Race Report: Atlanta 2011 5

After the season we've been having so far, almost nothing would surprise us. There have been different winners, crashes, DNFs, and assorted drama. But nothing tops the action we saw at the Atlanta Supercross, particularly between San Diego winner Chad Reed (TwoTwo Motorsports Bel Ray Racing), and James Stewart (San Manuel Red Bull Yamaha).

Supercross Main Event

When the pack rounded turn one in the main event, nearly all the riders you’d expect to be there were near the front James Stewart (San Manuel Red Bull Yamaha) had the early lead, with Chad Reed in second, and followed by Ryan Villopoto (Monster Energy Kawasaki), Trey Canard (American Honda Racing), and Ryan Dungey (Rockstar Makita Suzuki). But that lasted only a couple laps before Stewart bobbled just before the mechanic’s area, handing the lead to Reed. He continued to lead the next 16 laps, with varying degrees of a lead…widening when James would make a mistake, and closing when they came up on lappers.

One particular incident with Chris Blose really allowed Stewart to close the gap, and that set off sequence of contact and position swapping over the last few laps that made this one of the most exciting events in recent memory.

Coming up to the white flag lap, they were closing on James’ teammate, Kyle Regal, who they caught in the last bowl turn before the finish line. After some contact between the three, Stewart took over the top spot, but Reed was doing all he could to challenge for the lead. As they entered the 180-degree turn before the whoop section, Reed dove inside in a block pass attempt. Stewart got on the gas per usual, and later said that he didn’t know that Reed was there. Regardless, the two made contact, and both went down in a heap. As they struggled to untangle their bikes, and keep them running, Stewart had to step on Reed’s bike, and it was crazy scene. Stewart got away first, but not before Ryan Villopoto had moved into the lead.

Then, if that wasn’t enough, Reed was also back aboard and pressuring James. As they approached the finish line section, the two made contact once again, and that one moved Reed back by Stewart, but it also allowed Ryan Dungey to get by both of them. It was a crazy scene with angry riders, very vocal spectators, and a surprised winner and runner-up.

On the podium it was Villopoto, Dungey and Reed, with Stewart fourth, and it was also only the second time all season that Stewart hadn’t been on the podium. Trey Canard finished fifth, and Andrew Short (Red Bull KTM) was up his usual standard (first in class on the KTM 350 SX-F), and another sixth-place finish. Justin Brayton (Muscle Milk/Toyota/JGRMX), Kevin Windham (GEICO Powersports Honda), Ivan Tedesco (Hart & Huntington Dodge Kawasaki), and Davi Millsaps (Muscle Milk/Toyota/JGRMX).

By being patient and coming home with another win, Ryan Villopoto now has a ten-point lead in the series.

Lites Main Event

Blake Wharton (GEICO Powersports Honda) had earned his spot the main event by winning the LCQ following a heat race crash. That meant he had to line up on the outside of the starting gate, but despite that, he rounded the first turn in the lead. After leading for the first 11 laps, he looked like a sure winner. But a crash by himself with less than a handful of laps remaining handed the lead (and win) to Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Dean Wilson, who’d worked his way from fifth to second spot.

The winner of the Houston Eastern Lites opener, Justin Barcia, had been in second spot for the bulk of the main, before dropping to third as Wilson moved forward. But after Wharton’s crash, that moved him back to second, and Blake Baggett (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) picked up the third spot.

Wharton remounted for fourth, and was followed in by Ryan Sipes (DNA Shred Stix / Star Racing / Yamaha), who’d set the fastest qualifying time during the afternoon practices. The rest of the top ten was filled out by Hunter Hewitt, who turned in an excellent ride in sixth, which was good for first privateer. PJ Larsen (JDR/J-Star/KTM) was seventh, Malcolm Stewart (Team Suzuki City Nitro Circus) came back from an early crash to finish eighth, and Jason Anderson (Rockstar Energy Suzuki) was tenth.

With the results in, the Dean Wilson and Justin Barcia are tied for the lead in the series title, with 47 points each, while Blake Baggett was another seven points back in third.

