Marvin Musquin (25) pulled off his second straight win at the Toronto Supercross. Photo by Hoppenworld.com
The Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series, an FIM World Championship, returns to Houston’s Reliant Stadium Saturday night for the 13th race of the season where defending champion Ryan Villopoto will attempt to win for the fifth time in a row, while Marvin Musquin will go for his third win in a row in the East 250 Series.
At the lone international stop of the Monster Energy Supercross Championship in Toronto, Canada, last week, Villopoto, on the Monster Energy Kawasaki, reeled off his fourth consecutive 450-class win and his seventh of the season. After winning the Nuclear Cowboyz Holeshot Award Villopoto slipped a few positions but staged a game of catch up. On lap 11, Villopoto moved around leader Davi Millsaps and rode to his 31st-career victory.
“It was unbelievable,” Villopoto said after the Toronto race. “Davi [Millsaps] is riding really well and he was riding exceptionally well [tonight]. I got around him with about halfway to go [in the main event] and I was able to get a little bit of a gap. Everybody up here [on the podium] is unbelievable and it shows how fast we really are when we run a pace like that on a track that was so [difficult].”
Millsaps went unchallenged en route to a runner-up effort, signifying his first podium finish since a third-place effort in Atlanta four races ago.
“It was definitely a good race,” said Millsaps. “I got off to a pretty good start and I just tried to ride my own race as much as I could. I made a lot of mistakes here and there and throughout the first half of the race. Ryan [Villopoto] eventually got by me and I did the best I could to keep up and do whatever I could (to hang in there).”
Shortly after Villopoto took over the lead, Dungey stalled his bike while trying to close the gap on Millsaps, losing the third spot to Chad Reed. Just a couple laps later, Dungey reclaimed the position to secure his third consecutive podium finish.
Villopoto now carries a 12-point lead over Millsaps into the 13th race of the season. Dungey sits 22 points out of the lead in third.
In the Eastern Regional 250 main event, Musquin won the Nuclear Cowboyz Holeshot Award and never looked back, leading wire to wire. Points leader Wil Hahn finished second and has a six-point edge on Musquin in season standings with three races remaining
Prior to the 2013 season, Musquin had never won a Monster Energy Supercross main event, but now he has won three straight and is closing in on the lead in the championship.
“I need to get my starts back, it’s killing me right now,” said Hahn. “I’ve got to turn my brain back on and I’ve got to get back on that top step [of the podium] where I belong.”
“Today my confidence wasn’t so much there because I had a crash [in practice],” said Musquin. “But I really need to thank the team, because they are better than me and helped push me tonight. It was a tough day. I had a great start [in the main event] and it’s such a good feeling when you’re hurting because you don’t know what’s going to happen. It was great.”
Villopoto made history last year in Houston, clinching his second-consecutive 450 class Championship and becoming the first rider to do so with four races remaining on the schedule.
“It’s huge,” said Villopoto after last year’s race. “There is a lot of hard work that went into this, and I am only one piece of the pie; the whole Monster Energy Kawasaki team has worked very hard all year to help me make this happen.”
Current Western Regional 250-class points leader Ken Roczen grabbed his first win of the season and the second of his career. Roczen’s victory marked the first time that the Red Bull KTM team scored wins in both classes during a season.
Since 1974, Houston has been on the 450 class schedule. From 1974-2000, the Houston Astrodome played host to the Houston stop until it was moved to Reliant Stadium in 2003. The first 450 race in Houston was on March 15, 1974, where Jim Pomeroy earned the win. Eddie Warren became the first 250 winner in Houston on April 20, 1985. Jeremy McGrath, the all-time winningest Supercross rider, shares the all-time win record in Houston along with Mark Barnett with five.
SPEED will broadcast the Houston Monster Energy Supercross races LIVE on Saturday, April 6 at 8:30 p.m. ET.
