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Anaheim 2: The Empire Strikes Back

by Charles Owens on 01/21/2013

Last year’s Supercross champion Ryan Villopoto climbed back to the top spot again on the weekend, winning his first 450 main event race of the season in Anaheim, California.

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Following a topsy-turvy race in Phoenix last week, in which he finished second, the Monster Energy Kawasaki rider again reminded all why he’s the two-time AMA Supercross champion.

“It feels good to get back up there, I’m happy with the way it turned out,” Villopoto told Jim Holley.

“I think the ball’s rolling now and we’ll keep working on it,” he said.

Wasting no time working his way up the grid, Villopoto eyed 2008 champion Chad Reed early on to stamp his mark on what would be his true season comeback race.

Trey Canard then maneuvered his way to first, no doubt eager to shake off the demons of last year when he caught a tuff-block and was taken out mid-air by Josh Morris, ending his season on the spot.

Shortly after, 450 rookie Justin Barcia misjudged the triple set and was forced to bow out of the race, allowing Anaheim 1 winner Davi Millsaps to press on behind Canard.

Millsaps faced off with Australian Chad Reed for several laps in a battle for third place, before the Two-Two Motorsports Honda rider finished third, behind Trey Canard (Muscle Milk Honda, 2nd).

In the 250 Main Event, 2012 West Coast Supercross champion Eli Tomac was once again king of the castle.

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In what was a good day for the Honda manufacturer on the podiums, Tomac out-did Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen (2nd) and Cole Seely (3rd, Troy Lee Designs Honda).

Three races into the season, Davi Millsaps is at the top of the 450 class points table on 63, above Trey Canard (60) and Chad Reed (56).

The 250 points table as of Saturday night mirrored the podium results of the race in the same class; Eli Tomac leads on 75 ahead of Ken Roczen (66) and Cole Seely (58).

The series heads north to Oakland next weekend.

Content by TSM Editor Paul Savage

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