Capacity Crowd Expected at Georgia Dome as Monster Energy® Supercross Reaches Halfway Point of the Season

$10-Off Discount Coupons Available as Chad Reed and James Stewart are Tied in the Points Standings

AURORA, Ill. (February 16, 2009) – Just one year ago, 67,429 fans packed the Georgia Dome as Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, made its annual trip to the legendary Atlanta venue.. A crowd of the same magnitude is expected as San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart leads the world’s best riders into Atlanta after scoring his sixth-consecutive race win Saturday night at San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium.

Tied in the current point standings, James Stewart and Chad Reed start a new season this Saturday Night in Atlanta

Photo Credit: Brian Robinette

 

The Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites championship prepares for its second race this Saturday, followed by a six-race showdown leading to the crowning of a champion. In the class’ opening race from Houston’s Reliant Stadium, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Christophe Pourcel, who is from France,  grabbed the win to lead the points heading into the Georgia Dome.

 

In the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class, Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., reclaimed the Western Regional championship points lead with his third win of the season.

Ryan Dungey took the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class points lead with a win at San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium Saturday Photo Credit: Brian Robinette

Stewart, the 2007 AMA Supercross class champion, has been on a tear since starting the season 23-points out of the points lead. Since that forgettable evening in Anaheim, Stewart has erased the huge deficit and moved into the points lead over Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Chad Reed, of Tampa, Fla.  While Reed has been consistent, finishing second for the past six races, he has been unable to pick up a win this season.

James Stewart turned things around after he faced a 23-point deficit after Anaheim 1 Photo Credit: Brian Robinette

Last Saturday night Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Mike Alessi, of Victorville, Calif., grabbed the holeshot in the 20-lap main event with Stewart and Reed in tow. The class’ top two riders quickly made their move around Alessi and gapped the field. Reed kept pace with Stewart for a couple laps, but the Yamaha rider slowly pulled away, leading flag-to-flag.

Mike Alessi continues to run up front in the early stages of the race Photo Credit: Brian Robinette

“The track was definitely tough,” explained Stewart. “I just had some good luck. The track was slick, but, man, this San Manuel Yamaha was awesome. To come back where we were at, 23-points back, it’s just amazing. (San Diego) is special to me - it gave me my first victory in 2002 so I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for the city.”

 

Reed held off the late charges of both Honda Red Bull Racing’s Andrew Short, of Smithville, Texas, and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto, of Poulsbo, Wash., to capture second, while Short edged Villopoto at the line for third.

Andrew Short rounded out the podium with a third-place finish in San Diego Photo Credit: Brian Robinette

“I got great starts and I was there,” stated Reed. “I just wasn’t fast enough. James rode awesome and I want to thank the team for being patient with me all day. I’m happy to be second and once again San Diego was good to me. I want to thank my team and all my sponsors. We’re just keeping it consistent.”

 

Dungey led every lap of the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class main event and carries a two-point lead into a seven-week break for the championship. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Ryan Morais earned a runner-up finish while his teammate Jake Weimer worked his way up to third.

 

“I’m really pumped,” said Dungey. “I think I really rode an awesome race from start to finish. Sometimes when you’re given that kind of opportunity you need to take advantage of it and I think I did that tonight. I just want to thank my team, Rockstar/Makita Suzuki for everything.”

 

Atlanta provided a memorable night of action one year ago when Red Bull Honda’s Davi Millsaps, of Cairo, Ga., earned his first career AMA Supercross class victory in front of thousands of family and friends at his home race. Millsaps took advantage of a fall by Reed and led the rest of the way.

 

“I don’t like to take a win like this, but a win is a win,” said Millsaps from the podium last year. “I had a lot of friends and family here tonight, so winning in front of them is huge, especially my first win in this class.”

 

In his first career supercross race as a professional, Trey Canard made it a clean sweep for Honda as he led all 15-laps of the AMA Supercross Lites class main event last year. Defending Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites champion and season favorite Ryan Villopoto crashed twice, beginning what would be a frustrating season.

 

“I do not know what to say right now,” said Canard after his memorable first win last season. “I have waited my whole life for this, and to get the win means so much to me. I had a great heat race and was ready for the main.”

