A1 SX Class Race Report	PDF | Print | E-mail
	Author: Scott Parkinson

HEAT 1
Dan Reardon jumped out to the lead in the first SX heat race of the 2010 season. Chad Reed on the other hand found himself mid pack coming out of the first turn. Reed turned it up and found himself working his way up to
third, where he finished. Dungey looked really strong in the heat; however, he was not able to make his way around heat race winner. Davi Millsaps.

Reardon on the other hand had a gnarly get off in the turn coming out of the whoops. Reardon got a little tweaked coming out of the whoop and launched himself and his bike over the corner. Reardon’s night was done; however, it was reported that he did not break any bones.

1)      Davi Millsaps
2)      Ryan Dungey
3)      Chad Reed
4)      Kevin Windham
5)      Ivan Tedesco
6)      Grant Langston
7)      Fabien Izoird
8)      Nick Wey
9)      Jason Lawrence

HEAT 2
Team Suzuki’s Austin Stroupe grabbed a monster holeshot in heat two. Stroupe was followed by James Stewart who soon took over the lead. Also making the pass on Stroupe, in the same corner, was Andrew Short. Ryan Villopoto soon found his away around Stroupe, who will be competing in the East Coast Lites Class, taking over third. That is the way they finished: Stewart, Short, Villopoto, and Stroupe.

1)      James Stewart
2)      Andrew Short
3)      Ryan Villopoto
4)      Austin Stroupe
5)      Justin Brayton
6)      Mike Bryne
7)      Gregory Aranda
8)      Tommy Hahn
9)      Josh Grant

MAIN
After practice the ball was without a doubt up in the air in the SX Class. James Stewart took his expected spot up top; however, unexpectedly Ryan Dungey was seated in second, only a fraction of a second off of Stewarts time, and Chad Reed and Ryan Villopoto looked to be off pace. As the gate dropped Team Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey proved that practice was no flouk and took the holeshot. Dungey was followed off the line by James Stewart in second and Ryan Villopoto in third. Chad Reed got a bad start and ended up pulling off the track. He said his spokes got caught up in Stroupe's footpeg. Reed’s day was done.

Out front Dungey was riding very smooth as he began to pull away. Stewart uncharacteristically sat back and didn’t push, allowing the rookie, Dungey to pull away. At one point Dungey was able to pull to a four second lead. Stewart would later say that he didn’t feel comfortable out there and Dungey was riding really good. However, with six laps to go Stewart began to chip into Dungey’s lead. Dungey no doubt began to feel the pressure and started to make small mistakes. With three laps left in the race Dungey allowed Stewart to get on the inside of him and Stewart took advantage making the pass in the whoops down the following straight. It looked like Stewart had the win in the bag, but Dungey had something else in mind. On the last lap Dungey mounted his charge. Dungey got fired up and no doubt felt the crowed pushing him as he closed in on Stewart. Dungey pulled along Stewart and it looked felt like Dungey was going to make it happen and pull off the win; however, the rookie made a small mistake sliding out in a corning giving Stewart to win. Dungey would take a very impressive second.

Behind Stewart and Dungey, Ryan Villopoto, Andrew Short, and Kevin Windham where waging a battle of their own. Villopoto was running in third early; however Short was able to make the pass on the Kawasaki mounted Villopoto.
In the following corner Windham made the pass pushing Villopoto back to fifth. Windham was pinned and was soon putting pressure on Short. In the same corner Short passed Villopoto Windham made his move on Short. When the checkered flag came out that is the way they finished: Stewart, Dungey, Windham, Short, and Villopoto.

Some random notes:
Austine Stroupe hit the ground pretty hard early in the race. It looked like he was OK, but he headed back to the pits.

Jason Lawrence pulled off a few laps into the main and also headed back to the pits.  He is planning on taking a few weeks off to get himself into race shape.

Josh Grant took gnarly spill early this week breaking his nose and jacking up his shoulder.  It was said he will join J-Law and take some time off to get healed up.

Langston was off the pace of the leaders, but was able to get into the top ten. It was good to see Cool G back out there.

Dungey really put on a charge the last few  laps after recoving from his mistakes. After building up some confidence this week things should be very interesting going into Phoenix next week!

1)      James Stewart
2)      Ryan Dungey
3)      Kevin Windham
4)      Andrew Short
5)      Ryan Villopoto
6)      Josh Hill
7)      Ivan Tedesco
8)      Justin Brayton
9)      Davi Millsaps
10)     Grant Langston