Although we are a UK motocross website, we are still MX fans after all and we love keeping up with the US SX and MX. This years Supercross season is once again shaping up to be another exciting content, even though the series is missing Chad Reed and Trey Canard.
Round 9 in St Louis was another belter with a sold out 60,000 attendance! Wonder if Jeff would mind the MCF putting an SX track in St Mary’s in 2013 for UK Supercross?
Below is the Suzuki update…
Suzuki…
Rockstar Energy Racing’s Blake Wharton celebrated his first podium of the 2012 AMA/ FIM Supercross season at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis on Saturday night with third place in the Supercross Lites class aboard his RM-Z250.
Wharton was the holeshot hero in his Supercross heat race – held in front of a packed-to-capacity 60,000 crowd – jumping out front immediately and leading all six laps to take his first heat-race win of the year. In the Main Event, Wharton was running in the top five from the start and put in an aggressive ride to finish on the podium.
Said Wharton: “It was a good night; I won my heat race. In the Main, I got an average start and actually came together with some guys, but I managed to get through it and make some passes on some guys and ended up third. I’m happy to be on the podium, but I’d like to be on the podium more consistently; and that’s going to take better starts and good riding. Now we go to Daytona and that’s a tough track. But I got fourth there last year and I’m looking to improve on that.”
Rockstar Energy Racing team-mate Hunter Hewitt looked good in his heat race until getting tangled up with another rider and going down hard. But he rallied and went on to get the holeshot in the LCQ, lead all four laps; and take the win to advance to the Main. In the Supercross Lites Main Event, Hewitt got pushed wide at the start and went down, but picked his way through the field to finish 12th.
“St. Louis was rough,” said Hewitt. “I had to go to the LCQ and won that. In the Main, I got pushed outside on the first turn and went down. Then, I just tried to ride my race; and I feel like I pushed hard all the way through. We’re off to Daytona next weekend and it will definitely be a better weekend for me. I’m going in there with a clear head and a refurbished body.”
Team Yoshimura Suzuki’s Brett Metcalfe overcame injury to put in another solid performance aboard his RM-Z450 at Saturday night’s ninth round of the AMA/ FIM World Supercross series at Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis in front of a record 60,000 crowd.
Although this weekend started slowly for the Yoshimura Suzuki team – after tweaking his leg in the first two practice sessions – Metcalfe was still able to make some real progress with the Yoshimura Suzuki RM-Z450 before race time.
Said Metcalfe: “This track suits me: The dirt’s really tacky and gets nice ruts and it’s tight and pretty technical. In the last practice, we made a change with the bike and I started to feel comfortable and get a good flow and be at one with the bike. I really want to thank the Yoshimura Suzuki team for getting me that.”
At the onset of the evening’s racing, Metcalfe’s leg was still bothering him and he was forced to sit out the opening ceremonies. Despite this, the Australian managed to get the holeshot in his eight-lap heat race, lead the first few laps; and finish fourth. In the 20-lap Main Event, the 27 year old again got a good start and brought home eight place.
“We got the holeshot in the heat race and that was a good start for us,” said Metcalfe. “I rode solid and got a fourth and I was happy that I was riding well. In the Main Event, I got a good start but then I got pushed wide and got hung-up a little bit. But I was in a good flow and in race mode, more so than I’ve been all year. We only got an eighth and we’re working on improving those results, but I think this weekend was a turning point for my season.”
As the series’ East Coast rounds continue, Metcalfe is feeling comfortable and confident on the Yoshimura Suzuki RM-Z450. As a result, he is counting down the days until next weekend’s race in Florida.
He said: “Daytona is always tough, both physically and mentally. It’s more of an Outdoor track, but still with some gnarly Supercross obstacles. It’s going to be tough, but I’m just really stoked with where the Suzuki’s at right now and the feeling I have with the RM-Z450. I’m looking forward to a good week and being strong at Daytona and improving on the results we’ve been picking off.”
Team Yoshimura Suzuki Racing’s next event is the 10th round of the 2012 AMA/ FIM Supercross Championship on Saturday, March 10th, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.
St. Louis Supercross Class Results:
1. Ryan Villopoto
2. Ryan Dungey
3. Justin Brayton
4. Kevin Windham
5. James Stewart
6. Davi Millsaps
7. Jake Weimer
8. Brett Metcalfe (Yoshimura Suzuki RM-Z450)
9. Marvin Musquin
10. Nick Wey
2012 Supercross Class Standings:
1. Ryan Villopoto – 205
2. Ryan Dungey – 192
3. James Stewart – 152
4. Chad Reed – 128
5. Kevin Windham – 123
6. Jake Weimer – 120
7. Justin Brayton – 116
8. Brett Metcalfe (Yoshimura Suzuki RM-Z450) – 113
9. Davi Millsaps – 109
10. Mike Alessi – 98
