Racer X Race Report: New Orleans
Saturday, April 14, 2012 | 11:25 PM
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There are few surprises left in Monster Energy Supercross, and Ryan Villopoto is working hard to keep it that way. Tonight in New Orleans, the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider, who has already clinched the 2012 Championship, grabbed the holeshot and just checked out for yet another victory.
But there was a surprise behind him, as DNA/Jeff Ward Racing’s Josh Grant started in second and rode solid the whole way, logging his first podium since 2009 with a runner-up ride. Behind him, Mike Alessi had a shot at a podium on his MotoConcepts bike, but he crashed under pressure from Justin Brayton, and then couldn’t get his bike restarted. Alessi ended up 13th while Honda Muscle Milk’s Brayton took third. Brett Metcalfe started fourth and held on for fifth on his Yoshimura Suzuki, and Andrew Short put in a great ride in his return to racing from a shoulder injury, with fifth on his L&Mc Racing Honda.
The SX Main blasts off.
Once RV1 got to the first turn first, the battle for the win was effectively over.
A huge first turn crash claimed Davi Millsaps, Kyle Chisholm, Wil Hahn, Kyle Regal and others.
Josh Grant came out of nowhere to land a second place finish.
Justin Brayton made a few passes to get into third.
Carl Stone photos
JGR/Toyota Yamaha’s Davi Millsaps had a rough night after a heat race crash left him with a sore knee and ribs. He then crashed in the first turn of the main, and came back to tough out a sixth. Star-Valli Rockstar Yamaha’s Weston Peick, Grant’s teammate Kyle Chisholm. Honda Muscle Milk’s Wil Hahn and Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawaski’s Broc Tickle rounded out the top ten.
Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer won his heat race, but crashed on the first lap of the main and then went down again. He finished 20th. Star-Valli Rockstar Yamaha’s Nico Izzi made some waves when he logged the fastest lap time in the first 450 practice session, and he was running a solid sixth in the main before he crashed out in the whoops with a few laps to go. He finished 19th.
The Lites main featured Justin Barcia going for a title, and Ken Roczen going for a win after his logged the fastest time in both practice sessions. But a spoiler emerged in Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Darryn Durham, who quickly made the pass on early leader, Eleven10 Mod’s Alex Martin, and started pulling away. Behind him a crazy battle emerged between Malcolm Stewart, Blake Baggett, Martin, Barcia, Roczen and Justin Bogle.
Darryn Durham (center) grabbed the first pro win of his career. Blake Baggett (right) and Justin Bogle (left) were second and third.
Malcolm Stewart was on a rail early while running second, but a huge crash ended it for him.
Durham made a big mistake by landing on a tuff block, but recovered to hang on for the win.
Justin Barcia's fourth-place finish was enough to lock up the East Lites title again.
Carl Stone photos
Stewart looked to be fastest of the group, and he put his J-Star JDR KTM into second and tried to run down Durham. But Mookie then crashed hard in the whoops. Baggett then moved into second by putting a hard pass on GEICO Honda’s Barcia, and Roczen took advantage to pass Barcia as well on his Red Bull KTM. Barcia continued to fall backwards, with his teammate Bogle getting around him.
Baggett and Roczen then fought it out for second, but then Roczen tightened up and started falling back as well, with both Barcia and Bogle getting around him. This left Baggett all alone in second, but he suddenly had a shot at the win when Durham made a big mistake and landed on a tough block. Durham managed to keep the bike up, but Baggett closed up and applied some pressure. Durham went back to work and made some slick moves in lapped traffic to get away from Baggett, but on the last lap, he made a few more mistakes and Baggett closed back in on him again.
It was too little too late. Baggett’s charge came up short, and Durham took the first win of his career, and first for his Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki team in the East Lites Championship.
Meanwhile, Barcia recovered for fourth behind his teammate Bogle to clinch his second-straight East Lites Title. Roczen was fifth ahead of Kyle Cunningham, Jake Canada, Tyler Bowers, Austin Politelli, and Phil Nicoletti.
