Villopoto takes fifth win in Indianapolis and extends points lead
Monday 14 March: 60,789 fans greeted the 10th race of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, in Indianapolis.
Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto won his
fifth race of the season. In the Eastern Regional Supercross Lites
class, DNA Shred Sticks/Yamaha’s Ryan Sipes, of Ekron, Ken., captured
his first career victory.
As the gates dropped for the 20th
Supercross Class race in Indianapolis, TwoTwo Motorsports/Bel-Ray
Racing’s Chad Reed squeezed through the pack to capture the holeshot
with Villopoto and Dodge Hart and Huntington’s Ivan Tedesco in tow.
Villopoto,
unaware of the battles trailing him, led all 20 laps to register his
fifth victory of the season.
Meanwhile, behind Villopoto, Rockstar
Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey pressured second place’s Reed through 10
laps, but an unfortunate get-off by Dungey allowed Reed to hold his
second place spot.
Far
from safe, Reed was stalked closely by San Manuel Yamaha’s James
Stewart and late on lap 11 Stewart made his move on Reed and took over
the second place spot. As Stewart carefully held this second place spot,
a battle for third between Reed and Dungey continued to the checkered
flag; however, Dungey was not able to put the pass on Reed.
"The
track was really tough tonight,” said Villopoto. "The ruts played a big
factor throughout the 20 lap main. You really had to be smart out
there. The whole team worked together really well tonight, and I
couldn’t do it without them.”
"I
had a rough weekend last week and wasn’t able to ride the way I wanted
to,” said Stewart. "I let my team down today. It’s not over. I’m so
motivated right now and I have a bunch of guys behind me.”
Supercross Class Results: Indianapolis
1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
2. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha
3. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Honda
4. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki
5. Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C., Yamaha
6. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda
7. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda
8. Nicholas Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Yamaha
9. Cole Seely, Corona, Calif., Honda
10. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM
Supercross Class Season Standings
1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki – 221
2. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha – 195
3. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Honda – 192
4. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki – 183
5. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda – 169
6. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM – 129
7. Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C, Yamaha – 121
8. Davi Millsaps, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha – 114
9. Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki – 107
10. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda - 103
Ryan Sipes races to his first career victory in the Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class.
At
the start of the fourth race of the Eastern Regional Supercross Lites
class, Pro Circuit/Monster Energy/Kawasaki’s Blake Baggett was first to
the line for the holeshot followed by DNA Shred Sticks/Yamaha’s Ryan
Sipes.
Early on lap seven, Baggett dismounted from the bike following
the finish line jump and handed the lead to Sipes with GEICO Honda’s
Justin Barcia in tow. Sipes went on to lead the remaining eight laps to
register the first victory of his career followed by Barcia and Baggett,
who finished second and third respectively.
"I
can’t even describe the feeling right now,” exclaimed Sipes. "I didn’t
think about winning until I crossed the chequered flag. Last time I
thought about taking first place while leading, I went down and handed
over the lead. Tonight, I stayed strong and didn’t think about it, and
it definitely paid off.”
"I
went six laps and got pressured and went down and pretty much threw the
race away, said Baggett. "I threw away a good amount of points, but
we’ll just make sure we pick it up down the road.”
Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class Results: Indianapolis
1. Ryan Sipes, Ekron, Ky., Yamaha
2. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda
3. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki
4. Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki
5. Matt Lemoine, Collinsville, Texas, Kawasaki
6. Dean Wilson, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki
7. Blake Wharton, Aubrey, Texas, Honda
8. P.J. Larsen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
9. Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda
10. Les Smith, York, S.C., Honda
Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class Season Standings
1. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda – 91
2. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki – 85
3. Ryan Sipes, Ekron, Ky., Yamaha – 79
4. Dean Wilson, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki – 75
5. Blake Wharton, Aubrey, Texas, Honda – 65
6. Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki – 62
7. Matt Lemoine, Collinsville, Texas, Kawasaki – 51
8. P.J. Larsen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM – 46
9. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki – 44
10. Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda – 40