The funny thing about motocross, or really sports in general, is that there are always storylines to be captured. Sure, this year's stories may not be as appetizing or appealing as the 2011 season provided—but rest assured, they’re always there. After New Orleans, while Ryan Villopoto was laying claim to one of the most dominant seasons ever, the fight for second was heating up, Justin Barcia was celebrating his second consecutive East Region Lites title, Roczen was returning to the 350, the West Region title hunt was being renewed, Ryan Dungey was due back from injury… the list goes on. And then there’s always James Stewart and the ever revolving door of drama and speculation that surrounds him.
Then came Seattle. The Emerald City provided us more storylines, drama and speculation than a teenager's Facebook page. The weekend began with MotoConcepts pouring gasoline on the already fiery James Stewart rumors when the Washington based company unveiled a #7 bike (in honor of Seattle Seahawks quarterback Tarvaris Jackson). The weekend ended with an improbably victory from Andrew Short. Throw in Ryan Sipes returning from injury to upstage title contenders Eli Tomac, Dean Wilson and Cole Seely, Ryan Villopoto going down with a knee injury (as of today we have yet to get an update on his injury, but Kawasaki officials said it wasn't serious on Saturday night) and the aforementioned Tomac and Wilson dropping the gloves and trading blows in a heated championship battle and Seattle provided a spark to a season that was running a little lean.
Let’s get to the lap charts to see how it all broke down.
AMA Supercross
| Lap Rank | Finish | Best Lap | In Lap | Avg Lap Time | Rider |
| 1 | 2 | 54.095 | 4 | 55.852 | Ken Roczen |
| 2 | 1 | 54.474 | 4 | 55.797 | Andrew Short |
| 3 | 6 | 54.709 | 9 | 56.374 | Ryan Dungey |
| 4 | 3 | 54.811 | 3 | 55.854 | Jake Weimer |
| 5 | 4 | 54.857 | 4 | 55.868 | Justin Brayton |
| 6 |
5 | 54.974 | 11 | 56.032 | Davi Millsaps |
| 7 | 7 | 55.011 | 4 | 56.784 | Mike Alessi |
| 8 |
17 | 55.392 | 3 | 1:01.786 | Kyle Regal |
| 9 | 11 | 55.432 | 6 | 57.970 | Kyle Chisholm |
| 10 | 8 | 55.467 | 10 | 56.467 | Broc Tickle |
| 11 | 10 | 55.521 | 4 | 57.570 | Nick Wey |
| 12 | 13 | 55.745 | 3 | 59.607 | Justin Sipes |
| 13 | 9 | 55.900 | 3 | 57.180 | Weston Peick |
| 14 | 18 | 55.975 | 2 | 1:12.815 | Josh Grant |
| 15 | 12 | 56.065 | 2 | 59.367 | Robby Kiniry |
| 16 | 16 | 56.194 | 4 | 1:00.269 | Tyler Bowers |
| 17 | 14 | 56.452 | 2 | 1:00.00 | Chris Blose |
| 18 | 15 | 57.378 | 3 | 1:00.041 | Matt Goerke |
| 19 | 19 | 1 Lap | 1 Lap | 1 Lap | Ryan Villopoto |
| 20 | 20 | 1 Lap | 1 Lap | 1 Lap | Brett Metcalfe |
Just when it looked like Andrew Short’s window of opportunity to capture his first career Supercross class win had passed, the likeable six-year SX class veteran was finally able to break through in Seattle. Although the win didn’t come easy, Short had to fend off the young, fearless Ken Roczen, nothing in 2012 has come easy for Short and his new team. After losing their title sponsor, Supercross.com, L&Mc Racing could have easily packed it in and called it a year—leaving Short, who was returning from a shoulder injury, to fend for himself. But the team pulled together and found a way to go racing. Now, a team and a rider that’s future was riddled with uncertainty a few weeks ago is celebrating their first career Supercross class win.
Jake Weimer’s on again, off again season continued in Seattle. After a mistake filled 20th in New Orleans, Weimer once again proved his resiliency in Seattle with another podium finish—his fourth this season. It’s been a trying year for the Idaho native, but if we have learned anything about Weimer throughout 2012 is the kid has an uncanny ability to rebound from a bad performance.
Short didn't set the fastest lap of the night, but he did take home the W in Seattle.
Garth Milan photo
AMA Supercross Lites
| Lap Rank | Finish | Best Lap | In Lap | Avg Lap Time | Rider |
| 1 | 1 | 54.590 | 4 | 56.118 | Ryan Sipes |
| 2 | 7 | 54.703 | 3 | 57.949 | Dean Wilson |
| 3 | 3 | 54.730 | 4 | 56.411 | Eli Tomac |
| 4 | 5 | 54.776 | 3 | 56.308 | Wil Hahn |
| 5 |
4 | 54.847 | 4 | 56.169 | Cole Seely |
| 6 | 2 | 55.033 | 7 | 55.854 | Marvin Musquin |
| 7 |
14 | 55.319 | 4 | 1:01.424 | Martin Davalos |
| 8 | 6 | 55.828 | 5 | 57.234 | Jason Anderson |
| 9 | 9 | 56.100 | 4 | 57.919 | Travis Baker |
| 10 | 8 | 56.522 | 7 | 57.766 | Billy Laninovich |
| 11 | 10 | 56.550 | 3 | 58.650 | Vince Friese |
| 12 | 11 | 56.789 | 4 | 58.605 | Scott Champion |
| 13 | 12 | 56.958 | 3 | 59.374 | Kyle Beaton |
| 14 | 17 | 57.087 | 4 | 1:03.962 | Matt Moss |
| 15 | 13 | 57.378 | 4 | 59.482 | Killy Rusk |
| 16 | 15 | 57.399 | 5 | 1:01.113 | Topher Ingalls |
| 17 | 16 | 59.367 | 4 | 1:03.386 | Beau Hudson |
| 18 | 19 | 59.865 | 3 | 1:05.591 | Preston Tilford |
| 19 | 20 | 1:00.061 | 3 | 1:06.405 | Myles Tedder |
| 20 | 18 | 1:00.851 | 6 | 1:04.041 | Erik Meusling |
Ryan Sipes winning a race isn’t a surprise. After all, he did win in Indianapolis last year and backed it up with a win in the Dave Coombs Sr. East/West Shootout. Ryan Sipes winning in Seattle, was shocking. The Rockstar Star/Valli-Star Yamaha rider was returning from a hand and shoulder injury, both of which required surgery, and has been “riding in a lot of pain and going to therapy every day,” just to get back for Seattle, as he explained to Jason Weigandt after his victory in Seattle. After a tough beginning to 2012 Sipes is now looking like the pre-season title contender many coined him as.
Overshadowed by teammate Cole Seely, and just about everyone else in the West Region Lites field, Lucas Oil Troy Lee Designs Travis Baker has been one of the most consistent riders in 2012. Finishing outside the top-ten only once this season (Los Angeles), Baker has been a steady #2 behind Seely. With his ninth in Seattle, Baker joined Eli Tomac and Dean Wilson as the only three riders to have six top-tens in seven races.
Sipes set the fastest lap and took the win in Seattle.
Garth Milan photo
