AMA Supercross 2012 coming … but for now, flashback to Oakland Supercross 2011

You know that the 2012 AMA Supercross Series starts January 2012. Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California. All the big names of supercross and motocross should be there. Champions like Ryan Villopoto, former champions James Stewart, Chad Reed, Ryan Dungey, and World MX Champions like Marvin Musquin, Kenny Roczen, and Tyla Rattray.

But Supercross 2012 is over one month away. Sooooo ….. let’s flashback to earlier this year – Round 4 of the 2011 AMA / FIM Supercross Series in Oakland!

James Stewart wins AMA Supercross in Oakland! Broc Tickle wins 15 lap West Regional Supercross Main Event! It’s round 4 of the 2011 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series, an FIM World Championship, at Oakland-Alameda County Stadium! Stewart takes over series points lead.

Oakland-Alameda County Stadium

An overcast day, with occasional mist as practice starts at 12:30 today.

In the 250 West Regional practice sessions, as of 4pm, the fastest lap times belonged to Martin Davalos (53.2 seconds), Josh Hansen (53.4 seconds), Eli Tomac (53.6 seconds), Broc Tickle (53.7 seconds), Kyle Cunningham (53.9 seconds), Cole Seely (54.13 seconds), Ken Roczen (54.15 seconds) and Tyla Rattray (54.6 seconds).

In the premiere Supercross class, James Stewart had a tough afternoon, with a couple of falls. It appears as if he will sit out the last practice session – but no matter. James has the quickest qualifying lap so far – 51.5 seconds. Next, Trey Canard (52 seconds), Ryan Villopoto (52.1 seconds), Ryan Dungey (52.2 seconds), Justin Brayton (52.9 seconds) and Chad Reed (53 seconds).

It has started to rain off and on, although lightly.

As the night-time program gets ready to start – the skies have cleared right now, there is no rain, and the track has been prepared very well.

250 West Heat 1 – Six laps. Gate drops for this first race of the night, and the leader is number 58 Travis Baker. As they start the second lap, Travis is passed by Ryan Morais. Broc Tickle is right behind him now. Good race already. Morais leading, Tickle chasing. They’ve already put a gap on third place as they start the next lap.

As the enter the fourth corner of lap four, a left hander, Tickle goes inside and pushed Morais up against the berm, and takes the lead! Running order after four laps now – Tickle, Morais, Cole Seely, Travis Baker, A Balbi.

The checkered flag goes to -  Broc Tickle! Ryan Morais is next, then Cole Seely, Travis Baker, A Balbi and N Paluzzi.

250 West Heat 2 – Josh Hansen blasts out of the gate and leads the first lap. Eli Tomac is next, followed by Ken Roczen!

As they start lap three, Tomac is really pushing on Hansen, and Roczen is just a few bike lengths behind them. Fourth is Tyla Rattray.

Tyla Rattray finishes 4th in West heat 2.

At the finish, it’s Josh Hansen winning! Eli Tomac is second, Ken Roczen third, Tyla Rattray fourth.

Supercross Class Heat 1 – it’s James Stewart out front! As he completes the second lap of this eight lap race, he’s already starting to pull a nice lead. At the halfway point Trey Canard has moved into second, although nearly seven seconds behind Stewart. Third is Austin Stroupe, fourth is Kyle Regal, then Davi Millsaps.

James Stewart puts on a clinic as he wins this heat. Second is rookie Honda sensation Trey Canard. Davi Millsaps works up to third. Austin Stroupe is fourth, then fifth is Kyle Regal.

In heat 2, second place goes to Trey Canard.

Supercross Class Heat 2 – It’s Brett Metcalfe with the Holeshot! As they are halfway thru the second lap, Brayton with the lead, Andrew Short into second, Brett Metcalfe right behind, then Chad Reed, Kevin Windham, Ryan Villopoto and Ryan Dungey. After Brayton – the rest of that group is very close!

Brett Metcalfe gets the holeshot over Justin Brayton in heat 2 of the Supercross class.

Brayton stretching out his lead … Reed has moved into second, Short third, Villopoto now fourth, then Windham, then Metcalfe, then Dungey. This is lap four.

Lap five – Brayton with a four second lead over Reed. Then Villopoto closing quickly on Reed. Short just a ways back, chased hard by Windham. Dungey is right behind them. Great race!

Lap seven – Brayton leading on this last lap. Reed in second, with Villopoto trying hard to close the gap. Windham just a ways back in fourth, and Dungey passes Short to finish fifth. Metcalfe seventh.