Main Event Results:
SX Class
1. R. Villopoto
2. J. Grant
3. J. Brayton
4. B. Metcalfe
5. A. Short
6. D. Millsaps
7. W. Peick
8. K. Chisholm
9. T. Hahn
10. B. Tickle
11. N. Wey
12. J. Albertson
13. M. Alessi
14. J. Sipes
15. G. Faith
16. C. Gilmore
17. K. Regal
18. B. Kiniry
19. N. Izzi
20. J. Weimer
Lites
1. D. Durham
2. B. Baggett
3. J. Bogle
4. J. Barcia
5. K. Roczen
6. K. Cunningham
7. J. Canada
8. T. Bowers
9. A. Politelli
10. P. Nicoletti
11. S. Rife
12. M. Lemoine
13. Z. Freeberg
14. B. Wharton
15. T. Weeck
16. A. Catanzaro
17. M. Stewart
18. S. Lipanovich
19. A. Martin
20. K. Peters
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The crowd was small because the top guys, Windham, Cannard, Reed, Stewart, and Dungy. are out. This is why the AMA needs to tighten up safety gear requirements i.e. require neck braces, knee braces, and shoulder pads.
It is boring when Weston Pieck gets a 6th. Great for him, nothing personal, but he isn't a top ten guy.
This is always the AMA's problem; it doesn't matter if it is road racing or MX, everything is just one big club race.
Good for Grant. Like seeing him ride, and finishing well.
Go RV, one more in your pocket and in te history books
If he gets a good start, I think Jenson Button's skills at tire management will will put him at the front. Yes, the Mercedes pair qualified fast, but cant use the F-duct all around the track during the race. This is all, of course, if Lewis Hamilton doesn't shunt him on the 1st lap.
What?
rg807... What? The AMA has nothing to do with this. Guys at the top ride hard and get hurt. Guys at my level ride hard and get hurt. Kids at my sons level ride like the heros they watch on tv and take a year off for leg sugury. Get a clue.
I know this much.... RX is bored just like the rest of us. Just read thier tweets.
My left nutt is safe! Andrew Shorts 1st race back from injury and he beats Millsaps by 6 seconds!
Villopoto beats Millsaps (JGR) by 35 seconds! Can we stop saying Millsaps "has really turned it on" now?
I like Millsaps but the bike is a P.O.S.
Yea Mykidsmachanic, I raced for 15 years, I'm very familiar with how it goes. I was a decent intermediate.
I'm not sure if you understand how the commercial side of the sport works, you sound pretty ignorant about it. The promotor is Feld. The sanctioning body is the AMA. The AMA is the organization that mandates safety requirements.
When 5 out of the 6 top guys are out with injury the series becomes boring and people don't want to pay to go. Crashing is inevitable in the sport and therefore, because the commercial livelyhood depends on the top guys actually racing, the AMA should be doing as much as possible to minimize injury. Again, the crashing is inevitable, that doesn't mean the injuries need to be.
Just ask James Stewart!
RX807.. Your right. I am pretty ignorant.
Josh Grant AND Andrew Short fresh off injury,SMOKE JGR and Millsaps!
Millsaps ditch that half A$$ bike and team before your reputation is ruined!
Sorry, got your name wrong... I ment.. Rg807.. I am pretty ignorant. ESPESIALLY about the commercial side of the sport. That's where I really loose it. Please help me
I predicted that Millsaps Yamajunk would toss him off when he least expected it,and it did!
Holy Moly MrMX... Harsh words! :) Almost like you been saying them all year!???
Millsaps was going fast in the practice sessions and looked great in his heat race. He misjudged the inside line and went over the bars right in front of my section. It was amazing that he recovered to win the LCQ and finish sixth in the main. He may not be Stewie fast, but he's got enough toughness to get back up and get his points. Give Davie a break!
Mookie had a mental lapse and dropped his front wheel in the end of the whoop section and endoed big time. He struggled to get back up...but he did, and he rode well after that.
Sorry Davie Millsaps,I just don't want another good guy hurt,and I think that bike is dangerous,I watched Stewart get slammed all year and I think its the bike, but then read all this and that about James being dangerous.
News flash "Townley dislocated hip" Bloody hell!!!!
Hey outlaw53, The I've looked up the definition of "STEWART" and wrote what I found over in "LITES RESULTES"
Oh yah, I'm glad you get to keep your left nut Mr Motocross. yoooo... close one!
Depleted field or not, I'm pumped for Grant. I think RV should take another weekend off so then things can get exciting.
YEAH RV!!!!!!! WOOOOOO!!!!!!! talk about a spoiler JOSH GRANT GETS SECOND!!!??? i
cant stand barcia winning the title!!!!:(
Question for ya all....
Could Open_Class be more of a Villopoto Nut slurper ???
