Hill scores first SX win

From Live Nation Motor Sports

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Yamaha’s Josh Hill, of Yoncalla, OR, won the first Monster Energy AMA Supercross race of his career in front of 40,982 fans at the Metrodome Saturday night. It was the first race at the Metrodome since 2004. Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto, of Poulsbo, WA, won his first Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites class race of the season.

Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey won the $1,500 Progressive Holeshot Award to open the AMA Supercross class main event. Following Dungey through turn 1 was Torco Fuels Honda’s Kevin Windham and the championship points leader Chad Reed was fifth.

On lap 3 Hill moved past Dungey for the lead and began to pull away. Reed, who rides for Team San Manuel Yamaha, moved into second place and on lap 8, while on the back wheel of Hill, he crashed and re-started in ninth place.

“Getting second was amazing a few races ago,” said Hill. “I do not know how to put it into words this win. The season has had its ups and downs, but this is huge for me. Yamaha put faith in me, and I am grateful for that.”

Dungey, who competes in the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class championship, moved up to compete in the AMA Supercross class and finished second. Saturday’s race, before his hometown crowd, was his best finish since moving into the premier class.

“I ripped out of the gate tonight and had a good lead,” said Dungey. “The crowd was behind me 100%, and I could hear them on every lap. This is only my third race in this class, so I'm very happy."

In the Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites class main event, Torco Fuels Honda’s Josh Grant won the $1,000 Progressive Holeshot Award, leading Villopoto through turn 1. Grant held the lead until lap 6 when they traded positions for the number-one position. Grant held the lead until the last lap of the race, and in the track’s final turn, he came together with Villopoto and crashed. Grant finished second overall.

“I came here ready to race tonight,” said Villopoto. “I am still behind in the points, so I have a lot of catching up to do."

Torco Fuels Honda’s Trey Canard remains in the Lites class points lead after finishing fourth.

The next Monster Energy Supercross race takes place at Toronto’s Rogers Centre Saturday, March 29.

AMA Supercross Class Results

1. Josh Hill, Yamaha
2. Ryan Dungey, Suzuki
3. Kevin Windham, Honda
4. Andrew Short, Honda
5. Thomas Hahn, Kawasaki
6. Davi Millsaps, Honda
7. Chad Reed, Yamaha
8. David Vuillemin, Suzuki
9. Travis Preston, Kawasaki
10. Nathan Ramsey, Yamaha

AMA Supercross Class Standings

1. Chad Reed, Yamaha, 237
2. Kevin Windham, Honda, 220
3. Andrew Short, Honda, 172
4. Davi Millsaps, Honda, 164
5. Tim Ferry, Kawasaki, 137
6. Josh Hill, Yamaha, 135
7. Nathan Ramsey, Yamaha, 134
8. David Vuillemin, Suzuki, 115
9. Paul Carpenter, Honda, 97
10. Nick Wey, KTM, 95

Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Results

1. Ryan Villopoto, Kawasaki
2. Josh Grant, Honda
3. Martin Davalos, KTM
4. Trey Canard, Honda
5. Ryan Sipes, KTM
6. Tyler Bowers, Yamaha
7. Ryan Morais, Yamaha
8. Kyle Partridge, Honda
9. Nico Izzi, Suzuki
10. Billy Payne, Honda

Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Standings

1. Trey Canard, Honda, 93
2. Ryan Villopoto, Kawasaki, 69
3. Ryan Sipes, KTM, 67
4. Nico Izzi, Suzuki, 54
5. Martin Davalos, KTM, 53
6. Ben Coisy, Honda, 53
7. Josh Grant, Honda, 47
8. Tyler Bowers, Yamaha, 45
9. Billy Payne, Honda, 42
10. Branden Jesseman, Kawasaki, 39