Barcia Takes East Lites Finale

Paul Carruthers | May 5, 2012

LAS VEGAS, NV, MAY 5 – Justin Barcia showed why he is the AMA Lites East Supercross Champion, the Georgian completely dominating the season finale at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Barcia led from the get-go on his GEICO Honda and was never headed, though he did give Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen a glimpse of hope on the 10th lap when Barcia made his only error. Roczen, the fast qualifier, closed to 1.3 seconds to Barcia after the bobble, but Barcia was able to stretch it back out almost immediately. At the end of the 15-lap final, Barcia was 4.5 seconds ahead of the German.

Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Blake Baggett ended up third, some 17 seconds behind Barcia. Baggett, in turn, was well clear of JDR KTM’s Malcolm Stewart. Blake Wharton rounded out the top five on his Rockstar Energy Racing Suzuki.

“I couldn’t be any happier we made a huge change before that race and it worked,” Barcia said after his sixth win of the season.

Barcia earned 210 points in the nine-race season with his worst finish a fourth. Roczen locked down second in the series standings with 165 points – seven points better than Wharton’s 158.

Supercross East Lites

1. Justin Barcia (Honda)

2. Ken Roczen (KTM)

3. Blake Baggett (Kawasaki)

4. Malcolm Stewart (KTM)

5. Blake Wharton (Suzuki)

6. Kyle Cunningham (Yamaha)

7. Hunter Hewitt (Suzuki)

8. Jake Canada (Honda)

9. Matt Lemoine (Kawasaki)

10. Kyle Peters (Yamaha)