Will it be third time lucky for Villopoto in San Diego

Posted by Ray | 8 February 2012 | Comment

Reigning Supercross Class Champion Ryan Villopoto became the first repeat winner of the 2012 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, season last weekend, taking his second victory of the season inside Anaheim’s Angel Stadium. With the triumphant effort, the Monster Energy Kawasaki rider reclaimed the position of Supercross Class points leader, and will carry the red number plate into action this Saturday inside San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium.

Press Day is Thursday, February 9, from Noon-2:00 p.m., featuring Red Bull KTM rider Marvin Musquin, GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac and Gavin Faith, along with Supercross.com Honda’s Andrew Short.

Villopoto replicated his efforts from one month prior inside Angel Stadium, where he took the opening race of the 2012 season to begin his title defense on the top step of the podium. Following three historic weeks of action that ultimately resulted in four different winners through the first four main events, Villopoto responded to put the pressure back on his fellow championship-winning rivals – TwoTwo Motorsports/Bel-Ray Honda’s Chad Reed, Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey, and Toyota/Yamaha/JGRMX’s James Stewart. Villopoto took the lead early last Saturday night, and pulled away from the field. Statistically, the first rider to win twice in the past 38 years of Monster Energy Supercross has gone on to win the championship 23 times – 60 percent.

Reed posted a podium finish in Anaheim to take control of second in the championship standings, three points out of the lead. Dungey, who finished fourth last Saturday, sits in third, five points behind, while Stewart, who recorded a runner-up finish in Anaheim, is 13 points out.

While the top four riders in Monster Energy Supercross paced the field last weekend, the night in Anaheim wasn’t without some tense moments. Stewart took over the lead early in his heat race, crashed and was unable to finish. He returned to secure an easy win in the LCQ and proceeded to fight his way into a runner-up effort in the main event. However, the potential effects of Stewart’s heat race crash will be a major storyline coming into San Diego this weekend.

Last year in San Diego, Reed captured his maiden victory as a team owner, overcoming Mother Nature and the rest of the world’s fastest riders for a then underdog performance. With the full support of American Honda behind him, Reed will aim to duplicate his performance from a year ago inside a stadium where he is the winningest rider in Monster Energy Supercross history, boasting six victories.

As for Dungey, following podium results through the first three races of the season, he has just missed out on the top three in back-to-back weeks, and after having at least a shared possession of the red number plate since Phoenix, he will be looking ahead of him for just the second time. He, along with Villopoto, has never experienced premier class success inside Qualcomm Stadium.

Through the first three races in the Western Regional Supercross Lites Championship, three different young riders took their turn atop the podium. GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac was the third of those riders and he hasn’t finished off the top step of the podium since. Now, he has more points than any rider in all of Monster Energy Supercross after five races.

Tomac put forth another dominant effort in Anaheim, capturing his third consecutive win after Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil Honda’s Cole Seely fell while leading. Tomac’s continued success, combined with a fourth-place effort by Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Dean Wilson, has put him 22 points ahead of his Kawasaki-mounted rival as the Western Regional riders enter their final race of the season before taking an eight-race break from competition.

If history is any indication, Tomac’s winning streak has the potential to continue heading into San Diego, where he broke through for his first career Monster Energy Supercross win one year ago. For Wilson, his first visit to Qualcomm Stadium could serve as the perfect opportunity to take his second win of the 2012 season. Additionally, Red Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin, who lurks an additional seven points back in the standings in third, is still in search of his first victory on U.S. soil and has the momentum of back-to-back podiums in his favor.

The first race held in San Diego was October 25, 1980. Mike Bell won on a Yamaha. Reed has the most wins of any rider, winning six races in nine career starts. Jeremy McGrath and Stewart are the only two riders to win at San Diego in both the Supercross Class and Supercross Lites Class. A rider hasn’t won a Supercross Class race inside Qualcomm Stadium over consecutive years since Reed did it in 2007 and 2008. In the Supercross Lites class, it hasn’t been done since Stewart back in 2002 and 2003.

Image by Hoppenworld.com

SPEED will broadcast the race live from San Diego on Saturday night, beginning at 10 p.m. ET.

