Villopoto: "I was really disappointed with how things went in Jacksonville”
AURORA, Ill
(March 22, 2011) – Through 11 races, the Monster Energy AMA Supercross,
an FIM World Championship season, makes its lone international stop
from Toronto’s Rogers Centre on Saturday night. Last weekend in
Jacksonville, Fla., American Honda’s Trey Canard, of Shawnee, Okla.,
claimed his second victory of the season and now sits just 27 points
out of the lead. In the Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class
championship, GEICO Honda’s Justin Barcia, of Ochlocknee , Ga., also
locked in his second victory of the season and currently leads the
division by 17 points.
Media
day will be held Thursday, March 24 from Noon – 2:00 p.m. in the
Baseball Press Box at Rogers Stadium. Riders in attendance will be
available for interviews and will ride the track for the media.
In
a shocking turn of events, Supercross class leader and Monster Energy
Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto, who came into Jacksonville with a three-race
win streak, crashed in his heat race, which forced him into the last
chance qualifier. As the gate dropped for the LCQ, on the first turn,
Villopoto was forced off the track and lost valuable ground to the rest
of the pack. Unable to rebound and earn a spot in the top two,
Villopoto, for the first time this season, did not qualify for the main
event.
"I
was really disappointed with how things went in Jacksonville,” said
Villopoto. “I have been feeling really good and it didn't show.
Everyone has bad days and I'm really glad I got out of there healthy.
My focus remains the same and I just want to get back out there so I
can make up the points I lost."
After
dominating his heat race, Team San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart
suffered a horrific crash after a rhythm following turn one. Stewart, a
two time Supercross class champion, was carted off the track by the
Asterisk Mobile Medical Team, losing valuable points in the
championship race. With Villopoto failing to make the main event, it
was an opportune time for Stewart to close in on the 26-point gap that
separated him from Villopoto. Stewart will use this week to heal up for
Toronto.
“I
was really hoping to pull this one out,” Stewart said. “It was my home
state, I’m familiar with the tracks, all my fans were there cheering me
on and it’s just really disappointing for me, my team, my sponsors and
my fans. It’s all about Toronto and the rest of the season now.”
American
Honda’s Trey Canard earned his second win of the season last weekend
and looks to extend his winning streak this Saturday in Toronto.
Photo Credit: Hoppenworld.com
With
all this action happening back at turn one, American Honda’s Trey
Canard pulled out in front with TwoTwo Motorsports/Bel-Ray Racing’s
Chad Reed and Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey in tow. Canard led
the first 18 laps before Reed made a pass for the lead that was quickly
answered back by Canard before riding to victory.
“Opening
the main, I was really excited about my start, which has been my
downfall this year,” said Canard. “I thought the first 12 laps were
solid, I rode really well. Late in the race, I switched up my line in
the whoops and it was definitely not working which made me run up into
a few lappers and lose momentum. Reed really closed up on me at the end
and I felt the pressure. He passed me at one point, but something
clicked and I charged right back to the front. The last two laps I rode
good and did what I needed to do to take the win.”
In
the Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class championship, there have
been four different winners in five races. GEICO Honda’s Justin Barcia
kicked off the night by taking an early lead with GEICO Honda teammate
Blake Wharton and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Dean Wilson
trailing closely. Barcia carried this lead for all 15 laps to earn his
fourth career win in the Supercross Lites class. Finishing second and
third were Wilson and DNA Shred Stix/Star Yamaha’s Ryan Sipes,
respectively.
“I
knew I was going to have a good day early on,” said Barcia. “It was
rough in the middle of the day and I tweaked my wrist a bit. It wasn’t
a pretty win that’s for sure, but I’m just glad to get out of here
safe.”
In
the Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class championship, GEICO Honda’s
Justin Barcia controls the points lead by 17 heading into the sixth
race of the Supercross Lites Class season from Toronto’s Rogers Centre
this Saturday.
Photo Credit: Hoppenworld.com
Last
year, Monster Energy Supercross’ only visit outside the United States
was a resounding success as 42,083 devoted Canadian fans packed into
Toronto’s Rogers Centre for the 10th race of the season.
