Davi Millsaps is first in line to take second place from Ryan Dungey, sitting just one-point behind. Image: Simon Cudby.

With Ryan Villopoto clinching the 2012 AMA 450 Supercross title in Houston, the battle for second place heats up as the series heads into New Orleans.

In such an injury plagued season, the door has been left wide open for riders to have the chance of moving themselves up the ladder.

JGRMX/Toyota/Yamaha’s Davi Millsaps and Muscle Milk Honda’s Justin Brayton are aiming to do just that, sitting third and fourth respectively in the points standings.

With second in points being injured Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey, this places Millsaps and Brayton in the perfect position to push through and battle for the runner-up spot – Look for these two riders to be doing battle in the Mercedez Benz Super Dome.

In the Lites class, GEICO Honda’s Justin Barcia still leads the championship over Rockstar Suzuki’s Blake Wharton, despite his final-lap tangle with Lance Vincent in Houston.

Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen, Houston’s winner, currently sits third in the points chase coming into New Orleans.

You can count on the young German to be taking some confidence from his first win of the season and putting it to good use, as he tries to climb the leader board before the season-end.