Aussie Chad Reed is back in title contention after a solid second in Jacksonville this weekend.

Australia’s Chad Reed is well and truly in the hunt for the series after taking second on Saturday night when Jacksonville’s EverBank Field hosted the 11th race of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, season.

American Honda’s Trey Canard registered his second career victory after a bar-to-bar battle with TwoTwo Motorsports privateer Reed in the 20-lap main event.

KTM Red Bull Racing’s Mike Alessi squeezed through the pack to claim the holeshot, which was the first of his season. As the riders rounded the first turn, San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart collided with another rider and was unable to finish the race.

As the riders separated through the first few turns, Canard led with Alessi and Reed trailing. Late on lap one, Reed passed Alessi for second place. Through lap two, Canard lengthened his lead with Reed and Dungey in pursuit.

Over the remaining 18 laps, Reed narrowed in on Canard’s lead, and eventually made a pass on lap 18. Canard quickly answered back and moved into the lead.

The win marked Canard’s second of the season and he was stoked to hold off dual champion Reed.

“I really needed this win,” said Canard. “I can’t tell you enough how much this means to me. I got nervous at one point and looked at the board and realized how close it really was. I put on a fight and it really paid off tonight.”

Reed finished second and Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s defending champion Ryan Dungey finished third.

“The track was tough and slick in some sections,” said Reed. “I played it smart out there, and like I say, anything can happen at any given time. We’ve come a long way and it isn’t over yet.”

While Reed continues his podium run, series leader Ryan Villopoto (Monster Energy Kawasaki) failed to qualify after a string of crashes in his heat race and LCQ.

Reed now sits just seven points in arrears of Villopoto in the standings.

Of the other Australians, Michael Byrne was an improved 12th aboard his BTOSPorts.com Suzuki, while Tye Simmonds didn’t main it through the LCQ for the Aussie-owned JDR/J-Star/KTM team.

Meanwhile, GEICO Honda’s Justin Barcia locked in his second Eastern Regional Supercross Lites class victory of the season.

As the gate dropped for the fifth race of the Eastern Regional Supercross Lites class championship, Justin Barcia grabbed the holeshot with GEICO Honda teammate Blake Wharton and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Dean Wilson in tow.

Barcia distanced himself from the pack and went on to lead all 15 laps to lock in his second victory of the season.

As Barcia removed himself from the pack, a battle behind him between Wharton, Wilson, and DNA Shred Stix/Star Yamaha’s Ryan Sipes pursued.

Through lap one, Wilson gained considerable ground on Wharton and made a solid pass to take over the second-place spot. Sipes trailed Wharton and made a pass to bump Wharton out of the third place spot. Wilson finished second and Sipes finished third.

“I had a really tough day out there today and really had to push it, exclaimed Barcia. “The whoops were gnarly. I plan on going home and building some big whoops at home to get more practice on them. I’m just pumped to win tonight.”

The 12th race of the Monster Energy Supercross Championship resumes next Saturday, 26 March, from Toronto’s Rogers Centre in Canada.

2011 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship
Round 11 – Jacksonville, Florida

Supercross Class Results:
1. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda
2. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Honda
3. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki
4. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda
5. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM
6. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki
7. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM
8. Austin Stroupe, Lincolnton, N.C., Yamaha
9. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Yamaha
10. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Kawasaki

Supercross Class Season Standings:
1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki – 221
2. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Honda – 214
3. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki – 203
4. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha – 198
5. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda – 194
6. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM – 145
7. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda – 121
8. Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C, Yamaha – 121
9. Davi Millsaps, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha – 118
10. Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki – 107

Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class Results:
1. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda
2. Dean Wilson, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki
3. Ryan Sipes, Ekron, Ky., Yamaha
4. Matt Lemoine, Collinsville, Texas, Kawasaki
5. P.J. Larsen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
6. Darryn Durham, Butler, Pa., Honda
7. Les Smith, York, S.C., Honda
8. Taylor Futrell, Clinton, N.C., York, S.C., Honda
9. Hunter Hewitt, Pilot Point, Texas, Suzuki
10. Justin Sipes, Vine Grove, Ky., Kawasaki

Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class Season Standings:
1. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda – 116
2. Ryan Sipes, Ekron, Ky., Yamaha – 99
3. Dean Wilson, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki – 97
4. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki – 85
5. Matt Lemoine, Collinsville, Texas, Kawasaki – 69
6. Blake Wharton, Aubrey, Texas, Honda – 69
7. P.J. Larsen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM – 62
8. Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki – 53
9. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki – 44
10. Lance Vincent, Youngsville, La., Honda – 43