Next Up

After two rounds in covered stadiums, we head to the wide open spaces of Daytona International Speedway next weekend, for the annual Daytona Supercross by Honda, and the halfway point in the series. A win there is always coveted by the teams and riders, and we can’t wait to see how the next round plays out.

Results

2011 Monster Energy AMA Supercross

Atlanta, GA

Supercross Lites Heat 1

1. Justin Barcia

2. Blake Baggett

3. Malcolm Stewart

4. Hunter Hewitt

5. Dean Wilson

6. Alex Martin

7. Lance Vincent

8. Brad Ripple

9. Killy Rusk

Supercross Lites Heat 2

1. Ryan Sipes

2. PJ Larsen

3. Jason Anderson

4. Justin Sipes

5. Michael Akaydin

6. Nicholas Myers

7. Sean Lipanovich

8. Vernon Mckiddie

9. Levi Kilbarger

Supercross Heat 1

1. Trey Canard

2. Chad Reed

3. Davi Millsaps

4. Andrew Short

5. Mike Alessi

6. Kyle Regal

7. Antonio Balbi

8. Fabien Izoird

9. Kyle Partridge

Supercross Heat 2

1. Ryan Villopoto

2. James Stewart

3. Kevin Windham

4. Ivan Tedesco

5. Justin Brayton

6. Ryan Dungey

7. Tye Simmonds

8. Chris Blose

9. Matt Boni

Supercross Lites LCQ

1. Blake Wharton

2. Matt Lemoine

Supercross LCQ

1. Nick Wey

2. Brett Metcalfe

Supercross Lites Main Event

21. Dean Wilson (Kawasaki)

22. Justin Barcia (Honda)

23. Blake Baggett (Kawasaki)

24. Blake Wharton (Honda)

25. Ryan Sipes (Yamaha)

26. Hunter Hewitt (Suzuki)

27. PJ Larsen (KTM)

28. Malcolm Stewart (Suzuki)

29. Jason Anderson (Suzuki)

30. Matt Lemoine (Kawasaki)

31. Lance Vincent (Honda)

32. Alex Martin (Honda)

33. Justin Sipes (Kawasaki)

34. Levi Kilbarger (Honda)

35. Brad Ripple (Honda)

36. Michael Kaydin (Kawasaki)

37. Sean Lipanovich (Suzuki)

38. Nicholas Myers (Honda)

39. Vernon Mckiddie (KTM)

40. Killy Rusk (KTM)

Supercross Main Event

21. Ryan Villopoto (Kawasaki)

22. Ryan Dungey (Suzuki)

23. Chad Reed (Honda)

24. James Stewart (Yamaha)

25. Trey Canard (Honda)

26. Andrew Short (KTM)

27. Justin Brayton (Yamaha)

28. Kevin Windham (Honda)

29. Ivan Tedesco (Kawasaki)

30. Brett Metcalfe (Suzuki)

31. Davi Millsaps (Yamaha)

32. Nick Wey (Yamaha)

33. Kyle Regal (Yamaha)

34. Chris Blose (Kawasaki)

35. Tye Simmonds (KTM)

36. Matt Boni (Kawasaki)

37. Fabien Izoird (Kawasaki)

38. Mike Alessi (KTM)

39. Antonio Balbi (Yamaha)

40. Kyle Partridge (Honda)

Supercross Lites East Point Standings

1. Dean Wilson 47

2. Justin Barcia 47

3. Blake Baggett 40

4. Ryan Sipes 34

5. Blake Wharton 33

6. Jason Anderson 26

7. Lance Vincent 23

8. Matt Lemoine 23

9. Malcolm Stewart 20

10. Alex Martin 20

Supercross Point Standings

1. Ryan Villopoto 171

2. James Stewart 161

3. Chad Reed 150

4. Trey Canard 146

5. Ryan Dungey 145

6. Andrew Short 110

7. Brett Metcalfe 104

8. Justin Brayton 90

9. Davi Millsaps 88

10. Ivan Tedesco 78