GEICO Powersports Honda Race Report - Anaheim II

ANAHEIM, Calif. (January 21, 2009) – The GEICO Powersports Honda team rolled back into Anaheim with a lot of goals. Team rider Kevin Windham had spent the previous day testing all day, and that led to some further changes that the team made during practice on race day. The end result was the first podium finish of the year for Windham and the team.

 

Windham led more than half of the main event before eventually finishing a strong third.

 

“The main event was great,” Windham said. “I got a great start, jumped out to the lead relatively quickly – maybe the second or third turn – and led for about 11 or 12 laps. It felt really good, because the contenders were there – the best of the best. James [Stewart] was right behind me, and [Ryan] Villopoto was there, and Josh Grant, and those guys have been all over the podium, so... It was slow going. The first couple of rounds were very frustrating for me, and tonight really kind of felt like a win to me just to be up on the podium. We’re moving in the right direction. We’re making some great progress with the bike, and I’ve got to thank GEICO Powersports Honda for sticking with me and working hard these last three weeks. I guess this is a sign that the work’s paying off.”

 

Windham heads to one of his hometown races in Houston, Texas, this weekend, where he hopes having his friends and family around will inspire him to ride even better. He won the Houston event last year.

 

In the Lites class, the team was missing Trey Canard for the weekend, as he was still recovering from the crash he had in Phoenix, but Aussie Dan Reardon was riding well all day, including a solid third in his Heat race to start the night off.

 

“I felt that, going into the night program, that the Heat race was good,” Reardon said. “Even though I started third and finished third, I felt that it gave me a good chance to figure out the lines on the track, because the track was fairly hard to pass on. It went good. I tried a lot of things and I felt comfortable, so I was confident going into the main event.”

 

In the main, he got another good start, and he ran up front for the first few laps before he slipped back a few places.

 

“I got a good start, which is kind of normal now, but that meant I had a good chance,” Reardon said. “Things were going okay, and then I made a bunch of mistakes, and it kind of snowballed and went from bad to worse. The way that I was feeling, I lost mental focus, and I just got hazy out there. I just felt like I didn’t regroup. I made a mistake, and it was disappointing to finish out the way I did. We’ll work on that on the week off, and hopefully I’ll come back stronger in San Francisco. But that said, that was the best result so far. It doesn’t meet my standards, but I’m looking to bounce back stronger for the next round.”

 

Reardon finished sixth, which is his best result so far this season.

 

From here, the GEICO Powersports Honda team heads Houston, Texas, for round four of the AMA Supercross Series, and round one of the Lites Eastern Regional Supercross Championship, on January 24 inside Reliant Stadium. The Lites lineup will include new team rider Brett Metcalfe and rookie Blake Wharton in his first professional supercross taking place in his home state.

 

Team Sponsors: GEICO Powersports, Honda, Planet Fitness, Unbound Energy, AM/PM, Factory Connection, Fox, Shoei, Gaerne, DVS, Amsoil Lubricants, Cycra Plastics, Dunlop Tires, EK Chains, Filtron Air Filters, Hinson Clutches, Leatt Brace, One Industries, Pro Circuit, Renthal, Shock Doctor, Showa, TAG Sprockets, Vortex Ignitions, VP Fuels, and Works Connection.

 

Anaheim II Lites Main:

1.            Ryan Dungey            Suz

2.            Ryan Morais            Kaw

3.            Jake Weimer            Kaw

4.            Jason Lawrence            Yam

5.            Chris Blose            Hon

6.            Dan Reardon            GEICO Powersports Honda

7.            Justin Brayton            KTM

8.            Kyle Cunningham            Kaw

9.            Michael Hall            Yam

10.            PJ Larsen            Kaw

 

Anaheim II 450cc Main:

1.            James Stewart            Yam

2.            Chad Reed            Suz

3.            Kevin Windham            GEICO Powersports Honda

4.            Ryan Villopoto            Kaw

5.            Josh Grant            Yam

6.            Andrew Short            Hon

7.            Ivan Tedesco            Hon

8.            Timmy Ferry            Kaw

9.            Mike Alessi            Suz

10.            Davi Millsaps            Hon