Chase Field. Sunny bright day, but a bit chilly as supercross invades the “Valley of the Sun”. OK, it’s really cold here, and expected to be record cold tonight. Chase Field is home to MLB’s Arizona D’backs baseball team. But today, it’s supercross!
The track is in perfect condition. In 250 West SX Qualifying, so far it’s defending champion and last week’s winner Eli Tomac on top with his quickest lap 51.5 seconds. Ken Roczen is second at 53 even. Then Martin Davalos, Joey Savatgy on a Honda next, Jason Anderson, Jake Canada, Ryan Sipes, Cole Seely, Christian Craig, Zach Osborne, Max Anstie, Blake Baggett and Tyla Rattray 13th at 54.2.
In 450 SX Qualifying, it’s Justin Barcia quickest so far at 51.64, Ryan Villopoto at 51.98, Trey Canard 52 even, Ryan Dungey 52.3, Davi Millsaps 52.7, Chad Reed 52.9, Broc Tickle 53 even, James Stewart 53 even, then Jake Weimer, Justin Brayton, Josh Grant, Mike Alessi, and Andrew Short.
Justin Barcia
Davi Millsaps bike sporting the red plate
Ryan Villopoto in practice action
250 West SX Heat 1: 7:37 pm. It’s number 94 Kenny Roczen with a big holeshot. This qualifying race will go six laps. As they are in the middle of the second lap, Roczen already has a big lead. Cole Seely 43 is second, Ryan Sipes 35 is third, Zach Osborne 338 is fourth.
Ken Roczen dominated this race. He won by almost 10 seconds over second place Cole Seely. Almost unheard of in a six lap supercross heat race. Third Ryan Sipes, fourth Zach Osborne.
Ken said afterwards that he’s just hoping to stay relaxed on the bike, and get a good start in the main.
250 West SX Heat 2: 7:55 pm. It’s 176 Joey Savatgy with the holeshot! Eli Tomac is about eighth.
Halfway into this six lap race, it’s Savatgy first, Martin Davalos number 40 on the Pro Circuit team is second. And Eli Tomac has stormed into third!
Towards the end of the fourth lap – Martin, and his Kawasaki, literally go tumbling off the track. Martin is out of this race …
Last lap – Tomac is right behind Savatgy. On the second to last corner, a tight left hander, Tomac makes the pass! It’s Tomac first, Savatgy a nice second. Third and fourth – Christian Craig and Jake Canada.
Eli said he’s lucky he didn’t get involved in any of the early moto crashes.
450 SX Heat 1: 8:09 pm. Justin Barcia 51 rockets into the lead. Davi Millsaps is next. Ryan Dungey is involved in a crash in between the second and third corners. He gets going again almost dead last in this eight lap race.
Out front – Barcia leads Millsaps, Jake Weimer is third, and Chad Reed is right behind him.
Halfway point – Barcia is stretching his lead over Millsaps just a bit. And Millsaps is stretching a bit over third place Weimer. But Weimer has Chad Reed right behind him. Fifth place is Matt Goerke on KTM. Ryan Dungey is 14th. Only the top nine riders go to the main. Dungey might have to race in the LCQ.
Justin Barcia wins it! Davi Millsaps second, Jake Weimer third, Chad Reed fourth, Matt Goerke fifth, Kevin Windham sixth. Dungey scores a 13th. He will have to race the LCQ.
450 SX Heat 2: James Stewart has the holeshot! Looks good! Mike Alessi is second, followed by Andrew Short, Trey Canard and Ryan Villopoto.
Lap 5, Andrew Short passes Alessi for second! Then Canard passes Alessi!
It’s James Stewart looking good out front. Then Short, Canard, Villopoto, Alessi.
Short tips over!
Lap 7 it’s Stewart, Canard, Villopoto, Alessi, Short.
The top three are closing up. James Stewart is leading, and Ryan Villopoto is closing on second place Trey Canard! At the finish – Stewart wins! Canard second! Villopoto third! Alessi and Short were fourth and fifth.
James Stewart said “I was perfect off the gate. I’d like to be 100% healthy. We’ll go back into the pit area and make some changes and see how we end up later tonight. I appreciate all the fans support!”
The 250 LCQ. Four laps. Only two riders will transfer to the main event. The rest will go home. Martin Davalos is the early leader, with Jason Anderson chasing. Last lap – Marting Davalos is going to win … and Jason Anderson falls! He gets back up – still retaining second position, … and then falls again! It’s Davalos winning, and Travis Bright (965) second.
When asked about his heat crash (where he and his bike literally tumbled off the track) Martin said he just wants to thank his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that’s he’s OK. He’s a bit sore, hit his head a bit … but won this race, and is ready for the 250 Main Event.
450 LCQ. 22 riders. Six laps. Again only two will make it to the Main Event – the rest go home. Ryan Dungey is in this race.
All eyes are on Dungey. He starts fifth. At the end of the first lap he’s third. At the end of the second lap he’s moved into second. Will the extra time on the track help him in the main? But in this race, Jimmy Albertson holds off Dungey for the win! Dungey second – they both transfer into the main event.
Let’s get ready for the 250 Main Event! 15 laps! 9:29 pm they take off! It’s 36 TLD’s Jessy Nelson. But at the end of the first lap – it’s Martin Davalos in the lead! Then Nelson, then Savatgy, then Zach Osborne.
Lap three – Eli Tomac has moved to third. Ken Roczen has moved up to sixth. Davalos leads.
Lap four – Tomac goes past Nelson. Davalos has a 3.5 second lead over Tomac.