 

This weekend’s AMA Supercross class will air live on SPEED Saturday, February 21 at 7:30 p.m. EST and the AMA Supercross Lites class race will also air on SPEED this Sunday, February 22 at 1:00 p.m. EST.

 

The first AMA Supercross race ever held in Atlanta was March 5, 1977, and Bob Hannah won on a Yamaha. On February 22, 1986 Honda rider Keith Turpin won the first-ever AMA Supercross Lites main event. Ricky Carmichael is first on the AMA Supercross class’ all-time win list with five. Carmichael and Brian Swink share the AMA Supercross Lites class’ all-time win record with two.

AMA Supercross Class Results, San Diego

1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha

2. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Suzuki

3. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda

4. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki

5. Davi Millsaps, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda

6. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki

7. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda

8. Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga., Suzuki

9. Nick Wey, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha

10. Ivan Tedesco, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda

 AMA Supercross Class Season Standings

1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha, 152

2. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Suzuki, 152

3. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 122

4. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha, 112

5. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 106

6. Ivan Tedesco, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 102

7. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda, 96

8. Davi Millsaps, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 91

9. Mike Alessi, Apple Valley, Calif., Suzuki, 83

10. Tim Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki, 74

 Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Results, San Diego

1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki

2. Ryan Morais, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki

3. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki

4. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda

5. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ky., KTM

6. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM

7. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Honda

8. Jake Moss, Temecula, Calif., Honda

9. Jeff Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Honda

10. Cole Seely, Newbury Park, Calif., Suzuki

 Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Season Standings

1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 135

2. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki, 133

3. Ryan Morais, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 124

4. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 103

5. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ky., KTM, 85

6. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Honda, 82

7. Dan Reardon, Menifee, Calif., Honda, 59

8. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda, 54

9. Jeff Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Honda, 51 

10. P.J. Larsen, Stanley, N.C., Kawasaki, 51

 

Past Winners in Atlanta

 

AMA Supercross Class

February 23, 2008:  Davi Millsaps

February 24, 2007:  James Stewart

February 25, 2006:  Ricky Carmichael

February 26, 2005:  Ricky Carmichael

February 28, 2004:  Chad Reed

February 22, 2003:  Ricky Carmichael

February 23, 2002:  Ricky Carmichael

February 24, 2001:  Ricky Carmichael

February 26, 2000:  Jeremy McGrath

February 20, 1999:  Jeremy McGrath

February 21, 1998:  Jeremy McGrath

February 22, 1997:  Damon Huffman

February 24, 1996:  Jeremy McGrath

February 25, 1995:  Mike LaRocco

February 26, 1994:  Jeremy McGrath

February 20, 1993:  Damon Bradshaw

February 22, 1992:  Damon Bradshaw

February 23, 1991:  Damon Bradshaw

February 24, 1990:  Jeff Ward

February 25, 1989:  Jeff Stanton

February 22, 1986:  Rick Johnson

February 23, 1985:  Mark Barnett

February 25, 1984:  Johnny O’ Mara

March 05, 1983 :  Mark Barnett

February 27, 1982:  Bob Hannah

February 28, 1981:  Mark Barnett

March 01, 1980 : Chuck Sun

March 03, 1979 : Bob Hannah

March 04, 1978 : Marty Tripes

March 05, 1977 : Bob Hannah

 

AMA Supercross Lites Class

February 23. 2008:  Trey Canard

February 24, 2007:  Ryan Dungey

February 25, 2006:  Josh Grant

February 26, 2005:  Grant Langston

February 28, 2004:  James Stewart

February 22, 2003:  Brock Sellards

February 23, 2002:  Chad Reed

February 24, 2001:  Nathan Ramsey

February 26, 2000:  Stephane Roncada

February 20, 1999:  Ernesto Fonseca

February 21, 1998:  Ricky Carmichael

February 22, 1997:  Ricky Carmichael

February 24, 1996:  John Dowd

February 25, 1995:  Mickael Pichon

February 26, 1994:  Ezra Lusk

February 20, 1993:  Doug Henry

February 22, 1992:  Brian Swink

February 23, 1991:  Brian Swink

February 24, 1990:  Denny Stephenson

February 25, 1989:  Damon Bradshaw

February 22, 1986: Keith Turpin

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

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