With how the Supercross season has played out, along with his dominance this year, Ryan Villopoto leads the point standings, 54 points over Ryan Dungey. Dungey won’t make Toronto, however, due to having surgery last week for a broken collarbone. Therefore Villopoto’s closest competition is James Stewart, who sits 69 points back.
Villopoto will look for his seventh victory of the season and second in a row after winning at Indianapolis last week.
“The dirt in Toronto is always tricky,” the 2010 Toronto winner says in the Supercross preview. “And I think this weekend is going to be a lot like Indy. I think everyone is going to have to ride smart to ride fast. I know my plan going in is just to get a good start and stay of trouble.
Meanwhile, Stewart may not make Toronto this weekend, following a crash during his heat race.
“As for right now, I’m heading in for further checks and after that we’ll reevaluate this weekend’s race in Toronto,” the two-time Toronto winner says. “We’ll keep you all in the loop as this goes, but right now I wanted to thank all of you for the support. To my fans, my team, my sponsors, my family, my friends; everyone out there that’s been supporting me – thank you.”
Villopoto may look to have things locked up in the point standings, but that doesn’t mean the racing in Toronto is going to lack competition. Many riders are starting to find their groove as the season wears on.
Last week at Indianapolis, Justin Brayton posted the third quickest time in qualifying, won his heat, and finished in second place for a career best finish.
“It was a really great night for me, with a heat win, some awesome starts and now a second place finish in the main,” he says. ”It has been a long time coming and now I feel like the trophy is right there. This is a good building block and I am ready to work this week and come out swinging in Toronto.”
Davi Millsaps earned his second-straight podium finish and third top five of the season last weekend at Indianapolis, currently sitting fourth in the point standings.
Brett Metcalfe also had a career night in Indianapolis as he scored his first ever Supercross heat victory before finishing fourth in the main event.
Broc Tickle is looking to stay on pace as the last two weeks, he has finished eighth after having a streak of bad finishes.
“My results are starting to come around,” Tickle says. “That’s the crazy thing about this sport. Sometimes you ride great and get a poor result and sometimes it’s the opposite. I know I’m starting to ride better and loosen up on the track and the results are starting to come too.”
Honda’s Western Regional Supercross Lites riders Cole Seely and Marvin Musquin are using the series off-weekends to try to their hand at Supercross. Last week, Seely finished fifth while Musquin finished seventh.
Other riders are looking for redemption, including Villopoto’s teammate Jake Weimer, who didn’t qualify for the main event last week.
Pre-season favourite that won’t make it to Toronto is Chad Reed, who hasn’t raced since Dallas due to a knee injury.
Monster Energy Supercross is set to take place on March 24th at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Tickets are still available, ranging from $15 to $120, depending on section of choice, with the price of admission for kids being $15. Tickets can be ordered online via http://www.ticketmaster.ca or by calling 855-985-5000.
Fans who buy tickets for the Saturday event are also welcome to come to the track party on Friday March 23rd at 6pm. Fans will be able to walk the track, meet the riders and get autographes.
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