2012 AMA Motocross Round 1 Results
Spoiler Alert: 2012 AMA Motocross results from the Hangtown MX Classic in Sacramento, Calif., listed below
With the 2012 AMA Motocross Championship missing two star riders due to injury – the reigning MX Champ Ryan Villopoto (Monster Energy Kawasaki) and Chad Reed (Two-Two Motorsports Honda) – two riders became the immediate favorites, newly signed Yoshimura Suzuki rider James Stewart and Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey.
And when both motos wrapped up at the FMF Hangtown Motocross Classic on Saturday in Sacramento, Calif., these two favorites would be on top.
Stewart would take the overall win with a sweep of the round, and Dungey second overall after a 3-2 finish. Taking the third overall podium position was MotoConcept Suzuki’s Mike Alessi, who had a 7-3 finish in the motos.
In moto 1, Stewart took the holeshot, but was immediately challenged by Chaparral Honda’s Andrew Short. But by the end of the first lap, Stewart was in top form, never to be challenged again. He would be joined on the podium by Yamaha’s Davi Millsaps and Dungey.
In the second Moto, Alessi would get the holeshot. Dungey followed, with Stewart in third. The three began a battle for the lead, but Stewart made an impressive pass on both riders for the lead. Dungey was able to remain with Stewart for a few laps, but soon lap traffic congested both riders, allowing Stewart to take the win. Joining Stewart on the podium Dungey and Alessi, respectively.
James Stewart (Yoshimura Suzuki RM-Z 450 Motocross) says: “(Today) went better than I thought. I thought I’d come and struggle a bit, which I did a little. This (season) is one of those things where you continue to build and we got a good start on it.
“I’m just here to enjoy it. I didn’t come to be the fastest; I came to learn the motorcycle. Everything is new. We’ve got a long way to go. I’ve been away for a while, but I don’t realize how much I miss it till I’m gone.”
Stewart made headlines coming into the season by signing with Yoshimura Suzuki just two weeks ago, committing to compete in Lucas Oil Motocross. In his last full-time season of Nationals competition back in 2008, Stewart claimed the premier class championship by becoming the second rider in history to compile a perfect season, winning all 24 motos to join Ricky Carmichael, Allisports says.
In the 250 Class, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Blake Baggett, of Grand Terrace, Calif., raced to his second straight overall victory at Hangtown, winning both motos. The 250 Class was set to be a showcase of the rising stars of the sport with one of the most talented and accomplished fields in history. Baggett took advantage of the opportunity, posting a pair of impressive rides in the motos, Allisports says.
In Moto 1, Baggett placed himself into fifth on the opening lap and proceeded to gradually work his way forward. Out front, Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen, of Germany, and GEICO Honda’s Justin Barcia, of Monroe, N.Y., provided a compelling battle for the fans, pacing one another and trading positions throughout the moto. As they battled, Baggett closed the gap and made a last-lap pass on Roczen for the moto win, Allisports says.
In Moto 2, Baggett position himself behind early leader Barcia and set himself up for a definitive pass to seal the win. After a few laps, he worked past Barcia and pulled away for the remainder of the moto for another Hangtown victory, Allisports says.
Blake Baggett (Monster Energy Kawasaki KX250F Motocross) says: “I couldn’t expect anything else. (Sweeping the motos) is beyond what I came in expecting to do. I just wanted to be on the box. Every weekend I don’t want to ask for too much. I want to be in the points one way or the other with two rounds to go. I couldn’t even tell you what was going on in the first moto. I honestly was just bouncing around. I knew in the second moto if I stayed on (Barcia’s) rear wheel I could make a pass. The opportunity came and I took advantage of it.”
In the Women’s Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, Rockstar Energy Racing Suzuki’s Jessica Patterson, of Tallahassee, Fla., relied on consistency to take the overall win, grabbing a pair of runner-up finishes to outlast Team Honda Muscle Milk’s Ashley Fiolek, of St. Augustine, Fla., in second (1-5) and Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil Honda’s Tarah Gieger, of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, in third (3-3), Allisports says.
The 2012 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship continues next week, with round two from Freestone Raceway in Wortham, Texas and the Freestone National on Saturday, May 26.
2012 FMF Hangtown Motocross Classic 450 Class Results (Moto Finish):
1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki (1-1)
2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM (3-2)
3. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki (7-3)
4. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda (5-4)
5. Brett Metcalfe, Mannum, Australia, Suzuki (4-5)
6. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki (6-7)
7. Davi Millsaps, Cairo, Ga., Yamaha (2-14)
8. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki (10-6)
9. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Kawasaki (9-8)
10. Nico Izzi, Rochester, Mich., Yamaha (11-10)
2012 AMA Motocross 450 Class Championship Standings (After one of 12 rounds):
1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki, 50
2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 42
3. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki, 34
4. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 34
5. Brett Metcalfe, Mannum, Australia, Suzuki, 34
6. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki, 29
7. Davi Millsaps, Cairo, Ga., Yamaha, 29
8. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki, 26
9. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Kawasaki, 25
10. Nico Izzi, Rochester, Mich., Yamaha, 21
2012 FMF Hangtown Motocross Classic 250 Class Results (Moto Finish):
1. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki (1-1)
2. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Honda (3-2)
3. Ken Roczen, Apolda, Germany, KTM (2-3)
4. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki (6-5)
5. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda (4-10)
6. Martin Davalos, Quito, Ecuador, Suzuki (14-4)
7. Kyle Cunningham, Fort Worth, Texas, Yamaha (9-8)
8. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki (8-9)
9. Marvin Musquin, La Reole, France, KTM (5-14)
10. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda (7-13)
2012 AMA Motocross 250 Class Championship Standings:
1. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki, 50
2. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Honda, 42
3. Ken Roczen, Apolda, Germany, KTM, 42
4. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 31
5. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda, 29
6. Martin Davalos, Quito, Ecuador, Suzuki, 25
7. Kyle Cunningham, Fort Worth, Texas, Yamaha, 25
8. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki, 25
9. Marvin Musquin, La Reole, France, KTM, 23
10. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda, 22
2012 FMF Hangtown Motocross Classic WMX Class Results (Moto Finish):
1. Jessica Patterson, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki (2-2)
2. Ashley Fiolek, St. Augustine, Fla., Honda (1-5)
3. Tarah Gieger, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico., Honda (3-3)
4. Meghan Rutledge, New South Wales, Australia, Kawasaki (8-1)
5. Sayaka Kaneshiro, Osaka, Japan, Honda (5-4)
6. Kasie Creson, Vallejo, Calif., Honda (6-6)
7. Mariana Balbi, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Honda (7-8)
8. Sara Pettersson, Sweden, KTM (11-9)
9. Lindsey Palmer, Conifer, Colo., Kawasaki (10-11)
10. Hailey Larson, Green Brae, Calif., Honda (9-13)
2012 AMA WMX Class Standings:
1. Jessica Patterson, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 44
2. Ashley Fiolek, St. Augustine, Fla., Honda, 41
3. Tarah Gieger, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico., Honda, 40
4. Meghan Rutledge, New South Wales, Australia, Kawasaki, 38
5. Sayaka Kaneshiro, Osaka, Japan, Honda, 34
6. Kasie Creson, Vallejo, Calif., Honda, 30
7. Mariana Balbi, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Honda, 27
8. Sara Pettersson, Sweden, KTM, 22
9. Lindsey Palmer, Conifer, Colo., Kawasaki, 21
10. Hailey Larson, Green Brae, Calif., Honda, 20
