On one of the most technical and hard-packed tracks of the year, the 2013 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series came to a close. With Sam Boyd Stadium playing host, the 17th and final round hit Las Vegas, Nevada, like a heavyweight prizefighter. Galfer-supported riders and teams have experienced much success since the opening event at Anaheim Stadium in January, and they put an exclamation mark on the 2013 season this weekend in Sin City.
Millsaps take Series 2nd overall in 450SX Championship (Photo Courtesy of Rockstar Energy Racing)
Rockstar Energy Racing’s No. 18 Davi Millsaps was ready to battle for second position in the 450SX Series as he climbed aboard his Galfer-equipped RMZ450 for one last go-round. Millsaps took runner-up honors in 450SX Heat 2 as he warmed up for the real fight set to take place in the 450SX main event. Millsaps didn’t have the best start in the main, but he moved through the pack quickly to put himself in third position. Over the long 20-lap race, Millsaps never wavered despite the intense pressure. When the checkered flag waved on the final Supercross main event of 2013, Millsaps crossed in third position, solidifying his second-place finish in the 2013 Monster Energy AMA 450SX Supercross Championship with a total of 338 championship points.
In the 250SX class, Rockstar Energy Racing No. 21 Jason Anderson, fresh of his first career victory just one week ago, was riding with newfound confidence and was fast and fluid aboard his Galfer-fitted machine. In the East vs. West format used exclusively for the Las Vegas event, Anderson didn’t have to battle through a heat race and instead moved straight to the 250SX West main event. Anderson did not get the start he was hoping for, but he rode at a fantastic pace, slicing through the pack from 12th up to sixth place at the finish. From there, Anderson moved on to the 250SX East vs. West Shootout, where he had a tough start but moved up to sixth position by the time the checkered flag waved. Anderson finished the 250SX West Region Supercross Series in fourth position with 139 points.
Rockstar Energy Racing 250SX team member No. 35 Ryan Sipes was riding at his best in Las Vegas and looking poised for success. Sipes rocketed off the line to a second place start in the 250SX West Region main event. Sipes battled for every inch of track, ultimately finishing a season-best fifth position. In the 250SX East vs. West Shootout, Sipes put forth another solid effort, crossing the finish line in seventh position. Sipes finished the 250SX West Region Supercross Series in 14th position with 75 championship points.
Wharton was 4th for the night and 2nd overall for the season. (Photo Courtesy of Rockstar Energy Racing)
The final Rockstar Energy Racing 250SX rider on the roster at Las Vegas, No. 13 Blake Wharton, also brought his A-game to the event. Wharton began the 250SX East main event in fifth position and put in consistently fast laps to move into fourth place by the finish. When the gate fell on the 250SX East vs. West Shootout, Wharton put himself in excellent position for another successful ride. Despite tangling with another rider near the mid-way point, Wharton kept himself moving forward to lead his teammates home in fifth position. Wharton finished third overall in the 250SX East Region Supercross Series with 171 points.
Weston Peick put together a fantastic season with the high point coming at the finale Las Vegas. After an impressive fourth-place finish in 450SX Heat 1, Peick was riding with confidence and swagger as he rounded the first turn of the 450SX main event in seventh. For the next 20-laps Peick rode his LeoVince X3 “Works” Carbon Fiber-fitted RMZ450 with skill, using every inch of the track. Peick kept seventh position and earned his best finish of the entire season, which earned him 14th overall in the 450SX Supercross Series standings.
RCH Dodge Sycuan Suzuki is based out of Las Vegas, Nevada, so team riders No. 20 Broc Tickle and No. 75 Josh Hill had extra incentive to deliver excellent performances this weekend. Tickle got the ball rolling with a sixth-place finish in 450SX Heat 1, a finish that was match by his teammate Hill in 450SX Heat 2. With both riders advancing to the 450SX main event, the stage was set for a battle to the finish. Hill rounded the first turn in seventh, and Tickle followed in 14th position. Slowly the riders inched closer and then engaged in a battle of their own for several laps. When the race came to a close, Tickle had crept his way into tenth with Hill finishing in 14th. Tickle finished the season in ninth overall with 176 championship points, while Hill finished 15th overall with 93 points.
