Two-Time Winners Reed and Villopoto Lead Monster Energy Supercross into Military Appreciation Race in San Diego
Western Regional 250SX Class Championship Battle Tightens Up
AURORA, Ill.
(February 3, 2014) –Monster
Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, will return to San
Diego for its final Southern California stop inside Qualcomm Stadium
this weekend. The
sixth race of the 2014 season will honor the over one million service
men and women in the armed forces with the first ever Military
Appreciation Race, in support of Operation Homefront,
a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides assistance to service members and their families with a focus on wounded veterans who served
on or after 9/11. Feld Motor Sports will make a monetary donation to the Operation Homefront.
**The action from San Diego kicks off Saturday, live on FOX Sports 1 at 10:30 p.m. ET.**
Media day is Thursday, February 6, from Noon-2:00 p.m., locally (PT), featuring Rockstar Energy Racing, RCH Racing/Soaring Eagle
Suzuki, Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil/MAVTV Honda, and GEICO Honda.
Last
weekend at the third and final race from Anaheim, Calif., and Angel
Stadium for 2014, Discount Tire Racing/TwoTwo Motorsports’ Chad
Reed won his second 450SX Class Main Event of the season by leading all
20 laps and fending off a steady challenge from Red Bull KTM’s Ken
Roczen throughout. The victory was the 43rd of Reed’s illustrious career, his second in three races, and his
second in Anaheim this season, which tied him for the most wins all-time at Angel Stadium with eight.
450SX Main Event winner, Chad Reed
Photo Credit:
Chris Weedon
“It
was a tough racetrack tonight,” said Reed from the podium. “It was
about making smart choices and putting yourself in a good position to
ride
20 solid laps. This win means more to me than the last one [on January
18] where I came from behind because it’s tougher to go out there and
lead all 20 laps. We had our bike dialed in tonight and it was one of
those nights where it felt one with me.”
With
his win, combined with a third-place finish from Monster Energy
Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto, the current 450SX Class championship leader,
Reed
moved to within just two points of claiming possession of the red
number plate to signify the current points leader. For Villopoto, the
2014 season marks the first time in four seasons that he failed to win a
race in Anaheim. Historically, every rider that
has won a championship in the new millennium has also won at least one
race inside Angel Stadium.
450SX Class Main Event Start
Photo Credit: Steve Cox
“The
track was super tough,” said Villopoto on Saturday night. “I got a
great start but Chad was able to get by me. Ken was running similar lap
times
and was able to get by as well, but to end up on the podium is always a
good thing.”
Reed’s
fourth podium finish of the season gives him the most in the
championship this season, while both Roczen and Villopoto each have
three podium finishes apiece. Thanks to their consistency, this trio
carries an 11-point advantage over the rest of the division heading into
San Diego.
After
the first five races of the season, the success of Reed, Roczen, and
Villopoto, combined with finishes outside the top 10 this
season for fellow title contenders James Stewart, who rides for
Yoshimura Suzuki, and Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey, means the latter has a
difficult road to get back into the title fight.
With
Reed on a roll and heading to one of his favorite venues in Monster
Energy Supercross, below are some key stats headlining this
week’s return to San Diego:
·
Chad Reed earned his 43rd career 450SX Class victory. It was his 54th career AMA victory.
·
Reed is one of only eight riders to have 50 or more total AMA wins.
·
Reed is the only racer in the sport’s history to have two wins in his 13th season.
·
Reed is the winningest rider ever at San Diego with six wins, including five in six years from 2003 to 2008.
·
James Stewart tries to break a 14-race winless streak.
·
Dean Wilson can win the 250SX title if he wins the remaining four Western Regional 250SX Class Championship races.
Through
the first four races of the Western Regional 250SX Class Championship,
the competition has been some of the most captivating
in the 40-year history of Monster Energy Supercross. Last Saturday in
Anaheim, the drama intensified as the championship points experienced a
shakeup. With just one race remaining until the Western Region takes a
midseason break from competition, San Diego
will prove to be a pivotal stop in the title fight.
250SX Main Event winner, Dean Wilson
Photo Credit:
Chris Weedon
Just
one week after missing out on his first win of the season on the final
lap of competition, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Dean Wilson
rebounded to take a wild victory of his own in Anaheim. Wilson and Troy
Lee Designs/Lucas Oil Honda’s Cole Seely asserted themselves in the top
two positions throughout the 15-lap Main Event and opened a large gap
over the field. After taking the lead on the
opening lap, Seely led the first 12 laps of the race only to crash
while navigating his way through lappers with three to go. Wilson, who
had paced Seely throughout the race and began a late charge to the
front, was able to slip by his rival and steal the
victory.
“This
win really means a lot to me,” said Wilson on the podium. “The race was
shaping up to be exciting during those last few laps, but I received
a break. This is really emotional for me. I gained some good points and
we still have some races left. I am going to come out and do my best at
those races.”
In
three Anaheim races this season Seely led 38 of 45 laps, but has just
one win to show for it. Despite that, his win combined with a pair of
runner-up
efforts at Angel Stadium gave him an average finish of 1.6 and now have
Seely positioned in a tie for the Western Regional 250SX Class points
lead following a fifth-place finish by Rockstar Energy Racing’s Jason
Anderson, who has three wins this season and
entered Anaheim as the points leader.
As the nine-race Western Regional 250SX Class Championship enters one of its most crucial points of the season, just 12 points
separate Anderson, Seely, and Wilson.
Wilson
has been in a similar position before entering San Diego, facing a
22-point deficit during the 2012 season. That year,
he went on to win inside Qualcomm Stadium while point leader Eli Tomac
recorded a DNF and gave Wilson a two-point lead heading into the
midseason break.
