Minneapolis SX Results

March 15, 2008 9:06pm

Hill Wins First Monster Energy® Supercross Race of his Career at Metrodome; Villopoto Pulls out Win on Last Lap

MINNEAPOLIS (March 15, 2008) – Yamaha’s Josh Hill, of Yoncalla, Ore., won the first Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, race of his career in front of 40,982 fans at the Metrodome. It was the first race at the Metrodome since 2004. Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto, of Poulsbo, Wash., won his first Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites class race of the season.

Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., won the $1,500 Progressive Holeshot Award to open the AMA Supercross class main event. Following Dungey through turn one was Torco Fuels Honda’s Kevin Windham, of Centerville, Miss., and the championship points leader Chad Reed, of Tampa, Fla., was fifth.

On lap three Hill moved past Dungey for the lead and began to pull away. Reed, who rides for Team San Manuel Yamaha, moved into second place and on lap eight, while on the back wheel of Hill, he crashed and re-started in ninth place.

Dungey, who competes in the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class championship, moved up to compete in the AMA Supercross class and finished second. Tonight’s race, before his hometown crowd, was his best finish since moving into the premier class.

“I ripped out of the gate tonight and had a good lead,” said Dungey. “The crowd was behind me 100%, and I could hear them on every lap. This is only my third race in this class, so I very happy.

“Getting second was amazing a few races ago,” said Hill. “I do not know how to put it into words this win. The season has had its ups and downs, but this is huge for me. Yamaha put faith in me, and I am grateful for that.”

In the Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites class main event, Torco Fuels Honda’s Josh Grant, of Riverside, Calif., won the $1,000 Progressive Holeshot Award, leading Villopoto through turn one. Grant held the lead until lap six when they traded positions for the number-one position. Grant held the lead until the last lap of the race, and in the track’s final turn, he came together with Villopoto and crashed. Grant finished second overall.

“I came here ready to race tonight,” said Villopoto. “I am still behind in the points, so I have a lot of catching up to do.

“This is how I should be racing,” said Grant. “I have been having a tough season so far, but I am really proud of the way the I rode tonight.”

Torco Fuels Honda’s Trey Canard, of Elk City, Okla., remains in the Lites class points lead after finishing fourth.

Tonight’s AMA Supercross class race will air on SPEED Sunday, March 16 at 6:00 p.m. The AMA Supercross Lites class race will air on SPEED Saturday, March 22 at 6:00 p.m.

AMA Supercross Class Results, Minneapolis
1.Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha
2.Ryan Dungey, of Belle, Plaine, Minn., Suzuki
3.Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda
4. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda
5. Thomas Hahn, Alvord, Texas, Kawasaki
6. Davi Millsaps, Cairo, Ga., Honda
7. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha
8. David Vuillemin, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
9. Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Kawasaki
10. Nathan Ramsey, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha

AMA Supercross Class Season Standings
1. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha, 237
2. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda, 220
3. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 172
4. Davi Millsaps, Cairo, Ga., Honda, 164
5. Tim Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki, 137
6. Joshua Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha, 135
7. Nathan Ramsey, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha, 134
8. David Vuillemin, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 115
9. Paul Carpenter, Ithaca, N.Y., Honda, 97
10. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., KTM, 95

Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Results, Minneapolis
1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
2. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Honda
3. Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., KTM
4. Trey Canard, Elk City, Okla., Honda
5. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ken., KTM
6. Tyler Bowers, Danville, Ken., Yamaha
7. Ryan Morais, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
8. Kyle Partridge, Menifee, Calif., Honda
9. Nico Izzi, Saint Clair., Mich., Suzuki
10. Billy Payne, Simi Valley, Calif., Honda

Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Season Standings
1. Trey Canard, Elk City, Okla., Honda, 93
2. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 69
3. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ken., KTM, 67
4. Nico Izzi, Saint Clair., Mich., Suzuki, 54
5. Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., KTM, 53
6. Ben Coisy, Manosque, France, Honda, 53
7. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Honda, 47
8. Tyler Bowers, Danville, Ken., Yamaha, 45
9. Billy Payne, Simi Valley, Calif., Honda, 42
10. Branden Jesseman, New Brighton, Pa., Kawasaki, 39

Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Season Standings
1. Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha, 135
2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 129
3. Austin Stroupe, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki, 113
4. Brett Metcalfe, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 112
5. Tommy Hahn, Alvord, Texas, Kawasaki, 101
6. Dan Reardon, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 95
7. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 85
8. Robert Kiniry, LaFayette, N.Y., Kawasaki, 71
9. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Yamaha, 69
10. Billy Laninovich, Lake Elsinore, Calif., KTM 62

KTM Junior Supercross Challenge
1. Bryan Gardner, Paso Robles, Calif., KTM
2. Mason De Keyrel, White Bear Lake, Minn., KTM
3. Jacob Beaudoin, Lanesboro, Mass., KTM
4. Maverick Engstrom, Crossslake, Minn., KTM
5. Collin Dye, Hensley, Ark., KTM
6. Hunter Tyson, Havana, Fla., KTM
7. Ryland Oaks, West Liberty, Iowa, KTM
8. JT Vietri, Johnstown, N.Y., KTM
9. Bryce Moore, Horseheads, N.Y., KTM
10. Matthew Lade, Ormond Beach, Fla., KTM
11. Judson Bedell, St. Michael, Minn., KTM
12. Steve Moquin, Maple Shade, N.J., KTM
13. Matthew Hickmott, Henderson, Mich., KTM
14. Wyatt Lamson, Ottawa, Kan., KTM
15. Grayson Johnson, Lawrence, Kan., KTM

The next Monster Energy Supercross race takes place at Toronto’s Rogers Centre Saturday, March 29.