SX Seattle Preview
Taking a 77-point lead into Seattle’s Qwest Field, Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey is virtually assured of taking home the championship at the end of the night. The only rider capable of catching Dungey with three rounds remaining– Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto–is out for the remainder of the season with a broken leg suffered in St. Louis.
Ryan Dungey (On Villopoto’s crash) says: "The lap before he crashed, he hit that same part of the lip and I thought, ‘Oh no, this isn’t going to be good’ but he saved it. I was starting to pressure him, and I wasn’t too surprised when he crashed on the next lap. Ivan Tedesco also crashed there…it was sketchy. I hope they are both O.K. It was pretty scary…not what you want to see. "
"I think the other rider saw an opening and just went for it," Dungey said. "Maybe he was getting a little desperate, but he never let off and just drilled me and we both fell down. It was just one of those racing things. We were going really fast and racing for the title, and it got a little out of control."
Roger DeCoster says: "We told Ryan before the race that he must race for the win tonight, and not be conservative," DeCoster said. "I told him that he is the fastest guy and on the best bike, so he must ride to his potential."
"It is difficult as you don’t want the rider to just go out there and go Banzai, but I told him that every race left is for the championship, and that he could not leave anything on the table. When Ryan rides to his potential, there is no one else who can match his speed."
Dungey and DeCoster’s comments were made prior to understanding the full severity of Ryan Villopoto’s SX accident and the injuries he sustained from the crash as well as the subsequent surgery.
With their Eastern Regional counterparts’ season wrapped up, the riders of the AMA Supercross Lites Western Regional Championship return to the track for the first time since February. Championship leader, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer holds a 14-point advantage with two rounds remaining.
In the last Western Regional race at Anaheim, Geico Powersports Honda’s Trey Canard captured the win and closed in on Weimer in his quest for a second AMA Supercross Lites title. During the eastern swing of the series, Canard rode injured Andrew Short’s Honda Red Bull Racing CRF450R in the premier AMA Supercross class, where he posted five consecutive podium finishes.
Last season at Qwest Field, Villopoto captured his first-career AMA Supercross class victory in front of 50,016 of his family and friends at his hometown race. Mike Alessi grabbed the holeshot for the main event, but Villopoto battled his way into the lead against his childhood rival and never looked back.
Ryan Villopoto (After winning Seattle back in 2009) said: "It’s awesome. I can’t thank my team enough and everybody that put effort into it. It hasn’t been the year we wanted but they never gave up. I could see James and Chad out of the corner of my eye sometimes. I just focused on Mike (Alessi) and he made that mistake. The track was super tricky tonight and there were some slick spots so you really had to ride smart."
In the season-long battle for the title, it was another championship-altering evening as James Stewart resumed the AMA Supercross class lead in the standings with a runner-up effort while Chad Reed struggled after a rough start to take the checkered flag in 7th place, his worst finish of the 2009 season.
From 1978-1999, AMA Supercross class races were held at the now defunct Seattle King Dome. Washington native Larry Ward won his first AMA Supercross race in Seattle in 1990 and, in 1999, Ward won the last AMA Supercross race of his career in Seattle. Rick Johnson holds the all-time AMA Supercross class win record in Seattle with seven. Jeff Matiasevich holds the all-time AMA Supercross Lites class record in Seattle with seven.
