Monster Energy Supercross - Round 14 New Orleans
Monday 16 April: Villopoto cruises to ninth victory of the season. Barcia secures Eastern Regional Supercross Lites title as Durham wins.
A
crowd of 33,392 filled the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Saturday night,
as Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, hosted its
14th race of the 2012 season in a return to New Orleans.
One
race after capturing back-to-back Supercross Class Championships,
Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto won his
ninth win of the season with a convincing effort.
Villopoto was the first rider out of the gate in the 20-lap Supercross Class Main Event, grabbing the Nuclear Cowboyz Holeshot
Award with Foremost Insurance/Motosport.com Kawasaki’s Nick Wey and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer close behind. It didn’t take long for Villopoto to open a gap on
the field, ultimately taking a wire-to-wire win.
"The
track was tough, so the bike was a big key,” said Villopoto, who is in
the midst of a four-race winning streak. "The track was breaking down
and it had a lot of ruts, so it was easy to get caught off guard. You
had to stay on toes and try to log consistent laps. I’m looking forward
to returning home next week (in Seattle).”
All
eyes were on the battle for the remaining spots on the podium, as both
Jeff Ward Racing Kawasaki’s Josh Grant and
MotoConcepts Suzuki’s Mike Alessi were both in
search of their first top-three efforts of the season. Grant set a
strong pace in second after a good start, keeping a consistent gap over
third. Alessi, however, wasn’t as fortunate, making contact with a
lapped rider while running third on Lap 16, falling to the ground. That
allowed Team Honda Muscle Milk’s Justin Brayton to
grab the final spot on the podium.
Grant’s
runner-up effort was his best finish since winning the opening race of
the 2009 Monster Energy Supercross season and also signified the
inaugural podium finish for the first-year Jeff Ward Racing team.
Supercross Class Results: New Orleans
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
- Josh Grant, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki
- Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
- Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki
- Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda
- Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
- Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Yamaha
- Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Kawasaki
- Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda
- Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki
Supercross Class Season Standings
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki – 321
- Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha – 206
- Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Honda – 201
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM – 192
- James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha – 178
- Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki – 172
- Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki – 171
- Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda – 166
- Mike Alessi, Hilliard, Fla., Suzuki – 162
- Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki – 133
Eastern Regional Supercross Lites
In
the Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class, GEICO Honda’s Justin
Barcia secured his second-consecutive title with a
fourth-place finish, while Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Darryn
Durham raced to the first victory of his career.
As
the gates dropped on the Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class Main
Event, Eleven10 Mods Honda’s Alex Martin captured
the Nuclear Cowboyz Holeshot
Award, with Barcia and Durham in tow. Prior to the conclusion of the
opening lap, Durham made his way into second and proceeded to make what
would be the winning pass on Lap 2 over Martin.
JDR/J-Star
KTM’s Malcolm Stewart worked his way into second
following a strong start and set his sights on Durham. Behind him,
Barcia took advantage of his healthy points lead and settled into podium
position, needing only to finish fourth or better.
On
Lap 6, Stewart crashed out of second, allowing a three-way battle for
the position to ensue between Barcia, Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Blake
Baggett. Baggett prevailed in this battle and
after Durham bobbled heading into a triple jump on Lap 9, it became a
duel between the teammates.
Baggett
moved inside Durham several times in an attempt to make a pass during
the closing laps but wasn’t able to secure the position and settled for
second. It marked the first win of the season for Monster Energy/Pro
Circuit/Kawasaki in the Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class, capped
off by a 1-2 effort.
"This
is at the top of the list,” said Durham. "I’m
speechless. It was a great race and I couldn’t have done it without my
team. I’m super excited, but just don’t know what to say. I had a rough
practice and heat race, but got great start. I think I led all the laps,
but I don’t even know.”
Barcia
settled into fourth, his first finish off the podium this season, to
guarantee back-to-back championships, while his teammate Justin Bogle made a late charge to the front to tie his
career-best finish in third.
"Tonight
is mind blowing,” said Barcia, who has compiled a 1.4 finishing average
in eight races this season. "To win two championships feels amazing. It
was a tough season at times, but it took a lot of hard work and
dedication to get here. I couldn't have done it without everyone on my
team. This is an awesome feeling.”
Monster Energy Supercross continues next weekend, hosting the 15th race of the 2012 season from Seattle’s CenturyLink Field.
Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class Results: New Orleans
- Darryn Durham, Butler, Pa., Kawasaki
- Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki
- Justin Bogle, Cushing, Okla., Honda
- Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda
- Ken Roczen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
- Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha
- Jake Canada, Sun City, Calif., Honda
- Tyler Bowers, Danville, Ky., Kawasaki
- Austin Politelli, Sun City, Calif., Honda
- Philip Nicoletti, Cochecton, N.Y., Honda
Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class Season Standings
- Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda – 185
- Darryn Durham, Butler, Pa., Kawasaki – 143
- Ken Roczen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM – 143
- Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Suzuki – 142
- Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki – 128
- Jake Canada, Sun City, Calif., Honda – 118
- Justin Bogle, Cushing, Okla., Honda – 107
- Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha – 70
- Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda – 67
- Matthew Lemoine, Collinsville, Texas, Kawasaki – 66
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