AMA Supercross
Spoiler Alert: Don’t want to know the results of St. Louis Supercross? Then simply don’t open this story…
Going into Saturday’s 14th round of the 2011 AMA Supercross Championship in Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, the top five were separated by a mere 21 points.
Could this battle get any tighter? Well it did; after the results were tallied last night, the clash up top shrunk from 21 to 20 points, creating some of the tightest racing in Supercross history.
The victor out of those top five in St. Louis was Team San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart. The Haines City, Fla., native broke his eight-race losing streak Saturday evening before almost 60,000 Supercross fans.
Joining Stewart on the podium were the reigning Supercross Champion, Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, and Arlington’s winner, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto.
Grabbing the Nuclear Cowboyz holeshot in St. Louis was Hart & Huntington/Dodge Motorsports Kawasaki’s Ivan Tedesco. He was followed out of the gate by Stewart and Dungey.
But by lap 2, Stewart took the lead, and immediately began opening a gap. Then on the following lap, Dungey also passed Tedesco and began chasing down Stewart. Behind, it looked as if it’d be Reed taking third, but the Australian ran off the Supercross course, giving the final podium position to Villopoto.
James Stewart (Team San Manuel Yamaha YZ450F) says: “It’s been a while since I have been up here. This feels great, and I am really happy for the team, who has been behind me 100-percent this year.”
With his third-place finish, Villopoto, who suffered an injury last year in St. Louis that ended his 2010 Supercross Championship, retains the lead with 275 points, five ahead of Dungey.
Ryan Villopoto (Monster Energy Kawasaki Supercross) says: “I’ll take a third place finish; it is much better than last year. I am looking forward to going to my hometown race next weekend in Seattle.”
With three rounds remaining, Reed now stocks Dungey by three points. Stewart regains the fourth position with 259 points, eight behind Reed. In fifth only four points behind Stewart is American Honda’s Trey Canard, who finished fifth in St. Louis Supercross.
In the Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class, GEICO Honda’s Justin Barcial extended his points lead to 20 after taking his third win of 2011.
Barcia took the Nuclear Cowboyz holesot, followed by Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Blake Bagget and DNA/Shred Stick/Yamaha’s Ryan Sipes
Sipes made quick work of Bagget, and took the lead from Barcia on lap two. But one lap later, Barcia regained the lead position, and lead the remaining 12 laps to take the checkered flag. Sipes would finish in second, Baggett third
Justin Barcia (GEICO Honda CRF250R) says: “Tonight was crazy. I know that this championship is coming down to the wire, and I look forward to the final race in Las Vegas. It wasn’t easy out there tonight. (Ryan) Sipes passed me out there, but I stayed focused and re-passed him.”
The race will be aired at noon (EST) today (Sunday, April 8), on CBS; the Supercross Lites class will be aired on SPEED TV at 6 p.m. today. The 2011 AMA Supercross Championship continues next weekend at Qwest Field, Seattle.
2011 AMA Supercross Class Results: St. Louis
1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha
2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki
3. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
4. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Honda
5. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda
6. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda
7. Davi Millsaps, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha
8. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki
9. Austin Stroupe, Lincolnton, N.C., Yamaha
10. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM
Supercross Class Season Standings (After 14 of 17 rounds)
1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki – 275
2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki – 270
3. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Honda – 267
4. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha – 259
5. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda – 255
6. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM – 185
7. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda – 165
8. Davi Millsaps, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha – 143
9. Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C, Yamaha – 141
10. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki – 114
2011 AMA Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class Results: St. Louis
1. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda
2. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ky., Yamaha
3. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki
4. Dean Wilson, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki
5. Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda
6. Gannon Audette, Cairo, Ga. Yamaha
7. Hunter Hewitt, Pilot Point, Texas, Suzuki
8. Lance Vincent, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki
9. Les Smith, York, S.C., Honda
10. Tyler Futrell, Clinton, N.C., Honda
Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class Season Standings
1. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda – 185
2. Dean Wilson, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki – 165
3. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ky., Yamaha – 141
4. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki – 134
5. Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda – 125
6. Matt Lemoine, Collinsville, Texas, Kawasaki – 105
7. P.J. Larsen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM – 80
8. Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki – 73
9. Lance Vincent, Youngsville, La., Honda – 69
10. Hunter Hewitt, Pilot Point, Texas, Suzuki – 67
