Preview :
Following one of the most exciting seasons in the series' history, the 2013 Monster Energy AMA Supercross throttles into action this weekend at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif.
This year's first of 17 rounds will be historical - for the first time in 40 years of racing, 10 riders with 450 Supercross main event wins will be vying for points.
And the immediate favorite is Monster Energy Kawasaki's Ryan Villipoto. The reigning AMA SX Champion clinched the title last year at round 13 of 17 in Houston; it was the earliest a rider ever clinched a Supercross title.
The two-time AMA SX Champ (2010, 2012) will have much work ahead of him due to challenges by some of the greatest riders in Supercross history, including three former champions - Yoshimura Suzuki's James Stewart (2007, 2009), Red Bull KTM's Ryan Dungey (2010), and Two-Two Motorsports Honda's Chad Reed (2004, 2008).
Villopoto, who became the first rider in history to win both meets at Angel Stadium last year, will also have much pressure from the returning Trey Canard. The Muscle Milk Honda rider sustained three fractured vertebrae and a spinal-cord injury during round three at Dodger Stadium (not on 2013 AMA SX Schedule) last season, and was forced to miss the rest of the SX series and the AMA Motocross Championship. But following nearly a year of recovery, Canard will return to challenge the field once again.
There will also be two threats graduating to 450 SX from the 250 SX class - GEICO Honda's Justin Barcia and Monster Energy Kawasaki's Dean Wilson.
But though Villopoto clinched the title at round 13, as fate would have it he suffered a major crash at his home round in Seattle. During the wreck, Villopoto tore his ACL, and was forced to miss the final three races of the season.
Ryan Villopoto (Monster Energy Kawasaki KX450F) says: "(Last year in 2012), I worked harder than I ever have. However, backing up what you have already done definitely brings added pressure to win."
The man who took second overall at last year's Anaheim I race, Reed, was also severely injured last season during a crash at Cowboys stadium. During the SX wreck, Reed fractured his T-6, broke two ribs, a tibia and fibula, and tore his ACL, LCL and meniscus.
But Reed will be looking to return to his consistent ways. He holds the record for all-time podium finishes, which stands at 119 in 148 starts. And in 85 percent of those 148 450 SX starts, he finished in the top five (129 times).
Chad Reed (Two-Two Motorsports Honda CRF450R) says: "I've seen a lot in my life career. I've been a big sponge and taken it all in - the good, the bad, the ugly. l have lived life to the fullest, and I believe that helps me stay motivated and committed to what I love to do on the weekends. I've been very lucky to have always been in the fight for podiums, wins and the title. I'm hoping '13 will be no different! I learned a lot in 2012, and I'm ready to put that to good use."
The man who finished third at Anaheim I last year also received some injuries in 2012 SX. The then-reigning SX Champion, Dungey, broke his collarbone while practicing at his training facility. Dungey didn't stop racing, though. And while vying for points in St. Louis, Dungey made the injury worse en route to a second-place finish. Dungey experienced pain for the rest of the season, but still gave KTM two wins, including the Austrian manufacturer's first ever 450 SX win, and best-season finish ever - third.
As for James Stewart, his 2012 season was marred by wrecks - the Floridian crashed in seven of 11 races, though he won two main events. Throughout the first 10 races, he averaged a fifth-place finish or better, but then crashed.
Feld Motor Sports says "considered the fastest man on the planet, Stewart either wins or crashes 91 percent of the time. To crack the code, Stewart needs to slow down to win championships. His lifetime winning percentage in races where he did not crash is 84.62 percent. When he won his first of two championships in 2007, his winning percentage in races where he did not crash was 100 percent."
James Stewart (Yoshimura Suzuki RM-Z450) says: "It's going take speed, but it's probably going to be about consistency more than anything. There are a lot of fast guys out there, and all of them want to win. None of us will have the luxury of a bad weekend this year."
Joining these premier-class greats will be Barcia, who finished second overall in his rookie 2010 season, and won the last two Eastern Regional Championships. Last season, Barcia won six of nine races, finishing 45 points ahead of KTM's Ken Roczen. Barcia will be looking to become the third rider in history to win a 450 Supercross Championship in his rookie year; Jeremy McGrath completed this feat in 1993, Dungey in 2010.
Speaking of being a serious title contender, Barcia says "that's the plan; that's what I was hired for. It's like 250cc (250SX Class) racing with more experienced riders."
With Barcia out of the 250 SX class, there will be much competition in the eastern conference between Roczen, Suzuki's Blake Wharton and Kawasaki's Blake Baggett. In the 250 SX Western Regional Championship, the compeition will be fierce between the reigning champ, Honda's Eli Tomac, Kawasaki's Dean Wilson, KTM's Marvin Musquin and Honda's Cole Seely.
2013 Anaheim I Monster Energy AMA Supercross TV Schedule
SPEED TV will broadcast the Angel Stadium race live on Saturday, Jan. 5, at 9:30 p.m. EST.
