Dungey Leads Deeply Talented Field into Anaheim as Monster Energy Supercross Kicks Off 2011‏

Saturday Night Slated to be the Most Anticipated Premiere of All Time

ANAHEIM,
Calif. (January 3, 2011) – For just the second time in 37 years, a
rookie stole the show during the 2010 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an
FIM World Championship, as Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey joined
legend Jeremy McGrath as the only other first-year champion in the
Supercross class. This Saturday, the youngest champion in history will
lead the world’s best riders into Angel Stadium for the first round of
the 2011 championship.

Preseason
buzz is already calling the upcoming season the most anticipated
championship of all time. With past two-time champions Chad Reed,
riding for his own TwoTwo Motorsports, and San Manuel Yamaha’s James
Stewart flanking Dungey, a long lineup of young challengers and
experienced veterans are looking for their first taste of global
recognition.

Perhaps
no rider is more motivated than Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan
Villopoto. The three-time AMA National Champion captured the most wins
in 2010 during a season-long battle with Dungey that ended prematurely
with a frightening crash in St. Louis. After being forced to sit off a
bike for nearly five months, Villopoto is determined to take care of
what he considers to be unfinished business against a foe he is all too
familiar with.

Also
looking to bounce back from their own personal misfortunes from last
season are both Reed and Stewart. Two of the most dominant riders of
the past decade are the stalwarts who ushered in the present generation
of riders and neither came close to accomplishing what they set out to
do last season after stepping away from the championship before the
third and fourth rounds, respectively. For both riders, 2011 marks the
first season in which they are not seen as the top contenders for the
championship. Pundits are giving Dungey and Villopoto considerably more
attention with a hope of a resumption of their exciting rivalry and
both of the “elder statesmen” of the sport will be look to prove them
wrong.

Beyond
the foursome of championship-proven talent is a crop of fast young
talent eager to make their own dreams come true. Led by former
Supercross Lites champion Trey Canard, who will be making his
Supercross class debut for Team Honda just one year after a memorable
guest appearance in the class, this group contains another class rookie
in Brett Metcalfe, who joins Dungey at Rockstar/Makita Suzuki, as well
as former race winners Josh Grant, at Team Honda, and Muscle
Milk/Toyota/JGR’s Davi Millsaps.

While
Grant and Millsaps head the movers and shakers in new places for 2011,
longtime veteran and perennial front-runner Andrew Short makes the move
to Red Bull KTM, forming an alliance with ace team manager Roger
DeCoster, who tutored Dungey to his championship form at Suzuki.
Additional riders who have found new homes this season are Ivan Tedesco
at Dodge/Hart & Huntington Kawasaki, Tommy Hahn at MotoConcepts
Yamaha, Michael Byrne at BTOSports.com/BBMX/Palmetto Suzuki, Nick Wey at Valli Motorsports Yamaha, and Dan Reardon at the new JDR Motorsports/Motorex KTM.

As
a whole, the 2011 lineup in the Supercross class is from top to bottom
one of the most diversely talented groups of riders in the history of
the sport whether its age or past success. Rounding out the roster is
GEICO Powersports Honda’s Kevin Windham, who at 32 years of age
entering his 18^th year of professional competition is still
in search of his first world championship, in addition to Muscle
Milk/Toyota/JGR’s Justin Brayton, MotoConcepts Yamaha’s Kyle Chisholm,
Dodge/Hart & Huntington Kawasaki’s Chris Blose and Red Bull KTM’s
Mike Alessi. Additionally, a trio of riders are ready to enter their
rookie seasons in hopes of being wild cards in the championship in San
Manuel Yamaha’s Kyle Regal, Valli Motorsports Yamaha’s Austin Stroupe,
and MotoConcepts Yamaha’s Vince Friese.

