No run of the Mill
By TMX Archives on 11th Jan 13
A SELL-out crowd of more than 45,000 avid spectators piled into Anaheims Angel Stadium to watch the first instalment of Monster Energy AMA Supercross and FIM World Championship action.
And whilet many thought it would be reigning champion Ryan Villopoto who would take the opening victory, topping the podium after an evening of Supercross madness was Rockstar Energy Racing Suzuki's Davi Millsaps.
Meanwhile in the Western 250 main race, GEICO Honda's Eli Tomac laid down a dominant performance to take what looked like an easy win.
As the gate dropped for the first main event, Millsaps was on the gas to take the all-important holeshot with Trey Canard and teammate Justin Barcia coming round in second and third.
Villopoto started back in 12th.
Despite this, the champ wasted no time in making a charge forward, picking off riders lap-by-lap.
However the green charge was halted on lap eight, when he crashed and dropped several places before he was able to re-enter the race.
Also one of the favourites to win, Red Bull KTM's Ryan Dungey began with an okay start, and was able to hold down fourth for a chunk of the race before he started to make progress on Barcia.
Dungey then crashed on lap 15 but was able to quickly re-mount, losing little time.
At the front Millsaps held a solid lead, with Canard never dropping off the pace though and on lap 16 Canard saw his chance and made a pass.
With the chequered flag fast approaching, Millsaps made a last ditch attempt to retake the lead and the flag on the whoop section and crossed the line just ahead of Canard.
Dungey climbed to third after Barcia made a mistake on the closing laps.
"It was a great night for me,” said Millsaps.
"This is my first win since 2010, and I was just trying to keep cool out there.
" It has been a long time since I have led a race, so it was hard to calm my nerves.”
After hitting the first turn at the front of the 250 class, Cole Seeley was one of several riders involved in a crash along with heat one winner, Martin Davalos.
Avoiding the carnage was defending champion Eli Tomac, along with Malcom Stewart and KTM's Ken Roczen in second and third respectively.
Stewart's second place was short-lived though, as later on lap one Roczen found a way past.
After taking the initial lead, Seeley dropped back to fourth during the first few laps, but was able to regain a position to secure third on lap six and hold it to the flag.
At the front Roczen was unable to catch Tomac, who rode to a solid win some six seconds clear of his nearest rival.
"I had a tough Heat Race, and that was kind of a wake-up call for me,” admitted Tomac.
"This is how I wanted to start the season.
"I did a few off-season races, like the Monster Energy Cup and that kept me in shape.”
The series now heads to Phoenix's Chase Field for round two.
