Ryan Villopoto Takes 1st Place @ Dallas Supercross

April 8, 2008, 6:29am

Villopoto takes another chunk out of Trey Canard’s points lead; Monster-backed teammate Branden Jesseman is 8th o/a and moves into top ten points

CORONA, Calif., (April 8, 2008) – Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/ Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto continued to claw his way back into Supercross Lites class contention, this past weekend winning the Dallas Supercross, Round 13 of 2008 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship.

With his second win in a row Villopoto pulled to within 17 points of Lites class points leader Trey Canard, 111-94.

Villopoto got things going in a big way early in his heat race, winning by nearly 20 seconds over 2nd place Nico Izzi. In the main event he pulled a great start, then chased down, caught and passed Josh Grant to take the lead on lap three. Villopoto would never relinquish that lead, cruising to victory in the 15-lap contest.

“The track had come around a lot after earlier in the day,” said Villopoto. “I was able to get a gap and ride my own race out there.”

With two more Eastern Regional Lites Championship rounds to go (Detroit & St. Louis), Villopoto understands he’s got his work cut out for him in terms of winning the overall title. “I’ve got to try to win and get that points gap smaller,” he said. “And that’s what I’m hoping for in Detroit.”

Also running well for the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team was Branden Jesseman. The Pennsylvania native finished 2nd in the first heat race, then locked down 8th place overall in the main event.

Jesseman put up the 4th-fastest lap time (54.954 to RV’s best time of 53.048) in the main and moved into 10th place in the overall Lites class standings with 52 points.

Next up for the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team is the Saturday (April 12th) running of the Detroit Supercross at Ford Field, Round 14 of 2008 Monster Energy Supercross.