(NEWS RELEASE)
Wilson Strikes First in Eastern Regional 250SX Championship with Opening Race Win
AURORA, Ill. (February 18, 2013) – After a record-setting 71,009 fans packed the Georgia Dome for last year’s Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, race, the world’s greatest racers are returning to the Georgia clay this Saturday night, led by points leader Davi Millsaps. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Dean Wilson won the opening race of the Eastern Regional 250SX Class Championship last weekend and brings a three-point lead into this weekend’s race.
Two-time defending Monster Energy Supercross Champion Ryan Villopoto won his third race of the season last weekend at Cowboys Stadium, leading every lap of the Main Event. Villopoto moved around Millsaps, who won the Nuclear Cowboyz® Holeshot Award, shortly after the first turn and never looked back.
“Starts are definitely important,” said Villopoto, who now has the most wins in the championship. “I’ve had a target on my back this year, everyone knows that, and it’s stressful. I’m just trying to have fun with riding again. If we get third, it’s on the podium, and if it’s second, that’s good too. Davi (Millsaps) has been riding really good this year, so we have to just chip away at it. It’s going to take a while.”
The championship points race gives Rockstar Energy Racing’s Millsaps a 21-point lead over Ryan Dungey and a 24-point lead over Villopoto as the championship nears its halfway point. The key to Millsaps’ success this year has been his consistency; he has finished on the podium in six of seven races this season and has yet to finish outside of the top five.
“It was definitely a good 20 laps,” said Millsaps after the race at Cowboys Stadium. “I haven’t ridden all week because I’ve been sick, so it’s good to come away with a strong finish. Ryan (Villopoto) rode really well, so you have to give it to him.”
Red Bull KTM’s Dungey finished third overall. Bad luck continues to follow Team Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart. After winning his Heat Race earlier in the evening, Stewart was unable to start the Main Event, citing a broken clutch. He dropped to ninth in the championship.
In the Eastern Regional 250SX Class Main Event of AG Motorsports Honda’s Kyle Peters who grabbed the Nuclear Cowboyz Holeshot Award. Chasing Peters through turn one was Wilson and Rockstar Energy Racing’s Blake Wharton assumed second and third place, respectively.
Wilson worked his way past Peters prior to the conclusion of the opening lap and then pulled away from the field to lead all 15 laps of the Main Event and claim his sixth-career 250SX Class victory.
“This feels so good,” exclaimed Wilson. “It’s been 10 months waiting for that. I knew I needed to get the start, so I fought for it and it went well. I saw the leader and I knew I was good in the whoops, so I just went on the outside around him. He raced clean and I respect that. From there I just rode my own race.”
Wharton held on for second and GIECO Honda’s Wil Hahn finished third.
During last year’s annual stop at the Georgia Dome, Dungey grabbed his second win of the season and the ninth of his career. GEICO Honda’s Kevin Windham, who retired earlier this season, made history by making his 200th career 450SX Class start. Last year’s Eastern Regional 250SX Class Main Event was won by Justin Barcia who is now racing in the premier class.
The first supercross race held in Atlanta was March 5, 1977, and Bob Hannah won on a Yamaha. On February 22, 1986 Honda rider Keith Turpin won the first-ever 250SX Class Main Event in Atlanta. To date, Ricky Carmichael sits on top of the 450SX Class’ all-time win list at the Georgia Dome with five wins. Carmichael, Brian Swink and Christophe Pourcel share the 250SX Class’ all-time win record with two.
The 2013 Monster Energy Supercross round from Atlanta will be broadcast LIVE on SPEED on Saturday February 23 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Tickets are available at all Ticketmaster Outlets, charge by phone at (800) 745-3000, http://www.supercrossonline.com, or online at http://www.ticketmaster.com. Georgia Dome Box Office opens Feb. 23rd, 2013. Practice and qualifying begin at 12:30 p.m. and the main event starts at 7:00 p.m. Club tickets are $55 Adult/Child; Lower and Mid-Level (side seats) $45 Adult/Child; Lower and Mid-Level (end zones seats) $35 Adult/Child; Super value Seats (upper bowl) $10 Adult/Child.
Fans can also get into the Pits from 12:30-6 p.m. Get into the Pits FREE when you recycle a MONSTER Energy Can at the stadium’s Pit Entrance (valid only with event ticket) or you can buy it for $10. Also, don’t forget that starting January 2013 go by your local Atlanta area Subway location to pick up a $10 discount coupon.
