Press Release

Pirelli's Sorby & Blose Stand out at San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium

GuyB
2/12/2008 4:50am

Rome, GA – Six Pirelli-backed racers qualified for AMA Supercross and AMA Supercross Lites main events at Monster Energy® Supercross Saturday night at San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium Saturday in front of 64,000-plus fans. Team Pirelli was led by MotoXXX/Tamer/Hooters/Honda’s Eric Sorby, of Lake Elsinore, Calif., and Fun Center Suzuki’s Chris Blose, of Phoenix, Ariz.

Pirelli rider Jake Marsack, of Berlin, Mich., moved into the AMA Supercross class’ top 20 in overall points after finishing 17th place in the AMA Supercross class. Sorby joined Marsack in the main event and finished 16th after a strong fifth-place heat race where he rode near the front of the pack. Sorby is currently in 19th place and tied with Josh Hansen at 30 points in overall season standings.

“It was great to see Eric ride up front with the top guys like Kevin Windham and Chad Reed,” said Pirelli MX Manager Josh Whitmire. “He came out of the gate fast and held his position to qualify for the main event.”

Chris Blose’s third-place finish in Heat #2 landed him a solid gate pick that helped him score an 11th-place finish in the AMA Supercross Lites class main event. In the AMA Supercross Lites’ Heat #1, Team Cycra’s Michael Willard, of Thornville, Ohio, finished fifth followed by SVM/ Bud Selct Honda’s Jeff Northrop, of Murrieta, Calif., in sixth and Fun Center Suzuki’s Michael Blose, of Phoenix, Ariz., in eighth place.

“Our Lites class riders performed well in the heat races,” added Whitmire. “The field is so tough this year on the west coast, so I am pleased that our four guys were able to transfer from their heat races.”

In the AMA Supercross Lites class main event Northrop, finished 14th and sits in 17th place with 34 points, just one point behind Honda’s Jake Weimer.  Willard, who finished 12th last weekend in Anaheim, earned a 15th place finish and is in 18th place with 28points. Chris Blose’s brother Michael finished 18th and is 19th overall with 26 points.

“We will now leave the west coast and head to Houston where the dirt is different,” said Whitmire. “Tire set up will be key for our riders on the new terrain that they will race on this weekend.”

AMA Supercross Class Results, San Diego


  1. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha
  2. Tim Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki
  3. Davi Millsaps, Cairo, Ga., Honda
  4. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda
  5. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda
  6. Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Calif., Yamaha
  7. David Vuillemin, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
  8. Nathan Ramsey, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha
  9. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., KTM
  10. Jason Thomas, Melrose, Fla., Honda
  11. Eric Sorby, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Pirelli/Honda
  12. Jake Marsack, Berlin, Mich., Pirelli/Honda

AMA Supercross Class Season Standings


  1. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha, 147
  2. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda, 112
  3. Tim Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki, 99
  4. Davi Millsaps, Cairo, Ga., Honda, 85
  5. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 85
  6. Nathan Ramsey, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha, 70
  7. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki, 69
  8. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., KTM, 53
  9. Joshua Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha, 64
  10. Ivan Tedesco, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 53
  11. Eric Sorby, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Pirelli/Honda, 30
  12. Jake Marsack, Berlin, Mich., Pirelli/Honda, 22

Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Results, San Diego


  1. Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha
  2. Thomas Hahn, Alvord, Texas, Kawasaki
  3. Robert Kiniry, LaFayette, N.Y., Honda
  4. Brett Metcalfe, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki
  5. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
  6. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki
  7. Austin Stroupe, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki
  8. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Yamaha
  9. Michael LaPaglia, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
  10. Billy Laninovich, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda
  11. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Pirelli/Suzuki
  12. Jeff Northrop, Murrieta, Calif., Pirelli/Honda
  13. Michael Willard, Thornville, Ohio, Pirelli/Honda
  14. Michael Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Pirelli/Suzuki      

Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Season Standings


  1. Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha, 113
  2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 111
  3. Brett Metcalfe, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 96
  4. Tommy Hahn, Alvord, Texas, Kawasaki, 92
  5. Austin Stroupe, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki, 88
  6. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 85
  7. Dan Reardon, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 80
  8. Gavin Gracyk, Blissfield, Ohio, Honda, 62
  9. Broc Hepler, Kittanning, Pa., Yamaha, 59
  10. Robert Kiniry, LaFayette, N.Y., Kawasaki, 57
  11. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Pirelli/Suzuki, 46
  12. Jeff Northrop, Murrieta, Calif., Pirelli/Honda, 34
  13. Michael Willard, Thornville, Ohio, Pirelli/Honda, 28
  14. Michael Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Pirelli/Suzuki

Pirelli Tire North America specializes in manufacturing and marketing high-performance tires for passenger vehicles, motorcycles, ATV’s and motorsports.  An industry leader in technology and quality, Pirelli operates its highly advanced Modular Integrated Robotized System (MIRS) in Rome, Georgia, to better serve the American OEM and Replacement markets.  For more information please visit:  www.us.pirelli.com.

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