Saturday at Mammoth Mountain
| June 25, 2005
Team Green Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto (615) notched another win in his belt at the Mammoth Mountain Motocross in Mammoth Lakes, California, on Saturday. The 16-year-old Washington state native led from start to finish in the highly competitive 125cc Pro class. The previous day Villopoto had just won the Schooboy class, and with Honda’s Jeremy McGrath opting not to ride, Villopoto was the heavy favorite. He took the win in his qualifier and headed into the main event.
When the gate dropped for the 125cc Pro main event Suzuki’s Michael LaPaglia jumped out to the early lead. It did not take long, though, for Villopoto to make his move into the lead. He did so on the first lap over the finish line tabletop. From there Villopoto began to steadily pull away. Meanwhile, LaPaglia had pressure from Honda rider Timmy Weigand. Weigand moved into second on the downhill on the second lap. After that the only action that took place for much of the moto, was when Honda rider Daniel Sani moved up to pressure LaPaglia. Sani, however, went down and dropped back. Towards the end of the race LaPaglia moved up and appeared to be pressuring Weigand, but it was not enough. Weigand held on for second with LaPaglia third. Villopoto cruised in for the win.
In the popular 125cc Intermediate class Yamaha’s Josh Hill (175) took the win. It was not, however, easy. Hill got out to the lead in the beginning but was pressured by Suzuki mounted Jared Browne. At one point Browne got around Hill, after a mistake by the Yamaha rider. It only took a few laps, however, for Hill to move back into first. From there, the young Yamaha rider opened up a sizable lead, with Browne close behind. In the end Hill took the win followed by Browne, while Suzuki rider Kevin Rookstool completed the podium.
The 250cc classes are slated to be run tomorrow, in what is the final day of racing at the annual event.
