Image: Simon Cudby.

Reigning three-time 450SX class champion Ryan Villopoto won his first Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, race of the season aboard his Monster Energy Kawasaki at Phoenix on Saturday evening in Arizona.

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Matt Moss grabbed the holeshot to start the 20-lap 450SX main event, with Toyota/Yamaha/N-Fab/JGRMX’s Justin Brayton and Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey in tow.

Villopoto started in ninth, behind the likes of Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart, Team Honda Muscle Milk’s Justin Barcia, and Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen.

Brayton took over the lead after the second corner, bringing Dungey and Barcia with him. Barcia surged towards the front, passing Dungey for second and then setting his sights on the lead.

Barcia briefly passed Brayton, but the Yamaha rider countered back, which allowed Dungey to reclaim second from Barcia. A six-rider battle ensued with Brayton, Dungey, Roczen, Barcia, Villopoto, and Stewart all within just a few seconds of one another.

On lap seven Barcia and Roczen made contact while battling for third, sending Roczen to the ground. Villopoto pressured Barcia shortly thereafter and made the pass for third. As Dungey looked to make a move on Brayton, Villopoto closed in and made the pass for second on lap 11.

On lap 13, Villopoto passed Brayton and fended off a late charge to win in Phoenix for the first time in the 450SX Class.

“Justin was riding a hell of a race,” said Villopoto. “I have to give it to him, he made it tough. I didn’t get the start I wanted because the gate was slippery, but I just needed to be patient. Phoenix gets really slick so I had to take my time and make sure my passes stuck.”

Dungey finished third, giving him back-to-back podium results, from Stewart and Barcia. Australia’s Chad Reed recovered from a slow start to ninth, two positions ahead of Moss.

With his win, the 35th of his career, Villopoto moves into the 450SX class points lead. He holds a one-point advantage over Dungey.

Australian privateer Lawson Bopping made his American supercross debut aboard a Suzuki, crashing in the semi while in contention for a transfer position, and then bowing out following the LCQ.

For the second consecutive week, Rockstar Energy Racing’s Jason Anderson used a last-lap pass to post back-to-back victories in the Western Regional 250SX Class Championship.

Anderson again struck on the final lap of the 15-lap affair, edging out Cole Seely (Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil Honda) and GEICO Honda’s Zach Osborne. Dean Ferris made vast improvements in his second appearance for Red Bull KTM, finishing seventh.

“I was out for redemption tonight,” said Anderson. “I got a good start on my KTM, like I have been all season. I don’t plan on those last-lap passes, but it was there and I needed to take it.

“My goal is to keep control of the red number plate so I’ll do whatever it takes to do that. I really want it.”

With Anderson, Seely, and Osborne on the podium, it duplicated the finishing order from last week’s opening race. Anderson’s lead in the championship sits at six points.

Monster Energy Supercross returns to Anaheim and Angel Stadium for the third race of the 2014 season next weekend – the race featuring as the 40th Anniversary Celebration of the championship.

2014 Monster Energy Supercross, an FIM World Championship
Round two – Phoenix, AZ

450SX main event results:
1. Ryan Villopoto
2. Justin Brayton
3. Ryan Dungey
4. James Stewart
5. Justin Barcia
6. Ken Roczen
7. Andrew Short
8. Broc Tickle
9. Chad Reed
10. Wil Hahn
11. Matt Moss
12. Ivan Tedesco
13. Nick Wey
14. Vince Friese
15. Matt Goerke
16. Kyle Chisholm
17. Mike Alessi
18. Jake Weimer
19. Kyle Partridge
20. Nick Schmidt
21. Weston Peick
22. Chris Blose

450SX championship standings (after two of 17 rounds):
1. Ryan Villopoto 43
2. Ryan Dungey 42
3. Ken Roczen 40
4. Justin Brayton 37
5. Chad Reed 32
6. Justin Barcia 32
7. Andrew Short 26
8. Broc Tickle 26
9. James Stewart 22
10. Wil Hahn 21
11. Matt Moss 18
12. Josh Grant 14
13. Jacob Weimer 14
14. Mike Alessi 13
15. Ivan Tedesco 10
16. Nicholas Wey 8
17. Nick Schmidt 8
18. Kyle Partridge 8
19. Vince Friese 7
20. Matt Goerke 7

West Coast 250SX main event results:
1. Jason Anderson
2. Cole Seely
3. Zach Osborne
4. Dean Wilson
5. Malcolm Stewart
6. Cooper Webb
7. Dean Ferris
8. Justin Hill
9. Jessy Nelson
10. Cole Martinez
11. Scott Champion
12. Shane McElrath
13. Austin Burns
14. Darryn Durham
15. Chris Plouffe
16. Colton Aeck
17. Dakota Tedder
18. Aaron Siminoe
19. Ruben Alanis
20. Killian Auberson

West Coast 250SX championship standings (after two of nine rounds):
1. Jason Anderson 50
2. Cole Seely 44
3. Zach Osborne 40
4. Dean Wilson 36
5. Cooper Webb 31
6. Malcolm Stewart 29
7. Justin Hill 28
8. Jessy Nelson 24
9. Darryn Durham 21
10. Dean Ferris 21
11. Shane McElrath 14
12. Cole Martinez 12
13. Scott Champion 12
14. Dakota Tedder 12
15. Austin Politelli 11
16. Michael Leib 10
17. Jake Canada 10
18. Austin Burns 8
19. Zach Bell 6
20. Chris Plouffe 6

Click here for detailed results