 TwoTwo Motorsports/Bel-Ray Racing’s Chad Reed has finished second with Yoshimura Suzuki's Brett Metcalfe (above) putting in his best ride of the series to date at Saturday night's San Diego Supercross in California finishing just off the podium in fourth place.
Reed, who led his heat race from start to finish didn’t get a great start in the ‘Main Event’ but charged through the field and into second place on Lap 3 of the 20-lap contest. As the race unfolded, Reed began to close in on race leader Ryan Villopoto and after a bar-to-bar battle with his rival, he moved into lead on Lap 18.
An aggressive Villopoto block pass saw Reed relinquish the lead on the final lap, the Honda rider happy to take second place after a solid 20-lap duel.
Chad Reed:
“I am really happy that I rode 20 solid laps tonight. Ryan (Villopoto) started to gap me on laps 9 - 11 and I found myself being lazy in the turns. He races for it on every inch of the racetrack so I said to myself quit being lazy and get out there and fight for this thing. I was able to get back on him and make a pass but he was real aggressive and made a pass back. I have to be a little more aggressive and make things happen
“The changes that we have made through these West Coast events have been good. I am excited to be heading back to Florida with a good solid 20 lap race under my belt,” Reed added.
27 year old Metcalfe started the night strong by finishing third in his heat race. He went on to get the holeshot in the 20-lap Main Event and then put his head down and brought home his season's best finish.
Brett Metcalfe:
"It was a good night! We were able to put in some work this week and get the set-up back to what we were comfortable with and what we know works. The Yoshimura Suzuki RMZ-450 really worked great all weekend. I was still a little bit off in practice, but in the heat races and the Main, I came through. I got good starts - which helped out - and I was able to ride strong. I qualified third in the heat race and got a good gate pick, so I got where I wanted to be and ripped the holeshot. That was my first holeshot of the year so I'm really pumped with that. I rode solid and I rode as hard as I could."
Ryan Dungey got away well in the main event to be top five around the first corner but then made a small mistake in the first rhythm section and fell back to fifth. He sat it out there until lap seven but when James Stewart went down he advanced to fourth then made a quick pass on Brett Metcalfe. He then maintained third place right up to the flag.
Ryan Dungey:
“I struggled a little bit tonight in some sections and it held me back from fighting for the top spot. Overall, I am glad I was able to get on the podium and salvage some points but I need to battle for the win to help my fight in the championship chase. I am looking forward to heading east and hoping to run up front next weekend."
Round 7 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, the first of the East Coast events, will be at Arlington’s Cowboys Stadium on Saturday February 18.
Monster Energy AMA Supercross Results: San Diego
1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
2. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Honda
3. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
4. Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki
5. Josh Hansen, Elbert, Colo., Kawasaki
6. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
7. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
8. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Kawasaki
9. Mike Alessi, Hilliard, Calif., Suzuki
10. Nick Wey, DeWitt, Mich., Kawasaki
Monster Energy Supercross Season Standings (after Rd 6 of 17)
1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki – 133
2. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Honda – 127
3. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM – 123
4. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha – 101
5. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda – 78
6. Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki – 75
7. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki – 72
8. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha – 70
9. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Honda – 68
10.Josh Hansen, Elbert, Colo., Kawasaki – 64 |
