Australian Supercross Champion Josh Hansen returned home and earned his fifth-career AMA Supercross Lites win, while Broc Tickle showed he could run up front as he led eight laps before Hansen got by. In his first-ever supercross race, Tyla Rattray overcame a crash earlier in practice to round out the podium. The domination showed as Kawasaki led every lap of both main events.
After not racing for nearly nine months, Villopoto entered the night prepared to shake off the cobwebs and get down to business. The road to recovery may have been long, but taking home the win was a good way to leave Round 1.
"One of the big goals for the weekend was to leave Anaheim 1 healthy," said Villopoto. "I felt really good in the main and didn't get tired. It's a good way to start the season. I know it's a long year, but if I could put together more wins, that would put myself in good position for a championship."
With his victory, Hansen picked up where he left off last season in the AMA Supercross Lites class. Last season he won the 2010 AMA Supercross Lites Western Region finale in Salt Lake City, Utah and now another win comes at the beginning of the 2011 season. The Anaheim 1 victory puts him in good position to move toward the ultimate goal of a championship. "It's really great to start the season off on top," Hansen said.
Tickle has already propelled himself from being a single-race winner in 2010 to a title contender in 2011. His night saw him earn both the heat and main event holeshots, win the heat race, and hold onto the lead for eight laps of the main before finishing second on the night.
"I have never felt so confident before in my career," said Tickle. "The team supports me in every way and I definitely feel like I'm a part of the family. It has really given me the confidence to know I can go out there and win every weekend. Now I just have to get around my teammates and hopefully I can be there in the end for the championship."
In his first-ever supercross race, Rattray showed his determination as he overcame a practice crash to finish third in the AMA Supercross Lites main event.
