By Chase Stallo and Jason Weigandt
- We just got the word that Kevin Windham is indeed out for the season with a multitude of injuries incurred in his crash at Houston. Check out the press release here:
- The Red Bull KTM team says Ryan Dungey is due for another look at his surgically repaired collarbone early next week. At that time, Dungey and the team will be able to have a better idea of what comes next – either coming back for the final few rounds of Monster Energy Supercross or waiting until the start of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship.
- James Stewart tweeted on Sunday that he was not seriously injured in his main event crash. Of course, he was dealing with a broken hand coming into the race, so we're not sure how how this latest incident will impact him trying to race again in New Orleans.
Word came out earlier today that Kevin Windham will miss the rest of the season after a crash in Houston.
Simon Cudby photo
- Justin Barcia was fined $5000 for his actions after the Houston Lites main. Click here for our Breaking News on the fine from Sunday, and here for our interview with Barcia.
- After three-straight eighth-place finishes, Broc Tickle did one better in Houston with a seventh on his Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki. That's a season's best in the SX class for Tickle.
- With the only off-weekend of the SX season coming up, riders and teams are getting to work with motocross prep. Ryan Villopoto was scheduled to log 30-minute motos this week for the first time. "It's a big difference from last year, when we had to stay focused on supercross all the way until the end," explains his trainer Aldon Baker. Justin Brayton is also heading back out to California this week to start motocross testing – Brayton had been working out of North Carolina during the eastern swing of the SX tour.
- If you were to pick three guys in the Eastern Regional Supercross Lites class who just can't seem to catch a break this season, no doubt names like Justin Bogle, Kyle Cunningham and Malcolm Stewart would come to mind. Well, when it rains it pours, and in Houston, all three of those guys found themselves mired in a first turn pileup, along with Darryn Durham and Shane Sewell.
- After turning heads with a career high of fifth place at the Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Opener in Dallas, Phil Nicoletti experienced a string of crashes, DNQs and mechanically induced DNFs that kept him from finishing another main event. That all changed in Houston, however, when Nicoletti rode to yet another fifth place. Looks like this New Yorker just likes racing in Texas!
James Stewart suffered another big crash in Houston, but tweeted that he was not seriously injured.
Simon Cudby photo
- Texas' own Sean Hackley had a rough go in Houston, crashing in the whoops during the first lap of his Lites heat race. He texted us this update: "I fractured some things in my back but I have full feeling and everything. Also broke three ribs and my collarbone. Just strapped up in a big brace right now but feeling good."
- Privateer Austin Politelli has seen his share of highs and lows during his rookie campaign. He began the season hot – making the first three mains – then cooled off over the next three weeks, missing every main. The California kid rebounded in Houston, making his first main since St. Louis, scoring a career best 12th.
- AMA Arenacross Champion Tyler Bowers was looking strong in practice but was taken down right off the start of his Lites heat race. He was knocked out, but did eventually get up under his own power. His night was finished at that point, however.
- Privateer Zack Freeberg was set to begin his rookie season under the Suzuki City tent, but the team folded just weeks before the start of the season. Left without a ride Freeberg decided to make a go of it on his own dime, but has struggled to make mains – missing the first six mains of the year. The now-Honda pilot was finally able to break through in Houston, securing his first career main event appearance. Freeberg would finish 18th on the night.
Will Ryan Dungey make a return to Monster Energy Supercross or wait for the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship?
Simon Cudby photo
- Continuing down the rookie trail, Star/Valli Yamaha’s Kyle Peters was expected to shine in his inaugural season, after defeating the highly touted Justin Bogle for a title at Loretta Lynn’s. But a collarbone injury just before the East Region season opener in Dallas would stall the North Carolina native’s progress. For the first time all season Peters looked comfortable in Houston, running inside the top ten the majority of the race, before eventually finishing a career best 11th.
- Peters wasn’t the only Star/Valli member to shine in Houston. The team had four of its five riders finish inside the top 10. Robby Kiniry (6th), Nico Izzi (8th) and Weston Peick (9th) finished inside the top ten in the Supercross class while Kyle Cunningham, who was returning from a wrist injury, took home 9th in the Lites class.
- Cunningham explained that his wrist is fractured, but his doctor said he can't hurt it worse by riding – only if he takes on another big crash. For now, Cunningham will keep on racing, then, instead of casting it. He's also running the All-Sport Dynamics Wrist Brace, similar to what Justin Barcia wears.