Last
season in San Diego, Davi Millsaps captured his second win of the 2013
championship to extend his lead in the 450SX Class
standings. In the Western Regional 250SX Class, Tomac grabbed his
fourth win of the season, outdueling Roczen in their spirited battle for
the title.
The
first race held in San Diego was October 25, 1980, and Mike Bell won on
a Yamaha. Reed has the most wins of any rider in San Diego, winning six
races in 11 career starts. Jeremy McGrath, James Stewart, and Ryan
Villopoto are the only riders to win at San Diego in both the 450SX
Class and 250SX Class. A rider hasn't won a 450SX Class race inside
Qualcomm Stadium over consecutive years since Reed did
it in 2007 and 2008. In the 250SX Class, it hasn't been done since
Stewart back in 2002 and 2003.
Tickets are available at all Ticketmaster Outlets, charge by phone at (800) 745-3000,
www.supercrossonline.com, or online at
www.ticketmaster.com. Qualcomm Stadium Box Office opens Feb. 3rd,
2013. Practice and qualifying begin at 12:30 p.m. PST and the main
event starts at 7:00 p.m. PST. Gold Circle tickets are $40 Adult/Child;
Mid-Level and Press Level $35 Adult/Child; Treadhead $15 Adult/Child.
Fans can also get into the Pits for FREE from 12:30-6
p.m. PST on Race Day when they recycle a MONSTER Energy Can at the
stadium's Pit Entrance (valid only with event ticket).
Previous race results:
Angel Stadium
Anaheim, Calif.
February 1, 2014
Western Regional 250SX Class Results: Anaheim
1.
Dean Wilson, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Kawasaki
2.
Cole Seely, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda
3.
Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha
4.
Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Kawasaki
5.
Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.M., KTM
6.
Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Honda
7.
Jake Canada, Sun City, Calif., Honda
8.
Shane McElrath, Chesterfield, S.C., Honda
9.
Jessy Nelson, Paso Robles, Calif., Honda
10.
Dakota Tedder, Surfside, Calif., Kawasaki
Western Regional 250SX Class Season Standings
1.
Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.M., KTM, 109
2.
Cole Seely, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda, 109
3.
Dean Wilson, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Kawasaki, 97
4.
Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha, 85
5.
Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Kawasaki, 82
6.
Zach Osborne, Chesterfield, S.C., Honda, 69
7.
Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Honda, 69
8.
Jessy Nelson, Paso Robles, Calif., Honda, 61
9.
Shane McElrath, Chesterfield, S.C., Honda, 55
10.
Dean Ferris, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 52
450SX Class Results: Anaheim
1.
Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Kawasaki
2.
Ken Roczen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
3.
Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
4.
Justin Barcia, Pinetta, Fla., Honda
5.
Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki
6.
Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C., Yamaha
7.
James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki
8.
Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki
9.
Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM
10.
Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
450SX Class Season Standings
1.
Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 104
2.
Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Kawasaki, 102
3.
Ken Roczen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 97
4.
Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C., Yamaha, 86
5.
James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki, 80
6.
Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 76
7.
Justin Barcia, Pinetta, Fla., Honda, 74
8.
Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM, 61
9.
Wil Hahn, Menifee, Calif., Honda, 52
10.
Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki, 50
Past Winners in San Diego
450SX Class
February 9, 2013: Davi Millsaps
February 11, 2012: Ryan Villopoto
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 8, 2003: Chad Reed
January 12, 2002: David Vuillemin
January 13, 2001: Ricky Carmichael
January 22, 2000: David Vuillemin
January 16, 1999: Ezra Lusk
February 7, 1998: Jeremy McGrath
February 10, 1996: Jeremy McGrath
February 11, 1995: Jeremy McGrath
February 5, 1994: Jeremy McGrath
February 6, 1993: Jeremy McGrath
February 8, 1992: Damon Bradshaw
February 9, 1991: Jean-Michael Bayle
February 10, 1990: Jeff Stanton
February 11, 1989: Rick Johnson
February 14, 1987: Rick Johnson
February 8, 1986: Rick Johnson
January 26, 1985: Johnny O'Mara
November 16, 1982: Broc Glover
November 14, 1981: Broc Glover
October 25, 1980: Mike Bell
250SX Class
February 9, 2013: Eli Tomac
February 11, 2012: Dean Wilson
February 19, 2011: Eli Tomac
February 6, 2010: Jake Weimer
February 19, 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 8, 2003: James Stewart
January 12, 2002: James Stewart
January 13, 2001: Justin Buckelew
January 22, 2000: Greg Schnell
January 16, 1999: Casey Johnson
February 7, 1998: John Dowd
February 10, 1996: Jeff Wiloh
February 11, 1995: Damon Huffman
February 5, 1994: Ryan Hughes
February 6, 1993: Mickael Pichon
February 8, 1992: Jeremy McGrath
February 9, 1991: Jeremy McGrath
February 10, 1990: Ty Davis
February 11, 1989: Jeff Matiasevich
February 14, 1987: Kyle Lewis
February 8, 1986: Donny Schmit
January 26, 1985: Todd Campbell
For
the first-time ever, the entire Monster Energy Supercross season will
air live on FOX Sports. FOX Sports 1 will air 13 races live and FOX
Sports
2 will air four races live, in addition to every race re-airing on FOX
Sports 2. The live Monster Energy Supercross programming on FOX Sports 1
and FOX Sports 2 also includes live coverage on the authenticated FOX
Sports Go app.
About Feld Motor Sports®
Feld
Motor Sports, Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and
stadium-based motor sports entertainment. Feld Motor Sports productions
include Monster Jam®, Monster Energy Supercross, AMSOIL Arenacross and Nuclear Cowboyz®.
Feld Motor Sports 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.
###
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.