Press Release

Stewart, Carmichael Showcase Epic Battle

GuyB
3/21/2007 8:40am

Former AMA Supercross Lites Champ Jesseman Scores Win in Orlando

ORLANDO (March 17, 2007) – Kawasaki’s James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., held off the a hard-charging Suzuki of Ricky Carmichael, who hails from Tallahassee, Fla., to win his eighth Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP/Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series race of the year before 42,991 fans at the Citrus Bowl. Yamaha’s Brandon Jesseman, of New Brighton, Pa., won his first AMA Supercross Lites class main event since 2003.

In the AMA Supercross main event, Reed, of Dade City, Fla., won the $1,500 Progressive Direct Holeshot Award with Carmichael on his wheel in second. Stewart started the main event in fourth place and moved into third on the opening lap and began chasing Yamaha’s Chad Reed, of Dade City, Fla., Reed made a mistake on lap three, which allowed Stewart to move into second place.

It wasn’t until lap 12 that Stewart made his way past Carmichael and the two traded positions leaving Stewart in the lead. Carmichael fired back on lap 16 and the two engaged in another battle. When Stewart rode off to victory the guard was officially passed as Carmichael retired from supercross racing and will begin a career in stock car racing. Reed finished third.

“That was a ride of a lifetime,” said Carmichael. That is why we all race and it was so much fun. I am so happy to go out with such a great ride like this. To be a great motorcycle racer is one thing, but I want to be remembered as a great person.

“That was probably the best race that Ricky and I have ever had,” said Stewart. Once I passed Chad (Reed), I knew it was going to be a good one. I had a blast out there tonight.”

Honda’s Billy Laninovich, of Lake Elsinore, Calif., earned the $1,000 Progressive Direct Holeshot Award with and Robert Kiniry, of LaFayette, N.Y., in second and third respectively. Jesseman, who won the 2003 Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites championship, moved into the lead on lap five.

Kawasaki’s Ben Townley, of Tallahassee, Fla., came into tonight’s race with two wins and sat third in points. On lap nine he tangled with Laninovich and crashed.

KTM’s Mike Alessi, of Victorville, passed Laninovich for second place on lap 11 but crashed in the turn before the finish line and dropped to fourth place. Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites points leader Ryan Morais, of Temecula, Calif., finished in second. Kawasaki’s Darcy Lange, of Hemet, Calif., finished third.

“I am going to go home and work hard, just as I have all year,” said Jesseman. “This is a huge win for me and my team. I look forward to next weekend in Indianapolis.

KTM Junior Supercross Challenge


  1. Skylar Demuth, Boca Raton, Fla., KTM
  2. Cole Campbell, Port Orange, Fla., KTM
  3. Brandon Hogan, Rock Hill, S.C., KTM
  4. Joshua Wilson, El Dorado, Calif., KTM
  5. Matthew Mehary, Garland, Texas, KTM
  6. Alec Mellick, Aubrey, Texas, KTM
  7. Joshua Guffey, Bainbridge, Ga., KTM
  8. Riley Ripper, Magnolia, Texas, KTM
  9. Taitt Kuchta, Clovis, N.M., KTM
  10. Aaron Hill, Orlando, Fla., KTM
  11. Taylor Benton, Cartersville, Fla., KTM
  12. Cotton Eigenmann, Titusville, Fla., KTM
  13. Nicholas Merchan, Azuay, Ecuador, KTM
  14. Noah Freeman, Winterville, Ga., KTM
  15. Dakota Brunson, McKinney, Texas, KTM

Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP Season Standings


  1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 279
  2. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha, 256
  3. Timmy Ferry, Largo, Fla., 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., Kawasaki, 131
  9. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 130
  10. Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Honda, 122

Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series Event Results, Orlando


  1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki
  2. Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki
  3. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha
  4. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
  5. Timmy Ferry, Largo, Fla., 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

Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series Season Standings


  1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 260
  2. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha, 231
  3. Timmy Ferry, Largo, Fla., 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

Amp’d Mobile Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Event Results, Orlando


  1. Branden Jesseman, New Brighton, Pa., Yamaha
  2. Ryan Morais, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha
  3. Darcy Lange, Hemet, Calif., 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., Kawasaki
  8. Robert Kiniry, LaFayette, N.Y., Kawasaki
  9. Jeff Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM
  10. Tucker Hibbert, Centerville, Miss., Yamaha

Amp’d Mobile Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Season Standings


  1. Ryan Morais, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha, 78
  2. Darcy Lange, Hemet, Calif., Kawasaki, 72
  3. Ben Townley, Tallahassee, Fla., 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

Amp’d Mobile Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Season Standings


  1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 172
  2. Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha, 135
  3. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Honda, 103
  4. Christopher Gosselaar, Victorville, Calif., Kawasaki, 97
  5. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Honda, 92
  6. Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha, 88
  7. Josh Hansen, Lake Elsinore, Calif., KTM, 87
  8. Matthew Lemoine, Pilot Point, Texas, Yamaha, 86
  9. Troy Adams, Homosassa, Fla., Suzuki, 71
  10. Kyle Cunningham, Springtown, Texas, Yamaha, 66

Tonight’s AMA Supercross class race will air on SPEED tomorrow, Sunday, March 18, at 6:00 p.m. The AMA Supercross Lites class race air on SPEED XX. Racing continues next Saturday at Indianapolis’ RCA Dome.

For more information about the Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP/Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series, please log on to www.supercrossonline.com.

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