2012 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series, an FIM World Championship officially underway – Anaheim Recap, Phoenix Preview

Feb 1, 2012 by admin

As the series heads into round two at Phoenix, Arizona?s Chase Field, potential title contenders have already begun to establish themselves. At Anaheim I, Monster Energy Kawasaki?s Ryan Villopoto walked away with the season kickoff win in the Supercross Class, while Cole Seely captured the Supercross Lites victory for Lucas Oil / Troy Lee Designs / Honda.

Stats and data below courtesy Feld Motor Sports

Villopoto was clearly the fastest rider on the track, and was the only rider during the main to lay down lap times under 1:01. When the checkered flag waved, Ryan was more than 12 seconds ahead of second place finisher Chad Reed of TwoTwo Motorsports/Honda. But the fight for second was the best skirmish of the night. JGR/Toyota/Yamaha?s James Stewart got a mid pack start and was forced to work his way up, while Villopoto, Reed, and Red Bull/KTM?s Ryan Dungey began up front.

Stewart was eventually able to make his way up to Dungey in third, and that?s when things got interesting. The two riders battled back and forth, forcing each other into various mistakes, but Reed made an error on his own, allowing Dungey and Stewart to close the gap. Just as Stewart was gaining on Reed, the JGR rider made yet another mistake, and landed on top of a tuff block in an on/off section, resulting in a crash.

Franz Aschenbrenner Stuart Aspin Len Atlee Pierre Audry Karl Auer