Press Release

Stewart Returns to Top Step of Podium in Superdome Supercross

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 16, 2009) – James Stewart recaptured the form that led him to seven straight Monster Energy AMA Supercross wins earlier this season, leading a Bridgestone podium sweep Saturday evening at the Superdome in New Orleans.


Stewart, the 2007 AMA Supercross and 2008 AMA Motocross champion, had seen chief nemesis and fellow Bridgestone rider Chad Reed win the past two weeks and retake the championship lead. But Stewart (Team San Manuel / JSE Yamaha) was not to be denied in New Orleans, snatching the lead on the holeshot and running up front all 20 laps. Reed (Rockstar / Makita Suzuki) chased Stewart from second place the entire time, but could not make a pass or force Stewart into a mistake. Broc Hepler (Team Yamaha) finished third for his first podium of the season that completed the Bridgestone sweep.


With six events remaining on the schedule, 2008 AMA Supercross champ Reed holds a narrow eight-point lead over Stewart in the two-man duel for the ’09 crown.


In AMA Supercross Lites, Austin Stroupe (Monster Energy / Pro Circuit Kawasaki) rode to his second win of the Eastern Regional campaign and moved into second in the season standings. Stroupe’s teammate, Christophe Pourcel, placed fourth to retain the Eastern Regional points lead, by 31 over Stroupe and 33 over Bridgestone’s Nico Izzi (Rockstar / Makita Suzuki).


Bridgestone-equipped riders have now won all 11 main events in both Supercross and Supercross Lites (including both Eastern and Western regionals) this season. Along with Reed in Supercross and Pourcel in Supercross Lites Eastern Regional, Bridgestone rider Ryan Dungey (Monster Energy / Pro Circuit Kawasaki) sits stop the Supercross Lites Western Regional standings.


Monster Energy AMA Supercross and Eastern Regional Supercross Lites return to action Saturday at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis. Delayed broadcast of both main events airs Sunday on SPEED Channel, with Supercross Lites at 5 p.m. followed by Supercross at 6 p.m.


About Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations:

Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO) is a business unit of Bridgestone Americas, Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world's largest tire and rubber company. Reporting into the BATO business unit are the company's Latin American tire operations, the U.S. and Canadian consumer tire businesses and the U.S. and Canadian commercial tire businesses. BATO develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires. The business unit is focused on retail, wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off road, motorcycle, agricultural and other tires to its customers in the Americas. In addition, through its Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions unit, retreading customers have access to industry-leading research and development, manufacturing, marketing and sales expertise, providing them with a total tire solution.

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