.M., KTM, 156
- Cole Seely, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda, 145
- Dean Wilson, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Kawasaki, 120
- Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Kawasaki, 119
- Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Honda, 109
- Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha, 107
- Jessy Nelson, Paso Robles, Calif., Honda, 87
- Zach Osborne, Chesterfield, S.C., Honda, 85
- Shane McElrath, Chesterfield, S.C., Honda, 85
- Dean Ferris, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 63
Past Winners in Seattle – 450SX Class
- April 20, 2013 Justin Barcia
- April 21, 2012 Andrew Short
- April 16, 2011 James Stewart
- April 24, 2010 Kevin Windham
- April 18, 2009 Ryan Villopoto
- April 26, 2008 Kevin Windham
- April 28, 2007 James Stewart
- April 29, 2006 James Stewart
- April 23, 2005 James Stewart
- January 30, 1999 Larry Ward
- January 31, 1998 Jeremy McGrath
- February 1, 1997 Doug Henry
- February 3, 1996 Jeremy McGrath
- February 4, 1995 Jeremy McGrath
- May 7, 1994 Mike Kiedrowski
- January 30, 1993 Jeremy McGrath
- February 1, 1992 Damon Bradshaw
- February 2, 1991 Jean-Michel Bayle
- February 17, 1990 Larry Ward
- February 5, 1989 Rick Johnson
- February 4, 1989 Rick Johnson
- February 14, 1988 Ron Lechien
- February 13, 1988 Rick Johnson
- March 29, 1987 Rick Johnson
- March 28, 1987 Rick Johnson
- February 16, 1986 Rick Johnson
- February 15, 1986 Jeff Ward
- February 9, 1985 Ron Lechien
- February 8, 1985 Ron Lechien
- February 12, 1984 Rick Johnson
- February 11, 1984 Jeff Ward
- February 13, 1983 Bob Hannah
- February 12, 1983 Bob Hannah
- February 14, 1982 Mark Barnett
- February 13, 1982 Donnie Hansen
- February 15, 1981 Darrell Schultz
- February 14, 1981 Darrell Schultz
- February 10, 1980 Mike Bell
- February 9, 1980 Mike Bell
- February 10, 1979 Bob Hannah
- February 9, 1979 Mike Bell
- February 19, 1978 Jimmy Ellis
Past Winners in Seattle – 250SX Class
- April 20, 2013 Ken Roczen
- April 21, 2012 Ryan Sipes
- April 16, 2011 Cole Seely
- April 24, 2010 Broc Tickle
- April 18, 2009 Ryan Dungey
- April 26, 2008 Ryan Dungey
- April 28, 2007 Ryan Villopoto
- April 29, 2006 James Stewart
- April 23, 2005 James Stewart
- January 30, 1999 Nathan Ramsey
- January 31, 1998 David Vuillemin
- February 1, 1997 David Vuillemin
- February 3, 1996 Kevin Windham
- February 4, 1995 Damon Huffman
- May 7, 1994 Ryan Hughes
- January 30, 1993 Phil Lawrence
- February 2, 1992 Jeremy McGrath
- February 1, 1991 Jeremy McGrath
- February 17, 1990 Ty Davis
- February 5, 1989 Jeff Matiasevich
- February 4, 1989 Jeff Matiasevich
- February 14, 1988 Jeff Matiasevich
- February 13, 1988 Jeff Matiasevich
- March 29, 1987 Kyle Lewis
- March 28, 1987 Donnie Schmit
- February 16, 1986 Donnie Schmit
- February 15, 1986 Willie Surratt
- February 9, 1985 Mike Healey
- February 8, 1985 Bader Mannea