Tickets are available all Ticketmaster Outlets, charge my phone at (800) 745-3000, www.supercrossonline.com, or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets will also be available at the Qualcomm Stadium Box Office on the Monday, February 6, through the week of the show. Practice and qualifying begin at 12:30 p.m., and the main event starts at 7:00 p.m. Gold Circle tickets are $35 Adult/Child; Mid-Level $30 Adult/Child; Press-Level $30 Adult/Child and Treadhead tickets are available for $10 Adult/Child. Fans can also get in to the Pits for FREE from 12:30-6 p.m. Race Day when they recycle a MONSTER Energy Can at the stadium Pit Entrance (valid only with event ticket).

Supercross Class Results: Anaheim

Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha
Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Honda
Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda
Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki
Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki
Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki

Supercross Class Season Standings

Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki – 108
Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Honda – 105
Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM – 103
James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha – 95
Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda – 73
Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki – 71
Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda – 59
Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki – 57
Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha – 56
Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Honda – 53
Western Regional Supercross Lites Class Results: Anaheim

Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda
Cole Seely, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
Marvin Musquin, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
Dean Wilson, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki
Nico Izzi, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha
Michael Leib, Menifee, Calif., Honda
Matt Moss, Sussex Inlet, Australia, KTM
Vince Friese, Cape Girardeau, Mo., Suzuki
Travis Baker, Temecula, Calif., Honda
Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., Suzuki
Western Regional Supercross Lites Class Season Standings

Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda – 113
Dean Wilson, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki – 91
Marvin Musquin, Murrieta, Calif., KTM – 84
Cole Seely, Murrieta, Calif., Honda – 79
Zach Osborne, Chesterfield, S.C., Yamaha – 67
Nico Izzi, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha – 62
Tyla Rattray, Wildomar, Calif., Kawasaki – 60
Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki – 54
Matt Moss, Sussex Inlet, Australia, KTM – 53
Ryan Sipes, Ekron, Ky., Yamaha – 53
Past Winners in San Diego

Supercross class

February 19, 2011: Chad Reed
February 6, 2010: Davi Millsaps
February 14, 2009: James Stewart
February 9. 2008: Chad Reed
February 17, 2007: Chad Reed
February 11, 2006: James Stewart
February 19, 2005: Chad Reed
January 24, 2004: Chad Reed
February 08, 2003: Chad Reed
January 12, 2002: David Vuillemin
January 13, 2001: Ricky Carmichael
January 22, 2000: David Vuillemin
January 16, 1999: Ezra Lusk
February 07, 1998: Jeremy McGrath
February 10, 1996: Jeremy McGrath
February 11, 1995: Jeremy McGrath
February 05, 1994: Jeremy McGrath
February 06, 1993: Jeremy McGrath
February 08, 1992: Damon Bradshaw
February 09, 1991: Jean-Michael Bayle
February 10, 1990: Jeff Stanton
February 11, 1989: Rick Johnson
February 14, 1987: Rick Johnson
February 08, 1986: Rick Johnson
January 26, 1985: Johnny O’ Mara
November 16, 1982: Broc Glover
November 14, 1981: Broc Glover
October 25, 1980: Mike Bell

Supercross Lites class

February 19, 2011: Eli Tomac
February 6, 2010: Jake Weimer
February 14, 2009: Ryan Dungey
February 9, 2008: Jason Lawrence
February 17, 2007: Ryan Villopoto
February 11, 2006: Andrew Short
February 19, 2005: Nathan Ramsey
January 24, 2004: Ivan Tedesco
February 08, 2003: James Stewart
January 12, 2002: James Stewart
January 13, 2001: Justin Buckelew
January 22, 2000: Greg Schnell
January 16, 1999: Casey Johnson
February 07, 1998: John Dowd
February 10, 1996: Jeff Willoh
February 11, 1995: Damon Huffman
February 05, 1994: Ryan Hughes
February 06, 1993: Mickael Pichon
February 08, 1992: Jeremy McGrath
February 09, 1991: Jeremy McGrath
February 10, 1990: Ty Davis
February 11, 1989: Jeff Matiasevich
February 14, 1987: Kyle Lewis
February 08, 1986: Donny Schmit
January 26, 1985: Todd Campbell