A near-sellout crowd of 69,517 fans packed inside the Georgia Dome on Saturday night as Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, began the eastern portion of its 2011 season.

A wild final lap helped Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto grab his third win of the season and extend his points lead.

As the Supercross class riders came out of the gates for the 20-lap main event, San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart grabbed the holeshot with TwoTwo Motorsports’ Chad Reed and Muscle Milk/Toyota/JGR’s Justin Brayton in tow.

On the second lap of the race, Stewart made a slight bobble, allowing Reed to get by and lead for the next 15 laps.

On Lap 18, a lapped rider allowed Stewart to close in on his rival before reclaiming the lead as the pair came to take the white flag. As they entered the whoops, Reed dove to Stewart’s inside and the two collided, falling to the ground.

That allowed Villopoto to assume the lead and take the victory after holding down the third position for nearly the entire race.

“Sometimes it’s not about being the fastest. You’ve got to be smart too,” said Villopoto. “I figured Stewart and Reed would do that, but not with a lap-and-a-half left. We still have a lot of racing though.

“I’ll just go back home and keep my program going and take it one race at a time.”

Behind him, Stewart and Reed remounted in second and third, respectively. However, their battle wasn’t done yet.

As the duo came to the final turn before the finish, Stewart attempted to block Reed, forcing them to make contact again, which allowed Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey to pass both and grab his third consecutive runner-up finish.

Reed moved past Stewart to take third.

“James put a hard pass on me earlier in the race, so I just put one right back on him,” said Reed. “I’m just happy to be up there racing for podiums and challenging for the lead.”

Villopoto now holds a 10-point lead over Stewart heading into next weekend’s race.

In the second race of the Eastern Regional Supercross Lites class, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Dean Wilson captured his first career Monster Energy Supercross win.

At the start of the Supercross Lites class main event, GEICO Honda’s Blake Wharton was the first to the line for the holeshot with his teammate Justin Barcia and Eleventen Mods Honda’s Alex Martin in tow.

Wharton quickly opened up a gap over the field while a stellar battle for second ensued behind him.

On lap 11, Wharton appeared to be en route to his second career win, but fell, giving the lead to Wilson and eventually remounting in fourth.

For the final four laps, Wilson held onto the top spot while Barcia and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Blake Baggett completed the podium.

“It (was) hard to pass out there,” said Wilson, who moved into a tie atop the standings. “I’ve been trying so hard and I’m so happy to get this win.

“It’s kind of like a monkey off my back. Last year I wasn’t able to get a win so I’m just so happy. Getting my first Supercross win is a dream.”

The 2011 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season continues next weekend from Daytona International Speedway.

2011 AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship
Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta Supercross Class Results:
1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki
3. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Honda
4. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha
5. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda
6. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM
7. Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C., Yamaha
8. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda
9. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki
10. Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki

Supercross Class Season Standings:
1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki – 171
2. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha – 161
3. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Honda – 150
4. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda – 146
5. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki – 145
6. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM – 110
7. Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki – 104
8. Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C, Yamaha – 90
9. Davi Millsaps, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha – 88
10. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki – 78

Atlanta Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class Results:
1. Dean Wilson, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki
2. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda
3. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki
4. Blake Wharton, Aubrey, Texas, Honda
5. Ryan Sipes, Ekron, Ky., Yamaha
6. Hunter Hewitt, Pilot Point, Texas, Suzuki
7. P.J. Larsen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
8. Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki
9. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki
10. Matt Lemoine, Collinsville, Texas, Kawasaki

Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class Season Standings:
1. Dean Wilson, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki – 47
2. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda – 47
3. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki – 40
4. Ryan Sipes, Ekron, Ky., Yamaha – 34
5. Blake Wharton, Aubrey, Texas, Honda – 33
6. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki – 26
7. Lance Vincent, Youngsville, La., Honda – 23
8. Matt Lemoine, Collinsville, Texas, Kawasaki – 23
9. Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki – 20
10. Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda – 20