LAS VEGAS, NV – May 7, 2013 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – Yoshimura backed GEICO Honda’s Wil Hahn took home the 250SX East championship at the 2013 Monster Energy Supercross Series finale in Las Vegas. Hahn showed speed and consitency throughout the 2013. He showed true courage and the heart of a champion, lining up to race with a freshly broken hand, which he suffered earlier in the day during practice. He raced hard through the main, landing on the podium for 3rd, securing the 250SX East Title.
Wil Hahn 250SX East Champ
Eli Tomac, from the West Coast GEICO squad, showed prolific speed in his main event, reeling in 1st place, and making the pass on Roczen near the halfway mark of the race. With the exception of a holeshot bobble, Tomac rode as solid as he had all year. In true Tomac style, he put his head down and went to work, blasting from 7th place to the front of the pack, where he would stand atop the podium in 1st. Just 3 points shy from becoming the 250SX West Champion. Teammate Zach Osborne ripped the holeshot in the East main, but pulled off early after an uninvited mishap cut his night short.
Eli Tomac
Wil Hahn
In the 450′s, Yoshimura powered Muscle Milk Honda’s Justin Barcia took home a 5th in the Main, and a 4th in the 2013 Championship points standings. Teammate Trey Canard suffered a misfortune in the main, but was able to maintain a 6th overall in the championship. Trey has displayed remarkable determination this season, coming back from a devastating injury in 2012. He is far and away a fan favorite, known for his can-do attitude, and ability to overcome the odds.
Broc Tickle
Justin Barcia
Yoshimura backed team RCH Suzuki’s Broc Tickle ran consistent 450 Main Event, finishing 10th for the evening, as well as clinching 9th in the championship points. Teammate Josh Hill was able to finish the race mid-pack and earned an impressive 15th in the championship points.
Trey Canard
Josh Hill
450SX Results:
5. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, GA – Honda Muscle Milk, Titanium Carbon RS9 Dual Full System
10. Brock Tickle, Holly, MI – RCH Racing Suzuki, Titanium Carbon RS4 Full System
14. Josh Hill, Portland, OR – RCH Racing Suzuki, Titanium Carbon RS4 Full System
20. Trey Canard, Shawnee, OK – Honda Muscle Milk, Titanium Carbon RS9 Dual Full System
East 250SX Results:
3. Wil Hahn, Decatur, TX – GEICO Honda, Titanium Carbon RS4 Full System
West 250SX Results:
1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, CO – GEICO Honda, Titanium Carbon RS4 Full System
20. Zach Osborne, Richlands, VA – GEICO Honda, Titanium Carbon RS4 Full System
About Yoshimura R&D of America
Yoshimura is “The Leader in Performance” and has been for more than 55 years. With unmatched skills, knowledge, and passion for racing, Yoshimura is on the forefront of the aftermarket exhaust industry. Yoshimura pipes are race bred and feature the same legendary performance, fit and quality that has been their trademark for more than five decades. To learn more about Yoshimura and view their wide variety of performance products, visitwww.yoshimura-rd.com
AURORA, IL – May 2, 2013 – (Motor Sports Newswire) - Feld Motor Sports® announced today that CBS will broadcast an all-new, one-hour feature on the 2013 season and the future of Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, fittingly named Changing of the Guard on Sunday, May 5, at 1:00PM ET.
Bob Hannah became the sport’s first three-time 450SX Class Champion in 1979 before the Honda era reigned supreme from 1982-1996, winning 13 championships with seven different riders. Jeremy McGrath gave Honda four consecutive championships en route to becoming the all-time winningest supercross racer with seven titles. As the McGrath era turned the page, Ricky Carmichael soon became the new dominant force in supercross as he captured five titles. Shifting gears, James Stewart and Chad Reed simultaneously consumed this space as well as a fierce rivalry that fed the headlines.
The new era of Monster Energy Supercross has begun with the four riders – Ryan Villopoto, Davi Millsaps, Ryan Dungey and Justin Barcia – responsible for the Changing of the Guard. CBS will showcase how these athletes ascended to the top of the sport in 2013 and set the tone for a bright future in one of the world’s most captivating forms competiton.
Villopoto joined the elite company of Hannah, McGrath and Carmichael last Saturday night when he secured his third consecutive 450SX Class Championship with a class-leading ninth victory of the season.
“A championship is a championship, but it makes it harder when there’s five, six guys that can win it versus one,” said Villopoto. “It’s harder to win now than I think it’s ever been.”
Before giving way to Villopoto in the championship hunt, seven-year 450SX Class veteran Davi Millsaps controlled the points race for the first time in his career. After capturing a surprise victory at the opening race in Anaheim, Millsaps captured seven podium finishes through the first eight races, including a pair of wins.
Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey, the 2010 450SX Class Champion, also scored a pair of wins this season and landed on the podium 11 times en route to an average finish of 3.3, further enhancing the argument that Dungey is the new “Mr. Consistency.”
Between Dungey and his 250SX Class teammate Ken Roczen, they gave Red Bull KTM its first-ever Main Event sweep at the third stop in Anaheim, which was followed by the same achievement with Marvin Musquin in Minneapolis.
Highly touted rookie Justin Barcia, who rides for Team Honda Muscle Milk, etched his name in the record books by winning in the second Main Event of his 450SX Class career and becoming the division’s 56th different winner. Only two other riders before Barcia were able to win so early in their 450SX Class career; Sebastien Tortelli won the first 450SX Class start of his career, while Bob Hannah won the second start of his 450SX Class career
“It’s crazy to be racing against those guys that have won all these 450SX Class championships,” explained Barcia. “For me, I’ve looked up to some of those riders and now being competitive with them and racing against them, it’s pretty awesome. You don’t really think about that when you get out there on the line, but sometimes you sit back and relax thinking about racing the best guys in the world and how you could be one of them.”