450SX Class Results: Arlington
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
- Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
- Chad Reed, Australia, Honda
- Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha
- Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda
- Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda
- Matt Goerke, Lake Helen, Fla., KTM
- Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda
- Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki
450SX Class Points
- Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 154
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 133
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 130
- Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda, 119
- Chad Reed, Australia, Honda, 115
- Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda, 98
- Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 95
- Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha, 83
- James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki, 75
- Matt Goerke, Lake Helen, Fla., KTM, 69
Eastern Regional 250SX Class Results: Arlington
- Dean Wilson, Scotland, Kawasaki
- Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Suzuki
- Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda
- Kyle Peters, Greensboro, N.C., Honda
- Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Kawasaki
- Marvin Musquin, France, KTM
- Gavin Faith, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Honda
- Jimmy Decotis, Peabody, Mass., Honda
- Vince Friese, Cape Girardeau, Mo., Honda
- Lance Vincent, Youngsville, La., KTM
Eastern Regional 250SX Class Points
- Dean Wilson, Scotland, Kawasaki, 25
- Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Suzuki, 22
- Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda, 20
- Kyle Peters, Greensboro, N.C., Honda, 18
- Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Kawasaki, 16
- Marvin Musquin, France, KTM, 15
- Gavin Faith, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Honda, 14
- Jimmy Decotis, Peabody, Mass., Honda, 13
- Vince Friese, Cape Girardeau, Mo., Honda, 12
- Lance Vincent, Youngsville, La., KTM, 11
Past Winners in Atlanta
450SX Class
February 25, 2012: Ryan Dungey
February 26, 2011: Ryan Villopoto
February 27, 2010: Ryan Dungey
February 21, 2009: James Stewart
February 23, 2008: Davi Millsaps
February 24, 2007: James Stewart
February 25, 2006: Ricky Carmichael
February 26, 2005: Ricky Carmichael
February 28, 2004: Chad Reed
February 22, 2003: Ricky Carmichael
February 23, 2002: Ricky Carmichael
February 24, 2001: Ricky Carmichael
February 26, 2000: Jeremy McGrath
February 20, 1999: Jeremy McGrath
February 21, 1998: Jeremy McGrath
February 22, 1997: Damon Huffman
February 24, 1996: Jeremy McGrath
February 25, 1995: Mike LaRocco
February 26, 1994: Jeremy McGrath
February 20, 1993: Damon Bradshaw
February 22, 1992: Damon Bradshaw
February 23, 1991: Damon Bradshaw
February 24, 1990: Jeff Ward
February 25, 1989: Jeff Stanton
February 22, 1986: Rick Johnson
February 23, 1985: Mark Barnett
February 25, 1984: Johnny O’Mara
March 5, 1983: Mark Barnett
February 27, 1982: Bob Hannah
February 28, 1981: Mark Barnett
March 1, 1980: Chuck Sun
March 3, 1979: Bob Hannah
March 4, 1978: Marty Tripes
March 5, 1977: Bob Hannah
250SX Class
February 25, 2012: Justin Barcia
February 26, 2011: Dean Wilson
February 26, 2010: Christophe Pourcel
February 21, 2009: Christophe Pourcel
February 23, 2008: Trey Canard
February 24, 2007: Ryan Dungey
February 25, 2006: Josh Grant
February 26, 2005: Grant Langston
February 28, 2004: James Stewart
February 22, 2003: Brock Sellards
February 23, 2002: Chad Reed
February 24, 2001: Nathan Ramsey
February 26, 2000: Stephane Roncada
February 20, 1999: Ernesto Fonseca
February 21, 1998: Ricky Carmichael
February 22, 1997: Ricky Carmichael
February 24, 1996: John Dowd
February 25, 1995: Mickael Pichon
February 26, 1994: Ezra Lusk
February 20, 1993: Doug Henry
February 22, 1992: Brian Swink
February 23, 1991: Brian Swink
February 24, 1990: Denny Stephenson
February 25, 1989: Damon Bradshaw
February 22, 1986: Keith Turpin
Supercross LIVE!® is back in 2013 with a three-hour mid-raceday program from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. local time. Hosts, Jim Holley, a former World Supercross Champion, and Kevin Barnett, a former member of the U.S. Men’s Olympic Volleyball Team and professional broadcaster, will provide in-depth analysis of the afternoon’s practice and qualifying sessions as the riders and teams prepare for the night racing, in addition to interviews and behind-the-scenes coverage. As the only place to follow live practice and qualifying coverage from Monster Energy Supercross, Supercross LIVE! provides fans with an inside perspective before the gate drops on the night’s qualifying and Main Events. Additionally, there will be video snippets made available throughout the race day that can be viewed on http://www.SupercrossOnline.com, the official website of Monster Energy Supercross, or the YouTube Channel www.YouTube.com/SupercrossLive. To access the live streaming broadcasts, go to www.SupercrossOnline.com/SupercrossLive or subscribe to the Supercross LIVE! streaming channel at http://new.LiveStream.com/Supercrosslive.
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About Feld Motor Sports®
Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motor sports entertainment. Feld Motor Sports productions include Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam®, Monster Energy Supercross, AMSOIL Arenacross and Nuclear Cowboyz®. Feld Motor Sports is a division of Feld Entertainment, the world’s largest producer of live family entertainment. For more information on Feld Entertainment, visit www.feldentertainment.com.
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