As
if the excitement being generated by the Supercross class wasn’t
enough, the regional championships of the Supercross Lites class are
slated to be as unpredictable as ever. While the chess match between
teams announcing which riders will compete in which regions continues,
heavy hitters at both Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki and GEICO
Powersports Honda are the ones to keep an eye on, regardless of coast.
Based on experience, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Josh Hansen
is considered a heavy favorite in his chosen region while last season’s
rookie of the year in GEICO Powersports Honda’s Justin Barcia is also
receiving recognition. Beyond this duo is Dean Wilson, Broc Tickle,
Tyla Rattray, and Blake Baggett at Pro Circuit alongside Eli Tomac,
Blake Wharton, and Wil Hahn at GEICO Powersports.

Despite
the considerable attention garnered by the two winningest franchises in
Supercross Lites history, the rosters at Rockstar Energy Suzuki, DNA
Shred Stix/Star Racing Yamaha, and Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil Honda are
also full of a mix of class veterans and future stars that will make
their presence felt throughout the season.

With
the New Year upon us, the world’s focus on the motorsports landscape
will be squarely on Angel Stadium this Saturday and the best riders
from across the globe will begin what is expected to be the most
competitive Monster Energy Supercross season of all time.

Media
day is Thursday, January 6 from Noon – 2:00 p.m. in the Diamond Club at
Angel Stadium. Featured riders will be Ryan Dungey, James Stewart, Chad
Reed, Ryan Villopoto, and Kevin Windham. Riders will be available for
interviews and will ride the track for the media.

