Villopoto Comes From Behind In Dodger Stadium SX

Shan Moore | January 22, 2011

LOS ANGELES, CA – JAN. 22 –

Ryan Villopoto, on the Monster Energy Kawasaki, claimed an impressive win in front of a crowd of over 41,000 at the first Supercross race ever held at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, coming from outside the top five to do so.After a disappointing fifth-place finish in last week’s round in Phoenix, Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey took the early lead in the 20-lap final, only to give it up on lap three to last week’s winner James Stewart. Stewart kept his San Manuel Yamaha on the point until lap 10 when he lost the front wheel in a turn, handing the lead over to Villopoto, who had just passed Dungey two laps before to move into second. From that point on, Villopoto ran a flawless race, pulling away to a three-second advantage and holding it until the finish to put his Kawasaki on top of the box for the second time this year.Trey Canard, who suffered a hard fall earlier in the evening, was also in the mix and held second for a short period, but a bobble would later drop him to fourth behind a fierce battle between Stewart and Dungey.

With the laps winding down, Stewart put a block pass on Dungey to finally secure the runner-up position for good, with Dungey holding on to take third.Canard came home in fourth ahead of JGR/Muscle Milk Yamaha’s Justin Brayton, while GEICO Powersports Honda’s Kevin Windham finished sixth ahead of TwoTwo Motorsports Honda’s Chad Reed, who fell on the first lap after hitting a Tuff Block that was knocked on to the track.Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Brett Metcalfe was eighth, with Red Bull KTM’s Andrew Short in ninth and Moto Concept Yamaha’s Kyle Chisholm in 10th.Cole Seely came out on top of a wild start in the Lites main event to take the lead ahead of a group that included Josh Hansen and Eli Tomac. Hansen stalled on the second lap and dropped outside the top 10, handing the runner-up slot to a hard-charging Tomac. In the meantime, Hansen’s Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki teammate Broc Tickle and Rockstar Energy Suzuki’s Ryan Morais began a battle over third that would last the balance of the race.Out front, Seely managed a smart and solid race that eventually saw him pick up his first ever Supercross win. It was also the first for his Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil Honda team.Finishing three seconds back in second place was Tomac, who kept his GEICO Honda just far enough ahead of the battle for third to stay out of danger. Meanwhile, Morais made a last-lap pass on Tickle to steal the final podium spot.Hanson salvaged a few championship points by working his way into fifth by the end of the race, topping Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen, who was also forced to battle his way from the rear after getting taken out on the opening lap.Aussi KTM rider Ryan Marmont finished seventh, ahead of Honda rider James Decotis, and DNA Shred Stix/Yamaha teammates Nick Paluzzi and Kyle Cunningham.Supercross Results

1. Ryan Villopoto (Kaw)

2. James Stewart (Yam)

3. Ryan Dungey (Suz)

4. Trey Canard (Hon)

5. Justin Brayton (Yam)

6. Kevin Windham (Hon)

7. Chad Reed (Hon)

8. Brett Metcalfe (Suz)

9. Andrew Short (KTM)

10. Kyle Chisholm (Yam)Lites Results

1. Cole Seely (Hon)

2. Eli Tomac (Hon)

3. Ryan Morais (Suz)

4. Broc Tickle (Kaw)

5. Josh Hansen (Kaw)

6. Ken Roczen (KTM)

7. Ryan Marmont (KTM)

8. James Decotis (Hon)

9. Nick Paluzzi (Yam)

10. Kyle Cunningham (Yam)

 

Shan Moore | Contributing Editor

Moore covers all facets of off-road racing for Cycle News – from AMA Supercross and Motocross to GNCC and National Hare Scrambles events.