Las Vegas Spoiler Report
AMA Supercross
www.racerxonline.com Jason Weigandt
In the 250 East final, Gavin Faith grabbed the holeshot, but Tyler Bowers quickly sliced past and took the lead. Behind him, the title contenders, Wil Hahn and Marvin Musquin battled through the field, with Blake Wharton and Kyle Cunningham also in the battle. As the race unfolded, Bowers pulled a solid lead, while Hahn eventually moved into second and Musquin took third. Late in the race, Musquin had to start making things happen, and he did, first catching Hahn and taking second. But Musquin needed to win and hope Hahn stayed in third, however, it looked like he was too far back to challenge Bowers. However, championships have a way of motivating riders to get to the next level, and Musquin stepped up huge, dropping down to the fastest lap of the race on the final lap, and making up nearly three seconds on Bowers. In the final corner, he got close enough to show Bowers a wheel, but Bowers held on, taking his first career win. Musquin’s close second was the result of a valiant effort, but, he ultimately came up three points short of Hahn.
Hahn’s title was made especially difficult after a big crash in the whoops on the final lap of practice. His hand might even be broken, but he gutted it out, finished third, and collected his first professional championship. All in all, a great ride by both title contenders, and, a big win for Bowers.
Next came the West final, and Zach Osborne nailed the holeshot. Soon Martin Davalos was around and into lead. Title contenders Ken Roczen and Eli Tomac were a few spots back, but they caught fire and moved forward, Roczen eventually getting the second. But then Tomac found another gear and started getting aggressive, making all kinds of moves and eventually passing Roczen to take second. The defending west champ then set off after Davalos, and he closed the gap quickly to take the lead. At this point, Tomac had enough to take the title, but Roczen, too, was on the gas and pushing to get Davalos. It would come down to Roczen passing Davalos or not, and he pulled it off late, passing into second to steal the points lead back. That would do it, Tomac pulling off a clutch win, but Roczen staying strong and taking the title with a second place.
In the 250 shootout, Roczen and Musquin grabbed the start and battled back and forth early, but eventually Roczen got away. Cunningham was on the move and eventually got second, but couldn’t catch Roczen.
In the 450 main, Jake Weimer grabbed the holeshot with Chad Reed behind him, Villopoto got a terrible start but somehow passed everyone to get second, and then went around Weimer. He made a mistake, and Weimer repassed him, but Villopoto was quickly back around and into the lead. Then Ryan Dungey passed Weimer to take second and tried to run down Villopoto, but to no avail. Later, Davi Millsaps moved around Weimer into third to round out the podium.
450SX
Main Event: 1st Villopoto, 2nd Dungey, 3rd Millsaps, 4th Weimer, 5th Barcia, 6th Reed
Overall Standings: 1st Villopoto, 2nd Millsaps, 3rd Dungey, 4th Barcia, 5th Reed
250 SX
West Main Event: 1st Tomac, 2nd Roczen, 3rd Davalos, 4th Cunningham, 5th Sipes
West Overall Standings: 1st Roczen, 2nd Tomac, 3rd Seely, 4th Anderson, 5th Davalos.
East Main Event: 1st Bowers, 2nd Musquin, 3rd Hahn, 4th Wharton, 5th Faith
East Overall Standings: 1st Hahn, 2nd Musquin, 3rd Wharton, 4th Friese, 5th Faith
East/West Shootout: 1st Roczen, 2nd Cunningham, 3rd Musquin, 4th Davalos, 5th Wharton…13th Tomac, Hahn DNS.