A brief rundown on this weekend’s AMA Supercross action but with no French kiss included – bah!
Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto won his fifth AMA Supercross race of the season at Edward Jones Dome – that’s definitely not named after the Welsh enduro rider – in front of a record-breaking 59,742 fans. GEICO Honda’s Justin Barcia won his third consecutive Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class Main Event and extended his points lead to 18 points.
JGRMX/Toyota/Yamaha’s Davi Millsaps won the Nuclear Cowboyz® Holeshot Award with Villopoto ahead of Muscle Milk Honda’s Justin Brayton in tow. Millsaps’ team-mate Officer James Stewart started near the back of the pack and crashed on the opening lap. Villopoto meanwhile quickly moved into second place and then gained the lead on lap two after passing Millsaps and began opening a sizeable lead.
Brayton passed Millsaps on lap eight for second place and on the same lap Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey passed Millsaps for third place. On lap lucky 13 Dungey took over second place moving Brayton back to third. On his charge back from near last place Officer Stewart passed Millsaps for fifth place. Dungey made a late-race run at Villopoto but was unable to challenge for the lead.
“The track was tough tonight,” said Villopoto. “I tried to ride smart and consistent, paying attention to where Dungey was at. I was able to hold on for another win and my first-ever in St. Louis”
Dungey earned his seventh podium finish of the year with a second place. Brayton finished a season-best third place.
“It was tough to make passes out there,” said Dungey. “I am happy with second tonight even though I wasn’t able to get to the lead. This track is one of a kind, and I had a blast riding on it.”
Barcia made a statement when the gates dropped for the Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class Main Event as he captured his second consecutive Nuclear Cowboyz Holeshot Award. Behind him, Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen and GEICO Honda’s rookie Justin Bogle followed in second and third.
While Barcia extended his lead, Bogle stalked Roczen for several laps but on the last lap while setting up his move he crashed. As a result, he lost third place to Rockstar Energy Racing Suzuki’s Blake Wharton and fourth place to Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Darryn Durham. Bogle was forced to settle for fifth and Roczen finished a season-best second place.
“It was great to get the holeshot and check out tonight,” said Barcia. “The dirt here in St. Louis is amazing. I am not changing anything as we head to the next race; if I keep doing this, I should win the championship.”
Tonight’s win for Barcia marked his third consecutive inside the Edward Jones Dome, and he now is the all-time winningest Supercross Lites Class rider in St. Louis.
