2011 Daytona AMA Supercross: Preview

AMA Supercross

The rivalry between San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart and Two-Two Motorsports Honda’s Chad Reed was reignited last week at Atlanta Supercross, as the two battled until the final lap.

But the SX clash was so intense that the two collided, allowing two riders also in the points’ race to pass – Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto and the reigning champion Ryan Dungey aboard the Rockstar Makita.

Both Stewart (YZ450F) and Reed (CRF450R) remounted their Supercross machines, but the winning order would be Villopoto (KX450F), Dungey (RM450F), Reed and then Stewart.

In the Eastern Regional Supercross Lites class, Dean Wilson took the win at Georgia Dome on the Pro Circuit Kawasaki KX250F. He was joined on the podium by Geico Honda’s Justin Barcia and Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Blake Baggett, respectively.

As for points, Villopoto has a 10-point lead as the field heads to Daytona Supercross this Saturday, an outside track designed by the legendary SX star Ricky Carmichael. Wilson and Barcia are tied for points at 47, with Baggett seven points back.

This weekend’s Supercross race (round 9) also kicks off the first race of many during Daytona Bike Week, including the 70th anniversary of the Daytona 200, and the action is expected to be intense as it was last year.

During last year’s race at Daytona, Villopoto cruised to a solid win – his career-first at Daytona – over runner-up and series points leader Ryan Dungey.

Villopoto actually scored two holeshots in the Daytona Main, however the first was wiped away when Yamaha YZ450F rider Grant Langston suffered a huge endo entering the fastest straight on the Ricky Carmichael-designed track, causing a red flag situation.

On the restart at Daytona, Villopoto took the lead and was gone for the night. Dungey, on a Rockstar/Makita/Yoshimura Suzuki RM-Z450 was the only other rider to lap in the 1:03s.

Team Honda Red Bull Racing’s Trey Canard, moonlighting at Daytona SX from the West Coast Lites series, finished alone in third, far behind Dungey, but far ahead of veteran Kevin Windham on a Geico Powersports/Factory Connection Honda. Team Honda Red Bull Racing rider Davi Millsaps made it 3-4-5 for CRF450Rs at Daytona.

In the Lites Main, Christophe Pourcel finished the first lap in third on the KX250F, behind leader Austin Stroupe on his Team Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z250. Sandwiched between them was Stroupe’s teammate, Blake Baggett.

By the second lap, Pourcel was in second and he patiently waited to make a clean pass of Stroupe on Lap 6. Although Stroupe kept in touch, Pourcel was never challenged, and he took his third win in the first three East Coast Lites races. Although passing was rare, the top four riders finished within six seconds of one another.

2011 Daytona Supercross TV Schedule

Practice and qualifying for AMA Supercross at Daytona International Speedway begins at 12:30 p.m. EST Saturday. Opening ceremonies start at 7 p.m. with SPEED picking up live coverage of the event starting at 8 p.m. EST.

Supercross Point Standings (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

2011 Eastern Supercross Lites Point Standings (Atlanta)
1. Dean Wilson, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki – 47
2. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda – 47
3. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki – 40
4. Ryan Sipes, Ekron, Ky., Yamaha – 34
5. Blake Wharton, Aubrey, Texas, Honda – 33
6. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki – 26
7. Lance Vincent, Youngsville, La., Honda – 23
8. Matt Lemoine, Collinsville, Texas, Kawasaki – 23
9. Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki – 20
10. Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda – 20

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