After a two week break Ryan Villopoto emphatically clinched Round 9 of the AMA Motocross campaign at the historic Unadilla National. Before a large crowd typical of the circuit the Monster Energy Kawasaki of Villopoto was able to dominate proceedings, taking first in both motos and thus extending his lead at the top of the championship to 7 points with only 3 rounds remaining.
However it was not all plain sailing. In the first moto Villopoto had to battle his way from fifth to the front of the grid. The task though was made easier by his dogged determination on the first lap that allowed him to start the second behind the leader - rookie Justin Barcia.
Barcia put in an admirable performance, holding onto the lead for nearly half the race on his debut in the class riding a factory Honda. Villopoto was able to eventually overtake and pull away for the win.
Ryan Dungey on the other hand had an uncharacteristically scrappy race, being pushed off the track in the opening skirmishes and having to fight to move up through the pack from fourth to second in the opening moto. Fellow championship contender Chad Reed was able to put in a solid ride, battling his way to fourth place.
The second moto was similar to the first, as Villopoto was made to bide his time behind another rider before taking the lead and the victory relatively unchallenged. In the second moto it was KTM’s Mike Alessi who took an early lead, with Villopoto overtaking and claiming first on the third lap.
The real battle was for second place between Ryan Dungey and the impressive newcomer Justin Barcia. Barcia was resilient keeping Dungey at bay till the final lap where a collision between the pair left Barcia on the floor, leaving Dungey to claim a hard fought second place.
Chad Reed had an eventful second race, crashing on a couple of occasions which culminated in a less than satisfactory fifth place.
All that sees Villopoto’s championship lead extended to 7 points over Dungey with Reed now 25 points adrift.
Meanwhile in the 250 class, the battle for positions in the top three was between Dean Wilson, Blake Baggett and Tyla Rattray.
Wilson cruised to victory in the first, while Baggett and Rattray crashed out early, but they were able to recover to clinch another podium sweep for the Pro Circuit team.
In the second moto Wilson was again able to pull away to claim both the moto and overall victory, rounding off a highly impressive weekend which leaves him in a great position to clinch the 2011 championship. Baggett managed to grab a third place, while Rattray crashed out and was unable to finish allowing Eli Tomac to claim a well deserved second.
450 Class (Moto Finish)
1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki (1-1)
2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki (2-2)
3. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Honda (3-3)
4. Chad Reed, Kurri Kurri, Australia, Honda (4-5)
5. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM (7-4)
6. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki (5-6)
7. Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha (8-7)
8. Kyle Regal, Howell, Mich., Suzuki (10-9)
9. Jimmy Albertson, San Diego, Calif., Yamaha (12-11)
10. Jake Canada, Corona, Calif., Yamaha (11-14)
450 Championship Standings
1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki - 391
2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki - 384
3. Chad Reed, Kurri Kurri, Australia, Honda - 366
4. Brett Metcalfe, Mannum, Australia, Suzuki - 262
5. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM - 210
6. Andrew Short, Colorado Springs, Colo., KTM - 196
7. Kevin Windham, Baton Rouge, La., Honda - 193
8. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki - 190
9. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha - 173
10. Tommy Hahn, Great Bend, Kan., Yamaha - 140
250 Class (Moto Finish)
1. Dean Wilson, Glasgow, Scotland, Kawasaki (1-1)
2. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki (2-3)
3. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda (5-2)
4. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha (8-4)
5. Justin Bogle, Cushing, Okla., Honda (6-6)
6. Marvin Musquin, La Reole, France, KTM (7-8)
7. Martin Davalos, Quito, Ecudaor, Suzuki (14-5)
8. Gareth Swanepoel, Johannesburg, South Africa, Yamaha (4-16)
9. Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda (10-10)
10. Cole Seely, Newbury Park, Calif., Honda (9-11)
250 Class Championship Standings
1. Dean Wilson, Glasgow, Scotland, Kawasaki - 396
2. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki - 371
3. Tyla Rattray, Durban, South Africa, Kawasaki - 353
4. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha - 264
5. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda - 239
6. Gareth Swanepoel, Johannesburg, South Africa, Yamaha - 200
7. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki - 195
8. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Honda - 181
9. Martin Davalos, Quito, Ecuador, Suzuki - 175
10. Darryn Durham, Butler, Pa., Honda - 148
Catch Motors TV’s live AMA Motocross coverage on Saturday evenings this summer.
Tom Cauvain
International
