Somehow, someway, this 2011 Monster Energy Supercross Championship keeps topping itself in drama, excitement and intrigue. Tonight’s Atlanta race was the best yet, and the best—in a long, long time.
It was old-school night for most of it. James Stewart grabbed the holeshot and Chad Reed pulled in behind him. Reed kept the heat on until Stewart made a mistake, and Reed took the lead. Stewart caught back up and engaged in a great battle for the lead, while the “new kids” of Ryan Villopoto and Ryan Dungey were not quite able to keep the pace.
Stewart started attacking Reed hard but then made a mistake in a corner and lost a bunch of ground. Reed seemed to have it in hand, but then lost an equal amount of ground when he got held up by Chris Blose, who was going a lap down. Stewart got to Reed again and started attacking him, and when they got to another lapped rider, Stewart slipped to the inside and made the pass just as they hit the white flag.
Then it got REALLY interesting. Reed started getting desperate to make a last lap pass, and he dove straight to the inside in a bowl turn, collided with Stewart and took both down. It would be considered a dirty move under just about any circumstance, but on the last lap, battling for the win…. As they tried to get up, Villopoto, who was several seconds back, passed both to inherit the lead and win in dramatic fashion. Dungey scored second, and Stewart jacked with Reed for the rest of the last lap, allowing Reed to sneak around him and steal third.
Suffice to say the new found friendship between Stewart and Reed is already back off.
Trey Canard crashed while running in the top five, but came back to score fifth anyway.
The Lites race was a thriller, too, with Dean Wilson coming from fifth to first to score his first career supercross win. Blake Wharton won the LCQ and pulled a holeshot from the outside gate. He led Justin Barcia, Blake Baggett and Ryan Sipes early, then lappers held up everyone but Wharton, who grabbed a big lead and appeared to have victory on lock.
Then Wharton lost his front end in a corner and handed it over. Wilson, Baggett and Barcia had a wild battle, but Wilson made passes on both to get the win. Barcia held off Bagget for second.
Look for a full race report and photos later tonight.
It was old-school night for most of it. James Stewart grabbed the holeshot and Chad Reed pulled in behind him. Reed kept the heat on until Stewart made a mistake, and Reed took the lead. Stewart caught back up and engaged in a great battle for the lead, while the “new kids” of Ryan Villopoto and Ryan Dungey were not quite able to keep the pace.
Stewart started attacking Reed hard but then made a mistake in a corner and lost a bunch of ground. Reed seemed to have it in hand, but then lost an equal amount of ground when he got held up by Chris Blose, who was going a lap down. Stewart got to Reed again and started attacking him, and when they got to another lapped rider, Stewart slipped to the inside and made the pass just as they hit the white flag.
Then it got REALLY interesting. Reed started getting desperate to make a last lap pass, and he dove straight to the inside in a bowl turn, collided with Stewart and took both down. It would be considered a dirty move under just about any circumstance, but on the last lap, battling for the win…. As they tried to get up, Villopoto, who was several seconds back, passed both to inherit the lead and win in dramatic fashion. Dungey scored second, and Stewart jacked with Reed for the rest of the last lap, allowing Reed to sneak around him and steal third.
Suffice to say the new found friendship between Stewart and Reed is already back off.
Trey Canard crashed while running in the top five, but came back to score fifth anyway.
The Lites race was a thriller, too, with Dean Wilson coming from fifth to first to score his first career supercross win. Blake Wharton won the LCQ and pulled a holeshot from the outside gate. He led Justin Barcia, Blake Baggett and Ryan Sipes early, then lappers held up everyone but Wharton, who grabbed a big lead and appeared to have victory on lock.
Then Wharton lost his front end in a corner and handed it over. Wilson, Baggett and Barcia had a wild battle, but Wilson made passes on both to get the win. Barcia held off Bagget for second.
Look for a full race report and photos later tonight.