While veteran riders Chad Reed and James Stewart, each of whom are two-time Monster Energy Supercross Champions, also made their presence felt throughout the 2013 season, it was this foursome of riders that stole the spotlight week in and week out. Over the last three races, these riders are the only competitors to stand on the podium, establishing a comfortable margin over the field in the championship standings.
“As the years keep going by, there definitely seems to be a lot more guys coming up, whether it’s from the 250SX Class or guys who have been in the 450SX Class challenging for that top spot even more,” commented Dungey. “We’re putting more and more pressure on the guys to be there every weekend, which is raising the bar. That level of intensity is getting better as well, so with that many good guys out there, the racing is only going to get better and tougher. To win, it’s going to mean all that much more.”
Supercross LIVE!® will feature an extended three-hour and forty-five minute mid-raceday program from 1:15 – 5:00 p.m. local time directly from Las Vegas this weekend due to raceday schedule changes for final round. Hosts, Jim Holley, a former World Supercross Champion, and Kevin Barnett, a former member of the U.S. Men’s Olympic Volleyball Team and professional broadcaster, will provide in-depth analysis of the afternoon’s practice and qualifying sessions as the riders and teams prepare for the night racing, in addition to interviews and behind-the-scenes coverage. As the only place to follow live practice and qualifying coverage from Monster Energy Supercross, Supercross LIVE! provides fans with an inside perspective before the gate drops on the night’s qualifying and Main Events. Additionally, there will be video snippets made available throughout the race day that can be viewed on www.SupercrossOnline.com, the official website of Monster Energy Supercross, or the YouTube Channel www.YouTube.com/SupercrossLive. To access the live streaming broadcasts, go to www.SupercrossOnline.com/SupercrossLive or subscribe to the Supercross LIVE! streaming channel at http://new.LiveStream.com/Supercrosslive.
Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motor sports entertainment. Feld Motor Sports productions include Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam®, Monster Energy Supercross, AMSOIL Arenacross and Nuclear Cowboyz®. Feld Motor Sports is a division of Feld Entertainment, the world’s largest producer of live family entertainment. For more information on Feld Entertainment, visit www.feldentertainment.com
TORRANCE, CA – May 1,2013 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – The penultimate round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship race, made its way to Salt Lake City, UT, this past Saturday, and 43,149 fans filled Rice-Eccles Stadium to witness the action. Leading the charge for the Honda Red Riders was the Team Honda Muscle Milk duo of Trey Canard and Justin Barcia, both finishing 4-5 respectively. Muscle Milk-supported GEICO Honda rider Eli Tomac had a trying night in the main event, but was able to close his deficit to a mere five points in the championship heading into the final round.
450 Race
With a solid second-place finish in his heat race, Team Honda Muscle Milk’s Trey Canard headed into the main event with a good gate pick. Jumping off the line to a fifth-place start, Canard was able to make his way into fourth a few laps in and continued to lay down consistent times throughout the entire 20-lap race. “It was a really good day for me, especially after last weekend,” stated Canard. “I think I need some more days like this. The main was especially good for me through the whoops, it’s the best I have ever ridden the whoops and they were really tough. I was really happy, we were able to progress the bike throughout the day. It was a really demanding track physically, especially with the altitude. I am happy to come away with a fourth and to be healthy heading into the final round.”
After scoring his second win of the season last weekend, Justin Barcia was hoping to carry that same momentum into Utah. He posted the fifth-quickest qualifying time in practice and was able to grab a third in his heat race. Despite getting a mid-pack start in the main event, Barcia made his way into sixth by the end of the first lap. A few laps later, he made the pass into fifth, which is where he settled for the night.
“I’m a little disappointed with my finish, especially after my win last weekend,” explained Barcia. “The track was super tough, it was technical and tight, and I rode really tight. The whoops were gnarly, but the bike was working awesome. We made some good changes to the bike throughout the day, which really helped me. I’m ready to head into Vegas and hopefully grab another win, I have had some good luck there in the past.”
250 Race
This weekend also marked the eighth round of the Western Regional 250 Supercross and Muscle Milk-supported GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac caught a huge break in the championship chase, after the currents points leader was unable to qualify for the main event. Tomac had the opportunity to walk away with the points lead, and it looked like he was going to capitalize on it after grabbing a second-place start behind his teammate Zach Osborne. Unfortunately, Tomac struggled in the challenging whoops the entire 20-lap main event, causing him to lose multiple positions. He was able to recover and finish in sixth overall, putting him a mere five points behind the points leader heading into the final round in Las Vegas.
“I started the race in second, but just blew the race in the whoops,” said Tomac, who leads the category with four victories this year. “It was a section that just got me almost every time around. There were a couple of passes where I got through them OK, but there were others where I got wild and out of control.”
In the main event, Osborne earned the holeshot and was still fighting for a podium position when a crash in the whoops caused him to fall outside the top 10. He remounted his GEICO Honda CRF250R and ultimately finished in 12th place overall.
“I had a great day, actually,” Osborne said. “Up until I fell in the main everything was going really well. That kind of turned the whole deal. I just need to soldier-up and fight for a great finish in Vegas. I have nothing to lose and I plan to just go for it and try to get up on the podium.”