At the 1/3 point – 5 laps in – Davalos leads Tomac by 2.5 second. Then it’s Jessy Nelson, Cole Seely, Joey Savatgy, and Ken Roczen. Osborne eighth. Rattray 12th. 250 National Champion Blake Baggett did not make the main …
Lap eight – Tomac goes past Davalos for the lead! It’s Tomac leading, with Davalos chasing. A little ways back in third is Ken Roczen. Then TLD’s Cole Seely and Jessy Nelson.
Eli Tomac is out front and cruising. The defending 250 West Champion has won! Second place goes to Kenny Roczen – as he gets past Martin Davalos! Davalos finishes third! Full results below …
Eli Tomac has won tonight’s 250 Main Event in Phoenix
Eli Tomac said “I’m totally stoked. I’m ‘two-for-two’.”
Ken Roczen said “I messed up on the start, although a pretty good race overall. I’m happy – but if you want to win the championship you can’t make little mistakes like I did at the start. I want to thank the fans for coming out, and look forward to seeing you all next week in Anaheim!”
450 Supercross Main Event. 20 laps. 9:56 pm gate drops. And it’s Justin Barcia railing around the outside of the first corner with the lead! David Millsaps is second! Chad Reed is third! Ryan Villopoto fourth! Then Weimer, Canard, Stewart.
On the second lap, Villopoto has a quick slide out in a left hand corner. At the end of lap three – the running order is: Justin Barcia, Davi Millsaps, Chad Reed, Jake Weimer, Trey Canard, James Stewart, Ryan Villopoto … and Ryan Dungey is 16th …
Barcia is looking strong and stretching out his lead. Davi Millsaps is second. Chad Reed a ways back in third, and Trey Canard equidistant back in fourth. Then Weimer, Stewart, Villopoto, J Grant, Kevin Windham, Andrew Short, K Chisholm, Weston Peick, and Ryan Dungey up to 13th.
Halfway point: Best racing is Canard in fourth is closing up on Reed in third. And Villopoto is starting to close on both of them. Barcia is way out front …
Lap 12 – Canard passes Reed on a tight left hand corner! Barcia out front, Millsaps safe in second … Canard leads the tight group of himself, Reedy, and RV2.
As they start lap 14, Villopoto makes the pass on Reed right near the finish line jump. And at the end of lap 14, Trey Canard has caught and passed Davi Millsaps!
Lap 15 – Villopoto has moved past Millsaps as well!
The running order as they start the last lap – Barcia leads Canard by 5.5 seconds. How about the Honda Muscle Milk team potentially going 1/2? Third is Ryan Villopoto, then Millsaps, Reed, Weimer, Stewart, Ryan Dungey has moved up to eighth. And then Canard falls twice in the same corner!
Justin Barcia wins it! Ryan Villopoto takes second! Davi Millsaps third! (Full results below)
Justin Barcia said “I kept it smooth, the track was a bit slick and gnarly. I’m pumped on tonight in winning my first ever 450 Supercross Main Event.”
Ryan Villopoto said “Not exactly what I wanted, but a lot better than last weekend. There are a lot of races left, and we’ll just keep chipping away at the points lead.” (Supercross)
250 West Main Event Results:
- Eli Tomac – HON
- Ken Roczen – KTM
- Martin Davalos – KAW
- Cole Seely – HON
- Jessy Nelson – HON
- Zach Osborne – HON
- Ryan Sipes – SUZ
- K Cunningham – YAM
- Joey Savatgy – HON
- Christian Craig – HON
- Max Anstie – SUZ
- Tyla Rattray – KAW
- Austin Poleitelli – HON
- Josh Cachia – KTM
- Travis Bright – HON
- Trevor Reis – HON
- Michael Leib – HON
- Malcolm Stewart –
- Topher Ingalls – HON
- Jake Canada –
250 West Point standings:
- Eli Tomac – 50
- Ken Roczen – 44
- Cole Seely – 38
- Ryan Sipes – 29
- Zach Osborne – 29
- K Cunningham – 23
- Tyla Rattray – 22
- Max Anstie – 22
- Martin Davalos – 21
- Joey Savatgy – 20
- Christian Craig – 20
- Malcolm Stewart – 19
- Jessy Nelson – 19
- Jason Anderson – 18
- Michael Leib – 15
- Austin Politelli – 13
- Blake Baggett – 7
- Josh Cachia – 7
- Travis Baker – 6
- Travis Bright – 6
450 Main Event Results:
- Justin Barcia – HON
- Ryan Villopoto – KAW
- Davi Millsaps – SUZ
- Chad Reed – HON
- Trey Canard – HON
- Jake Weimer – KAW
- James Stewart – SUZ
- Ryan Dungey – KTM
- Andrew Short – HON
- Josh Grant – YAM
- Kevin Windham – HON
- Broc Tickle – SUZ
- Kyle Chisholm – YAM
- Weston Peick – SUZ
- Justin Brayton – YAM
- Matt Lemoine – KAW
- Matt Goerke – KTM
- Vince Friese – HON
- Jimmy Albertson – HON
- Mike Alessi – SUZ
450 Point standings:
- Davi Millsaps – 45
- Justin Barcia – 39
- Trey Canard – 38
- Chad Reed – 36
- Ryan Dungey – 33
- Jake Weimer – 31
- Ryan Villopoto – 27
- Andrew Short – 27
- James Stewart – 27
- Josh Grant – 21
- Kevin Windham – 21
- Justin Brayton – 18
- Kyle Chisholm – 16
- Weston Peick – 14
- Matt Goerke – 13
- Broc Tickle – 12
- Matt Lemoine – 11
- Vince Friese – 7
- Robert Kiniry – 2
- Jimmy Albertson – 2
- Mike Alessi – 2
Justin Barcia – 450 Supercross Main Event winner tonight in Phoenix!
