Racer X Race Report: Indianapolis

February 20, 2010, 11:24pm

When you’re hot, you’re hot, and right now Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto is the man on fire in the Monster Energy Supercross tour. It started as a tough night for the Washington rider, but he rebounded when it counted to out-duel Ryan Dungey, Kevin Windham, Justin Brayton and Davi Millsaps for the win at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

There was less drama in the kickoff to the Lites East Region opener, as defending Champion Christophe Pourcel dominated the proceedings to win the main event over Austin Stroupe and Justin Barcia.

The supercross class had drama right from the beginning of the day, as Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey got into a tussle with his rival Jason Lawrence in practice, leading to both Lawrence and Dungey getting the last gate selections in their heat races. But then Villopoto ended up with an even worse start to his evening, as Millsaps slid out in the first turn of his heat race and took Villopoto down with him. RV’s bike suffered from a punctured water pump, sending him to the LCQ, which he later won. Meanwhile San Manuel Yamaha’s Josh Hill cruised to the heat race win.

In the second heat, Kevin Windham dominated, leading Dungey home. Windham had the fastest qualifying laps, the fastest heat race laps, and a great start in the main event, battling Millsaps, Villopoto and Dungey for the lead. Millsaps was credited with the Spike Holeshot ward, but it looked like K-Dub’s night as he closed on Millsaps, and then the battle was on as the two Honda riders went back and forth, passing each other over and over. Finally, Windham put his GEICO Powersports Honda into the lead and tried to get away, while Millsaps battled Villopoto and Dungey. Villopoto moved to second and stalked Windham, but Windham was aggressive, riding the wide bike and covering his lines. After three laps of battling that had the crowd on its feet, Villopoto finally grabbed the lead. Dungey pushed hard to get Windham as well, as the veteran admitted he got tight after all of that battling.

Dungey was left to chase Villopoto, but he couldn’t quite do it, as Villopoto had enough speed to pull away when he needed to. When it was over, Villopoto had come from the LCQ to win the main event, his third win in four races, which also ties him with Dungey for the SX points lead.

Not as good of a night for Josh Hill, who started 12th and couldn’t move forward after a few tip overs. He ended up ninth, just ahead of Lawrence, who appeared to slow on the last lap to help his friend gain a point.

Millsaps was alone in fourth when he dropped his Honda Red Bull Racing bike in a turn, allowing Muscle Milk/Toyota’s Justin Brayton to snag fourth. Millsaps took fifth ahead of Rockstar Hart and Huntington’s Chris Blose, AM PM Yamaha’s Grant Langston, Monster Energy Kawasak’s Nick Wey, Hill and Lawrence.

In Lites, GEICO Powersports Honda's Barcia snagged the Spike Holeshot, but Pourcel, Rockstar/Makita Suzuki's Stroupe and Barcia's teammate Metcalfe were right with him. Once Pourcel had the lead, he was gone, while MotoConcept’s Yamaha’s Ryan Sipes joined the fight for the podium. Metcalfe, still suffering a bit from an injury, fell back a bit, and Barcia fell in the sand. Behind that, rookies Dean Wilson and Kyle Regal battled just outside the top five.

Late in the race, lapped traffic held up Stroupe and Sipes, letting Barcia catch back up. Sipes got held up, and Barcia pounced for the pass with one turn to go.

The series continues next weekend in Atlanta. Of course, look for more updates all week here at racexonline.com

AMA Supercross Class Results: Indianapolis
    1.    Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
    2.    Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki
    3.    Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda
    4.    Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
    5.    Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
    6.    Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Honda
    7.    Grant Langston, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
    8.    Nick Wey, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki
    9.    Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha
    10.    Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha

AMA Supercross Class Season Standings
    1.    Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 145
    2.    Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 145
    3.    Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha, 135
    4.    Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 114
    5.    Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda, 106
    6.    Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 105
    7.    Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 97
    8.    Nick Wey, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 74
    9.    Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 69
    10.    Tommy Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Suzuki, 61

Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Results: Indianapolis
    1.    Christophe Pourcel, Groveland, Fla., Kawasaki
    2.    Austin Stroupe, Lincolnton, N.C., Suzuki
    3.    Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda
    4.    Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ky., Yamaha
    5.    Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda
    6.    Dean Wilson, San Jacinto, Calif., Kawasaki
    7.    Kyle Regal, Kemp, Texas, Yamaha
    8.    Nico Izzi, Albany, Ga., Yamaha
    9.    Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., Yamaha
    10.    Troy Adams, Homosassa, Fla., Suzuki

Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Season Standings
    1.    Christophe Pourcel, Groveland, Fla., Kawasaki, 25
    2.    Austin Stroupe, Lincolnton, N.C., Suzuki, 22
    3.    Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda, 20
    4.    Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ky., Yamaha, 18
    5.    Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda, 16
    6.    Dean Wilson, San Jacinto, Calif., Kawasaki, 15
    7.    Kyle Regal, Kemp, Texas, Yamaha, 14
    8.    Nico Izzi, Albany, Ga., Yamaha, 13
    9.    Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., Yamaha, 12
    10.    Troy Adams, Homosassa, Fla., Suzuki, 11