Published February 23rd, 2013

Atlanta’s Georgiadome is home to the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons football team. But today it hosted the best supercross racers in the world. And James Stewart has won his first 450 SX Main Event of the year! Ryan Villopto takes second, Davi Millsaps third. Millsaps retains points lead. In the 250 ‘East’ series, Wil Hahn has won tonight’s 15 lap Main Event, with Dean Wilson second, Marvin Musquin third.

• Last week in Dallas it was Ryan Villopoto & Dean Wilson with the wins
• Last year in Atlanta, it was Ryan Dungey & Justin Barcia with the wins

Notes from today: Andrew Short has joined the BTO Sports KTM team, and Kyle Chisholm has joined the Joe Gibbs Racing MX Team.

Click on thumbnails to view larger images

In 250 East Qualifying two time MX 2 World Motocross Champion Marvin Musquin runs the quickest lap at 52.6 seconds. Dean Wilson is next – 52.9 seconds. Wil Hahn third with 53.3. Then Jeremy Martin, Blake Wharton, Vince Friese, Zach Bell, Gavin Faith, Kyle Peters, and Justin Hill tenth at 55 seconds even. 56 riders are attempting to qualify.

Marvin Musquin – quickest in 250 practice

In 450 SX Qualifying, James Stewart has the quickest lap at 52.1 seconds. Second is 450 SX rookie Eli Tomac at 52.22. Third Trey Canard 52.23. Hometown rider, and current series points leader Davi Millsaps is next at 52.3. Justin Barcia – 52.4, Ryan Dungey 52.51. Ryan Villopoto 52.58, Chad Reed 52.7 , Justin Brayton 52.8, Mike Alessi 52.9. Those top ten are all within 8/10ths of a second of each other! 54 riders attempted to qualify.

James Stewart – quickest in 450 practice

250 East Heat 1 – it’s number 15 with the red plate, Dean Wilson leading the start of this six lap race. At the halfway point, with Wilson leading, it’s Gavin Faith running in second, with Wilson’s team-mate Justin Hill in third.

At the finish, it’s Wilson winning over Faith. And Jeremy Martin third. Justin Hill fourth.

250 East Heat 2 – it looks like Zach Bell, number 167 with the holeshot. And he’s followed by Marvin Musquin.

At the halfway point – it’s Zach Bell still leading, Marvin is second, Wil Hahn is third. Then Blake Wharton and Kyle Peters.

On the last lap, it’s quite hectic! Wil Hahn makes the pass on Bell for the lead! Then Musquin goes past Bell as well. And then Bell tumbles! At the finish – it’s Wil Hahn with the win! Marvin Musquin second! Third Blake Wharton, fourth Kyle Peters, and … Bell recovers for fifth.

450 SX Heat 1 – there is a distinctive roar as the 450′s take off for the first time. And it’s hometown rider, and series points leader Davi Millsaps with the lead. The running order at the end of lap one – Millsaps, Andrew Short, Jake Weimer, Mike Alessi, Ryan Dungey, Chad Reed, Jimmy Albertson, Josh Hill …. Eli Tomac is tenth.

This race will go eight laps. At the halfway point, it’s Davi Millsaps out front. Andrew Short on his new KTM ride second. Jake Weimer third. Then Ryan Dungey, Chad Reed, Mike Alessi, and Eli Tomac.

Davi Millsaps is making it look easy. He’s very smooth on the Suzuki 450. And he wins this heat race. Second place – Andrew Short. Third – Jake Weimer. Then Chad Reed, Mike Alessi, Eli Tomac, Ryan Dungey and Jimmy Albertson.

450 SX Heat 2 – James Stewart rockets out to the lead. Then it’s Justin Barcia, Justin Brayton, Trey Canard, Matt Goerke, Broc Tickle, and Ryan Villopoto.

Trey Canard is slowing. He didn’t fall, and he doesn’t look hurt. But he’s pulling off the track.

Up front – James Stewart is riding towards the win. Justin Brayton has moved into second. Then it’s Justin Barcia. Ryan Villopoto up to fourth.

On lap six – Brayton stalls for a few seconds.

At the finish, James Stewart wins it! Then Barcia and Villopoto. Brayton recovers for fourth. Canard will have to try thru the LCQ.

In the 450 LCQ – Trey Canard won handily, to transfer into the main event. Robert Kiniry finishes second – and he transfers to the main event too.

It’s time for the 15 lap 250 East Main Event – coming out of the first corner – it’s Wil Hahn with the lead. Then Dean Wilson, Blake Wharton, and Marvin Musquin. Justin Hill is fifth, Zach Bell is 13th.

On lap three – Musquin squeezes past Wharton. It’s Hahn first, Wilson second, then Musquin, Wharton, J Hill, Jeremy Martin, Gavin Faith, L Vincent, Kyle Peters, Vince Friese, and Zach Bell 11th.

