Round four of the Monster Energy AMA East Region Lites series pulled into Indianapolis, Indiana’s Lucas Oil Stadium and brought with them three different winners from the first three rounds. The 2011 crop of young Lites riders look to be a new breed that are reminding us all why we love the sport of SX. With more than the standard two or three riders on the gate that believe they can win, we have been treated to a year of firsts and best-evers like no other. Because of this fact, we have seen seven different riders on that top step, and there are still more who believe they belong there.

Ryan Sipes was blistering fast in practice, with only James Stewart on a 450f being able to top his time in the first session.

Ryan Sipes was blistering fast in practice, with only James Stewart on a 450f being able to top his time in the first session. It was obvious from the first practice that Sipes was on a mission in Indy. Photo by Brian Robinette.

One of those riders is DNA Shred Stix/Star Racing/Yamaha’s Ryan Sipes. In the early qualifying sessions Saturday afternoon, only James Stewart on his 450 topped Ryan’s lap times. Ryan came to Indy on a mission and displayed that by crushing the field in the early sessions by over a full second and staying on top of the scoring tower through session two. After the final sessions were complete, it was Ryan Sipes still on top with only Monster/ProCircuit/Kawasaki’s Dean Wilson and GEICO Powersports/Honda’s Justin Barcia able to stay within one second of the number twenty-five’s lap times. In forth was Team MotoExtreme/Kawasaki’s Matt Lemoine with GEICO Powersports’ second rider, Blake Wharton, rounding out the top five.

As day turned into night outside of the enclosed stadium, the anticipation of a possible fourth winner seemed more real than ever as three of the top five qualifying times would come from riders without wins in 2011. Could one of those three win or would Barcia, Wilson or Blake Baggett claim a second win? We would soon find out.

Blake Baggett would pick up right where he left off in Daytona in Heat One in Indy.

Blake Baggett would pick up right where he left off in Daytona in Heat 1 in Indy. Photo by Brian Robinette.

Heat 1
Heat 1 would put two of the three winners from 2011 on display with Monster/ProCircuit/Kawasaki riders Blake Baggett and Dean Wilson rolling to the line. When the gate fell, it was the Daytona winner Baggett leading the way with Eleventeen Mods sponsored Alex Martin and two rookies, Suzuki City’s Malcolm Stewart and Star Racing’s Gannon Audette, chasing. Blake would pick right up where he left off in Daytona and sprint out to a dominant lead, easily taking the Heat 1 win. Stewart would not make the rookie mistakes he has been struggling with all year and would finish second, while Dean Wilson—who struggled off the gate—would charge all six laps and finish third.

Heat 1 Qualifiers
1 57 Blake Baggett
2 139 Malcolm Stewart
3 15 Dean Wilson
4 46 Alex Martin
6 48 Matthew Lemoine
7 89 Taylor Futrell
8 583 Tyler Sjoberg
9 94 Ricky Renner

Heat 2
Heat 2 was on the line, and on the gate was the East Region points-leader and the man who was fastest in qualifying. When Heat 2 launched off the gate, it was Justin Barcia and his GEICO/Honda snagging the holeshot; a sneaky Sipes, who went from about fifth going into turn-one to second coming out, followed closely behind. PJ Larsen was also close behind the two early on but suffered a spectacular get-off and found himself in the line up for the LCQ.

"The Rev Limiter" Justin Barcia would hold it wide open longer than anyone else going into the first turn in Heat 2.

“The Rev Limiter” Justin Barcia would hold it wide open longer than anyone else going into the first turn in Heat 2. Photo by Brian Robinette.

Sipes, who is the elder to most the young guns in the class, has seemed to struggle to be aggressive enough to get around guys like Barcia, but in this heat, he would get the job done. Sipes would make the pass on Barcia, which appeared to rattle the younger rider because just as Sipes went by, Barcia would go down. Sipes would–with little effort after that–easily win the heat, while Barcia would remount and ride her in for second.

Heat 2 Qualifiers
1 25 Ryan Sipes
17 Justin Barcia
3 65 Hunter Hewitt
4 42 Nico Izzi
5 304 Bradley Ripple
6 156 Jason Anderson
7 44 Les Smith
8 918 Michael Akaydin
9 714 Shawn Rife

Justin Sipes, the younger brother of Ryan, would find himself in the gas card position in the LCQ for the 2nd time this year after a solid thirteenth in Daytona last week. Ryan says if Justin can bring his practice speed to the races he could be a real threat sooner than later.

Justin Sipes, the younger brother of Ryan, would find himself in the gas card position in the LCQ for the 2nd time this year after a solid thirteenth in Daytona last week. Ryan says if Justin can bring his practice speed to the races he could be a real threat sooner than later. Photo by Brian Robinette.

