Photo: Brian Robinette
Leading the way into round one with a bright red background on proudly displayed behind the #1 on his plate is the 2011 Eastern Regional Lites Supercross Champion, GEICO Powersports/Honda’s Justin Barcia. If you are going to pick a Championship favorite in 2012 you have to start with the man they call “Bam Bam.” In 2011, despite racing most of the series with a broken wrist, Justin brought pure speed with him to every race, and more important, he brought incredible consistency. Although Barcia has been called erratic at times, the term simply did not apply in the case of his 2011 Supercross campaign. Overall, Justin finished 2011 with a perfect podium streak that included three wins, five seconds and only one third place finish at the finale in Las Vegas. If ever there was a clinic put on about the perfect recipe for a championship, that would be it. Look for more of the same from Justin in 2012 unless somebody else decides to step up.
While Barcia is considered the favorite, there are a myriad of contenders in the East who could step up and knock the #1 back a notch a two. Below is the team list and the riders we know will be riding the East Coast Lites series.
GEICO Powersports/Honda
Team Manager: Mike LaRocco
#1 Justin Barcia – * Defending 2011 Eastern Regional Lites Champion
#49 Justin Bogle
#69 Jimmy Decotis – We talked with Jimmy today, and he is healthy and riding, but no word on a return date.
Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki
Team Manager: Mitch Payton
#12 Blake Baggett – We talked to Blake last week. You can read the interview here »
#35 Darryn Durham
Factory KTM/Red Bull
Team Manager Roger DeCoster
#70 Ken Roczen
DNA Shred Stix / Star Racing /Valli Motorsports/Rockstar/Yamaha
Team Manager: Doug Schopinsky
#19 Kyle Cunningham
#96 Kyle Peters
JDR Motorsports/JStar/KTM
Team Manager: Nathan Ramsey
#37 Malcolm Stewart
#927 PJ Larsen
Rockstar Energy/Suzuki
#126 Hunter Hewitt
#956 Blake Wharton – We talked with Wharton last week. You can read interview here »
Dragon Racing Fuels/AG Motorsports/Cernics KTM
#40 Gannon Audette
MotoConcepts
#57 Jake Canada
#78 Tommy Weeck – Lites/250
Team Ohlins USA
Team Manager Grant Langston
#46 Les Smith – Lites/250
#86 Taylor Futrell – Lites/250
# ? A.J. Cantenzaro – Lites/250
Team Tedder-Monster Energy Racing
#133 Myles Tedder
#165 Dakota Tedder
Munn Racing KTM/Moto Innovations
#55 Lance Vincent
#99 Sean Hackley Jr
Eleven-10 Mods/Renegade Fuels
Team Manager Allen Picard
#30 Alex Martin
#? Phil Nicoletti
Team Sakai Racing
#140 Johnny Moore
Honda of Troy/Killbarger Racing
#412 Levi Kilbarger
Suzuki City
#? Zach Freeburg
C4MX Racing Honda
# ? Austin Politelli
HRT
#60 Matt Lemoine – Lites/250
# ? Nick Meyers – Lites/250
Violation1.com/Shea Racing/Travisa/National Switchgear Powered by SMS Racing
#68 Shane Sewell
#505 Sean Lipanovich
#? Jeremy Huddleston
Full on privateers
#? Justin Starling
#? James Justice
2012 Top 100 and Career National Numbers for Supercross and Motocross
*Career Numbers
**New Career Numbers for 2012
1 (SX/450MX): Ryan Villopoto
1 (250 MX): Dean Wilson
1 (SX Lites West): Broc Tickle
1 (SX Lites East): Justin Barcia
2*: Ryan Villopoto
3*: Mike Brown
5*: Ryan Dungey
7*: James Stewart
9*: Ivan Tedesco
10*: Justin Brayton
11*: Kyle Chisholm
12**: Blake Baggett
14*: Kevin Windham
15*: Dean Wilson
16*: John Dowd
17: Eli Tomac
18*: David Millsaps
19: Kyle Cunningham
20: Justin Barcia
21: Jake Weimer
22*: Chad Reed
23: Gareth Swanepoel
24*: Brett Mecalfe
25: Broc Tickle
26*: Michael Byrne
27*: Nicholas Wey
28*: Tyla Rattray
29*: Andrew Short
30: Alex Martin
31: Martin Davalos
32: Tommy Hahn
33*: Joshua Grant
34: Cole Seely
35: Darryn Durham
36: Kyle Regal
37: Malcom Stewart
38: Marvin Musquin
39: Tye Simmonds
40: Gannon Audette
41*: Trey Canard
42: Ricky Dietrich
43: Christian Craig
44: Jason Anderson
45: Nick Paluzzi
46: Les Smith
47: Chris Blose
48: Jimmy Albertson
49: Justin Bogle
50: Nico Izzi
51: Travis Baker
52: Ben Lamay
53: Ryan Sipes
54: Weston Peick
55: Lance Vincent
56: Austin Stroupe
57: Jake Canada
58: Will Hahn
59: Vince Friese
60: Matthew Lemoine
61: Austin Howell
62: Travis Sewell
63: Colton Facciotti
64: Matt Boni
65: Ryan Morais
66: Jason Thomas
67: Scott Champion
68: Shane Sewell
69: Jimmy DeCotis
70: Ken Roczen
71: Kevin Rookstool
72: Jarred Jet Browne
73: Joshua Clark
74: Tyler Bowers
75*: Josh Hill
76: Calle Aspergren
77: Lowell Spangler
78: Tommy Weeck
79: Tyler Medaglia
80: Kyle Keylon
81: Robert Kiniry
82: Justin Sipes
83: Kyle Partridge
84: Killian Rusk
85: Robert Marshall
86: Taylor Futrell
87: Matt Goerke
88: Ben Evans
89: Tyler Bright
90: Bryce Vallee
91: Dalton Carlson
92: Hunter Clements
93: AJ Catanzaro
94: Cole Siebler
95: Chris Plouffe
96: Kyle Peters
97: Jeremy Medaglia
98: Tye Hames
99: Sean Hackley Jr
377*: Christophe Pourcel
800*: Mike Alessi
