Racer X Race Report: Seattle
Sunday, April 17, 2011 | 12:00 PM
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PrintThe plot thickens and the points tighten in Monster Energy Supercross, and after Saturday night’s race in Seattle, the title contenders are not only under even more pressure, but they have more time to think about it. There are only nine points separating the top four in the series, and the tour now heads into its only off-weekend of the season. That time is supposed to build some relaxation into a grueling schedule, but it will be tough for anyone staring at a two-race championship run to relax.
Unless you’re San Manuel Red Bull Yamaha’s James Stewart, who won for the second straight weekend but still sits fourth in points, nine markers down. “I think we're going to go to the Bahamas and have some fun with my family for Easter,” explained James after the race.
His ride for the win in Seattle’s Qwest field was comparatively relaxing, as well, as even on a rough, rugged, rutted track, Stewart made few mistakes en route to his fifth win of the year. Suddenly, Stewart’s two-month drama of crashes and bad decisions seems like a distant memory. Instead, his competitors are now dealing with rough patches as they fight for each point, and Stewart closes up on them.
It's all starting to roll for James Stewart.
Garth Milan photo
For the second-straight weekend, Dodge Motorsports Hart and Huntington’s Ivan Tedesco nailed the Nuclear Cowboyz holeshot. Stewart’s long-time rival, TwoTwo Motorsports’ Chad Reed, then snuck in to battle Stewart for the lead on lap one. The duo passed each other back and forth before Stewart secured the top spot and immediately started to check out. Meanwhile the other two title contenders, series’ leader Ryan Villopoto and Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, were way back. Dungey crashed on lap one, and Villopoto got a terrible start and got hung up on a tuff block in the first turn.
The last rider with a mathematical shot at the title, American Honda Racing’s Trey Canard, missed the race after breaking his leg a few days ago while practicing, but a new contender for race wins and podiums emerged, and it was also an old one: Kevin Windham. The 33-year-old GEICO Powersports Honda rider got in the groove on a track he won on last year, taking the fastest time in qualifying and winning his heat race. In the main event, he was up to third quickly behind Reed and Stewart, and the Seattle fans started pushing hard for the veteran. Then a surprise emerged in Mike Alessi, who logged fast laps early, made a pass on Windham and briefly challenged Reed for second. Alessi soon started making mistakes, though, and Windham took the third spot back.
Kevin Windham thrived on the rutted track and stayed in podium contention all night.
Garth Milan photo
The top three then strung out. Stewart had built a good distance on Reed, and Reed found his stride about four laps in and pulled away from Windham. From there, attention shifted to Dungey and Villopoto coming through the pack. They found themselves in fourth and fifth, and the order seemed set with just a few laps to go.
But this 2011 season won’t quit that easy when it comes to creating drama and excitement. With two laps remaining, Reed came up short on an on-off tabletop and crashed hard, handing second over to Windham. He got up just in front of Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Villopoto, and the race for the final podium spot—and two significant championship points—was on. The fans cheered home state rider Villopoto hard, and he jumped to the inside of Reed to try to make something happen. They collided, but Reed hung tough and maintained the spot. Villopoto tried one more run through the whoops—which were extremely rutted—and hooked a line wrong and went down. Reed survived for third, Villopoto got back up for fourth, and Dungey took fifth.
Reed held second but went down late, handing the spot to Windham.
After coming through the pack, Villopoto caught Reed after the crash and battled hard on the last lap. Reed held on.
Garth Milan photos
Alessi and Stewart’s teammate Kyle Regal were sixth and seventh. Muscle Milk Toyota’s Davi Millsaps was involved in a harsh first-turn crash with Red Bull KTM’s Andrew Short and Valli Motorsports Yamaha’s Austin Stroupe (the crash also caused Villopoto to get hung up), but he came all the way through the pack for eighth, with Motoconcepts Yamaha’s Tommy Hahn in ninth and Short digging his way through the pack for tenth.
Dungey was even further back on the first lap but came back to fifth, Alessi (800) logged his best race of the year and took sixth.
Garth Milan photo
The West Region Lites Championship was back on after a break of over two months, and all three of the championship contenders were nursing injuries—Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Josh Hansen (broken hand) and Broc Tickle (broken collarbone) and GEICO Powersports Honda’s Eli Tomac (concussion). All three looked fit and ready for Seattle, until Hansen crashed hard in the whoops in practice and landed on the surgically repaired hand, again. It was going to be difficult for Hansen to even ride.
