ANDREW SHORT’S HAPPY NIGHT ON THE PODIUM
Andrew Short has been trying to win a Supercross forever. He has come close, but something always conspired against him. But, all the stars aligned in Seattle. When Short got the holeshot, especially on a track that had a hairpin first turn followed by two more hairpins, he quickly opened a gap on his pursuers. Melodramatically, the guy chasing him was on the KTM 350SXF that Andrew Short raced last year–Ken Roczen.
Ryan Villopoto, who luckily had locked up the 2012 title already, crashed in the first turn, got his leg hooked up as his bike toppled over and crawled off the track on his hands and knee (the good knee). Villopoto was the last of powerhouse riders not to be injured in 2012, but now he has joined Chad Reed, Kevin Windham, James Stewart, Trey Canard and Ryan Dungey (who returned in Seattle after missing five weeks with a broke collarbone) on the injured list. No official word on Villopoto’s knee injury...and probably nothing will come from his camp until he gets home and goes to his knee specialist.
Short, a man that everyone in the pits likes very much, was a popular winner. Roczen was second on the 350, Jake Weimer was third, Justin Brayton fourth, Davi Millsaps fifth, Ryan Dungey sixth (Dungey might have made the podium, but fell in the middle of the race). Fast qualifier Mike Alessi was seventh and with his missing visor and JT gear he looked like an old-school vintage racer. Broc Tickle was eighth, Weston Peick Ninth and Nick Wey tenth (Peick and Wey got to the main via the Last Chance). Villopoto was 19th with Brett Metcalfe 20th.
250 CLASS
ELI TOMAC TALKS ABOUT HIS DUEL WITH DEAN WILSON
Dean Wilson came to Seattle with a two point lead on Eli Tomac for the 250 West title and, as soon as the race started, the two found each other. As to what were “racing incidents” and what was dirty, that will be the subject of discussion over the next two races, because both riders were at fault. But, by the end of the night, with Wilson on the deck (eventually finishing seventh), Tomac only left Seattle four points ahead of Wilson with Salt Lake and Vegas to go.
Under the Code, everyone rides clean (well, not everyone, but the riders know who those riders are) until the person they are racing against doesn’t ride clean. The Tomac /Wilson battle will carry on into next weekend–because each rider broke the code.
THE MAN WHO COULDA, SHOULD, WOULDA WON...MOVIN MARV TALKS ABOUT WHAT WENT WRONG
By all rights Marvin Musquin should have won Seattle. He was the fastest in timed qualifying and the fastest in the main event...but he was fast back in 11th place. Once Movin’ Marv settled in, he motored his way all the way to second place...passing Tomac on the last lap. Tomac had a bent shifter from his collision with Wilson...but that is also a “racing incident.”
In the end Ryan Sipes, another underdog favorite, had an easy time of at the front. He used the three hairpins to break away and then benefited from the Tomac/Wilson jousts. Sipes victory was only the third of his career, but given his recent injuries, probably the sweetest.
RYAN SIPES COMES BACK FROM INJURY TO WIN AGAIN
SEATTLE SUPERCROSS RESULTS
450 CLASS
1. Andrew Short
2. Ken Roczen
3. Jake Weimer
4. Justin Brayton
5. Davi Millsaps
6. Ryan Dungey
7. Mike Alessi
8. Broc Tickle
9. Weston Peick
10. Nick Wey
11. Kyle Chisholm
12. Bobby Kiniry
13. Justin Sipes
14. Chris Blose
15. Matt Goerke
16. Tyler Bowers
17. Kyle Regal
18. Josh Grant
19. Ryan Villopoto
20. Brett Metcalfe
250 WEST CLASS:
1. Ryan Sipes
2. Marvin Musquin
3. Eli Tomac
4. Cole Seely
5. Wil Hahn
6. Jason Anderson
7. Dean Wilson
8. Billy Laninovich
9. Travis Baker
10. Vince Friese
11. Scott Champion
12. Kyle Beaton
13. Killy Rusk
14. Martin Davalos
15. Topher Ingalls
16. Beau Hudson
17. Matt Moss
18. Eric Meusling
19. Preston Tilford
20. Myles Tedder
450 CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS
(After 15 of 17 events)
1. Ryan Villopoto...323
2. Davi Millsaps...222
3. Justin Brayton...219
4. Ryan Dungey...207
5. Jake Weimer...191
6. James Stewart 178
7. Mike Alessi...176
8. Brett Metcalfe...173
9. Kevin Windham...166
10. Broc Tickle...146
Other notables: 11. Kyle Chisholm...139; 13. Andrew Short...100; 14. Nick Wey...97; 23. Kyle Regal...32; 27. Jimmy Albertson...26
250 WEST CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS
(After 7 of 9 events)
1. Eli Tomac...134
2. Dean Wilson...130
3. Cole Seely...119
4. Marvin Musquin...111
5. Ryan Sipes...78
6. Nico Izzi...78
7. Matt Moss...77
8. Travis Baker...75
9. Jason Anderson...73
10. Billy Laninovich...70
Other notables: 11. Zach Osborne...67; 13. Tyla Rattray...60; 17. Gareth Swanepoel...34; 19. Gavin Faith...27; 35. Christian Craig...1