Amp'd Mobile Supercross Weekly Notes, Part 1: San Francisco

AMA Supercross Class Laps Led:
James Stewart 67
Ricky Carmichael 35
Chad Reed 17
Nick Wey 1

AMA Supercross Lites Class Laps Led:
Ryan Villopoto 27
Christophe Pourcel 17
Steve Boniface 1

Progressive Direct Holeshot Award (AMA Supercross)
Nick Wey (Toronto): $1,500
James Stewart (Vancouver): $1,500
Chad Reed (Anaheim 1): $1,500
Jeff Dement (Phoenix): $1,500
Nick Wey (Anaheim 2): $1,500

Progressive Direct Holeshot Award (AMA Supercross Lites)
Christophe Pourcel (Anaheim 1): $1,000
Martin Davalos (Phoenix): $1,000
Steve Boniface (Anaheim 2): $1,000

MMI Top Tech Award
Jeremy Albrecht (Anaheim 1): $500.00
Mike Gosselaar (Phoenix): $500.00
Jason Thomas (Anaheim 2): $500.00

U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Pro Privateer Challenge
1. Nick Wey 74 Points
2. David Vuillemin 64 Points
3. Heath Voss 56 Points

Asterisk Medic Card
Charles Castloo (Anaheim 1)
Michael Willard (Phoenix)
Charles Castloo (Anaheim 2)

Racer X Gas Card
Nathan Ramsey (Anaheim 1)
Eric Sorby (Phoenix)
Bryan Johnson (Anaheim 2)

Toyota Tundra Privateer Challenge
Jeff Gibson (Anaheim 1)
Nick Wey (Phoenix)
Nick Wey (Anaheim 2)

Race Recap:
ANAHEIM, Calif. (January 20, 2007) – Kawasaki’s James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., won his third consecutive Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP/Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series race in front of 43,144 fans at Angel Stadium. Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto, of Poulsbo, Wash., won his second AMA Supercross Lites race and moved into a 17-point lead in overall standings.

1. KTM Junior Supercross Challenge
2. Jordan Sahar, Tarazana, Calif., KTM
3. Trae Kuehn, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
4. Dave Myatt, Purvis, Miss., KTM
5. Austin Radvansky, Lugoff, S.C., KTM
6. Drake Fertig, Hurricane, W.V., KTM
7. Nolan Toms, Laguna Niguel, Calif., KTM
8. Casey Langosh, West Hills, Calif., KTM
9. Gage Richardson, Queen Creek, Ariz., KTM
10. Braxton Taylor, Sylmar, Calif., KTM
11. Ryder Dining, Carpinteria, Calif., KTM
12. Jaren Flowers, Queen Creek, Ariz., KTM
13. Cody Purcell, Redondo Beach, Calif., KTM
14. Jonathan Hammack, Carl Junction, Mo., KTM
15. Tennesy Taylor, Hastings, Neb., KTM
16. David Milana, Syosset, N.Y., KTM

Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP Season Standings

1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 117
2. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha, 107
3. Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 91
4. Timmy Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki, 84
5. Nicholas Wey, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 74
6. David Vuillemin, Menifee, Calif., Honda, 64
7. Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Honda, 56
8. Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Honda, 55
9. Paul Carpenter, Ithaca, N.Y., Kawasaki, 53
10. Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga., Suzuki, 51

Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP Event Results, Anaheim 2

1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki
2. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha
3. Nick Wey, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
4. Timmy Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki
5. Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga., Suzuki
6. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda
7. Paul Carpenter, Ithaca, N.Y. Kawasaki
8. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
9. Josh Summey, Stanley, N.C., Honda
10. Nathan Ramsey, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha

Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series Standings

1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 75
2. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha, 60
3. Timmy Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki, 50
4. Nicholas Wey, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 46
5. Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 44
6. Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga., Suzuki, 42
7. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda, 25
8. Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Honda, 36
9. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 34
10. Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Honda, 32

Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Lites Event Results, Anaheim 2

1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
2. Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha
3. Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha
4. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Honda
5. Christopher Gosselaar, Victorville, Calif., Kawasaki
6. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Honda
7. Steve Boniface, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki
8. Troy Adams, Homosassa, Fla., Kawasaki
9. Kyle Partridge, Las Vegas, Nev., Honda
10. Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., KTM

Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Lites Season Standings

1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 72
2. Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha, 55
3. Christopher Gosselaar, Victorville, Calif., Kawasaki, 49
4. Christophe Pourcel, France, Kawasaki, 47
5. Matthew Lemoine, Pilot Point, Texas, Yamaha, 42
6. Steve Boniface, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki, 40
7. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Honda, 38
8. Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha, 36
9. Troy Adams, Homosassa, Fla., Suzuki, 36
10. Josh Hansen, Lake Elsinore, Calif., KTM, 33

AMA Supercross Class Recap

James Stewart became the first Kawasaki rider in history to win the first three rounds of an AMA Supercross Series.
Stewart earned his 14th AMA Supercross win last weekend in Anaheim. He is one shy of Ricky Carmichael on the Kawasaki’s all-time AMA Supercross win list.
This was the first time in AMA Supercross history that a brand swept the first three rounds. Kawasaki has won both AMA Supercross and AMA Lites first three rounds.
Dating back to last year, this was the 9th consecutive podium for James Stewart.
Nick Wey earned his first podium since last year.
Chad Reed earned his eighth consecutive podium of the season.
James Stewart gets 3rd consecutive win. Other great starts to an AMA Supercross seasons are: Jimmy Ellis-4 consecutive wins; Rick Johnson-5 consecutive wins; Jeremy McGrath-13 consecutive wins.
In 1989, Kawasaki won a combined 11 main events in AMA Supercross and AMA Supercross Lites competition; they have six this year.
In 1991, Honda had a record 25 AMA Supercross and AMA Supercross Lites combined main event wins.

AMA Supercross Lites Recap

In 2004, Kawasaki started the season off with five consecutive wins.
In 1989, Kawasaki started the season off with four consecutive wins.

Round 4 Stats-San Francisco

First race was January 25th, 2003; Ricky Carmichael won on a Honda.
Since 1974, the first rider to win three AMA Supercross races went on to win the title 20 times in 34 seasons.
Four different brands have won in San Francisco
Nick Wey earned his first podium of the year in San Francisco
In 2006, Chad Reed had 14 podiums he finished off the podium in San Francisco (5th place).
Reed finished on the podium at every race held from 2003 to 2005.
Ryan Villopoto got his third career AMA Supercross Lites win last week. Can he win back to back and keep the Kawasaki winning streak going?

History

30 years ago on March 19th, 1977, Jim Ellis won in Houston on a Can-Am. It was Can-Am's last AMA Supercross win.
20 years ago on February 21st, 1987, Rick Johnson won in Miami on a Honda.
10 years ago on February 1st, 1997 in Seattle, Doug Henry won on a 2-stroke Yamaha. His next win would be on a 4-stroke.

Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP Rider Finishes

Chad Reed
Toronto: 1
Vancouver 3
Anaheim 1: 3
Phoenix: 3
Anaheim 2: 2

Ricky Carmichael
Toronto: 2
Vancouver 1
Anaheim 1: 2
Phoenix: 2
Anaheim 2: N/A

James Stewart
Toronto: 3
Vancouver 2
Anaheim 1: 1
Phoenix: 1
Anaheim 2: 1

Tim Ferry
Toronto: 4
Vancouver 5
Anaheim 1: 5
Phoenix: 5
Anaheim 2: 4

David Vuillemin
Toronto: 5
Vancouver 4
Anaheim 1: 6
Phoenix: 20
Anaheim 2: 11

Nick Wey
Toronto: 6
Vancouver 9
Anaheim 1: 7
Phoenix: 9
Anaheim 2: 3

Ryan Clark
Toronto: 7
Vancouver: 14
Anaheim 1: 17
Phoenix: N/A
Anaheim 2: N/A

Paul Carpenter
Toronto: 8
Vancouver: 12
Anaheim 1: 11
Phoenix: 19
Anaheim 2: 7

Heath Voss
Toronto: 9
Vancouver: 11
Anaheim 1: 8
Phoenix: 10
Anaheim 2: 13

Jeff Gibson
Toronto: 10
Vancouver 8
Anaheim 1: 15
Phoenix: 15
Anaheim 2: 12

Nathan Ramsey
Toronto: 21
Vancouver: 6
Anaheim 1: DNF
Phoenix: 11
Anaheim 2: 10

Travis Preston
Toronto: 16
Vancouver: 7
Anaheim 1: 4
Phoenix: 4
Anaheim 2: N/A

Jason Thomas
Toronto: 14
Vancouver: 10
Anaheim 1: 21
Phoenix: 14
Anaheim 2: 16

Kevin Windham
Toronto: N/A
Vancouver: N/A
Anaheim 1: 9
Phoenix: 8
Anaheim 2: 6

Michael Byrne
Toronto: 15
Vancouver: 19
Anaheim 1: 10
Phoenix: 6
Anaheim 2: 5

Ivan Tedesco
Toronto: N/A
Vancouver: N/A
Anaheim 1: 14
Phoenix: 7
Anaheim 2: 8

Joshua Summey
Toronto: 19
Vancouver: 16
Anaheim 1: N/A
Phoenix: N/A
Anaheim 2: 9

Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Lites Class Rider Finishes

Ryan Villopoto
Anaheim 1: 1
Phoenix: 2
Anaheim 2: 1

Christophe Pourcel
Anaheim 1: 2
Phoenix: 1
Anaheim 2: 21

Jason Lawrence
Anaheim 1: 3
Phoenix: 8
Anaheim 2: 2

Joshua Hansen
Anaheim 1: 4
Phoenix: 6
Anaheim 2: 22

Jake Weimer
Anaheim 1: 5
Phoenix: 14
Anaheim 2: 6

Troy Adams
Anaheim 1: 6
Phoenix: 13
Anaheim 2: 8

Matthew Lemoine
Anaheim 1: 7
Phoenix: 4
Anaheim 2: 11

Christopher Gosselaar
Anaheim 1: 8
Phoenix: 3
Anaheim 2: 5

Kyle Chisholm
Anaheim 1: 9
Phoenix: N/A
Anaheim 2: N/A

Justin Keeney
Anaheim 1: 10
Phoenix: 12
Anaheim 2: 13

Steve Boniface
Anaheim 1: 11
Phoenix: 5
Anaheim 2: 7

Kyle Cunningham
Anaheim 1: 13
Phoenix: 9
Anaheim 2: 12

Martin Davalos
Anaheim 1: 20
Phoenix: 10
Anaheim 2: 10

Joshua Hill
Anaheim 1: 19
Phoenix: 7
Anaheim 2: 3

Joshua Grant
Anaheim 1: 22
Phoenix: 22
Anaheim 2: 4

Kyle Partridge
Anaheim 1: N/A
Phoenix: 11
Anaheim 2: 9

Post-Race Press Conference Quotes from Anaheim 2

Nick Wey

Q: Welcome back to the box.

A: Yeah, I hadn’t typically done well here in Anaheim. The team has my bike working great and I was able to get a good start and was up front. I felt good and it’s great to get a good result so close to home.

Q: That was justice to get the holeshot. You had the holeshot last week and then you didn’t because of the restart, but sweet justice to get it again this week.

A: Yeah, it was kind of in the identical spot as last week before the red flag. Like I said a million times this week, thank god David is ok and anything we can do to make our fellow riders safe, I am all for, with whatever actions need to be taken. But the second restart I crashed in the first lap and was dead last. I got up thinking this was my luck. So, I came here with a little extra determination to do well. I hadn’t really been able to ride since the season started. I had a little bit of an injury to my arm and

pulled a muscle. I can’t say enough about the team and my family. I’m just pumped to come out here and do well for them.

Q: We don’t normally see you get good starts, but this year we’ve seen you getting them. How much easier is it to go fast when you’re a part of the sprint at the beginning with James and Chad and all those guys going hard early? Does it make you ride faster?

A: That’s definitely what I need to do. I need to get good starts and get running with these guys from the beginning.

Q: You had a good battle going there. It took Chad a while to get around you; you guys were pretty close. Where was he getting close and where were you pulling away?

A: I definitely made a mistake when he got too close and went by me without much of a fight. He was riding really well. I know he is kind of struggling with an injury as well. I was able to be close and then we got into the lappers and I made a few mistakes trying to get around them. I missed a triple section after the whoops two or three times and he got me there. I’m happy with my sponsors to be able to be up here on the podium. I just look forward to continue getting good starts and riding with these guys every week.

Q: A lot of times the riders that don’t get good starts consistently aren’t mentally toned to get good starts. Some how you have managed to turn that around. Is it your bike or is it something you’ve changed in your attitude? What has been the change this year?

A: Well, this year we definitely had to change a lot of things with the team. At all the races and the world rounds, I got the holeshot in the heat or the main. I think it’s a combination of me focusing on the starts and my bike for that area of the track.