2010 AMA Supercross Standings
1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 302 (2010 Champion)
2. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 266
3. Josh Hill, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha, 225
4. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda, 223
5. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 215
6. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 191
7. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 183
8. Nick Wey, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 159
9. Tommy Hahn, Alvord, Texas, Suzuki, 139
10. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Yamaha, 136
2010 Eastern Lites Standings
1. Christophe Pourcel, Groveland, Fla., Kawasaki, 160 (2010 Champion)
2. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda, 147
3. Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda, 133
4. Austin Stroupe, Lincolnton, N.C., Suzuki, 126
5. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Suzuki, 118
6. Dean Wilson, San Jacinto, Calif., Kawasaki, 105
7. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ky., Yamaha, 93
8. Kyle Cunningham, Fort Worth, Texas, Honda, 84
9. Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., Yamaha, 83
10. Michael Willard, Newark, Ohio, Honda, 66
Western Lites Standings (three rounds remaining)
1. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki, 135
2. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda, 121
3. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda, 114
4. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha, 100
5. Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda, 89
6. Cole Seely, Newbury Park, Calif., Honda, 76
7. Max Anstie, Hemet, Calif., Yamaha, 63
8. Josh Hansen, Elbert Colo., Kawasaki, 60
9. Phil Nicoletti, Bethel, N.Y., KTM, 56
10. Jeff Alessi, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 56
2009 AMA Supercross Class Results, Seattle
1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash. Kawasaki
2. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha
3. Davi Millsaps, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda
4. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki
5. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda
6. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha
7. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Suzuki
8. Paul Carpenter, Ithaca, N.Y., Kawasaki
9. Ivan Tedesco, Tallahassee,, Fla., Honda
10. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda
2009 Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Results, Seattle
1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki
2. Ryan Morais, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki
3. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda
4. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki
5. Jake Moss, Temecula, Calif., Honda
6. Jimmy Albertson, Ozark, Mo., Honda
7. Kyle Cunningham, Fort Worth, Texas, Kawasaki
8. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Honda
9. Michael Hall, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
10. Jeff Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Honda
Past Winners in Seattle
AMA Supercross Class
April 18, 2009: Ryan Villopoto
April 26, 2008: Kevin Windham
April 28, 2007: James Stewart
April 29, 2006: James Stewart
April 23, 2005: James Stewart
January 30, 1999: Larry Ward
January 31, 1998: Jeremy McGrath
February 1, 1997: Doug Henry
February 3, 1996: Jeremy McGrath
February 4, 1995: Jeremy McGrath
May 7, 1994: Mike Kiedrowski
January 30, 1993: Jeremy McGrath
February 1, 1992: Damon Bradshaw
February 2, 1991: Jean-Michael Bayle
February 17, 1990: Larry Ward
February 4, 1989: Rick Johnson
February 5, 1989: Rick Johnson
February 13, 1988: Rick Johnson
February 14, 1988: Ron Lechien
March 28, 1987: Rick Johnson
March 29, 1987: Rick Johnson
February 15, 1986: Jeff Ward
February 16, 1986: Rick Johnson
February 8, 1985: Ron Lechien
February 9, 1985: Ron Lechien
February 11, 1984: Jeff Ward
February 12, 1984: Rick Johnson
February 12, 1983: Bob Hannah
February 13, 1983: Bob Hannah
February 13, 1982: Donnie Hansen
February 14, 1982: Mark Barnett
February 14, 1981: Darrell Shultz
February 15, 1981: Darrell Shultz
February 9, 1980: Mike Bell
February 10, 1980: Mike Bell
February 9, 1979: Mike Bell
February 10, 1979: Bob Hannah
February 18, 1978: Jim Ellis
AMA Supercross Lites Class
April 18, 2009: Ryan Dungey
April 26, 2008: Ryan Dungey
April 28, 2007: Ryan Villopoto
April 29, 2006: James Stewart
April 23, 2005: James Stewart
January 30, 1999: Nathan Ramsey
January 31, 1998: David Vuillemin
February 1, 1997: David Vuillemin
February 3, 1996: Kevin Windham
February 4, 1995: Damon Huffman
May 7, 1994: Ryan Hughes
January 30, 1993: Phil Lawrence
February 1, 1992: Jeremy McGrath
February 2, 1991: Jeremy McGrath
February 17, 1990: Ty Davis
February 4, 1989: Jeff Matiasevich
February 5, 1989: Jeff Matiasevich
February 13, 1988: Jeff Matiasevich
February 14, 1988: Jeff Matiasevich
March 28, 1987: Donnie Schmit
March 29, 1987: Kyle Lewis
February 15, 1986: Willie Surratt
February 16, 1986: Donnie Schmit
February 8, 1985: Bader Manneh
February 9, 1985: Mike Healey
Fans can also get into the Pits for free from 12:30 – 5:30 p.m. when they recycle a Monster Energy Can at the stadium Pit Entrance (valid only with event ticket).
The AMA Supercross class will air on Speed Sunday, April 25 at 6 p.m. EDT. The Eastern regional AMA Supercross Lites class will air on Speed Sunday, April 25 at 5 p.m. EDT.
