The riders wanted softer dirt, and they’ve got it here in St. Louis. After the practice sessions were completed, the track looked gnarly—whoops were all torn up, and the 180 bowl berms with carved with ruts. A beat up track isn’t always great, but the riders will take it if it offers traction and the chance to find a fresh line and make a pass.
The rider who looks more comfortable on the stuff is Ryan Villopoto. He was fastest in the first timed session and second fastest (behind James Stewart) in session two. But RV’s laps looked repeatable and comfortable, where as Stewart had his ups and downs. Literally, actually, as James took on a big crash in a rhythm lane and came down hard on his side. Took him a while to get up, but he was eventually able to stand under his own power and get back on the bike. But then he rode it into the pits. We will check on the status of last week’s race winner before the night show.
Millsaps is right in the hunt again.
Cudby photo
Villopoto looks darned comfortable on the soft St. Louis soil.
Cudby photo
As expected, everyone else in the 450 class is close in times. A start could change everything, and so could the ever-changing track conditions. One mistake could upset everything when the riders are this close, and this track, rutted, showing concrete in areas, could breed mistakes. In fact, we’d rather not even put St. Louis, concrete and. Ryan Villopoto. In the same sentence. And we just didn’t.
In the 250s, rookie Jeremy Martin is proving to be a real player. That’s quite a bounce back after not even qualifying for the Dallas opener. The kid was fastest in the first timed session. Dean Wilson came back as fastest in session two. However, Dean said he just couldn’t get a clean lap in during session one. As expected, then, Dean is the favorite tonight, but last week’s winner, Wil Hahn, and Marvin Musquin, look fast, too.
Times are below. There won’t be a live TV show from tonight’s race so dial up @racerxoline on Twitter to get up to the second reports. Or just check this website throughout the night!
OVERALL BEST LAP TIMES - QUALIFYING COMBINED
MONSTER ENERGY AMA SUPERCROSS
EDWARD JONES DOME - ST. LOUIS, MO
ROUND 9 OF 17 - MARCH 2, 2013
1
James Stewart
Suzuki RM-Z450
49.039
2
Ryan Villopoto
Kawasaki KX 450F
49.273
3
David Millsaps
Suzuki RM-Z450
49.516
4
Eli Tomac
Honda CRF 450
49.558
5
Chad Reed
Honda CRF 450
5
49.807
6
Justin Barcia
Honda CRF 450
49.917
7
Ryan Dungey
KTM 450 SX-F
49.976
8
Justin Brayton
Yamaha YZ450F
50.390
9
Jimmy Albertson
Honda CRF 450
50.517
10
Kyle Chisholm
Yamaha YZ450F
50.525
11
Matthew Goerke
KTM 450 SX-F
50.565
12
Trey Canard
Honda CRF 450
50.630
13
Broc Tickle
Suzuki RM-Z450
50.681
14
Mike Alessi
Suzuki RM-Z450
50.698
15
Jake Weimer
Kawasaki KX 450F
50.829
16
Weston Peick
Suzuki RM-Z450
50.996
17
Kyle Partridge
Honda CRF 450
51.099
18
Robert Kiniry
Yamaha YZ450F
51.102
19
Les Smith
KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edit
51.133
20
Andrew Short
KTM 450 SX-F
51.215
250SX
1
Dean Wilson
Kawasaki KX 250F
49.503
2
Marvin Musquin
KTM 250 SX-F
50.679
3
William Hahn
Honda CRF 250
50.696
4
Jeremy Martin
Yamaha YZ250F
50.738
5
Gavin Faith
Honda CRF 250
51.130
6
Blake Wharton
Suzuki RM-Z250
51.289
7
A J Catanzaro
Kawasaki KX 250F
51.438
8
Zachary Bell
Honda CRF 250
51.750
9
Vince Friese
Honda CRF 250
51.769
10
Justin Hill
Kawasaki KX 250F
51.921
11
Cole Thompson
Honda CRF 250
51.959
12
Kyle Peters
Honda CRF 250
52.280
14
Daniel Herrlein
Honda CRF 250
52.387
14
Mitchell Oldenburg
Honda CRF 250
52.582
15
Lance Vincent
KTM 250 SX-F
52.669
16
Shawn Rife
Honda CRF 250
52.763
17
James Decotis
Honda CRF 250
17
52.843
18
Zackery Freeberg
Honda CRF 250
52.942
19
Jackson Richardson
Honda CRF 250
53.000
20.
Gareth Swanepoel
Kawasaki KX 250F
53.070
