Villopoto, Roczen Dominate AMA Supercross in Oakland

In front of a record crowd of 46,896, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto raced to his second-consecutive AMA Supercross victory, an FIM World Championship, 450SX Class Main Event win at O.co Coliseum in Oakland, CA on Saturday night. Rockstar Energy Racing’s Davi Millsaps finished in second, and Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey followed in third. In the 250SX Class, Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen, of Germany, won his first Western Regional race of the season, snapping Eli Tomac’s three-race win streak.

Villopoto jumped out to an early lead in the 450 SX final, winning the Nuclear Cowboyz Holeshot Award, and by Lap 3 had established a 7-second lead. A huge crash in turn two involved TwoTwo Motorsports’ Chad Reed, Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart and Team Honda/Muscle Milk’s Justin Barcia. Stewart and Reed were able to re-enter the race near the back of the pack, but Barcia was forced to withdraw.

“The points race is what we are going after, and winning the holeshot gives you a great advantage,” said Villopoto. “Hhats off to my team. It is a long season, and we are going to keep plugging away.”

JDR KTM’s Joey Savatgy opened the Western Regional 250SX Class Main Event with the Nuclear Cowboyz Holeshot Award, leading Roczen and Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil/Honda’s Cole Seely, of Newbury Park, CA, respectively, through turn one. On the opening lap, Seely passed Savatgy for the lead and Roczen followed suit, passing Savatgy for second place. Roczen stalked Seely until Lap 11 when he made his move. Seely finished second and Rockstar Energy Racing’s Jason Anderson finished third.

Last week’s points leader, GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac, crossed the finish line on the opening lap in eighth place after crashing and re-entering the race in 18th. On Lap 5, Tomac crashed again in the whoops section and was unable to finish. Tomac came into night’s race undefeated and had a nine-point lead in season point standings. Now, Roczen now has an 11-point lead over Seely, and Tomac sits third, 15 points out of the lead.

“I am so happy with this win tonight,” said Roczen. “There was a lot of bar banging on that opening lap, but I charged hard and got out front. I am excited to bring this momentum back to Angel Stadium next weekend.”AMA Supercross continues next Saturday night, February 2, at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA.

450SX Class Results: Oakland

1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki

2. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki

3. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM

4. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda

5. Mike Alessi, Hilliard, Fla., Suzuki

6. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda

7. Matt Goerke, Lake Helen, Fla., KTM

8. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki

9. Vince Friese, Cape Girardeau, Mo., Honda

10. Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C., Yamaha

450SX Class Points, Season

1. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki – 85

2. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda – 78

3. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki – 77

4. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM – 68

5. Chad Reed, Australia, Honda – 65

6. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda – 56

7. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki – 47

8. Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C., Yamaha – 42

9. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda – 41

10. Matt Goerke, Lake Helen, Fla., KTM – 39

Western Regional 250SX Class Results: Oakland

1. Ken Roczen, Germany, KTM

2. Cole Seely, Newbury Park, Calif., Honda

3. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki

4. Martin Davalos, Ecuador, Kawasaki

5. Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., KTM

6. Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, N.M., KTM

7. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha

8. Austin Politelli, Riverside, Calif., Honda

9. Christian Craig, Wildomar, Calif., Honda

10. Zach Osborne, Chesterfield, S.C., Honda

Western Regional 250SX Class Points, Season

1. Ken Roczen, Germany, KTM – 91

2. Cole Seely, Newbury Park, Calif., Honda – 80

3. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda – 76

4. Zach Osborne, Chesterfield, S.C., Honda – 58

5. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki – 52

6. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha – 49

7. Martin Davalos, Ecuador, Kawasaki – 48

8. Christian Craig, Wildomar, Calif., Honda – 47

9. Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., KTM – 45

10. Tyla Rattray, South Africa, Kawasaki – 45