NEW BERLIN _ If Saturday felt like the first time for Ryan Villopoto, it's because it was.
The same goes for New Yorker Justin Barcia and Scotland's Dean Wilson, who produced breakout performances in front of an announced crowd of 28,240 during the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship at the Unadilla Valley Sports Center.
Villopoto had a relatively easy time earning the overall 450 Motocross title on his 23rd birthday, breaking in a 2012 Kawasaki by winning both motos for the first time this season.
"I've been riding it for about two weeks now," said Villopoto, a Washington state resident who upgraded from a 2011 model and extended his one-point lead over Minnesotan Ryan Dungey to seven (391-384) by sweeping the ninth round of the 12-event series. "It's a completely different bike. It's way better."
Although he didn't win either holeshot _ the first riders to reach the 1.3-mile loop from the starting straightaway were Barcia and Jacob Weimer, respectively _ Villopoto quickly took control in each moto.
In the first, he trailed only Barcia until taking the lead for keeps on the seventh lap. An early pass of Mike Alessi in the second moto led to a wide gap between first and second place as Villopoto literally rolled to victory, keeping his wheels on the damp dirt of the final jump as he crossed the finish line.
Moments earlier at the same spot, Barcia and defending UVSC 450 champion Dungey started the last lap of their battle for second place with a bang.
The two hit the jump at the same time, but Barcia's Honda kicked sideways into Dungey's Suzuki. Dungey maintained his line at the far left of the jump but landed on the front wheel of Barcia, who flew off of his bike as it tumbled off track.
Despite the contact, Dungey went on to his second straight runner-up moto finish. And although Barcia's ejection cost him some valuable time, the Monroe resident still had plenty left to place third for the second consecutive moto.
"My expectations coming in were top 10," said Barcia, who was called up from the 250 Class to sub for the injured Trey Canard _ last year's 250 winner at UVSC _ for the rest of the season. "I have the speed to ride on a 450 ... and riding with those guys is really good for me."
Dungey said Barcia still has a lot to learn, though.
"He rode really good today, but this is the big boys and you can't do some of the things he was doing," Dungey said during the post-race media conference. "He needs to grow up a little and have some respect for us."
Barcia, who had been seventh in the 250 standings until his promotion, earned his first 40 points in the 450s for his 3-3 finishes. Dungey got 44 points for going 2-2 and Villopoto scored a perfect 50. Villopoto's sweep also resulted in his third title at UVSC as he won 250 crowns in 2008 and 2006.
Honda rider Chad Reed, the 450 champ at UVSC in 2009, went 4-5 in the motos for fourth overall. Reed hit a snag halfway through the second moto when he wiped out on Screw-U, a short, tight turn near algae-covered pond water on a stretch of the course that drops out of sight for most spectators.
The miscue dropped Reed from sixth to eighth before he fought back to finish fifth in the moto. It also hurt his chances to gain ground on points leaders Villopoto and Dungey as Reed stands third with 366.
A huge gap follows the top three in the 450 points standings as Brett Metcalfe, who placed 12th overall Saturday, is fourth at 262.
Alessi followed a seventh in the first moto with a fourth in the second to place fifth overall. He's also fifth in the season standings, with 210 points.
250 MOTOCROSS
Wilson wins first
Wilson capped a perfect day for Kawasaki with a sweep of the 250 motos, marking the first time the season-points leader has won an overall track title this season.
Wilson earned the top starting position with the fastest practice lap, grabbed early leads and cruised to triumphs in each moto. Although he also failed to win either holeshot, he had no trouble holding off fellow Kawasaki rider Blake Baggett in the first moto and Honda's Eli Tomac in the second.
"It was a great day," said Wilson, who will enter Round 10 with a 25-point lead over Baggett (396-371). "I was just really having fun and enjoying myself. When I do that, I race my best."
Tyla Rattray's chase for the title may have effectively ended when he went off track early in the second moto. Kawasaki rider Rattray, who struggled with a stalled bike, took 36th in the second moto en route to an 11th-place finish.
Rattray, who finished third in the opening moto, added 20 points to his season total and stands third with 353. Kyle Cunningham placed fourth Saturday and stands fourth overall with 264 points. He's followed by Tomac, who has 239 points.
Baggett said he's been struggling lately and is looking forward to a week off before the series shifts to Southwick, Mass., on Aug. 27.
"I need to regroup again," he said. "I'm not really worried about the points. It is what it is."