Suffering from a season-ending crash in Salt Lake City last year, Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil/Honda’s Cole Seely was able to put his nervousness aside and ride a noteworthy race to finish in second place overall on the podium.
The Focus: Suspension Settings
Suspension settings are key to the success of a rider and can be changed based on the track conditions and rider preference. Salt Lake City was a very tight and technical track, which required a few small changes to the Team Honda Muscle Milk CRF450Rs.
“The track today was very difficult, the whoop section specifically,” said Shane Drew, Honda’s chassis/suspension engineer. “The improvements that we made today was that we just increased the wheelbase of our bike to give more leverage on the rear shock, ultimately making it more stable in the whoops. We made a few other small adjustments to the high-speed settings of the shock, but nothing major. Both Trey and Justin ride very similar setups and each rider received the same changes.”
450 Supercross Class Overall Results
1. Ryan Villopoto
2. Davi Millsaps
3. Ryan Dungey 4. Trey Canard (Honda)
5. Justin Barcia (Honda)
6. Justin Brayton
7. Josh Hill
8. Andrew Short
9. Weston Peick 10. Chad Reed (Honda)
450 Supercross Class Championship Points (after 16 of 17 rounds)
1. Ryan Villopoto 346
2. Davi Millsaps 318
3. Ryan Dungey 315 4. Justin Barcia 261
5. Chad Reed 224
6. Trey Canard 220
7. Andrew Short 202
8. Justin Brayton 177
9. James Stewart 174
10. Broc Tickle 165
250 Supercross West Class Overall Results
1. Jason Anderson 2. Cole Seely (Honda)
3. Martin Davalos
4. Malcolm Stewart 5. Christian Craig (Honda)
6. Eli Tomac (Honda)
7. Ryan Sipes
8. Tyla Rattray
9. Joey Savatgy
10. Travis Baker
250 Supercross West Class Championship Points (after 8 of 9 rounds)
1. Ken Roczen 163 2. Eli Tomac 158
3. Cole Seely 135
4. Jason Anderson 124
5. Martin Davalos 114
6. Zach Osborne 111
7. Kyle Cunningham 96 8. Christian Craig 87
9. Tyla Rattray 87
10. Joey Savatgy 87
About Honda
American Honda Motor Co., Inc. was established in 1959 and is the sole distributor of Honda motorcycles, scooters, ATVs and side-by-sides in the U.S. The American Honda Motorcycle Division is responsible for the sales, marketing, and operational activities for these products through authorized Honda dealers. For more information on Honda products, go towww.powersports.honda.com.
About Muscle Milk
Muscle Milk® Ready-to-Drink is a protein-enhanced functional beverage that promotes workout recovery, lean muscle growth, and sustained energy. Muscle Milk takes the guesswork out of high performance nutrition, delivering a precise blend of premium proteins, complex carbohydrates, functional fats, vitamins & minerals. CytoSport™, the maker of Muscle Milk®, is among the largest sport nutrition protein beverage companies in the U.S. and offers a complete line of protein-enhanced powders, shakes and bars. Muscle Milk® was named Ready-to-Drink Beverage of the Year by bodybuilding.com, Best Functional Beverage and Beverage of the Year by BevNet and Company of the Year by Beverage Forum presented by Beverage Marketing Corporation and Beverage World.
TORRANCE, CA- April – (Motor Sports Newswire) – For the 15th round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, the Honda Red Riders headed to the rainy Pacific Northwest to do battle in front of 53,862 people at Seattle’s CenturyLink Field. Despite tough, muddy conditions Team Honda Muscle Milk’s Justin Barcia rode an exceptional race, leading wire-to-wire to capture his second career 450-class victory. It was also a stellar night for the Muscle Milk-backed GEICO Honda team, with Eli Tomac and Zach Osborne finishing 2-3 respectively on the podium.
450 Race
Team Honda Muscle Milk’s Justin Barcia may be the 450-class rookie, but he definitely doesn’t ride like it. With the second-quickest qualifying time in practice and a second in his heat race, the day started off solid for Barcia. In the main event, Barcia raced his way to the holeshot and despite constant pressure throughout the race he stayed consistent and led the entire 20 laps to take the win. This victory nearly mirrored his performance at round two when he led wire-to-wire to capture his first win of the season.
“This is an unreal feeling,” stated Barcia. “The last few weeks have been frustrating with fourth-place finishes so it is awesome to finally make it happen. I haven’t been getting good starts and there isn’t much you can do to catch up from a bad start, especially with the speed of this class. I was really looking for a podium tonight and to be able to get the win is so awesome. The start was awesome; I have been working hard at home and we made some changes to the bike so I think you’ll be seeing better starts from now on. I have two holeshots and two wins so that’s pretty cool. It was an intense race though. I heard Ryan back there and he was charging so I just tried to stay as consistent as possible, which worked. I’m so stoked right now.”
Teammate Trey Canard had a roller-coaster night aboard his Honda CRF450R; he was fourth quickest in practice and posted a third in his heat race behind Barcia. Canard got off the line in the back half of the field but was able to make his way up to sixth by the end of the first lap. By lap five, he had made his way into fourth until going down and ultimately being sidelined for the remainder of the race.
250 Race
After an eight-week hiatus the Western Regional 250 Supercross class resumed this weekend for round seven of the series and the Muscle Milk-supported GEICO Honda duo of Eli Tomac and Zach Osborne both claimed podium positions. Tomac nailed down the holeshot in the main event and led for a majority of the race, until he went down hard on lap 10. He quickly jumped up and was able to resume the race in second, which is where he finished. Tomac sits second overall in the championship points chase, with a 20-point deficit heading into Salt Lake City.
