Round three of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship series returned to Angel Stadium of Anaheim in sunny Southern California for the second time this season. Honda riders enjoyed the limelight once more with Team Honda Muscle Milk's Trey Canard finishing in second place, putting him within 3 points of the series leader. Last weeks winner Justin Barcia crashed early in the main event and was unable to finish the race. Muscle Milk-sponsored GEICO Honda's Eli Tomac nailed down his third consecutive victory in the 250 Supercross class, while fan favorite Kevin Windham shocked the industry and his many fans by announcing his retirement during the opening ceremonies, ending his 19th pro season.
450 Race
Canard has proved to be one of the hottest riders in the Supercross class, with a mere 3 points now separating him from the championship points lead. After finishing second in his heat, Canard launched off the line to a second-place start in the main event aboard his CRF450R. He moved into the lead on lap two but surrendered the spot a few laps later, placing him back in the number two position, which is where he would finish.
"Tonight was great and I am very thankful to even be here," stated Canard. "It was an uphill battle all week and even today with being sick but I was able to set that aside and make it on the podium. A year ago tonight I was being taken away on a stretcher so I believe it is only by God's hand that I am able to race today. I can't thank the whole Team Honda Muscle Milk crew enough for everything that they do and for everyone who has supported me."
After clinching his first career 450 Supercross class win only one week earlier, Team Honda Muscle Milk rookie Justin Barcia had a tough night. Barcia got a less-than-desirable start in his heat race and while making his charge through the field went down in a corner, sending him into the last chance qualifier. It was an interesting situation with the last two main event winners in the LCQ; Barcia clinched the holeshot and lead the majority of the 6-lap race until being passed and settling for second, moving him into the main event. Despite having last gate pick, he grabbed a third place start in the main event and moved into second a few laps later. Unfortunately, Barcia came up short on a triple jump early in the race, sidelining him for the rest of the evening.
250 Race
This weekend the 250 Supercross class continued to showcase intense battles from start to finish, with Muscle Milk-sponsored GEICO Honda's Eli Tomac emerging triumphant for the third consecutive week. After finishing second in his heat race, Tomac launched off the line to a third-place start in the main event. Nearly halfway through the 15-lap race he made his move into second before taking the lead a few laps later. Once out front, Tomac continued to lay down solid laps, putting a gap between himself and the rest of the competition before taking the checkered flag. With three decisive victories under his belt, Tomac heads into round four with a 9-point lead over second place.
"It was a good battle," said Tomac. "Roczen and Seely are probably my two best competitors in the class right now. It made for good racing. I had some good lines out there and it was a fun race for sure. I still need to work on my starts because I am not completely happy with them, but overall this was a great night and I am excited to keep the red number plate for another weekend."
Teammate Zach Osborne put together respectable race, placing fourth overall aboard his CRF250R, his best finish of the season. In the main event, Osborne grabbed a mid-pack start but was quickly able to move his way through the pack. He charged his way into fourth, which is where he finished. "I want to be in the front with the leaders; that's what I've been hired to do," Osborne said. "I really feel like it's coming soon. I am getting more and more comfortable each week. I'm still struggling with my shoulder a little," Osborne said. "I got off to about a 10th place start and worked my way forward. By the time I got up to fourth, the race was so far gone ahead of me; I couldn't do anything about it."
Windham Retires
With more than 200 Supercross starts, sport veteran and fan favorite Kevin Windham announced his retirement Saturday night, ending his 19-year pro career. After his crash in Houston, which ended his 2012 season and another at Monster Energy Cup, Windham struggled to get back into the swing of things during the first few rounds, which ultimately lead to his decision.
"I would love nothing more than to ride forever, and the choice to retire was going to be hard no matter when I did it," stated Windham. "To the fans of Supercross, this might seem to be a hasty decision, but I've been talking to a lot of people for a lot of months. I thought I would be able to come into the season and ride myself out of that funk and that mental hurdle I was having to overcome. With every passing lap whether it be it at the test track, my home track, or the stadium it became more and more difficult to ride with the clarity I needed to be safe, fast, and successful. I want to thank all the fans who have supported me and everyone at Honda for all they have done throughout my career."
Fellow Honda rider Chad Reed put together his best finish of the season aboard his TwoTwo Motorsports machine, riding aggressively the entire 20-lap main event to place third overall. Chaparral Honda's Andrew Short finished a respectable seventh place aboard his CRF450R while Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil/Honda's Cole Seely, Jessy Nelson and Christian Craig all posted top-10 finishes in the 250 Supercross class.
The Focus: Honda Performance Development
Honda Performance Development, Inc. (HPD) is Honda's racing company within North America, founded in 1993 and owned by American Honda Motor Company, HPD specializes in the design and development of race engines, chassis and performance parts and technical/race support. The company derives its strength from the contributions of inspired associates driven to develop fresh ideas, winning solutions and leading-edge technologies. HPD develops and manufacturers race parts for the Team Honda Muscle Milk CRF450Rs.
450 Supercross Class Overall Results
1. Ryan Villopoto
2. Trey Canard (Honda)
3. Chad Reed (Honda)
4. Davi Millsaps
5. Jake Weimer
6. Ryan Dungey
7. Andrew Short (Honda)
8. Justin Brayton
9. Matthew Goerke
10. Josh Grant
450 Supercross Class Championship Points (after 3 of 17 rounds)
1. Davi Millsaps 63
2. Trey Canard 60
3. Chad Reed 56
4. Ryan Villopoto 52
5. Ryan Dungey 48
6. Jake Weimer 47
7. Andrew Short 41
8. Justin Barcia 40
9. James Stewart 36
10. Josh Grant 32
250 Supercross West Class Overall Results
1. Eli Tomac (Honda)
2. Ken Roczen
3. Cole Seely (Honda)
4. Zach Osborne (Honda)
5. Jake Canada
6. Christian Craig (Honda)
7. Jason Anderson
8. Tyla Rattray
9. Kyle Cunningham
10. Jessy Nelson (Honda)
250 Supercross West Class Championship Points (after 3 of 9 rounds)
1. Eli Tomac 75
2. Ken Roczen 66
3. Cole Seely 58
4. Zach Osborne 47
5. Christian Craig 35
6. Tyla Rattray 35
7. Kyle Cunningham 35
8. Jason Anderson 32
9. Ryan Sipes 31
10. Martin Davalos 30
About Honda
American Honda Motor Co., Inc. was established in 1959 and is the sole distributor of Honda motorcycles, scooters, ATVs and side-by-sides in the U.S. The American Honda Motorcycle Division is responsible for the sales, marketing, and operational activities for these products through authorized Honda dealers. For more information on Honda products, go to www.powersports.honda.com.
About Muscle Milk
Muscle Milk® Ready-to-Drink is a protein-enhanced functional beverage that promotes workout recovery, lean muscle growth, and sustained energy. Muscle Milk takes the guesswork out of high performance nutrition, delivering a precise blend of premium proteins, complex carbohydrates, functional fats, vitamins & minerals. CytoSport™, the maker of Muscle Milk®, is among the largest sport nutrition protein beverage companies in the U.S. and offers a complete line of protein-enhanced powders, shakes and bars. Muscle Milk® was named Ready-to-Drink Beverage of the Year by bodybuilding.com, Best Functional Beverage and Beverage of the Year by BevNet and Company of the Year by Beverage Forum presented by Beverage Marketing Corporation and Beverage World.
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