With Motoconcepts Racing/Smartop’s No. 800 Mike Alessi taking time to prepare for the Outdoor National Series and No. 23 Jake Canada injured, No. 67 Gavin Faith was the lone entry for the team in Las Vegas. Faith made the team’s efforts worthwhile by grabbing the holeshot and early lead in the 250SX East main event. Faith withstood the heat for several laps and rode to his second-best result of the season in fifth. He moved on to the 250SX East vs. West Shootout only to experience problems early in the race and retire early. Faith finished the 250SX East Region Supercross Series in fifth position overall with 116 championship points. Alessi finished the 450SX Supercross Series in 13th position with 107 championship points, while Jake Canada completed the 250SX West Region Supercross Series in 18th overall with 28 points.
BTO Sports – KTM team rider No. 29 Andrew Short rode his Galfer-equipped KTM450SX to fifth position in 450SX Heat 1 and then notched another top-10 finish, taking ninth in the 20-lap 450SX main event. Short ended the 2013 series in seventh position overall with 214 championship points. No. 62 Matt Goerke, despite missing several rounds due to injury, finished up 12th overall in the 450 SX Supercross Series with 139 points.
JGR Toyota Yamaha rider NO. 10 Justin Brayton rode his Galfer-fitted YZ450F to third position in 450SX Heat 1. Brayton did not get the start he was hoping for in the 450SX main event, but was still able to move from outside the top 10 into eighth position at the finish. Brayton finished the series in eighth overall with 190 championship points.
Congratulations to the entire Galfer-supported roster on their incredible successes in the 2013 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series. The focus now moves to the upcoming 2013 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship beginning on May 18th in Sacramento, CA.
Contact: David Evans
Justin Brayton transferred directly to the main event from heat race one. In the main Brayton was ninth crossing the finish on lap one of 20. He moved forward and dropped back a position or so from there during the race ultimately claiming ninth for the night.
Round 15 of the 17-race series will be on April 20 at Century Link Field in Seattle, Wash. Supercross Live will begin streaming from Seattle 5:00 p.m. (EST) on supercrossonline.com. CBS will broadcast the 450SX Class race at 1:00 p.m. (EST) on April 21.
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (April 7, 2013) – Reliant Stadium in Houston, Tex. was the site for round 13 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship. Houston and Daytona are the only two original markets remaining from the 1974 championship series with the first race in Houston held on March 15, 1974, over 39 years ago. SPEED once again aired the entire race live and 49,438 Houston faithful were in attendance. Just after the heat races during the live broadcast SPEED aired a pre-filmed three and a half minute feature on the technology JGRMX utilizes and how the Sprint Cup side of the house is leveraged to add as much science as possible to the art of riding a motorcycle. This feature gave the team’s sponsors significant exposure through the motorcycle graphics, Justin Brayton’s gear, and the team personnel’s crew shirts seen during the vignette.
Brayton transferred to the main event without incident. When the gate fell for the main event Brayton found himself in seventh place. During the early race congestion he was relegated to eighth as the pack began to sort itself out. As the race approached the halfway point he moved into seventh, and on lap 10 he advanced to sixth. Brayton rode the final 10 laps mistake free to finish sixth for the night.
The next round of the series will be on April 13 at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minn. Supercross Live will begin streaming from Minneapolis at 3:00 p.m. (EST) on supercrossonline.com. CBS will broadcast the 450SX Class action at noon, (EST) on April 14.
When Eric Russell was a teenager, he was walking on a set of railroad tracks and spied a freight car with the words “A Vicious Cycle” spray-painted on the side. He told himself that if he ever opened a motorcycle shop, that would be its name. Fast-forward to 2007, and that fanciful idea became a reality. These days, A Vicious Cycle serves Canadian riders from their shop in New Dundee, Ontario.