Nice races, I hope Reed will hand his bike to Regal now that Townley is out with a hip injury
Shoulder pads...? You have got to be kidding me.
Shoulder pads...? You have got to be kidding me.
I was going to travel from Florida to see this race. Now, I'm not going to even bother to watch it on TV.
I think mykidsmechanic is an idiot. I bet your kids race in open face helmets, hi-tops and jeans.
How about this go back to 2 strokes and use the savings for airbags.
Have you ever watched "The Killer Years" about GP racing. That is the era that supercross is just entering.
Thanks for the recommendation on "The Killer Years". I found it online and am watching it now. Very interesting!
Don't think mykidsmechanic is an idiot though. I could see the AMA saying that everyone has to wear a neck brace. But shoulder pads... no. That is ridiculous.
So glad for Barcia the kid deserves it and I call he will get more in the future!!!
Milsaps ran good recovering from that nasty crash, Congrads to Grant !!!, Short rode very decent for 1st ride back, what the heck happened to IT !!
Can't believe all the Yamaha haters- I guess all the other brand wrecks are rider error and if you are on a Yamaha, its the bikes fault ?? Or are we JS excuse makers blaming Yamahas for all wrecks ??
I ride honda but have a bunch of pro level friends that ride Yamahas and love them and swear by them and get new ones every year. They beat me and I wreck more- is it the Honda ?? Surely it couldn't be me -the rider !!!
Well how about that! Motonut (should we call you Mr. Nut?) called me out as an RV fan. Perhaps this is a right of passage?
When the others guys favorite riders do not win, get hurt because they cannot keep the pace, and are generally douche bags (reads JS), they always call out the rest of as nut huggers or fanboys, etc.
So thank you Mr. Nut for legitimizing mine, and everyone else's support for RV, the current back-to-back SX champion. I wonder if anyone would be surprised by who your favorite rider is? likely not.
By the way, I ride and race in the NW and watched RV grow up racing. In addition to being the best there is in the world, he is a good kid, works hard, is respectful, and that is why I am a fan. AND he is a Kawi guy to boot.
So, thanks again Nut. Appreciate the call out.
Does anyone know if Barcia cried last night?
As for Barcia, not a fan at this point. If he cleans his crap (riding and attitude) up when he gets to the big boy class we will see.
He is the champ though and he earned it.
Barcia's attitude doesn't bother me nearly as much as the mustache. Did he shave that thing yet? Thats got to be step 1 on his road to recovery from being nicknamed Waa Waa
I don't know if any protective gear would have prevented any of the injuries we have seen/ SX injuries usually occur due to tremendous impacts with the earth. Reed tore his ACL with a knee brace in place. Canard may have been helped with a full chest protector in place, but not sure if it would have prevented the injuries completely. I agree riders should wear all the protection they can but I don't now if any of the injured riders right now would be uninjured if they did wear every piece of gear available.
Shoulder pads? Thats funny!
Open_Class=douchebag........it has been confirmed!!
731Chopper- shoulder pads am I kidding? Um, are you? Have you heard O'Farrell separated shoulder? 3-4 guys have them right now. I have a full 3rd degree separation and in fact lost part of my shoulder from the one day I decided to skip wearing mine because it was too "hot."
Just watched the Lites on TV. Wow! Can't wait for the Lites outdoors.I hope Everyone stays injury free for that.With Durham's new found confindence and awsome team will be a new player in Lites outdoors.Maybe Barcia will be a player this year as well.The out doors Lites will be incredable this year if everyone is healthy.Think about it.Two recent World champions plus all the American"s plus Wilson.Can't wait.There should be a bunch of different winners.Congrats Barcia way to play it smart and wrap up that title.Well see if you can carrie this over to the outdoors.Now I'm waiting on the SX class to come on TV.I'm sure it will be a snooze fest watching Villomoto killing everyone.
he's talking chest protecter with shoulder pads theyre thinking NFL lol
I know the goofy shoulder pads built into some of the bulky chest protectors. They don't do squat. I know first hand how little they do to avoid breaking your shoulder and collarbone injuries. I believe in the neck brace but lost faith in the shoulder pads 10 years ago.
Congrats to Barcia on the title and to Durham for his first lites SX win.
Too bad Speed didn't show the "hard pass" Weege described that Baggett put on Barcia. Would have been interesting to see.
Congrats to Barcia for his 2nd Lites SX title and to Durham for his first Lites SX win. Some good racing this week.
