Photo: KTM Images – Hoppenworld
The 2013 Monster Energy Supercross, an FIM World Champion Series, has two rounds in the bank, and we are starting to get an idea of where everyone is at for the new year. In the 450SX Class, it is becoming clear that the riders we know as the “Big 4″—Ryan Villopoto, Chad Reed, James Stewart and Ryan Dungey—are no longer the only riders we will look to for wins. In fact, in the first two rounds, none of the Big 4 have scored a win and only two have even managed to find the podium. Instead, it was Rockstar/Suzuki’s Davi Millsaps at Anaheim 1 and Muscle Milk/Honda’s Justin Barcia in Phoenix scoring the W at the first two rounds of the series.
In Phoenix last weekend, the 450SX main event was outright dominated by a kid that goes by the name Bam Bam. Justin Barcia got the name Bam Bam for his aggressive riding style that lead to many a front wheel being taken out in the 250SX class, but in Phoenix, nobody got close to the kid. Justin grabbed the holeshot and rode away to an unchallenged main event win in only the second 450SX main event of his career. The kid is looking solid in his rookie campaign, and if not for a mistake late in the A1 main event, his red bike would be decorated with a red plate already. For those thinking it was just a fluke brought on by a holeshot and a crash by Monster/Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto, I think you are going to soon realize your mistake. The #51 is in the house and will be fighting for wins all the way to Vegas.
Check out the 2013 Anaheim 2 Supercross Animated Track Map
While I think it is only a matter of time before the Villopotos, Reeds, Stewarts and Dungeys of the SX world find the top spot of the box, for now, the man with the red plate heading into A2 is Millsaps. Davi rocked the industry when he grabbed the win at A1, and he continued surprising in Phoenix when he backed his win up with a podium. His third did come by way of a late race mistake by Trey Canard, but that’s racing, and with that third, the #18 will once again be laid over a red background. Davi said after the Phoenix main event that he was sketched out and not feeling very comfortable on the Phoenix circuit. If off nights are netting him podiums, we have to still consider him a championship threat.
Sitting third in the points after the first two rounds is MuscleMilk/Honda’s Trey Canard. Coming into ’13—returning from two broken femurs, a broken collarbone and a broken back—the #41 was a huge question mark. At round one, though, that question mark was swapped out for an exclamation point. He erased that question mark by coming just one lap away from winning A1 and backed it up by nearly grabbing a second and the red plate in Phoenix. Trey was running second with Villopoto pressuring him when, on the final lap, he threw it away with a minor tip-over. It is now painfully obvious to the Big 4 that there are three riders joining their exclusive winners club, and Trey is one of them.
So far, the only member of the Big 4 that looks on point with his speed is Ryan Villopoto. The two-time defending champ still looks like the man to beat in my eyes, the problem being that his mistakes have been plenty over the first two main events. At A1, the #1 had two huge get-offs and finished 16th, and in Phoenix, he had another crash that I think cost him the win. He was, by far, the fastest man in the building in Phoenix, but when you lay down your machine in 2013, you will not win. When will Ryan win, then? I’m going to say this Saturday night, and as Steve Matthes would say, “Stamp it.”
While guys like Villopoto and Dungey have both scored podiums, two of the previous SX champions are simply off the pace and, therefore, off the box. Yoshimura/Suzuki’s James Stewart and Two-Two Motorsports/Honda’s Chad Reed have both kept it on two-wheels for all forty laps of 2013, but neither have a podium to show for it. The story on Stewart is a tweaked knee, so we at least know there is a real problem there. With Reedy, though, he just does not look like himself. The word is that he has been struggling with setup on the 2013 CRF, and Reedy has always been a rider that relies more on comfort than any other factor. Also, over the last few years, Reed has been like a wind up toy that takes a few rounds to get fully wound. The bottom line is, even with Reedy looking way off the pace and not being comfortable, he has found a way to finish forth twice and is only nine points out of the championship lead. I think the next few rounds will be telling for the #22.
As far as Stewart goes, I am not sure how much longer we will be seeing him in 2013. Rumors of a torn ACL are beginning to look true, and while it looks like he wants to do everything he can to ride through it, I cannot see him accepting top 10’s. We’ll see what happens, but I would be surprised if east coast SX fans get a chance to watch the #7 race this year. Hopefully I am wrong, because the series is a lot better with him in it.
*Edit – Right after we posted this it was confirmed that James in fact does have a torn ACL, but will continue to race SX. Check out “James Stewart Injury Update – Torn ACL”
Back in fifth place in the points after two rounds is Red Bull/KTM’s Ryan Dungey. The 2010 450SX SX champ has a third and an eighth place finish in the books for 2013, and he has me scratching my head so far in ’13. One minute, he looks great—racing with Millsaps and Canard for the main event win at A1—and the next he looks way off, riding around in 2nd for the entire LCQ in Phoenix. The KTM team has been back and forth with a new, innovative air shock, and that indecisiveness may be playing games with Mr Dungey. Nothing against Jimmy Albertson—he rode great—but it was strange to see Dungey ride around behind him for six laps in the Phoenix SX LCQ. Champions do not finish second in LCQ’s.
The biggest slight on Ryan has been his lack of aggression, and in past SX seasons, he has been able to get away with it because there were only a couple of riders who could battle with him. In 2013, though, there are a solid 10 riders who could podium and at least seven that can win. On top of that, the talent is younger and a lot more aggressive. Waiting for an opportunity will not fly with this generation. You have to create your own opportunities against this kind of young depth. Will Ryan win races? Yes, if he gets a start, but I cannot see him getting a 6th place start behind Bam Bam, Villopoto, Canard, Millsaps and Reed and winning with his style. This season is incredible, and it will not be the best man that wins, but the best man with the least friends.
Next stop: Anaheim 2.
450SX Class Points
For Full Championship Points Standings, Click Here
1. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki – 45
2. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda – 39
3. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda – 38
4. Chad Reed, Australia, Honda – 36
5. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM – 33
6. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki – 31
7. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Honda – 27
8. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda – 27
9. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki – 27
10. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha – 21
Check out the 2013 Anaheim 2 Supercross “Dynamic View” Animated Track Map
