Practice is complete here at Reliant Stadium in Houston, and….well, lets be honest. Practice times are a fun thing to analyze each week, but the bottom line is that this season, the riders have been so close on speed that what you see in practice can change in an instant as soon as the racing begins. A start, a new line, a mistake, it’s anyone’s race tonight.
Red Bull KTM's Ryan Dungey did log the fastest time in the final 450 session, with a 51.2, but the top six, Trey Canard, James Stewart, Justin Barcia, Ryan Villopto and Davi Millsaps, were within one second. And each of them looked good at different moments. Canard, now back in action after missing Toronto due to a concussion, also spent time as the fastest rider on his Muscle Milk Honda. Millsaps looked strong all day on his Rockstar Energy Racing ride. And of course Monster Energy Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto, he of the points lead and a four-race win streak, was lightning fast. On the very last lap of practice, Villopoto was ripping off a fast one but was slowed by Weston Pieck in the final corner. He might have ended up faster than fifth had he gotten that lap in? Maybe. Like we said, these riders are so close, any little change can make all the difference.
Same in the 250s, where GEICO Honda's Wil Hahn was flying all day, consistently turning in the best times. He looked unstoppable, until the very last laps, when Red Bull KTM's Marvin Musquin logged a late heater and took the top spot away. It's a title fight between these two, and it also looks like they're a step above everyone else speed wise.
New Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki recruit Tyler Bowers looked strong throughout the day, and he could be a podium factor in his first SX of the season. Rookie Mysplash/Star Yamaha rider Jeremy Martin hurt his wrist in practice and might be out for the night, he didn't ride the second timed session.
Looking at the Houston track, the craziest looking thing is the finish line jump. The first turn literally runs right underneath it. Don’t worry, that turn is only used for the start, so riders won’t be jumping over each other.
It looked like a Wil Hahn day for much of the day, until Marvin Musquin logged a late fast lap to take the top qualifying spot.
Simon Cudby photo
But the big talk surrounded the whoops. They were just crazy huge at the beginning of the day. So crazy that the likes of Ryan Dungey and Justin Barcia couldn’t even blitz all the way through the end. The fastest? Justin Brayton, who was absolutely killing them on his JGR Yamaha. He still looked fast through them in the rest of the sessions, but the whoops have slowly broken down and become easier, so most of his advantage has been erased. Brayton has been looking for a breakthrough after a few bad races. He was seventh fastest overall.
OVERALL BEST LAP TIMES - QUALIFYING COMBINED
MONSTER ENERGY AMA SUPERCROSS
RELIANT STADIUM - HOUSTON, TX
ROUND 13 OF 17 - APRIL 6, 2013
450SX
HOUSTON
Ryan Dungey
KTM 450 SX-F
1
51.202
41
Trey Canard
Honda CRF 450
2
51.570
James Stewart
Suzuki RM-Z450
3
51.619
51
Justin Barcia
Honda CRF 450
4
51.883
1
Ryan Villopoto
Kawasaki KX 450F
5
51.990
18
David Millsaps
Suzuki RM-Z450
6
52.177
10
Justin Brayton
Yamaha YZ450F
7
52.529
75
Joshua Hill
Suzuki RM-Z450
8
52.689
62
Matthew Goerke
KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edit
9
52.823
49
Phillip Nicoletti
Yamaha YZ450F
10
52.829
250SX
25
Marvin Musquin
KTM 250 SX-F
1
52.021
19
William Hahn
Honda CRF 250
2
52.453
68
Tyler Bowers
Kawasaki KX 250F
3
53.199
67
Gavin Faith
Honda CRF 250
4
53.396
73
A J Catanzaro
Kawasaki KX 250F
5
53.690
42
Vince Friese
Honda CRF 250
6
53.728
13
Blake Wharton
Suzuki RM-Z250
7
53.756
48
Cole Thompson
Honda CRF 250
8
53.860
69
Peter Larsen
Honda CRF 250
9
54.782
71
Zackery Freeberg
Honda CRF 250
10
54.891
