Seattle Supercross Race Report

It’s odd that one of the most unpredictable AMA Supercross Championship chases ever actually ended in the most easily predicted fashion ever. Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey had already wrapped the title for all practical purposes before round 15 of the series began in Seattle. The only rider with a mathematical shot at him, Ryan Villopoto, was out with a broken leg. So before the race, everyone knew Dungey would win the title, but technically, he only had to finish sixth in the race to officially lock the crown.

Whether you’re measuring this crown by practical, mathematical or official standards, Dungey got it done on all accounts with a fourth-place finish in Seattle. He rode conservatively on the rugged track to make sure, which opened the door for others to fight for the podium.

Dungey's solid season belies his rookie state. Yes, he established himself last year with two Lites Championships and a Motocross of Nations win, but history doesn't lie. Only one rider in the history of supercross has won the title in his rookie season, and that was the all-time king of supercross, Jeremy McGrath. Dungey now makes two, an amazing accomplishment.

And even if Dungey had mounted a charge, he probably would not have been able to stop GEICO Powersports Honda’s Kevin Windham, who was absolutely on fire all night long en route to a rout, taking his first main event win of the year. The 32-year-old Windham is a crowd favorite no matter where the races go, and the Seattle fans were pumped to see the veteran become the fifth winner of the season. Windham was second-fastest in practice behind local product Josh Hill, absolutely dominated his heat race, and the pulled the Spike holeshot in the main event and led every lap.

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For all of Windham’s career wins, this might have been his most dominant. Track conditions played a role, as the track developed some of the deepest ruts ever seen on a supercross track, and Windham’s ability to pick his way through the bad stuff has been proven time and time again in mud races. Even though it didn’t rain on race day, the Seattle dirt (shockingly) had been battered by rain earlier in the week, and the soft soil created terrible ruts. Long lap times made this one of the longest races of the year, and riders were rolling jumps and crashing all over the place on the rutted layout. After the race, Windham he said this was one of the toughest tracks he’d ever ridden, even matching up with his epic Daytona mud win in 2008.

Second, a career best, went to Rockstar Suzuki’s Tommy Hahn, ahead of Muscle Milk/Toyota Yamaha’s Justin Brayton, also a career best. Dungey was fourth ahead of Honda Red Bull Racing’s Davi Millsaps. Dungey was second early until he crashed, opening the door for Brayton. Then Hahn mounted a strong charge a few laps into the race and went around Dungey, and when Brayton made some mistakes, Hahn went to second. Hahn even made a run at Windham, but the lead was just too big to ovecome.

The Lites West Region was supposed to present the final championship battle of the season, but the air went out of that duel as well when GEICO Powersports Honda’s Trey Canard grabbed the Spike holeshot but then crashed in the second turn, and also collected fellow heat race winner Max Anstie with him. Canard’s teammate Blake Wharton had cut inside of Canard in the second turn, and while they didn’t touch, the close quarters may have caused some trouble for Canard.

Meanwhile, series’ leader Jake Weimer crashed a few yards later, but while Canard stalled his bike and took awhile to get going, Weimer only lost a few spots.

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Up front, Canard’s teammate Blake Wharton led for a few laps. Then DNA Star Racing Yamaha’s Broc Tickle powered past and never looked back, dominating the race and winning his first-ever main event. Lucas Oil Troy Lee Honda’s Wil Hahn took second, making for Hahn brothers in second in both classes.

Weimer mounted a methodical run through the pack to get to third. He never realized Canard had went down and thought he had to get to the front to prevent losing major points, but instead he gained huge points on Canard, who finished 11th. Hahn moves into second, 19 points behind Weimer with one points-paying race left.

AMA Supercross Class Results: Seattle
1.                Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda
2.                Tommy Hahn, Alvord, Texas, Suzuki
3.                Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
4.                Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki
5.                Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
6.                Nick Wey, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki
7.                Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga., Yamaha
8.                Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Kawasaki
9.                Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda
10.             Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Yamaha
          
AMA Supercross Class Season Standings
1.                Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 320
2.                Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 266
3.                Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda, 248
4.                Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 231
5.                Josh Hill, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha, 227
6.                Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 211
7.                Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 183
8.                Nick Wey, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 174
9.                Tommy Hahn, Alvord, Texas, Suzuki, 161
10.             Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Yamaha, 147

Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Results: Seattle
    1.    Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha
    2.    Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda
    3.    Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki
    4.    Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda
    5.    Ryan Morais, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
    6.    Josh Hansen, Elbert, Colo., Kawasaki
    7.    Cole Seely, Newbury Park, Calif., Honda
    8.    Phil Nicoletti, Bethel, N.Y., KTM
    9.    Max Anstie, Hemet, Calif., Yamaha
    10.    Hunter Hewitt, Pilot Point, Texas, Suzuki
 
Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Season Standings
    1.    Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki, 155
    2.    Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda, 136
    3.    Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda, 131
    4.    Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha, 125
    5.    Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda, 107
    6.    Cole Seely, Newbury Park, Calif., Honda, 90
    7.    Josh Hansen, Elbert Colo., Kawasaki, 75
    8.    Max Anstie, Hemet, Calif., Yamaha, 75
    9.    Phil Nicoletti, Bethel, N.Y., KTM, 69
    10.    Jeff Alessi, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 64