Villopoto Wraps It Up In Houston

Shan Moore | March 31, 2012
Ryan Villopoto Houston supercross

HOUSTON, TEX, MAR. 31 – Ryan Villopoto made history tonight by clinching his second consecutive Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series title at Houston’s Reliant Stadium with four races remaining on the schedule.

The Monster Energy Kawasaki rider came into tonight’s race with a whopping 94-point lead in the series standings over James Stewart. And to wrap up the title early, Villopoto needed to win the race and hope that Stewart finished fourth or lower. Everything fell into place for Villopoto, as Stewart got off to a bad start and then endoed on lap seven of the 20-lap final, knocking himself out of the race. In the meantime, Villopoto did his part by taking control of the 20-lap final on the opening circuit, passing Stewart’s JGRMX/Toyota/Yamaha teammate Davi Millsaps after Millsaps grabbed the holeshot.

Millsaps held tough for several laps, but then eventually lost touch with Villopoto, who went on to take the win by nearly five seconds over Millsaps.

“It’s unreal,” said Villopoto. “To wrap it up early is feels really good, and then to win it back-to-back is huge. A lot of hard work that went into this, and I’m only one piece of the puzzle; the whole Monster Energy Kawasaki team has worked very hard all year to help me make this happen.”

Millsaps held on for second, marking his second runner-up finish of the year and moving him into third place in the standings.

Davi Millsaps Houston SX

“I want to congratulate Ryan on his championship; he rode great all year,” said Millsaps. “I’m excited to be back up on the podium. It was slippery out there all day, so you had to choose your lines wisely, but it all worked out for me tonight.”

 

Rounding out the podium was Villopoto’s teammate Jake Weimer, who capitalized on a good start and a clean race.

MotoConcepts Suzuki’s Mike Alessi turned in his best finish of the year with a fourth, holding off Muscle Milk Honda’s Justin Brayton for the position.

Supercross Class Results
1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
2. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
3. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki
4. Mike Alessi, Hillard, Fla., Suzuki
5. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
6. Robert Kiniry, Holland Patent, NY, Yamaha
7. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki
8. Nico Izzi, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha
9. Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Kawasaki
10. Josh Grant, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki

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.