2013 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship from Reliant StadiumThe 2013 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship returns this weekend following the traditional Easter break. As the series heads into round 13 of 17 at Reliant Stadium in Houston – a venue that’s been on the AMA SX schedule since 2004 – Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto is on a complete tear.
Two weeks ago during Supercross’ lone international stop in Toronto, the KX450F rider took his fourth consecutive win, which was also his seventh of the season.During the Canadian round, Villopoto took the Nuclear Cowboyz Holeshot Award, but lost a few positions. Villopoto regained his rhythm, and eventually passed the leader, Rockstar Energy Suzuki’s Davi Millsaps, to take the lead.Villopoto would lead the rest of the 20-lap race, taking his 31st Supercross victory. Millsaps finished second, with Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey in third.Ryan Villopoto (Monster Energy Kawasaki KX450F Supercross) says: “It was unbelievable. Davi [Millsaps] is riding really well and he was riding exceptionally well [tonight]. I got around him with about halfway to go [in the Main Event] and I was able to get a little bit of a gap. Everybody up here [on the podium] is unbelievable and it shows how fast we really are when we run a pace like that on a track that was so [difficult].”With his win, Villopoto now carries a 12-point lead over Millsaps as the series heads into Houston. In third, 22 points behind Villopoto, is Dungey.Reliant Stadium was kind to Villopoto last year. During the race, Villopoto took the win, and was able to clinch the 450 SX title. By doing so, he became the only rider in history to clinch a title with four rounds remaining.In the Eastern Regional 250 Supercross Championship, Red Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin is coming off three-consecutive wins, including a dominating wire-to-wire performance in Toronto.With his winning streak, Musquin is only six points behind the series’ leader, GEICO Honda’s Wil Hahn, with three races remaining in the Eastern Regional 250SX Championship. Prior to 2013, Musquin never won a main event.Wil Hahn (GEICO Honda CRF250R Supercross) says: “I need to get my starts back, it’s killing me right now. I’ve got to turn my brain back on and I’ve got to get back on that top step [of the podium] where I belong.”During last year’s Houston 250 Supercross race, current Western Regional 250SX Class points leader Ken Roczen grabbed his first win of the season and the second of his career. Roczen’s victory marked the first time that the Red Bull KTM team scored wins in both classes during a season.Since 1974, Houston has been on the 450SX Class schedule. From 1974-2000, the Houston Astrodome played host to the Houston stop until it was moved to Reliant Stadium in 2003. The first 450SX Class race in Houston was on March 15, 1974, where Jim Pomeroy earned the win. Eddie Warren became the first 250SX Class winner in Houston on April 20, 1985. Jeremy McGrath, the all-time winningest supercross rider, shares the all-time win record in Houston along with Mark Barnett with five, Feld Motor Sports says.2013 Houston AMA Supercross on TVSPEED TV will broadcast Houston Supercross live on Saturday, April 6, with coverage beginning at 8:30 EST.2013 AMA Supercross 450 SX Class Season Standings (after 12 of 17 rounds):
Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 252
Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 240
Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 230
Chad Reed, Australia, Honda, 196
Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda, 184
James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki, 169
Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda, 165
Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM, 148
Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha, 122
Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki, 122
2013 AMA Supercross Eastern Regional 250 SX Class Season Standings
