Race Report: Seattle SX 2012

SUPERCROSS HEAT 1
At the start of the first nine lap 450 heat race, Ken Roczen led Ryan Villopoto into the first corner aboard his Red Bull KTM 350SX-F. Roczen looked strong on that first lap, but the 2012 SX champion moved his way into the lead soon after. Right behind the young German rider was Muscle Milk Honda’s Justin Brayton, Andrew Short, and Brett Metcalfe. Jeff Alessi held the number six spot, while Josh Grant and Broc Tickle fought to advance in their positions. Tickle ended up making the pass on both riders, and that move allowed Grant to pass Alessi, too. Soon after, the MCR rider hit the ground hard and was carted away by the Asterisk Medical crew. Villopoto continued to open up his gap on Roczen, and he eventually took an easy win.

Results:
1. Ryan Villopoto (Kaw)
2. Ken Roczen (KTM)
3. Justin Brayton (Hon)
4. Andrew Short (Hon)
5. Brett Metcalfe (Suz)
6. Broc Tickle (Kaw)
7. Josh Grant (Kaw)
8. Tyler Bowers (Kaw)
9. Chris Blose (Kaw)

SUPERCROSS HEAT TWO
Jake Weimer grabbed the holeshot on his Monster Energy Kawasaki, but Ryan Dungey quickly moved into the lead soon after. Dungey, who had been out of the 450 class for a couple of months due to a broken collarbone, came out swinging and slowly started to pull away from Weimer. Right behind them were Izzi, Millsaps, Kiniry, and Regal. Millsaps would make the pass on Izzi after four laps and move into third. By that time, Dungey and Weimer were far gone for him to catch up to the front. Right before the finish line jump, Izzi stalled his bike, and he fell way back by the time he got it running. When the race came to a close, Dungey took the heat race win with Weimer and Millsaps in tow.

Results:
1. Ryan Dungey (KTM)
2. Jake Weimer (Kaw)
3. Davi Millsaps (Yam)
4. Kyle Chisholm (Kaw)
5. Mike Alessi (Suz)
6. Kyle Regal (Kaw)
7. Bob Kiniry (Yam)
8. Matt Goerke (Suz)
9. Justin Sipes (Kaw)

LCQ
Nick Paluzzi and Weston Peick had a drag race down the start straight at the beginning of the DC Refuse to Lose 450 LCQ. Paluzzi would drop back to third, though, as he drifted wide in the first corner. This allowed Nick Wey to move into second. By the end of the race, Peick and Wey would transfer into the main.

Results:
1. Weston Peick (Yam)
2. Nick Wey (Kaw)

SUPERCROSS MAIN EVENT

Andrew Short edged Ryan Dungey for the holeshot in the 20 lap main event and never looked back enroute to the first main event win of his lengthy career. Short and close friend Ken Roczen battled cleanly for numerous laps before Roczen settled in after a mistake and Short motored away. Short rode a calculated and smooth main event and did not falter after pulling away from the KTM racer, and on the final laps slowed his pace to avoid any mistakes. Short was thrilled to take the top step of podium just one week after his return to the 2012 season, a year that has been marked with various difficulties.

The night was not without issue for other racers, including Josh Grant, Ryan Villopoto, and Ryan Dungey. All three suffered from incidents involving contact with other riders, with Villopoto’s being the most serious. The recently crowned champion pulled a lackluster start and was buried deep in the pack, forcing the Villopoto to mount yet another come from behind charge. The Kawasaki rider blazed down the smooth straightaway and into the left hand turn, but lost the front end as he slammed the brakes. Villopoto’s left leg was awkwardly pinned beneath his bike, and the fall did obvious damage to the leg. He hobbled off of the track and rode on the back of his bike to the pits. Josh Grant and Robert Kiniry slammed into one another early in the race, which damaged Grant’s rear brake system and forced him to withdraw. As Ryan Dungey clawed to the front in his first race since St. Louis, he tangled with Justin Brayton mid-turn while attempting to overtake the lone factory Honda racer and had his front end knocked away from him. Dungey would come back to finish sixth place overall.

VIEW: THUMBS ENLARGE

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