Villopoto Picks up Win #4 at St. Louis Stop of Monster Energy Supercross, Hahn Moves Into 250SX Class Points Lead with Pivotal Win
ST. LOUIS (March 2, 2013) – A record 60,178 fans at the Edward Jones Dome watched Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto win his fourth Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, race. For the second consecutive race in the Eastern Regional 250SX Class Championship, GEICO Honda’s Wil Hahn was victorious, and he is now the new points leader.
Motoconcepts’ Mike Alessi jumped out to an early lead, winning the Nuclear Cowboyz® Holeshot Award. Team Muscle Milk Honda’s Justin Barcia tucked into the number-two position on the opening lap with Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart in third. Championship points leader Davi Millsaps started in eighth place.
On Lap 1, Stewart moved into second place and advanced to the lead a few turns later as Villopoto assumed fourth. The race was stopped due to a red flag on lap three, and the field had to be re-started. Stewart, Barcia and Reed held down the top three positions after the re-start, and on Lap 5, Villopoto moved around Reed for third.
Villopoto continued his charge, passing Barcia for second place. During Laps 9-11 Stewart and Villopoto traded places several times, and Villopoto successfully moved into the leader position. After passing Stewart for second place on Lap 13, Barcia made a mistake and lost several spots. This allowed TwoTwo Motorsports’ Chad Reed to move into third place. Stewart finished second and Reed finished third.
Rockstar Energy Racing’s Millsaps holds a 12-point lead over Villopoto in season standings and Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey is in third.
“That was a good race for us, we’re slowly getting better out here,” said Stewart. “Villopoto caught me by surprise on the pass, but I was still able to keep it together and hold the second place spot. It was one heck of a race tonight. That’s what it’s about.”
“It was a crazy night out there,” said Villopoto. “I made a costly mistake on the first start, so I knew my work was cut out for me. I was able to make things happen on the second start and get out in front after some wild racing. It’s coming down to crunch time and we were all able to make it happen tonight.”
After winning the Nuclear Cowboyz Holeshot Award, Hahn led Rockstar Energy Racing’s Blake Wharton, who moved into second place on Lap 1, and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Dean Wilson, who moved into third place on Lap 3.
After a mid-pack start, Wilson continued his charge past Wharton on Lap 7 to secure the number-two position. On Lap 9, Wilson was 1.5 seconds behind Hahn, patiently waiting to make his move. The two traded positions on Lap 12, but Hahn quickly regained the lead and rode to the second win of his career. Wilson finished second and Wharton finished third.
“It was a tough race,” said Wilson. “I didn’t make things easy on myself tonight with that bad start. I passed him [Hahn] once, but it wasn’t good enough.”
“That wasn’t an easy race,” said Hahn. “It was a tight race tonight with Blake [Wharton] pressuring me early and Dean [Wilson] came on strong late in the race. Tonight was awesome, and my family was here tonight to enjoy this with me.”
Hahn has a one-point lead over Wilson in season standings and Wharton is in third.
Broadcast coverage of the 450SX Class can be seen tomorrow on CBS beginning at Noon ET. Coverage of the 250SX Class will follow at 2:30 p.m. ET on SPEED.
Racing resumes next weekend at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla.
450SX Class Results: St. Louis
Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki
Chad Reed, Australia, Honda
Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda
Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
Mike Alessi, Hilliard, Fla., Suzuki
Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda
Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha
Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM
450SX Class Season Standings
Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 189
Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 177
Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 166
Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda, 148
Chad Reed, Australia, Honda, 147
Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda, 132
James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki, 122
Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM, 113
Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha, 103
Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki, 87
Eastern Regional 250SX Class Results: St. Louis
Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda
Dean Wilson, Scotland, Kawasaki
Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Suzuki
Marvin Musquin, France, KTM
Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha
Vince Friese, Cape Girardeau, Mo., Honda
James Decotis, Peabody, Mass., Honda
Cole Thompson, Brigden, Canada, Honda
Zach Bell, Cairo, Ga., Honda
Peter Larsen, Menifee, Calif., Honda,
Eastern Regional 250SX Class Season Standings
Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda, 70
Dean Wilson, Scotland, Kawasaki, 69
Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Suzuki, 60
Marvin Musquin, France, KTM, 53
Vince Friese, Cape Girardeau, Mo., Honda, 39
Gavin Faith, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Honda, 38
Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Kawasaki, 36
James Decotis, Peabody, Mass., Honda, 34
Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha, 32
Kyle Peters, Greensboro, NC, Honda, 31
