Reigning Monster Energy Series Supercross Series champion Ryan Villopoto enjoyed a profitable evening under the klieg lights at Daytona International Speedway, cruising to victory at the Daytona Supercross by Honda on his Monster Kawasaki KX450. In doing so, extending his points lead in the ’14 series to 28. On a wickedly rough and fast track deigned by 15-time AMA champion Ricky Carmichael, Villopoto was untouchable, taking the lead from refugee Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki refugee Dean Wilson who was filling in for Chad Reed on the Discount Tire Racing/TwoTwo Motorsports. For Villopoto, who led all 20 laps of the affair and crossed the finish line 12.632 seconds clear of runner up Ken Roczen. The win marked his fourth at Daytona in five years and now sees him just one win short of Ricky Carmichael’s Daytona win record of five.
“I was able to get our front and just ride my own laps,” said a very pleased Villopoto afterwards. “The track was tough, and you had to pick good lines and be smart with where you were going. I love this race and love coming here and it`s actually more of a relief to win here. I`m really pleased.”
KTM’s Ryan Dungey claimed the third step of the podium in third, with RCH/Soaring Eagle/Suzuki’s Broc Tickle finishing fourth and BTO Sports KTM’s Andrew Short in fifth.
Dean Wilson, who ran in the top three for a significant amount of the race, faded at the end, no doubt worked over by the choppy, rutted and whooped out circuit. He wound up seventh.
While Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki riders Adam Cianciarulo and Martin Davalos have ruled the AMA East Region SX Series thus far in ’14, their teammate Blake Baggett – a former AMA 250MX National Champion – had experienced something of a sluggish campaign heading into Daytona. A former winner here, the Californian made wholesale changes to his bike for this race that included new and repositioned handlebar and footpegs. Baggett also put a lot of time in practicing starts. Claiming his radically revised setup was a dramatic improvement, Baggett was optimistic heading to Florida. And he had it right and Baggett raced to his first win of 2014, leading 14 of 15 laps to dominate round number four of the 250 SX East Region Supercross Series. Baggett took control of the race on lap two after blitzing Monster Energy Kawasaki teammate Martin Davalos then simply pulling away from everyone to cross the finish line 16 seconds ahead of teammate Adam Cianciarulo. Between Baggett, Cianciarulo and third place finisher Martin Davalos, the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team swept the podium for the second time this season.
“It feels great to win here,” said Baggett on the podium. “I`ve won here before so to win again tonight is really special for me. It`s nice to win again and I really look forward to the rest of the season.”
Honda’s Blake Wharton came out on top of a two way battle with his GEICO Honda teammate Justin Bogle for forth, while Jeremy Martin brought his Star Racing Yamaha home in sixth. Matt Bisceglia claimed seventh on his GEICO Honda, while Factory Metal Works Honda rider Vince Friese and SmartTop MotoConcepts’ Kyle Cunningham were eight and nine. Matt Lemoine rounded out the top 10 on his JAB Motorsports Kawasaki.
Four rounds in the books, Cianciarulo leads the series standings with 94 points, followed by Davalos with 87 and Baggett with 79. Next up: For Field in Detroit, Michigan next Saturday night.