The 2012 Monster Energy/AMA Supercross Series finally headed east for round seven of the series this weekend in Arlington, Texas, inside the state-of-the-art Cowboys Stadium. And it was a big night for Monster Energy.

The Arlington round marked the beginning of the Lites East series, and the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki team brought in Darryn Durham – new to the team in 2012 – and proven winner Blake Baggett. Baggett started off the night grabbing second in the first heat race of the night, and Durham did likewise in heat two.

In the main event, Durham grabbed the holeshot to get things going and had teammates Justin Barcia and Justin Bogle breathing down his neck. Baggett went down in a first-turn crash and ended up finishing 15th with a badly bent KX250F.

In the battle out front, eventually Bogle fell behind and then went down with Malcolm Stewart, but Barcia moved forward, pressuring Durham for the lead and making a pass stick just past halfway. At that point, Barcia pulled ahead to win while Durham held off former 2011 World MX2 Champ Ken Roczen for second.

“It was big for me tonight,” Durham said after the race. “I needed to get up there with those guys and mix it up to see where I fit in.”

Durham now sits second in points as the series heads a bit further east to Atlanta next weekend.

In the 450cc class, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto led teammate Jake Weimer to the opening heat-race win, and then in the main event, Villopoto snatched the lead in the second turn, while Weimer grabbed third. Chad Reed gave chase to Villopoto for the first six laps before Reed went down in a heap in the soft sandy section of the track. Reed’s night ended there, and Weimer inherited second. Villopoto went on to win going away.

“I knew Chad [Reed] was there, and I heard him go down,” Villopoto said. “I knew something happened, and I looked over on the triple and saw him there, so I knew it was over at that point.”

Late in the race, Weimer came under pressure from Ryan Dungey and the two traded second place a couple of times before Dungey made contact with Weimer hard enough to break Weimer’s rear-brake lever off and cause his transmission to start leaking. Weimer was stuck in first gear for the remainder of the race but still held on for the final couple of laps to finish third, putting both members of the Monster Energy Kawasaki squad on the podium for the second time this season.

“I was stuck in first gear, so there wasn’t a whole lot I could do at that point,” Weimer said after the race. “But it’s nice to turn things around and be back up where I feel that I should be.”

For Villopoto, the win marked his third in a row and extended his points lead to 13. For Weimer, his podium finish moved him back up to fifth in the points chase as the series heads to Atlanta for round eight next Saturday night.

Lites Main: Arlington

1. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda

2. Darryn Durham, Butler, Pa., Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki

3. Ken Roczen, Germany, KTM

4. Blake Wharton, Beaumont, Texas, Suzuki

5. Phillip Nicoletti, Cochecton, NY, Honda

6. Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., KTM

7. Jake Canada, Sun City, Calif., Suzuki

8. PJ Larsen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM

9. Cole Thompson, Canada, Honda

10. Lance Vincent, Youngsville, La., KTM

Lites Eastern Regional SX Season Standings

1. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda – 25

2. Darryn Durham, Butler, Pa., Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki – 22

3. Ken Roczen, Germany, KTM – 20

4. Blake Wharton, Beaumont, Texas, Suzuki – 18

5. Phillip Nicoletti, Cochecton, NY, Honda – 16

6. Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., KTM – 15

7. Jake Canada, Sun City, Calif., Suzuki – 14

8. PJ Larsen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM – 13

9. Cole Thompson, Canada, Honda – 12

10. Lance Vincent, Youngsville, La., KTM – 11

450 Main: Arlington

1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Monster Energy Kawasaki

2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki

3. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Monster Energy Kawasaki

4. Mike Alessi, Hesperia, Calif., Suzuki

5. Josh Hansen, Elbert, Colo., H&H Kawasaki

6. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha

7. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda

8. Brett Metcalfe, Australia, Suzuki

9. Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Honda

10. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Kawasaki

450 SX Season Standings

1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Monster Energy Kawasaki – 158

2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki – 145

3. Chad Reed, Australia, Honda – 128

4. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha – 116

5. Jake Weimer, Twin Falls, Idaho, Monster Energy Kawasaki – 92

6. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda – 92

7. Brett Metcalfe, Australia, Suzuki – 88

8. Mike Alessi, Hilliard, Calif., Suzuki – 81

9. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Honda – 80

10. Josh Hansen, Elbert, Colo., Kawasaki – 80