2014 AMA Supercross – Houston Results

Ryan Villopoto ran mostly unchallenged for his fourth win of the 2014 AMA Supercross season, taking advantage of an early spill by Ryan Dungey. The win strengthens Villopoto’s hold on the points lead as the Kawasaki rider seeks his fourth-consecutive championship.

Villopoto took the holeshot in the Houston main event and never looked back, leading all 20 laps for the win. Villopoto won handily by 13.669 seconds; he was so fast, he lapped all but six racers that finished the race.

The three-time reigning champion benefited from a couple of early incidents that slowed his chief rivals for the title, Red Bull KTM‘s Dungey and James Stewart of Yoshimura Suzuki. An ailing Stewart just avoided going down before the first turn after getting clipped by fellow Suzuki rider Josh Hill. Dungey had even more difficulty, crashing moments later in the rhythm section after Suzuki rider Weston Peick swayed into his path. Both Stewart and Dungey were able to continue, but both were never able to challenge for a podium.

Team Honda Muscle Milk rider Justin Barcia‘s solid season continued with another second-place finish while KTM rookie Ken Roczen finished third for his seventh podium of the year.

The 250 Western Regional class resumed in Houston with Rockstar Energy KTM rider Jason Anderson extending his championship lead by taking his third win in seven rounds.

Troy Lee Designs Honda rider Jessy Nelson took the holeshot but Anderson soon took control, followed by Kawasaki teammates Dean Wilson and Justin Hill. Those three lead riders held their positions for the first four laps before a mistake by Hill dropped him to eighth. That promoted Nelson’s teammate Malcolm Stewart (James’ brother) into third.

Anderson held off his competitors, withstanding a late challenge by Wilson to take the victory. Wilson was just 0.797 seconds behind in second while Stewart finished third.

The 2014 AMA Supercross Championship continues April 12 in Seattle, Wash., with Villopoto getting a chance to clinch the title in his home town. Villopoto leads James Stewart by 45 points and Dungey by 46 with three rounds to go. If Villopoto outscores Stewart by six points and Dungey by seven points, that will give him enough of a cushion to win the title, no matter what happens in the final two rounds.

[Source: AMA Supercross]

By Dennis Chung