Monster Energy Kawasaki Untouchable in San Diego

Irvine, Calif. - Monster Energy Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Dean Wilson both took wins during Saturday night's Monster Energy AMA Supercross at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, Calif. Leaving California, both riders sit atop the points standings in their respective classes. Villopoto led the final 19 laps of the main event, despite a late race threat that saw him battle for the lead as he came to the white flag. After running away from the field in his heat race, Wilson nearly pulled the holeshot, took control early and led every lap of the supercross lites main event. Monster Energy Kawasaki's Jake Weimer started the main event in third position, but after going down twice, he finished 20th. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Broc Tickle put together a great ride in his heat race, but he too suffered a string of crashes in the main and ended the night in 18th.

[Having Fun
coming into San Diego, Calif., and get his swagger back. Relaxed and carefree, he came out in the heat race and rode flawlessly on his KX(tm)250F, crossing the finish line well ahead of second place on the short, slippery track. When the gate dropped for the main event, Wilson rounded the first corner in third and quickly moved into the lead through the treacherous whoops. Wilson would lead all 15 laps of the supercross lites main event and take over the points lead after many top contenders finished outside the top-10.

"The night went brilliant!" said Wilson. "This week I tried not to put pressure on myself to win and instead just go out and have fun. That's what it's all about and what made the difference tonight."

[The Checklist
After walking the track Saturday morning, it was evident the track at Qualcomm Stadium's dirt and layout would play into that evening's results. In the heat race, Villopoto discovered that the two passing spots on the sub-50 second track would be the whoops and the corner before the finish line jump. Rounding the first lap of the main event, Villopoto sat in second and wasted no time making his move into the lead, passing the leader before the finish line. He would click off consistent laps until lapped traffic started to hold Villopoto back. This allowed second place to briefly get by for the lead, but Villopoto would again use the corner before the finish to retake the lead and take the checkered flag.

"You really had to be smooth every lap to pass lappers and race for the lead," said Villopoto. "San Diego's dirt is really slippery and the whoops were long and cupped out. Most tracks we don't even think twice about hitting them wide open, but these you really had to think about going into them steady and smooth. I've never won San Diego in the supercross class so it feels great to check this off."

[High Expectations
As reigning Supercross Lites West Region Champion, Tickle knows what's needed for a rider to be at the front of the field. Although it is his first year in the supercross class abroad a KX(tm)450F, Tickle knows where he belongs and will not be content until he gets there. He fell in the first corner during the heat race and he had to charge hard to make it directly to the main event. Sitting 11th on the last lap, Tickle got a clean run through the deteriorating whoops and was able to pass two riders moving him into a transfer position to the main event. That would be the high point of his night however, as acrash on lap four put him a lap behind early in the race. He finished 18th on the night.

"I felt like I was hitting my lines really good, and was strong in the whoops," said Tickle. "In the main, I didn't get the start I wanted and made the mistake of not getting by riders as soon as possible. Starting in the back of field only leads to more problems so my starts need to improve for me to ride where I belong."

[The Long Way
Most top riders are able to transfer directly to the main event and don't have to worry about the LCQ. Unfortunately for Weimer, while coming through the pack in his heat race he jumped off the track and lost a lot of time finding a safe place to re-enter the course. Weimer was forced to line up for the last chance qualifier, where he easily took the win. Although having to start on the way outside gate, Weimer nearly pulled the holeshot and was battling for the lead on the first lap. Three laps later, he found himself on the ground and was forced to pull off the track.

"The night was wild," said Weimer. "It's frustrating that it looked like I could have had a good result even coming from the LCQ, but that all went downhill quickly."

Despite his bad result, Weimer holds seventh overall in the points standings and is only six points back from fifth place.

[East Bound and Down
Monster Energy AMA Supercross heads to the east coast next weekend to Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Supercross Lites East Region will kick off with Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Blake Baggett and Darryn Durham fighting to see who can get the first win in the east.

Results

Monster Energy AMA Supercross - Round 6
Qualcomm Stadium - San Diego, Calif.
February 11, 2012

******[Supercross Class Results**
1. RYAN VILLOPOTO, POULSBO, WASH., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI
2. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Honda
3. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
4. Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki
5. JOSH HANSEN, ELBERT, COLO., DODGE/HART & HUNTINGTON KAWASAKI
6. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
7. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
8. KYLE CHISOLM, VALRICO, FLA., JWR KAWASAKI
9. Mike Alessi, Hillard, Calif., Suzuki
10. NICK WEY, DEWITT, MICH., KAWASAKI
11. Jason Thomas, Melrose, Fla., Suzuki
12. CODY MACKIE, CLOVIS, CA, AUS., JWR KAWASAKI
13. WESTON PEICK, WILDOMAR, CALIF., KAWASAKI
14. Bobby Kiniry, Holland Patent, N.Y., Yamaha
15. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha
16. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda
17. Matt Goerke, Lake Helen, Fla., Suzuki
18. BROC TICKLE, HOLLY, MICH., MONSTER ENERGY/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI
19. KYLE PATRIDGE, LAS VEGAS, NEV., DODGE/HART & HUNTINGTON KAWASAKI
20. JAKE WEIMER, RUPERT, IDAHO, MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI

Supercross Class Points Standings
1. RYAN VILLOPOTO, POULSBO, WASH., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 133
2. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Honda, 127
3. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 123
4. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha, 101
5. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda, 78
6. Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki, 75
7. JAKE WEIMER, RUPERT, IDAHO, MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 72
8. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 70
9. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 68
10. JOSH HANSEN, ELBERT, COLO., DODGE/HART & HUNTINGTON KAWASAKI, 64
11. Mike Alessi, Hillard, Calif., Suzuki, 63
12. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, 59
13. KYLE CHISOLM, VALRICO, FLA., JWR KAWASAKI, 56
14. BROC TICKLE, HOLLY, MICH., MONSTER ENERGY/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI, 44
15. NICK WEY, DEWITT, MICH., KAWASAKI, 35
16. WESTON PEICK, WILDOMAR, CALIF., KAWASAKI, 24
17. IVAN TEDESCO, MURRITA, CALIF., DODGE/HART & HUNTINGTON KAWASAKI, 21
18. KYLE PATRIDGE, LAS VEGAS, NEV., DODGE/HART & HUNTINGTON KAWASAKI, 17
19. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda, 14
20. CODY MACKIE, CLOVIS, CA, AUS., JWR KAWASAKI, 14

Supercross Lites Class Results
1. DEAN WILSON, MENIFEE, CALIF., MONSTER ENERGY/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI
2. Cole Seely, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
3. Matt Moss, Sussex Inlet, NS., Aus., KTM
4. Gareth Swanepoel, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
5. Nico Izzi, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha
6. Gavin Faith, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Honda
7. Billy Laninovich, Riversdie, Calif., Honda
8. Travis Baker, Temecula, Calif., Honda
9. Vince Friese, Cape Girardeau, Mo., Honda
10. NICK PALUZZI, RIVERSIDE, CALIF., KAWASAKI

Supercross Lites Class Points Standings **
**1. DEAN WILSON, MENIFEE, CALIF., MONSTER ENERGY/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI, 116
2. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda, 114
3. Cole Seely, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 101
4. Marvin Musquin, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 89
5. Nico Izzi, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha, 78
6. Matt Moss, Sussex Inlet, NS., Aus., KTM, 73
7. Zach Osborne, Chesterfield, S.C., Yamaha, 67
8. Travis Baker, Temecula, Calif., Honda, 63
**9. TYLA RATTRAY, WILDOMAR, CALIF., MONSTER ENERGY/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI, 60 **
10. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki, 58