BARCIA CLAIMS LITES EAST CHAMPIONSHIP
The AMSOIL supercross team headed to the season’s final event in Las Vegas with a chance to wrap up both the Lites East and Lites West championships. After taking his third win of the season in St. Louis, Justin Barcia had a firm 20-point lead over Dean Wilson in the Lites East standings, while teammate Eli Tomac strung together six straight podiums, including two wins, to close the gap on Lites West points leader Brock Tickle to just two points.
Barcia quickly grabbed the hole shot in the East final and opened up a sizeable lead. Although a mid-race crash dropped him to third, Barcia continued his strong riding to take his ninth straight podium and cruise to the championship.
“I’m lost for words right now,” said Barcia after the race. “It hasn’t set in yet that I’ve won the championship. It’s been an awesome season. The racing has been crazy all year and I’ve had a lot of fun. I have an awesome team behind me that has given me 100-percent support every race. This is a moment I will remember forever.”
In the West final, Tomac and Tickle kept one another in sight throughout all 15 laps. Although Tomac held the upper hand throughout the majority of the race, Tickle made the pass on lap 13 to finish second and take the championship. Tomac finished fourth in the final and second in the points standings. AMSOIL is the Exclusive Official Oil of Monster Energy Supercross.
KEVIN WINDHAM EARNS FANS CHOICE AWARD
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Team AMSOIL supercross rider Kevin Windham led the Las Vegas main event for much of the race before James Stewart rode over his head, crashed in the whoops section and essentially took him out. Windham suffered a spleen injury and was unable to finish the race. Despite the rough night, Windham continues to be the most popular rider in the sport, and he was presented with the Feld Motorsports Fans Choice award at Sunday night’s awards banquet.
Windham plans to compete in the 2012 supercross season, and may enter a few Outdoor National events this summer.