One of the greatest wars to ever be waged in AMA SX history is happening right before our eyes in the 2011 Monster Energy AMA Supercross series,and the next battle will take place at Daytona International Speedway. The Daytona International Speedway has been letting the best Supercross riders on the planet tear up the infield since 1971, and has been a staple on the AMA Supercross schedule ever since.
Monster Energy SX got a little Daytona sand preview last week in Atlanta. Photo by Brian Robinette.
Over the years, Daytona has been known as the only motocross-style Supercross track and by far the most brutal supercross on the schedule. Only the toughest of the tough have been able to lay claim to the Daytona SX crown, and that is why MX greats like Roger Decoster, Marty Tripes, David Bailey, Jeff Stanton and, of course, Ricky Carmichael have all left their marks on the famed infield of Daytona with wins. Of the current greats in the Supercross Class, there are four riders who have been man enough to win the Daytona SX. Chad Reed, James Stewart, Kevin Windham and last year’s winner Ryan Villopoto have all been able to suffer through 20 laps on the Daytona SX and come out victorious.
For the fourth straight year, “The G.O.A.T.” Ricky Carmichael will put his personal touch on Daytona by designing the famed circuit, so mastering the track will be no easy feat. To win in Daytona, riders need to do more than just be the best of the best at SX. The sandy Daytona soil brings a huge element of outdoor motocross to the table. Lap times in the past have usually run well over a minute—making the race much longer than a regular SX—but with live TV time restrictions, the powers that be have focused on keeping lap times down near 1 minute. Either way, the sandy Florida soil creates more ruts, whoops, breaking bumps, and square edge kickers than any mortal man would want to face while flying 80 feet over a big triple. Whoever wins this week will definitely be a man’s man, earning the hard fought right to call himself a Daytona SX winner.
A rejuvenated Reed comes to Daytona to rule the world! Photo by Brian Robinette.
As the top riders drive into Daytona’s pits, they carry with them a mother-load of drama. The last few weeks have been absolute chaos, and we should expect nothing less in Daytona on Saturday night. SanManuel/JSE/Yamaha pilot James Stewart and TwoTwo Motorsports/ProCircuit rider Chad Reed showed that old rivalries die hard when they took it to each other last week like never before. Reedy, after winning in San Diego, showed up in Atlanta with a point to prove and did just that. The former two-time champ passed Stewart straight up and led until the white flag. That’s when all hell broke loose between he and Mr. Stewart. Stewart talked to SPEED TV early this week and here’s what he had to say:
Tune in Saturday night to SPEED TV for part two of JS7, CR22 rivalry renewed.
The winner of the Atlanta SX, when all the smoke cleared, was Ryan Villopoto. The Monster Energy/Kawasaki current points-leader got a gift in Atlanta and surely hopes that the Stewart/Reed rivalry turns into the gift that keeps on giving. RV2 went from two points down to ten points up when CR22 and JS7 came together and will look to extend that points-lead in Daytona. Ryan has been an outdoor specialist his entire career and showed that last year by easily running away with the 2010 Daytona Supercross crown. If ever there was a Supercross at which RV2 should be considered a favorite, the Daytona Supercross is it. Look for RV2 to be in the hunt for round nine.
RV2 banked win three in Atlanta and is primed to defend his 2010 Daytona SX win this Saturday. Photo by Brian Robinette.
Also, keep an eye out for the up front regulars, Ryan Dungey and Trey Canard. Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Dungey was a close second to RV2 at Daytona last year and easily won the 2010 outdoor crown. RD1 has been on the podium this year now six out of the eight rounds and, with four runner up finishes, is chomping at the bit to get that first win of 2011 on the books. Factory Honda’s Trey Canard also won an outdoor title in 2010 in the 250 Class, so we know he has outdoor skills. He has also won the Daytona SX in the Lites Class, back in 2008 at the famous Daytona SX mudder. Trey already has one Supercross win under his belt this year and will be poised to put number two on the board this weekend.
1 2 Ryan Villopoto 171
2 7 James Stewart 161
3 22 Chad Reed 150
4 41 Trey Canard 146
5 1 Ryan Dungey 145
Dean Wilson won his first ever SX last week in Atlanta and Pro Circuits 200th SX win. Photo by Brian Robinette.
With all the craziness that has gone on in the Supercross Class this year, the incredible battles in the Lites divisions have been somewhat overshadowed. In eight rounds of Lites AMA Supercross races, there have been six different winners in the East and West regions combined. Round three of the East Region will be in Daytona, and we’ll soon see if they can make it three winners in only three rounds.
So far, the series has seen GEICO Powersports/Honda madman Justin Barcia and Monster/ProCircuit/Kawasaki’s Dean Wilson split the first two rounds with Wilson’s PC teammate Blake Baggett acquiring the third spot on the podium both weeks. Barcia and Wilson each have a first and a second place finish under their belts and come into Daytona tied in the points for the top spot. Barcia reportedly picked up a wrist injury in Atlanta during early qualifying but held on to finish second, and his health is the only question as of right now. What Wilson picked up in Atlanta was his first-ever SX win and a head full of competition-killing confidence. Look for those two to battle until the last checkered flag of the year for the 2011 East crown. Baggett, meanwhile, has banked two podiums this year, and will also be looking to deposit his first win of 2011 at the Daytona Speedway. “B.B. King” is looking great on his new Monster Energy/ProCircuit ride and should be a man to watch all year long.
“B.B. King” has occupied the 3rd step on the box for two straight rounds. Look for Blake to start his journey to the top step in Daytona. Photo by Brian Robinette.
Also looking for his first win of the year is Star Racing veteran Ryan Sipes. Sipes was extremely fast at the first two rounds in qualifying–qualifying first in both–and wants to transfer that blistering speed into the Main Event in Daytona. At round one, he came one run-in with Wharton away from the podium, and in Atlanta, mistakes were aplenty while battling with Wilson, Bagget and Barcia for second position. Sipes seemed to have the speed in Atlanta, but just was not willing to make the aggressive moves needed to get by the pack in front of him. If he wants to complete his goal of being a Lites SX champ, Sipes is going to need to minimize the mistakes and aggressively go after the young stars of the class.
Yet another guy to look for in Daytona is Blake Wharton. The GEICO Powersports/Honda man they call “Slash” seems to have a SX black cloud following him at times. I talked to Blake earlier this week, and Blake jokingly said in a way that only Blake could say, “If I have a black cloud following me, it’s raining down purple rain.” Blake should have won the Atlanta SX, but a small late-race mishap ended his hope for the win. Look for Slash and his purple rain to rain down on the Lites class in Daytona.
Follow @dandunes818 and @MXAddicts_com for any and all racing news and info. Also, check out this week’s interviews: Chris Blose explains his part in the Stewart/Reed drama in Atlanta and Tyla Rattray tells MotoXAddicts about his career since leaving South Africa at the age of sixteen.
Slash and his cloud of “purple rain” fly into Daytona this week! Photo by Brian Robinette.
1 Justin Barcia 47
2 Dean Wilson 47
3 Blake Baggett 40
4 Ryan Sipes 34
5 Blake Wharton 33
Both classes are shaping up for an epic battle at this week’s SX in Daytona. The race will be televised live on SPEED TV, so grab a drink, pull up your favorite chair, and prepare to see an all-out war.
Check out Andrew Short’s video blog on Atlanta SX from his site.
