Monster Energy

Defending Champion Stewart Stages Title Defense

AURORA (December 31, 2007) – The 2008 Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, will kick of its 2008 race season at Anaheim’s Angel Stadium Saturday, January 5. Two additional races on January 19 and February 2 will take place at Angels Stadium, bringing back the world’s top racers to the fabled Southern California facility. Defending AMA Supercross class champion James Stewart aims to repeat his dominant performance at last year’s Anaheim races where he became the first rider in history to sweep all three race wins in the premier class.

The opening round of Monster Energy® Supercross will be broadcast live on SPEED Saturday, January 5, from 7:00-10:30 p.m. PST in HD format. The 2008 Monster Energy® AMA Supercross season marks the first time in history that the sport will be broadcast in HD format, delivering a higher-quality television product to television viewers at home.

A pre-race press conference will be held Thursday, January 2 at Noon inside the Diamond Club at Angel Stadium, featuring reigning AMA Supercross class champion James Stewart, former AMA Supercross class champion Chad Reed, former AMA Supercross Lites champion Tim Ferry, reigning AMA Motocross champion and reigning U.S. Open champion Grant Langston and reigning Regional AMA Supercross Lites champions Ryan Villopoto and Ben Townley.

Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., made quick work of the competition, winning all three races at Angel Stadium last year en route to his first AMA Supercross class championship. His dominance in Anaheim helped him established an 18-point lead in the AMA Supercross class points standings over Yamaha’s Chad Reed as the series moved to off the west coast to Houston’s Reliant Stadium. The third Anaheim race will be remembered for the hotly contested race between Stewart and Reed.

“It was a great race,” said Stewart last year at the third and final race inside Angel Stadium. “When Chad (Reed) passed me, it kind of caught me off guard. There are no hard feelings out there.”

On the way to his first Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites championship, Kawasaki’s Villopoto, of Poulsbo, Wash, swept all three races in Anaheim last season. Throughout the eight-race championship, Villopoto was victorious at every stop except Phoenix’s Chase Field where his teammate Christophe Pourcel claimed victory to his first AMA Supercross Lites win.

The three-race sweep proved pivotal for Villopoto as he went on to clinch the championship with one race remaining on the season.

“I was happy to pull the holeshot tonight, and to get all three of the wins in Anaheim,” said Villopoto on the podium at last year’s third Anaheim race. “That was actually the first holeshot of the year for me. I’m hoping to clinch the championship at San Diego (in two weeks) before the east coast series goes into its eight-week break. That way I have nothing to worry about when the season starts again.”

Villopoto joined Ivan Tedesco and Ernesto Fonseca as the only AMA Supercross Lites riders to sweep all three races at Angel Stadium.

Since 1999, nearly all 25 races have sold out in Angel Stadium. Monster Energy® Supercross, which made its racing début in Anaheim on December 4, 1976, brings a multi-million dollar economic impact to the city for each race, where fans from around the world converge to watch the world’s top racers compete. Ricky Carmichael and Jeremy McGrath share the all-time AMA Supercross class win record at Angel Stadium with eight wins each.

For the opening round of the Monster Energy Supercross season in Anaheim, tickets are available at www.SupercrossOnline.com, by phone at 714-740-2000, the Angel Stadium Box office, participating Yamaha dealers and all Ticketmaster outlets. Club and Diamond Club seats are $75; trackside seats are $50; upper deck are $35 and $30; select upper deck kids $15. All seats are $2 more on the day of the race. Gates open at 12:30 and the pit party runs from 12:30-5:30 p.m. for all three races. Pit passes will be available at www.Monsterenergy.com.

For Anaheim 2 & 3, tickets are also still available at www.SupercrossOnline.com.

Past winners in Anaheim
AMA Supercross Class

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

Past winners in Anaheim
AMA Supercross Lites Class
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
February 01, 2003: James Stewart
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

For more information on the Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, please log on to www.SupercrossOnline.com.