2014 Anaheim II AMA Supercross | Preview

2014 Anaheim 2 Monster Energy Supercross

When round three of the 2014 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship gets underway this weekend at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif., the series will celebrate its 40th anniversary.

To help celebrate AMA Supercross’ anniversary at Anaheim – which is the second time the 2014 SX Championship will compete there this season – 22 champions from the past 40 years will be present.

Speaking of the special celebrations, Feld Motor Sports says “the 40th Anniversary Celebration Race will honor the champions of both past and present, in addition to celebrating the nostalgia and illustrious history of this one-of-a-kind sport.”

To help enhance the anniversary, the track will duplicate the layout of the 2001 Supercross Championship, when Ricky Carmichael earned his first title, and Jeremy McGrath completed his final full season, winning one final time in Anaheim to set the landmark record of 72 victories.

Heading into Anaheim II AMA Supercross, the reigning champion Ryan Villopoto holds a one-point lead over rival Ryan Dungey. Villopoto, the Monster Energy Kawasaki KX-F 450 pilot who won the past three consecutive SX titles, finished fourth at Anaheim I – the season opener – but regrouped and took the win before nearly 50,000 fans at Phoenix last weekend.

Villopoto started in ninth, but passed eight riders to take the win ahead of Toyota/Yamaha/N-Fab/JGRMX’s Justin Brayton and Dungey. As for Brayton, the second-place matched his career-best win.

Justin Brayton (Toyota/Yamaha/N-Fab/JGRMX YZ-F 450 Supercross) says: “This feels so good. The new Yamaha is unbelievable. We did our homework this year. It’s been a lot of hard work, but being up [on the podium] pays off. I was trying to pay attention to what was going on behind me but still look ahead. I did all I could to stay up front, but Ryan (Villopoto) got by me.”

As for Villopoto, he is now in the most optimal position to earn a fourth straight title – a feat only completed by two other riders, Carmichael and McGrath.

He commented on Brayton’s performance following the race.

Ryan Villopoto (Monster Energy Kawasaki KX450F Supercross) says: “Justin was riding a hell of a race. I have to give it to him, he made it tough. I didn’t get the start I wanted because the [starting] gate was slippery, but I just needed to be patient. The Phoenix [track] gets really slick so I had to take my time and make sure my passes stuck.”

In the Western Regional 250SX Class Main Event, MyPlash/Metal Mulisha/Star Racing Yamaha’s Cooper Webb grabbed his first career holeshot and led his first professional race before getting passed by both Cole Seely aboard his Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil Honda and Rockstar Energy Racing’s Jason Anderson, Fed Motor Sports says.

Much like the opening race in Anaheim, Seely paced the field throughout the majority of the Main Event and appeared to be on his way to victory. However, as he navigated lapped riders in the late stages of the race, Seely’s advantage over Anderson shrunk dramatically. This allowed Anderson to close in on Seely’s rear fender on the final lap and make a last-lap pass for the win for the second-straight week, Feld Motor Sports says.

Jason Anderson Rockstar Energy KTM SX-F 250 Supercross) says: “I was out for redemption tonight. I got a good start on my KTM, like I have been all season. I don’t plan on those last-lap passes, but it was there and I needed to take it. My goal is to keep control of the red number plate [signifying the points leader] so I’ll do whatever it takes to do that. I really want it.”

Anderson and Seely were joined on the Phoenix Supercross podium by GEICO Honda’s Zach Osborne, which duplicated the top three finishers from the first race, Feld Motor Sports says.

Anderson has won three of his last four Western Regional 250SX Class Main Events dating back to last season and carries a six-point lead over Seely into Anaheim, Feld Motor Sports says.

Angel Stadium has played host to 61 races in the 450SX Class and 52 Western Regional 250SX Class races. Monster Energy Supercross has sold out Angel Stadium 28 times since the 1999 season when it began hosting multiple races in the championship, Feld Motor Sports says.

The first race held in Anaheim was on December 4, 1976, and Mart Smith won on a Honda. This weekend will mark the 62nd time the gate will drop for a 450SX Class race in Anaheim and the 24th time the city has played host to the season opener. James Stewart, Ricky Carmichael and Jeremy McGrath are tied on the all-time 450SX Class win list at Anaheim with 8 victories. Ivan Tedesco holds the 250SX Class all-time win record in Anaheim with 5 victories. Angel Stadium is the only stop on the tour that will host three races – January 4, January 18 and February 1, Feld Motor Sports says.

2014 AMA Supercross Anaheim II TV Schedule:

Fox Sports 1 will air the action live beginning at 10:30 p.m. ET Saturday, Jan. 18.

2014 AMA Supercross 450SX Class Season Standings (after 1 of 17 rounds):

1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 43

2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 42

3. Ken Roczen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 40

4. Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C., Yamaha, 37

5. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Kawasaki, 32

6. Justin Barcia, Pinetta, Fla., Honda, 32

7. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM, 26

8. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki, 26

9. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki, 22

10. Wil Hahn, Menifee, Calif., Honda, 21

2014 AMA Supercross 250SX Class Season Standings:

1. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.M., KTM, 50

2. Cole Seely, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda, 44

3. Zach Osborne, Chesterfield, S.C., Honda, 40

4. Dean Wilson, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Kawasaki, 36

5. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha, 31

6. Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Honda, 29

7. Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Kawasaki, 28

8. Jessy Nelson, Paso Robles, Calif., Honda, 24

9. Darryn Durham, Butler, Pa., Kawasaki, 21

10. Dean Ferris, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 21

Past Winners at Anaheim Supercross:

450SX Class

250SX Class