Ryan Villopoto finally etched his name into MX history by clinching the AMA motocross 450cc title after taking an overall second place at Pala. Entering the weekend he was 14 points ahead of his closest competitor Ryan Dungey.
Both Ryans made a clean start in the first moto, positioning themselves in the top ten early on. However it was the KTM of Mike Alessi who initially took the lead, with the highly impressive rookie Justin Barcia tucked in closely behind on the opening laps. The Honda rider managed to take the lead, but this was short lived as the series’ perennial front runners swept past in quick succession. Villopoto overtook on lap 12, while Dungey followed suit two laps later.
Barcia managed to hold onto third from Alessi while Villopoto and Dungey took first and second respectively. The championship was all but over after the first moto as the Kawasaki rider extended his lead by an additional three points over Dungey in second place.
The forgotten man in the latter half of this season has arguably been Australian rider Chad Reed. His form and results were seemingly on a downward spiral despite his early promise and genuine title credentials. However he looked as if he may end the season on a high as he took the early lead in the second moto. This was not to be the case, as he fell midway through, giving Barcia the lead.
Reed was also subsequently passed by Villopoto and Dungey. The championship leader seemed happy with a third place finish which would give him the title, rather than battling it out for the lead with Dungey, who eventually took the moto win.
Although Dungey took the overall win at Pala he still trailed Villopoto in the final championship standings by 12 points. The Kawasaki rider has won the motocross title and also the supercross title, making him the 12th rider to achieve both in a single year.
V.P said after that “It's been a tough year. If it weren't for [Dungey's] DNF at Texas, I would have come up a little shy [of the title]. But, things like that happen. The turning point was at Unadilla, when we brought out our new bike. We made a lot of progress there."
With the 250cc title going to Dean Wilson the weekend before, the attention was now focused on whether Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki could become the first team in AMA Pro Racing history to collectively win all 12 rounds of the season in their division.
Wilson led the charge followed by team-mates Blake Baggett and Tyla Rattray who finished second and third respectively in the first moto.
The second moto was a celebratory ride as Wilson once again took the win and overall victory. He was closely followed across the line by the impressive Justin Bogle and Baggett.
It has been a fantastic season, with the American Villopoto clinching the 450cc title at the final round while Scotish rider Wilson took the honours in the 250cc class the previous weekend at Steel City.
450 Class (Moto Finish) 1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki (2-1) 2. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki (1-3) 3. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Honda (3-2) 4. Brett Metcalfe, Mannum, Australia, Suzuki (5-5) 5. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM (4-7) 6. Kyle Regal, Howell, Mich., Suzuki (6-8) 7. Chad Reed, Kurri Kurri, Australia, Honda (12-4) 8. Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha (9-6) 9. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki (10-12) 10. Les Smith, York, S.C., Yamaha (14-9)
450 Class Championship Standings 1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki - 526 2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki - 514 3. Chad Reed, Kurri Kurri, Australia, Honda - 429 4. Brett Metcalfe, Mannum, Australia, Suzuki - 374 5. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM - 304 6. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki - 271 7. Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha - 218 8. Andrew Short, Colorado Springs, Colo., KTM - 196 9. Kevin Windham, Baton Rouge, La., Honda - 193 10. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha - 173
250 Class (Moto Finish) 1. Dean Wilson, Glasgow, Scotland, Kawasaki (1-1) 2. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki (2-3) 3. Marvin Musquin, La Reole, France, KTM (4-4) 4. Tyla Rattray, Durban, South Africa, Kawasaki (3-5) 5. Justin Bogle, Cushing, Okla., Honda (10-2) 6. Gareth Swanepoel, Johannesburg, South Africa, Yamaha (5-7) 7. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha (6-8) 8. Jason Anderson, Las Cruces, N.M., Suzuki (8-9) 9. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda (7-11) 10. Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda (14-10)
250 Class Championship Standings 1. Dean Wilson, Glasgow, Scotland, Kawasaki - 538 2. Tyla Rattray, Durban, South Africa, Kawasaki - 472 3. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki - 469 4. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda - 314 5. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha - 311 6. Gareth Swanepoel, Johannesburg, South Africa, Yamaha - 300 7. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki - 253 8. Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda - 213 9. Martin Davalos, Quito, Ecuador, Suzuki - 213 10. Darryn Durham, Butler, Pa., Honda - 195
Tom Cauvain
International
