2012 Monster Energy Supercross Championship Kicks off This Saturday Night

Courtesy Feld Motor Sports: The 2012 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, season kicks off this Saturday at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif., with defending Supercross Class champion Ryan Villopoto staging a title defense against the world?s greatest riders. SPEED will broadcast the race live at 7:00 p.m. Pacific Time.

Villopoto, who rides for the Monster Energy Kawasaki team, made a statement at last year?s season opener by leading all 20 laps of the main event en route to his tenth career win. This year Villopoto will not only defend his title, he is trying to become only the sixth rider in history to win the season opener in back-to-back years.

?It?s a nice way to start out the season,? said Villopoto following last year?s season opener. ?Starting out this way makes things much easier. I hope I can start putting together some more wins and a championship this year.?

Villopoto didn?t waiver from his winning ways as he was crowned the sport?s biggest prize at the season finale at Las Vegas? Sam Boyd Stadium. In doing so, he became the 12th rider to win the season opener and the championship.

In last year?s Western Regional Supercross Lites Class main event, Monster Energy/Pro-Circuit/Kawasaki?s Josh Hansen opened the season with win after taking the lead on lap eight.

John van den Berk Marnicq Bervoets Fritz Betzlbacher Dave Bickers Anthony Boissiere Frederic Bolley Xavier Boog Damon Bradshaw