AMA Supercross Preview
Five races are complete in the 2011 AMA Supercross series, and only two riders claimed victories: two for Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto, and three for San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart.
Stewarts on a winning streak as AMA SX heads to Reliant Stadium in Texas this Saturday, the Floridian having won the last two rounds (Anaheim II, Oakland).
Last Saturday, AMA Supercross made its final stop at Angel Stadium for the pink-themed "Breast Cancer Awareness" race. James "Bubba" Stewart raced to his third victory of the SX season aboard the YZ450F.
After JS7 set the pace with a clear win in his qualifying race, Stewart led the Supercross field through turn one and began to distance himself from the field in the Supercross main event. James made easy work of the world’s best motocross riders.
Second place went to Villopoto (2011 Kawasaki KX450F), who rode in the number-two position for all 20 laps of the main event. Two-Two Motorsports’ Chad Reed (2011 Honda CRF450) finished in third place.
James Stewart says: "(Saturday) was great.I had a great heat race and the Yamaha pulled a great start. The track was tough and I think the skills really came into play. I just rode 20 good laps, I’m feeling comfortable on the motorcycle and the good part about it is we haven’t changed anything on it since Anaheim 1. The bike was just fantastic tonight."
The reigning Supercross Champion, Rockstar Makita Suzuki rider Ryan Dungey, had his first DNF of the season. He started the Anaheim 2 race mid-pack, but his chain came off the RM-Z450, causing the DNF. He is currently fifth in the championship with 79 points, 38 behind the leader Stewart.
As for the Supercross Lites Class, Pro Circuit / Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Josh Hansen took the win at Anaheim II, his third of the season. The Western Regional Supercross Lites class breaks this weekend, and the Lites SX action will come from the Eastern Regional Lites.
Stewart’s younger brother, Malcom, makes his SX Lites debut this weekend riding for Team Suzuki City.
During last year’s race at Reliant Stadium, Villopoto took the win the premier class, and Monster Energy / Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Christophe Pourcelcaptured his fifth win of the Supercross Lites Eastern Regional Championship season and claimed his second consecutive title in the process.
Since 1974 Houston has been on the Supercross class schedule. From 1974-2002 the Houston Astrodome served as host to the race before the race was moved to Reliant Stadium in 2003.
The first Supercross class race in Houston was on March 15, 1974 where Jim Pomeroy earned the win. In the Supercross Lites competition, Eddie Warren won the first race held in Houston on April 20, 1985. Jeremy McGrath, the all-time winningest supercross rider, shares the all-time win record along with Mark Barnett with five.
CBS will broadcast the AMA Supercross class race at noon (EST) / 9 a.m. (PST) on Sunday, Feb. 13, and SPEED will broadcast the AMA Supercross Lites class race at 4 p.m. (EST)/1 p.m. (PST) Sunday.
Supercross Class Season Standings
1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha – 117
2. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki – 112
3. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Honda – 90
4. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda – 87
5. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki – 79
6. Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki – 67
7. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM – 64
8. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda – 59
9. Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C, Yamaha – 57
10. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki – 48
Supercross Lites Class Western Regional Season Standings
1. Josh Hansen, Elbert, Colo., Kawasaki – 113
2. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki – 105
3. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda – 91
4. Ryan Morais, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki – 84
5. Cole Seely, Corona, Calif., Honda – 70
6. Ken Roczen, Mattstedt, Germany, KTM – 69
7. Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., Suzuki – 60
8. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha – 60
9. Tyla Rattray, Wildomar, Calif., Kawasaki – 58
10. Jimmy DeCotis, Peabody, Mass., Honda – 51
Tickets are available at the Reliant Stadium Box Office, SupercrossOnline.com, all Ticketmaster retail locations, charge by phone at (800) 745-3000, or online at ticketmaster.com.
Practice and qualifying begins at 12:30 p.m., and the main event begins at 7:00 p.m. Club Level tickets are available for $40 Adult/Child; Gold Circle $30 Adult/Child; Mid-Level $20 Adult/Child; Treadhead $10 Adult/Child. Fans can also get into the Pits for FREE from 12:30 – 6 PM Race Day when they recycle a MONSTER Energy Can at the stadium Pit Entrance (valid only with event ticket).
