Las Vegas Supercross Preview 2011

This is it folks. The moment has finally arrived. The 2011 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship will host the 17th and final round of its series this weekend at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, and boy what a season it’s been. Bizarre performances, crashes and injuries have dramatically reshaped the field over the course of the past four months. While Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto approaches the final round with the points lead, his nine-point margin over TwoTwo Motorsports’ Chad Reed reveals a series that has been rife with competition. None of the top-five riders in the championship will emerge in Las Vegas with a clean record. Rather than a season of perfection, the 2011 series has been a testament as to which rider can overcome setbacks. And RV knows setbacks better than most. The 22-year-old has had a miraculous recovery after breaking his leg toward the end of the 2010 season. It would be a fairytale finish for him if he can wrap-up the title following such an enormous challenge.
 
All Villopoto needs in order to take ultimate bragging rights away from the 2011 season is a top-five finish. The championship is truly his to lose at this point. But it’s still too early to call this one. After all, six rounds ago in Jacksonville, Florida, Villopoto failed to even qualify for the main. It would only take one major disaster like this to swipe his crown away.

“It is nice to head into the last round with a little bit of a gap,” said Villopoto. “If the opportunity presents itself, I want to go after the win, but I know what I have to do (for the championship).”
 
Last weekend in Salt Lake City, Reed saw his odds of winning the 2011 championship dwindle, even after posting a solid ride in second. Now, anything less than a win for the Aussie is not an option, and Reed knows his chances at snagging the final round victory are a long shot. Perhaps what’s most amazing is that Reed has managed only one win over the past 16 rounds, yet he’s still second in overall points. Thanks to a consistent season with 10 podium finishes and a win in San Diego, Reed has created the perfect launch for his newly formed team despite the deck being stacked against him.

“We’ve fought hard this year and will celebrate as a team at Las Vegas regardless of the final result,” said Reed. “Everyone has given 100% this season and without this dedication and effort we would not be where we are now – nine points off the lead with a round to go.”

In regard to the upcoming race, Reed added: “If I can start well and be aggressive for the whole race then I’m putting myself in the best possible position. All I can do is race for the win and whatever the result I will look back on our first season as a success.”

Another consistent contender this season is Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey. Currently 12 points behind in the championship, Dungey may not be able to defend his 2010 Supercross title, but he’s sure been putting up a fight and making things difficult for others in the series. Dungey has now pulled off more than a dozen podium finishes this year, including a win in Toronto. At the very least, Dungey has earned a permanent spot at the table with the big boys during only his second year of racing in the premier class. What does he need to win the crown this year? Dungey requires RV to finish ninth or worse, but perhaps more likely is a fight with Reed for second in the championship as they remain separated by just three points.

San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart left Salt Lake City on a depressing note after crashing out of the lead. On the way to his sixth win of the season, JS7 instead gave it to Villopoto and made it next to impossible to win the championship this year. Currently 23 points adrift of RV, Stewart would need all of the top-three riders in the series to finish outside of the points in addition to him winning the race in order to claim the 2011 title. Instead, Stewart will shoot for the win - title or not. It would be a perfect way for Stewart to make up for his poor showing in Utah, and give JS7 fans a ray of hope for his return in 2012.

An epic showdown will take place for both the West and East Coast Lites divisions as they get together for the 2011 Dave Coombs Sr. Memorial East-West Shootout. In Salt Lake City Geico Powersports Honda’s Eli Tomac secured a major win ahead of Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen and Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Broc Tickle. Only two points separate Tickle and Tomac in the west now that Josh Hansen has essentially removed himself from the title race.

“I haven’t really felt like myself out there because I’ve been dealing with a little arm pump the past two races,” said Tickle. “I know it takes time to come back and I have really tried to not make it an excuse. I am looking to feel the way I felt when I won in Oakland. This week I’m going to try and have fun when I go out and ride. Hopefully that will bring me back to where I was at the beginning of the series.”

Meanwhile, Geico Powersports Honda’s Justin Barcia has grabbed podium finishes in every round so far and leads his division by 20 points. With Barcia set to claim the 2011 Lites East Championship, he is also strongly favored to win the East/West shootout. However, The Wild Child will be up against stiff competition as Monster Energy PC Kawasaki’s Dean Wilson, Blake Baggett, Tickle, Geico Honda’s Blake Wharton, Tomac and DNA Shred Stix Yamaha’s Ryan Sipes all aim for bragging rights in the Lites class.