Torrance, CA: Round 12 of the 2013 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship series, made its way to the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada, on Saturday March 23, and the Honda Red Riders were there to do battle. At the only international stop on the 17-race circuit, it was Justin Barcia leading the charge for Team Honda Muscle Milk aboard his CRF450R, finishing fifth. Muscle Milk-supported GEICO Honda's Wil Hahn landed on the podium for the sixth time this season and has a six-point lead over second place in the championship points chase.
450 Race
Barcia started the day strong, qualifying third quickest in practice and finishing second overall in his heat race. Sitting in eighth after the first lap of the main event, he put his head down and made a hard charge towards the front. Barcia eventually worked his way up to fifth, which is where he would finish.
"I'm not quite sure what happened in the main," explained Barcia. "I felt good all day in qualifying and got second in my heat, but rode really tight in the main. The track was really gnarly and changed so much heading into the night. Starts are so important and mine haven't been that great in the last couple weeks, which has really hurt me. I know I have the speed to be in front; I just need to work on a few things."
Still recovering from his crash in Indianapolis, Team Honda Muscle Milk's Trey Canard did not line up on the gate in Toronto. He will return to the action at round 13 in Houston, Texas.
TwoTwo Motorsports' Chad Reed finished just shy of the podium in Toronto with a hard-fought fourth place. Reed will undergo surgery this Tuesday to completely fix the knee that he hurt in his 2012 crash, and he is hoping to return by round 14 in Minneapolis.
"I am excited to be getting the surgery so I can get back to being 100 percent healthy," said Reed. "My knee surgery that I had last year unfortunately has not healed completely and I was hoping to make it all the way through Supercross and Motocross to get it fixed on the off-season. I think it is best that I get it fixed as soon as possible and then get back on the bike ASAP as well. I am looking forward to getting back out there, representing my sponsors and my team, and having fun with the fans."
250 Race
Toronto also played host to the sixth round of the Eastern Regional 250 Supercross class, and Hahn continued his successful season with another podium finish. Despite a crash in practice, Hahn was able to post the quickest qualifying time of practice, giving him the first gate pick heading into the heats. Following a fifth-place finish in his heat, Hahn didn't get the best start in the main, forcing him to work his way through the pack. He made his way into second, which is where he would finish, keeping the red plate with a six-point lead in the championship battle.
"It's crazy to say this but second place doesn't feel that great tonight," Hahn said. "I need wins. I can't have starts like I did tonight and expect to win the championship. From how it is looking now, the championship battle is definitely going to come down to the wire in Vegas. I'm looking forward to this weekend off so I can get some things figured out and remember how I earned the red plate in the first place."
Teammate Zach Bell crashed in the second practice aboard his Honda CRF250R, and was unable to continue for the rest of the night.
The Focus: 2013 CRF450R Engine Architecture
The 2013 CRF450R powerplant follows previous engine architecture, but a host of changes increase power, especially in the low-end and midrange, while also adding durability. A new camshaft with different valve timing and more valve overlap, larger exhaust valves (30mm diameter to 31mm), a new piston with a fuller dome to increase compression ratio from 12.0: to 12.5:1, new port shapes on the intake and exhaust for enhanced flow, and revised settings for the PGM-FI fuel injection system comprise the major performance upgrades. For added durability, the piston skirt is now coated with molybdenum disulfide to create a tougher, low-friction surface; a redesigned oil jet now gives two sources to spray cooling oil on the underside of the piston; and there's a completely new, heavy-duty gearbox. Also, the CRF450R clutch is now a six-spring design for stronger clamping pressure with a lighter feel at the lever, better modulation of the friction point and added durability. It's easy to identify the 2013 CRF450R by its distinctive dual exhaust system.
450 Supercross Class Overall Results
1. Ryan Villopoto
2. Davi Millsaps
3. Ryan Dungey
4. Chad Reed (Honda)
5. Justin Barcia (Honda)
6. Jake Weimer
7. James Stewart
8. Broc Tickle
9. Andrew Short
10. Matthew Goerke
450 Supercross Class Championship Points (after 12 of 17 rounds)
1. Ryan Villopoto 252
2. Davi Millsaps 240
3. Ryan Dungey 230
4. Chad Reed 196
5. Justin Barcia 184
6. James Stewart 169
7. Trey Canard 165
8. Andrew Short 148
9. Justin Brayton 122
10. Broc Tickle 122
250 Supercross East Class Overall Results
1. Marvin Musquin
2. Wil Hahn (Honda)
3. Blake Wharton
4. Jeremy Martin
5. Vince Friese *
6. Cole Thompson *
7. James Decotis *
8. Gavin Faith *
9. Jackson Richardson *
10. Kyle Peters *
250 Supercross East Class Championship Points (after 6 of 9 rounds)
1. Wil Hahn 134
2. Marvin Musquin 128
3. Blake Wharton 108
4. Dean Wilson 87
5. Vince Friese 80
6. Kyle Peters 78
7. Jeremy Martin 71
8. Justin Hill 68
9. Gavin Faith 66
10. James Decotis 66
* In Toronto, seven of the top 10 riders in the Supercross East class were aboard Honda's CRF250R
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.
©2013 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. All rights reserved.