“I was hoping to close the gap a little today, but wasn’t able to,” explained Tomac. “I was fired up heading into the main after winning my heat race. I got a good start and was able to establish a nice lead for most of the race, but I got stuck in a deep rut coming out of the whoops and went over the bars. Luckily, I was able to get back up on the bike and hold onto a podium spot. I haven’t made repeating the championship easy on us but I will fight till the very end.”
It was exciting night for Osborne, who captured his first podium finish of the season with a third-place overall. “The whole day went really good for me,” said Osborne. “The practice and my heat race both went good, which gave me confidence heading into the main. I got a solid start and was able to work my way through the pack. I got into third and was able to stay there till the end.”
After starting outside the top 10, Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil/Honda’s Cole Seely was able to work his way through the field and post a solid fourth-place finish.
The Focus: Fort Lewis Appearance
On Friday April 19, Barcia and Canard were given a special opportunity to show their appreciation to the men and women on Fort Lewis Military base. Barcia and Canard signed autographs and took photos with the troops and their families. Muscle Milk representatives were on hand, passing out samples to everyone in attendance.
450 Supercross Class Overall Results
Justin Barcia (Honda)
Ryan Villopoto
Davi Millsaps
Ryan Dungey
Jake Weimer
Mike Alessi
Broc Tickle
Justin Brayton
Andrew Short
Phillip Nicoletti
450 Supercross Class Championship Points(after 15 of 17 rounds)
Ryan Villopoto 321
Davi Millsaps 296
Ryan Dungey 295
Justin Barcia 245
Chad Reed 213
Trey Canard 202
Andrew Short 189
James Stewart 174
Justin Brayton 162
Broc Tickle 155
250 Supercross West Class Overall Results
Ken Roczen
Eli Tomac (Honda)
Zach Osborne (Honda)
Cole Seely (Honda)
Tyla Rattray
Austin Politelli
Ryan Sipes
Joey Savatgy
Martin Davalos
Jason Anderson
250 Supercross West Class Championship Points(after 7 of 9 rounds)
Ken Roczen 163
Eli Tomac 143
Cole Seely 113
Zach Osborne 102
Jason Anderson 99
Martin Davalos 94
Kyle Cunningham 86
Joey Savatgy 75
Tyla Rattray 74
Austin Politelli 72
About Honda
American Honda Motor Co., Inc. was established in 1959 and is the sole distributor of Honda motorcycles, scooters, ATVs and side-by-sides in the U.S. The American Honda Motorcycle Division is responsible for the sales, marketing, and operational activities for these products through authorized Honda dealers. For more information on Honda products, go to www.powersports.honda.com.
About Muscle Milk
Muscle Milk® Ready-to-Drink is a protein-enhanced functional beverage that promotes workout recovery, lean muscle growth, and sustained energy. Muscle Milk takes the guesswork out of high performance nutrition, delivering a precise blend of premium proteins, complex carbohydrates, functional fats, vitamins & minerals. CytoSport™, the maker of Muscle Milk®, is among the largest sport nutrition protein beverage companies in the U.S. and offers a complete line of protein-enhanced powders, shakes and bars. Muscle Milk® was named Ready-to-Drink Beverage of the Year by bodybuilding.com, Best Functional Beverage and Beverage of the Year by BevNet and Company of the Year by Beverage Forum presented by Beverage Marketing Corporation and Beverage World.
SEATTLE, WA – April 23 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – The 2013 Monster Energy Supercross made its way to the rainy Northwest for the 15th round of the series at CenturyLink Field. Riders were met with soggy conditions that tested their ability to maintain control over their motorcycle, despite the ever-changing track conditions.
Broc Tickle
Justin Barcia
Yoshimura equipped Muscle Milk Honda’s Justin Barcia rode a flawless 450 main event to take the checkered flag in first place. Barcia ripped the holeshot and avoided the first turn carnage that claimed several riders. He stretched out his lead and remained uncontested for the duration of the race as track conditions resembled those of his Upstate New York home. Seattle marks the second 450 Main win for the Yoshimura powered Muscle Milk Honda camp and Justin Barcia.
Trey Canard
Josh Hill
RCH Suzuki’s Josh Hill had an interesting night, as he found himself tangled in the first turn pileup. Hill rode his Yoshimura powered Suzuki from the very back of the pack to a hard-fought and commendable 12th. Teammate Broc Tickle made it comfortably into the top 10, with a 7th place finish.
Zach Osborne
Eli Tomac
In the 250 West SX class, Yoshimura backed GEICO Honda riders climbed to the podium, with Eli Tomac and Zach Osborne taking 2nd and 3rd respectively. Eli had an amazing night — leading much of the 250 West Main Event — before a spectacular over-the-bars get off put him on the ground. He gathered himself back up to finish the race in second. Teammate Zach Osborne was also on fire and nailed down his first podium of the year. The podium pair also set the top 2 fastest lap times in 250 A group qualifying practice.
