Ryan Villopoto continues to dominate Monster Energy AMA Supercross after 12 rounds. Image: Simon Cudby.

Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto captured his series-leading seventh win of the season at Toronto in Canada to extend his points lead and inch closer to defending his Monster Energy Supercross Class title.

As the gate dropped on the Supercross Class Main Event, Team Honda Muscle Milk’s Justin Brayton grabbed the holeshot award with Villopoto and Toyota/Yamaha/JGRMX’s Davi Millsaps in tow.

Brayton led the opening lap of competition, but Villopoto made what would be the winning pass a short time later.

Once he took over the lead, Villopoto quickly pulled away. However, a slight bobble in the whoops on lap three allowed Brayton to close in briefly, but Villopoto rebounded and laid down the quickest laps of the evening. He took the checkered flag over nine seconds ahead of the field.

“Out of the first turn, it was just me and Brayton right off the bat,” said Villopoto. “I made some pretty big mistakes in the whoops. They were tough. We’ll go to Houston, where I think there’s a chance to wrap up the title. That’s the plan.”

Brayton recorded his second consecutive runner-up effort, while GEICO Honda’s Kevin Windham made an impressive climb from a fifth-place start to grab the final spot on the podium in third.

Villopoto now holds a 79-point lead over Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey.

In the Supercross Lites Class, GEICO Honda’s Justin Barcia, of Ochlocknee, Ga., raced to his fifth win in six races of the Eastern Regional Championship.

In the Supercross Lites Class main event, Barcia was the first out of the gate to grab the holeshot award, while Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen and Eleven10 Mods Honda’s Alex Martin followed.

Roczen took advantage early, moving past Barcia on the opening lap and setting a quick pace early.

The duo followed one another through the first few laps before Barcia took an inside line on lap three, making contact with Roczen in the process and pulling away.

Behind them, an exciting battle for third ensued between Martin, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Darryn Durham and Rockstar Energy Racing Suzuki’s Blake Wharton.

After a three-wide battle, Durham assumed the spot, but fell just a few laps later, allowing Wharton to take over the position.

Once out front, Barcia continued to pull away from the field, winning by over seven seconds. Roczen went unchallenged en route to a second-place finish, while Wharton held on for third.

“Right now I couldn’t be happier,” said Barcia. “I got my first win here two years ago. My GEICO Honda was hooking up great. This track was really tough tonight. You had to be really smart and really smooth. I made a great pass for the lead and kind of just rode my own race from there.”

Barcia extended his lead in the Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class standings to 28 points over Wharton.

2012 Monster Energy Supercross, an FIM World Championship
Round 12 – Toronto, CA

Supercross Class Results:
1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
2. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
3. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda
4. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
5. Jake Weimer, Wildomar, Idaho, Kawasaki
6. Marvin Musquin, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
7. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Kawasaki
8. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki
9. Robert Kiniry, Holland Patent, NY, Yamaha
10. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda

Supercross Class Season Standings:
1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki – 271
2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM – 192
3. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha – 177
4. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha – 169
5. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda – 166
6. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Honda – 165
7. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki – 150
8. Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki – 145
9. Mike Alessi, Hilliard, Calif., Suzuki – 136
10. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Honda – 128

Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class Results:
1. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda
2. Ken Roczen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
3. Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Suzuki
4. Jake Canada, Sun City, Calif., Honda
5. Darryn Durham, Butler, Pa, Kawasaki
6. Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda
7. Tommy Weeck, Menifee, Calif., Honda
8. Justing Bogle, Cushing, Okla., Honda
9. Matthew Lemoine, Collinsville, Texas, Kawasaki
10. Jeffrey Gibson, Blacklick, Ohio, Honda

Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class Season Standings:
1. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda – 145
2. Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Suzuki – 117
3. Darryn Durham, Butler, Pa., Kawasaki – 114
4. Ken Roczen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM – 102
5. Jake Canada, Sun City, Calif., Honda – 90
6. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki – 86
7. Justin Bogle, Cushing, Okla., Honda – 74
8. Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., KTM – 50
9. Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda – 50
10. Matthew Lemoine, Collinsville, Texas, Kawasaki – 46