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
Rookie Josef Newgarden, driving for local favorite Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing, has consistently been the fastest driver throughout the week at the famed IMS oval. And Marco Andretti, a more seasoned but still youthful American at age 24, turned the fastest lap of the week at 223.676 mph on Wednesday.
Location:
TV Channels
