Motocross: Penalties and some upsets create excitement in the second race of the Lucas Oils AMA Pro Motocross Championship Series at Hangtown in Sacramento, Calif., Saturday.

Ron Lieback

AllAboutBikes.com Staff Writer

Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto was the rave of the premier 450 Class in AMA Motocross after winning but motos in the season opener, but he aggravated an old knee injury this weekend, destroying his hopes to compete with James Stewart’s impressive record. Last year, Stewart became only the second rider in AMA history to complete a perfect season after winning all 24 motos of the outdoor national series but decided to only ride in the AMA Supercross Series, leaving this year’s competition wide open.

But competition was still fierce for round 2 of the 2009 Lucas Oils AMA Pro Motocross championship at Hangtown in Sacramento, Calif., on Saturday. Hangtown, which hosted its first professional motocross race in 1968, has been a part of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship since 1974. This year a few tweaks were made to the track’s layout, the most significant being a return to the counterclockwise track direction.

450 Class

With some insider knowledge from “Bubba”, Mike Alessi swept both motos at Hangtown on the Rockstar Makita Suzuki, giving him the point lead in the series after two rounds of the AMA Motocross series. This “inside information” about the track came from “Bubba”, or James Stewart, who took the AMA Supercrossf Series’ title four weeks ago.

In 2008, Stewart became only the second rider in AMA history to complete a perfect season after winning all 24 motos of the outdoor national series, but this year he decided not to compete in AMA Motocross, leaving a wide-open field for the championship. Alessi also was the only other rider besides Steward to lead a lap last season.

“James said he wasn't happy with me after Glen Helen and he told me a couple of things that really helped me for this week,” Alessi told reporters. “I won’t reveal what he told me, but he said he appreciated how much I pushed him last season. He’s a cool guy.”

But Alessi’s first outdoor MX win didn’t come easy; he crashed on the first lap during the moto 1, but was able to get back in the action. After the accident, Ivan Tedesco on the Red Bull Honda moved into the lead, but during the final laps Alessi raced ahead, grabbing first and holding it for the win. Tedesco finished second, with his teammate Andrew Short in third. 

In Moto 2, Josh Grant on the JGR Yamaha got a jump just ahead of Alessi, grabbing the holeshot. He led for half of the moto, until falling over, allowing second-place Alessi to close the gab. The two riders battled, until Grant secured the lead, finishing first. However, the AMA penalized Grant one position for disregarding a hazard flag during the final laps of the moto, giving Alessi the win. After the penalty, Grant would finish second followed by Chad Reed, Alessi’s teammate on the other Rockstar Makita Suzuki.

With double wins, Alessi of Victorville opens up an 18-point lead over Grant, with Reed only one point behind Grant.

After winning both motos in the opening at Glen Helen last week, Ryan Villopoto was being raved about since he had an opportunity to match Stewart’s record. But an old knee injury flared up, causing the Monster Energy Kawasaki rider to finish 17th in the first moto, and not race in moto 2. Villopoto reported he will undergo surgery to his left anterior cruciate ligament, which will most likely keep him out of the rest of this season. He won the 250 Class title last season, and is planned to race in the 2010 Supercross Season.

Overall 450 Class Results:

1. Mike Alessi
2. Ivan Tedesco
3. Chad Reed
4. Andrew Short
5. Josh Grant
6. Daniel Reardon
7. Matthew Goerke
8. Justin Brayton
9. Thomas Hahn
10. Cody Cooper

250 Class

France’s Christopher Pourcel took first overall in the 250 Class after taking first in Moto 1 and third in Moto 2. The Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider actually took second in Moto 2, but he was penalized one position along with five other riders for violating a hazard flag at the finish line near the end of the race. Due to this penalty, he was docked two points; if these points were acquired, Pourcel would have tied Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey for the series lead. 

The 2009 East Coast Lites champion Pourcel’s first place finish in the first moto was his best so far this season. Second went to Geico Honda’s Justin Barcia, which was also his best finish this year. Third went to Barcia’s senior teammate Trey Canard.

Barcia impressively lead until a few moments after the 30-minute mark. With three laps remaining, Pourcel caught him and passed, and keeping first to the finish line. 

An upset in Moto 1 was last week’s overall winner in Glen Helen Ryan Dungey on the Rockstar Makita Suzuki, who placed seventh after suffering a bad start. But during Moto 2, Dungey would get the holeshot and win comfortably over Canard and Pourcel with a 22-second advantage.

Overall 250 Class Results:
 
1.  Christophe Pourcel
2.  Trey Canard
3.  Ryan Dungey
4.  Brett Metcalfe
5.  Tyla Rattray
6.  Broc Tickle
7.  Blake Wharton
8.  Jake Weimer
9.  P.J. Larsen
10. Justin Barcia