Villopoto raced to his fifth win of the year, while Justin Barcia, of
Ochlocknee, Ga., captured the first Lites class win of his career.
The
first AMA Supercross race held in Toronto was December 4, 2004 when
Ricky Carmichael won on a Honda. When Toronto became a regular part of
the Monster Energy Supercross schedule on March 29, 2008, Chad Reed won
on a Yamaha. James Stewart is the only two-time Supercross class winner
in Toronto.
Supercross Class Results: Jacksonville
1. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda
2. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Honda
3. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki
4. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda
5. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM
6. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki
7. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM
8. Austin Stroupe, Lincolnton, N.C., Yamaha
9. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Yamaha
10. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Kawasaki
Supercross Class Season Standings
1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki – 221
2. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Honda – 214
3. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki – 203
4. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha – 198
5. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda – 194
6. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM – 145
7. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda - 121
8. Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C, Yamaha – 121
9. Davi Millsaps, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha – 118
10. Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki – 107
Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class Results: Jacksonville
1. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda
2. Dean Wilson, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki
3. Ryan Sipes, Ekron, Ky., Yamaha
4. Matt Lemoine, Collinsville, Texas, Kawasaki
5. P.J. Larsen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
6. Darryn Durham, Butler, Pa., Honda
7. Les Smith, York, S.C., Honda
8. Taylor Futrell, Clinton, N.C., York, S.C., Honda
9. Hunter Hewitt, Pilot Point, Texas, Suzuki
10. Justin Sipes, Vine Grove, Ky., Kawasaki
Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class Season Standings
1. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda – 116
2. Ryan Sipes, Ekron, Ky., Yamaha – 99
3. Dean Wilson, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki – 97
4. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki – 85
5. Matt Lemoine, Collinsville, Texas, Kawasaki – 69
6. Blake Wharton, Aubrey, Texas, Honda – 69
7. P.J. Larsen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM – 62
8. Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki – 53
9. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki – 44
10. Lance Vincent, Youngsville, La., Honda – 43
Past Winners in Toronto
Supercross Class
March 13, 2010: Ryan Villopoto
March 28, 2009: James Stewart
March 29, 2008: Chad Reed
December 2, 2006: Chad Reed
December 3, 2005: James Stewart
December 4, 2004: Ricky Carmichael
Supercross Lites Class
March 13, 2010: Justin Barcia
March 28, 2009: Christophe Pourcel
March 29, 2008: Shaun Skinner
December 2, 2006: Martin Davalos
December 3, 2005: Davi Millsaps
December 4, 2004: Nate Ramsey
Tickets are available at the Rogers Centre Box Office, SupercrossOnline.com, all Ticketmaster retail locations, online at www.ticketmaster.ca
, or charge by phone at 416.870.8000. Practice and qualifying begins
at 12:30 p.m., and the main event begins at 7:00 p.m. Gold level
tickets: $40; Extreme tickets: $25; Treadhead tickets: $15; Pizza Pizza
Kids tickets: $15.
SPEED
will broadcast the AMA Supercross class at 12:00 p.m. EST/9:00 a.m. PST
and the AMA Supercross Lites class at 6:00 p.m. EST/3:00 p.m. PST on
March 27, 2011.
For more information on the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, please log on to www.SupercrossOnline.com. For all media requests, please contact Denny Hartwig dhartwig@feldinc.com or 630-566-6305. To follow Monster Energy Supercross on Facebook and Twitter, log on to http://www.facebook.com/supercrosslive and http://twitter.com/supercrosslive.
About Feld Motor Sports®
Feld Motor Sports®,
Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motor
sports entertainment. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. productions include
Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam®, Monster Energy Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Nuclear Cowboyz℠, and IHRA® Nitro Jam®.
Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a division of Feld Entertainment, the
world’s largest producer of live family entertainment. For more
information on Feld Entertainment, visit www.feldentertainment.com.
3/22/2011 1:04pm
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