News 11 Mar 2013

Villopoto takes series control with Daytona victory

Monster Energy Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto has taken control of the 2013 Monster Energy Supercross 450SX standings, after taking victory at Daytona's round 10 of the series.

Ryan Villopoto assumed the 450SX points lead with his Daytona win. Image: Simon Cudby.

Ryan Villopoto assumed the 450SX points lead with his Daytona win. Image: Simon Cudby.

Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto has taken control of the 2013 Monster Energy Supercross 450SX standings, after taking victory at Daytona’s round 10 of the series.

Villopoto took the main event holeshot, before making a mistake and heading off the track for a moment. This handed the lead over to Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen, the current west region 250SX points leader.

Roczen, aboard the smaller KTM 350SX-F controlled the main event for a few laps, with Honda Muscle Milk’s Justin Barcia and Villopoto following closely behind him.

Villopoto quickly regained his composure and began to work his way to the front. The defending champion made the move for second on Barcia, then quickly scrubbed his way past Roczen in a fast section of double jumps.

Barcia made his way past Roczen also, maintaining pressure on Villopoto, but in the end the experienced multi-time champion started to pull away and never looked back. As the chequers flew it was Villopoto, Dungey and Barcia who took the podium spots.

Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey was the next rider to make a push for the lead, making his way past Roczen and Barcia to occupy second, but the former champion was unable to bridge the gap between himself and Villopoto at that point.

Rockstar Energy Racing’s Davi Millsaps, took a fall on lap two, putting himself in a tough position. Millsaps spent the rest of the race trying to salvage points, but he was only able to make his way to 10th place- Millsaps’ worst finish of the year.

Last year’s event winner, Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart, gambled on bike setup for the main event and looked to have gone the wrong way. He lost the front end and crashed in the same corner Millsaps did, sending him backwards.

TwoTwo Motorsports’ Chad Reed was into the top five at one point before he caught a tuff block and was sent flying off the back of his bike. Reed remounted repassed Stewart, then made his way past Trey Canard and Roczen to take the a fifth place finish.

Villopoto now takes the series leading red plate from Millsaps after holding it for nine rounds. The gap between the two riders is just two points. Dungey sits third 12 points behind Millsaps with Canard and Reed tied for fourth and Barcia rounding out the top five.

The 250SX class saw another first time main event winner in Daytona, with Red Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin putting in a dominant performance to land himself atop of the podium.

The former MX2 FIM Motocross World Champion pulled an impressive main event holeshot and began to put together a clean 15 laps, but he was being closely followed by a pack of hungry riders.

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Dean Wilson was right there putting pressure on Musquin, at one point it seemed that Wilson was going to make a move for the lead – but suddenly the tables turned.

Wilson began to slow considerably, allowing Musquin to pull away fast. In no time it was Wilson now receiving pressure from behind, with GEICO Honda’s Will Hahn closing the gap in third.

Hahn eventually made the move past Wilson for second. Wilson attempted to battle his way back into second, but Hahn was able to put the hammer down and make a run for the lead.

With Musquin and Hahn out front, Wilson continued to struggle in third, with rookie Jeremy Martin catching and passing him for third place aboard his Star Racing Yamaha.

Musquin would go on to join the list of French riders to win in Daytona, while Hahn finished up second with Martin taking his first-ever 250SX podium in third.

Wilson finished fourth with Rockstar Energy Racing’s Blake Wharton behind him in fifth. Hahn extended his points lead to five points over Wilson in the standings, with Musquin in third, Wharton fourth and Martin fifth.

Australia’s Jackson Richardson took an unfortunate hard fall earlier in the night, once again forcing him out of the 250SX main event.

The 2013 Monster Energy Supercross series will now head to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis for round 11 on 16 March.

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