Seely (36) and his teammate Travis Baker ganged up on the start, and Seely never lifted on his way to the win.
Garth Milan photo
When the gate dropped a spoiler emerged in Lucas Oil Troy Lee Honda’s Cole Seely, who snagged the holeshot and pulled away, just like he did when he won the race in Los Angeles. Behind him Tickle and Hansen found themselves second and third, but Hansen could not maintain the pace in pain. A deep pack emerged to challenge him, including his teammate Tyla Rattray, DNA Shred Stix Star Yamaha’s Kyle Cunningham, Rockstar Suzuki teammates Martin Davalos and Ryan Morias, and Tomac reeling him in. Cunningham briefly passed Hansen for third before going down and falling to the back of that train. Tomac found his rhythm a few laps in and really started to make time, passing Hansen and then quickly closing on Tickle. Tickle was suffering from arm pump and couldn’t hold Tomac back, and the rookie from Colorado took over second, pushing Tickle to third. But no one could catch Seely, who was long gone out front.
Tomac found his speed after a few laps and plowed his way to second.
Tickle snagged the points lead with a third.
Garth Milan photos
Hansen fought gamely, but dropped to seventh. On the last lap, however, he dug extra deep and managed to pass Morias back to get into sixth. Tickle takes over the points lead, but Hansen in just two points back, with Tomac only seven points behind Hansen.
The series has a weekend off—vacation time for Stewart—before resuming for a two-race stretch run in Salt Lake City and Las Vegas.
The SX Class podium.
Garth Milan photo
Results: Seattle Supercross
SX Class
1. J. Stewart
2. K. Windham
3. C. Reed
4. R. Villopoto
5. R. Dungey
6. M. Alessi
7. K. Regal
8. D. Millsaps
9. T. Hahn
10. A. Short
11. M. Byrne
12. N. Wey
13. F. Izoird
14. I. Tedesco
15. J. Thomas
16. V. Friese
17. T. Bowers
18. C. Siebler
19. C. Blose
20. A. Stroupe
Lites Class
1. C. Seely
2. E. Tomac
3. B. Tickle
4. K. Cunningham
5. T. Rattray
6. J. Hansen
7. R. Morais
8. M. Davalos
9. T. Baker
10. G. Steinke
11. B. Evans
12. T. Ingalls
13. N. Paluzzi
14. T. Weeck
15. P. Mull
16. T. Bright
17. D. Vawser
18. P. Eckman
19. B. Nauditt
20. T. Tapia
2. E. Tomac
3. B. Tickle
4. K. Cunningham
5. T. Rattray
6. J. Hansen
7. R. Morais
8. M. Davalos
9. T. Baker
10. G. Steinke
11. B. Evans
12. T. Ingalls
13. N. Paluzzi
14. T. Weeck
15. P. Mull
16. T. Bright
17. D. Vawser
18. P. Eckman
19. B. Nauditt
20. T. Tapia
Lites podium.
Garth Milan photo
Supercross Class Season Standings
1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki – 293
2. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Honda – 287
3. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki – 286
4. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha – 284
5. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda – 255
6. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM – 196
7. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda – 187
8. Davi Millsaps, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha – 156
9. Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C, Yamaha – 141
10. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki – 134
Western Regional Supercross Lites Class Season Standings
1. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki – 145
2. Josh Hansen, Elbert, Colo., Kawasaki – 143
3. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda – 138
4. Cole Seely, Corona, Calif., Honda – 113
5. Ryan Morais, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki – 110
6. Tyla Rattray, Wildomar, Calif., Kawasaki – 96
7. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha – 89
8. Ken Roczen, Germany, KTM – 83
9. Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., Suzuki – 82
10. Jimmy Decotis, Peabody, Mass., Honda – 67
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This is getting even Better!!!!! Reed you are a stud!!
HOLESHOT!!!!!!!!!!!!
damn...
The track was TERRIBLE and prevented any sort of close racing. It was a survival track and that was a real bummer after week after week of great racing.
Feld- please bring in some clay. You can't hit 75' triples and massive whoops with 2' deep ruts everywhere.
If RV can get better starts, and could have staved off a few mistakes, he could have added to his points lead. What a season though.
