VILLOPOTO AND HANSEN TOP SEASON OPENER
By Donn Maeda
Photos by Brendan Lutes and Chris Kinman
Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Josh Hansen emerged the big winners at the spectacular Monster Energy Supercross Series opener, held at Angel Stadium in Anaheim. For RV, his win in the premier division was sweet, as he has spent the past several months recovering from a badly broken leg and stewing over the Supercross championship that slipped through his fingers in 2010. Villopoto led defending Supercross Champion Ryan Dungey and former champ James Stewart–who overcame a horrible start–across the finish line.
In the Western Regional Supecross Lites final, Hansen led a Pro Circuit sweep of the podium and showed why he is the reigning Australian Super X Champion with a commanding win over teammates Broc Tickle and Tyla Rattray. Tickle led the early laps, but was no match for hometown rider Hansen, who was clearly the fastest rider on the track.
SUPERCROSS LITES
The opening lap of the first Western Regional Supercross Lites main event of the year was a wild one. Heat race one winner Broc Tickle holeshot aboard his Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki, but a bobble in the first turn left the door open for first Lucas Oil/Troy Lee Designs/Honda rider Christian Craig, and then DNA Shred Stix/Yamaha’s Nick Paluzzi to also take turns in the point position. By the end of the hectic first lap, though, it was Tickle back up front with his teammate and heat race two winner, Josh Hansen, in tow. Tyla Rattray rounded out a Pro Circuit freight train at the front of the pack, while Ecuadorian Martin Davalos held control of fourth aboard his Rockstar Suzuki. KTM’s German youngster Ken Roczen was mired at the start but raced through the pack like a banshee; sadly, he made several mistakes that would drop him back in the pack.
In the early going, Tickle succeeded in pulling away from Hansen and at one point enjoyed a two-second lead over the Australian Super X Champion. Hansen, however, caught a second win at the halfway point and not only reeled Tickle in, but passed him just before the start of lap nine. Once out front, Hansen really poured it on and rode away uncontested. At the checkered flag, Lil Hanny enjoyed a three-second lead over Tickle, who in turn led Rattray by five seconds. Davalos held on for fourth ahead of a hard-charging Cole Seely. Ryan Morais was sixth, comfortably ahead of Roczen, Travis Baker, and Supercross rookies Nick Paluzzi and Eli Tomac, who rounded out the top 10.
RESULTS
1. Josh Hansen (Kaw)
2. Broc Tickle (Kaw)
3. Tyla Rattray (Kaw)
4. Martin Davalos (Suz)
5. Cole Seely (Hon)
6. Ryan Morais (Suz)
7. Ken Roczen (KTM)
8. Travis Baker (Hon)
9. Nick Paluzzi (Yam)
10. Eli Tomac (Hon)
11. Antonio Balbi (Kaw)
12. Ben Evans (Kaw)
13. Kyle Cunningham (Yam)
14. Ryan Marmont (KTM)
15. Cody Gilmore (Kaw)
16. Bruce Rutherford (Kaw)
17. Travis Bright (Hon)
18. Dakota Tedder (Kaw)
19. Christian Craig (Hon)
20. Topher Ingalis (Hon)
TAGS: anaheim 1, anaheim supercross, chad reed, dirt bikes, james stewart, kevin windham, ryan dungey, ryan villopoto, supercross
