Toronto Practice Report

March 13, 2010 5:48pm | by: Jason Weigandt

Practice and qualifying are complete here in Toronto, which is the longest track of the tour (excluding Daytona, a much different style of venue). And while the track is known for usually being soft and rutted, it’s much drier and more hard packed than in previous years. Hopefully this leads to more racing and less basic survival, although Toronto has hosted some good one ones in the past, so maybe it won’t matter.

Regardless, familiar names lead the field in qualifying. Ryan Dungey is the overall Supercross Class leader with a 57.345 lap, which he logged during the first timed session, Ryan Villopoto was the fastest in the second session, but his 57.362 just missed Dungey’s earlier mark. Josh Hill looked rejuvenated all afternoon and spent some time at the top of the qualifying board, his 57.564 makes him third overall. Kevin Windham was fourth with a 57.887, and Trey Canard fifth with a 58.468. Millsaps, Brayton, Tedesco, Byrne and Hahn rounded out the top ten.

This just in! Ryan Morais had a big crash early in practice today and will not race. Bummer there, but it doesn't look like his injuries are super serious. Scratch the back row start for the evening. 22 riders, 22 gates.

In Lites, Christophe Pourcel was the man again, blitzing to a 57.559, nearly a second ahead of Ryan Sipes’ 58.544. Sipes has been fast all season, as he edged Austin Stroupe’s 58.593, Dean Wilson’s 59.014 and Jake Moss’ 59.440. Martin Davalos, Matt Lemoine, Kyle Cunningham, Justin Barcia and Michael Willard rounded out the top ten, while regular favorite Brett Metcalfe struggled with the 13th spot.

As mentioned earlier here, there will not be a Supercross Class Last Chance Qualifier, as only 23 riders made the trip up north. So everyone from the heat races goes to the main. Lites class features a solid 44 riders.

SPEED airs tonight’s race live at 7:00 p.m. EST, and you can follow along @racerxonline on twitter (but be careful, if TV runs on delay, Twitter will spoil the action for you. Unfollow us for the evening if you’re worried about that). And the Supercross Live! Webcast rolls on via supercrossonline.com too. Tonight’s show features interviews with Josh Hill, Larry Brooks, Dean Wilson, Austin Stroupe, Ivan Tedesco and Justin Barcia, as well as two spectacular hosts (one who is really, really good).