Homeruns For Villopoto and Seely at Dodger Stadium
By Donn Maeda
Photos by Brendan Lutes and Jordan Powell
Round three of the Monster Energy Supercross Series paid its first-ever visit to Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium, and 41,107 fans showed up to witness the best Supercross class main event of the year thus far. Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto extended his series points lead with a come-from-behind win in a main event that saw multiple lead changes among the series’ front runners. San Manuel/Red Bull/Yamaha’s James Stewart came home second after a crash cost him the win, while defending series champ Ryan Dungey rounded out the podium.
In the Supercross Lites class, Lucas Oil/Troy Lee Designs/Honda rider Cole Seely earned the win with a start-to-finish romp, ahead of rookie Eli Tomac of the Geico Powersports Honda team, and Rockstar Suzuki’s veteran, Ryan Morais. Series points leader Josh Hansen stalled his Kawasaki on the first lap and fought his way back from 10th to fifth.
SUPERCROSS LITES
When the gate dropped at the start of the 15-lap Supercross Lites main event, Lucas Oil/Troy Lee Designs/Honda rider Cole Seely was the fastest off the line and led Heat One winner Josh Hansen, Ken Roczen and Eli Tomac on lap one. Hansen stalled his Kawasaki on the third base line on lap one and dropped to 19th, and would spend the rest of the race clawing his way to an eventual fifth.
Out front, Seely was never challenged aboard his CRF250R, as he rode a rock-solid race and was never challenged. At the checkers, the first-time winner enjoyed a three-second lead, over Geico Powersports/Honda’s Tomac, who defended the runner-up position successfully. Tomac first came under fire from the German youngster, Roczen, who tried repeatedly to find his way past his fellow Supercross rookie. Roczen got too aggressive in the finish line corner on the sixth lap and went down, leaving Tomac control of second in the early going. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Broc Tickle ran third for most of the race, but Rockstar Suzuki’s Ryan Morais put on a phenomenal last-lap charge that carried him past the Kawasaki rider and into third. Morais wasn’t satisfied, though, and proceeded to reel in Tomac and pressure him all the way across the finish line, narrowly missing out on one more position.
Seeley’s win was not only the first of his professional career, but also the first for the Lucas Oil/Troy Lee Designs/Honda team.
RESULTS
1. Cole Seely (Hon)
2. Eli Tomac (Hon)
3. Ryam Morais (Suz)
4. Broc Tickle (Kaw)
5. Josh Hansen (Kaw)
6. Ken Roczen (KTM)
7. Ryan Marmont (KTM)
8. Jim Decotis (Hon)
9. Nick Paluzzi (Yam)
10. Kyle Cunningham (Yam)
11. Martin Davalos (Suz)
12. Travis Baker (Hon)
13. Antonia Balbi (Kaw)
14. Tyla Rattray (Kaw)
15. Daniel Blair (Kaw)
16. Travis Bright (Hon)
17. Jake Canada (Kaw)
18. Casey Hinson (KTM)
19. Scott Champion (Kaw)
20. Cody Gilmore (Kaw)
WESTERN REGIONAL SUPERCROSS LITES SERIES POINT STANDINGS
1. Josh Hansen (66/2 wins)
2. Broc Tickle (62)
3. Cole Seely (59/1)
4. Ryan Morais (55)
5. Eli Tomac (49)
6. Tyla Rattray (42)
7. Marton Davalos (40)
8. Travis Baker (35)
9. Ken Roczen (31)
10. Nick Paluzzi (30)
TAGS: cole seely, dirt bike, dodger stadium, james stewart, los angeles supercross, Monster Energy Supercross, ryan villopoto, supercross, supercross 2011, SX