BD200...
that is a big IF, and how do you add to your points lead when you don't win? someone is always gaining?
you mean over REED? i don't think reed is who he should be worried about
There were 2 men tonight that stood out from the rest! great rides for #7 and #14! A super tough track no doubt but thats what seperates the Men from the Boys. These next two races should be awesome!!! all the way to Vegas Baby, may the best Man win.
rg807...you mean YOU can't hit 75' triples and massive whoops with 2' deep ruts...stewie didn't seem to be having a problem
james is the man all the stuff hes been threw he never gives up i think reeds hurting hes not as tough as james
Awesome race, the track looked real crappy, but they all race the same track.
The points just keep getting better.
To all of you commenting here, stop the " what if" it is what it is, great results for the points and thats great for us. At least we didn't have to listen to Dungey and his stupid "The man above" interview.
I think the East coast riders are going to kick the west riders ass in Vegas
RV work on your starts !! lose that FMF pipe too,you had more success with PC last year getting great starts !!
You know they were hanging onto their pegs by their toenails to keep those ruts from ripping their feet off the pegs!
There ought to be some kind of "swivel-up" peg/shifter design where you can move the pegs, shifter and rear brake up at will to deal with deep ruts like that.
No Comedian, you missed the point. I never said I could do them, what I was saying is that when the track is that rutted and soft there aren't a lot of good battles. The proof is that the sum total of battles from both finals what the 18th lap for Villopoto and Reed. That's basically it. Boring.
Good ride by Stewart. Good ride by Windham. Good ride by Reed until he crashed but he still finished strong. Pumped to see Mike Alessi up there battling for a little bit and getting good starts. Maybe this is a sign of things to come for the Nationals for Mike Alessi? I got scared when Villopoto bumped Reed, I thought he took him out at first!
What happened to Stewart on the last lap? He had about 14 seconds over Windham and it dropped to 2 seconds at the checkered flag and still didn't beat Reed by much either. Did he screw up or just go that slow on the last lap?
I'm still hoping that Chad Reed wins the 450 championship and that Eli Tomac wins the 250 West championship. I'm not a fan of Justin Barcia but how cool would it be if Honda swept the whole Supercross season!?
Cant believe people complain about the track. That was a mans track. Seattle on a dry day is more on an outdoor track then Daytona.
Yes there are, (gasp) ruts. No cookie cutter track here. Better be on your game.
For those that dont know in a few weeks, after Vegas they will start what is called an "outdoor" series. At those races there will be (double gasp) ruts also. They also race in the rain. Wow it is cool and some of you should look into it.All racing isnt done in a domed stadium with clay dirt.
Really.
Good one Ralf LOL!
So which one of you Reed haters out there are going to claim they could have got up and kept going. That is why he's a two time champion, he's as tough as they come.
Actually that is not why he is a two time champ. That is more about the fact that the faster racers where not in the series when he one them.
However! I do agree that Reed is one of the tough guys and he does gut it out
Ya so Reed got up & finished, so what, thats what u do when you race dirtbikes, unless u r physically unable to, I've see lots of guys crash harder than that & get back on their bike, he did what he had to do, no more. It was a tough track for everybody, Reed just showed us what happens when u make mistakes. This track really did separate the men from the boys, hope the next track is better so we can see some all out clean racing!
Four riders within 9 points. Crazy, man. And RV, for gawd's sake, go practice some starts!
I told you so! I have been telling the readers for weeks that when Stewie is on his game, there is only one question. Who is going to finish second? And I pointed out a long time ago that Villo appeared to be psyched out by Stewie. As far as Reedy and Dungey, I said it before, they are not fast enough for Stewie.
Beef, you sound pretty insecure, unsure of yourself.
If it helps we could jump in and give you some kudos. I'll start.
"Beef, man you really seem to have your finger on this sport and it's athletes. You are so good you could probably be an odds setting in vegas. - Good work!"
I have a feeling Stewart might win out with Reed finishing in 2nd and Stewart wins the Title by 1 point. I commend Stewart for getting through the recent bump in his life and showing us what he can really do on a bike.
That was a very hard crash by Reed. Looks like Reed and Stewart are the two who want this Title the most. What a season!
All it takes is Villopoto another 4th place and Stewart to win last two..
Then its Bubbas Title..
DC your right. RV2 needs to practice his starts. He has been last to the first turn for the last 3 weeks. Listen to the people that got you there (PRACTICE YOUR STARTS!)
@dc.....Yup, you figured it out, it's all the pipe's fault. Seriously?