LCQ
Blake Wharton, like at Atlanta SX a couple weeks ago, found himself in the LCQ raining on the parade of the privateers hoping to make the Main. Joining Blake this week in the LCQ was PJ Larsen, after his get-off in his heat race. Both Wharton and Larsen would not get the start they needed but—after battling past early leader Sean Lipanovich—would both put their bikes in the Main Event.

LCQ Results
1 21 Blake Wharton
2 927 PJ Larsen

Moto Extreme/Kawasaki’s Matt Lemoine was fast all day qualifying fourth and would continue to impress in the night

Moto Extreme/Kawasaki’s Matt Lemoine was fast all day qualifying fourth and would continue to impress in the night’s Main Event. Photo by Brian Robinette.

Main Event
The most dominant riders of the night heading into the Lites Main Event were Blake Baggett and Ryan Sipes, but it would be anyone’s guess who would step up to the plate. When the gate dropped for the fourth Main Event of the East Region unleashing twenty hungry 250f’s, it was the Monster/PC rider Blake Baggett that grabbed his fourth-straight holeshot and his second of the night in Indy. Sipes also got off to a great start and would instantly latch onto Baggett’s rear wheel, bringing third place Justin Barcia with him.

B.B. King and Sipes both had a confident swagger to them all day long and kept that ball rolling early in the Main as they rode away—even from Barcia—early in the race. Behind Barcia were three guys that have had the speed all year but have been plagued with mistakes: Matt Lemoine, Malcolm Stewart and PJ Larsen were a solid fourth, fifth and sixth, but lost touch with the top three very early. The key this night would be that all three would avoid falling over that edge as they have all year long and, other than swapping a position or two, would hold strong. The Houston SX winner, Wilson, was at the tail end of that pack for a minute, but would have some issues trying to get by. Dean seems to try a bit too hard to make up for bad starts quickly and, just like a week ago in Daytona, it did nothing but make matters worse for the young Scotsman.

Malcolm Stewart would put the past behind him and ride a very consistent Main Event for his best ever finish in a SX.

Malcolm Stewart would put the past behind him and ride a very consistent Main Event for his best ever finish in a SX. Photo by Brian Robinette.

While Dean was back in ninth with a ton of work ahead of him, Sipes had begun to grow tired of second spot and was putting a full-court press on Baggett for the lead. Just like he had done to Barcia in Heat 2, Sipes would pressure Baggett and force him into an uncharacteristic mistake. Under pressure, Baggett would hit two tough-blocks in about thirty feet of track, and the second tough block would take him down. Baggett would quickly remount in third, but both Sipes and Barcia were pretty far gone by the time he got going again.

Sipes would extend his lead over Barcia for the next four laps, but as the race wound down it seemed like Sipes had begun to realize he might win his first-ever Main. With three laps to go, Barcia was now in striking distance, but Sipes would not to be denied on this night. In SX, if you have not won an AMA race at twenty-six years old, you’re probably not going. Well, Ryan Sipes didn’t get that memo because despite Barcia’s best efforts–including a last ditch attempt at a T-bone–Sipes was able to win his first-ever AMA professional race. Barcia and Baggett would hold on to complete the podium. Congratulations are also due to Stewart and Lemoine who both held on for their best finishes in Indy.

The Indy SX was Ryan Sipes’ night, and despite a late race charge from Barcia, he would hang on for that once in a lifetime first-race win.

The Indy SX was Ryan Sipes’ night, and despite a late race charge from Barcia, he would hang on for that once in a lifetime first-race win. Photo by Brian Robinette.

There is nothing the sport of SX needs more than first wins and best-ever finishes, and Sipes’ first-ever win in Indy may go down in the 2011 books as one of the most inspiring of the year. At the age of twenty-six, Sipes has had more than his share of ups and downs, with injuries and some rough luck.  Through it all, though, he has always kept his chin up, smiled and given 100% every time he’s been on the track. DNA Shred Stix/Star Racing/Yamaha may have taken a chance on Ryan’s results, but win or lose, they knew they were going to get 100%, and that is worth his weight in gold in this sport.

Main Event Results
1 25 Ryan Sipes
2 17 Justin Barcia
3 57 Blake Baggett
4 139 Malcolm Stewart
5 48 Matthew Lemoine
6 15 Dean Wilson
7 21 Blake Wharton
8 927 P Larsen
9 46 Alex Martin
10 44 Les Smith
11 533 Gannon Audette
12 304 Bradley Ripple
13 89 Taylor Futrell
14 94 Ricky Renner
15 918 Michael Akaydin
16 42 Nico Izzi
17 583 Tyler Sjoberg
18 156 Jason Anderson
19 714 Shawn Rife
20 65 Hunter Hewitt

Can a man really look any happier than Ryan Sipes does here?

Can a man really look any happier than Ryan does here? Photo by Brian Robinette.

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Author

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