Baggett will join Villopoto and Dungey in representing the U.S. in the Motocross of Nations Championship, which is slated for Sept. 17-18 in Saint Jean D'Angely, France. Roger DeCoster, who won five UVSC titles in the 1970s, will manage the defending champions in the quest for their record 22nd title.
Dean Russin can be reached at drussin@thedailystar.com or 607-432-1000, ext. 215.
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AMA PRO MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
UNADILLA VALLEY SPORTS CENTER
Results Saturday from Round 9 of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship at the Unadilla Valley Sports Center in New Berlin.
450 Motocross Results
Place, Name, Bike ..... M1-M2_Points
1, Ryan Villopoto, Kawasaki KX450F ..... 1-1_50
2, Ryan Dungey, Suzuki RMZ 450 ..... 2-2_44
3, Justin Barcia, Honda CRF450R ..... 3-3_40
4, Chad Reed, Honda CRF450R ..... 4-5_34
5, Mike Alessi, KTM 450 SX-F ..... 7-4_32
6, Jacob Weimer, Kawasaki KX450F ..... 5-6_31
7, Justin Brayton, Yamaha YZ 450F ..... 8-7_27
8, Kyle Regal, Suzuki RMZ 450 ..... 10-9_23
9, Jimmy Albertson, Yamaha YZ 450F ..... 12-11_19
10, Jake Canada, Yamaha YZ 450F ..... 11-14_17
11, Nicholas Wey, Yamaha YZ 450F ..... 14-13_15
12, Brett Metcalfe, Suzuki RMZ 450 ..... 6-25_15
13, Ricky Dietrich, Yamaha YZ 450F ..... 18-10_14
14, Andrew Short, KTM 350 SX-F ..... 37-8_13
15, Christian Craig, Honda CRF450R ..... 9-22_12
16, Lowell Spangler, Honda CRF450R ..... 13-18_11
17, Michael Byrne, Suzuki RMZ 450 ..... 40-12_9
18, Tye Simmonds, KTM 350 SX-F ..... 19-16_7
19, Ben LaMay, Yamaha YZ 450F ..... 21-15_6
20, Shane Sewell, Yamaha YZ 450F ..... 17-19_6
21, Vince Friese, Yamaha YZ 450F ..... 15-31_6
22, Calle Aspegren, Honda CRF450R ..... 16-23_5
23, Travis Sewell, Yamaha YZ 450F ..... 24-17_4
24, Joshua Strang, Suzuki RMZ 450 ..... 22-20_1
25, Fredrik Noren, Honda CRF450R ..... 20-35_1
26, Les Smith, Yamaha YZ 450F ..... 23-26_0
27, Robert Marshall, KTM 450 SX-F ..... 29-21_0
28, Evgeny Mikhaylov, Suzuki RMZ 450 ..... 30-24_0
29, Heath Harrison, Honda CRF450R ..... 28-27_0
30, Tyler Bright, KTM 350 SX-F ..... 27-29_0
Meterman Holeshot: Barcia (M1); Weimer (M2).
450 Season Standings
Place, Name, Bike ..... Points
1, Ryan Villopoto, Kawasaki KX450F ..... 391
2, Ryan Dungey, Suzuki RMZ 450 ..... 384
3, Chad Reed, Honda CRF450R ..... 366
4, Brett Metcalfe, Suzuki RMZ 450 ..... 262
5, Mike Alessi, KTM 450 SX-F ..... 210
6, Andrew Short, KTM 350 SX-F ..... 196
7, Kevin Windham, Honda CRF450R ..... 193
8, Jacob Weimer, Kawasaki KX450F ..... 190
9, David Millsaps, Yamaha YZ 450F ..... 173
10, Tommy Hahn, Yamaha YZ 450F ..... 140
11, Ricky Dietrich, Yamaha YZ 450F ..... 133
12, Christian Craig, Honda CRF450R ..... 131
13, Justin Brayton, Yamaha YZ 450F ..... 129
14, Nicholas Wey, Yamaha YZ 450F ..... 129
15, Michael Byrne, Suzuki RMZ 450 ..... 124
