Villopoto takes AMA SX points lead with Anaheim win

Ryan Villopoto has taken a narrow lead in this season's AMA Supercross championship with victory at Anaheim's Angel Stadium.

Villopoto - who is fighting a typically close title battle with perennial front-runners Ryan Dungey, Chad Reed and James 'Bubba' Stewart - leads the standings for the first time following Sunday's triumph.

The Monster-backed Kawasaki man led all 20 laps of the main event, coming home ahead of Stewart and Reed. Dungey missed out on the podium in fourth as the series big guns continued to lock out the top positions.

“James and Chad were riding good tonight,” said Villopoto afterwards. “I knew I had to stay on my toes and not make a mistake.

"We need to take it one race at a time. I had a great start and to be perfect on the start difficult.”

Villopoto now heads the standings but the competition remains incredibly tight. Reed sits second, just three points off top spot, with Dungey a further two behind. Stewart is furthest adrift, 13 points off P1, but with 12 rounds remaining still has every chance of fighting for the title.

Watch AMA SX highlights on Motors TV


James Weeks