Race Report: Toronto SX 2012
Photos by Jordan Powell
Round 12 of the Monster Energy Supercross Series headed north of the border to Toronto, Ontario, where the stars of Supercross invaded the Rogers Center. Defending Monster Energy Supercross Champion showed why he has the number-one plate by decimating the field en route to a commanding win over Honda-mounted rival Justin Brayton and veteran Kevin Windham.
In the Eastern Regional Supercross Lites main event, defending champion Justin Barcia dominated the night’s action, leading nearly every lap after overtaking early leader Ken Roczen on the third lap. The German teen held on for second in spite of feeling the effects of a flu bug, while last week’s winner, Blake Wharton, came home third.
SUPERCROSS LITES QUALIFYING
LITES HEAT 1
Defending Eastern Regional Supercross LItes Champion Justin Barcia grabbed the holeshot at the start of the first six-lap Lites heat race and led every inch of the way en route to a convincing win aboard his Geico Honda CRF250R. KTM Red Bull’s Ken Roczen matched Barcia’s pace in the early going, but the German rider eventually lost touch with the leader, as he was suffering a bad case of the flu. Roczen fell prey to JDR KTM’s Malcolm Stewart on the last lap of the race, but held on for a solid third, well ahead of Alex Martin on the Eleven 10 Mods Honda.
1. Justin Barcia (Hon)
2. Malcolm Stewart (KTM)
3. Ken Roczen (KTM)
4. Alex Martin (Hon)
5. Tyler Bowers (Kaw)
6. Kyle Peters (Yam)
7. Matt Lemoine (Kaw)
8. Lance Vincent (KTM)
9. Shane Sewell (KTM)
LITES HEAT 2
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Darryn Durham was the quickest off the line and on the track in heat two, as he grabbed the holeshot and led all six laps to a narrow win over Rockstar Suzuki’s Blake Wharton, who closed on the leader on the final laps. Last week’s winner in Indianapolis, Wharton sliced through the field after starting sixth, and easily displaced riders like Justin Bogle and Blake Baggett on his way towards the front. Baggett finished fourth, comfortably ahead of Shawn Rife. After running as high as fourth, Bogle crashed out of contention and was taken down again by another rider over the finish line on the last lap of the race.
1. Darryn Durham (Kaw)
2. Blake Wharton (Suz)
3. Blake Baggett (Kaw)
4. Shawn Rife (Hon)
5. Phil Nicoletti (Yam)
6. Jake Canada (Suz)
7. Tommy Weeck (KTM)
8. Dakota Tedder (Kaw)
9. AJ Catanzaro (KTM)
LCQ
Justin Bogle grabbed the holeshot at the start of the Lites LCQ and rode to an uncontested win. Les Smith looked to have control of the last transfer spot, but veteran Jeff Gibson had other ideas and stole the last ticket to the main event on the white flag lap.
1. Justin Bogle (Hon)
2. Jeff Gibson (Hon)
LITES MAIN EVENT
When the gate dropped at the start of the 15-lap SX Lites main event, Barcia led the way through the first turn, but Roczen tripled past on the first jump-laden straight. Roczen led the way for three laps until Barcia made and aggressive pass for the lead, and from there it was all the defending East Coast Champ. Roczen maintained control of second while an all-out war over third waged between Durham, Wharton and Martin. The Eleven 10 Mods rider caught fire momentarily and worked past both of his rivals on lap five, but both Durham and Wharton would find their way back around the diminutive rider. Durham washed the front end on the sixth lap and left Wharton in firm control of third.
Up front, Barcia clicked off perfect laps and continued to build a lead, stretching his advantage to five seconds over Roczen, who maintained a similar gap over Wharton. Motoconcepts rider Jake Canada found his way up to fourth, while Durham recovered from his spill to work up to fifth.
Top Lap Times
1. Justin Barcia 47.847
2. Blake Wharton 48.712
3. Ken Roczen 48.719
4. Darryn Durham 48.885
5. Tyler Bowers 49.064
CATEGORIZED: Features, News, Race Report
TAGS: Canadian Motocross, Darryn Durham, dirt bikes, jake weimer, Justin Barcia, Justin Bogle, Justin Brayton, kevin windham, Monster Energy Supercross, Rogers Center, ryan villopoto, wil hahn
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