2014 AMA Supercross in Atlanta
The 2014 Monster Energy Supercross Championship heads to Atlanta for the 36th time this weekend for round eight of 17.
There’s some distressing news out of the TwoTwo Motorsports paddock, though. While battling last week for the Arlington SX podium during the final lap, Chad Reed suffered a nasty crash aboard his Kawasaki KX-F 450. The Australian was taken to the medical center, and suffered some serious injuries – a broken scapula, collarbone and T1 vertebrae. Due to seriousness of the injuries, Reed has pulled out of competition, and will likely remain out for the entire Supercross season.
Reed was a serious threat to the others, including one rider will be chasing his third consecutive victory this weekend at Atlanta – Yoshmimura Suzuki’s James Stewart. JS7 has ridden with precision in the past two rounds, and became the first rider in 2014 to take back-to-back wins. These victories allowed Stewart to jump to third in the standings, 14 points behind the series leader, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto.
Stewart also has some extra incentive this weekend, considering his only win last season came at Atlanta SX.
During last weekend’s round at Arlington, Texas, Stewart remained in second for the opening two laps, but then took the lead. He continued to lead the remaining 18 laps to take the 47th win of his career.
Joining Stewart on the Arlington podium was Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey and Muscle Milk Honda’s Justin Barcia.
“I’m so happy,” exclaimed Stewart from the podium in Arlington. “I thought we needed to be better for the Main Event and we were. The track was really difficult and I knew I had to get myself to a certain point in order to make a pass and control the race. The championship doesn’t matter right now. We just need to keep riding like we are. If we do that, then we’ll be good.”
As for three-time SX Champion Villopoto, he finished fourth. Heading into Atlanta, he has a 12-point lead over Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen. For some in-depth commentary regarding the winners and losers at Arlington, click here.
By virtue of his victory, Stewart assumed control of the Toyota Triple Challenge and holds a one-point lead over Villopoto and Barcia. With one race remaining in the Triple Challenge from East Rutherford, N.J., on April 26, Stewart is now in position to win a new Toyota Tundra if he maintains the advantage. The wins by Reed and Stewart in the first two races mean that no rider will claim the $250,000 bonus for winning all three Main Events, Feld Motor Sports says.
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo, who is a rookie in the Eastern Regional 250SX Class, wrote the perfect story to what appears to be an incredible career by winning the first race of his career last weekend at Arlington.
Cianciarulo made a statement early as he captured the Nuclear Cowboyz Holeshot Award, with his teammates Martin Davalos and Blake Baggett with him through turn one. Davalos, who was the fastest rider in practice, made a pass for the lead on the opening lap but crashed on Lap 3 allowing Cianciarulo to reclaim the top spot and Baggett to take over second, Feld Motor Sports says.
Out front, Cianciarulo and Baggett opened a significant advantage over the rest of the field before Baggett made a pass on Cianciarulo for the lead on Lap 7. Cianciarulo responded quickly and regained the lead in the next turn, Feld Motor Sports says.
Cianciarulo became the first rider since Trey Canard in 2008 to win in his first career Monster Energy Supercross start. Baggett finished second while Davalos rebounded from a pair of crashes to climb his way from sixth to third and secure a podium sweep for Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki, Feld Motor Sports says.
“I couldn’t be more pumped,” said Cianciarulo, who became the 93rd different 250SX Class winner in Monster Energy Supercross history. “This is for everyone who has stuck behind me through all the good times and bad. It’s taken a lot of good days and a lot of bad days to get to this point. I cannot believe it, all these fans cheering for me and giving me the support. I just can’t believe it. We did it.”
Atlanta Supercross History
This will be the 36th time the Georgia Dome has hosted a 450SX Class race and the 28th time the gates have dropped for a 250SX Class race. In 2012, supercross drew in a record crowd of 71,009 fans. In years before, Atlanta supercross have again and again averaged over 67,000 fans per race.
The first supercross race held in Atlanta was on March 5, 1977 and Bob Hannah won on a Yamaha. On February 22, 1986, Honda rider Keith Turpin won the first-ever 250SX Class Main Event in Atlanta. To date, Ricky Carmichael sits on top of the 450SX Class’ all-time win list at the Georgia Dome with five wins. Carmichael, Brian Swink and Christophe Pourcel share the 250SX Class’ all-time win record with two.
