The 2010 Monster Energy AMA Supercross returns to Angel Stadium this Saturday, as the gate drops for the 52nd AMA Supercross class race in the city that is called the home of supercross. Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., leads the AMA Supercross class points standings and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer of Rupert, Idaho, leads the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class points standings.
Two weeks ago when the 2010 Monster Energy Supercross championship kicked off at Angel Stadium, it was Stewart and Weimer that drew first blood in their respective race divisions. Last weekend at Phoenix’s Chase Field Dungey won his first career AMA Supercross class victory en route to taking the points lead.
In Phoenix, Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., who came into the race as the championship’s points leader, was involved in a frightening crash during his heat race and transferred to the main event after winning the last chance qualifier despite the pain and soreness from the heat race crash. Dungey opened the main event with his second straight SPIKE Holeshot Award, as Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto, of Poulsbo, Wash., and Dungey’s Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki teammate Austin Stroupe, of Lincolnton, N.C. followed in second and third respectively.
Ryan Dungey Speaks…
"I’m just pumped on the nice performance (tonight)," said Dungey. "This is a big step in my career. I owe a lot of thanks to all the people supporting me. I’m glad to get this out of the way and I’ll never forget it. It’s early in the season and last week was tough. James was on it and I hope he’s ok. It’s just great to come out with a win here in round two."
Stewart and rival Chad Reed, of Tampa, Fla., started mid-pack and followed one another throughout the early part of the race until Reed attempted to pass the reigning champion on lap five, causing a collision and subsequent fall for both riders. Reed failed to finish for the second week in a row while Stewart soldiered home in 15th. Villopoto rode to a solid runner-up finish while San Manuel Yamaha’s Josh Hill, of Yoncalla, Ore., landed in third.
In the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class, it was Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Josh Hansen, of Elbert, Colo., who claimed the SPIKE Holeshot Award with GEICO Powersports Honda teammates Blake Wharton, of Pilot Point, Texas, and Trey Canard, of Shawnee, Okla., following in second and third, respectively.
As the field entered the section before the first triple, Hansen lost control of his bike and suffered a hard crash. Wharton assumed the lead and would hold it until lap 12 when Rockstar Energy Suzuki/Canidae’s Ryan Morais, of Murrieta, Calif., made the pass with Weimer close behind. The next lap, Weimer made the pass for the win.
Jake Weimer Speaks…
"I struggled a bit for some reason," said Weimer. "I got my first win (in Phoenix) and I love it here, but I always struggle in the sand (section) every year. I made some mistakes in the beginning and never thought I’d be up here. This is kind of a surprise but it’s great."
Dungey currently holds a nine-point advantage over Villopoto in the AMA Supercross standings while Weimer leads Morais by eight points in the AMA Supercross Lites Western Regional standings.
The AMA Supercross class will air on CBS Sports Sunday, January 24 at 1:00 p.m. EST and the AMA Supercross Lites class will air on SPEED Saturday, January 24 at 10:00 p.m. EST.
2010 AMA Supercross Class Race Results: Phoenix
Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki
Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha
Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda
Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda
Austin Stroupe, Lincolnton, N.C., Suzuki
Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
Tommy Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Suzuki
2010 AMA Supercross Class Season Point Standings
Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 47
Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 38
Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha, 35
Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda, 35
Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 34
Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 32
James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha, 31
Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 26
Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 24
Tommy Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Suzuki, 21
2010 Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Results: Phoenix
Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki
Ryan Morais, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda
Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda
Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha
Cole Seely, Newbury Park, Calif., Honda
Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda
Tommy Searle, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
Robert Kiniry, Holland Patent, N.Y., Suzuki
Phil Nicoletti, Bethel, N.Y., KTM
2010 Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Season Standings
Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki, 50
Ryan Morais, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 42
Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda, 38
Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda, 36
Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda, 34
Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha, 31
Tommy Searle, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 27
Cole Seely, Newbury Park, Calif., Honda, 22
Robert Kiniry, Holland Patent, N.Y., Suzuki, 20
Jeff Alessi, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 19
