It's the last race of a long four month season. The champion already crowned. The start of the 2014 Lucas Oil Motocross series is three weeks away.
It may not seem like it but there's a lot riding (no pun intended) on Round 17 of the 2014 Monster Energy Supercross on Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium. The final podium is not yet decided and MotoSport riders can bump up a few spots in the point standings not only for personal satisfaction but a bigger end-of-year payday.
Currently, MotoSport Crossland Racing rider Jimmy Albertson is in22nd place just 11 points behind the 20th spot held by Trey Canard who has four straight Top 10 finishes after missing the first 12 rounds of the season. Assuming Canard continues his dominance, he'll move up several positions leaving requiring Albertson to get 13 points to tie Ivan Tedesco, who is done for the season.
Jimmy Albertson can finish the Supercross season in the Top 20
Albertson's best showing of the year occurred in Toronto when he finished 13th which gave him eight points. Albertson must also contend with Jacob Weimer, who is 10 points ahead of him in 21st place and recently returned to action with a solid showing in East Rutherford. Albertson's work is cut out for him but he's determined to post a Top 10 finish for the season.
Weston Peick should finish in the Top 10 for Supercross
Weston Peick needs just four points to pass the injured Wil Hahn for 10th place and seven points to pass the injured Broc Tickle for ninth-place. However, Peick has to contend with the aggressive Mike Alessi, who he is tied with. Peick won't have to fend off the surging Eli Tomac who broke his collarbone last week. Tomac who took second place last week looked strong in the last four races and is only four points behind Peick.
Nick Wey is a lock for a Top 15 finish and could move up a spot
MotoSport rider Nick Wey sits quite comfortably in 15th place and is only nine points behind the injured Chad Reed. Wey is the most consistent MotoSport-sponsored rider this season with 11 Top 15 finishes. He's qualified for the Main in 15 out of 16 races this year.
Cody Gilmore ready to finish the Supercross season strong
MotoSport rider Cody Gilmore has struggled of late but still reached the Main in the last six races. Kyle Regal who rides for the MotoSport Crossland Racing team, missed the Main in East Rutherford after a first turn pile-up in the LCQ but raced well in the previous two races.
Kyle Regal looks to get back into the Main after crash last week
Overall, now four-time champion Ryan Villopoto is likely to ride as he finished out the season last year after winning the championship a week early. James Stewart, who tweaked his knee in East Rutherford, is expected to ride. His early departure in Round 16 dropped him to third place overall and he now sits 11 points behind Ryan Dungey. Rookie Ken Roczen is also in the mix for a final podium spot. He's only six points from third and has locked up fourth-place.
Perhaps the biggest action in Las Vegas is the East and West Championship and the East-West shootout, where the Top 10 riders in each class compete in a one-off race. No riders in either of the 250SX classes have wrapped up their respective championships though Justin Bogle, who is first in the East, is guaranteed a championship as second-place Martin Davalos did not compete in East Rutherford after crashing in practice and breaking bones in his ankles and feet. He will not race in Las Vegas.
MotoSport-sponsored rider Jason Anderson, who rides for the Rockstar Energy KTM team, holds onto an eight point lead in the 250SX West class over Cole Seely. Both Anderson and Seely have a lock on at least a second-place overall for the season and Anderson can finish as low as fourth-place in Las Vegas if Seely wins and still take the championship.
Justin Hill and Dean Wilson race for third-place. Cooper Webb and Malcolm Stewart also have a chance for a third place finish. MotoSport-sponsored rider Cole Thompson, who races for the Rockstar Energy KTM team in the East class, has a torn ACL and will not race.
Doors open to Supercross Round 17 at 12:30 p.m. and the main event starts at 7 p.m. Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, NV. Buy tickets online or at the box office, 7000 East Russell Road in Las Vegas.
2014 Monster Energy Supercross Season Standings
450SX Class Season Standings
- Ryan Villopoto (343) - 2014 Supercross Champion
- Ryan Dungey (282)
- James Stewart (271)
- Ken Roczen (265)
- Justin Barcia (232)
- Andrew Short (207)
- Justin Brayton (196)
- Josh Hill (144)
- Broc Tickle (126)
- Wil Hahn (122)
250SX West Class Season Standings
- Jason Anderson (178) - MotoSport rider
- Cole Seely (170)
- Justin Hill (139)
- Dean Wilson (138)
- Cooper Webb (121)
- Malcolm Stewart (121)
- Jessy Nelson (103)
- Zach Osborne (100)
- Shane McElrath (96)
- Jake Canada (72)
250SX East Class Season Standings
- Justin Bogle (166)
- Martin Davalos (149)
- Adam Cianciarulo (120)
- Blake Baggett (120)
- Vince Friese (120)
- Kyle Cunningham (109)
- Matthew Lemoine (90)
- James Decotis (90)
- Cole Thompson (89) - MotoSport rider
- Alex Martin (86)
