Ryan Villopoto’s night looked grim during the first heat race at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis Saturday night, but he went on to win his third race of the 2010 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season.
The Monster Energy rider came into Indy SX just three points behind the two riders tied for the championship lead: Rockstar Makita Suzuki rider Ryan Dungey of Belle Plaine, Minn., and San Manuel Yamaha rider Josh Hill of Carlsbad, Calif.
But the championship points race was about to change.
During Heat 1, Villopoto crashed with Honda Red Bull Riding’s Davi Millsaps of Murrieta, Calif.; the Kawasaki’s radiator began spewing fluids on the track, and Villopoto headed back to the garage.
The Poulsbo, Wash., native competed in the LCQ (last chance qualifying) event, but didn’t get a good holeshot, starting in seventh. But by lap five of the six-lap event, Villopoto was in first, taking the win.
Before 60,019 people packed into Indianapolis Colts Stadium, Millsaps grabbed the SPIKE Holeshot award for the 20-lap main event. Behind him were GEICO Powersports Honda rider Kevin Windham of Centerville, Mass., and Villopoto in third. Dungey followed in fourth.
Millsaps and Windham battled until a lap-2 pass that gave Windham the lead. Villopoto and Dungey soon passed Millsaps, and by lap 11, Villopoto was in first, opening up a comfortable three-second lead.
“Going out of the last chance I had the outside gate,” Villopoto said. “I was second to last to line up (for the main event) and I really just can’t thank the guys at Monster Energy Kawasaki enough. It was the fastest bike out there and I was able to get a good holeshot.”
Villopoto’s win and Dungey’s second-place finish tie the two riders in points with 145. Hill, who had four consecutive second-place finishes before Indy, didn’t have a good start and finished in ninth. But he still has a great shot at the championship, trailing the leaders by 10 points.
Supercross heads to the Georgia Dome for the eight of 17 rounds next week. Rivals James Stewart and Chad Reed are not expected to compete due to their injuries. The San Manuel Yamaha rider and Monster Energy Kawasaki rider both have injured hands, and were both involved in the “crash heard ‘round the world” during round 2 of SX action in Phoenix.
For complete Supercross results and standings, click here.
Supercross Lites East
Defending East Regional Supercross Lites Champion Christophe Pourcel of Groveland, Fla., took his first win of the season after riding flawlessly for 15 laps.
GEICO Powersports Honda rider Justin Barcia of Ochlocknee, Ga., grabbed the SPIKE Holeshot award, followed by Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Pourcel and Rockstar Makita Suzuki rider Austin Stroupe of Lincolnton, N.C.
Barcia went down on lap four, giving second place to Stroupe. After some battling, Barcia made it back to third, where he finished the race. The top three were Pourcel, Stroupe and Barcia.
