Troy Lee Designs/Honda’s Cole Seely led until the final lap at the opening round of the 250SX Western Regional SX Championship. On the final lap, though, Rockstar/KTM’s Jason Anderson made an aggressive pass to lay claim to the first main event win of 2014. Photo by: HoppenworldAt Anaheim 1, Yoshimura/Suzuki’s James Stewart came from the back of the pack to challenge Red Bull/KTM’s Ken Roczen for the opening round win. Unfortunately for the #7, he crashed hard moments after this pic was shot and the rookie Roczen went on to win the first round of the year. Photo by: HoppenworldAt round two, Seely once again led until the last lap of the main event, and again, Anderson led the only lap that mattered: the last lap. After two rounds, Anderson carried a six-point lead in the Championship. Photo by: HoppenworldAfter crashing out of the lead and finishing fourth at round one, Monster/Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto began his bid for a fourth-straight 450SX Championship with a win in Phoenix. Photo by: HoppenworldAfter leading twenty-four of the first thirty laps and not getting a win, frustration had to be piling up for the #21. At round three, though, Seely went wire-to-wire for his first win of 2014. With that, and with Anderson getting a two-position penalty for jumping on a red cross, Seely took over the red plate. Photo by: HoppenworldHeading into 2014 a year older and on a new bike, nobody knew what to expect from Discount Tire Racing’s Chad Reed. Well, at Anaheim 2, the #22 came from a mid-pack start and passed the best riders on the planet for his first win of 2014. With that, the stage was once again set and the 2014 script now included the legendary Australian. Photo by: HoppenworldAt round four, it looked like Monster/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Dean Wilson was going to get his first win of the year. After Deano got away from a battle with Anderson and teammate Justin Hill, his bike stalled on the last lap, allowing Anderson to steal another last-lap win. Photo by: HoppenworldVillopoto grabbed his second win of the year at round four in Oakland. Stewart was complaining of severe cold symptoms but was able to pass his way up to second, and Reed had another solid podium performance. Photo by: HoppenworldThe preseason favorite, Wilson, finally got his first win of the year at Anaheim 3. With Deano’s win and Anderson having an off night, the Championship looked like a three-way fight between Anderson, Seely and Wilson out west. Photo by: HoppenworldChad Reed made it clear at round five that he was in the 2014 450SX Championship to win. The #22 looked dominant en-route to his second win of the year. At this point, the former two-time champ was just two points behind RV in the Championship. Photo by: HoppenworldWhile Monster/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Justin Hill got his first-ever win in San Diego, it was a bittersweet night for the team. Unfortunately, their main championship contender, Wilson, crashed while leading, ending the team’s 250SX Western Regional Championship hopes. Photo by: HoppenworldIn San Diego, one former two-time champ joined the fight and another former two-time champ bowed out. The #7 got his first win of 2014 and moved to within striking distance of RV while the #22 crashed and severely injured himself. Reed would return at the next round to try and ride, but his broken shoulder and back sent him to the couch for the remainder of the SX season. Photo by: HoppenworldThe Arlington SX marked the beginning of the 2014 250SX Eastern Regional Supercross Championship and the birth of a new star. Monster/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo started his career off by winning his first-ever 250SX main event in his first try. It was an awesome start for both Cianciarulo and the Pro Circuit squad with their riders Martin Davalos and Blake Baggett joining Cianciarulo in a sweep of the podium. Photo by: HoppenworldStewart made it two in a row in Arlington. With Stewart looking fast and consistent, many began to think he could be the 2014 450SX Champion in Las Vegas. Photo by: HoppenworldAfter nine long years in the 250SX class, Martin Davalos broke through for the first win of his career in Atlanta. With that, and with Cianciarulo grabbing second, the two were tied heading into round three. Photo by: HoppenworldIn Atlanta, Roczen outlasted his training partner, Villopoto, to grab his second win of the year. It was a straight up victory that solidified Roczen’s place as a big gun in the 450SX class. Unfortunately for JS7, his win streak ended with a crash and an eleventh place finish. Photo by: HoppenworldAt round three, Cianciarulo and Davalos again swapped the first two spots. Cianciarulo took over the points lead with his second win of 2014, and GEICO/Honda’s Justin Bogle was beginning to emerge as a threat. The #32 fractured his back just three months earlier and had surprised everyone with his back-to-back third places finishes at rounds two and three. Photo by: HoppenworldAt round nine, Red Bull/KTM’s Ryan Dungey scored his first main event win of the year. While the win bumped the #5 up to second in the points, RV’s consistency had him leading the series by a comfortable twenty-three points. Photo by: HoppenworldIn Daytona, the former 250cc outdoor National Champion, Blake Baggett, put a beating on the competition. It was a massive 17-second win by the #4, and with Cianciarulo and Davalos finishing 2-3, it was another Pro Circuit podium sweep. After Daytona, the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki squad was 1-2-3 in the 250SX Western Regional Championship and looked to have a virtual lock on the title. Photo by: HoppenworldIn Daytona, it was all Ryan Villopoto. With Stewart being forced into the mechanics’ area with a ripped off header pipe, there was nobody left that had RV’s speed at the famed motosports facility. RV won by a dominant 14 seconds and left Daytona with a twenty-eight point cushion. Photo by: HoppenworldCianciarulo scored his third win of the year in Detroit, and with Davalos crashing and finishing sixth, the #46 left Detroit with a comfy 17-point lead. Photo by: HoppenworldAfter having three rounds defined by crashes and mechanical