Too bad Speed chose not to show the "hard pass" that Baggett put on Barcia (as described by Weege). I always wonder how much hype gets inserted by the "journalists" to create/manufacture excitement when none is there
Sorry guys - made the first post to the Spoiler Report that disappeared as I hit submit so tried to make the post here instead.
@ Fred - agree that there should be some good outdoor racing this year in the 250 class. It will be a stacked field again this year. Durham is riding well, Baggett seems to have found his groove again, Barcia and Bogle should be on it, and they are all from the East. Add Tomac, Wilson, and the rest of the West and it should be a barn burner.
Another tick in the win column for RV...against the likes of Grant, Millsaps, Regal, Alessi, et al. It's like the local pro lining up against the beginner class.
Congratulations to our new SX champions Ryan Villopoto and Justin Barcia for their efforts and justly deserved championships. Now contrast their efforts with those of motonut and newguy, extreme opposite ends of the spectrum.
@CR500AF I guess speed can't show the BamBam getting BamBammed.I guess it would mess up the charater that they are trying to create or something.At least we got to seen Mookie rough up BamBam a little.I sure Barcia laid up a little which was the smart thing to do.
Mr-Motorcross
Are you really gonna claim that 6 seconds ?
Good thing for first turn crashes of you'd be yappin in a higher pitch !
Tell you what.......................change the prize and I'll take 18 over Short (and Im a big 29 fan) in Seattle .
BTW I ride red !
JimM
Pala374
RacerX never updates the points in these reports.I'm curious about how the 2nd place points race is shaping up yet they always leave the points out of the reports.
"Listen and understand....The RVerminater is out there...it can't be bargained with , it can't be reasoned with , it doesn't feel pity or remorse or FEAR and it absolutely will not stop it has a new sheriffs hat on and its bars and footpegs are adjusted to "crush whats left.........whos NEXT, locals , euros... anybody want some....?"........the 5 ,7,and 22 guys bowl of crow must be ice cold by now ...bon appetite... @coolhand ..no , he just rode smart and won the championship..bummer for the haters....Congratulations JB , I'm sure that #1 plate will look good hanging on the wall in some "b" porn on showtime if the 'stache' has its way and starts a life of its own.............Durham ...Good work.you deserved and earned the win..excellent ride , myself i had a touch of Mookie (who was ridin his a*s off) fever but I got over it pretty quick.
@tonewall #number 101 is next.
Looks like Millsaps moves up to second in points.Had to go over to MXA online.They have enough sense to up date the points in their reports.Yeah Villomoto is making it boring but at least there is still a pretty good race for second going on.
Good battle shaping up for 2nd in the lites class as well.
@tonewall scratch that.Townley now has a dislocated hip.Damn! Please all you Lites riders.STAY HEALTHLY.It looks like the lites outdoors might be one of the best classes in years.
this barcia haters dont know nothing about the sport, barcia just played smart to clinch the championship, justin will win the next last races you'll see, And if barcia cryes or not he is a true racer and a true champion and you guys are just haters trying to get some atention with stupid comments.
What a class act that number 800 is.You didn't see him pulling a Barcia when that lapped rider messed up his race.That Alessi kid is one class act with a cool head on his shoulders.
I'm susprised that Alessi didn't go over and try to roost Barcia and then Roczen after that run in with a lapper.
"Ryan Villopoto is working hard to keep it that way. Tonight in New Orleans, the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider, who has already clinched the 2012 Championship, grabbed the holeshot and just checked out for yet another victory."
RV1 isn't on the PC team, so what's up with the credit? C'mon, really?!
I'm sure it's just an oversight, in an honest attempt to get the news out to the fans as quickly as possible. Right?
@fred ...they shot kennedy.
What the hell Newguy? I though B-KR=Douchebag, now Open_Class=Douchebag?
Time for a slightly more imaginative putdown. Quite lame.
J-Sloan....... Are you calling Grant,Millsaps,Alessi,Regal etc.. BEGINNERS?? I'd bet my bike against yours(if you even have one) that any of these guys would lap you by the 10th lap !! Even the guy that sits LAST in points has put alot ot time on a bike just to get to this level. By the way--where you at in the points ??
