2014 AMA Supercross – Oakland Results

With three different racers tasting victory in the first three rounds of the 2014 AMA Supercross Championship, the season was shaping up to be one of the deepest and most competitive fields we’ve seen. But at Round Four at O.o Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., Ryan Villopoto showed why he remains the top dog, leading each lap for his second win of the season.

The Kawasaki rider only trailed at the very start of the race, as Honda rider Vince Friese took the holeshot with Yamaha‘s Justin Brayton slotting in second through the first corner. It didn’t take long however before Villopoto took over the lead, with fellow Kawasaki rider Chad Reed more than half a second behind.

But that was as close as Reed would get, as Villopoto stretched his lead to more than four seconds. Reed faced a challenge from Yoshimura Suzuki‘s James Stewart. Despite a disappointing opening round, Stewart is off to a good start this season, and his effort in Oakland provided another example. Stewart was sixth after the opening lap but worked his way past the likes of Geico Honda’s Will Hahn, Red Bull KTM‘s Ryan Dungey and Brayton to find himself on Reed’s tail by Lap 7.

Stewart stayed on Reed for several laps before finally going through on Lap 13. By then however, Villopoto was well in front, coasting his way to victory. Stewart finished second for the second consecutive race while Reed followed in third.

In the 250 class, it was KTM’s Jason Anderson returning to the top of the podium with his third win in four races. The victory came in a hard-fought battle with Monster Energy Kawasaki riders Dean Wilson and Justin Hill.

Wilson was first through the opening turn with his teammate slotting into second. Before the opening lap ended however, Hill had taken over the lead, with Anderson moving up between the two Kawasaki riders.

Anderson and Hill traded passes on Lap Six, before Wilson went past both of them to take over the lead. Wilson then led up until Anderson – for the third time this season – made a last-lap pass for the win. Wilson followed in second ahead of Hill for the podium.

“I can’t believe I keep pulling these off; three wins in four races is huge,” says Anderson. “I hope to come away with the number-one plate at the end of the season. I wanted to be in attack mode tonight, but I also wanted to keep it on two wheels.”

With his win, Villopoto jumps back to the top of the standings. KTM’s Ken Roczen finished sixth in Oakland, dropping him from top spot to third behind Villopoto and Reed. Anderson’s win also moves him into the top spot in the 250 class ahead of Honda’s Cole Seely who finished off the Oakland podium in fourth.

The 2014 AMA Supercross Championship returns to Anaheim for the third and final time this season on Feb. 1.

[Source: AMA Supercross]

By Dennis Chung