Jason Lawrence had the fastest qualifying time and nearly won the Supercross main event.
Jason Lawrence had something to prove at Daytona where the Monster Energy Yamaha rider nearly won the Supercross main event. Chad Reed snuck by with three laps to go on his Rockstar Makita Suzuki and took his second consecutive win to break a championship points tie with James Stewart. Stewart tucked the front end in the first turn and caused a massive pileup which included Heat 2 winner, factory Yamaha rider Josh Hill. Grabbing a blue bike, Stewart tried to get back underway but was aboard Hill’s YZ450F. After getting sorted out, JS was out of contention, but was able to fight back to a very respectable seventh place.
Lawrence, who has moved up from the Lites class, followed Reed to the checkers and was visibly not accustomed to running the extra five laps that come with the premier class, nor lap times in the 1:10 region common to the gnarly Daytona circuit. Red Bull Honda’s Davi Millsaps took out Mike Alessi in the final stages and took the lowest podium spot. Alessi was fourth with Kevin Windham on a black Honda CRF450R in fifth. Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto was as in a podium position before stalling his KX450F and slipping back to sixth at the finish.
Reed now holds an 11-point advantage over Stewart with Andrew Short in third but not within striking distance.
Just for kicks, Mike Brown, who placed fourth in the ridiculously tough, three-hour River Ranch GNCC only four days ago, missed the main by one position in his heat race. Considering the physical demands of racing both disciplines in such a short time, the KTM rider’s effort deserves a nod.
Supercross Results:
Chad Reed won his second race of the season and took over the championship lead.
1. Chad Reed, Suz
2. Jason Lawrence, Yam
3. Davi Millsaps, Hon
4. Mike Alessi, Suz
5. Kevin Windham, Hon
6. Ryan Villopoto, Kaw
7. James Stewart, Yam
8. Andrew Short, Hon
9. Ryan Sipes, KTM
10. Thomas Hahn, Kaw
Overall Standings:
1. Reed, 224
2. Stewart, 213
3. Short, 163
4. Villopoto, 153
5. Tedesco, 140
Martin Davalos jumped into the lead in the 15-lap Lites main event early, but was passed on Lap 11 by Monster Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Christophe Pourcel who would take his third victory of the season. Davalos followed with Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Nico Izzi in tow. Heat 1 winner, Izzi, finished the opening lap in eighth, but was able to work through the pack for a well-earned podium position.
Christophe Pourcel was patient and smooth on the rough Daytona track to claim his third victory.
Austin Stroupe won his heat race, but a big crash put him out of the main event. The Monster Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider still holds onto third place in the championship race but is a massive 23 points behind Izzi.
Supercross Lites Results:
1. Christophe Pourcel, Kaw
2. Martin Davalos, KTM
3. Nico Izzi, Suz
4. Matt Lemoine, Yam
5. Wil Hahn, KTM
6. Matt Goerke, Suz
7. Darryn Durham, Yam
8. Broc Tickle, Yam
9. Blake Wharton, Hon
10. Kyle Keylon, Hon
Lites Overall Standings:
1. Pourcel, 97
2. Izzi, 82
3. Stroupe, 59
4. Davalos, 56
5. Jesseman, 51
