Monster Energy AMA Supercross returned to Anaheim for the second and final time in 2012, with a very similar outcome to the way things ended the first time around. Once again Ryan Villopoto shined brightly under the California lights, taking his second win in Anaheim en route to becoming the first two-time winner in the Supercross class. Cole Seely looked primed to repeat his dominating performance at A1, but a late crash from the Lucas Oil TLD rider would hand Eli Tomac the lead and ultimately, his third consecutive Lites win of the year.
Now onto the lap charts to see how it all broke down.
AMA Supercross
Lap Rank | Finish | Best Lap | In Lap | Avg Lap Time | Rider |
1 | 1 | 55.019 | 8 | 55.937 | Ryan Villopoto |
2 | 2 | 55.205 | 5 | 56.085 | James Stewart |
3 | 3 | 55.436 | 5 | 56.322 | Chad Reed |
4 | 4 | 55.722 | 9 | 56.709 | Ryan Dungey |
5 | 5 | 55.853 | 4 | 57.411 | Justin Brayton |
6 | 14 | 56.647 | 9 | 58.975 | Andrew Short |
7 | 12 | 56.668 | 3 | 58.914 | Kyle Chisholm |
8 |
7 | 56.775 | 3 | 57.888 | Davi Millsaps |
9 | 6 | 56.809 | 2 | 57.743 | Kevin Windham |
10 | 9 | 56.874 | 7 | 57.990 | Brett Metcalfe |
11 | 8 | 56.927 | 8 | 57.807 | Mike Alessi |
12 | 11 | 56.979 | 14 | 58.148 | Jake Weimer |
13 | 10 | 57.045 | 8 | 58.058 | Broc Tickle |
14 |
15 | 57.858 | 2 | 59.711 | Weston Peick |
15 | 13 | 58.007 | 5 | 59.112 | Nick Wey |
16 | 17 | 58.359 | 2 | 1:00.985 | Justin Sipes |
17 |
16 | 58.634 | 3 | 1:01.176 | Kyle Partridge |
18 | 18 | 58.722 | 6 | 1:01.577 | Jimmy Albertson |
19 | 19 | 59.738 | 2 | 1:05.783 | Jeff Alessi |
20 | 20 | 1:52.794 | 1 | 1:52.794 | Josh Hansen |
I know this is starting to sound like a broken record, but for the fifth consecutive week Ryan Villopoto set the fastest lap in the Supercross class. Now, with his second victory in Anaheim, RV also has control of the points lead, along with the title, “King of the Lap Charts.”
Muscle Milk Honda’s Justin Brayton turned in his most complete ride of the season to date in Anaheim. Brayton had a breakout performance at the first stop in Anaheim that had many screaming for a “Big Six” conversation, but has since struggled with consistency, following up his fourth at A1 with fourteenth, DNQ, and ninth-place results. With a pack of hungry newcomers and seasoned veterans stalking the Iowa native, now is not the time to follow another good ride with instability.
For the fifth straight week, Villopoto would set the fastest lap time in the Supercross class.
Photo: Simon Cudby
AMA Supercross Lites
Lap Rank | Finish | Best Lap | In Lap | Avg Lap Time | Rider |
1 | 1 | 55.175 | 7 | 56.692 | Eli Tomac |
2 | 2 | 55.239 | 3 | 57.061 | Cole Seely |
3 | 4 | 56.353 | 7 | 57.307 | Dean Wilson |
4 | 11 | 56.387 | 7 | 1:00.193 | Ryan Sipes |
5 |
3 | 56.677 | 10 | 57.143 | Marvin Musquin |
6 |
5 | 56.875 | 3 | 58.426 | Nico Izzi |
7 | 9 | 57.437 | 3 | 59.822 | Travis Baker |
8 | 6 | 57.750 | 4 | 59.001 | Michael Leib |
9 | 7 | 58.278 | 4 | 58.867 | Matt Moss |
10 | 20 | 57.819 | 3 | 1:04.749 | Jason Anderson |
11 | 12 | 58.284 | 7 | 1:00.128 | Killy Rusk |
12 | 10 | 58.422 | 3 | 59.778 | Martin Davalos |
13 | 8 | 58.652 | 3 | 59.955 | Vince Friese |
14 | 15 | 58.734 | 7 | 1:01.641 | Gareth Swanepoel |
15 | 13 | 58.817 | 11 | 1:00.390 | Billy Laninovich |
16 | 19 | 59.357 | 3 | 1:02.986 | Gavin Faith |
17 | 14 | 59.599 | 7 | 1:01.296 | Bruce Rutherford |
18 | 18 | 59.776 | 5 | 1:02.683 | Topher Ingalls |
19 | 17 | 59.976 | 3 | 1:02.084 | Ryan Marmont |
20 | 16 | 1:00.232 | 3 | 1:01.906 | Jean Carlo Ramos |
Like Ryan Villopoto in the Supercross class, Eli Tomac continues to make the top of the lap charts a home away from home. Although Cole Seely did give him a run for his money at A2, Tomac has been unstoppable as of late, and continues to pound out lightning fast lap times. With four west coast rounds still remaining, it’s hard to say that Tomac has the championship in the bag, but it’s surely his to lose.
After sweeping the Australian MX and SX 250 titles in 2011, Matt Moss was given another chance to shine stateside, and with the exception of a rough night in Phoenix where he failed to make the main after a questionable passing attempt on Ryan Sipes in the LCQ, he’s definitely making the most of it. Since Phoenix, Moss has put together three straight top ten finishes (eighth, fifth, seventh) during his steady climb up the Lites food chain.
Tomac would once again set the fastest time of the night in the Lites class.
Photo: Simon Cudby