Dungey, Villopoto Spar to Supercross Houston

SX Houston Preview

As the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, makes its return to Houston’s Reliant Stadium this weekend, Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey sits atop the points lead with 261 on his RM-Z450 trailed by Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto with 240 on his KX450F. Chad Reed and James Stewart remain out due to early season crashes and resulting injuries.

With two races left in the Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class, points leader and Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Christophe Pourcel carries an eight-point lead on his KX250F following an impressive victory at the tour’s most recent stop in Jacksonville. Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Austin Stroupe sits in second with 126 points on his RM-Z250 to Pourcel’s 134 points.

During the SX Jacksonville stop, Valli Motorsports Rockstar Yamaha’s Ivan Tedesco earned the Spike Holeshot Award. Soon after the first turn, Villopoto passed Tedesco and went on to lead all 20 laps and win the Jacksonville race, gaining ground on Dungey’s 21-point lead.

Ryan Villopoto

“Yeah, you know, it’s awesome,” said Villopoto. “(I) got two good starts in the heat race and the main event. It started out as a rough day, going down in practice. I hurt my foot and went down the next lap after I finally got back up. I sat out the second practice because of it, so it was kind of a bummer of a day for me but this feels great.”

Behind Villopoto, GEICO Powersports Honda’s Kevin Windham and Dungey battled toe-to-toe for the better half of the SX race. Dungey made a strong pass on Windham early on lap 12 and continued to hold this spot to lock in his fifth second place finish of the year.

As Windham held the third place position, Honda Red Bull Racing’s Trey Canard made a game-breaking pass at the finish line, stealing the podium spot from Windham and the two additional points needed to secure a fourth place spot in the SX points standings.

Coming off a tough seventh place Supercross finish at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Pourcel bounced back and won his fourth race of the season during the Jacksonville stop, leading nine of the fifteen laps.

Privateer KTM rider Kelly Smith of Ludington, Mich., grabbed the Spike Holeshot Award in Jacksonville and was soon passed by GEICO Powersports Honda’s Brett Metcalfe, of Lake Elsinore, Calif.

Metcalfe held the lead SX Lites for six laps, followed by Stroupe and Pourcel, respectively. Pourcel stalked the frontrunners and eventually went on to pass the two on lap six to gain the lead.

As the Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class season nears its close, Pourcel is in a position to secure his second Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Championship title of his career.

Last season, in his continued climb towards the top of the AMA Supercross standings, Team San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., won his third straight Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, race in front of 48,277 fans at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas.

Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Chad Reed, of Dade City, Fla., retained his AMA Supercross class points lead with a runner-up effort. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Christophe Pourcel, of Corona, Calif., won his second career AMA Supercross Lites class race to open the Eastern Regional Championship.

Since 1974 Houston has been on the AMA 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 AMA Supercross class race in Houston was on March 15, 1974 where Jim Pomeroy earned the win.

In AMA 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.

SPEED will broadcast the AMA Supercross Lites class at 3:00 p.m. EST on Sunday, April 11, and the AMA Supercross class on Sunday, April 11 at 5:00 p.m. EST.

AMA Supercross Class Results (Last Race)

1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki
3. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda
4. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda
5. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
6. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
7. Josh Hill, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha
8. Tommy Hahn, Alvord, Texas, Suzuki
9. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
10. Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga., Yamaha

AMA Supercross Class Season Standings Headed into Houston

1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 261
2. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 240
3. Josh Hill, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha, 206
4. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 189
5. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda, 179
6. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 164
7. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 159
8. Nick Wey, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 131
9. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Yamaha, 115
10. Tommy Hahn, Alvord, Texas, Suzuki, 113

Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Results (Last Race)

1. Christophe Pourcel, Groveland, Fla., Kawasaki
2. Austin Stroupe, Lincolnton, N.C., Suzuki
3. Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda
4. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda
5. Jimmy Decotis, Peabody, Mass., Honda
6. Troy Adams, Homosassa, Fla., Suzuki
7. Kyle Cunningham, Fort Worth, Texas, Honda
8. Matt Lemoine, Collinsville, Texas, Suzuki
9. Steven Clarke, Cairo, Ga., Suzuki
10. Justin Sipes, Vine Grove, Ky., Kawasaki

Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Standings Headed into Houston

1. Christophe Pourcel, Groveland, Fla., Kawasaki, 134
2. Austin Stroupe, Lincolnton, N.C., Suzuki, 126
3. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda, 102
4. Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda, 95
5. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Suzuki, 80
6. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ky., Yamaha, 77
7. Dean Wilson, San Jacinto, Calif., Kawasaki, 71
8. Kyle Cunningham, Fort Worth, Texas, Honda, 54
9. Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., Yamaha, 49
10. Troy Adams, Homosassa, Fla., Suzuki, 47

Past Winners in Houston

AMA Supercross Class
January 24, 2009: James Stewart
February 16, 2008: Kevin Windham
February 10, 2007: James Stewart
April 01, 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 05, 2000: Jeremy McGrath
March 19, 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-Michel Bayle
February 03, 1990: Damon Bradshaw
March 18, 1989: Jeff Stanton
February 06, 1988: Jeff Ward
February 07, 1987: Jeff Ward
February 02, 1986: Jeff Ward
April 20, 1985: Jeff Ward
March 24, 1984: David Bailey
March 20, 1983: Mark Barnett
March 19, 1983: Bob Hannah
March 20, 1982: Mark Barnett
March 19, 1982: Mark Barnett
March 14, 1981: Mark Barnett
March 13, 1981: Mark Barnett
March 14, 1980: Mike Bell
March 15, 1980: Broc Glover
March 17, 1979: Bob Hannah
March 16, 1979: Bob Hannah
March 18, 1978: Bob Hannah
March 18, 1977: Tony DiStefano
March 19, 1977: Jim Ellis
March 12, 1976: Jim Weinerd
March 14, 1975: Jim Ellis
March 15, 1974: Jim Pomeroy

AMA Supercross Lites Class
January 24, 2009: Christophe Pourcel
February 16, 2008: Austin Stroupe
February 10, 2007: Ryan Villopoto
April 01, 2006: David 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 05, 2000: Derrick Shae Bentley
March 19, 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 Huffman
January 16, 1993: Jimmy Gaddis
January 18, 1992: Brian Swink
January 19, 1991: Tallon Vohland
February 03, 1990: Jeff Emig
March 18, 1989: Mike LaRocco
February 06, 1988: Jeff Matiasevich
February 07, 1987: Keith Turpin
February 02, 1986: Willie Surratt
April 20, 1985: Eddie Warren


 

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