problems, Stewart rebounded with a win in Detroit, but the damage was already done. The #7 left Detroit forty-nine points behind RV. Photo by: HoppenworldIn Toronto, Cianciarulo’s dream season came to a close and Bogle’s dream season began. Cianciarulo separated his shoulder in practice and tried to ride through the pain in the main event, but the shoulder popped out again. In the end, Bogle got his first-ever main event win and Cianciarulo’s season was over. At this point, Davalos still led Bogle by five points in the Championship. Photo by: HoppenworldThe Toronto SX started with RV’s night in doubt. The Championship leader was in the hospital and missed practice due to a stomach problem, but checked out of the hospital in time to score 6th place points on the night. In the end, though, this night will be remembered more for Stewart’s performance. The #7 started around 15th and passed the entire field for his fourth win of the year in what some are calling the best race of his legendary career. Stewart’s Championship was essentially over, but this race could help shape his legacy. Photo by: HoppenworldHeading into St. Louis, Davalos had a five-point lead over Bogle. After withstanding fifteen laps of pressure from Bogle, Davalos hung on for the second and biggest win of his career. With just two rounds remaining, Davalos now had an eight-point cushion over Bogle in the East. Photo by: HoppenworldWith five rounds to go, RV had a thirty-nine point lead over Stewart and looked unwilling to fight with the #7 for wins. In St. Louis, though, he kept the #7 behind him until lap 11. In the end, Stewart got his series-leading fifth win of the year in St Louey. Photo by: HoppenworldThe west reconvened in Houston with Anderson leading Seely by four points with three rounds to go. In Houston, Anderson held off Wilson for the win and left Texas with a commanding eleven-point lead and two to go. Photo by: Nolan MacDonaldAfter watching Stewart win three-straight, RV got his 4th win of the year going wire-to-wire in Houston. Photo by: Nolan MacDonaldRV looked like he was on a mission to end this Championship early. In Seattle, he made it forty-straight laps led in two-straight main event victories. Photo by: HoppenworldSeely has always looked good in the ruts of the Pacific Northwest, and in Seattle, he made it happen with his second win of the year. Unfortunately, the damage was done with his fourth place finish in Houston, and he still trailed Anderson by eight points. With only one round to go, gaining eight points on Anderson is a tall order. Photo by: HoppenworldHeading into the two week break for the 250SX Eastern Regional Championship, Davalos had an eight point lead over Bogle, but Davalos crashed and shattered his foot while practicing. For the Ecuadorian, it was a knock-out blow to his championship, and for Bogle, it meant he was on his way to an improbable, first-ever Championship. With that, Bogle grabbed his second win of the year in East Rutherford and locked it down. Photo by: HoppenworldAt the penultimate round, Villopoto only needed to score three points to clinch his fourth-straight 450SX Championship. Rather than play it conservative, the #1 went out and led all twenty-laps and clinched it the way real champions do: with a dominant win. Photo by: HoppenworldWilson won the last 250SX Western Regional main event of the year, but Anderson wrapped up his first-ever Championship with a sixth place finish. In the end, Anderson, Seely and Wilson were the top three in the west. Photo by: HoppenworldJeremy Martin saved a season that saw him not qualifying for the first two main events with his first-ever win at the final Eastern Regional main event of the year. Hopefully his win will be a huge spark for the #19 heading into the 2015 SX season. Photo by: HoppenworldVillopoto capped off his fourth-straight 450SX Championship with his fourth-straight wire-to-wire win. The #1 led the last 80 laps of the 2014 season, and with the #1 taking the rest of the year off to have knee surgery, he left a lasting impression on the field heading into his drive for five in 2015. With his win in Las Vegas, Villopoto ended 2014 with a series-leading seven main event wins and a massive 64-point lead over Dungey in second, 83 points over Roczen in third and 96 points over Stewart in fourth. Photo by: HoppenworldAnderson displays his hardware for the 2014 250SX Western Regional Championship. Anderson will move up to the 450SX class full time in 2015 and is expected to ride for the same team, Rockstar Energy Racing. It is expected that team will be switching to Husqvarna in ’15. Photo by: HoppenworldBogle’s 2014 250SX Eastern Regional Championship was by far the most unexpected Championship of the year. With the #32 breaking his back in November, most thought he wouldn’t even race. Justin will likely return in 2015 with the GEICO/Honda squad and rock the #1 out East with pride. Photo by: HoppenworldRyan Villopoto has already earned his place in the SX history books as one of the greatest ever. With his fourth-straight Championship, he matches “The King of Supercross” Jeremy McGrath’s record for most 450SX Championships in a row. The question now is, can he become the only man to win five-straight in 2015? Are you going to bet against him? See you all at A1. Photo by: Hoppenworld
450SX Class Season Standings
Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 368
Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 304
Ken Roczen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 285
James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki, 272
Justin Barcia, Pinetta, Fla., Honda, 250
Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM, 218
Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C., Yamaha, 196
Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Suzuki, 159
Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki, 126
Mike Alessi, Hilliard, FL.,Suzuki , 123
Eastern Regional 250SX Class Season Standings
Justin Bogle, Cushing, Okla., Honda, 188
Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., Kawasaki, 149
Vince Friese, Cape Girardeau, Mo., Honda, 131
Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Honda, 127
Adam Cianciarulo, Port Orange, Fla., Kawasaki, 120
1 Comment
Hi