Pourcel Takes the Title!

Jean Turner | April 10, 2010

HOUSTON, TX, APR. 10: Austin Stroupe’s bad luck turned into Christophe Pourcel’s good fortune, as the Monster Energy Kawasaki rider not only took the win, but wrapped up the Lites East Championship tonight in Houston, Texas. With Stroupe out after injuring his shoulder in a practice crash, all Pourcel needed was a top-four finish to successfully defend his number one plate, but the Frenchman took a near-flawless victory leading the charge from flag to flag at Reliant Stadium.Coming into the seventh round of the eight-round Lites East series with only an eight point lead, Pourcel wasn’t expecting to take the title tonight. But the Frenchman was thrilled to wrap up the season with a round to go. But it by no means indicates that his season is over; Pourcel wants to go out on a high note and take another win next week at St. Louis, though the Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider already has five of seven wins under his belt.”I try to race and win every weekend,” Pourcel said. “I didn’t know I was going to get the championship. I got it tonight so I’m very happy.”The battle for second didn’t start out all that fierce, but it certainly ended up that way. Rockstar Makita Canidae Suzuki rider Blake Baggett got into second place on the first lap and stayed there, but he had to work hard to defend the point when Pourcel’s Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki teammate Dean Wilson (who finally made his way back into the country) moved in to challenge him late in the race. As Wilson came up on Baggett, Justin Barcia also closed the gap and joined in the fight.A three-way battle unfolded and the three were nearly on the same second at the white flag. But remarkably, Baggett was able to hang on to second all the way to the finish for his second podium finish of the year.Wilson looked like he was heading toward his second podium finish of the year heading into the last turn, but the rookie unfortunately lost control in the whoops while trying to fend off a charge from Barcia and went down. Barcia, of the GEICO Powersports Honda team, ended the race in third ahead of his teammate Brett Metcalfe while Star Racing Yamaha’s Martin Davalos rounded out the top five.Wilson was unable to get his Kawasaki across the finish line but still recorded a ninth place finish as the last rider on the lead lap.

Reliant Stadium

Houston, Texas

Main Event Results

1. Christophe Pourcel (Kaw); 2. Blake Baggett (Suz); 3. Justin Barcia (Hon); 4. Brett Metcalfe (Hon); 5. Martin Davalos (Yam); 6. Kyle Cunningham (Yam); 7. Ryan Sipes (Yam); 8. James Decotis (Hon); 9. Dean Wilson (Kaw); 10. Troy Admas (Suz); 11. Justin Sipes (Kaw); 12. Michael Willard (Hon); 13. Kyle Keylon (Suz); 14. Steven Clarke (Suz); 15. Adam Chatfield (Kaw); 16. Matthew Lemoine (Suz); 17. Vince Friese (Yam); 18. Sean Lipanovich (Hon); 19. Kyle Gills (Kaw); 20. Topher Ingalls (Yam).

Supercross Lites East Series Points Standings

1. Christophe Pourcel (159/5 wins); 2. Austin Stroupe (126); 3. Justin Barcia (122/1 win); 4. Brett Metcalfe (113); 5. Blake Baggett (102/1 win); 6. Ryan Sipes (91); 7. Dean Wilson (83); 8. Kyle Cunningham (69); 9. Martin Davalos (65); 10. Troy Adams (58); 11. Michael Willard (52); 12. James Decotis (51); 13. Matthew Lemoine (48); 14. Vince Friese (44); 15. Nico Izzi (41); 16. Taylor Futrell (41); 17. Adam Chatfield (38); 18. Steven Clarke (34); 19. Levi Kilbarger (34); 20. Jake Moss (33).