Rockstar Energy Racing Suzuki's Martin Davalos picked-up his second podium of the season at Saturday night's 17th and final round of the AMA Supercross East-West Lites Shootout at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas.
The event comprised one 15-lap East Main Event and one 15-lap West Main Event, followed by a 10-lap sprint that was the SX Lites East-West Shootout.
Davalos blazed onto the scene in the 15-lap SX Lites West main, getting off the gate in second, continued to run in a podium position for more than half the race before finishing fourth. In the Shootout, the RM-Z250 rider again got off the gate in second and led for several laps before finishing third. This result marks the second podium finish of the season for Davalos, who wrapped up the year in eighth overall.
Said Davalos: "Vegas was good. We carried the momentum from Salt Lake City into our Main Event. We got fourth in the heat and that was really positive. From the beginning of the season we've struggled and to come out and get on the podium in the Shootout was so important. We got a good a good start and fought hard and we were able to get third. I'm pretty pumped, the Rockstar Energy Racing team has done such a great job and they believe in me and that means a lot. I'm just looking forward to carrying this momentum into the Outdoors."
Rockstar Energy Racing SX Lites West team-mate Jason Anderson came into the final weekend feeling ill. Despite this, he got a great jump off the gate and ran up front for the entire West Main before finishing fifth. In the Shootout, Anderson suffered some fatigue, had a few problems; and wound up 19th. Overall, however, he enjoyed a good season, picking up a podium finish and coming in fifth overall in points.
"Las Vegas was all right," said Anderson. "I got fifth in my Main, even though I was sick all day. Now, I'm just pumped to get out of here healthy and in the top five in points and with a good end to the Supercross season. Now, it's time to get ready for Motocross in a few weeks."
Blake Wharton and Hunter Hewitt represented Rockstar Energy Racing's SX Lites East contingent. In their Main Event, Wharton finished fifth and was followed home by Hewitt in seventh. In the Shootout, Wharton picked up a ninth-place result while Hewitt suffered some bad luck and finished 18th. Overall, Wharton celebrated a rock-solid season, finishing third in points with a win and two additional podiums.
In the Supercross class, Rockstar's Brett Metcalfe came into Las Vegas still on the mend from a crash last weekend. And, adding insult to injury, he suffered a practice crash that resulted in medical evaluation. Although he was released to race, the Australian wasn't 100 per cent fit, but he carded a solid fourth-place finish in his heat race. In the Main Event, Metcalfe continued to push hard and ran in a podium position for several laps before some problems resulted in an 18th-place finish. Overall, Metcalfe was eighth in points for the season and had four top-five finishes.
"The last few rounds have been a challenge," said Metcalfe. "We've had some old-fashioned bad luck, but that happens to everyone. I'm just glad to finish the season relatively healthy and in the top 10 in points. Now I'm already focusing on getting ready for the Outdoors in a few weeks and I'm looking forward to that."
The next event for the Rockstar Energy Racing teams is the season-opening round of the 2012 AMA Pro Motocross Championship on Saturday, May 19th, at the Hangtown National in Sacramento, California.
