Rockstar Energy Racing Suzuki's Jason Anderson clinched his first 250cc Main Event victory aboard the RM-Z250 in Saturday night's Salt Lake City Supercross at Rice-Eccles Stadium as team-mate Davi Millsaps scored second place in the 450cc Main Event.
Anderson was competitive all day in practice en-route to a second-place qualifying position. In the 250cc Main he was virtually flawless; got a good start, rode a very smart race and kept his nerves for the entire 15 laps. Once he got into the lead, he stayed there for every lap on the way to his first career victory, eventually building a seven-second lead.
Said Anderson: "My win tonight was good. I got a good start and led the whole Main Event, which is something I've never done. I was stoked to do it here in Salt Lake. It was a good race for me. I got my first podium here last year, which was my first time here. To get my first win this year, I'm happy and super excited. I usually just go crazy. Just being calm and putting in my laps made the difference. The whoops were gnarly tonight, I definitely didn't 'wanna crash the last lap in them, but once I made it through them, it was like sigh of relief. It was a good night."
After being fastest all day in qualifying and winning his heat race, Millsaps was in contention in the 450 Main Event; moving past Ryan Dungey for second place and then he began to close on series leader Ryan Villopoto. The trio stayed in those positions for the entire race. Typically, when a freight-train like that takes place, the race is considered boring, but this race was quite the opposite: Sometimes Villopoto would pull away, and then Dungey would catch Millsaps. Then Millsaps again would be all over the lead. It was an amazing race with three intense competitors.
When the race concluded they were way ahead of the rest of the pack, all satisfied with their efforts and all had been pushed to their limits with Villopoto clinching the series on the night.
Said Millsaps: "I gave it everything I had. I seriously had nothing left in me when I crossed that finish line. I was so happy to see the 'checkers.' Ryan Villopoto ran a good last half-of-the-season and I ran a bad one. It was a great run and it was fun racing against those guys. Definitely congratulations to Villopoto. He rode like a champion. It was a learning year for me as I've never been in the front, never had the points lead, let alone having this many podiums. All-in-all it's been a good season so far and I'm definitely looking forward to next year."
Anderson's 250-class team mate Ryan Sipes ended up finishing seventh in the 250 Main Event, but could have finished anywhere from 10th to third. He will look to improve next weekend's East-West Shootout in Las Vegas where he has won the before.
Said Sipes: "The weekend was rough. I'm a little disappointed in myself. It's taking me a while to get back in the racing mode. I get out there and I 'kinda just lock up. I'm not flowing and I'm not riding nearly as good as I do at the practice track. If I could ride like I practice, I feel like I could be in the hunt for wins. It's not happening right now. Hopefully I can work on some stuff this week and make it better in Vegas."
Rockstar Energy Racing will travel south to Las Vegas next weekend where the temperatures are always high. The team will have four Main Events to try and pick up another victory. Millsaps will look for his third victory, Anderson his second, Wharton his second and Sipes his first in the final round of the season.
Race Results: 1. Ryan Villopoto (Kawasaki), 2. Davi Millsaps (Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 3. Ryan Dungey (KTM), 4. Trey Canard (Honda), 5. Justin Barcia (Honda), 6. Justin Brayton (Yamaha), 7. Josh Hill (RCH Racing Suzuki), 8. Andrew Short (KTM), 9. Weston Peick (Suzuki), 10. Chad Reed (Honda), 11. Broc Tickle (RCH Racing Suzuki).