Q: Now that Ricky is racing less, does that motivate you guys to step it up?

A: Obviously, Ricky, Chad and James are all at unbelievable levels as well as the other riders out there. But, I think with Ricky being gone does give you more hope. If I play my cards right and beat the guys I usually race I should be able to come home with a podium. That’s definitely a stepping stone to where I want to be. But running up front and trying to improve is what I am looking to do.

Chad Reed

Q: What is the status of the injury?

A: My injury is getting a lot better. I think during my heat race and in practice I proved that. I had fun on the bike this weekend. I rode once on Wednesday and then just took the rest of the week off. I felt good and I feel that it is coming back. I just got to work on my breathing and getting back to my normal schedule. I’m happy to move up from third place and step it up to second.

Q: I know with a new team there were plans to make changes to the new bike. How much testing would you have done that you haven’t been able to do? Was there a lot of work to do?

A: I think that my bike was really good to start with. I think between the times that I got hurt I just couldn’t ride the bike to its fullest potential. I did a lot of work after Toronto and Vancouver and felt really strong to go to the first race. So, we had made a lot of changes to the bike between Vancouver and Anaheim. It was just unfortunate that I took the fall and got hurt. But, I think things are coming around. We made some pretty big changes today between practices and it made it better for me.

Q: Take us through the main event and what happened out there.

A: I felt like I got a great jump and got down to the first turn and then just got pushed wide. The first couple of laps I would make some good passes on my way to the front and then I’d make a mistake and have to go back again. You just can’t do that when James is riding so well.

Q: When you go to the main event and you are still recovering from an injury, do you go into the main event thinking, "I could win this thing" or was this a game of survival like it was two weeks ago?

A: No. I honestly felt good tonight. The only problem I had with my injuries was the breathing. I felt that I could rise up to the challenge and get to the front of the twenty laps tonight.

Q: This track here is notorious for being kind of slick. Is it hard to control yourself in the early laps when you’re trying to get yourself in front?

A: Yeah, the track is super slick but I think the guys did a great job with the track tonight. We actually had some pretty decent traction. Overall, I’m just super pumped to feel I can race and perform tonight and be competitive again. I want to be there at the start and battle for the win.

James Stewart

Q: You battled with Ricky the last couple of weeks. Did it affect you at all that Ricky wasn’t here tonight?

A: No, I think the only thing was that he just wasn’t out there. It didn’t affect me though. I love racing Ricky and I look forward to racing him again next week, but the way I prepare hasn’t changed.

Q: You had the fastest times in practice and then Chad had a lap time in his heat that was faster than your practice. Then you went even faster in your heat. Why did the track get faster in the night show?

A: It’s all racing. When you have guys at the start getting ready to race you always pick it up a notch. I felt ok in the heat race but not the best I could. It just seems like the last three weeks when the main event comes around; I’m back to my normal self.

Q: I know that your bike set up wasn’t on for Phoenix because it was set for Anaheim 1. Does it seem like you can just stick with what you got with the tracks being more consistent?

A: I think so. We went back and changed it again to come to this race. It was just clicking around and we needed to adjust it for the track to make me the most comfortable I can be. We were still fighting a few settings through the heat race but when the main event came I felt good.

Q: You started off behind Nick in the main event. It didn’t seem like you were going all out to try and pass him in the first couple of corners. Were you just trying to pick your spots? Take us through the passes you needed to do to get into the lead.

A: I think the key part was the start and I slid into the start. I think Chad was on the outside of me but the only thing I was trying not to do was get taken out in the first corner. The first two corners I was trying to get a little gap before I tried to get around Nick. So, I was trying to stay up and make it happen.

Q: Do you have any goals that keep you motivated right now? I know you keep track of the heat races you win in a row.

A: No, the heat races I just try to go out there and set the bike up as best I can for the main event. I already went perfect in the heat races, so I don’t care to do that anymore. The only goal I have is to put myself in the best position to win the championship. I don’t really care about winning races here and there. I care about being there in the end. So, as long as I keep doing the work I do during the week, I’ll be fine. I see where I want to be at and I know when the main event comes I feel super strong. I never have any doubt once I line up on the gate. I think that is what carries me through the season so far.

Josh Hill

Q: It’s only been three supercrosses but at the same time I’m sure you’re disappointed it took three races to get here. I know, coming into the first race, you definitely didn’t want to end up with a dnf. You probably thought you could do this a little earlier?

