Windham Closes in on Reed’s Points Lead as Monster Energy® Supercross Heads To Seattle’s Qwest Field

AURORA (April 21, 2008) – In one of the most dramatic Monster Energy® Supercross, an FIM World Championship, seasons in history the fate of Chad Reed’s championship season hangs in the wind as he battles injury this Saturday at Seattle’s Qwest Field Saturday. In the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class a champion will be crowned this weekend.

The AMA Supercross will air on SPEED Sunday, April 27 at 6:00 p.m., and the AMA Supercross Lites class race will air on SPEED Saturday May 3 at 3:00 p.m. EST.

Last weekend at St. Louis’ Edward Jones Dome, Torco Fuels Honda’s Kevin Windham, of Centerville, Miss., picked up his third main event win of the season and tightened the championship race between he and Team San Manuel Band of Mission Indians’ Reed in the before a crowd of 48,698.

Reed, of Tampa, Fla., took over the lead on the opening lap but would give way to the hard-charging Windham, who steadily pulled away for the win.

Windham, who entered tonight’s race trailing Reed by 16 points, cut the deficit to 13 points with two races remaining. Reed, who is riding with a cracked shoulder blade, turned in a valiant ride to earn second. Red Bull Honda’s Andrew Short, of Smithville, Texas, finished third.

“Tonight I just wanted to put myself into a good position,” said Windham. “(Chad) put himself in a good position to not lose too many points tonight. It’s all about me now and I feel good about the ride I put in tonight. I’m giving it all I can and that alone feels good.”

Added Reed, “(My shoulder’s) definitely a lot better than last weekend. I just couldn’t make it happen in the whoops. I didn’t want to lay (the bike) down so I rode for second tonight. I want this title and I’m not about to let it go. I feel like I’ve let these guys into this points battle all season long by making mistakes.”

Torco Fuels Honda’s Trey Canard clinched his first-ever Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class championship with a win.

“I really didn’t mean to take him out,” said Canard, a four-time winner on the season, referencing the exciting finish to the Lites class main event. “I think that’s racing and I would expect him to do the same to me if it came down to this last race. I’ve really wanted this championship since I was like three years old. I just trained hard all week long and I can’t thank my team enough for getting this championship.”

In the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites championship, it’s a two-horse race between Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plain, Minn., and Yamaha of Troy’s Jason Lawrence, of Carlsbad, Calif. Heading into the final race of the championship this Saturday, Lawrence carries a six point lead over Dungey. After the third race of the season Dungey had 34 points on Lawrence after winning three consecutive races.

Lawrence capitalized off of a few less-than-favorable performances by Dungey. The 21-year-old Lawrence won three of the last four races and finished second in their last contest in Houston. It’s all going to unfold this Saturday night at Qwest Field.

Last year in Seattle Kawasaki’s James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., clinched his first AMA Supercross class championship as he captured the 12th win of the season.

In the AMA Supercross Lites class, Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto, of Poulsbo, Wash., capped off his championship season with a win in front of his hometown crowd. En route to winning the seventh race of the year, Villopoto charged through the field and on lap six, he moved into the lead and rode to victory.

Tickets are available at www.SupercrossOnline.com, the Qwest Field box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, charge by phone at 206-628-0888 in Seattle or 253-627-8497 in Tacoma. and participating Yamaha dealerships. Club Level seats are $40; Gold Circle ar $40; Mid-Level seats are $25 for adults and $10 for kids and Treadhead® seats are just $10. All seats are $2 more on the day of the race. Practice and qualifying begin at 12:30 and racing begins at 7:00 p.m. The pit party will be open from 12:30-6:00 p.m., and pit passes will be available at Renton Motorcyles and a participating local retailer prior to the event.

