The fourth stop of the 2013 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series returns to O.co Coliseum in Oakland, California, on Saturday with a points battle that is heating up.
Only twice has the 450 Supercross class had four different race winners in the first four races, and this weekend that record can be tied if a new race winner emerge. On Saturday night, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto, who is the two-time defending 450SX Class Champion, became the third different winner in as many races. In the Western Regional 250SX class, GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac brings a three-race win streak into Oakland.
“The season didn’t start like we wanted it to,” said Villopoto, who ended a five-race winless streak – tying for the longest he’s had since capturing his first career win during the 2009 season. “I had a decent race in Phoenix and the team made good changes to the bike this week. We’ve finally got the ball going in the right direction and are digging ourselves out of the hole. Once I got into the lead, I was just trying to click of the laps and keep it consistent. The track was really slippery tonight, but I still tried to keep the pace up.”
Current 450SX points leader Davi Millsaps finished fourth and holds a three-point lead over Canard, who finished second in Anaheim. TwoTwo Motorsports Honda’s Chad Reed earned his first podium finish of the season with a third-place finish. Villopoto now sits in fourth place in season standings, just 11 points out of the lead.
In the 250SX Class, Tomac hopes to pick up his fourth win of the season, but in his way stands rivals Ken Roczen, and Cole Seely. Seely was last weekend’s early leader but Tomac made an impressive pass for the lead on the eighth lap and rode off to the 10th win of his career.
“I definitely started off slower [today],” said Tomac, who has been under the weather. “I was good in one practice and struggled in the other, so it definitely made the race matter that much for the [win]. It was a great battle out there. The track was tough, so I had to keep my feet tight and the bike under control. From now on I just need to keep it on the podium.”
Tomac’s lead now stands at nine points over Roczen. Seely, who finished third at Anaheim II, is third in season point standings and is 17 points out of the lead.
During the 2012 stop in Oakland, James Stewart became the fourth rider in four different races to win a 450 class race and broke his five-race winless streak. Tomac took home his second consecutive 250SX Class victory of the season.
Saturday night’s 450 Supercross will air on CBS Sunday, January 27 CBS at noon ET and SPEED will air the 250 race at 1 p.m. ET.
Tickets are available at the O.co Coliseum Box Office in Oakland, all Ticketmaster Outlets, charge by phone at 800/745-3000, www.supercrossonline.com, or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