A: That is what I was hoping for. I really wanted to put myself in championship position, but it didn’t work out. So, I just tried to make the best of it and I ended up hurting my wrist in Anaheim 1.

Q: Where did your supercross experience come from before you got to this level?

A: My dad just built me a supercross track in my backyard. Ever since I was ten years old, I just rode that as much as I could. My dad always taught me how to jump and that was a main focus. At times I wish I would have spent more times working on corners, but I guess it has helped out.

Q: Let us talk about when you first showed up at the Yamaha test track. It obviously has to be intimidating for a new rider. Did you feel comfortable?

A: Yeah, I felt comfortable. Actually, it wasn’t the first time I had been out there.

Q: Take us through the last couple of weeks with the wrist injury. Have you been able to ride much? Have you been out there on the test track?

A: I didn’t the first week in between Anaheim and Phoenix. This last week, I went out and actually hurt it again Tuesday and tried to do some starts. Thursday I actually rode a little bit more. I mainly worked on starts.

Q: Well, that isn’t a bad thing to practice. But tonight, it didn’t seem like the starts went your way.

A: No. In my heat race going into the first turn there were four people behind me, and then I got ran into in the second corner. I ended up working my way up into fifth. I almost got a photo finish over the finish line jump. Still, I worked my way up a little bit but in the main I came out of it all right at the start I think I was seventh. It wasn’t too bad.

Q: You had a battle there with Jason Lawrence. You guys were back and forth for a little while. Take us through the main event.

A: I was in fourth and I went to take a breath and Jason flew right by me. It wasn’t much of a battle. Then, I just had to get into a rhythm and figure it out. I kind of did, and then Josh Grant caught up to me a little bit and I just wasn’t going to let him get around me. I was going to give it my all to get up on the podium.

Q: So, you’re good to go now. How do you build on this as you go into next week?

A: Just try and eliminate some of the mistakes I made tonight. I made a few big mistakes. Jason and Ryan were hitting the rhythm section that I wasn’t doing. So, I’m just going to work on that kind of stuff. Hopefully start picking away at what Ryan’s got on him.

Jason Lawrence

Q: Well done! You are up here on the podium again. Your confidence has got to be at a completely different level than it was this time last year after two podiums.

A: Yeah for sure. This race was good. I didn’t really have to go through the pack at Anaheim 1. This one I didn’t really have to prove myself. I came probably from tenth and made some mistakes by letting guys go by me. It was good for me. I didn’t get a great start but I tried to work my way through the pack. I saw on lap four that there was about five guys right in front of me and I just tried to pass the whole group. That really was all I was focused on. The win seemed like it was a little out of reach but I was pumped to get second.

Q: You were on fire for about four laps passing everyone. How good did it feel to go through those guys?

A: The track was good but there really wasn’t any place to pass unless you were going to get them in whoops or on one of the triples. So, I just had to make that work.

Q: Now that you got two podiums here, did you have a goal at the beginning of the season to get on the podiums or would you not be happy this season if you didn’t get a win?

A: I don’t think I’ll be happy without a win. I’m just trying to stay in it now for the championship and just not do anything stupid.

Ryan Villopoto

Q: We heard some people talk about the track being more your style. What was the big difference between this week and last week?

A: The track was a lot tougher this week than it was last week. It definitely split the riders up. I guess I and Jason were the only ones doing the triple after the whoops, and that was huge. So, I think that it was good to have a track that split it up and made for good racing.

Q: If there is a big obstacle, do you set yourself out there to do it? Just to boost your confidence?

A: It’s not really to boost confidence. It’s just trying to find that fastest way around the track.

Q: So, the main event here you were able to make passes early. Take us through the main event during the first couple of corners when you got the lead.

A: Yeah, I didn’t get a very good start. I was decent but it was kind of a hair ball in the first and second turn. I was strong in the whoops all night and that is where I made some of my passes.

Q: What was the strategy once you had a big lead?

A: I just watched the pit board. I just gained a little bit every lap in the whoops section. Once I got close and had three laps down I didn’t really back it down. I just settled in.

Q: Now you have a little less pressure in the championship and Jason Lawrence isn’t to far behind, how do you feel about the championship at this point?

A: All riders are riding well. In the lites class you just have to be consistent. I just have to get good starts and hopefully nothing happens. It’s up to me now.