16, Tye Simmonds, KTM 350 SX-F ..... 88
17, Jimmy Albertson, Honda CRF450R ..... 87
18, Ben LaMay, Yamaha YZ 450F ..... 63
19, Jake Canada, Kawasaki KX450F ..... 56
20, Trey Canard, Honda CRF450R ..... 56
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250 Motocross Results
Place, Name, Bike ..... M1-M2_Points
1, Dean Wilson, Kawasaki KX 250F ..... 1-1_50
2, Blake Baggett, Kawasaki KX 250F ..... 2-3_42
3, Eli Tomac, Honda CRF250R ..... 5-2_38
4, Kyle Cunningham, Yamaha YZ 250F ..... 8-4_31
5, Justin Bogle, Honda CRF250R ..... 6-6_30
6, Marvin Musquin, KTM 250 SX-F ..... 7-8_27
7, Martin Davalos, Suzuki RMZ 250 ..... 14-5_23
8, Gareth Swanepoel, Yamaha YZ 250F ..... 4-16_23
9, Alex Martin, Honda CRF250R ..... 10-10_22
10, Cole Seely, Honda CRF250R ..... 9-11_22
11, Tyla Rattray, Kawasaki KX 250F ..... 3-36_20
12, Ryan Morais, Suzuki RMZ 250 ..... 12-12_18
13, Nick Paluzzi, Suzuki RMZ 250 ..... 18-7_17
14, Gannon Audette, Yamaha YZ 250F ..... 15-14_13
15, Malcolm Stewart, Suzuki RMZ 250 ..... 34-9_12
16, Jason Anderson, Suzuki RMZ 250 ..... 11-23_10
17, Mathew Lemoine, Kawasaki KX 250F ..... 13-20_9
18, Broc Tickle, Kawasaki KX 250F ..... 38-13_8
19, Jimmy DeCotis, Honda CRF250R ..... 19-15_8
20, Travis Baker, Honda CRF250R ..... 16-18_8
21, Lance Vincent, Honda CRF250R ..... 40-17_4
22, Darryn Durham, Honda CRF250R ..... 17-38_4
23, PJ Larsen, KTM 250 SX-F ..... 35-19_2
24, Justin Sipes, Kawasaki KX 250F ..... 20-21_1
25, Michael McDade, Kawasaki KX 250F ..... 21-22_0
26, Levi Kilbarger, Honda CRF250R ..... 23-24_0
27, William Browning, Honda CRF250R ..... 25-25_0
28, Austin Howell, Suzuki RMZ 250 ..... 22-29_0
29, Joey Rossi, Yamaha YZ 250F ..... 28-26_0
30, Johnny Moore, Honda CRF250R ..... 27-30_0
Meterman Holeshot: Swanepoel (M1); DeCotis (M2).
250 Season Standings
Place, Name, Bike ..... Points
1, Dean Wilson, Kawasaki KX250F ..... 396
2, Blake Baggett, Kawasaki KX 250F ..... 371
3, Tyla Rattray, Kawasaki KX 250F ..... 353
4, Kyle Cunningham, Yamaha YZ 250F ..... 264
5, Eli Tomac, Honda CRF250R ..... 239
6, Gareth Swanepoel, Yamaha YZ 250F ..... 200
7, Broc Tickle, Kawasaki KX 250F ..... 195
8, Justin Barcia, Honda CRF250R ..... 181
9, Martin Davalos, Suzuki RMZ 250 ..... 175
10, Darryn Durham, Honda CRF250R ..... 148
11, Cole Seely, Honda CRF250R ..... 145
12, Alex Martin, Honda CRF250R ..... 139
13, Malcolm Stewart, Suzuki RMZ250 ..... 137
14, Gannon Audette, Yamaha YZ 250F ..... 118
15, Travis Baker, Honda CRF250R ..... 98
16, Nick Paluzzi, Suzuki RMZ 250 ..... 97
17, Nico Izzi, Honda CRF250R ..... 91
18, Jason Anderson, Suzuki RMZ 250 ..... 75
19, Marvin Musquin, KTM 250 SX-F ..... 74
20, Ryan Sipes, Yamaha YZ 250F ..... 65
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UVSC Champions
Past champions at the Unadilla Valley Sports Center. Event followed by winner, residence and bike.