2014 Atlanta Supercross on TV
FOX Sports 2 will air the Atlanta race live at 7:30 p.m. EST.
2014 AMA Supercross 450SX Class Season Standings (after seven of 17 rounds):
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 144
- Ken Roczen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 132
- James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki, 130
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 116
- Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C., Yamaha, 114
- Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Kawasaki, 111
- Justin Barcia, Pinetta, Fla., Honda, 109
- Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM, 83
- Wil Hahn, Menifee, Calif., Honda, 65
- Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki, 63
Eastern Regional 250SX Class Season Standings:
- Adam Cianciarulo, Port Orange, Fla., Kawasaki, 25
- Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki, 22
- Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., Kawasaki, 20
- Vince Friese, Cape Girardeau, Mo., Honda, 18
- Justin Bogle, Cushing, Okla., Honda, 16
- Cole Thompson, Brigden, Canada, KTM, 15
- Blake Wharton, Beaumont, Texas, Honda, 14
- Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Honda, 13
- Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha, 12
- Mitchell Oldenburg, Alvord, Texas, Honda, 11
Toyota Triple Challenge Standings
- James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki, 39
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo Wash., Kawasaki, 38
- Justin Barcia, Pinetta, Fla., Honda, 38
- Ken Roczen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 37
- Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C., Yamaha, 31
- Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Kawasaki, 25
- Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM, 23
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 22
- Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki, 16
- Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki, 14
Past Supercross Winners in Atlanta
450SX Class
February 23, 2013 James Stewart
February 25, 2012 Ryan Dungey
February 26, 2011 Ryan Villopoto
February 17, 2010 Ryan Dungey
February 21, 2009 James Stewart
February 23, 2008 Davi Millsaps
February 24, 2007 James Stewart
February 25, 2006 Ricky Carmichael
February 26, 2005 Ricky Carmichael
February 28, 2004 Chad Reed
February 22, 2003 Ricky Carmichael
February 23, 2002 Ricky Carmichael
February 24, 2001 Ricky Carmichael
February 26, 2000 Jeremy McGrath
February 20, 1999 Jeremy McGrath
February 21, 1998 Jeremy McGrath
February 22, 1997 Damon Huffman
February 24, 1996 Jeremy McGrath
February 25, 1995 Mike LaRocco
February 26, 1994 Jeremy McGrath
February 20, 1993 Damon Bradshaw
February 22, 1992 Damon Bradshaw
February 23, 1991 Damon Bradshaw
February 24, 1990 Jeff Ward
February 25, 1989 Jeff Stanton
February 22, 1986 Rick Johnson
February 23, 1985 Mark Barnett
February 25, 1984 Johnny O’Mara
March 5, 1983 Mark Barnett
February 27, 1982 Bob Hannah
February 28, 1981 Mark Barnett
March 1, 1980 Chuck Sun
March 3, 1979 Bob Hannah
March 4, 1978 Marty Tripes
March 5, 1977 Bob Hannah
250SX Class
February 23, 2013 Wil Hahn
February 25, 2012 Justin Barcia
February 26, 2011 Dean Wilson
February 27, 2010 Christophe Pourcel
February 21, 2009 Christophe Pourcel
February 23, 2008 Trey Canard
February 24, 2007 Ryan Dungey
February 25, 2006 Josh Grant
February 26, 2005 Grant Langston
February 28, 2004 James Stewart
February 22, 2003 Brock Sellards
February 23, 2002 Chad Reed
February 24, 2001 Nathan Ramsey
February 26, 2000 Stephane Roncada
February 20, 1999 Ernesto Fonseca
February 21, 1998 Ricky Carmichael
February 22, 1997 Ricky Carmichael
February 24, 1996 John Dowd
February 25, 1995 Mickael Pichon
February 26, 1994 Ezra Lusk
February 20, 1993 Doug Henry
February 22, 1992 Brian Swink
February 23, 1991 Brian Swink
February 24, 1990 Denny Stephenson
February 24, 1989 Damon Bradshaw
February 22, 1986 Keith Turpin
What happened to barcia at Atlanta last night