Ryan Villopoto’s 450SX win in Texas marked his third of the season. Image: Simon Cudby.

Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto clinched his third 450SX win of the 2013 Monster Energy Supercross at round seven in Arlington, Texas.

Rockstar Energy Racing’s Davi Millsaps pulled the Nuclear Cowboyz holeshot before the reigning champion quickly made the move into the lead position.

While Villopoto began to gap the field during the opening laps, TwoTwo Motorsports’ Chad Reed made the move passed Millsaps, stealing second place away from the series points leader.

Millsaps quickly retaliated, reclaiming second place from Reed and slowly pulling away. Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey slowly made a push for the final podium position, before making an aggressive move on Reed to secure third place.

As the chequered flag flew it was Villopoto taking the win with Millsaps in second and Dungey rounding out the podium with a strong third place finish. Australia’s Reed was fourth with JGRMX/Toyota/Yamaha’s Justin Brayton rounding out the top five.

One name missing from the equation is Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart, after winning his heat race over Villopoto, Stewart suffered a clutch problem on minutes before the main event and was forced to withdraw from the race.

Millsaps continues to lead the 450SX points chase after seven rounds of action, with a 21-point lead over second placed Dungey. Villopoto sits three points behind Dungey in third, with Honda Muscle Milk’s Trey Canard and Reed sitting fourth and fifth respectively.

Round one of the Eastern Regional 250SX championship took place in Texas, and it was Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Dean Wilson who nabbed the opening win of the season.

Out of the gate it was AG Motorsports Honda’s Kyle Peters who grabbed the Nuclear Cowboyz holeshot. Behind him, Wilson and Rockstar Energy Racing’s Blake Wharton assumed second and third place.

Wilson quickly made his way into the lead during the first lap of the 15-lap main event, stretching out a considerable lead over his closest competitor Wharton.

Peters battled for the third place position throughout the race, eventually giving the position up to GEICO Honda’s Will Hahn on lap 10.

In the end it was Wilson who took the convincing win, with Wharton in second and Will Hahn hanging onto his third place spot to round out the podium.

The Monster Energy Supercross series will now head to the Georgia Dome in Atlanta for round eight on 23 February.

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