2013 Houston AMA Supercross | Preview
2013 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship from Reliant Stadium
The 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 TV
SPEED 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
- Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda, 134
- Marvin Musquin, France, KTM, 128
- Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Suzuki, 108
- Dean Wilson, Scotland, Kawasaki, 87
- Vince Friese, Cape Girardeau, Mo., Honda, 80
- Kyle Peters, Greensboro, N.C., Honda, 78
- Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha, 71
- Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Kawasaki, 68
- Gavin Faith, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Honda, 66
- James Decotis, Peabody, Mass., Honda, 66
Past AMA Supercross Winners in Houston
450SX Class
- March 31, 2012: Ryan Villopoto
- February 12, 2011: Trey Canard
- April 10, 2010: Ryan Villopoto
- January 24, 2009: James Stewart
- February 16, 2008: Kevin Windham
- February 10, 2007: James Stewart
- April 1, 2006: James Stewart
- April 30, 2005: James Stewart
- February 14, 2004: Chad Reed
- March 29, 2003: Chad Reed
- March 23, 2002: Ricky Carmichael
- March 24, 2001: Ricky Carmichael
- February 5, 2000: Jeremy McGrath
- March 13, 1999: Jeremy McGrath
- January 17, 1998: Ezra Lusk
- March 22, 1997: Jeff Emig
- March 16, 1996: Jeremy McGrath
- March 25, 1995: Jeremy McGrath
- January 22, 1994: Jeremy McGrath
- January 16, 1993: Damon Bradshaw
- January 18, 1992: Damon Bradshaw
- January 19, 1991: Jean-Michael Bayle
- February 3, 1990: Damon Bradshaw
- March 18, 1989: Jeff Stanton
- February 6, 1988: Jeff Ward
- February 7, 1987: Jeff Ward
- February 2, 1986: Jeff Ward
- April 20, 1985: Jeff Ward
- March 24, 1984: David Bailey
- March 19, 1983: Bob Hannah
- March 20, 1983: Mark Barnett
- March 19, 1982: Mark Barnett
- March 20, 1982: Mark Barnett
- March 13, 1981: Mark Barnett
- March 14, 1981: Mark Barnett
- March 14, 1980: Mike Bell
- March 15, 1980: Broc Glover
- March 16, 1979: Bob Hannah
- March 17, 1979: Bob Hannah
- March 17, 1978: Bob Hannah
- March 18, 1978: Bob Hannah
- March 18, 1977: Tony DiStefano
- March 19, 1977: Jim Ellis
- March 12, 1976: Jim Weinert
- March 14, 1975: Jim Ellis
- March 15, 1974: Jim Pomeroy
250SX Class
- March 31, 2012: Ken Roczen
- February 12, 2011: Justin Barcia
- April 10, 2010: Christophe Pourcel
- January 14, 2009: Christophe Pourcel
- February 16, 2008: Austin Stroupe
- February 10, 2007: Ryan Villopoto
- April 1, 2006: Davi Millsaps
- April 30, 2005: Andrew Short
- February 14, 2004: James Stewart
- March 29, 2003: Brock Sellards
- March 23, 2002: Matt Walker
- March 24, 2001: Travis Preston
- February 5, 2000: Derrick Shae Bentley
- March 13, 1999: Nathan Ramsey
- January 17, 1998: David Vuillemin
- March 22, 1997: Kevin Windham
- March 16, 1996: Kevin Windham
- March 25, 1995: Damon Huffman
- January 22, 1994: Ezra Lusk
- January 16, 1993: Jimmy Gaddis
- January 18, 1992: Brian Swink
- January 19, 1991: Tallon Vohland
- February 3, 1990: Jeff Emig
- March 18, 1989: Mike LaRocco
- February 6, 1988: Jeff Matiasevich
- February 7, 1987: Keith Turpin
- February 2, 1986: Willie Surratt
- April 20, 1985: Eddie Warren
