2009 Monster Energy Supercross: Anaheim 2 1

Photo Galleries!
Click the following link for a 38-photo gallery of Supercross race action from Anaheim 2.	You can also click the following link for a 39-photo gallery from Saturday's pre-race action in the pits, as well as timed qualifying.
Don't forget, if you're a Vital MX member, you can comment on any of the photos in the gallery. Not a member? Join now! It's fast and free.

We’ve had all sorts of different races so far this season in the 2009 Monster Energy Supercross series, with the huge crash for James Stewart and Chad Reed (and a win by Josh Grant following some late-race Tuf-Blok cover drama) at round one, and a close head-to-head battle at round two. But this week’s race might be the best yet, with come-from-behind charges by both the eventual winner, James Stewart, and the new series points leader, Chad Reed.

Heading into the first turn in the main event, it was Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Mike Alessi with the holeshot, but he was quickly overtaken by Geico Powersports Honda’s Kevin Windham, JGRMX Toyota/Yamaha’s Josh Grant, and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto. Where were James Stewart (San Manuel / Yamaha / JSE) and Chad Reed (Rockstar Makita Suzuki)? Stewart was in fifth spot after the first lap, while Reed was back in 14th after a first lap tangle.

This week’s track featured a split lane after the start, quite a bit more tight and twisty sections, as well as a but more outdoors-style section…and by all accounts, it was a bit tough to pass on. But that didn’t prevent Stewart from picking off the five riders in front of him and moving into the lead just past the halfway point, or Reed from putting in a charge that took him from 14th on lap one to fifth on lap 14 of 20. From there, he picked off Josh Grant and Ryan Villopoto, and on the final lap, he got past Kevin Windham to score a well-deserved second place…only three-and-a-half seconds behind Stewart.

Reed’s second place finish moves him into the series points lead, while Stewart’s win moves him into fourth spot in the standings (behind Reed, Grand, and Andrew Short), only 12 points out of the lead. (He was 23 back after A1.)

In Lites class action, Ryan Dungey (Rockstar Makita Suzuki) grabbed his second-straight main event win, after taking over the lead from Ryan Morais (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki). Jake Weimer (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) grabbed the final podium spot.

The top three in Lites class action are only separated by seven points with Dungey (70) out front, followed by Morais (64), and Weimer (63).

There’s much more to round three’s racing, and you can catch all the photos and more text in the photo gallery (see the link above).

Next weekend the Lites West guys get a weekend off as we launch the start of the Lites West series in Houston Texas at Reliant Stadium.

Results

Monster Energy Supercross

Anaheim, CA (Round three of 17)

Supercross Lites Heat 1
1. Jake Weimer

2. Ryan Morais

3. Dan Reardon

4. Sean Collier

5. Eric McCrummen

6. Jeff Alessi

7. Ben Evans

8. Michael Lapaglia

9. Shaun Skinner

Supercross Lites Heat 2
1. Ryan Sipes

2. Ryan Dungey

3. Justin Brayton

4. Chris Blose

5. Michael Hall

6. P. J. Larsen

7. Kyle Cunningham

8. Scott Champion

9. Ryan Clark

Supercross Heat 1
1. Chad Reed

2. Andrew Short

3. Ryan Villopoto

4. Davi Millsaps

5. Mike Alessi

6. Benjamin Coisy

7. Matt Boni

8. Troy Adams

9. Ivan Tedesco

Supercross Heat 2
1. James Stewart

2. Josh Grant

3. Kevin Windham

4. Timmy Ferry

5. Paul Carpenter

6. Heath Voss

7. Josh Hill

8. Sean Hamblin

9. Nick Wey

Supercross Lites LCQ
1. Jason Lawrence

2. Michael Sleeter

Supercross LCQ
1. Robert Kiniry

2. Steve Boniface

Supercross Lites Main Event
1. Ryan Dungey (Suzuki)

2. Ryan Morais (Kawasaki)

3. Jake Weimer (Kawasaki)

4. Jason Lawrence (Yamaha)

5. Chris Blose (Honda)

6. Dan Reardon (Honda)

7. Justin Brayton (KTM)

8. Kyle Cunningham (Kawasaki)

9. Michael Hall (Yamaha)

10. P. J. Larsen (Kawasaki)

11. Ryan Sipes (KTM)

12. Jeff Alessi (Honda)

13. Eric McCrummen (Honda)

14. Ben Evans (Honda)

15. Ryan Clark (Honda)

16. Michael Sleeter (KTM)

17. Scott Champion (Honda)

18. Shaun Skinner (Honda)

19. Michael Lapaglia (Suzuki)

20. Sean Collier (Yamaha)

Supercross Main Event
1. James Stewart (Yamaha)

2. Chad Reed (Suzuki)

3. Kevin Windham (Honda)

4. Ryan Villopoto (Kawasaki)

5. Josh Grant (Yamaha)

6. Andrew Short (Honda)

7. Ivan Tedesco (Honda)

8. Timmy Ferry (Kawasaki)

9. Mike Alessi (Suzuki)

10. Davi Millsaps (Honda)

11. Paul Carpenter (Kawasaki)

12. Josh Hill (Yamaha)

13. Nick Wey (Yamaha)

14. Heath Voss (Honda)

15. Troy Adams (Honda)

16. Steve Boniface (Honda)

17. Benjamin Coisy (Honda)

18. Sean Hamblin (Yamaha)

19. Robert Kiniry (Kawasaki)

20. Matt Boni (Honda)