450SX Results:
1. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, GA – Honda Muscle Milk, Titanium Carbon RS9 Dual Full System
7. Brock Tickle, Holly, MI – RCH Racing Suzuki, Titanium Carbon RS4 Full System
12. Josh Hill, Portland, OR – RCH Racing Suzuki, Titanium Carbon RS4 Full System
18. Trey Canard, Shawnee, OK – Honda Muscle Milk, Titanium Carbon RS9 Dual Full System
East 250SX Results:
2. Eli Tomac, Cortez,CO – GEICO Honda, Titanium Carbon RS4 Full System
3. Zach Osborne, Richlands,VA – GEICO Honda, Titanium Carbon RS4 Full System
About Yoshimura R&D of America
Yoshimura is “The Leader in Performance” and has been for more than 55 years. With unmatched skills, knowledge, and passion for racing, Yoshimura is on the forefront of the aftermarket exhaust industry. Yoshimura pipes are race bred and feature the same legendary performance, fit and quality that has been their trademark for more than five decades. To learn more about Yoshimura and view their wide variety of performance products, visit www.yoshimura-rd.com
Roczen Claims Third Western Regional 250SX Class Championship Victory
SEATTLE, WA – April 20, 2013 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, returned to the West Coast for the 15th race of the season on Saturday night in front of a crowd of 53,862 inside Seattle’s CenturyLink Field. Team Honda Muscle Milk’s Justin Barcia posted a wire-to-wire performance to win his second career 450SX Class Main Event. Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen captured his third 250SX Class victory in four races in the Western Regional Championship’s return to competition.
Barcia raced to the Nuclear Cowboyz® Holeshot Award to begin the 450SX Class Main Event, with MotoConcepts Racing’s Mike Alessi and Slaton Racing Honda’s Vince Friese in tow. Villopoto positioned himself in the top five, while a first-turn pileup claimed both Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey and TwoTwo Motorsports Honda’s Chad Reed.
Villopoto wasted little time in moving forward and was in second place by Lap 2, just a few tenths behind Barcia. Rockstar Energy Racing’s Davi Millsaps followed Villopoto into third place.
Both Barcia and Villopoto slowly pulled away from Millsaps as the race progressed, setting the stage for a battle to the finish. The Seattle crowd cheered on Villopoto, their hometown rider, but as the duo encountered lapped riders, Barcia’s lead began to increase.
Barcia led all 20 laps of the Main Event, mirroring the performance from his inaugural 450SX Class victory at the second race of the season in Phoenix.
“I tell you what, that holeshot is so key,” said Barcia. “We made some great changes today on the bike. It was a tough track with so many lines, but there was one main line that was so much better than any other. I’ve been waiting for this since Phoenix.”
Villopoto’s runner-up finish extended his podium streak to nine races, during which he has finished either first or second.
“I didn’t get the start I wanted, so to come out the way I did and salvage that was awesome,” said Villopoto. “I rode 20 solid laps but Justin [Barcia] was on it. I just really couldn’t do anything with him. The way it turned out tonight was pretty good for what we were up against [at the start].”
Millsaps finished third for his 10th podium finish of the season, and moved into second in the championship standings. Dungey overcame the incident on the opening lap to finish fourth after starting in 18th position.
Villopoto holds a 25-point lead over Millsaps in the 450SX Class standings and can clinch his third straight Monster Energy Supercross title if he maintains that advantage following next weekend’s 16th race of the season.
In the first Western Regional 250SX Class Championship Main Event since the sixth race of the season in February, GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac grabbed the Nuclear CowboyzHoleshot Award and quickly pulled away from the field. Behind him, Rockstar Energy Racing’s Ryan Sipes and Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil Honda’s Christian Craig assumed second and third, respectively. Roczen positioned himself in fourth, but moved into a podium spot prior to the conclusion of the opening lap.
With his championship rival behind him, Tomac opened a multiple-second margin as Roczen methodically moved past Craig into second on Lap 2. For several laps, the pair maintained their distance from one another until Tomac came up short on a jump on Lap 9 and was thrown off his motorcycle. Roczen assumed the lead, but Tomac was able to remount in second.
Roczen pulled away for the remainder of the 15-lap Main Event to extend his lead in the point standings. He has finished first or second in each of the seven Western Regional 250SX Class Championship races this season.
“It’s good to bounce back from a bad Heat Race with good start,” said Roczen, who crashed twice in his Heat Race. “I just put my head down and rode smart. The track was really technical out there, with a lot of ruts. It feels good to get a win after such a long break; it’s tough to get in a groove after so much time off, but I’m so happy I was able to walk away with this one.”
Despite his misfortune, Tomac still finished second, but faces a significant deficit in the championship with only two races remaining.
“The track was getting tough in the Main Event,” said Tomac, who still has the most wins in the class with four. “I got a good start and started pulling away, but then I made a big mistake. It’s kind of a bummer, but that’s racing. I was lucky enough to be able to get up in second and still finish on the podium.”
GEICO Honda’s Zach Osborne secured his first podium finish of the season in third.
Roczen carries a 20-point advantage over Tomac into next weekend’s eighth race of the Western Regional 250SX Class Championship.
Tonight’s 450SX Class race will air on CBS, tomorrow at 1 p.m. ET, followed by the 250SX Class on SPEED at 5:30 p.m. ET. Monster Energy Supercross travels to Salt Lake City next Saturday, April 27, for the penultimate race of the season from Rice Eccles Stadium.
