Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Reed Podiums at Red Bud & Byrne Finishes up in Seventh

Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Dungey finishes fifth in 250 class

Round 6 – AMA Motocross Series

Buchanan, Michigan

Red Bud Track ‘N’ Trail

July 4, 2009

Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing’s Chad Reed extended his AMA Motocross championship points lead after carding another podium finish this year at Red Bud Track ‘N’ Trail in Buchanan, Michigan, on Saturday. The two-time AMA Supercross Champion picked up a second-place overall result after winning the first moto and finishing third in the second one. Rockstar Makita Suzuki teammate Michael Byrne enjoyed a very consistent race weekend. The Australian rode two solid motos and finished seventh in both to capture seventh-place overall. Finally, Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Mike Alessi is still recovering from injury and did not race. Alessi hopes to return to racing as soon as possible.

In the 250 class, Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey brought home a fifth-place finish overall at Red Bud. Dungey had a great first moto, getting out front immediately on his Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z250 and leading to the end. In the second moto, however, the Minnesota rider suffered a few get-offs but still finished up eighth. In the end, Dungey remains in second place overall in the championship points standings.

Chad Reed:

“These guys are riding good this weekend, and my problem is me. I’ve got to do what I know how to do, that’s basically what it comes down to. It’s good to get a moto win on the Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z450, but I want to ride to my fullest and do my best. It’s amazing to be at Red Bud on the 4th of July but I wish I could go out there and tear it up, but I can’t right now. I hate to complain when I’m winning motos, but right now, I’m just thankful I got the holeshot in the first moto and I just have to keep trying to be there at the end. In the second moto, I got a great start but I gave out too much at the beginning. I just left my run for too late at the end, and these guys are riding well and it’s a challenge. We’ll be back and be ready for the next race.”

Michael Byrne:

“I have to say it was a pretty average weekend for me. I felt like I should have finished higher in the second moto. I had a few issues and I struggled a bit with the track. But at the same time, for having a somewhat bad day, we actually made up some points in the championship, now we’re fifth overall. So in the end, something good came of it all.”

Ryan Dungey:

“I’m just trying to take these weekends one race at a time and put myself in the best position that I can to get the win. The track is awesome this weekend, Red Bud is my favorite track on the circuit and it’s difficult – it’s rough and you can’t sit down. So hats off to my suspension guys and the whole Rockstar Makita Suzuki team for getting my bike so dialed in for me.”

Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing will race next at Spring Creek Motocross Park in Millville, Minnesota, on Saturday, July 18, 2009.

AMA Motocross 450 Class Top 10 Overall Event Finishers:

1. Josh Grant, Yamaha

2. Chad Reed, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing

3. Ivan Tedesco, Honda

4. Andrew Short, Honda

5. Cody Cooper, Yamaha

6. Ricky Dietrich, Kawasaki

7. Michael Byrne, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing

8. Tyler Bowers, Honda

9. Nick Wey, Yamaha

10. Justin Brayton, KTM

AMA Motocross 250 Class Top 10 Overall Event Finishers:

1. Jake Weimer, Kawasaki

2. Christophe Pourcel, Kawasaki

3. Tommy Searle, KTM

4. Brett Metcalfe, Honda

5. Ryan Dungey, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing

6. Justin Barcia, Honda

7. Kyle Cunningham, Kawasaki

8. Matthew Lemoine, Yamaha

9. William Hahn, KTM

10. Martin Davalos, KTM