Taking his fifth win of the season at Rogers Centre in Toronto Saturday night, the rookie Ryan Villopoto tightened the championship points race, but not by much.
The Monster Energy Kawasaki rider is still 17 points shy from the lead in the 2010 Monster Energy Supercross Championship. Rockstar Makita Suzuki rider Ryan Dungey kept the points lead due to grabbing second at Toronto before 42,083 fans; Dungey of Belle Plaine, Minn., now has 214 points, and Villopoto of Poulsbo, Wash., has 197.
After Villopoto won the first heat race, and Dungey the second, the main event was shaping up to be a race between both riders. Grabbing the SPIKE Holeshot Award was Honda Red Bull Racing rider Trey Canard of Shawnee, Okla., followed by Valli Motorsports/Rockstar Yamaha rider Ivan Tedesco, of Murrieta, Calif., with Villopoto in third and Dungey in fourth.
But by the end of lap 1, Villopoto got into first, and led all 20 laps. Dungey made his way to second by lap 5, and remained there for the rest of the race, not able to capture Villopoto’s green machine.
“I really wouldn’t be in this position without all of my team and everyone involved,” said Villopoto. “The last couple weeks we’ve been on it and it’s what we need to do. (The racing is) close and it’s been tough. I need to make up ground and I got to make those passes quick. I need to keep getting good starts.”
Neither Chad Reed nor his rival James Stewart raced or practiced at Toronto. Both riders are out due to injuries, and are expected to return before the end of the season.
AMA SX heads into round 11 in the new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
For complete SX results and standings, click here.
Supercross Lites East
For the first time in the Lites East SX Championship, someone besides Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Christophe Pourcel won. After grabbing the holeshot, GEICO Powersports Honda rider Justin Barcia of Ochlocknee, Ga., led every lap, taking his first career win.
“This means everything to me. I’d like to thank my mom and dad and God for keeping me safe,” Barcia said. “I can’t thank everybody enough. And all the fans here in Canada. I didn’t think I had that many, but all you fans I could hear you cheering me on, so thanks a lot!”
Rockstar Makita Suzuki rider Austin Stroupe of Lincolnton, Fla., ran a close race, and finished in second. Pourcel of Groveland, Fla., finished in third.