450SX Class Results: Seattle
Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda
Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki
Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki
Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki
Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha
Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM
Phillip Nicoletti, Bethel, N.Y., Yamaha
450SX Class Season Standings
Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 321
Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 296
Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 295
Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda, 245
Chad Reed, Australia, Honda, 213
Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda, 202
Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM, 189
James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki, 174
Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha, 162
Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki, 155
Western Regional 250SX Class Results: Seattle
Ken Roczen, Germany, KTM
Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda
Zach Osborne, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda
Cole Seely, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
Tyla Rattray, South Africa, Kawasaki
Austin Politelli, Menifee, Calif., Honda
Ryan Sipes, Ekron, Ky., Suzuki
Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., KTM
Martin Davalos, Ecuador, Kawasaki
Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki
Western Regional 250SX Class Points
Ken Roczen, Germany, KTM, 163
Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda, 143
Cole Seely, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 113
Zach Osborne, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda, 102
Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki, 99
Martin Davalos, Ecuador, Kawasaki, 94
Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha, 86
Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., KTM, 75
Tyla Rattray, South Africa, Kawasaki, 74
Austin Politelli, Menifee, Calif., Honda, 72
Supercross LIVE!® is back in 2013 with a three-hour mid-raceday program from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. local time. Hosts, Jim Holley, a former World Supercross Champion, and Kevin Barnett, a former member of the U.S. Men’s Olympic Volleyball Team and professional broadcaster, will provide in-depth analysis of the afternoon’s practice and qualifying sessions as the riders and teams prepare for the night racing, in addition to interviews and behind-the-scenes coverage. As the only place to follow live practice and qualifying coverage from Monster Energy Supercross, Supercross LIVE! provides fans with an inside perspective before the gate drops on the night’s qualifying and Main Events. Additionally, there will be video snippets made available throughout the race day that can be viewed on www.SupercrossOnline.com, the official website of Monster Energy Supercross, or the YouTube Channel www.YouTube.com/SupercrossLive. To access the live streaming broadcasts, go towww.SupercrossOnline.com/SupercrossLiveor subscribe to the Supercross LIVE! streaming channel at http://new.LiveStream.com/Supercrosslive.
Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motor sports entertainment. Feld Motor Sports productions include Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam®, Monster Energy Supercross, AMSOIL Arenacross and Nuclear Cowboyz®. Feld Motor Sports is a division of Feld Entertainment, the world’s largest producer of live family entertainment. For more information on Feld Entertainment, visit www.feldentertainment.com.
TORRANCE, CA – April 16, 2013 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – For the first time since 2008, Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship series, returned to the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in snowy Minneapolis, MN, for round 14, and the Honda Red Riders were there for battle. For the second week in a row Team Honda Muscle Milk’s Justin Barcia finished just shy of the podium with a fourth-place overall. Teammate Trey Canard finished a respectable seventh place. In the 250 class, Muscle Milk-backed GEICO Honda’s Wil Hahn posted another second-place finish and continues to hold the points lead heading into the final round in Las Vegas.
Justin Barcia
450 Race
For the second consecutive week, Justin Barcia finished just shy of the podium with a fourth-place overall in the main event. Following a fourth in his heat race, Barcia got off to a sixth-place start in the main event. He charged through the pack before tucking into fourth, which is where he finished.
“I’m not completely happy with how tonight went,” stated Barcia. “The track was pretty tough and had a lot of different lines. I’m tired of getting fourth; I want to be on the podium and I want to win. I know I can, so I have some things I need to work on heading into Seattle.”
Trey Canard
Getting off the line to a less-than-desirable start, teammate Canard sat in 10th after the first lap. He began working his way forward until going down in a corner, which caused him to lose a few positions. He was able to recover and finish a respectable seventh-place overall. “I am grateful to be leaving here healthy and moving onto the next race,” Canard stated. “Starts are so important and I didn’t get the best ones tonight which made it difficult. I gave all my effort, which is all I can really do.”
Despite undergoing knee surgery less than three weeks ago, TwoTwo Motorsports’ Chad Reed put in a solid performance, placing fifth overall. “I wasn’t sure I was even going to be able to race tonight,” said Reed. “I wasn’t 100% since it has only been a few weeks since my surgery and my knee is still weak. I’m not disappointed with a fifth and we can definitely build off this.”
Wil Hahn
250 Race Muscle Milk-supported GEICO Honda rider Wil Hahn continued to put together consistently strong results Saturday night, grabbing another second-place finish. Hahn will enter the final race of the 250 Supercross East championship chase in Las Vegas with a five-point lead over second place.
“I’m getting a little tired of finishing second but fortunately we’ve had such a great season that we’re still in control over the title chase,” explained Hahn. It’s right here in front of us now, and I am going all-in in Vegas. It’s going to come down to the wire, but being this close is really exciting. GEICO and Honda have been by my side this whole time and I really want to win this for all of them.”
2013 Honda CRF450R
The Focus: 2013 Honda CRF450R The rear Pro-Link system on the 2013 CRF450R now features a new shock that’s 14.5mm shorter than before, and it sits lower in the frame to help lower the CG. New damping settings are matched to the new frame and innovative fork for a plush yet controlled ride. In addition, from the very inception the new frame was designed to incorporate a new two-muffler exhaust system that tucks in tightly to better centralize mass and lower the moment of inertia. This new design strikes an excellent balance between enhanced handling, maximum power and superior noise attenuation.
