Chase and status

And this week's instalment didn't disappoint either, as 50,000 fans packed out the Chase Field Stadium in Phoenix to see the best riders in the sport go head-to-head again. 

 

After a disappointing opening round when he failed to make the podium, reigning 450 champion, Ryan Villopoto bounced back to fire the Monster Energy Kawasaki to his first win of the season.

 

And in an exciting finish to the Western 250s, Jason Anderson put in a dramatic last-lap pass to grab his second consecutive win.

 

As the gate dropped in the 450s Suzuki's Jake Moss got the jump out of the gates to hit the first turn and grab the Nuclear Cowboyz Holeshot Award, just ahead of Justin Brayton and Ryan Dungey. 

 

Villopoto started back in ninth behind James Stewart, Brayton and last week's winner, Ken Roczen.

 

Moss's lead was short-lived, though, as Brayton made a pass to hit the front on the second corner, with Dungey and Barcia staying close and moving up to second and third. 

 

As the pack started to spread out a little, Barcia made his move on Dungey and then set his sights on Brayton.

 

Barcia's pass didn't stick, though, and Brayton bounced straight back to the front, bringing Dungey through with him.

 

As things tightened up at the front, a six-rider fight for the lead saw Brayton, Dungey, Roczen, Barcia, Villopoto and Stewart all within just a few seconds of one another.

 

With riding so close, it was inevitable something had to give and on lap seven Barcia and Roczen made contact, leaving Roczen to hit the dirt. 

 

Villopoto, meanwhile, was slowly climbing through the ranks and made a successful pass for third. 

 

With Brayton still in the lead and Dungey fighting on his back wheel, Villopoto waited for his chance and eased past Dungey on lap 11 to claim second. 

 

Once there he had Brayton in his sights and he gradually reeled him in, before making his move on lap 13 to hit the front.

 

With a clear track ahead of him, Villopoto settled into his rhythm and held off a late challenge by Brayton to take the chequered flag.

 

FOR FULL REPORT AND PICTURES SEE TMX JANUARY 17

 

AMA & WORLD SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP

Rd 2 – Chase Field, Phoenix, Arizona, USA

SX450cc CLASS: 1 Ryan Villopoto (Kaw), 2 Justin Brayton (Yam), 3 Ryan Dungey (KTM), 4 James Stewart (Suz), 5 Justin Barcia (Hon), 6 Ken Roczen (D - KTM), 7 Andrew Short (KTM), 8 Broc Tickle (Suz), 9 Chad Reed (AUS - Kaw), 10 Will Hahn (Hon), 11 Matt Moss (AUS - Suz), 12 Ivan Tedesco (KTM), 13 Nick Wey (Kaw), 14 Vince Friese (Hon), 15 Matt Goerke (KTM), 16 Kyle Chisholm (Yam), 17 Mike Alessi (Suz), 18 Jake Weimer (Kaw), 19 Kyle Partridge (Hon), 20 Nicholas Schmidt (Hon), 21 Weston Peick (Suz), 22 Chris Blose (Hon). 

SERIES STANDINGS after 2 (of 17) rounds: 1 Villopoto 43 points, 2 Dungey 42, 3 Roczen 40, 4 Brayton 37, 5 Reed 32, 6 Barcia 32, 7 Short 26, 8 Tickle 26, 9 Stewart 22, 10 Hahn 21, 11 Moss 18, 12 Grant 14, 13 Weimer 14, 14 Mike Alessi 13, 15 Tedesco 10, 16 Wey 8, 17 Friese 8, 18 Schmidt 8, 19 Partridge 8, 20 Goerke 7,...

SX 250cc (West): 1 Jason Anderson (KTM), 2 Cole Seely (Hon), 3 Zach Osborne (Hon), 4 Dean WILSON (GB - Kaw), 5 Malcolm Stewart (Hon), 6 Cooper Webb (Yam), 7 Dean Ferris (KTM), 8 Justin Hill (Kaw), 9 Jessy Nelson (Hon), 10 Cole Martinez (Kaw), 11 Scott Champion (Yam), 12 Shane Mcelrath (Hon), 13 Austin Burns (Hon), 14 Darryn Durham (Kaw), 15 Chris Plouffe (Hon), 16 Colton Aeck (Hon), 17 Dakota Tedder (Kaw), 18 Aaron Siminoe (Kaw), 19 Ruben Alanis (KTM), 20 Jake Canada (Hon), 21 Killian Auberson (CH - KTM), 22 Conner Elliott (Hon).

SERIES STANDINGS after 2 (of 9) rounds: 1 Anderson 50 points, 2 Seely 44, 3 Osborne 40, 4 WILSON 36, 5 Webb 31, 6 Stewart 29, 7 Hill 28, 8 Nelson 24, 9 Ferris 21, 10 Durham 21, 11 Mcelrath 14, 12 Martinez 12, 13 Tedder 12, 14 Politelli 11, 15 Champion 10, 16 Leib 10, 17 Canada 10, 18 Austin Burns 8, 19 Plouffe 6, 20 Bell 6,...

NEXT ROUND: January 18 – Angel Stadium, Anaheim, California, USA.