Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, will make its third appearance at Jacksonville’s EverBank Field on Saturday for the 11th race of the 2011 season. Last weekend, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto added to his recent dominance by capturing a third consecutive victory inside Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium.
Villopoto’s performance last Saturday also marked his championship-leading fifth win of the season. After moving into the lead before the completion of the first lap, Villopoto pulled away from the field with a wire-to-wire win to give him his second straight win inside Lucas Oil Stadium. Currently, Villopoto’s advantage over San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart in the Supercross class standings sits at 26 points.
“The track was really tough tonight,” said Villopoto. “The ruts played a big factor throughout the 20-lap main. You really had to be smart out there. The whole team worked together really well tonight, and I couldn’t do it without them.”
After a difficult outing in Daytona the week prior, Stewart rebounded with a strong runner-up effort at Indianapolis, giving up minimal points to Villopoto. The 20-lap main event was full of excitement for Stewart, coming from dead last off the start and overcoming a pair of near-crashes to work his way through the field and a return to the podium.
“I had a rough weekend last week and wasn’t able to ride the way I wanted to,” said Stewart. “I let my team down today. It’s not over. I’m so motivated right now and I have a bunch of guys behind me.”
Stewart was the inaugural winner in Jacksonville in 2009, the year of his last world championship. With good fortune on his side, EverBank Field could serve as the place for him to begin his pursuit of Villopoto.
Rounding out the Supercross class podium in Indianapolis was TwoTwo Motorsports/Bel-Ray Racing’s Chad Reed. Since capturing his first win of the season in San Diego four weeks ago, Reed has been a podium fixture and is just three points behind Stewart in the standings.
Last year in Jacksonville, Villopoto grabbed the holeshot and went on to take a wire-to-wire win as he chased down Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey for the championship. In the Supercross Lites class, eventual champion Christophe Pourcel grabbed a convincing victory.
Season Standings
Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki – 221
James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha – 195
Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Honda – 192
Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki – 183
Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda – 169
Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM – 129
Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C, Yamaha – 121
Davi Millsaps, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha – 114
Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki – 107
Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda - 103
Photo Credit: Hoppenworld.com