2011 AMA Supercross
GEICO Honda rider Justin Barcia took a major step toward the 2011 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Lites East championship with his victory at the Edwards Jones Dome Saturday night.
It was Barcia’s third victory of the 2011 AMA Supercross season and it puts him 20 points ahead of second place Dean Wilson. Barcia needs to finish 15th or better in Las Vegas on May 7 to clinch the title.
Justin Barcia (GEICO Honda CRF250R) says: “We had a good bike setup and it was a good track. I had my head on straight.”
GEICO Honda’s other Supercross team members had solid nights with Kevin Windham finishing sixth in the Supercross race and Blake Wharton finishing fifth in the Lites event.
Riding with purpose, Barcia didn’t get the holeshot in the Supercross Lites Main Event, but he was hot on the heels of Blake Baggett out of the starting gate.
Justin Barcia says: “I made the pass around the second corner. I checked out a little bit then Brian Sipes ran in hard on me.”
Barcia was briefly passed by Sipes on Lap 2, but quickly retook the lead a turn later and didn’t look back the rest of the way.
Justin Barcia says: “I wanted this win really bad. I’ve finished first or second in every race this year – and I have been getting sick of those seconds. I wanted it really bad and just was going for it all night.”
Barcia said he doesn’t plan on changing his hard-charging ways when the Supercross season wraps up in Las Vegas.
Justin Barcia says: “I’m going to do whatever it takes to win this championship. I put a lot of pressure on myself at the start of the season to win this championship. I never thought I would get three wins and the rest seconds. I’m just stoked. The GEICO Honda team has just been incredible all season and they’re the best.”
Wharton had another gritty supercross performance on his way to fifth place.
Blake Wharton (GEICO Honda CRF250R) says: “There were a lot of people on the ground at the start (of the main) because the track was so rutted. I was pretty sure I got a good jump in the main, but just didn’t make it through the first turn first. I was mid pack, got kind of tight, and ended up in no-man’s land.”
Wharton has been battling shoulder problems for the last few weeks and said he hasn’t decided if he’s going to race in Las Vegas.
Crowd favorite Windham suffered a nasty spill in practice but bounced back to turn in a solid effort in the Main Event.
Kevin Windham (GEICO Honda CRF450R) says: “It was another big get-off today. I had a lackluster start in the main and tried to work my way through the pack. Those lead guys got away, but I feel like I had a good ride.
“It felt good to rebound. This hitting the ground is getting kind of old. I’d like to be able to keep it on two wheels a little better and keep away from the bumps and bruises.”
The Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series continues April 16 at Qwest Field in Seattle. The Lites West series will resume with GEICO Honda riders Eli Tomac and Jimmy Decotis returning to the track after almost two months off.
