News 5 Feb 2012

Villopoto reclaims red plate with dominant win at Anaheim II

Australia's Chad Reed still in the title hunt after solid third place on Saturday night.

Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto became the first rider of the 2012 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, to win two races this season, with a runaway win at Anaheim II.

Villopoto lead all 20 laps of the main event at Angel Stadium in front of a sold-out crowd, boosting himself back into the series lead ahead of Chad Reed, who was third at A2.

Villopoto picked up his second holeshot of the season to start the Supercross Class main event with TwoTwo Motorsports/Bel-Ray Honda’s Reed in tow.

Reed passed Villopoto on the opening lap, but was passed back on lap two. Toyota/Yamaha/JGRMX’s James Stewart moved into third place on lap one and then on lap eight, Stewart passed Reed for second. Stewart finished second and Reed finished third.

“James and Chad were riding good tonight,” said Villopoto. “I knew I had to stay on my toes and not make a mistake. We need to take it one race at a time. I had a great start and to be perfect on the start difficult.”

Meanwhile, Brett Metcalfe finished ninth on his Yoshimura Suzuki, and Cody Mackie barely missed the main for JWR Kawasaki after taking fourth in the LCQ. Earlier, Mackie had crashed out of his heat.

GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac won his third consecutive Western Regional Supercross Lites Class race and extended his points lead to 22.

Tomac opened the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class main event with the holeshot. Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil/Honda’s Cole Seely, who won the season opening race in Anaheim earlier this year, was on his rear wheel through the first turn.

Seely quickly passed Tomac for the lead. On lap three, Seely slid out and fell back to second place as Tomac assumed the lead. Seely finished second and Red Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin finished third.

“Tonight’s track was difficult,” said Tomac. “It’s too bad Cole slid out because he was going really fast and I knew that I would have to work hard to get around him. I look forward to going to San Diego next weekend.”

Australia’s Matt Moss put forward a solid ride to finish seventh, despite an early crash that saw him left in last position. JDR/J-Star/KTM teammate Ryan Marmont was 17th in what was his final appearance for the season in the U.S.

The series will head south to San Diego next weekend for round six of 17.

2012 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship
Round Five – Anaheim II, CA

Supercross Class Results:
1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
2. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha
3. Chad Reed, Australia, Honda
4. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
5. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
6. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda
7. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
8. Mike Alessi, Hilliard, Calif., Suzuki
9. Brett Metcalfe, Australia, Suzuki
10. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki

Supercross Class Season Standings:
1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki – 108
2. Chad Reed, Australia, Honda – 105
3. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM – 103
4. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha – 95
5. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda – 73
6. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki – 71
7. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda – 59
8. Brett Metcalfe, Australia, Suzuki – 57
9. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha – 56
10. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Honda – 53

Western Regional Supercross Lites Class Results:
1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda
2. Cole Seely, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
3. Marvin Musquin, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
4. Dean Wilson, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki
5. Nico Izzi, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha
6. Michael Lieb, Menifee, Calif., Honda
7. Matt Moss, Australia, KTM
8. Vince Friese, Cape Girardeau, Mo., Honda
9. Travis Baker, Temecula, Calif., Honda
10. Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., Suzuki

Western Regional Supercross Lites Class Season Standings:
1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda – 113
2. Dean Wilson, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki – 91
3. Marvin Musquin, Murrieta, Calif., KTM – 84
4. Cole Seely, Murrieta, Calif., Honda – 79
5. Zach Osborne, Chesterfield, S.C., Yamaha – 67
6. Nico Izzi, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha – 62
7. Tyla Rattray, Wildomar, Calif., Kawasaki – 60
8. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki – 54
9. Ryan Sipes, Ekron, Ky., Yamaha – 53
10. Matt Moss, Australia, KTM

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