450SX Class Results: Toronto
1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
2. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
3. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
4. Chad Reed, Australia, Honda
5. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda
6. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki
7. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki
8. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki
9. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM
10. Matt Goerke, Lake Helen, Fla., KTM
450SX Class Season Standings
1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 252
2. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 240
3. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 230
4. Chad Reed, Australia, Honda, 196
5. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda, 184
6. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki, 169
7. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda, 165
8. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM, 148
9. Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha, 122
10. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki, 122
Eastern Regional 250SX Class Results: Toronto
1. Marvin Musquin, France, KTM
2. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda
3. Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Suzuki
4. Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha
5. Vince Friese, Cape Girardeau, Mo., Honda
6. Cole Thompson, Brigden, Can., Honda
7. James Decotis, Peabody, Mass., Honda
8. Gavin Faith, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Honda
9. Jackson Richardson, Cairns, Australia, Honda
10. Kyle Peters, Greensboro, N.C., Honda
Eastern Regional 250SX Class Season Standings
1. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda, 134
2. Marvin Musquin, France, KTM, 128
3. Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Suzuki, 108
4. Dean Wilson, Scotland, Kawasaki, 87
5. Vince Friese, Cape Girardeau, Mo., Honda, 80
6. Kyle Peters, Greensboro, N.C., Honda, 78
7. Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha, 71
8. Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Kawasaki, 68
9. Gavin Faith, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Honda, 66
10. James Decotis, Peabody, Mass., Honda, 66
Past Winners in Houston
450SX Class
March 31, 2012: Ryan Villopoto
February 12, 2011: Trey Canard
April 10, 2010: Ryan Villopoto
January 24, 2009: James Stewart
February 16, 2008: Kevin Windham
February 10, 2007: James Stewart
April 1, 2006: James Stewart
April 30, 2005: James Stewart
February 14, 2004: Chad Reed
March 29, 2003: Chad Reed
March 23, 2002: Ricky Carmichael
March 24, 2001: Ricky Carmichael
February 5, 2000: Jeremy McGrath
March 13, 1999: Jeremy McGrath
January 17, 1998: Ezra Lusk
March 22, 1997: Jeff Emig
March 16, 1996: Jeremy McGrath
March 25, 1995: Jeremy McGrath
January 22, 1994: Jeremy McGrath
January 16, 1993: Damon Bradshaw
January 18, 1992: Damon Bradshaw
January 19, 1991: Jean-Michael Bayle
February 3, 1990: Damon Bradshaw
March 18, 1989: Jeff Stanton
February 6, 1988: Jeff Ward
February 7, 1987: Jeff Ward
February 2, 1986: Jeff Ward
April 20, 1985: Jeff Ward
March 24, 1984: David Bailey
March 19, 1983: Bob Hannah
March 20, 1983: Mark Barnett
March 19, 1982: Mark Barnett
March 20, 1982: Mark Barnett
March 13, 1981: Mark Barnett
March 14, 1981: Mark Barnett
March 14, 1980: Mike Bell
March 15, 1980: Broc Glover
March 16, 1979: Bob Hannah
March 17, 1979: Bob Hannah
March 17, 1978: Bob Hannah
March 18, 1978: Bob Hannah
March 18, 1977: Tony DiStefano
March 19, 1977: Jim Ellis
March 12, 1976: Jim Weinert
March 14, 1975: Jim Ellis
March 15, 1974: Jim Pomeroy
250SX Class
March 31, 2012: Ken Roczen
February 12, 2011: Justin Barcia
April 10, 2010: Christophe Pourcel
January 14, 2009: Christophe Pourcel
February 16, 2008: Austin Stroupe
February 10, 2007: Ryan Villopoto
April 1, 2006: Davi Millsaps
April 30, 2005: Andrew Short
February 14, 2004: James Stewart
March 29, 2003: Brock Sellards
March 23, 2002: Matt Walker
March 24, 2001: Travis Preston
February 5, 2000: Derrick Shae Bentley
March 13, 1999: Nathan Ramsey
January 17, 1998: David Vuillemin
March 22, 1997: Kevin Windham
March 16, 1996: Kevin Windham
March 25, 1995: Damon Huffman
January 22, 1994: Ezra Lusk
January 16, 1993: Jimmy Gaddis
January 18, 1992: Brian Swink
January 19, 1991: Tallon Vohland
February 3, 1990: Jeff Emig
March 18, 1989: Mike LaRocco
February 6, 1988: Jeff Matiasevich
February 7, 1987: Keith Turpin
February 2, 1986: Willie Surratt
April 20, 1985: Eddie Warren