That’s how they finish – Brayton winning! Reed second, Villopoto third, then Windham, Dungey, Short, Metcalfe seventh.

Justin Brayton wins heat 2.

9:00pm – it has started to rain – very hard.

250 West 15 lap Main Event – the track is slick, the holeshot goes to Eli Tomac on his Honda! Ken Roczen is second, Josh Hansen is third, Broc Tickle next, and they are followed by Tyla Rattray.

Top three now on lap three are very close! Tomac first, Roczen second, Hansen third. Tickle is a ways back in fourth.

Ken Roczen (194) battles Josh Hansen (100) in the West Lites Final.

Start of lap four – Tomac slides out in first corner. Rain has subsided. Ken Roczen is leading this supercross. He’s being chased by Josh Hansen.

At the end of lap five, Hansen cuts inside of Roczen to take over the lead. Roczen passes him right back in the next corner! These top two are putting on a show.

Now on lap six – Hansen has moved into the lead. Tickle has moved into second. Roczen third. These top three are less than one second apart. And Tomac has close the gap up – he’s in fourth and chasing the top three. The track is slick … but these guys are flying.

Eli Tomac dealing with the wet weather conditions.

Tickle is now challenging Hansen, and has passed Hansen on the start of lap nine! The running order! Tickle first, Hansen second, Roczen third, Tomac fourth.

On the start of lap ten – Roczen slips in the first corner in the same place as Tomac did earlier. On lap 11, it’s Tickle leading Hansen by a little over one second, Tomac is third, four seconds behind Hansen. Roczen is fourth, Tyla Rattray fifth.

They are starting to spread out a bit after that hectic burst of racing. At the end of this race, Broc Tickle has won! Josh Hansen is second! Third place goes to Eli Tomac, then Ken Roczen, and Tyla Rattray.

Oakland West Regional Lites Podium (L-R): Eli Tomac, Broc Tickle, Josh Hansen

Broc Tickle said after the win: I was so focused out there tonight. I knew it was going to be really slick, so I tried to ride smooth and take it lap by lap.

Supercross class 20 lap Main Event – it looked like Villopoto and Reed were side by side coming into the first corner … but it’s Villopoto with the lead on the opening lap! Second place is … James Stewart! Chad Reed third. Ryan Dungey fourth.

Lap three – Ryan Villopoto falls over in a tight left hand corner – handing Stewart the lead!

Stewart now leads Chad Reed by almost four seconds as they start lap four. Ryan Dungey is next, and Villopoto has remounted in fourth. The running order after that – Stroupe, Millsaps, Regal, Windham, Blose, Tedesco, Metcalfe, Canard, Brayton, Friese, Chisholm, Short, Boni.

As they begin lap eight, Stewart is out front, with a nice lead, on the slick track. Meanwhile, Reed, Dungey, and Villopoto are the ‘show’ – they are very close together.

Dungey and Villopoto are now having a personal battle. Dungey looks over at Villopoto over a jump. And they are both right on Chad Reed!

Chad Reed (22) being chased by Ryan Villopoto (2)

At the halfway point – Stewart out front by over six seconds. On lap 11 – Dungey moves past Reed into second! It’s Stewart, Dungey, Reed, Villopoto. Stewart’s best lap times are in the 47 second range.

Lap 16 – Stewart comfortably out front. Dungey in second, about eight seconds back. Reed third – about three second behind Dungey. Villopoto, even after another fall, is fourth. Brett Metcalfe has moved into fifth. Then Canard, Windham, Millsaps, Tedesco, Short, Blose, Boni.

James Stewart wins! And on the very last corner, just yards before the finish line jump – with Dungey and Reed facing lappers – Reed goes by Dungey and finishes an exciting second! Dungey third! Villopoto fourth, then Metcalfe, Canard, Windham, Millsaps, Short, and Tedesco tenth.

James Stewart said after his victory: This is a great win for me and the team. It is a long season and it’s all about winning a championship. The rain tonight made it a little difficult, but I ‘m glad I came out on top.

Oakland Supercross Podium (L-R): Ryan Dungey, James Stewart, Chad Reed

Recap: In the premiere Supercross class, both James Stewart and Ryan Villopoto have won two races each. Tonight, with James winning and Ryan finishing fourth, James now takes a slim two point lead over Ryan. In the 250 West Lites class, Josh Hansen has an even slimmer one point lead over team-mate Broc Tickle.

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