450 Supercross Class Overall Results
Ryan Dungey
Ryan Villopoto
Davi Millsaps
Justin Barcia (Honda)
Chad Reed (Honda)
Andrew Short
Trey Canard (Honda)
Josh Hill
Justin Brayton
Weston Peick
450 Supercross Class Championship Points (after 14 of 17 rounds)
Ryan Villopoto 299
Ryan Dungey 277
Davi Millsaps 276
Justin Barcia 220
Chad Reed 212
Trey Canard 199
Andrew Short 177
James Stewart 174
Justin Brayton 149
Broc Tickle 141
250 Supercross East Class Overall Results
Marvin Musquin
Wil Hahn (Honda)
Blake Wharton
Gavin Faith
Tyler Bowers
Lance Vincent
Vince Friese
AJ Catanzara
Steven Clarke
Cole Thompson
250 Supercross East Class Championship Points (after 8 of 9 rounds)
Wil Hahn 178
Marvin Musquin 173
Blake Wharton 153
Vince Friese 103
Gavin Faith 100
Dean Wilson 87
Cole Thompson 83
Kyle Peters 78
Jeremy Martin 71
Justin Hill 68
About Honda
American Honda Motor Co., Inc. was established in 1959 and is the sole distributor of Honda motorcycles, scooters, ATVs and side-by-sides in the U.S. The American Honda Motorcycle Division is responsible for the sales, marketing, and operational activities for these products through authorized Honda dealers. For more information on Honda products, go to www.powersports.honda.com.
About Muscle Milk
Muscle Milk® Ready-to-Drink is a protein-enhanced functional beverage that promotes workout recovery, lean muscle growth, and sustained energy. Muscle Milk takes the guesswork out of high performance nutrition, delivering a precise blend of premium proteins, complex carbohydrates, functional fats, vitamins & minerals. CytoSport™, the maker of Muscle Milk®, is among the largest sport nutrition protein beverage companies in the U.S. and offers a complete line of protein-enhanced powders, shakes and bars. Muscle Milk® was named Ready-to-Drink Beverage of the Year by bodybuilding.com, Best Functional Beverage and Beverage of the Year by BevNet and Company of the Year by Beverage Forum presented by Beverage Marketing Corporation and Beverage World.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – April 16, 2013 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – Despite the unseasonably cold weather in Minneapolis, things were hot inside the Metrodome. This year’s race, will be the last ever in the fabled stadium, as plans for demolition are underway.
Will Hahn
Yoshimura equipped GEICO Honda’s Wil Hahn lined up for the Minneapolis 250 Main Event on the far inside. When the gate dropped, he holeshot himself straight to the top 3. In the opening laps, Hahn nipped at the heels of Blake Wharton, as he looked for any opportunity to get by, and reel in the lead. The championship-leading Yoshimura GEICO Honda machine of Hahn slipped by Wharton, and began to zero-in on Marvin Musquin, who was out front. As the 250 Main drew to a close, it would be Hahn taking 2nd, getting on the Podium, and leaving town again as the Championship Points Leader.
Josh Hill
Brock Tickle
In the 450 Class, Yoshimura backed riders proved themselves with consistently improving results. Most notably, is RCH Suzuki rider Josh Hill, who has been climbing the charts all season, delivered a huge heat one win. Josh shot out of the gate in the 450 main, right on the heels of the holeshot artist Mike Alessi, for an impressive 2nd place start. He put in a solid ride, never leaving the top ten for a respectable 8th place finish. Hill’s Yoshimura backed RCH Suzuki teammate Broc Tickle, followed up with a lucky 13th.
Justin Barcia
Trey Canard
Over at the Honda camp, Yoshimura powered Justin Barcia and Trey Canard stealthily found themselves both well inside the top 10. While the battle ensued out front, the red riders Barcia and Canard, consistently clicked off the laps without incident, and finished 4th and 7th, respectably.
James Stewart
Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart showed incredible speed all night. An unfortunate turn of events lead the worlds fastest rider to exit the main, after some bodily harm took him out of the running.
450SX Results:
4. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, GA – Honda Muscle Milk, Titanium Carbon RS9 Dual Full System
7. Trey Canard, Shawnee, OK – Honda Muscle Milk, Titanium Carbon RS9 Dual Full System
8. Josh Hill, Portland, OR – RCH Racing Suzuki, Titanium Carbon RS4 Full System
13. Brock Tickle, Holly, MI – RCH Racing Suzuki, Titanium Carbon RS4 Full System
18. James Stewart, Haines City, FL – Yoshimura Suzuki, Titanium Carbon RS4 Full System
East 250SX Results:
2. Wil Hahn, Decatur, TX – GEICO Honda, Titanium Carbon RS4 Full System
About Yoshimura R&D of America:
Yoshimura is “The Leader in Performance” and has been for more than 55 years. With unmatched skills, knowledge, and passion for racing, Yoshimura is on the forefront of the aftermarket exhaust industry. Yoshimura pipes are race bred and feature the same legendary performance, fit and quality that has been their trademark for more than five decades. To learn more about Yoshimura and view their wide variety of performance products, visitwww.yoshimura-rd.com.
TORRANCE, CA – April 9, 2013 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – Following a weekend off for Easter, the Honda Red Riders returned to battle this past Saturday at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas, for round 13 of the 2013 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship series. It was a successful night for Team Honda Muscle Milk with Trey Canard capturing his third podium appearance of the season with a third-place overall, and Justin Barcia finishing just shy of the podium in fourth. In the 250 class, Muscle Milk-backed GEICO Honda’s Wil Hahn put in a strong race effort once again, finishing on the podium for the seventh time and extending his series lead to eight points.
450 Race
After missing Toronto due to an injury, Canard came out swinging this past weekend in Houston. With the second-quickest qualifying time in practice, Canard put together a stellar heat race, leading wire to wire to claim his first heat race win since 2011. He grabbed a third-place start in the main event but quickly made his way into second. He went from second to fourth and then back to third at the end to grab the final podium position.
