Dungey Wins Lites Shootout in Vegas

Shan Moore | May 3, 2008

Ryan Dungey came from behind to win tonight’s Dave Coombs Sr. East-West Lites Shootout over Ryan Villopoto at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas. It was the second year in a row that the Minnesota native has won the race.

Villopoto grabbed the holeshot at the start of the 15-lap final, putting his Kawasaki in front of Dungey’s Makita Suzuki, while Honda riders Trey Canard and Dan Reardon followed. Meanwhile, Kawasaki riders Austin Stroupe and Brett Metcalfe, along with Yamaha’s Broc Hepler, went down in the first turn.

During the first half of the race, Villopoto pulled close to a four second lead over Dungey. Meanwhile, West Lites Champion Jason Lawrence ran as high as sixth before pulling out of the race on lap seven.

At the halfway mark, Dungey got a second wind and started reeling in Villopoto, pulling within striking distance on the white flag lap.

On the final lap, Dungey made a move for the lead, passing Villopoto out of a turn before one of the step-up jumps. Dungey then took advantage of lapped traffic to pull away for the win.

At the finish, Dungey had a four second lead over Villopoto, with Canard another 40 seconds back in third.

“I kind of fell into my groove at the halfway point and I just decided I could win this thing,” said Dungey. “I just put my head down and went for it.”

Reardon finished fourth with Yamaha’s Ryan Morais in fifth.

Dungey and Villopoto lapped up to seventh place.

Results:

1. Ryan Dungey (Suz)

2. Ryan Villopoto (Kaw)

3. Trey Canard (Hon)

4. Dan Reardon (Hon)

5. Ryan Morais (Yam)

6. Justin Brayton (KTM)

7. Brett Metcalfe (Kaw)

8. Kyle Chisholm (Kaw)

9. Broc Hepler (Yam)

10. Austin Stroupe (Kaw)