In the Supercross Lites class, Circuit/Kawasaki's Josh Hansen is four points ahead of Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki teammate Broc Tickle.
Rockstar Makita Suzuki rider Brett Metcalfe took the holeshot, followed by Dungey and Windham. On Lap 9, Villopoto took Dungey, and immediately started closing in on Stewart. Both Supercross riders began a wheel-to-wheel race, but Stewart maintained the edge, staying ahead of Villopoto. On the following lap, Dungey regained some momentum, and him and Villopoto bumped each other a few times as Stewart remained out front.
Ryan Villopoto says: "It was really slippery out there tonight," said Villopoto. Villopoto now has 72 points, He leads Stewart by five points in the 17-round Supercross Championship. Dungey maintains third with 58 points.
CBS will broadcast the "Supercross class race" at noon (EST) Saturday, Jan. 30, 20011, and SPEED will broadcast the Supercross Lites class race at 6 p.m. Saturday.
Dungey had a phenomenal 2010 season, but has yet to find the top of the podium this season. Dungey definitely has what it takes to win at Oakland, and after a fierce battle with Villopoto and Stewart in Los Angeles that left him settling for third, Dungey will be sure to bring the speed in Oakland this weekend.
“I'm definitely looking forward to Oakland and going to another new stadium,” said Dungey. Trey Canard sits in fourth place, two points behind Dungey and 16 behind Villopoto. Chad Reed sits in fifth place behind Canard. Metcalfe claimed the holeshot in Los Angeles, but after a minor crash, he lost the lead and finished 8th. Andrew Short has been hovering in the top ten for the first three rounds, but he'll need some podium finishes if he wants to compete with Dungey, Villopoto, and Stewart.
The 2011 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship is roaring northward as the series makes its way into another new venue: Oakland Coliseum. The season is already turning into a colossal battle with Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto and San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart each showcasing mind-numbing speed and hardened determination. Unable to pull away from Villopoto, who was matching his speed turn for turn, Stewart buckled and ate dirt. Overall the round proved a major disappointment for Stewart, who felt he threw the race away.
“It felt like I had the race,” said Stewart. Meanwhile in Villopoto’s corner the Los Angeles race went extremely well. After Stewart’s crash Villopoto swept into the lead and went on to notch a historic first win at Dodger Stadium. Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey was another rider who held the lead briefly in Los Angeles before being overtaken.
Meanwhile Honda’s Trey Canard was greeted at Dodger Stadium with a high-impact crash during his heat race. Already 24 points adrift of Villopoto, Reed’s performance this season has been slipping as a result of problems out of the gate. After leading for a lap Metcalfe hit the mat, however, and eventually finished eighth. Metcalfe remains sixth in the title chase and is nine points away from Reed coming into Oakland.
“I'm really looking forward to Oakland - another new stadium. Lucas Oil Troy Lee Design’s Cole Seely won his first ever SX Lites event in dominatn fashion after getting a solid holeshot and leading for the entire 15-lap race. Heading to Oakland, Hansen still leads the series by just four points ahead of Tickle, and seven points ahead of Seely.