Good track layout With long strait aways..without a bunch of little switchbacks..
#800 does 4 good laps all yr. so now he s a contender for the nationals title??
dont bet on it..
If that punk Stewart win the title, Ill f**king puke. Same with that turd Hansen. He needs to just stay doing the X Games, and maybe some mimi-moto stuff. And is there really ANYONE on here that is an Alessi fan? Why waste a pic on him? Stewart is such an idiot. His choices on the track are stupid, and his team is junky. Yup, Im a stewie hater....
Wow, how to follow such a stellar posting by "FYou"?
I'm bummed about DeCotis breaking that arm.......guess this makes Durham a clearer choice for the spare GEICO bike?
I suspected 'Lil Hanny was going to have problems come crunch time and the practice accident kind of wrapped it........he seemed to acquiese the title in his pot-crash speeches, that's what I heard in his voice anyway. Still give props to the guy though, quite a turnaround (for a guy that looks like a hessian).
Carlsbad......... pot-crash speeches ? Ha Ha Ha !
Dirt
Carlsbad - a very skinny Hessian. There is no rule which says you can only post warm and fuzzy thoughts. Quite frankly, I think motocross/supercross fans are pretty tame compared with the hostile fans in football, baseball, European soccer, etc. Look at what happened to that poor guy in LA at Dodger stadium. Ever been to a Viking/Packer game? How about Red Sox/Yankees?
FYou - I gather you weren't cheering for #7 last night? I might not agree with what you say but I commend you on your passion.
RV only needs two 2nd places to win. Everyone else needs two wins and some bad luck from RV to take home the 'series. The only one honestly capable of taking home both those wins is JS But, that may not necessarily lead to a title. Will RV crumble or shake and bake the field? time will tell. Will JS win it or crash out trying and take someone with him? Both entirely possible. Will CR or RD shine and throw this series chase into more uncertainty? Couldbe mightbe (Say it quickly). Whichever way it goes, it's going to be real exciting right up until the chequers at Las Vegas. And that's the way a great season should be.
I like villopoto but he's definitely riding to protect the championship and not win races. I feel like he could've passed reed but he backed down when it got sketchy. Great ride by stewart.
FYou: wow, that was a really deep and thought provoking post you came up with there. I'm am a much better person now that you shared your amazing insight with me.
Thanks!
Hey, Open Class, the way you spoke about Reed and his SX titles, I take it you're a Stewart fan. So, keep in mind that the only reason he has ANY 450 Outdoor titles is because the BEST retired on top of his game.
Remember '06 Broome Tioga. . . RC with big lead, busts, gets up, tracks down little Bubba, toys with him for a minute, then smokes him again. And that's just one race. . . Oh, and not to mention '07 where RC made fools of everyone in all six of his races, then walked away. Go Stewart!!
reed is a two time champion with all the top guys out both supercross and one outdoor
The ruts and soft dirt are part of racing. It was a great race.
2 second places finished by RV is not a sure thing latelyand I picked him top step this year. . His and RD charge though traffic to 4th and 5th shows the speed but............. Did anyone notice Stewart was the only guy in the 52s and he busted 5 of them out laps 1-5 ?
Jim
When everyone looked bad on that track at one time or another if we all can agree Windhams technical skills carried himto second place...................... then like him or not we all gotta give it up to 7 !
Dirt
Ooops.........POST-crash speeches. My bad, nothing inferred there..........
Yeah JohnR290, I get it. I've certainly cast my share of stones but, it gets old reading "F this, F that, you suck, he sucks, blah, blah". Sounds like somebody needs a hug or therapy or something.............
Bad fans and hooliganism are parts of mainstream sports and I suppose MX is becoming that, more and more. I just get tired of wasting my time reading mindless nonsense posts that makes me feel dumber having read it. Never gonna get that 30 seconds back and no more enlightened than I was before reading it = FAIL.
If all the races in the series were tough like seatles track, then i think Kevin Windham would be the point leader. More tracks should be tough and crazy like last night... And make it a longer race!!! Please. Look how long the races are for the outdoors!!! Totaling close to or more than 70 minutes worth of racing!!! In SUPERCROSS we get about 16 MINutes!!!!!!
The consensus around my campfire was #14 & #7 were going to pin it to win it because they had the least to lose and #2 & #22 would chase points on conservative mode.....kinda looked like it played out that way.
