Flashback – Round 2 – AMA/FIM Supercross Series 2011 – Phoenix

We now look back at Round 2 of the 2011 AMA Supercross Series Championship. It was January 15 in Phoenix. Below is the original article as it appeared that night on Supercross.com

James Stewart wins the Phoenix Supercross premiere class Main Event! His first victory in over one year! Josh Hansen wins 250 West Supercross Main. Round 2 of Supercross 2011, an AMA / FIM World Championship at Chase Field in Phoenix!

Chase Field

Another beautiful day – sunshine and warm temps during the day in the ‘Valley of the Sun’. Fastest qualifier in the premiere Supercross class – James Stewart with a 48.4 second lap time. Next in lap times – Ryan Villopoto, Trey Canard, Ivan Tedesco, Ryan Dungey, Justin Brayton, Austin Stroupe on a Yamaha, Kevin Windham, Josh Grant, Thomas Hahn, and Chad Reed.

After very patriotic opening ceremonies, and in what looks to be a completely filled stadium – just like last week in Anaheim, 250 Heat 1 takes off at 7:47pm local time. The leader? Former World MX 2 Motocross Champion Tyla Rattray! Kyle Cunningham, number 35 on Yamaha gives chase. But Rattray holds on to win! Kyle Cunningham second, Ryan Marmont from Australia third, Antonio Balbi fourth. Ken Roczen 19th due to a crash. Tyla Rattray is looking good so far in his first season of supercross.

250 Heat 2 – holeshot to Josh Hansen! He looks very quick thru the whoops. He’s chased by Martin Davalos on the 23 Suzuki, and then number 20 Broc Tickle. And at the end of this six lap race – that’s how they finish – Josh Hansen first, Martin Davalos second, Broc Tickle third.

Supercross Heat 1 – Ryan Villopoto is the leader! He’s followed by Ivan Tedesco, Andrew Short, and Kevin Windham. Villopoto has already pulled a huge lead on the second lap. Andrew Short has worked into second. This eight lap race finishes with Villopoto winning, Short second, then Ivan Tedeso, Kevin Windham, and Thomas Hahn.

Supercross Heat 2 – Austin Stroupe rockets into the lead. He’s chased by James Stewart. Stewart passes Stroupe on lap two – the running order on lap three of this eight lap race – Stewart first, Stroupe second, Chad Reed, Brett Metcalfe, Ryan Dungey, Trey Canard, Mike Alessi.

Stewart falls in a right hand corner! It’s Stroupe now leading. He’s chased by Chad Reed. Stewart is in third. Then Canard, then Dungey.

On lap six – Reed goes by Stroupe and into the lead. It’s Reed first, Stroupe number 74 on Yamaha next, Stewart in third, Trey Canard next, then Ryan Dungey in fifth. Those top five are equally spaced apart. But Stewart finds a burst of speed and passes Stroupe on the last lap. The finishing positions – Reed wins, Stewart second, Stroupe third, Dungey fourth, Canard fifth, Millsaps up to sixth.

In the LCQ for the 250 Lites, Ken Roczen is on the starting line. He did crash in that first heat. It looks like he has a ‘bad’ right ankle – it’s being iced before the start of this race. But the 16 year old Roczen, from Germany, riding for Red Bull KTM, grabs the holeshot! And wins the four lap LCQ – getting him into the 250 Lites Main Event.

9:24pm Phoenix time – the 15 lap 250 West Main Event blasts off! And it’s Broc Tickle in the lead! The top five after 1 lap – Tickle, Morais, Hansen, Roczen, Davalos.

On lap eight – Broc Tickle falls in a right hand corner. It’s Josh Hansen with the lead. Ryan Morais on Suzuki number 71 is second. Looks like Roczen is out as well. Tickle remounts in third. Tyla Rattray is now fourth, and Decotis is fifth. Roczen is pulling off the track towards the start line.

At the ten lap mark of this 15 lap race – Josh Hansen is leading, Ryan Morais second, then Tickle, Rattray, Decotis, Cole Seely, Eli Tomac, J Canada, K Cunningham, T Baker, M Davalos, and A Balbi.

The checkered flag, and his second win in a row in 250 West Supercross – Josh Hansen! Lots of position changes in the last few laps. Second is Broc Tickle – Pro-Circuit 1-2. Third is Ryan Morais, fourth is Cole Seely, fifth Eli Tomac, sixth Tyla Rattray. Ken Roczen is officially scored 19th.

250 Podium (L – R) Broc Tickle, Josh Hansen, Ryan Morais

Supercross 20 lap Main Event – 9:51pm. James Stewart holeshots the Main Event! Second is Kevin Windham, then Ryan Villopoto, and Justin Brayton. Midway thru the second lap – Stewart first, then Windham, Villopoto, Brayton, Canard, Dungey, and Reed.

Lap five – Stewart leading, Villopoto chasing! Windham third, Canard now fourth, then Brayton, Dungey, Reed … but everyone is watching Stewart and Villopoto up front.

Lap ten – Stewart is leading. Villopoto is less than one second behind him. They are starting to pull away. Canard has moved into third – about eight second behind the leaders. Things are hectic. Then Villopoto goes down in a right hand corner! He remounts quickly – still in second! The top guys are running around 49 seconds per lap.

More changes – as they start lap 13, it’s Stewart over Villopoto by 6 seconds. Third is Canard. Chad Reed has moved into fourth. Then Ryan Dungey, Justin Brayton, Andrew Short. Windham is out …

As they near the end of this 20 lap Supercross Main event – James Stewart appears headed to his first supercross victory in over a year. The checkered flag falls – it’s James Stewart with the win! Ryan Villopoto is second. Trey Canard on the Honda is third. Fourth goes to Chad Reed, and fifth defending Supercross Series Champion Ryan Dungey.

450 Podium (L – R) Trey Canard, James Stewart, Ryan Villopoto

Recap – the top three in lap times during the day finished 1-2-3. James Stewart and the San Manuel L & M Yamaha racing team are obviously quite happy. Ryan Villopoto, even with a fall, finishes second – and maintains his series points lead as the series gets ready to go to a brand new venue – Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Trey Canard put in his best ride of the young season – on the podium with a third place finish. Chad Reed, a former supercross champion, racing for his own team, and on Honda machines, finishes fourth. Supercross Series Champion Ryan Dungey finishes fifth. We’re sure that’s not the result he wanted, but Ryan knows it’s a long season, and there will be lots of ups and downs for everyone. Fifth place is not bad.

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Nice video – Jeremy McGrath, David Bailey, Rick Johnson, Jeff Ward talk about racing Supercross today