Ryan Villopoto took a hard-fought 450SX win in Toronto. Image: Simon Cudby.

Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto has extended his Monster Energy Supercross 450SX win streak after scoring the main event win at Toronto’s round 12 over the weekend.

Villopoto captured the Nuclear Cowboyz Holeshot Award before TwoTwo Motorsports’ Chad Reed quickly moved himself into the lead position in the first rhythm section.

Rockstar Energy Racing’s Davi Millsaps followed Reed by Villopoto as well into second, setting the stage for a thrilling battle that also included Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey and Team Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart.

Millsaps was able to slip past Reed for the lead on the second lap of the race and set the pace for the first half of the 20-lap main event.

On the third lap Villopoto mad his move past Reed into second and set his sights on Millsaps out front. One lap later, Dungey also made his way past Reed into the final podium position.

Villopoto stalked Millsaps for the next eight laps while attempting to slip by his championship rival on several occasions.

During the 11th lap Villopoto pushed his way inside of Millsaps and was able to take over the position. Once out front, Villopoto pulled away for his 31st career 450SX Class victory and became the first rider to win back-to-back races in Toronto.

Millsaps went unchallenged on his way to earning the runner-up spot. Meanwhile Dungey stalled his bike while trying to close the gap on Millsaps, losing the third spot to Reed – Dungey was able to reclai, the position to secure his third consecutive podium finish.

Villopoto now carries a 12-point lead over Millsaps into the 13th race of the season. Dungey sits 22 points out of the lead in third.

Australia’s Chad Reed announced that he would undergo knee surgery this week, hoping to miss only one round of racing and make a return at Minneapolis’ round 14. Click here for more information on that story.

In the 250SX class it was Red Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin who continued his recent form, taking his third consecutive main event win in Toronto.

Musquin crossed the stripe first for the Nuclear Cowboyz Holeshot Award, followed by privateer Honda rider Jimmy Decotis and Slaton Racing’s Vince Friese.

Both Rockstar Energy Racing’s Blake Wharton and GEICO Honda’s Wil Hahn, Musquin’s primary championship rivals, started inside the top five and began to work their way forward.

During lap two Decotis crashed out of second, allowing both Wharton and Hahn to gain a position on the track. Wharton and Hahn began to battle for second, and on lap six Hahn made the move for the position and attempted to catch Musquin out front.

Musquin, a former FIM Motocross World MX2 champion, continued to lay down consistent laps for the remainder of the 15-lap main event to create a winning margin of over three seconds.

Hahn minimized the damage done to his lead in the standings by finishing second while Wharton held off a late charge by MyPlash/Metal Mulisha/Star Yamaha’s Jeremy Martin to finish third.

Hahn’s lead in the 250SX eastern regional championship now sits at six points over Musquin while Wharton sits third overall another 20 points back from second.

Australia’s Jackson Richardson took a season best ninth place main event finish, while fellow Aussie Taylor Potter failed to qualify for the main event after an unfortunate LCQ crash.

Monster Energy Supercross will take a break over the Easter holiday before returning to action on Saturday, 6 April inside Houston’s Reliant Stadium.

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