Reigning Champion Villopoto Brings Early Momentum into Phoenix

Cole Seely Looks For More Early-Season Success in Supercross Lites Class

AURORA, Ill. (January
9, 2012) – After an exciting start to the season in front of a sold-out
Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World
Championship, heads to Phoenix this weekend for the second race of 2012
from Chase Field. Reigning champion, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan
Villopoto, dominated last Saturday night, posting a flag-to-flag win and
starting his title defense on a high note.

Media
Day for this weekend’s action takes place on Thursday, January 12, from
12 noon until 2 p.m. MT, featuring Toyota/Yamaha/JGRMX and MotoConcepts
Suzuki.

Last weekend, Villopoto made a statement to his rivals with his impressive performance. After grabbing the Nuclear Cowboyz^® Holeshot
in the 20-lap main event, Villopoto sprinted through the opening laps,
setting an exceptionally quick pace and opening up a healthy advantage
over the field.  Behind him, TwoTwo Motorsports/Bel-Ray Honda’s Chad
Reed, Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey, and Toyota/Yamaha/JGRMX’s James
Stewart engaged in a captivating battle for the runner-up spot that kept
the capacity crowd on its feet, in an uproar. Ultimately, a crash by
Stewart allowed Reed and Dungey to duel for second, with Reed
prevailing.

After
playing integral roles in the most competitive season in Monster Energy
Supercross history in 2011, each of these four riders proved that there
is more hotly-contested racing in store for 2012.

"It
was a phenomenal night for me," said Villopoto. "I didn't have the heat
race I wanted, so I didn't have a great gate pick. Once I was out
front, I wanted to lay down fast laps and make no mistakes. I did make
one small one, but overall, it was a great race for me."

The
dominant effort by Villopoto not only gives the Washington native the
early points lead, but also puts the pressure on his three closest
rivals since none were able to contend with the Monster Energy Kawasaki
rider once the gate dropped.

Reed
added, “Villopoto made us look silly out here tonight. I am just happy
to get second place tonight in this (deep) field of riders."

While
Villopoto’s early sprint made it difficult for his competitors to
challenge for the win, the “big four” showed their exceptional talent as
the only riders in the entire 20-man field to post a lap under 1:02.000
on an extremely technical and challenging track.

Even
though Villopoto has delivered the first blow in the championship
battle, there is no doubt that Reed, Dungey, and Stewart will be putting
in extra hours both on the track and in the gym this week to come back
stronger than ever inside Chase Field and respond with their own winning
effort.

In
the opening race of the Western Regional Supercross Lites Class
Championship, Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil Honda’s Cole Seely took
advantage of a top-three start to grab his third professional victory
and lead the point standings for the first time in his career.

Seely
battled Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Tyla Rattray throughout
the opening stages of the 15-lap main event, but took over the lead on
Lap 4 and never looked back. Rattray fended off the advances of his
teammate Dean Wilson to hold on to the runner-up spot, while GEICO
Honda’s Eli Tomac fought his way from a 10^th-place start to pass Wilson for the third and final spot on the podium.

The
Western Regional Supercross Lites Class is exceptionally deep in young
talent, and it showed last Saturday. Seely will look to keep the
momentum going this weekend in Phoenix, while is counterparts will also
look to assert themselves in the short eight-race championship.

Last
year in Phoenix, Villopoto was in search of back-to-back victories to
start the season, and was on the heels of Stewart for the lead
throughout the main event. However, a fall by Villopoto allowed Stewart
to pull away and take the win. In the Supercross Lites Class, Josh
Hansen captured the win for Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki.

SPEED will broadcast the Supercross class race LIVE at 9:30pm EST on January 14, 2012.

