Race Report: Houston SX 2012

SUPERCROSS QUALIFYING

HEAT 1
When the pack rounded the first turn for the start of the opening Supercross heat race, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto took the holeshot with Muscle Milk Honda’s Justin Brayton, MotoConcept’s Jeff Alessi, and Monster/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Broc Tickle following.
As the laps continued, Villopoto began to open up a sizeable lead over Brayton with Tickle putting pressure on Izzi for third. Behind them, Hart & Huntington/Dodge/Kawasaki’s Josh Hansen had moved into fifth ahead of Alessi. On the fifth lap, Tickle made a pass on Izzi to take over third. One lap later, JWR/Kawasaki’s Kyle Chisholm took over fifth from Hansen, and after that the running order remained the same until the end. Villopoto took a commanding win with Brayton second, Tickle third, Izzi fourth, and Chisholm fifth.

1. Ryan Villopoto (Kaw)
2. Justin Brayton (Hon)
3. Broc Tickle (Kaw)
4. Nico Izzi (Yam)
5. Kyle Chisholm (Kaw)
6. Josh Hansen (Kaw)
7. Jeff Alessi (Suz)
8. Bobby Kiniry (Yam)
9. Josh Grant (Kaw)

HEAT 2
JGR/Toyota/Yamaha’s James Stewart took the holeshot followed by Geico Honda’s Kevin Windham and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer. Two laps in, though, and the battle between Windham and Stewart heated up, as Windham made a pass around Stewart, from there, the two riders began swapping positions numerous times before Stewart made a textbook block pass on Windham to take over and soon after pulled out to a slight lead. At the same time, Weimer settled into third.
On the final lap, Windham was attempting to make a run at Stewart for the lead, but went down hard after coming up short on the triple before the finish. Stewart went on to take the win followed by Weimer, Davi Millsaps, Yoshimura Suzuki’s Brett Metcalfe, and BTO Sports/Suzuki’s Matt Goerke. Windham remained on the track after the checkered flag flew with the Asterisk medic crew attending to him. He got up on his own, but was carted off on the mule for further evaluation.

1. James Stewart (Yam)
2. Jake Weimer (Kaw)
3. Davi Millsaps (Yam)
4. Brett Metcalfe (Suz)
5. Matt Goerke (Suz)
6. Weston Peick (Yam)
7. Kyle Regal (Kaw)
8. Daniel Blair (Suz)
9. P. Mull (Hon)

LCQ
MotoConcepts’ Mike Alessi jumped out to take the holeshot ahead of privateer Gavin Faith, and from there, opened up a sizeable lead, and checked out. Behind him, Faith held down third with Muscle Milk Honda’s Wil Hahn close behind in third. Right before the final lap, Hahn made a pass on Faith to take over the final transfer position.

1. Mike Alessi (Suz)
2. Wil Hahn (Hon)

SUPERCROSS MAIN EVENT
The holeshot of the final race of the night went to Millsaps followed by Villopoto. Quickly after the first turn, though, Villopoto took over the lead from Millsaps while Mike Alessi held down third. One lap later, Weimer made his way around Alessi for third while Brayton held down fifth just behind Alessi. Back further in the pack, Stewart was doing his best to work his way into a podium position and by lap sixth had worked his way into 10th.
On the seventh lap, Stewart went down hard in the difficult back rhythm section, effectively handing the championship over to Villopoto who was way out front. To clinch the title, RV needed to win if Stewart finished on the podium. Meanwhile, Millsaps held down a comfortable second while Weimer was third with Alessi fourth and Brayton fifth.
With five laps remaining, things calmed down as the top five pounded out the remaining laps. When the checkered flag flew, Villopoto took the win and championship ahead of Millsaps, Weimer, Alessi, and Brayton.

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