Sometimes there are moments in sports, and to a greater extent, life that leave you breathless. As Trey Canard and Ryan Morais layed motionless on the track last Saturday night, there wasn't a person in Dodger Stadium or watching at home who's heart didn't skip a couple beats. Thankfully initial reports show that Trey and Ryan will make a full recovery. Thoughts and prayers are with both riders and their families.
When the gate dropped for the second time around in Dodger Stadium, veteran Chad Reed made the most of his second opportunity. Reed hounded Jake Weimer early, before putting on a hard charge and cruising home to his first win of 2012. The same could not be said for Ryan Villopoto. An early mistake would leave the co-points leader searching. But the Washington native would then put on a display of brilliance as he devoured rider after rider en route to a stunning fourth place finish.
Let's take a look at the lap charts to see how it all broke down.
AMA Supercross
Lap Rank | Finish | Best Lap | In Lap | Avg Lap Time | Rider |
1 | 4 | 54.341 | 20 | 55.210 | Ryan Villopoto |
2 | 1 | 54.446 | 4 | 55.313 | Chad Reed |
3 | 3 | 54.565 | 11 | 55.812 | James Stewart |
4 | 2 | 54.750 | 9 | 55.502 | Ryan Dungey |
5 | 11 | 55.313 | 1 | 57.790 | Jake Weimer |
6 | 6 | 55.547 | 5 | 56.469 | Davi Millsaps |
7 | 5 | 55.674 | 6 | 56.473 | Brett Metcalfe |
8 |
8 | 55.849 | 5 | 57.007 | Broc Tickle |
9 | 7 | 56.000 | 8 | 56.594 | Josh Hansen |
10 | 9 | 56.120 | 9 | 57.088 | Kevin Windham |
11 | 10 | 56.360 | 3 | 57.176 | Mike Alessi |
12 | 12 | 56.420 | 8 | 58.191 | Kyle Chisholm |
13 | 14 | 56.489 | 8 | 57.836 | Andrew Short |
14 |
17 | 57.110 | 1 | 1:36.770 | Josh Grant |
15 | 13 | 57.193 | 6 | 58.107 | Nick Wey |
16 | 16 | 57.235 | 6 | 1:00.850 | Kyle Partridge |
17 |
15 | 57.333 | 6 | 59.971 | Weston Peick |
18 | 18 | 57.840 | 1 | 57.840 | Ivan Tedesco |
19 | DNS | - | - | - | Trey Canard |
20 | DNS | - | - | - | Ryan Morais |
For the second straight week Ryan Villopoto had to put together a championship saving performance after an early mistake. Villopoto was once again able to step up to the challenge, and set the fastest lap in the SX class in the process, laying down a 54.341. What made this performance that much more impressive was that Villopoto set his fastest lap of the night on lap 20! The competition needs to take note, because Villopoto is going to be a force of nature throughout the rest of the series.
It took a couple of weeks, but Brett Metcalfe is finally starting to find his form. Overcoming an illness earlier in the week, Metcalfe would put in his best performance of the season at L.A. Metcalfe has admitted that he and the team were behind in testing coming into the season, but it looks as if they found their momentum in the City of Angels.
Villopoto set the fastest lap of the SX class on lap 20!
Photo: Simon Cudby
AMA Supercross Lites
Lap Rank | Finish | Best Lap | In Lap | Avg Lap Time | Rider |
1 | 1 | 53.915 | 1 | 55.514 | Eli Tomac |
2 | 9 | 54.380 | 2 | 58.291 | Martin Davalos |
3 | 2 | 54.705 | 4 | 56.415 | Dean Wilson |
4 | 19 | 54.889 | 5 | 56.117 | Marvin Musquin |
5 |
3 | 55.018 | 3 | 56.552 | Zach Osborne |
6 |
15 | 55.245 | 4 | 57.930 | Cole Seely |
7 | 5 | 55.773 | 8 | 57.340 | Jason Anderson |
8 | 12 | 55.844 | 2 | 58.880 | Ryan Sipes |
9 | 4 | 55.975 | 11 | 56.592 | Tyla Rattray |
10 | 11 | 56.010 | 5 | 57.654 | Nico Izzi |
11 | 8 | 56.487 | 3 | 57.216 | Matt Moss |
12 | 6 | 56.507 | 4 | 57.461 | Max Anstie |
13 | 7 | 56.673 | 7 | 57.781 | Michael Leib |
14 | 10 | 56.919 | 11 | 57.933 | Billy Laninovich |
15 | 18 | 56.948 | 4 | 1:00.538 | Gavin Faith |
16 | 17 | 57.616 | 3 | 59.881 | Nick Paluzzi |
17 | 14 | 58.244 | 11 | 59.160 | Teddy Maier |
18 | 16 | 58.249 | 2 | 59.454 | Scott Champion |
19 | 13 | 58.259 | 5 | 59.083 | Vince Friese |
20 | 20 | 1:13.705 | 1 | 1:13.705 | Travis Baker |
For the third straight week Eli Tomac would take reign of the lap charts by setting a 53.951. Unlike the previous two weeks Tomac was finally able to get a good start, and he quickly showed what he could do with said start. The GEICO Honda sophomore would not only get his first win of 2012, but would set the fastest lap of the night in the process. Just in case you misinterpreted that last statement, Tomac didn't just set the fastest lap in the Lites class, he bested Ryan Villopoto's 54.341 to set the fastest lap of either class.
Go ahead and purchase your tickets for the Michael Leib bandwagon, because this kid is looking more and more legit each week. After spending the past year and a half contesting the GPs, Leib is back and confident as ever. Although he missed the main at Anaheim 1 -- his first career supercross race -- Leib has bounced back with an eleventh and seventh in Phoenix and L.A., respectfully. Give this kid a couple of more rounds and he could be challenging for podiums.
Tomac took home fastest lap of the night honors for the third consecutive week.
Photo: Simon Cudby