Cycle News

SUPERCROSS MONSTER ENERGY AMA SUPERCROSS SERIES ROUND 5/ANGEL STADIUM OF ANAHEIM ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA/FEBRUARY 1, 2014 P60 Ever since his last win nearly a year ago at the Dallas Super- cross, things have been tough for Wilson. Injuries ended his title run last year, he's been strug- gling in the early part of this year, and when an electrical problem on the last lap cost him the win just a week earlier at the Oakland Supercross, Wilson was under- standably nearly speechless af- ter his breakthrough win at A3. LONG TIME COMING After the bitter disappointment of last week, Wilson came into Anaheim III with a vengeance and quickly got the track dialed in. Not only was he the quickest 250 rider in qualifying, he was also the quickest rider of all riders – including the 450s! He carried that momentum into the night's program and won his heat race. At this point, anything less than a win in the 250 main would be another bitter disappointment for the young Scotsman. And it was, in fact, beginning to look like it was heading in that direction for a while. Seely got out in front early with the holeshot, and Wilson had to make a few passes before get- ting into second. But, from there on out, he found it difficult to make up ground on Seely, who had stepped up his game and was maintaining a small gap on the Kawasaki rider. It looked like it was going to be another tough night for Wilson. However, on the 13 th – of 15 laps – Wilson's luck would change. Seely got kicked a little bit going into a turn and his front end tucked, resulting in a simple washout. Wilson avoided running into Seely and went on to take the emotional win. Seely got up in time to salvage second, while MyPlash/Metal Mulisha/Rock- star Energy/Star Racing/Yama- ha's Cooper Webb claimed third. Seely dealt with another bitter loss with class. "It was a good race," he said. "I led for 13 laps then just washed out. I carried a little more speed through the whoops, got a good drive, and when I set the front end down coming out of them, it just started washing and I couldn't recover the front end. But I'm happy, as long as I'm up there; it's my third second of the season and it's still good. We're tied for the points lead and that's what matters." THE STEWART/ANDERSON SHOW So what happened to points lead- er and three-time winner Jason Anderson? The Rockstar Energy Racing Team rider had his worst night of the season so far, but he still managed to pull off a fifth, but it was a tough road getting there. REED ON ROCZEN After the race, Chad Reed admitted that he enjoyed his race with the rookie, Roczen. "Through the mechanic's area, I felt like I was pretty strong through there," Reed said of their battle. "I felt like both of us were pretty strong in the whoops. You know, he's a young, strong kid; he was probably throwing it into those whoops a little more than I was, while I was just trying to be consistent in them and not give up too much. From the first set of whoops to the second set I felt like I gave up a little bit of time to him. But after that sec- tion I would just kind of pull that gap back out again." Despite the constant pressure, Reed never faltered and he had an answer for everything Roczen threw at him. "I just kept telling myself to do what I do at home, just pound out the laps and watch the pit board," Reed said. "I knew I didn't give up too much anywhere, and what he gained on me, I was gaining back. I was surprised that when we got 12 or 13 laps in it was going to be me and Kenny battling for the lead." Reed said that he has a lot of respect for the young racer. "Kenny rode super clean and hard. He threw it up in there one time, but you just respect people who race like that. He's just a good kid who came out of Europe and they race hard but clean and that's fun." Shan Moore

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