We were up in the Great White North this week as the Monster Energy AMA Supercross series traveled all the way from Daytona, Florida to Toronto, Ontario, Canada for round ten of the seventeen race series. At this point, it’s boiled down to the two Ryan’s battling it out for the title. Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto has more wins on the season but Makita/Rockstar Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey had the points lead.
There was also the question of whether or not Monster Energy Pro Circuit’s Christophe Pourcel could continue his winning ways in the 250 East Coast Lites series. So far, the Frenchman had been a perfect three for three. Would a new country produce a new winner?
Lites Class
Heat One
Monster Energy Pro Circuit’s Dean Wilson grabbed the holeshot which pleased the partisan crowd. Wilson, born in Scotland but raised in Canada, used his press day practice to good use and led Rockstar/Suzuki’s Blake Bagget around for two laps until Bagget went down in the sand section. From there DNA Energy/Star Racing Yamaha’s Martin Davalos chased after the #108 Kawasaki but it was to no avail. Wilson led every lap of the heat in taking the victory. Davalos was second, new Valli Yamaha rider Kyle Cunningham was third, MotoConcepts/Yamaha’s Ryan Sipes was fourth and DNA Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha’s Nico Izzi was fifth in what was pretty much a follow the leader race.
Heat Two
Geico Powersports/Honda’s Justin Barcia grabbed the start in heat two of the 250’s with Rockstar/Makita/ Suzuki’s Austin Stroupe in tow. Stroupe was quickly passed by Pourcel who then charged up the inside of the whoops on leader Barcia. Pourcel’s suddenness must have surprised the youngster who then was pushed over the berm by Pourcel. From there it seemed that Christophe would go on to the win but a trip over the bars the very next lap would send him to the back. With that, Stroupe inherited the lead and he would not give it up for the rest of the way. Barcia would close here and there but the number 45 Suzuki took the win in heat two. Pourcel would work his way up to fifth by the end.
Main Event
With three-race winner Christophe Pourcel having the ninth gate pick and forced a little inside, it was a guessing game as to who would get the Spike TV holeshot award. When the 30 second board went sideways and the gate dropped, it was Geico Powersports/Honda’s Justin Barcia with the lead. Right away the four contenders (Barcia, Stroupe, Wilson and Pourcel) were all bunched together on the opening lap. It was a furious charge by Barcia that allowed him to pull away from the lead group. Pourcel put a slick pass on his teammate Wilson and charged towards the front. Meanwhile, Barcia picked up a banner in his footpeg and for a couple of laps, the banner dangled dangerously around his rear sprocket/disc area before it fell off.
Pourcel was inching up on the top two riders when he too got a banner caught. Christophe chose to stop and remove it from the danger area which was smart but yet cost him valuable seconds that he was not able to make up. In the back, Matt Lemoine went down while in eighth and was forced to DNF. Ryan Sipes and Wilson went back and forth a few times before Wilson eventually grabbed the fourth spot.
After a few close calls with lappers, it was Justin Barcia coming away with the win and his first ever career Supercross win. Barcia used his raw speed plus a few creative lines out there to come away with the victory. Austin Stroupe continued his strong season with a second place and his season tally is now 2-2-2-2. Pourcel settled for third and is still in the points lead. It was a good night of racing in the 250 class and set things up for a great 450 main event.
Results
1) Justin Barcia
2) Austin Stroupe
3) Christophe Pourcel
4) Dean Wilson
5) Ryan Sipes
6) Brett Metcalfe
7) Kyle Cunningham
8) Troy Adams
9) Michael Willard
10) Nico Izzi
11) Vince Friese
12) Adam Chatfield
13) Taylor Futrell
14) Levi Kilbarger
15) Martin Davalos
16) James Decotis
17) Steven Clarke
18) Jake Moss
19) Blake Baggett
20) Matt Lemoine
TAGS: Austin Stroupe, canada, Christophe Pourcel, davi millsaps, Dungey, indoors, Justin Barcia, Race Report, racing, ryan, supercross, toronto, trey canard, villopoto
