Monster Energy AMA Supercross hosted its third and final 2014 stop inside Angel Stadium on Saturday night in front of 42,139 fans. Discount Tire Racing/TwoTwo Motorsports’ Chad Reed led all 20 laps of the 450SX Class Main Event to capture his second win of the season and his second straight in Anaheim. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Dean Wilson won his first race of the year in the Western Regional 250SX Class.
Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart grabbed the Nuclear Cowboyz Holeshot Award to begin the 450SX Class Main Event, edging out Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto with Reed close behind in third. Villopoto made a quick move to take over the lead in the second turn, bringing Reed with him. About halfway through the opening lap, Reed made his pass on Villopoto to begin a closely contested battle that spanned the entire Main Event.
Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen asserted himself into third place, but pressured Villopoto on lap three to take over second. He would maintain the position throughout the race, often pressuring Reed but not able to gain enough ground to make a pass. Villopoto lurked in third place for the bulk of the Main Event, awaiting the opportunity to make a move if it presented itself, but ultimately settled into the final podium spot in the closing laps.
Reed fended off a last-lap charge by Roczen when a lapped rider got between the duo to secure his 43rd career victory and tie the all-time record at Angel Stadium with eight wins. “It was a tough racetrack tonight,” said Reed. “It was about making smart choices and putting yourself in a good position to ride 20 solid laps. This win means more to me than the last one [on January 18] where I came from behind because it’s tougher to go out there and lead all 20 laps. We had our bike dialed in tonight and it was one of those nights where it felt one with me.”
“I tried to make one last push on the last lap but a lapper got in the way. I don’t know if it would have mattered because Reed was riding well,” said Roczen. “It was a fun race and I’m glad to come out in second. The track was really hard in the end, but it made for great racing.”
Reed moved to within two points of Villopoto in the 450SX Class standings. Villopoto’s third-place finish was his third podium result of the season.
“The track was super tough,” said Villopoto. “I got a great start but Chad was able to get by me. Ken was running similar lap times and was able to get by as well, but to end up on the podium is always a good thing.”
Fellow title contenders Ryan Dungey and James Stewart experienced misfortune in the Main Event. While battling with Dungey for the fourth position, Stewart went down in a turn and lost several positions. Just a lap later, Dungey lost control in the whoops and crashed out of the race. Stewart battled back to finish seventh, while Dungey finished in 20th.
Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil Honda’s Cole Seely led the field of 22 riders through turn one with the Nuclear Cowboyz Holeshot Award in the Western Regional 250SX Class Main Event. Wilson quickly moved into second place with 51Fifty Honda’s Jake Canada in third place.
Rockstar Energy Racing’s Jason Anderson, who came into tonight’s race with a six-point lead in the season standings, was working his way through the field when he collided with Troy Lee Designs/MAVTV Honda’s Malcolm Stewart, who won his Heat Race earlier in the night, on lap two. Anderson dropped several positions and by lap eight, had moved into eighth place.
On lap 12, Seely ran into lapped traffic in a corner and crashed. This allowed Wilson to move into the lead and ride to victory. It was Wilson’s seventh win of his career and his first since last year’s season opening race of the Eastern Regional 250SX Class Championship in Arlington, Texas.
“This win really means a lot to me,” said Wilson. “The race was shaping up to be exciting during those last few laps, but I received a break. This is really emotional for me. I gained some good points and we still have some races left. I am going to come out and do my best at those races.”
The third race in Anaheim also signified the beginning of the Toyota Triple Challenge, which will continue at race seven in Arlington, Texas, and concludes at race 16 in East Rutherford, N.J. With the win tonight Reed is in line to win a brand new Toyota Tundra and is the only rider eligible to win $250,000 if he were to win all three Toyota Triple Challenge races.
Monster Energy Supercross heads to San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium next Saturday, February 8.