Tickets are available at the Chase Field Box Office, all Ticketmaster Outlets, charge by phone at (800) 745-3000, www.supercrossonline.com, or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
Practice and qualifying begin at 12:30 p.m., and the main event begins
at 7:00 p.m. Club Level tickets are $65 Adult/Child; Gold Circle $42
Adult/Child; Mid-Level $30 Adult / $10 Child; Supervalue $22 Adult / $10
Child; Treadhead $10 Adult/Child. Fans can also get into the Pits for
FREE from 12:30-6 p.m. Race Day when they recycle a MONSTER Energy Can
at the stadium Pit Entrance (valid only with event ticket).

Stewart
holds the record for most wins in the Supercross Lites Class and is
tied with Ricky Carmichael for the most wins in the Supercross Class at
four.

Supercross Class Results: Anaheim

1.             Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki

2.             Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Honda

3.             Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM

4.             Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Honda

5.             Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki

6.             James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha

7.             Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda

8.             Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda

9.             Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki

10.          Josh Hansen, Elbert, Colo., Kawasaki

Supercross Class Season Standings

1.     Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki – 25

2.     Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Honda – 22

3.     Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM – 20

4.     Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Honda – 18

5.     Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki – 16

6.     James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha – 15

7.     Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda – 14

8.     Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda – 13

9.     Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki – 12

10.  Josh Hansen, Elbert, Colo., Kawasaki – 11

Western Regional Supercross Lites Class Results: Anaheim

1.     Cole Seely, Murrieta, Calif., Honda

2.     Tyla Rattray, Wildomar, Calif., Kawasaki

3.     Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda

4.     Marvin Musquin, Murrieta, Calif., KTM

5.     Ryan Sipes, Ekron, Ky., Yamaha

6.     Dean Wilson, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki

7.     Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki

8.     Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda

9.     Zach Osborne, Chesterfield, S.C., Yamaha

10.  Travis Baker, Temecula, Calif., Honda

Western Regional Supercross Lites Class Season Standings

1.     Cole Seely, Murrieta, Calif., Honda – 25

2.     Tyla Rattray, Wildomar, Calif., Kawasaki – 22

3.     Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda – 20

4.     Marvin Musquin, Murrieta, Calif., KTM – 18

5.     Ryan Sipes, Ekron, Ky., Yamaha – 16

6.     Dean Wilson, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki – 15

7.     Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki – 14

8.     Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda – 13

9.     Zach Osborne, Chesterfield, S.C., Yamaha – 12 

10.  Travis Baker, Temecula, Calif., Honda – 11

Past Winners in Phoenix

Supercross Class

January 15, 2011:                                  James Stewart

January 15, 2010:                                  Ryan Dungey

January 10, 2009:                                  James Stewart

January 12, 2008:                                  James Stewart

January 13, 2007:                                  James Stewart

January 14, 2006:                                  Ricky Carmichael

January 15, 2005:                                  Ricky Carmichael

January 10, 2004:                                  Kevin Windham

January 11, 2003:                                  Ezra Lusk

January 26, 2002:                                  Ricky Carmichael

January 27, 2001:                                  Ricky Carmichael

January 29, 2000:                                  David Vuillemin

January 23, 1999:                                  Jeremy McGrath

Supercross Lites Class

January 15, 2011:                                  Joshua Hansen

January 15, 2010:                                  Jake Weimer

January 10, 2009:                                  Ryan Dungey

January 12, 2008:                                  Jake Weimer

January 13, 2007:                                  Christophe Pourcel

January 14, 2006:                                  Nathan Ramsey

January 15, 2005:                                  Broc Hepler

January 10, 2004:                                  Ivan Tedesco

January 11, 2003:                                  James Stewart

January 26, 2002:                                  James Stewart

January 27, 2001:                                  Ernesto Fonseca

January 29, 2000:                                  Casey Lytle

January 23, 1999:                                  Nathan Ramsey

Don’t forget to tune into Toyota Tailgate Talk this Wednesday at 5pm EST on www.supercrossonline.com.  This week, Jim Holley talks to Coach Joe Gibbs about the Toyota/Yamaha/JGR MX Team and his new rider, James Stewart.

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

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