Monster Energy Kawasaki's Stewart Takes Hometown Win in Orlando

ORLANDO (March 17, 2007) – Monster Energy Kawasaki rider James Stewart captured the Amp’d Mobile Supercross win at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., while Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Darcy Lange rounded out a successful evening with a third-place finish.

“I knew it was going to be a tough race going in and it was,” said Stewart. “He (Ricky Carmichael) was riding really good out there. I may have been a little faster in the whoops, but he was faster out of the corner. It all evened out and basically came down to whoever made the least mistakes. I think I got the victory because of that.

“I have raced Ricky for two and a half years now and that was the fastest 20 laps I have ever seen him ride. It seemed like he had a little extra in him and I guess that’s because it was his last race. He really was on his game. I had to step up mine to be able to match that pace. It was good to beat him straight up and to race a clean fun race out there. I always have fun racing that guy and I will miss that.”

With the win in Orlando and just five remaining, Stewart has stretched his points lead in the AMA Supercross standings to 29 over Chad Reed. Teammate Timmy Ferry, who rode to a consistent fifth place finish, also stretched his third-place points lead in the AMA Supercross standings to 17 after a heroic charge from the back of the pack aboard his Kawasaki KX™450F.

In Eastern Region AMA Supercross Lites, Lange came back after a treacherous crash in his heat race to place his Pro Circuit-tuned Kawasaki KX™250F on the podium.

“I was probably around tenth when I came around on the first lap, and I knew I just had to keep my head down and keep plugging away,” said Lange. “I gave it all I had to catch up to the front runners and came across the finish line in third. I was definitely happy and am looking forward to next week in Indy.”

Teammate Townley was off to a great start before a tangle with another rider sent him to the ground. Fortunately, he was able to remount and ride to a respectable seventh-place finish.

The series has seen three different winners in four races and the championship seems to be up for grabs with three rounds remaining. Lange and Townley sit second and third in the standings and are in position to make a run down the stretch.

MotoSport Kawasaki’s Bobby Kiniry put in an impressive ride taking home the holeshot award and an eighth-place finish in the AMA Supercross Lites. Teammate Matt Boni, due to a bit of bad luck, was not able to qualify for the main event at the Citrus Bowl.

Cernic’s Kawasaki rider Paul Carpenter put in solid ride in AMA Supercross class and took home 11th place. Teammate Jeff Gibson, after remarkable third-place heat race finish, had a rough main event finishing in the 20th position.

RACE RESULTS

Amp’d Mobile Supercross
Citrus Bowl
March 17, 2007

AMA Supercross Series
1. JAMES STEWART, HAINES CITY, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI
2. Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki
3. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha
4. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
5. TIMMY FERRY, LARGO, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI
6. Grant Langston, Clemont, Fla., Yamaha
7. David Vuillemin, Menifee, Calif., Honda
8. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda
9. Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Honda
10. Josh Summey, Stanley, N.C., Honda

Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites
1. Branden Jesseman, New Brighton, Pa., Yamaha
2. Ryan Morais, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha
3. DARCY LANGE, HEMET, CALIF., MONSTER ENERGY/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI
4. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM
5. Billy Laninovich, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda
6. Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha
7. BEN TOWNLEY, TALLAHASSEE, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI
8. ROBERT KINIRY, LAFAYETTE, N.Y., MOTOSPORT KAWASAKI
9. Jeff Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM
10. Tucker Hibbert, Centerville, Miss., Yamaha

World Supercross GP Season Standings
1. JAMES STEWART, HAINES CITY, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 279
2. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha, 256
3. TIMMY FERRY, LARGO, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 202
4. Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 185
5. David Vuillemin, Menifee, Calif., Honda, 159
6. Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Honda, 151
7. Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga., Suzuki, 138
8. PAUL CARPENTER, ITHACA, N.Y., CERNIC’S KAWASAKI, 131
9. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 130
10. Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Honda, 122

AMA Supercross Series Season Standings
1. JAMES STEWART, HAINES CITY, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 260
2. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha, 231
3. TIMMY FERRY, LARGO, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 183
4. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda, 166
5. Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 160
6. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 136
7. Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga., Suzuki, 132
8. Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Honda, 129
9. David Vuillemin, Menifee, Calif., Honda, 128
10. Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Honda, 98

Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Season Standings
1. Ryan Morais, Temecula, Calif., Suzuki, 78
2. DARCY LANGE, HEMET, CALIF., MONSTER ENERGY/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI, 72
3. BEN TOWNLEY, TALLAHASSEE, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI, 64
4. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM, 56
5. Branden Jesseman, New Brighton, Pa., Yamaha, 54
6. Matt Goerke, Lake Helen, Fla., Yamaha, 54
7. Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha, 52
8. Billy Laninovich, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda, 50
9. Jeff Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM, 48
10. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ken., Honda, 37