Red Riders Race Report: San Diego AMA Supercross

The San Diego round of the AMA/FIM Supercross Series saw a
rarity this year: a dry, fast, yet technical track, set out in the
relatively expansive setting of a football stadium rather than a
baseball diamond. And it also showcased some of the best, most
exciting riding of the season, with racers battling fiercely in both
the heats as well as in the main.

Honda riders turned in yet another excellent performance, with
Honda Torco Racing Fuels rider Kevin Windham winning the first
heat race over series leader Chad Reed, and Honda Red Bull
Racing’s Davi Millsaps taking the holeshot in the main, and then
fighting it out with Reed for the lead as the race progressed.

The first heat race in the 450 class was a three-way fight
between Honda Red Bull Racing teammates Andrew Short and
Davi Millsaps and the eventual winner Tim Ferry. All three riders
were exceedingly close, with Millsaps and Short really going at it
in the early laps.

The second heat race saw Kevin Windham rocket his CRF450R
into the lead, with Chad Reed a few places back after a mediocre
start. Windham put his head down and opened a lead of nearly a
full straightaway at the outset, but the charging Reed was
determined to close the distance. The margin seesawed back and
forth throughout the race, Reed coming within a few feet of
Windham’s rear wheel at times, only to fall back when K-Dub
dialed up the pace. In the end, the victory went to Windham, who
rode a flawless race. The close racing and Windham’s victory was
clearly popular with the crowd too.

The San Diego track had one notable feature that really played
into the results of many of the races. At the end of the long
starting straight, the first turn (a left-hander) was a deep, wide
sand section. In the main, Davi Millsaps gave the crowd another
jolt with his dominant start and first-turn speed, roosting all over
Chad Reed in the Qualcomm sand pit. Andrew Short was right
there in third, with Windham holding formation in fourth—Reed
was surrounded by Hondas, and could only circle the wagons as
he battled with Millsaps. full story on hondaredriders.com
pics from tedescophoto.com