At the ten lap mark – Wil Hahn continues to lead. Can he win his first ever 250 SX Main Event? He leads Dean Wilson by just over 2 seconds.

Wil Hahn has done it! He’s won tonight’s 250 Main! His first main event win ever! Dean Wilson finishes second, with Marvin Musquin third. (Full results below.)

Wil Hahn said “After the heat race, I knew I could do it. It’s been a long time coming. I’ve been a long time Honda guy, and this is to repay all of them that have helped me. I wish my mom was here – I’ll see you soon and I love you.”

Wil Hahn wins Atlanta 250 class – his first win in supercross

450 SX 20 lap Main Event – it looked like Weimer and Villopoto were heading into the first corner with the top two positions, but coming out of the first corner it’s James Stewart with the lead! Ryan Villopoto is second. Jake Weimer third, and Davi Millsaps has moved up to fourth after starting about sixth.

James Stewart is leading, and … will he win his first Main Event of the year? James is a two time AMA Supercross Champion (2007 & 2009). Less than two seconds behind him is another two-time AMA Supercross Series Champion – Ryan Villopoto. Ryan wears the number 1 plate because he’s also the defending (2011 and 2012) Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series Champion!

Five laps in – Stewart, Villopoto, Millsaps up to third. Justin Barcia, Trey Canard, Ryan Dungey, Jake Weimer, Mike Alessi, Eli Tomac, Andrew Short … where is Chad Reed? Chad is running 11th.

The halfway point – ten laps in – Stewart leads Villopoto by just over two second. Davi Millsaps is third. Then Barcia, Canard, Dungey, Tomac, Weimer, Alessi, and Reed is tenth.

James Stewart is heading towards his first win of the season. And he’s done it! James Stewart wins! Ryan Villopoto takes second, and Davi Millsaps finishes third! (Full results below.)

James Stewart

James said afterwards “I struggled all day – but I got a great start in the main event. I don’t even remember the last time I won a race. Last week was tough (not being able to start the main event in Dallas). This is great!”

250 East Main Event Results:

1. Wil Hahn – HON
2. Dean Wilson – KAW
3. Marvin Musquin – KTM
4. Blake Wharton – SUZ
5. Jeremy Martin – YAM
6. Justin Hill – KAW
7. Gavin Faith – HON
8. Kyle Peters -
9. Vince Friese -
10. Zach Bell – HON
11. Mitchel Oldenburg – HON
12. L Vincent – KTM
13. Cole Thompson – HON
14. James DeCotis – HON
15. Steven Clarke – KTM
16. Gareth Swanepoel – KAW
17. A Gulley – KAW
18. AJ Catanzaro – KAW
19. Kurtis McCabe – HON
20. Jackson Richardson – HON

250 East Point standings:

1. Dean Wilson – 47
2. Wil Hahn – 45
3. Blake Wharton – 40
4. Marvin Musquin – 35
5. Kyle Peters – 31
6. Justin Hill – 31
7. Gavin Faith – 28
8. Vince Friese – 24
9. James Decotis – 20
10. L Vincent – 20
11. M Oldenburg – 19
12. Jeremy Martin – 16
13. Zach Bell – 14
14. G Swanepoel – 13
15. Cole Thompson – 12
16. Jackson Richardson – 11
17. Adam Gulley – 10
18. Levi Kilbarger – 7
19. Steven Clarke – 6
20. Ryan Zimmer – 5

450 Main Event Results:

1. James Stewart – SUZ
2. Ryan Villopoto – KAW
3. Davi Millsaps – SUZ
4. Justin Barcia – HON
5. Trey Canard – HON
6. Ryan Dungey – KTM
7. Eli Tomac – HON
8. Jake Weimer – KAW
9. Chad Reed – HON
10. Mike Alessi – SUZ
11. Matt Goerke – KTM
12. Broc Tickle – SUZ
13. Justin Brayton – YAM
14. Andrew Short – KTM
15. PJ Larsen – HON
16. Josh Hill – SUZ
17. Chris Blose – YAM
18. Les Smith – KTM
19. Jimmy Albertson – HON
20. Robert Kiniry – YAM

450 Point standings:

1. Davi Millsaps – 174
2. Ryan Villopoto – 152
3. Ryan Dungey – 148
4. Trey Canard – 135
5. Chad Reed – 127
6. Justin Barcia – 116
7. Andrew Short – 102
8. James Stewart – 100
9. Justin Brayton – 91
10. Matt Goerke – 79
11. Broc Tickle – 77
12. Jake Weimer – 61
13. Mike Alessi – 60
14. Josh Grant – 40
15. Weston Peick – 39
16. Kyle Chisholm – 37
17. Matt Lemoine – 34
18. Jim Albertson – 31
19. Vince Friese – 30
20. Rob Kiniry – 24

Eli Tomac riding the 450

Dean Wilson