“I am just grateful to be here,” stated Canard. “This is probably the most clear-headed I have been in weeks and is probably the best day I have had all season. My result at Anaheim 1 was better but overall this day was great. It has been a long time since I have won a heat race and that really helped heading into the main. I did the best that I could tonight and that is all I can ask for, so I am grateful to be on the podium.”
It was a good night for teammate Justin Barcia as well, who was fourth quickest in practice and finished in second behind Canard in his heat race. Barcia launched off the line to a mid-pack start and began working his way through the field with each passing lap. He tucked into fourth, which is where he finished. Barcia currently sits fourth overall in the championship points chase.
“I would prefer to be on the podium but overall, today was an okay day,” said Barcia. “I felt good in practice and was able to get a good gate pick heading into the heat. I made a mistake at the beginning of the heat but was able to come back and finish right behind Trey in second. In the main event I didn’t get a great start but finished fourth.”
250 Race
As the 250 Supercross East Class season begins to wind down, Muscle Milk-supported GEICO Honda’s Wil Hahn put together an exceptional ride Saturday night, extending his lead to eight points over second place with only two rounds remaining. Getting off the line in third Hahn rode patiently, waiting for the best time to strike, which came when the second-place rider went down in the challenging whoop section. Once in second, he made multiple charges for the lead position but was unsuccessful and was forced to settle for second on the night.
“I’m definitely happy with tonight’s result,” explained Hahn. “I obviously want to win but being able to gain some points this late in the season is great. I rode good all day, felt confident in practice, won my heat and was riding great in the main. I made a few mistakes but overall I am happy; we maintained the points lead and the red plate will stay on the GEICO Honda heading into Minneapolis.”
The Focus: Honda of Houston Dealer Appearance
On Friday April 5, Team Honda Muscle Milk’s Trey Canard and Justin Barcia, along with GEICO Honda’s Wil Hahn and Kevin Windham stopped by Honda of Houston—the largest dealership in the area—for an autograph session with the fans. There was a huge turnout and fans were able to meet their favorite riders while also winning a ton of free swag.
About Honda
American Honda Motor Co., Inc. was established in 1959 and is the sole distributor of Honda motorcycles, scooters, ATVs and side-by-sides in the U.S. The American Honda Motorcycle Division is responsible for the sales, marketing, and operational activities for these products through authorized Honda dealers. For more information on Honda products, go to www.powersports.honda.com.
About Muscle Milk
Muscle Milk® Ready-to-Drink is a protein-enhanced functional beverage that promotes workout recovery, lean muscle growth, and sustained energy. Muscle Milk takes the guesswork out of high performance nutrition, delivering a precise blend of premium proteins, complex carbohydrates, functional fats, vitamins & minerals. CytoSport™, the maker of Muscle Milk®, is among the largest sport nutrition protein beverage companies in the U.S. and offers a complete line of protein-enhanced powders, shakes and bars. Muscle Milk® was named Ready-to-Drink Beverage of the Year by bodybuilding.com, Best Functional Beverage and Beverage of the Year by BevNet and Company of the Year by Beverage Forum presented by Beverage Marketing Corporation and Beverage World.
CHINO, CA – April 9, 2013 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – Yoshimura backed GIECO Honda’s Wil Hahn keeps the red plate leaving Houston, after a 2nd Place finish. As the gate dropped on the 250 main event, and the first turn carnage claimed its victims, Hahn found himself directly behind the battle for the lead. As Wharton and Musquin battled it out, Wil Hahn closed in.
Wil Hahn
Hahn stayed within striking distance, and made the move when Musquin threw it away in a corner on a tuff block. Hahn showed amazing speed throughout the remainder of the race, knocking on Blake Wharton’s backdoor, as the battle for the lead ensued. But a close-call through the whoops, and a missed finish-line double, kept Hahn from ultimately overtaking Wharton. As the checkered flag went up, Hahn solidified his points lead, and will be flying the red plate once again, heading into Minneapolis.
Trey Carnard
In the 450 Class – Yoshimura’s Trey Canard returns to AMA Supercross, and rode exceptionally strong, dominating the technical Texas round, and the notoriously treacherous Houston whoop section. The comeback kid showed his fans that he has what it takes to run up-front, and that he is more determined than ever to remain a top contender among the world’s fastest riders.
Justin Barcia
Justin Barcia finished off the night with a drama-free main event. After he settled in behind James Stewart at the beginning of the race, riding very consitently, he inherited the 4th place position after James’ untimely washout.
Josh Hill
Josh Hill finished a 2013-best 8th place in Houston. This represents a continuing upward-trend as the season draws to a close. Hill has been getting consistently better; and aims build on his strong Houston results with another consistent finish in Minneapolis next weekend.
Brock Tickle
Brock Tickle takes 10th, to round out the top 10 for Yoshimura at Reliant Stadium.
James Stewart
James Stewart, with an engine replacement before the main, had his sights set on a win. He showed amazing speed all night; and laid down the fastest lap of the evening, in his heat qualifier. In an unfortunate main event lap 10, Stewart lost the front wheel going into a fast corner, a crash that would dash hopes of a top 3 finish for the evening.
Next week, Yoshimura will have riders lining up at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, MN for the 14th round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series.
About Yoshimura R&D of America:
Yoshimura is “The Leader in Performance” and has been for more than 55 years. With unmatched skills, knowledge, and passion for racing, Yoshimura is on the forefront of the aftermarket exhaust industry. Yoshimura pipes are race bred and feature the same legendary performance, fit and quality that has been their trademark for more than five decades. To learn more about Yoshimura and view their wide variety of performance products, visit www.yoshimura-rd.com.
