The Monster Energy Supercross series turns the page to Round 12 on Saturday in Toronto, Canada, the only international stop on the circuit.
MotoSport riders continue to stick it out in a season that's had its share of ups and downs and unfortunate circumstances.
Weston Peick twice nabbed career highs of fifth-place this year but he's also faced mechanical problems and injuries. A few weeks ago, he shared a photo of the scars resulting from a crash in practice that kept him from competing in Daytona. But in Detroit, Peick put on his bravest face after crashing again, this time in a Heat race, and took seventh-place, his fifth Top 10 finish of the season. For what it's worth, he's in 11th place in points and should pass Chad Reed, who is out for the season, in two weeks to land in the Top 10.
Weston Peick
MotoSport Crossland Racing rider Jimmy Albertson is perhaps even more driven since he started a new exercise program a month ago which may prove to be the secret touch. Though he's yet to break the Top 15 again since A3, Albertson said he's noticing a difference even though the race results thus far have not yet come around.
"A continuous 40 minutes of exercise that's pretty gnarley," he said of his new workout between races. "I feel a lot different. I think it's coming, I sure do feel a lot better. After every weekend I feel better and on top of that I feel stronger and feel like I'm making progress."
Jimmy Albertson
Davi Millsaps, who rides on the MotoSport-sponsored Rockstar Energy KTM team, took to his bike earlier this week but in the end he's still holding his fire for a return to Supercross this year. His replacement, Ivan Tedesco, should resume duties in Toronto after missing the last two weeks from his human-brake injury in Indianapolis when he got caught between the wheel and fender of Tevin Tapia's bike. Nick Wey took 17th place in Detriot and is doing what he can to get back into the Top 15 for points. Wey tied his season best finish of 13th in Indianapolis but has had a rough go of it the last few weeks. Regardless, his vital signs remain strong as he's now reached the Main in every race since missing the season opener in Anaheim.
Nick Wey
The limelight continues to shine on Ryan Villopoto who shows no signs of fading away this season. He stretched his lead to 30 points, after a second place finish in Detroit, over Ryan Dungey who took third.
The 2014 championship is a far cry from being over with six races left. It looks to be a marathon fight to the finish as James Stewart, despite being 49 points from the lead, appears to be on a mission and finding his way after winning for the third time this season - he won once last year and only twice in 2012.
Check out the track map below:
A Stewart win on Saturday breaks his tie with Ricky Carmichael for second on the all-time wins list and evens him with Villopoto for all-time wins in Toronto with three. If he wants to stay in the race for the final podium, Stewart must resist the fourth-place Ken Roczen who is just a point behind him. Roczen finished in 20th and 21st place thanks to a crash and mechanical issues, in two of the last three races, but the rookie is not losing it as he finished second in Daytona, his sixth Top 3 finish for the season.
Cole Thompson
For the counterparts to the 450s, Cole Thompson took 11th place in the 250SX East class. Thompson rides for Joey Savatgy on the MotoSport-sponsored Rockstar Energy KTM team and is in seventh-place in the points race. Adam Cianciarulo notched his third win of the season and he holds on to a 17-point edge over Martin Davalos who took sixth-place in Detroit, his first time out of the Top 3 this season.
The countdown to the 7:00 p.m. Main begins at 12:30 p.m. Saturday when the doors open to practice and qualifying events races. Buy tickets on the Cyber Sea or at the Rogers Centre Box Office, One Blue Jays Way in Toronto, Canada.
2014 Monster Energy Supercross Season Standings
450SX Class Season Standings
- Ryan Villopoto (231)
- Ryan Dungey (201)
- James Stewart (182)
- Ken Roczen (181)
- Justin Brayton (167)
- Andrew Short (143)
- Justin Barcia (134)
- Broc Tickle (126)
- Wil Hahn (115)
- Chad Reed (111)
250SX East Class Season Standings
- Adam Cianciarulo (119)
- Martin Davalos (102)
- Blake Baggett (99)
- Justin Bogle (94)
- Vince Friese (75)
- Kyle Cunningham (63)
- Cole Thompson (58) - MotoSport rider
- James Decotis (54)
- Matthew Lemoine (53)
- Blake Wharton (51)
