AMA Supercross Results
Spoiler Alert: 2012 AMA Supercross Championship results from Reliant Stadium, Houston, listed below
Once again, three of the AMA Supercross Championship’s most valuable riders were absent from the grid due to injuries.
All three are also previous AMA SX Champions – Two-Two Motorsports Honda Chad Reed, Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey and JGRMX Yamaha’s James Stewart.
With these riders lacking from the field, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto was the only previous Supercross winner left. And after taking his eighth win of the season at Saturday evening’s race in Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas, the Washington has clinched the championship.
With four rounds remaining, Villopoto became the first rider in AMA Supercross history to clinch the title this early in the season. This will be his second consecutive title in AMA SX.
Ryan Villopoto (Monster Energy Kawasaki KX450F Supercross) says: “This is what it is all about. Winning championships is why every one of us lines up behind the gate and I am so happy to win my second Supercross title and to go back-to-back is unreal.
“I’m glad I got it out of the way early, I knew I had a good chance to clinch the title here in Houston and it feels good to have it behind me now. Everyone on the Monster Energy Kawasaki team has worked hard this year and we showed that hard work pays off.”
Villopoto has been a dominant rider over the last three seasons of supercross competition. In the last 46 races, he has won 23 times. Overall, this is Villopoto’s seventh professional championship.
Before almost 49,000 fans at Reliant Stadium, Houston, JGRMX/Toyota Yamaha’s Davi Millsaps took the Nuclear Cowboyz Holeshot, but was quickly passed by Villopoto. Star/Valli Yamaha’s Bobby Kiniry got out of the gate in third, but was passed Motoconcepts Suzuki’s Mike Alessi on the second lap.
As Villopoto began putting a gap on the field, his teammate Jake Weimer made a pass on Alessi to take third. Villopoto held his position for the win, and was joined on the podium by Millsaps and Weimer.
Villopoto has 296 points, with the injured Dungey in second with 192. But with Villopoto clinching the championship, it’ll be a race for second. And with his second runner-up position of the season, Millsaps moves into third, only one point behind Dungey.
In the Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class Main Event, GEICO Honda’s Justin Barcia won the Nuclear Cowboyz Holeshot Award with Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen and Rockstar Energy Racing’s Blake Wharton trailing in second and third, respectively. Roczen passed Barcia on the opening lap, and one lap later, Barcia re-passed him to take over the lead, Feld Motor Sports reports.
Feld Motor Sports says on Lap 7, Blake Baggett, of Grand Terrace, Calif., moved around Wharton to take over third place. On his way to what was expected to be his sixth win of the season, Barcia collided with another rider on the final lap of the race and crashed. He re-entered the race and finished second. This allowed Roczen to move into the lead and ride to the second victory of his career.
Ken Roczen (Red Bull KTM SX-F 350 Supercross) says: “This is so awesome,” said Roczen. “This is not how I want to win a race. Justin (rode a great race and was really fast tonight, so it is unfortunate that he crashed. I am super happy to be back on top of the box.”
Although sixth at Houston, Barcia still leads the championship points race by 32 points over Wharton.
Justin Barcia (GEICO Honda CRF250R Supercross) says: “I don’t know what I can say. There is nothing I could do about the crash. I will fight through this and be back in New Orleans.”
CBS will broadcast the Supercross class race at noon EDT Sunday, April 1, 2012. Racing returns to action on Saturday, April 14 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.
2012 AMA Supercross Class Results: Houston:
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
- Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
- Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki
- Mike Alessi, Hillard, Fla., Suzuki
- Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
- Robert Kiniry, Holland Patent, NY, Yamaha
- Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki
- Nico Izzi, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha
- Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Kawasaki
- Josh Grant, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki
2012 AMA Supercross Class Season Standings (after 13 of 17 rounds):
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki – 296
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM – 192
- Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha – 191
- Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Honda – 181
- James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha – 178
- Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki – 170
- Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda – 166
- Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki – 154
- Mike Alessi, Hilliard, Fla., Suzuki – 154
- Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Honda – 128
Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Results: Houston:
- Ken Roczen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
- Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda
- Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki
- Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Suzuki
- Phillip Nicoletti, Cochecton, NY, Honda
- Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda
- Jake Canada, Sun City, Calif., Honda
- Darryn Durham, Butler, Pa, Kawasaki
- Justin Bogle, Cushing, Okla., Honda
- Matthew Lemoine, Collinsville, Texas, Kawasaki
Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class Season Standings:
- Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda – 167
- Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Suzuki – 135
- Ken Roczen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM – 127
- Darryn Durham, Butler, Pa., Kawasaki – 118
- Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki – 106
- Jake Canada, Sun City, Calif., Honda – 104
- Justin Bogle, Cushing, Okla., Honda – 87
- Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda – 65
- Matthew Lemoine, Collinsville, Texas, Kawasaki – 57
- Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., KTM – 55