Sipes Gets First Win, and Villopoto Extends His Lead
words: Michael Antonovich
photos: Chris Kinman
The Monster Energy Supercross Series found its way to Indianapolis this weekend to duke it out in front of a fan-filled Lucas Oil Stadium. The series has been nothing less than epic since the first gate drop at Anaheim in January, and tonight was no different. By the end of the night, we had a first-time winner in the Lites class, and an ever-growing gap in the Supercross class. DNA Shred Stix Yamaha’s Ryan Sipes rode a near perfect day on his way to the checkered flag, while Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto stayed consistent for twenty straight laps.
The points battle is heating up in either class, as Justin Barcia attempts to secure his first championship in the Lites class on his Geico Powersports Honda, while every chase a trim Ryan Villopoto.
SUPERCROSS LITES
Heat race winner Blake Baggett stole the holeshot on his Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki and set a wicked pace for the first part of the race. Just behind him, fellow heat race winner Sipes chiseled away at the lead, getting into Baggett’s concentration and forcing the youngster to change his lines. Baggett rode defensively around the bowl turns and kept the inside protected, but at the cost of forward speed. Just before the last third of the race began Baggett cased the finish line and ricocheted into the Tuff Blocks, handing the lead to Sipes. Geico Honda’s Justin Barcia had a prime viewing spot for the battle has he sat in third for nearly eleven laps. After overtaking second, he tore after Sipes in the final few circuits, dicing between lappers and attempting multiple last lap, last ditch effort passes. It was all for not, as the Kentuckian launched over the finish line and just ahead of Barcia and to his first ever Monster Energy Supercross win. Baggett remounted and held on to third place, while ARMA Suzuki City’s Malcolm Stewart and Matt Lemoine rounded out the top five.
Dean Wilson, Blake Wharton, and PJ Larsen all had more than their fair share of issues this weekend. Wilson suffered in the sand section that was the size of an end zone, Wharton found himself in the pushing his bike off after stalling on the final lap of his heat, and Larsen was involved in a second turn crash that left him in last place for the duration of his heat. The latter two came from the LCQ to take the final two spots on the gate and ride to remarkable top ten finishes.
| Results 1. Ryan Sipes 2. Justin Barcia 3. Blake Baggett 4. Malcolm Stewart 5. Matt Lemoine 6. Dean Wilson 7. Blake Wharton 8. PJ Larsen 9. Alex Martin 10. Les Smith 11. Gannon Audette 12. Bradley Ripple 13. Taylor Futrell 14. Ricky Renner 15. Michael Akaydln 16. Nico Izzi 17. Tyler Sjoberg 18. Jason Anderson 19. Shawn Rife 20. Hunter Hewitt |
Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Series Point Standings (After 4 of 8 rounds) 1. Justin Barcia, Honda – 91 2. Blake Baggett, Kawasaki – 85 3. Ryan Sipes, Yamaha – 79 4. Dean Wilson, Kawasaki – 75 5. Blake Wharton, Honda – 65 6. Malcolm Stewart., Suzuki – 62 7. Matt Lemoine, Kawasaki – 51 8. P.J. Larsen., KTM – 46 9. Jason Anderson., Suzuki – 44 10. Alex Martin, Honda – 40 |
TAGS: indianapolis, Monster energy, Race Report, supercross, supercross 2011, SX