AMA Supercross Class Results, St. Louis

1. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda

2. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha

3. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda

4. Nathan Ramsey, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha

5. Thomas Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Kawasaki

6. Davi Millsaps, Cairo, Ga., Honda

7. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM

8. Paul Carpenter, Ithaca, N.Y., Honda

9. Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Kawasaki

10. Jason Thomas, Melrose, Fla., Honda

AMA Supercross Class Season Standings

1. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha, 318

2. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda, 305

3. Davi Millsaps, Cairo, Ga., Honda, 244

4. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 241

5. Joshua Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha, 196

6. Tim Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki, 190

7. Nathan Ramsey, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha, 173

8. David Vuillemin, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 146

9. Paul Carpenter, Ithaca, N.Y., Honda, 136

10. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., KTM, 131

AMA Supercross Lites Class Results, St. Louis

1. Trey Canard, Elk City, Okla., Honda

2. Branden Jesseman, New Brighton, Pa., Kawasaki

3. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Honda, 71

4. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki

5. Ryan Morais, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha

6. Kyle Chisholm, Seminole, Fla., Kawasaki

7. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ken., KTM, 70

8. Nico Izzi, Saint Clair., Mich., Suzuki

9. Matt Goerke, Lake Helen, Fla., KTM

10. Billy Payne, Simi Valley, Calif., Honda, 60

Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Season Standings

1. Trey Canard, Elk City, Okla., Honda, 147

2. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 137

3. Nico Izzi, Saint Clair., Mich., Suzuki, 99

4. Branden Jesseman, New Brighton, Pa., Kawasaki, 94

5. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Honda, 91

6. Tyler Bowers, Danville, Ken., Yamaha, 86

7. Ryan Morais, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 84

8. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ken., KTM, 84

9. Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., KTM, 73

10. Billy Payne, Simi Valley, Calif., Honda, 71

Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Season Standings

1. Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha, 135

2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 129

3. Austin Stroupe, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki, 113

4. Brett Metcalfe, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 112

5. Tommy Hahn, Alvord, Texas, Kawasaki, 101

6. Dan Reardon, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 95

7. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 85

8. Robert Kiniry, LaFayette, N.Y., Kawasaki, 71

9. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Yamaha, 69

10. Billy Laninovich, Lake Elsinore, Calif., KTM 62

Past Winners in Seattle

AMA Supercross Class

April 28, 2007: James Stewart

April 29, 2006: James Stewart

April 23, 2005: James Stewart

January 30, 1999: Larry Ward

January 31, 1998: Jeremy McGrath

February 1, 1997: Doug Henry

February 3, 1996: Jeremy McGrath

February 4, 1995: Jeremy McGrath

May 7, 1994: Mike Kiedrowski

January 30, 1993: Jeremy McGrath

February 1, 1992: Damon Bradshaw

February 2, 1991: Jean-Michael Bayle

February 17, 1990: Larry Ward

February 4, 1989: Rick Johnson

February 5, 1989: Rick Johnson

February 13, 1988: Rick Johnson

February 14, 1988: Ron Lechien

March 28, 1987: Rick Johnson

March 29, 1987: Rick Johnson

February 15, 1986: Jeff Ward

February 16, 1986: Rick Johnson

February 8, 1985: Ron Lechien

February 9, 1985: Ron Lechien

February 11, 1984: Jeff Ward

February 12, 1984: Rick Johnson

February 12, 1983: Bob Hannah

February 13, 1983: Bob Hannah

February 13, 1982: Donnie Hansen

February 14, 1982: Mark Barnett

February 14, 1981: Darrell Shultz

February 15, 1981: Darrell Shultz

February 9, 1980: Mike Bell

February 10, 1980: Mike Bell

February 9, 1979: Mike Bell

February 10, 1979: Bob Hannah

February 18, 1978: Jim Ellis

AMA Supercross Lites Class

April 28, 2007: Ryan Villopoto

April 29, 2006: James Stewart

April 23, 2005: James Stewart

January 30, 1999: Nathan Ramsey

January 31, 1998: David Vuillemin

February 1, 1997: David Vuillemin

February 3, 1996: Kevin Windham

February 4, 1995: Damon Huffman

May 7, 1994: Ryan Hughes

January 30, 1993: Phil Lawrence

February 1, 1992: Jeremy McGrath

February 2, 1991: Jeremy McGrath

February 17, 1990: Ty Davis

February 4, 1989: Jeff Matiasevich

February 5, 1989: Jeff Matiasevich

February 13, 1988: Jeff Matiasevich

February 14, 1988: Jeff Matiasevich

March 28, 1987: Donnie Schmit

March 29, 1987: Kyle Lewis

February 15, 1986: Willie Surratt

February 16, 1986: Donnie Schmit

February 8, 1985: Bader Manneh

February 9, 1985: Mike Healey

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