@tonewall yes they did
@handlebar ...the guy changing the tire did absolutely nothing wrong ....those of us who have changed more than an occasional bicycle tire always face the sprocket down for safety and hes trying to get the bead loose on the other side when he lightly whomps it down. Rear discs are tuff and small.... I suggest you take yours to a shop so "some idiot" doing it himself doesn't lose a finger or his remaining tooth. I have a feeling you will never have to worry about the Dunlop guys doing your tires...I've also never used the word 'props' , disagree with preston alot and when i think of you other bad BAD words and phrases come to mind.
@rg807 With all respect what do you think the guys wear? Nothing? they all have knee pads/braces/chest protector an all the other pads an braces they can wear. Some choose not to wear neck braces as do I cause of belief. What would you like to see all the guys in bubble wrap? At the speed these guys are going an how hard there pushing it to win yes when they hit the ground they get hurt no matter how many pads you wear hitting the ground feels like you dont have any on at all. But I can say I kinda see where your coming from just dont see an answer to the problem
I'm with tonewall on the tire changing. Those new tires can take some serious effort to get on and off. Whats amazing is how well they can do it without scratching the rim to crap.
When is Dungey going to man up and get back to racing? Sure would be nice to see him racing for second place
Glad Malcom is his own person and not a queen like his brother who just walks away with his tail between his legs when he crashes. Malcom showed a lot of heart getting up and racing after that crash, good job mookie.
Congrats to Durham and RV, Bad dudes right there.
really great for Josh Grant and Jeff Ward
Kudos to Grant, Jeff Ward Racing, Villo, Barcia, Durham, Peick ...etc
too bad for Weimer, its would have been 1-2-3 & 1-2 at the Kawasaki Motors Superdome
@ insider_outsider ... Way to read the "article." But do you actually expect legitimate journalism from RacerX?
Keep in mind that RacerX provides a place for the fans to get together and post some WACKY stuff on a regular basis.
Long live RacerX!!!!!
Get an HRP flak-jak if you want REAL protection.
Come on guys, the AMA needs to force these guys to wear more protection? Watch the crashes and tell me they would have been saved had they worn more protection. Plus that train of thought is exactly whats wrong with America. There are so many laws put into place intended to protect individuals even though it wouldn't affect anyone else. The riders want to be protected and it should be left to them to do it properly.
SmartypantS, I totally agree about the HRP flak jak. I have been wearing them since 1985 after I broke my collarbone.It's the netting in the shoulders that act as a suspension dispersing some of the energy before it hits your shoulder.I have crashed and gotten up with dirt packed in the vent holes and never had another shoulder issue.
I'm glad Millsaps is ok, He said after his heat race crash "I don't know what happened,the next thing I knew I was on my head" I tell you what happend,the bike tossed you on your head just like it did Stewart all year!
@ Mr Motocross you'te delusional. He washed out / knifed his bars over that last bump. Pause the video as he's halfway over that bump and he looks like he is mid-scrub. Not the bike's fault in any way.
How did Renner do on the 2 stroke? I kinda forgot he was racing but by the lack of talk about him I'm guessing he didn't do so well.
Dont crash your bike & you wont have to re-start it (2-stroke or 4) HandlebarDragger
@Retardcross....I re-watched Millsaps crash 10 times, that was a TOTLAL BIKE HANDLING ISSUE,the radical desighn, weight of the bike,and motor placement all add up to a bike that is unpredictable. You simply posted exactly what Emig said,and he got it wrong. He even said how dialed JGR has the bike the moment the bike proved him otherwise!
So- Millsaps is now making excuses like Stewart.
Or the bike spit him on his head.
Which is it?
well that was a nail biter
@ Mr Motocross........I understand how hard it must be to be a JS fan these days, but it's getting old hearing you and Preston claw at every possible chance to make an excuse for James' not being the best anymore. Now let the excuses continue..........
@Mr-Motorcross You make no sense...If it was the bike then shouldn't that have been happening to Millsaps all year like it has Bubba; because (in your own words) Millsaps hasn't gotten any faster, it's just that all the top guys are out, right? Oh btw, it's MOTOCROSS not MOTORCROSS.
motodog1977 wrote: "Mookie" for real?
You should have been asking who came up with James "Bubba" Stewart. Did you know that "Bubba" meant redneck?
@rvfan2......I'm well aware it's MOTOCROSS,I like to get everyone's panties in a bunch so I threw the R in there, and it works great!
Now to answer your stupid question. The reason we will see Millsaps crashing more now is because he is feeling the pressure to get 2nd, and is pushing harder, and that bike can't be pushed. Just ask Stewart!