Flashback – Round 3 – AMA/FIM Supercross Series 2011 – Los Angeles

As everyone gets ready for ‘Supercross 2012′, we flashback to the Los Angeles Supercross of this past season. It was the first supercross race ever held at Dodger Stadium. Do you remember who won in the premiere Supercross class, and the West Coast 250 Lites class? Below you’ll find Supercross.com’s coverage of the 2011 AMA / FIM Supercross in Los Angeles.

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Ryan Villopoto wins the first Supercross race ever held at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles and extends his 2011 Monster Energy Supercross series points lead to five. James Stewart finishes second, and reigning Supercross Champion Ryan Dungey, finishes third. Cole Seely wins his first ever 250 Supercross Lites Main Event.

Dodger Stadium

Another beautiful day in southern California for the inaugural supercross at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Even before the racing begin – we knew this was going to be an incredibly successful event. The crowd, the energy, and the buzz in the pits was tremendous. Feld Motor Sports has done a great job in bringing Supercross to Los Angeles, at a beautiful venue.

Lites 250 West Heat 1: First lap chaos and it’s series points leader Josh Hansen with the lead. Cole Seely is second on the Honda, and Ryan Morais is third.

This six lap heat race win goes to Monster Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Josh Hansen (100). Second is Cole Seely, Ryan Morais third, Broc Tickle fourth, followed by Balbi.

Lites 250 West Heat 2: Paluzzi gets the holeshot with Red Bull KTM’s, Ken Roczen, in second. Martin Davalos on Suzuki is battling with Roczen. This is Ken’s third ever supercross race. Paluzzi leads, Davalos second, Roczen third. Good battle for the top in this six lap heat race.

Davalos now leading, Roczen is second, Eli Tomac, N Paluzzi, J Decotis. And that’s how they finish. Davalos first, Roczen second, Tomac third, Paluzzi fourth, Decotis fifth.

Supercross Heat 1: It’s quite a long starting straight – and the leader is – Ryan Dungey number 1 on Suzuki! He’s followed by Kevin Windham, Ivan Tedesco, Chad Reed, and Trey Canard.

Lap four of this eight lap race – Dungey out front, Windham still second. Tedesco third. Reed fourth. Canard fifth.

Next lap – Reed moves up. It’s Dungey leading, Windham next, now Reed, then … Canard goes down.

Final lap – Dungey wins. Kevin Windham is second. Reed next, then Tedesco.

Supercross Heat 2: James Stewart with the lead going into the first corner, but goes too wide and has to get going again in last place. Meanwhile, Ryan Villopoto is the first lap leader, followed by Justin Brayton, and Kyle Regal.

As they start the fifth lap – Villopoto out front by a good margin. He’s running 51 second lap times. Second is Justin Brayton, then Kyle Regal, Thomas Hahn, and Davi Millsaps. Stewart has moved up to sixth, which will put him into the main event.

At the finish it’s Ryan Villopoto with the win! Justin Brayton second, Thomas Hahn next and fourth is James Stewart!

250 West Main Event: 15 laps! Holeshot goes to 36 Cole Seely! Eli Tomac is second. Ken Roczen is third! Josh Hansen stalls on first lap – restarts almost last!

As they come to the finish of lap three – Roczen and another rider go down at almost the same time! The running order – Cole Seely first, Eli Tomac is in second, Broc Tickle is next, followed by Ryan Morais. Hansen is eighth. Roczen is ninth.

As they start the final 1/3 of this main event, it’s Cole Seely of Troy Lee Designs Racing team heading for his first Supercross Lites Main Event win. Eli Tomac is heading towards his best finish in supercross as well in second. Broc Tickle could take over points lead – he’s in third. Ryan Morais is next, followed by Ryan Marmont, … and Josh Hansen has come all the way up to sixth! Roczen is seventh!

Exciting finish! Cole Seely wins his first ever Supercross Lites Main Event! Eli Tomac is second! Ryan Morais is third. Broc Tickle fourth. Josh Hansen all the way back to fifth, with Ken Roczen sixth!

Round 3 Lites Podium (L-R): Ryan Morais, Cole Seely, and Eli Tomac.

Supercross 20 lap Main Event – Holeshot goes to Brett Metcalfe! Team-mate Ryan Dungey is second … and Chad Reed goes down just a few feet after the first corner.

Leader Brett Metcalfe falls on the second lap in a right hand corner. Dungey takes the lead! It’s Dungey, Stewart right on his rear tire! Kevin Winhdam next, then Justin Brayton, and Trey Canard (who crashed hard in his heat, but came back to win his LCQ). Reed is 19th.

Next lap – James Stewart has taken over lead! Dungey is second, Windham next, Brayton, Canard, Villopoto, Stroupe, Short, Metcalfe. Reed 19th.

Lap five – Stewart leading, Dungey second, Trey Canard is chasing Dungey hard. Then Villopoto and then Windham.

Next lap – Stewart is leading Dungey by about 1 second. Villopoto is now in third. Then Canard, Brayton. Windham.

What already appears to be the top three in the sport of supercross right now are putting on a show. Stewart is leading. Dungey is right behind him. Literally. And Villopoto is right behind Dungey. Literally.

At the end of lap eight, Villopoto has passed Dungey. It’s Stewart out front by one second, Villopoto is second. Dungey is third. These top three are really, really close.

Stewart and Dungey go bar to bar.

Start of lap ten – Dungey goes to pass Villopoto – they touch! It’s Stewart leading, Villopoto second, Dungey third.

Next lap – Stewart slides out and goes down in a right hand corner! Villopoto has the lead! It’s Villopoto leading … and here comes Trey Canard! He’s moved into second! Dungey next, then James Stewart now in fourth.

Lap 14 – Stewart passes Canard. It’s now Villopoto out front by almost 4 seconds. Dungey is second. Then James Stewart, Trey Canard, and Justin Brayton. Reed has moved up to tenth!

Towards the end of lap 15 – Stewart makes a pass on Dungey in a tight left hand corner. It’s Villopoto leading on lap 16 now, Stewart next, Dungey chasing, then Canard.

The checkered flag – Ryan Villopoto takes the win! James Stewart a close second! Ryan Dungey is third.

Round 3 Supercross Podium (L-R): Ryan Dungey, Ryan Villopoto, and James Stewart.

The top four in Supercross point standings so far – Ryan Villopoto, James Stewart, Ryan Dungey, and Trey Canard finished top four in tonight’s Supercross Main Event. And they put on quite a show.

As with any long season, consistency and staying injury free, could determine the championship. Next weekend round 4 of the series will be in Oakland. Be there!

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