Photo by: Matt Rice
Villopoto Clinches Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship Tonight at Reliant Stadium
HOUSTON (March 31, 2012) – Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto, of Poulsbo, Wash., clinched his second Supercross Class Championship tonight at the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, at Reliant Stadium in front of 48,962 fans. Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen, of Murrieta, Calif., captured his first Western Regional Supercross Lites Class win of the season.
JGRMX/Toyota/Yamaha’s Davi Millsaps, of Murrieta, Calif., opened the Supercross Class with the Nuclear Cowboyz® Holeshot Award but was quickly passed by Villopoto. Star/Valli/Yamaha’s Bobby Kiniry, of Holland Patent, N.Y., secured the number-three spot on the opening lap but was passed by Motoconcepts Suzuki’s Mike Alessi, of Hilliard, Fla., on Lap 2.
Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer, of Rupert, Idaho, passed Alessi on Lap 3 and held this position to lock in his second third-place finish of the season. Millsaps picked up his second runner-up finish of the season.
“It’s huge,” said Villopoto. “There is a lot of hard work that went into this, and I am only one piece of the pie; the whole Monster Energy Kawasaki team has worked very hard all year to help me make this happen.”
Millsaps moved into third place in Supercross Class point standings.
“I want to congratulate Ryan (Villopoto) on his championship; he rode great all year,” said Millsaps. “It was slippery out there all day, so you had to choose your lines wisely. I am excited to be back up on the podium.”
In the Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class Main Event, GIECO Honda’s Justin Barcia, of Ochlocknee, Ga., won the Nuclear Cowboyz Holeshot Award with Roczen and Rockstar Energy Racing’s Blake Wharton, of Pilot Point, Texas, following in second and third, respectively. Roczen passed Barcia on the opening lap, and one lap later, Barcia re-passed him to take over the lead.
On Lap 7, Blake Baggett, of Grand Terrace, Calif., moved around Wharton to take over third place. On his way to what was expected to be his sixth win of the season, Barcia collided with another rider on the final lap of the race and crashed. He re-entered the race and finished second. This allowed Roczen to move into the lead and ride to the second victory of his career.
“This is so awesome,” said Roczen. “This is not how I want to win a race. Justin (rode a great race and was really fast tonight, so it is unfortunate that he crashed. I am super happy to be back on top of the box.”
Barcia still leads the championship points race by 32 points over Wharton.
“I don’t know what I can say,” said Barcia. “There is nothing I could do about the crash. I will fight through this and be back in New Orleans.”
CBS will broadcast the Supercross class race at 12:00pm EST tomorrow, April 1, 2012.
Supercross Class Results: Houston
Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki
Mike Alessi, Hillard, Fla., Suzuki
Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
Robert Kiniry, Holland Patent, NY, Yamaha
Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki
Nico Izzi, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha
Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Kawasaki
Josh Grant, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki
Supercross Class Season Standings
Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki – 296
Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM – 192
Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha – 191
Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Honda – 181
James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha – 178
Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki – 170
Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda – 166
Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki – 154
Mike Alessi, Hilliard, Fla., Suzuki – 154
Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Honda – 128
Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class Results: Houston
Ken Roczen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda
Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki
Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Suzuki
Phillip Nicoletti, Cochecton, NY, Honda
Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda
Jake Canada, Sun City, Calif., Honda
Darryn Durham, Butler, Pa, Kawasaki
Justin Bogle, Cushing, Okla., Honda
Matthew Lemoine, Collinsville, Texas, Kawasaki
Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class Season Standings
Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda – 167
Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Suzuki – 135
Ken Roczen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM – 127
Darryn Durham, Butler, Pa., Kawasaki – 118
Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki – 106
Jake Canada, Sun City, Calif., Honda – 104
Justin Bogle, Cushing, Okla., Honda – 87
Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda – 65
Matthew Lemoine, Collinsville, Texas, Kawasaki – 57
Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., KTM – 55
