GEICO Honda Race Recap: Dallas
ARLINGTON, Texas (Feb. 18) -- GEICO Honda rider Justin Barcia began defense of his 2011 Supercross Lies East championship with a convincing victory Saturday night at Cowboy's Stadium. Barcia battled rookie teammate Justin Bogle and Darryn Durham throughout the first half of the race before passing them both in Lap 9 and riding away for the win.
Senior team member Kevin Windham also had a solid night, finishing seventh overall.
"We had a little battle there for the first several laps," Barcia said. "I didn't want to take my teammate out so I played it safe. Once I got around him and got a little space I was able to go after Durham. It took a couple of tries but once I got past him I just rode my own race and finished it out.
"I learned a bunch tonight. I'll take that and go home a train for Atlanta. You couldn't ask for a better start for this GEICO Honda team. I'm pumped up with this win."
Barcia has finished on the podium in 10 consecutive Supercross Lites events.
In frantic Supercross main event, Windham kept his cool and avoided trouble to cruise through to another top-10 result. He remains fifth in the championship points.
"Another night that was pretty good all the way around," Windham said, "but I just expect more from myself for this GEICO Honda race team. The end of the race was a little disappointing because I gave away a few positions I shouldn't have.
"Next weekend is big. It will be my 200th career start and we really want to have a successful night with that going on."
Bogle was putting together a great inaugural race in the Supercross Lites class before Malcolm Stewart cleaned him out hard on Lap 12. Bogle's leg was caught up in Stewart's rear wheel and it took him several moments to untangle himself. Bogle did get up and finish the race but by that point he had fallen to 14th place.
"I'm as mad as I've ever been after a race," Bogle said. "I've been really nervous all day, and I'm never nervous before a race, but once we started I was just letting it go. I got a good start and stayed up there in the top three for a long time and I would have been top five at the very least, but (Stewart) wrecked me and I was stuck under him.
"In a weird way it's kind of encouraging to have done as well as I was doing because I really wasn't riding as well as I know I can. Now I got to put this behind me and get ready for Atlanta."
The tour continues next Saturday at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
