Monster Energy Supercross: Anaheim 1

One of the things that makes the Supercross season-opener really cool every year is that you get some answers on how everyone’s program is working. Bike, suspension, fitness, and whatever other intangibles that go into making a successful program. We got quite a few questions answered on Saturday night. Have we answered them all? Not even close.









The Supercross main blasts off the line. Click any image for a larger version.

When the gate dropped for the Supercross main event, it was Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey that jumped out front with San Manuel / Yamaha / JSE’s James Stewart in second. For 17 laps or so, it looked like he might take the first win of since moving up to the 450s full-time.









Early on, it was Ryan Dungey, James Stewart, and Ryan Villopoto. The Monster Energy Kawasaki team said later that Villopoto got a bit pumped up, though he did go down in the second practice and come up holding a wrist, so he might not be running at 100 percent.

But you also had to wonder if James Stewart was laying down 100 percent of what he had, or was just going to school on Dungey. With the laps winding down, Stewart made a charge that moved him into the lead, but Ryan gave it one last shot, and the two diced it out on the last lap for the win. Unfortunately, Dungey made a mistake that Stewart was able to capitalize on, which gave Stewart the win, and points lead.









Late in the race, James Stewart kicked on the afterburners, closed quickly on Dungey, and held on for the win, despite a secondary surge from Dungey.

Third place on the podium might have been one of the most impressive rides of the night. That belonged to Geico Powersports Honda’s Kevin Windham, who started fifth, and charged past both Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto (who was a bit pumped up), and Honda Red Bull Racing Andrew Short. There’s a lot of talent out there right now, and we could see quite a rotation on the podium this year.









Kevin Windham was on a mission, passing both Ryan Villopoto, and Andrew Short.

Looking back at year at Anaheim 1, it was Stewart going down hard and not being able to remount that led to one of the more interesting race seasons in quite a while. This year it was a little role reversal for Chad Reed, after a tangle with Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Austin Stroupe left him with broken front spokes and A DNF. Can he come back from that? We’ll have to wait and see.









A mere 30 feet out of the gate, and this is your Lites podium. Jake Weimer (12), Trey Canard (38), and Ryan Morais (116).

In the lights class, things were a little more cut ‘n dry. Early on, it was the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki duo of Jake Weimer and Josh Hansen out front, at least until Hansen dropped it in the corner after the finish line. He went down at least once other time, but still finished in eighth spot.









In the first turn, Weimer was side-by-side with his Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki teammate, Josh Hansen. Unfortunately, a couple missteps dropped Hansen back to eighth.

Trey Canard (Geico Powersports Honda) and Gautier Paulin (who’s guest-riding on the back of the DNA Shred Stix / Star Racing / Yamaha rig) were duking it out for third spot, but Paulin went down, and that gave Canard the third spot. He later passed Ryan Morais (Rockstar Energy Suzuki) for second, and Morais claimed the final podium spot.









Ryan Morais leading Gautier Paulin (312), and Trey Canard. Whoa, that One gear was bright.

In the meantime? We're working on some larger photo galleries from the event, so check back later. And next week? We’ll make the run across the desert to Phoenix, for round two of the Monster Energy Supercross series.


Monster Energy Supercross

Anaheim 1


Supercross Lites Heat 1
1. Broc Tickle

2. Max Anstie

3. Trey Canard

4. Gautier Paulin

5. Wil Hahn

6. Phil Nicoletti

7. Travis Baker

8. Hunter Hewitt

9. Ben Evans


Supercross Lites Heat 2
1. Jake Weimer

2. Ryan Morais

3. Josh Hansen

4. Cole Seely

5. Tommy Searle

6. Chris Gosselaar

7. Robert Kiniry

8. Ryan Clark

9. Blake Wharton


Supercross Heat 1
1. Davi Millsaps

2. Ryan Dungey

3. Chad Reed

4. Kevin Windham

5. Ivan Tedesco

6. Grant Langston

7. Fabien Ioird

8. Nick Wey

9. Jason Lawrence


Supercross Heat 2
1. James Stewart

2. Andrew Short

3. Ryan Villopoto

4. Austin Stroupe

5. Justin Brayton

6. Michael Byrne

7. Gregory Aranda

8. Tommy Hahn

9. Josh Grant


Supercross Lites LCQ
1. Sean Borkenhagen

2. Jeff Alessi


Supercross LCQ
1. Josh Hill

2. Justin Keeney


Supercross Lites Main Event
1. Jake Weimer (Kawasaki)

2. Trey Canard (Honda)

3. Ryan Morais (Suzuki)

4. Blake Wharton (Honda)

5. Wil Hahn (Honda)

6. Broc Tickle (Yamaha)

7. Tommy Searle (KTM)

8. Josh Hansen (Kawasaki)

9. Max Anstie (Yamaha)

10. Jeff Alessi (Yamaha)

11. Hunter Hewitt (Suzuki)

12. Sean Borkenhagen (KTM)

13. Robert Kiniry (Suzuki)

14. Cole Seely (Honda)

15. Gautier Paulin (Yamaha)

16. Phil Nicoletti (KTM)

17. Chris Gosselaar (Honda)

18. Ben Evans (Suzuki)

19. Ryan Clark (Honda)

20. Travis Baker (Yamaha)


Supercross Main Event
1. James Stewart (Yamaha)

2. Ryan Dungey (Suzuki)

3. Kevin Windham (Honda)

4. Andrew Short (Honda)

5. Ryan Villopoto (Kawasaki)

6. Josh Hill (Yamaha)

7. Ivan Tedesco (Yamaha)

8. Justin Brayton (Yamaha)

9. Davi Millsaps (Honda)

10. Grant Langston (Yamaha)

11. Tommy Hahn (Suzuki)

12. Nick Wey (Kawasaki)

13. Gregory Aranda (Kawasaki)

14. Fabien Izoird (Kawasaki)

15. Justin Keeney (Kawasaki)

16. Michael Byrne (Kawasaki)

17. Jason Lawrence (Yamaha)

18. Austin Stroupe (Suzuki)

19. Chad Reed (Kawasaki)

20. Josh Grant (Yamaha)

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