Past Winners in Anaheim

Supercross Class

February 13, 2010:                                 Ryan Villopoto

January 23, 2010:                                  Ryan Dungey

January 9, 2010:                                    James Stewart

February 7, 2009:                                  James Stewart

January 17, 2009:                                  James Stewart

January 3, 2009:                                    Josh Grant

January 5, 2008:                                    Chad Reed

January 19, 2008:                                  Chad Reed

February 2, 2008:                                  Chad Reed

January 6, 2007:                                    James Stewart

January 20, 2007:                                  James Stewart

February 3, 2007:                                  James Stewart

January  07, 2006:                                 James Stewart 

January 21, 2006:                                  Ricky Carmichael

February  04, 2006:                                Ricky Carmichael

January 8, 2005                                     Kevin Windham

January 22, 2005                                   Ricky Carmichael

February 5, 2005                                   Ricky Carmichael

January 3, 2004                                     Chad Reed

January 17, 2004                                   Chad Reed

January 31, 2004                                   Kevin Windham

January  04, 2003:                                 Chad Reed

January 18, 2003:                                  Ricky Carmichael

February  01, 2003:                                Ricky Carmichael

January 05, 2002:                                  David Vuillemin

January 19, 2002:                                  Mike LaRocco

February 02, 2002:                                 Ricky Carmichael

January 06, 2001:                                  Jeremy McGrath

January 20, 2001:                                  Jeremy McGrath

February 03, 2001:                                 Ricky Carmichael

January 8, 2000:                                    Jeremy McGrath

January 15, 2000:                                  Jeremy McGrath

January 09, 1999:                                  Ezra Lusk

February 06, 1999:                                 Ezra Lusk

January 27, 1996:                                  Jeremy McGrath

January 28, 1995:                                  Jeremy McGrath

January 29, 1994:                                  Jeremy McGrath

January 23, 1993:                                  Jeremy McGrath

January 25, 1992:                                  Damon Bradshaw

January 26, 1991:                                  Jeff Stanton

January 27, 1990:                                  Damon Bradshaw

January 28, 1989:                                  Rick Johnson

January 31, 1987:                                  Jeff Ward

January 18, 1986:                                  David Bailey

February 02, 1985:                                 Broc Glover

January 28, 1984:                                  Johnny O’Mara

January 29, 1983:                                  David Bailey

January 30, 1982:                                  Donnie Hansen

January 31, 1981:                                  Kent Howerton

November 17, 1979:                              Kent Howerton

November 11, 1978:                              Gaylon Mosier

November 12, 1977:                              Bob Hannah

December 04, 1976:                              Marty Smith

Supercross Lites Class

February 13, 2010:                                 Trey Canard

January 23, 2010:                                  Jake Weimer

January 9, 2010:                                    Jake Weimer

February 7, 2009:                                  Jake Weimer

January 17, 2009:                                  Ryan Dungey

January 3, 2009:                                    Jake Weimer    

January 5, 2008:                                    Ryan Dungey

January 19, 2008:                                  Ryan Dungey

February 2, 2008:                                  Jason Lawrence

January 6, 2007:                                    Ryan Villopoto

January 20, 2007:                                  Ryan Villopoto

February 3, 2007:                                  Ryan Villopoto

January  07, 2006:                                 Andrew Short

January 21, 2006:                                  Grant Langston

February 04, 2006:                                 Grant Langston

January 8, 2005                                     Nathan Ramsey

January 22, 2005                                   Ivan Tedesco

February 5, 2005                                   Ivan Tedesco

January 3, 2004                                     Ivan Tedesco

January 17, 2004                                   Ivan Tedesco

January 31, 2004                                   Ivan Tedesco

January 04, 2003:                                  Travis Preston

January 18, 2003:                                  James Stewart Jr.

February 01, 2003:                                 James Stewart Jr.

January 05, 2002:                                  Travis Preston

January 19, 2002:                                  David Pingree

February 02, 2002:                                 Brock Sellards

January 06, 2001:                                  Ernesto Fonseca

January 20, 2001:                                  Ernesto Fonseca

February 03, 2001:                                 Ernesto Fonseca

January 8, 2000:                                    David Pingree

January 15, 2000:                                  Tallon Vohland

January 09, 1999:                                  Casey Johnson

February 06, 1999:                                 Nathan Ramsey

January 27, 1996:                                  Kevin Windham

January 28, 1995:                                  Damon Huffman

January 29, 1994:                                  Damon Huffman

January 09, 1993:                                  Damon Huffman

January 25, 1992:                                  Jeremy McGrath

January 26, 1991:                                  Jeremy McGrath

January 27, 1990:                                  Michael Craig

January 28, 1989:                                  Jeff Matiasevich

January 31, 1987:                                  Jeff Matiasevich

January 18, 1986:                                  Tyson Vohland

February 02, 1985:                                 Mike Healy

SPEED
will broadcast the opening race of the Supercross class and the
Supercross Lites class live at 10:00 p.m. EST/7:00 p.m. PST

Tickets are available at Angel Stadium Box Office, all Ticketmaster retail locations, charge by phone at (800)745-3000, SupercrossOnline.com, or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
Practice and qualifying begins at 12:30 p.m., and the main event begins
at 7:00 p.m. Club Level tickets are available for $75 Adult/Child;
Diamond Club and Field $50 Adult/Child; Sections 401-436 $35
Adult/Child; Sections 506-535 $35 Adult/Child; Sections 501-505 &
536-540 $20 Adult/Child.  Fans can also get into the Pits for FREE from
12:30 – 6 PM Race Day when they recycle a MONSTER Energy Can at the
stadium Pit Entrance (valid only with event ticket). 

For more information on the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, please log on to www.SupercrossOnline.com. For all media requests, please contact Denny Hartwig dhartwig@feldinc.com or 630-566-6305. To follow Monster Energy Supercross on Facebook and Twitter, log on to http://www.facebook.com/supercrosslive and http://twitter.com/supercrosslive.

About Feld Motor Sports®

Feld Motor Sports^®,
Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motor
sports entertainment.  Feld Motor Sports, Inc. productions include
Advanced Auto Parts Monster Jam^®, Monster Energy Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Nuclear Cowboyz℠, and IHRA^® Nitro Jam^®. 
Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a division of Feld Entertainment, the
world’s largest producer of live family entertainment.  For more
information on Feld Entertainment, visit www.feldentertainment.com.