A-3 is A-OK for Reed again. Dean Wilson gets first 250 win

By Lance Thruxton and friends

Ahhh… the super sports weekend. In addition to that certain Super Sunday event, Monster Energy’s AMA Supercross roared back to Angel Stadium for its third and final time Saturday, delightfully devoid of any NFL-type Sherman-esque charades. Anaheim III was, by all measures, a super event, battled in sixty degree temps with dirt-desiccating 30% humidity. A gift for 42,000 sun-spoiled “kalleefornya” attendees and the still-shivering American TV audience to talk about at work on Monday.



A-3’s “killer whoop” track showcased international dominance as the sports “oldest dad” Australian Chad Reed 32, held off Austrian rookie sensation Ken Roczen for twenty heart-pounding laps. In the process, Reed notched his forty third 450 SX career win plus seven precious points on 3rd place finisher/series leader Ryan Villopoto. Reed’s night started slow as he squeaked the 4th place heat transfer behind Ryan Dungey, Villopoto and dominant looking winner James Stewart. Stewie had even survived a nasty Mike Alessi kamikaze punch in their heat and was feeling confident for the final. After grabbing the main event holeshot and $1,500 bonus, Stewart was punted back to 4th within the first two turns by Reed, Roczen and Villopoto. With Dungey’s KTM nipping at his wheels, Stewart eventually crashed his Rock Star Suzuki but was able to remount and salvage 7th. Dungey had his own bar-bending crash a lap later leaving his bike too banged up to finish.



Roczen out-cornered his mentor Ryan Villopoto on lap three and proceeded to pressure Speedy Reedy. Although less than a second apart nearly the entire race Roczen could only pull alongside once. Last lap drama had the crowd on their feet when a lapped rider looked to slow Reed but instead allowed him to block out Roczen as they stormed the finish line .9 seconds apart. Villopoto, not having his best night, wisely backed off to secure third overall. Roczen learned what Villopoto and Stewart know well: It’s always hard and dangerous to pass Chad Reed on a whooped out track. Reed’s favorite venue, San Diego, is next up and the momentum is on his side. With Reed now trailing RV in the series by just two points and Roczen back a mere five in 3rd, everybody will have something to talk about Monday morning.



250 SX Event
250 class winner Canadian Dean Wilson was the fastest rider in Anaheim Saturday. He out qualified his class and the 450s, smoked his heat race and turned the fastest lap of the night. It wasn’t all peaches and cream though. In the main event, Cole Seely’s TLD Honda crew had his bike dialed perfectly. Seely exploded into the lead looking set for a surprise win until the final laps when disaster struck and he slid out, a lapped rider domino-ed on top of him. Wilson, in second, was back just far enough to fully stop, weave around the tangle then outrun Seely to the checkered flag. Cooper Webb gave his Yamaha a strong ride to make it a three-brand podium.



Wilson’s emotional first 2014 win avenged the heartbreaking loss suffered in Oakland last week after his bike bogged in sight of the finish. Three time winner, Jason Anderson finished 5th after clashing with the increasingly strong Malcolm Stewart and hitting the ground. Anderson and Seely are now tied for the 250 West series points lead. Wilson’s win lifted him to third just twelve points back. Stay tuned; this one is going to get more interesting.

450 SX results
1 Chad Reed Dade City, FL Kawasaki KX 450F
2 Ken Roczen Murrieta, CA KTM 450 SX-F
3 Ryan Villopoto Seattle, WA Kawasaki KX 450F
4 Justin Barcia Pinetta, FL Honda CRF 450
5 Weston Peick Wildomar, CA Suzuki RM-Z450
6 Justin Brayton Cornelius, NC Yamaha YZ450F
7 James Stewart Haines City, FL Suzuki RM-Z450
8 Jacob Weimer Rupert, ID Kawasaki KX 450F
9 Andrew Short Smithville, TXKTM 450 SX-F
10 Ivan Tedesco Murrieta, CA KTM 350 SX-F

450SX Series Points
ROUND 5 OF 17 - FEBRUARY 1, 2014
1 Ryan Villopoto 104
2 Chad Reed 102
3 Ken Roczen 97
4 Justin Brayton 86
5 James Stewart 80
6 Ryan Dungey 76
7 Justin Barcia 74
8 Andrew Short 61
9 William Hahn 52
10 Jacob Weimer 50

250SX results
1 Dean Wilson Wesley Chapel, FL Kawasaki KX 250F
2 Cole Seely Lake Elsinore, CA Honda CRF 250
3 Cooper Webb Newport, NC Yamaha YZ250F
4 Justin Hill Yoncalla, OR Kawasaki KX 250F
5 Jason Anderson Rio Rancho, NM KTM 250 SX-F
6 Malcolm Stewart Haines City, FL Honda CRF
7 Jake Canada Sun City, CA Honda CRF 250
8 Shane Mcelrath Chesterfield, SC Honda CRF 250
9 Jessy Nelson Paso Robles, CA Honda CRF 250
10 Dakota Tedder Surfside, CA Kawasaki KX 250F

250SX West Series
Round 5 of 9 FEBRUARY 1, 2014
1 Jason Anderson 109
2 Cole Seely 109
3 Dean Wilson 97
4 Cooper Webb 85
5 Justin Hill 82
6 Zach Osborne 69
7 Malcolm Stewart 69
8 Jessy Nelson 61
9 Shane Mcelrath 55
10 Dean Ferris 52