2012 AMA Supercross 450 Class Results: Anaheim Race 1
1. Ryan Villopoto, Seattle, Wash., Kawasaki
2. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Honda
3. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
4. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
5. Jake Weimer, Wildomar, Idaho., Kawasaki
6. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha
7. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda
8. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda
9. Mike Alessi, Hilliard, Calif., Suzuki
10. Josh Hansen, Elbert, Colo., Kawasaki
2012 Western Regional Supercross 250 Class Results: Anaheim Race 1
1. Cole Seely, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
2. Tyla Rattray, Wildomar, Calif., Kawasaki
3. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda
4. Marvin Musquin, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
5. Ryan Sipes, Ekron, Ky., Yamaha
6. Dean Wilson, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki
7. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki
8. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda
9. Zach Osborne, Chesterfield, S.C., Yamaha
10. Travis Baker, Temecula, Calif., Honda
Past Winners in Anaheim
450SX Class
February 4, 2012 Ryan Villopoto
January 7, 2012 Ryan Villopoto
February 5, 2011: James Stewart
January 8, 2011: Ryan Villopoto
February 13, 2010: Ryan Villopoto
January 23, 2010: Ryan Dungey
January 9, 2010: James Stewart
February 7, 2009: James Stewart
January 17, 2009: James Stewart
January 3, 2009: Josh Grant
February 2, 2008: Chad Reed
January 19, 2008: Chad Reed
January 5, 2008: Chad Reed
February 3, 2007: James Stewart
January 20, 2007: James Stewart
January 6, 2007: James Stewart
February 4, 2006: Ricky Carmichael
January 21, 2006: Ricky Carmichael
January 7, 2006: James Stewart
February 5, 2005: Ricky Carmichael
January 22, 2005: Ricky Carmichael
January 8, 2005: Kevin Windham
January 31, 2004: Kevin Windham
January 17, 2004: Chad Reed
January 3, 2004: Chad Reed
February 1, 2003: Ricky Carmichael
January 18, 2003: Ricky Carmichael
January 4, 2003: Chad Reed
February 2, 2002: Ricky Carmichael
January 19, 2002: Mike LaRocco
January 5, 2002: David Vuillemin
February 3, 2001: Ricky Carmichael
January 20, 2001: Jeremy McGrath
January 6, 2001: Jeremy McGrath
January 15, 2000: Jeremy McGrath
January 8, 2000: Jeremy McGrath
February 6, 1999: Ezra Lusk
January 9, 1999: Ezra Lusk
January 27, 1996: Jeremy McGrath
January 28, 1995: Jeremy McGrath
January 29, 1994: Jeremy McGrath
January 23, 1993: Jeremy McGrath
January 25, 1992: Damon Bradshaw
January 26, 1991: Jeff Stanton
January 27, 1990: Damon Bradshaw
January 28, 1989: Rick Johnson
January 31, 1987: Jeff Ward
January 18, 1986: David Bailey
February 2, 1985: Broc Glover
January 28, 1984: Johnny O'Mara
January 29, 1983: David Bailey
January 30, 1982: Donnie Hansen
January 31, 1981: Kent Howerton
November 17, 1979 Kent Howerton
November 11, 1978: Gaylon Mosier
November 12, 1977: Bob Hannah
December 4, 1976: Marty Smith
250SX Class
February 4, 2012: Eli Tomac
January 7, 2012: Cole Seely
February 5, 2011: Joshua Hansen
January 8, 2011: Joshua Hansen
February 13, 2010: Trey Canard
January 23, 2010: Jake Weimer
January 9, 2010: Jake Weimer
February 7, 2009: Jake Weimer
January 17, 2009: Ryan Dungey
January 3, 2009: Jake Weimer
February 2, 2008: Jason Lawrence
January 19, 2008: Ryan Dungey
January 5, 2008: Ryan Dungey
February 3, 2007: Ryan Villopoto
January 20, 2007: Ryan Villopoto
January 6, 2007: Ryan Villopoto
February 4, 2006: Grant Langston
January 21, 2006: Grant Langston
January 7, 2006: Andrew Short
February 5, 2005: Ivan Tedesco
January 22, 2005: Ivan Tedesco
January 8, 2005: Nathan Ramsey
January 31, 2004: Ivan Tedesco
January 17, 2004: Ivan Tedesco
January 3, 2004: Ivan Tedesco
February 1, 2003: James Stewart
January 18, 2003: James Stewart
January 4, 2003: Travis Preston
February 2, 2002: Brock Sellards
January 19, 2002: David Pingree
January 5, 2002: Travis Preston
February 3, 2001: Ernesto Fonseca
January 20, 2001: Ernesto Fonseca
January 6, 2001: Ernesto Fonseca
January 15, 2000: Tallon Vohland
January 8, 2000: David Pingree
February 6, 1999: Nathan Ramsey
January 9, 1999: Casey Johnson
January 27, 1996: Kevin Windham
January 28, 1995: Damon Huffman
January 29, 1994: Damon Huffman
January 9, 1993: Damon Huffman
January 25, 1992: Jeremy McGrath
January 26, 1991: Jeremy McGrath
January 27, 1990: Michael Craig
January 28, 1989: Jeff Matiasevich
January 31, 1987: Jeff Matiasevich
January 18, 1986: Tyson Vohland
February 2, 1985: Mike Healy