2010
450 National, Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, MN, Suz
250 National, Trey Canard, Shawnee, OK, Hon
2009
450 National, Chad Reed, Australia, Suz
250 National, Christophe Pourcel, France, Kaw
2008
450 National, James Stewart, Haines City, FL, Kaw
250 National, Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, WA, Kaw
2007
450 National, Kevin Windham, Centreville, MS, Hon
250 National, Ben Townley, Tallahassee, FL, Kaw
2006
450 National, Ricky Carmichael, Havana, FL, Suz
250 National, Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, WA, Kaw
2005
250 National, Ricky Carmichael, Havana, FL, Suz
125 National, Broc Hepler, Kittanning, PA, Suz
2004
250 National, Ricky Carmichael, Havana, FL, Hon
125 National, James Stewart, Haines City, FL, Kaw
2003
250 National, Kevin Windham, Centreville. MS, Hon
125 National, James Stewart, Haines City, FL, Kaw
2002
250 National, Ricky Carmichael, Havana, FL, Hon
125 National, James Stewart, Haines City, FL, Kaw
2001
250 National, Ricky Carmichael, Havana, FL, Kaw
125 National, Grant Langston, South Africa, KTM
2000
250 National, Ricky Carmichael, Havana, FL, Kaw
125 National, Stephane Roncada, France, Yam
1999
250 National, Mike LaRocco, South Bend, IN, Hon
125 National, Ricky Carmichael, Havana, FL, Kaw
1998
250 National, Jeff Emig, Riverside, CA, Kaw
125 National, Ricky Carmichael, Havana, FL, Kaq
1997
250 National, Jeff Emig, Riverside, CA, Kaw
125 National, Kevin Windham, Baton Rouge, LA, Yam
1996
250 National, Greg Albertyn, South Africa, Suz
125 National, Steve Lamson, Pollock Pines, CA., Hon
1995
250 National, Mike LaRocco, South Bend, IN, Kaw
125 National, Ryan Hughes, Escondido, CA, Kaw
1994
250 National, Mike LaRocco, South Bend, IN, Kaw
125 National, Ryan Hughes, Escondido, CA, Kaw
1993
250 National, Mike Kiedrowski, Canyon Country, CA, Kaw
125 National, James Dobb, England, Kaw
1992
250 USGP, Jeff Stanton, Sherwood, MI, Hon
1991
250 USGP, Jeff Stanton, Sherwood, MI, Hon
500 National, Jeff Ward, Capistrano, CA, Kaw
125 National, Guy Cooper, Stillwater, OK, Suz
1990
250 USGP, Jeff Stanton, Sherwood, MI, Hon
500 National, Rick Johnson, El Cajon, CA, Hon
125 National, Guy Cooper, Stillwater, OK, Suz
1989
250 USGP, Rick Johnson, El Cajon, CA, Hon
500 National, Jean-Michel Bayle, France, Hon
125 National, Damon Bradshaw, Charlotte, NC, Yam
1988
250 USGP, Rick Johnson, El Cajon, CA, Hon
1987
MX des Nations, Team USA (Johnson, Hannah and Ward), , Hon, Suz, Kaw
1986
250 USGP, Bob Hannah, Whittier, CA, Suz
1985
250 USGP, Johnny O'Mara, Simi Valley, CA, Hon
1984
250 USGP, Ron Lechien, El Cajon, CA, Hon
1983
250 USGP, David Bailey, Axton, VA, Hon
1982
250 USGP, Kees van der Ven, Holland, KTM
250 Trans-USA, Billy Liles, Fairburn, Ga , KAW
1981
250 USGP, Neil Hudson, England, Yam
250 Trans-USA, Broc Glover, El Cajon, CA, Yam
1980
250 USGP, Kent Howerton, San Antonio, TX, Suz
250 Trans-USA, Kent Howerton, San Antonio, TX, Suz
1979
250 USGP, Kent Howerton, San Antonio, TX, Suz
250 Trans-USA, Brad Lackey, Lakewood, CA, Kaw
1978
250 USGP, Marty Tripes, Santee, CA, Hon
500 Trans-AMA, Roger DeCoster, Belgium, Suz
1977
500 Trans-AMA, Roger DeCoster, Belgium, Suz
500 National, Marty Smith, San Diego, CA, Hon
1976
500 Trans-AMA, Roger DeCoster, Belgium, Suz
500 National, Steve Stackable, Austin, TX, Suz
1975
500 Trans-AMA, Roger DeCoster, Belgium, Suz
1974
500 Trans-AMA, Roger DeCoster, Belgium, Suz
1973
250 Inter-AMA, Heikki Mikkola, Finland, Husqvarna
500 Trans-AMA, Pierre Karsmakers, Holland, Yam
1972
250 Inter-AMA, Arne Lindfors, Sweden, Yam
500 Trans-AMA, Gary Jones, Hacienda Heights, CA, Yam
1971
500 Trans-AMA, Adolf Weil, Germany, Maico
250 Inter-AMA, Vlastimil Valek, Czechoslovakia, CZ
1970
250 Trans-AMA, Jeff Smith, England, BSA
