10 Things to Watch: SLC
Salt Lake City AMA Supercross
Seal the Deal
Ryan Villopoto has a very real shot at clinching the title this weekend in Salt
Lake City. With his current 25-point lead, all he has to do (we say it like
it's easy) is finish ahead of Ryan Dungey and Davi Millsaps this weekend and
the title is his. Red Bull KTM's Ken Roczen also has a shot at wrapping it up
in SLC, although he'd need Eli Tomac to have a bad race in order to do so. If
Roczen wins and Tomac finishes in fourth or worse, the West title hunt ends.
Ironically, it was a bad race from Dean Wilson (who was riding with a hurt
shoulder after crashing in Seattle the week before) that put the title in
Tomac's hands last year in SLC. Tomac, well-accustomed to altitude, has won
both times he has raced in SLC, so he’ll hope to keep that streak alive and
bring the title to Vegas. – Aaron Hansel
Barcia's Back
Not that he was ever really gone, but if you ask him, Bam Bam will tell you
that getting fourths and fifths is not what he comes to the races for. Well, he
finally got what he was looking for when he holeshot in Seattle and led every
lap of the race, much like he did in Phoenix earlier this year. Unfortunately,
he followed Phoenix up with a pair of DNFs. How will he follow up his win in
Seattle? – Hansel
Reed is seeking his first podium since St. Louis in SLC. Simon Cudby photo
Visual Stimulation and Instant Gratification
After two weekends off, SPEED’s live TV coverage of Monster Energy Supercross
is back for Salt Lake City. That's right, every heat, LCQ, main event and
Monster Girl will be instantly beamed right into your living rooms and local
watering holes. Coverage starts at 9:30 p.m. ET on Speed. Be sure to supplement
your viewing experience with on-the-spot reporting by checking Racer X Online
and Twitter, @racerxonline, throughout the day. – Hansel
250 Supremacy
The 250SX West Region fields loads of talent, as evident by six different
riders having stood on the podium in 2013, with GEICO Honda’s Zach Osborne
joining the ranks last week. But for all the depth it provides, all seven wins
have come from Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen (3) and GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac (4).
With only two rounds remaining, will Salt Lake City provide its first winner
not named Roczen or Tomac? – Chase Stallo
Slump Buster
It’s been a trying year for Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer. A mid-season
rib injury stalled his hot start to 2013—a slump he was unable to break from,
until Seattle, where he finished fifth. But in the fickle game of supercross,
one race can change a riders season. Has the tide turned for Weimer? –
Stallo
Can Politelli keep his late season hot streak going in SLC? Cudby photo
The Underdog
HRT Honda’s Austin Politelli received glowing praise after a fourth in San
Diego. Yet that was nearly two months ago, and had been lost in the headlines
when the West Region returned in Seattle. Following a come-from-behind sixth
place finish in Seattle, the Southern Californian can now ditch the underdog
label. He’s here to stay. How will he respond with the added expectations in
Salt Lake City? – Stallo
Staying Clean
Slaton Racing’s Vince Friese reputation for “aggressive” riding has proceeded
itself. While he still resembles a stubborn bull on the track, Friese has
remained relatively clean during 2013. Not only has Friese’s on-track reputation
taken a turn for the better, so have his results. He was consistent in his
450SX rookie campaign, before moving to the 250SX East Region, where he was a
top-five threat. Now back on the 450, Friese nearly secured his first career
450SX top ten in Seattle, finishing eleventh. Will his time for a top ten come
in SLC? – Stallo
Return to the Podium?
We have grown so accustomed to seeing Chad Reed on the podium over the past
decade that it’s hard to believe the two-time 450SX champion has only graced
the podium twice in 2013. Nearly a month removed from minor knee surgery, Reed
is close to 100 percent and seeking his first podium since St. Louis. Can Reed
knock a top contender from the box and steal valuable championship points in
SLC?– Stallo
The fight for fifth between Anderson and Davalos continues on Saturday. Cudby photo
Monster vs. Rockstar
With Ken Roczen in firm control of the Western Regional 250SX series, the
attention now focuses on the remaining points battles in the final two races.
One that has the potential to burn barns is the fight for fifth between
Rockstar Energy Racing's Jason Anderson (currently fifth with 99 points) and
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Martin Davalos, who sits just five points
back. Both riders have had less than stellar races this season (Davalos DNF at
A1, Anderson DNQ in Phoenix), but each of them also has a pair of podiums.
Which of them will turn up the heat in SLC? – Hansel
Finishing Strong
Before the break out West, Kyle Cunningham was starting to come on strong.
Unfortunately, a big crash in the main in Seattle prevented him from picking up
where he left off in San Diego. The good news is that Cunningham wasn't injured
and still has two races left to chase his first podium of the year. He's been
there before, can he do it again before the season ends? - Hansel
