AMA Supercross Video
For the first 18 laps at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta Saturday night, it looked as if either Chad Reed (Two-Two Motorsports Honda) or James Stewart (San Manuel Yamaha) would capture with AMA Supercross win.
But the two riders collided as they entered the whoops, going down. As Reed and Stewart remounted their motorcycles, the man who held the third position for the first 18 laps took the lead, Ryan Villopoto.
And the Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Villopoto remained in the lead, taking the checkered flag at Round 8 of the AMA Supercross Series.
Ryan Villopoto (Kawasaki KX450F) says: "Sometimes it’s not about being the fastest. You’ve got to be smart too. I figured (Stewart and Reed) would do that, but not with a lap-and-a-half left. We still have a lot of racing though. I’ll just go back home and keep my program going and take it one race at a time."
The win was Villopoto’s third of the 2011 AMA Supercross season (Anaheim 1 and Los Angeles). Villopoto now holds a 10-point lead over Stewart heading into next weekend’s race at Daytona International Raceway, which will feature a track built by the legendary Ricky Carmichael.
2011 Atlanta Supercross Results
1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki
3. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Honda
4. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha
5. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda
6. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM
7. Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C., Yamaha
8. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda
9. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki
10. Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki
Supercross Point Standings (after Atlanta)
1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki – 171
2. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha – 161
3. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Honda – 150
4. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda – 146
5. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki – 145
6. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM – 110
7. Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki – 104
8. Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C, Yamaha – 90
9. Davi Millsaps, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha – 88
10. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki – 78