The entire Eastern Region AMA Supercross Lites championship was funneled into the main event tonight in St. Louis. Torco Racing Fuels Honda's Trey Canard ripped off three wins to open the series before Monster Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto answered back with a hat trick of his own. Tonight was a microcosm of the entire series with Canard jumping out to a victory in Heat 1 and RV taking Heat 2. The stage was set for a final-moto showdown.
Trey Canard won his first AMA Supercross Lites Eastern Region title with an aggressive move on veteran Ryan Villopoto that belies Canard's rookie status.
Both riders were on their game entering the main event which saw them running 2-3 behind Villopoto's teammate Branden Jesseman. The duo passed Jesseman on Lap 7, but as they neared the halfway point of the race, Canard made an inside move on RV just before the finish line that brought the two contenders together. The reigning West Coast champ was forced off the track and he rejoined the chase with three speedy riders between him and Canard. Villopoto was able to pick off one of those riders, but he would finish fourth and watch Canard celebrate what could have been his. Jesseman finished second and Josh Grant was third.
"I really didn't mean to take him out," said Canard. "I think that's racing and I would expect him to do the same to me if it came down to this last race. I really wanted this championship since I was like three years old. I just trained hard all week long and I can't thank my team enough for getting this championship."
Ryan Villopoto couldn't cap off his remarkable late-season charge as Trey Canard parked him midway through the Lites main event.
Jesseman finished the season strong but came up five points short of third place which went to rookie Nico Izzi. Grant was three points adrift of the Kawasaki rider in fifth as the racing action returns to the West Coast. One round left in Seattle, WA will decide the Pacific-side championship before the two sides clash in Las Vegas for the annual East/West shootout.
Supercross Lites Results:
1. Trey Canard, Hon
2. Branden Jesseman, Kaw
3. Josh Grant, Hon
4. Ryan Villopoto, Kaw
5. Ryan Morais, Yam
6. Kyle Chisholm, Kaw
7. Ryan Sipes, KTM
8. Nico Izzi, Suz
9. Matt Goerke, KTM
10. Billy Payne, Hon
Supercross Lites Overall Standings:
1. Canard, 147
2. Villopoto, 137
3. Izzi, 99
4. Jesseman, 94
5. Grant, 91
AMA Supercross
Chad Reed is feeling much better than he was last weekend. The San Manuel Yamaha rider finished second tonight behind Torco Racing Fuels Honda's Kevin Windham. Reed still holds a 13 point lead over Windham in the championship race, but an additional three points tonight brings the CRF450R pilot within striking distance with two rounds to go.
Kelly Smith pulled the holeshot on his Team Babbitts Kawasaki, but it wouldn't last long as he DNFed before the first lap was complete. Monster Kawasaki's Tim Ferry was another KX-F rider who didn't make it through the opening lap. Reed did, however, and 22 led the class for three laps before Windham moved into the lead and motored away for the victory.
Kevin Windham picked up three valuable points on Chad Reed with two rounds to go.
"Tonight I just wanted to put myself into a good position," said Windham. "(Chad) put himself in a good position to not lose too many points tonight. It's all about me now and I feel good about the ride I put in tonight. I'm giving it all I can and that alone feels good."
Red Bull Honda's Andrew Short worked his way up from fifth on the opening lap to finish third, but he couldn't make it around the ailing Yamaha rider.
"I just couldn't make it happen in the whoops," said Reed of his healing shoulder. "I didn't want to lay (the bike) down, so I rode for second tonight. I want this title and I'm not about to let it go. I feel like I've let these guys into this points battle all season long by making mistakes."
Reed will try to minimize those mistakes as the championship deadline approaches on May 3.
AMA Supercross Results:
1. Kevin Windham, Hon
2. Chad Reed, Yam
3. Andrew Short, Hon
4. Nathan Ramsey, Yam
5. Thomas Hahn, Kaw
6. Davi Millsaps, Hon
7. Justin Brayton, KTM
8. Paul Carpenter, Hon
9. Travis Preston, Kaw
10. Jason Thomas, Hon
AMA Supercross Overall Standings:
1. Reed, 318
2. Windham, 305
3. Millsaps, 244
4. Short, 241
5. Hill, 196