Those ruts were Gnarly!!! Lots of racers (not all though) were very lucky to make it of Seattle un-injured.
Mike Alessi made it out with a sixth, credit his Holeshot-ability and rut riding proficency, suck on that, Alessi haters (warm & fuzzy enough JohnR290?).
Piobpvk.. Exactly my thoughts!! RV is in a great position to wrap up this title. He had a bad start.. But worked his way up to the front... Nearly beat Reed... The guy just has to finish on the box.. And if he nails a good start.. That's it.. Title is his.
Nevertheless.. The championship is one of the best I have seen in years!
RV is still the man to win it...
I hope Stewart does outdoors...
@bd200 & halfe316, RV DID add to his points lead!! It was 5 now it's 7. I hate to say it but JS is goig to win this thing. IF JS wins the last 2 RV needs a 2nd and 3rd to win it but with his starts I don't know. Still pulling for RV but he better get some starts soon!!
great race. it's js' series to lose now. he's got momentum and that is bad for the rest of the field.
2 QUESTIONS....
1) Are JS7 & CR22 going to be missed when they retire or what?!! (And that will come soon enough, so soak it up SX & MX fans)
2) Does "Open Class" really see that his pretending to be a centred faith healer actually reveals his own ignorant shortcomings. Can anyone say "Over Compensation".... Oh, and champ, won is spelled w... o...n.... - not "one". Poor thing must have missed out on a decent education.
downtownmx.. When CR22 & JS7 retire.. They will not be missed.. enough talents waiting to step up.
You have the actual pool of champs, who can still be around for the coming 5 -7 yrs.. Such as RV2, RD1 & TC41... And then there are the young ones, such as JB17, CS36 & DW15 to name a few... Roczen will come over to the US once he has won the MX2 GP series...
Riders come and go... Nature of the sport and what makes it so great as well!
Reed didn't win his championships because the best weren't in the races...he won because he was the best of the bunch racing. Just because you turn the fastest lap time here or there does not mean you are the fastest in the world or even the US...it just means that you had a good lap! A good lap doesn't win championships. 20 good laps whether a win or not is what gets points and points win championships. Reed will win this!
Was never a Reed fan in the past. But that guy is tough. To get up and hold of RV... that is massive.
OK my 2 bits a day late ? Afrter Reeds crash someone should have put out on the pit board to Kevin "Let Chat Back By" LOL I think you old timer get the joke? Anyhooooo Go James, go Chad Go RV and Dungy, in no particular ordr noe I sound like Santa Clause ?????? Oh I should have also said go Kevin cause you neeed to be in the mix!
jim adams............agreed. Reed won those championships because he was the best rider in those given series. It's not his problem other riders failed to stay healthy or show up, because guess what, he did! You don't accidentally win a championship over 17 rounds in a sport as unpredictable at this. Championships aren't gifts, same goes with the current SX season. Whoever gets this title earned it tenfold this year, no excuses.
Track was tough,.....JS was tough out front,.....Reed is a tough son of a gun after that digger....
Wow...you just gotta respect all these guys...incredible season!
Reed is a BEAST for crashing like he did and then getting back up to hold onto 3rd place! UNREAL!
I think the kids are getting tired...
Js7 and cr22 are putting it out front like they need to do. RV and RD seem to be 'off' a little bit...
I expected more speed out of RV at this point, he was right on Stew at the start of the year, maybe the yamaha is getting better or maybe it is just crunch time and the old guys are getting it done...
either way as long as one of the old dudes pulls this off, it will be cool...
Welker,
Windham is the man!...soooo smooth in bad conditions...I am a fan forever.
"let Chad bye"....yes I was there, I saw that pitboard live...great call! LOL
Tracks like this is what seperates the men from the boys? Werent we just crying about these tracks creating 1-2 man shows...??....??... They said they are making the tracks tame in the beginning and then ramping them up. The first half of this year how has the racing been? Now that they have been making the tracks death rides how has the racing been? In the beginning of the season the racing was tight and crazy... now its gettting stagnate. Now before you guys pipe up and say no anything can happen. Yeah you mean the track can kill someone versus 4 dudes slugging it out for 15 laps? You shouldnt have to rely on someone crashing and possibly getting hurt to make the season exciting...
halfe316 - I tend to agree. RV might be feeling the effects of the full season and maintaining the intensity for that long. This ain't no Lites class.
Be awesome if it came down to the last lap in Vegas between the old dogs!!!