Week number eleven of the 2013 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, heads to the racing capital—Indianapolis, Indiana—for the twenty-second running of Indianapolis Supercross. The gate dropped on the inaugural Indianapolis SX Main Event back in 1992 and was dominated by Jeff Stanton aboard his factory Honda. This Saturday will mark the twenty-second time the best SX racers on the planet have met in the racing capital, but only the fifth time in the beautiful, climate-controlled Lucas Oil Stadium. And after having to survive the brutality of a thirty-minute Daytona circuit main event, this is a good thing for most riders.

Last weekend at the 2013 Daytona SX, Monster/Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto made it two-straight wins in the 450 class and, with that, reclaimed the red plate that has been his for much of the last three seasons. Villopoto lost the red plate at Anaheim 1 earlier this year with a sixteenth place finish, and it took him all of ten rounds and a series-leading five wins to wrestle it away from the resurrected Rockstar Energy pilot Davi Millsaps. After round six in San Diego, RV was twenty-seven points behind Millsaps, but over the last four rounds, the two-time defending 450SX champ has won three races and finished second in the only race in which he did not light the candles at the finish. With that, Villopoto now has the #1 over the red background in Indy and a two-point lead over Millsaps. RV is well-known for being able to raise the intensity when needed, and he has done just that at the halfway point of the 2013 season.

Davi Millsaps has been introduced with the red plate all year. Can he get it back in Indy. Photo: Suzuki Racing
Davi Millsaps has been introduced with the red plate since round two. Can he get it back in Indy? Photo: Suzuki Racing

Just two rounds ago, Davi Millsaps was by far the most consistent rider in the series—with a series-leading seven podiums over the first eight rounds—had a fairly comfortable twenty-two point lead in the championship and had us all believing he just might win this championship. But as this series has taught us so many times before, things can and usually will change at the blink of an eye.  The loss of Davi’s points-lead started in St. Louis where Davi got his first bad start of the year, hurt his arm in a collision with Muscle Milk/Honda’s Trey Canard and finished sixth. At the time, that was the worst finish for Davi in 2013, but things got even worse heading into Daytona.

It was reported that Davi crashed while practicing the Wednesday before Daytona and tweaked his knee. If there is any round you need to be 100% healthy for it is the brutal thirty-minute main event on the Daytona International Speedway infield SX circuit. Davi was obviously hurting, and the tip-over after a horrible start in the Daytona main event didn’t help. The best the #18 could do under the circumstances was a tenth place finish which, with RV’s win, cost him fourteen points and the red plate he’s had since his win at Anaheim 1. The bottom line is that every champion in this series has faced their fair share of adversity and, what makes them great, is how they react to it. This week will be huge for Millsaps and will definitely let us all know if he actually believes what we were beginning to believe a couple weeks ago. It’s my opinion that this is Davi Millsaps’ week to prove he is a champion.

At Daytona Dungey used his fitness, not aggression to make his way up to finish 2nd. Unfortunately for the #5 Daytona is the only round where fitness is at a premium. Photo: KTM Images - Simon Cudby
At Daytona Dungey used his fitness, not aggression, to make his way up to finish 2nd. Unfortunately for the #5, Daytona is the only round where fitness is at a premium. Photo: KTM Images – Simon Cudby

One man we already know is a champion and is definitely going to be a huge part of this one from now until the Las Vegas finale is Red Bull/KTM’s Ryan Dungey. Not only did Davi’s off-weeks help RV, but they also vaulted Dungey much closer to the top of the standings. After the #5’s second place finish last weekend in Daytona, he now sits in third, just fourteen points behind the #1 in the Championship points. My only issue with Dungey, though, is his lack of aggression and intensity. With RV back on his game, it is going to take more than consistency to win this title; it’s going to take wins. And to get wins with the depth and intensity of this field, you need to have the kill-or-be-killed mentality of a Villopoto. While RV’s wins have come from fights to the front, Dungey’s only win came from getting a great start and checking out. My only question is can Dungey check out of his comfort zone and live life on the edge for a while?

After Dungey in third, it is a long way back to the two Hondas tied for fourth and fifth in the points. Both Two-Two Motorsports/Honda’s Chad Reed and Muscle Milk/Honda’s Trey Canard come into round number eleven with 163 points on their scorecards. Those points put them each thirty-nine points behind Villopoto and make them huge long shots for the 2013 450 SX Championship, but they also make them very dangerous as well, especially Reedy.

Reed has come alive over the last two rounds and, despite his fifth place in Daytona last week, has shown he is finally getting back to that happy place with his bike.  Heading into St Louis, Reed ditched the air-forks for his conventional 2012 spiring set-up, and in St. Louis, he battled for the lead before finishing with his second podium of the year. In Daytona, he had the speed again—qualifying third heading into the night show—but a bad start and a huge get-off relegated him to a fifth place finish in the main. I will be surprised if we don’t see the #22 near the front this weekend in Indy, and with Canard still looking a bit off, I will also be surprised if Reed does not take over sole possession of fourth in the points.

This part of the race has been the key to success all year long. Photo: Suzuki Racing
This part of the race has been the key to success all year long. Photo: Suzuki Racing

Probably the two most dangerous riders not in the 2013 championship race sit sixth and seventh in the points standings. Both Muscle Milk Honda’s Justin Barcia and Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart have little to no chance at this Championship, but both have a win a piece in the 2013 series. It is crazy that, this far into a championship series, we have six or seven possible winners on the line, but that is what is making this season so special. Last weekend in Daytona, Barcia had the speed to win, but he was not able to stay with the incredible fitness of the #5 and #1. As far as James, in Daytona he was never a factor at the front due to a crash he attributed to tire choice. In the end, Bam Bam scored his fourth podium of his rookie year, and Bubba finished with a uncharacteristic eighth in Daytona. With good starts in Indy this weekend, one of these wildcards could grab their second win of the year.

Overall, the first ten rounds of the 2013 450SX Supercross Championship have been a roller coaster ride. We have seen five different winners over the first ten main events, a first-time rookie winner, the resurrection of a seven-year veteran, a 250SX West rider leading a main event and a past champion coming back from a huge points deficit to reclaim his spot at the top of the standings. The only thing that could make it even crazier in Indy is if Eli Tomac—in his last 450 race before jumping back on the 250 for the West—can become the sixth winner of 2013. After his solid fourth in Daytona, it looks entirely possible. Whatever you do, do not miss the Indianapolis SX on Saturday night.

To hear podcast interviews with Josh Hill and Broc Tickle from Indianapolis SX press day today, CLICK HERE

Check out the 2013 Indy SX Animated Track Map below.

450SX Class Season Standings

  1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 202
  2. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 200
  3. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 188
  4. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda, 163
  5. Chad Reed, Australia, Honda, 163
  6. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda, 152
  7. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki, 135
  8. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM, 122
  9. Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha, 104
  10. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki, 99
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Photo from inside the Lucas Oil Stadium on Thurday. Photo: Chase Yocom

450SX Class Results: Daytona

  1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
  2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
  3. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda
  4. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda
  5. Chad Reed, Australia, Honda
  6. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda
  7. Ken Roczen, Germany, KTM
  8. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki
  9. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki
  10. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
Author

Dan Lamb is a 12+ year journalist and the owner of MotoXAddicts.