Weekend Wrap-Up: Detroit Supercross

Weekend Wrap-Up is a weekly series by MotoXAddicts’ Dan Lamb and Nolan MacDonald wrapping up the highlights and lowlights from the weekend’s racing action.

For the eleventh round of Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, the series headed back to Detroit, Michigan for the first time since 2008. The racing picked right back up in Detroit with a decent fan turnout and, of course, the very popular old-school Pontiac grandstand section. In the 450SX class, it was Yoshimura/Suzuki’s James Stewart running away from Monster/Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto for his third win of the year, and in the 250SX class, it was Monster/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo again taking advantage of mistakes by his teammate Martin Davalos and winning his third of the year. In the end, Cianciarulo left Detroit with a solid 17-point lead over Davalos, while Villopoto is comfy up front with 30 points over Red Bull/KTM’s Ryan Dungey.

Justin Bogle Enters the Fight

– Dan Lamb

With the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki sweeping the podium at two rounds and sweeping the top two spots at every round heading into Detroit, frustration had to be seeping into the GEICO Powersports/Honda team’s mindset. After winning an SX Championship in 2011, sweeping East and West SX Championships in 2012 and winning the East in 2013, championships had become the norm for the GEICO squad, but in 2014 up until Detroit, their best finish was a third so far on both coasts. Well, in Detroit, Justin Bogle not only broke that streak with a second place finish, but he also kept the pressure on Cianciarulo for all fifteen laps. Bogle showed he has the speed and the fitness to contend, and with that, GEICO will be hoping for their first win of the year soon.

Cunningham and Lemoine Finish with Season Best

– Dan Lamb

MotoConcepts’ Kyle Cunningham and JAB Motorsports’ Matt Lemoine have both been on the fringe of the podium for much of their careers but cannot quite get over that hump. Cunningham has finished on the podium before, and Lemoine has finished as high as fourth, but neither had broke into the top five in ’14 until last week. In Detroit, both came from mid-pack with Cunningham finishing fourth and Lemoine grabbing a fifth place finish. With a couple confidence-building performances, I expect to see both up there more often as the series moves into the later rounds.

Martin Davalos Continues his Pattern

– Dan Lamb

I am a huge Martin Davalos fan, and because I know the full story behind his struggles coming from Ecuador to America, I find myself rooting out loud for the man. Unfortunately, in 2014, he’s made it an emotional roller coaster for his fans. All year Martin has been the fastest man on the track but, in three of the first five rounds, has hit the deck while leading. With that, the #31 has made life tough on himself and fueled the fire for his detractors. Overall, it’s been by far the best season of his veteran career—grabbing the first win of his career in Atlanta and only finishing off the podium once all year— but with his rookie teammate, Cianciarulo, killing it, he’s still 17 points down.

Adam Cianciarulo Continues the Pattern

– Dan Lamb

So far, Adam Cianaciarulo has produced one of the most consistent and dominant patterns ever for an SX rookie. The former amateur prodigy started his freshmen year off with a win in Dallas and has gone 1-2-1-2-1 ever since. Rookies are known for inconsistency and mistakes, but the #46 has been machine like. With Aldon Baker as his trainer and Ken Roczen and Villopoto as his training partners, Adam’s wins may not come as a surprise to some, but his consistency has surprised everyone. If the pattern continues, Adam will be second in Toronto, but I see the pattern coming to an end this weekend with a win north of the border.

Eastern Regional 250SX Class Season Standings

1. Adam Cianciarulo, Port Orange, Fla., Kawasaki, 119
2. Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., Kawasaki, 102
3. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki, 99
4. Justin Bogle, Cushing, Okla., Honda, 94
5. Vince Friese, Cape Girardeau, Mo. Honda, 75
6. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Honda, 63
7. Cole Thompson, Brigden, Canada, KTM, 58
8. James Decotis, Peabody, Mass., Honda, 54
9. Matthew Lemoine, Pilot Point, Texas, Kawasaki, 53
10. Blake Wharton, Beaumont, Texas, Honda, 51

Ken Roczen’s Championship Hopes Dwindle

– Dan Lamb

Leaving round eight in Atlanta, Ken Roczen had just scored the second win of his rookie 450SX career and trailed Villopoto by just nine points. Everyone was on the bandwagon, and this Championship was going to come down to the #94 and the #1. Well, just three main events later and the German is fourth place in the points with a massive fifty-point deficit. It’s amazing how quickly that can happen in supercross, but after crashing out in Indianapolis and then crashing and losing a lap getting going in Detroit, Roczen’s now in a huge hole. The former MX2 World Champion has had a freshmen year he can be proud of, and one that will demand a hefty salary in 2015 and beyond, but the last three races still have got to hurt. With rumors flying that #94 will be with RCH/Suzuki in 2015, I’m sure Kenny will want to finish 2014 on a strong note with the KTM guys. Expect to see the international import on the box in supercross’ only international stop this weekend in Canada.

Season’s Best for Andrew Short

– Dan Lamb

BTO/KTM rider Andrew Short has had a very quiet, assassin-type season. While he may not be flashy and he is seldom talked about on the FOX Sports 1 show, the #29 has quietly scored seven top-tens and has improved to top fives in the last two rounds. Andrew has been getting better all season long, and after his come from behind fourth in Detroit, the Texas resident sits sixth in the 450SX Championship points. In this field, I think fourth is about the ceiling for Shorty, but if the cards fall right, he could luck into a podium in the same way Cole Seely did in Indianapolis.

James Stewart Gets Win Number 48

– Dan Lamb

Say what you want about James Stewart, but make sure you include “second winningest supercross rider of all time.” The former two-time 450SX Championship won the 2014 Detroit SX and, with that, matched Ricky Carmichael with 48 450SX main event wins. James’ next milestone is obviously 49 wins and sole possession of second place, but I think first might be out of reach. With the “King of Supercross,” Jeremy McGrath, at 72 wins, it will take 24 more out of James to catch him. At 29 years old and the class as deep as it’s ever been, 24 wins would take the #7 probably 5-6 very good years. One thing’s for sure, nobody changed the scenery of the sport like Stewart, and having the second most wins in the history just adds to his Hall of Fame legacy. Congratulations to James “Bubba” Stewart!

450SX Class Season Standings

1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 231
2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 201
3. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki, 182
4. Ken Roczen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 181
5. Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C., Yamaha, 167
6. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM, 143
7. Justin Barcia, Pinetta, Fla., Honda, 134
8. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki, 126
9. Wil Hahn, Menifee, Calif., Honda, 115
10. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Kawasaki, 111