Supercross Main
All the hype of this season has been a bit let down, and it is very evident to the serious race fans. With James Stewart running off with all but Anaheim 1, he overcame the point deficit and then some, winning seven of the last eight rounds. But this wasn’t going to break Chad Reed’s confidence, as the Aussie as been working on all the little faults that have added up over the season, most importantly his starts. But no advertising, fireworks, or free giveaways would fill the stands of the stadiums across the country like the racing on the track this weekend. With every pass, mistake, and jump, the fans were in a frenzy that could have turned the Lucas Oil Stadium in a pile of scrap like it’s predecessor. Chad Reed got the start he desperately needed and had his teammate Mike Alessi in tow. But just behind the two Suzukis was the San Manuel/Yamaha rider of Stewart who would have done anything to make his move, and his determination cost him in the end. At the dragon back on lap two Stewart closed in on the 800 and made the pass in the left hand hairpin that followed. Alessi didn’t give up that easily, and the two had a battle in the tight switchbacks before the finish. In the section Stewart made his move, Josh Hill found himself inspecting the Indy soil again and was a lapper sooner than anyone imagined. Centreville, Mississippi resident and birthday celebrator Kevin Windham also found his way around Alessi on the second lap, while Reed had his hands full with Stewart. The pressure would ease off for Reed on the third lap when Stewart washed out in the flat left turn following the floater first turn jump. It was then Stewart showed his speed, remounting and battling once again with Alessi in the turn before the finish on the same lap has his fall. James Stewart then locked on to K-Dub’s Shoei, but was pushed wide by the CRF and forced to make his move in the same spot as his first lap pass on Alessi. He set off after Reed, but was running on edge and pulled a Tuff Block in the sand section’s main line. At the sixth lap, Reed was up seven second and was nine tenths of a second faster than the 7 bike. Stewart would falter again in the whoops, and he seemed he would end up like the various riders hitting the deck like Josh Grant and Broc Hepler, whose fall had his YZ450F pinning him underneath for a few nervous seconds. Towards the middle of the pack, it was Nick Wey and Ryan Villopoto running in thirteenth and fourteenth respectively. It was an uncommon spot for the Kawi rider, who was having trouble all day to get the track dialed; he would pass Wey on lap eleven for 13th. Andrew Short was then seen off his bike, which had a rock lodged in the braking system, doing on track repairs. By lap twelve, Reed was being caught by Stewart, but used the lappers to his advantage, as Ben Coisy blocked Stewart for a split second. Two laps later, Stewart was pushing on Chad’s Suzuki and then again made his pass near the dragon back. The chicane helped Reed get a tire in on Stewart, and his pressure forced James to a fall in the same section laps later. The duo will lapped Villopoto in the next lap, but the number seven bike seems too far back to make a move at the end of the race. But it is a known fact to never doubt what James can do, and he began reeling in Chad with less than four laps remaining, and this brought the stadium to its feet. The crowd wouldn’t sit down until after the final victory fireball was ignited, and they cheered for Chad Reed as he kept his consistency to earn his first main event of the season. The epic fight for the top spot wasn’t the only battle on the track, and the fight for fourth between Josh Grant and Ivan Tedesco held it’s own share of attention. Grant would get past Tedesco and finish just behind Mike Alessi as Mike grabbed first ever Supercross class podium.
Photos by Bayo Olukotun
The racing was all that was expected and more, and this will carry on for the remainder of the season. The next stop is the historic Daytona Supercross as the Monster Energy/AMA/FIM Supercross series takes over the epicenter of speed. The long layout, outdoor venue, and power draining sand will be the opposite of the Indianapolis Supercross, and hopefully just as eventful.
1. Chad Reed
2. James Stewart
3. Mike Alessi
4. Josh Grant
5. Ivan Tedesco
6. Ben Coisy
7. Davi Millsaps
8. Michael Byrne
9. Ryan Villopoto
10. Tim Ferry
11. Andrew Short
12. Matt Boni
13. Heath Voss
14. Ryan Sipes
15. Josh Hill
16. Nick Wey
17. Bobby Kiniry
18. Tyler Bowers
19. Broc Hepler
20. Kevin Windham
TAGS: Austin Stroupe, chad reed, Christophe Pourcel, indianapolis, indy, james stewart, Mike Alessi, Nico Izzi, Race Report, ryan villopoto, supercross
