Martin Davalos was third in Atlanta after a last ditch pass on Blake Wharton.
Eastern Region Supercross Lites competition resumed for its second round as Monster Energy AMA Supercross rolled into Atlanta where an enthusiastic Saturday-night crowd was ready to welcome at the Georgia Dome. With Brett Metcalfe out with an injury, Monster Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Christophe Pourcel had a bit of breathing room.
Austin Stroupe took the holeshot with Pourcel second and Nico Izzi third after starting from outside courtesy of an LCQ transfer. Stroupe was pulling away with blistering lap times on his KX250F, but a stall after the finish-line jump with roughly five laps to go dropped him to eighth. Pourcel inherited the lead and Izzi followed in second. Martin Davalos was looking for the final podium position as the final laps ticked away.
Rookie Blake Wharton put in a great ride to claim in an attempt to lad on the box and passed Davalos just before the white flag, but the KTM rider would steal it back just before the final checkers waved.
Supercross Lites Results:
1. Christophe Pourcel, Kaw
2. Nico Izzi, Suz
3. Martin Davalos, KTM
4. Blake Wharton, Hon
5. Branden Jesseman, Kaw
6. Wil Hahn, KTM
7. Austin Stroupe, Kaw
8. Matt Lemoine, Yam
9. Matt Goerke, Suz
10. Steven Clarke, Suz
Supercross Lites Overall Standings:
1. Pourcel, 50
2. Izzi, 42
3. Davalos, 34
4. Wharton, 34
5. Stroupe, 32
James Stewart holeshot the 20-lap main event with factory Yamaha’s Broc Hepler in second and Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Mike Alessi in third. Ryan Villopoto quickly moved into third. Chad Reed found himself in eighth off the start, but quickly worked into fourth.
Broc Hepler (60) ran in second place for several laps before dropping to fifth at the finish - a very respectable result for the Yamaha rider.
Reed would use Villopoto as a screen to pass Hepler before RV came up short exiting the rhythm section and wasn’t able to do the triple which allowed Reed to pass. Immediately after the sand section, Reed held up by a lapper and RV went back into second. It would take less than a lap for the Australian to get back by and from there it was a showdown of lap times to see if he could whittle away Stewart’s 13-second lead.
Stewart would take his seventh consecutive victory and the championship points lead for the first time this season.
Atlanta Supercross Results:
1. James Stewart, Yam
2. Chad Reed, Suz
3. Ryan Villopoto, Kaw
4. Andrew Short, Hon
5. Broc Hepler, Yam
6. Kevin Windham, Hon
7. Ivan Tedesco, Hon
8. Tim Ferry, Kaw
9. Josh Hill, Yam
10. Davi Millsaps, Hon
Supercross Overall Standings:
1. Stewart, 177
2. Reed, 174
3. Short, 140
4. Villopoto, 126
5. Grant, 120
