It’s here! The 2011 Lucas Oil AMA Motocross Championship has officially begun, and the opener in Hangtown was outstanding! The racing in both classes was action packed from gate drop to checkered flag. Chad Reed, Ryan Dungey, and Ryan Villopoto proved they are the top dogs in the 450 class early on, and the Pro Circuit team did the same in the 250 class. KTM’s Mike Alessi missed his chance to battle for the podium due to a crash in the second 450 practice, sidelining him until High Point. He posted the fastest lap in the first practice, but the wreck left him concussed and unable to line up on the pole position.
450 CLASS
MOTO 1
Kevin Windham snagged up the first holeshot of the highly anticipated 2011 season aboard his borrowed factory American Honda CRF450R with Brett Metcalfe, Ryan Dungey, Chad Reed, and Ryan Villopoto chasing him down. Christophe Pourcel, aboard his new MotoConcepts-backed Yamaha, followed the top six guys setting himself into a decent position. Just a short time into the moto, Dungey took over Metty’s position, leaving Reed and Villopoto to battle shortly. Villopoto eventually pressured Reed into surrendering his spot, while Metty suffered a small crash giving up time to the racers in tow.
It wasn’t long before Dungey got the best of Windham, but the veteran did not give up easily. K-Dub fought for his lead and gave Dungey a good run. Reed started finding some creative lines, which gave him the opportunity to get back around Villopoto. Dungey, meanwhile, all but checked out en route to his first moto win of 2011.
1. Ryan Dungey (Suz)
2. Chad Reed (Hon)
3. Ryan Villopoto (Kaw)
4. Davi Millsaps (Yam)
5. Brett Metcalfe (Suz)
6. Kevin Windham (Hon)
7. Christophe Pourcel (Yam)
8. Tommy Hahn (Yam)
9. Andrew Short (KTM)
10. Michael Byrne (Suz)
MOTO 2
Ryan Villopoto won the holeshot of the second 450 moto with his Monster Kawasaki with Dungey and Reed close behind. Christophe Pourcel, on the other hand, yielded a dismal start and was left to his devices near the back of the pack. The veteran Kevin Windham got off to another good start and almost immediately settled into foruth comfortably. Villopoto’s teammate, Jake Weimer, chased after Windham, but his energy was more immediately directed toward fighting off the advances of Brett Metcalfe and Andrew Short. Short, however, eventually succumbed to bike failure, and was not a factor late in the race.
The real action was out front, as Reed, Dungey, and Villopoto jockeyed for position. As the laps clicked off, Reed and Dungey put a substantial distance between them and Villopoto, and the two continued to battle until the final laps. Dungey put in a last effort to pass Reed with just a few laps to go, but Reed held his ground and took the win to secure the overall.
1. Chad Reed (Hon)
2. Ryan Dungey (Suz)
3. Ryan Villopoto (Kaw)
4. Kevin Windham (Hon)
5. Brett Metcalfe (Suz)
6. Jake Weimer (Kaw)
7. Davi Millsaps (Yam)
8. Tommy Hahn (Yam)
9. Ricky Dietrich (Yam)
10. Christian Craig (Hon)
OVERALL
1. Chad Reed (2-1)
2. Ryan Dungey (1-2)
3. Ryan Villopoto (3-3)
4. Kevin Windham (6-4)
5. Brett Metcalfe (5-5)
6. Davi Millsaps (4-7)
7. Tommy Hahn (8-8)
8. Christophe Pourcel (7-11)
9. Ricky Dietrich (11-9)
10. Christian Craig (14-10)
TAGS: blake baggett, chad reed, hangtown 2011, motocross championship, Race Report, racing
