2012 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series, an FIM World Championship - LA Recap, Oakland Preview

We are now three rounds deep into the 2012 Monster Energy Supercross Series, and things are beginning to heat up. Last weekend in Los Angeles, two riders rode off with solid wins - Chad Reed in the premiere 450 Supercross class, and Eli Tomac in the 250 Lites West Regional Supercross class.

There was a serious crash involving Trey Canard and Ryan Morais. We will continue to keep you updated as to their health status whenever we receive updates. Both Rick Johnson and Jeremy McGrath in their blogs of this past week commented about the crash:

Rick Johnson / RJ Says blog

Jeremy McGrath / King's Korner blog

Chad Reed took his first win of the season in the Supercross class, while Eli Tomac did the same in Lites racing. But the way the two riders accomplished their feats was completely different.

In the initial gate drop for the 450 Supercross class, Ryan Dungey grabbed the holeshot, mere inches in front of Defending AMA Monster Energy Supercross Champion Ryan Villopoto, but by the second turn, Villopoto had already taken over the lead. Considering his lap times in the heats and practice, the Monster Energy Kawasaki rider looked to be on his way to another runaway victory. But then the red flag came out (because of the crash involved Trey and Ryan) which forced a restart. Before you continue below

Håkan Carlquist Ricky Carmichael Danny Chandler Eric Cheney Alessio Chiodi Jaromir Cizek Guy Cooper Paul Cooper

DC Moto TF Day with Ryan Morais

Ryan Morais' goal for a 2010 West Coast Lites Supercross championship came to a screeching halt in just the 3rd round of the series, when another racer landed on the back on his bike, sending both riders crashing to the ground. This unfortunate crash would sideline Ryan for a few rounds, but he would eventually return to racing action in Seattle and finish the season 10th overall points. When the AMA Motocross Nationals came into around, Ryan was ready to get back to racing, but going into the second round he was once again out with an injury. Ryan has been busy the past few months, but is back and ready to set some new goals for the upcoming 2011 series. I spoke with Ryan about what he learned over the past year and his prospects for the new season.

Angela: Well Ryan, here we are just a few short weeks until the first Supercross race of the season; let's talk about sponsors and the bike?

Ryan: Yeah, DC Shoes stepped up recently and is sponsoring the entire Rockstar Energy Suzuki Team, so I am really excited to be a part of it. I have only been with this sponsor for a few days now and they're really taken care of the team. I'm with the same team as last year, Rockstar Energy Suzuki, with the same mechanic (Rene Zapata), and the same team manager, and owner, everything is pretty much the same, but Suzuki really is stepping up this year. Last year we were on a 2009 carburetor bike, so we were kind of behind the ball, but this year we are on the new 2011 fuel injected, the whole new chassis and everything, and Suzuki has really helped us out with factory support. Our bikes are pretty much in house bikes, running Shoei Suspension, so everything is looking great. Everyone has been doing a great job and the people at Yoshimura have been doing a lot of testing and getting our bikes dialed in, so I'm excited for Anaheim 1. Our bike should be one of the best ones out there, making things really competitive, and that is very cool.

Broc Glover Rui Goncalves Josh Grant Billy Grossi Davide Guarneri Thomas Hahn Torsten Hallman Bob Hannah

Chad Reed out for remainder of AMA Supercross Season

Chad Reed, a multi time AMA Supercross Series Champion (2004, 2008) and AMA National Motocross Champion (2009) is out for the remainder of the 2012 Monster Energy AMA / FIM Supercross Series, due to a fall and injuries last Saturday in Dallas. You can send him a 'Get Well' message below.

Here is the official information, direct from Carlsbad California, and the TwoTwo Motor Sports race team: In a devastating blow for TwoTwo Motorsports Chad Reed, injuries sustained at last weekend?s Dallas round of the AMA Supercross, have forced him to retire from the remainder of the 2012 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship.

Reed suffered a horrific crash while challenging for the race lead on lap seven and was unable to finish the race.

Initial scans have revealed the Australian has torn his anterior cruciate ligament, broken his tibia and fibula, sustained two broken ribs and has a broken T6 vertebrae. (Continued below)

Andrew Short Shaun Simpson Joël Smets Jeff Smith Marty Smith Steve Stackable Jeff Stanton Rex Staten

WMX Rider Insight: Sayaka Kaneshiro

At the 13th annual 'A Day in the Dirt' I got a chance to talk with Sayaka "Teriyaki Sauce" Kaneshiro, WMX Pro #15

How was your racing today?

It was good, I thought we had a practice first, I went out and it was actually a race. I was just racing and riding around, I felt like ... WOW!


Photo by Heather Majcherek

What did you think of the event overall?

It was to difficult racing for me, because I didn't ride my pace. I rode about 6th place, less than I wanted to. I got the same number as last year, I just tried to do my best.

Alessio Chiodi Jaromir Cizek Guy Cooper Paul Cooper Josh Coppins Cody Copper Gordon Crockard Craig Dack

The 411 with Kevin Windham