Press Day Sets the Stage for Most Anticipated Monster Energy Supercross Season

ANAHEIM, Calif.
(January 6, 2011) – The 2011 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM
World Championship, season is just around the corner and today, Feld
Motor Sports^® welcomed six of the series’ top riders that
will lead the deepest field of talent in the history of the sport into
Angel Stadium on Saturday night. Defending champion Ryan Dungey
represented his Rockstar/Makita Suzuki team and accepted the coveted
World Championship ring. Joining Dungey on stage were Monster Energy
Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto, San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart, GEICO
Powersports Honda’s Kevin Windham, TwoTwo Motorsports Honda’s Chad Reed
and Red Bull KTM’s Andrew Short.

After
a historic season that witnessed just the second rookie in AMA history
claim the Supercross class title, the anticipation surrounding the 2011
championship is higher than ever before with three Supercross class
champions and five Supercross Lites class champions in the lineup.

Dungey,
who is coming off the most successful rookie season of all time, is
aware that his title defense will be the toughest challenge of his
young career. However, the Minnesota native is ready for it.

“Last
year was definitely one the best yet toughest years I’ve ever had,”
said Dungey. “I just tried to give it my all at every given moment.
Backing up that title this season I think is the hardest thing to do in
any sport. I just need to do everything I can and control what I can
control. There is a deep field this season and it’s going to take
everything I’ve learned to defend the championship and I’m looking
forward to it.”

Villopoto
was in the thick of the title fight in 2010 alongside Dungey, capturing
the most wins in the championship. However, a late season crash forced
him to sit out the final three races and now he is more prepared than
ever before to redeem himself.

“It
was the most serious injury of my career last year and it took a long
time to get back where I needed to be,” said Villopoto. “I was nervous
I wouldn’t be able to get where was at before when I got back on the
bike but then things just started feeling better. It was as if my body
had forgotten what happened in the past. I wasn’t able to jump back on
the bike as quickly as I had with other injuries, but now I feel as if
I’m more ready than I’ve ever been coming into a season.”

After
starting off the 2010 championship with a big win at Anaheim, Stewart
found trouble the following weekend with two incidents that ultimately
derailed his hopes of a third championship. With a long layoff and
rejuvenated mindset, he’s back to show he still has what it takes.

“I’m
just excited to be back racing,” said Stewart. “We’ve made a lot of
changes to the team and overall I think it’s been a good offseason.
What happened last year was an accident and I believe it will make me
stronger. I’m not going to change how I ride for anyone. I’m going to
be the champion I want to be because I can sleep better knowing I raced
the way I wanted and gave it everything I had.”

Despite
a slow start to his 2010 campaign, Windham kicked it into high gear the
second half of the season, winning back-to-back races with some of the
most dominant performances in the history of the sport against
competitors as much as 12 years his junior. Ultimately, he posted his
third runner-up effort in the championship and is excited about the
possibilities of his 18^th year of racing.

“For
me it’s about weathering the storm and getting ready for Saturday,”
said Windham. “I need to do whatever I can (to win), but at the same
time, keep the bike on two wheels. I really enjoy riding and being a
part of this sport more than ever. I found what works for me and I’m
going to stick with it. A lot of guys out there have the ability to win
races and I think it’s going to be a good year.”

After
taking Stewart down to the wire in the 2009 championship, Reed had high
hopes in 2010, but instead experienced his worst season since moving to
the U.S. in 2002. This year, Reed is taking a unique path to a possible
third championship by funding his own race team without factory
support. As a result, the Australian becomes the most successful and
arguably the most talented privateer rider in history. Reed knows the
obstacles that lie ahead, but he’s ready to take them on.

“It’s
been fun (starting the new team),” said Reed. “I’m sure there will be
ups and downs, but so far it’s been good. I truly believe in
surrounding yourself with good people and I’ve done that here. We have
what it takes to succeed. The most difficult thing this offseason was
finding out what was real and what wasn’t. I was a true free agent for
the first time but once it all came together I got to training and I
feel ready.”

Andrew
Short heads a list of well-known riders making the move to a new team,
joining the revamped Red Bull KTM squad in 2011. After establishing a
solid career with Team Honda, Short joins forces with longtime
Rockstar/Makita Suzuki team manager and motocross legend Roger
DeCoster, who helped navigate Dungey to the championship last season.
Additionally, Short will lead the first ever supercross campaign for
the new 350cc motorcycle introduced by KTM last year. The change of
scenery excites Short and he hopes it leads to big things for himself
and the KTM organization.

“Everything
is exciting,” said Short. “A new bike, new team manager, new teammates
and now I see all of my competitors. This is a great time of year for
me. I think it’ll be a benefit to have Roger help me grow from what
I’ve been accustomed to in the past. The 350cc bike is very capable and
I feel more nimble than a 450. KTM has put a lot of effort into making
it competitive and I’m looking forward to the season.”

The
buzz is huge and what could very well be the most competitive Monster
Energy Supercross season of all time is just about here. It all goes
down on Saturday night. Fans unable to make it out to Angel Stadium can
catch LIVE coverage on SPEED, beginning at 7 p.m. PT.

2011 Monster Energy Supercross Teams and Riders

Rockstar/Makita Suzuki

#1 – Ryan Dungey

#24 – Brett Metcalfe

Monster Energy Kawasaki

#2 – Ryan Villopoto

#32 – Jake Weimer

San Manuel Yamaha

#7 – James Stewart

#30 – Kyle Regal

Hart and Huntington Kawasaki

#9 – Ivan Tedesco

#38 – Chris Blose

Muscle Milk/Toyota/JGR

#10 – Justin Brayton

#18 – Davi Millsaps

MotoConcepts Yamaha

#11 – Kyle Chisholm

#12 – Tommy Hahn

#45 – Vince Friese

GEICO Powersports Honda

#14 – Kevin Windham

#17 – Justin Barcia*

#19 – Eli Tomac*

#21 – Blake Wharton*

#31 – Wil Hahn*

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki

#15 – Dean Wilson*

#20 – Broc Tickle*

#28 – Tyla Rattray*

#57 – Blake Baggett*

#100 – Josh Hansen*

TwoTwo Motorsports

#22 – Chad Reed

Rockstar Energy Suzuki

#23 – Martin Davalos*

#71 – Ryan Morais*

#77 – Ian Trettel*

#156 – Jason Anderson*

DNA Shred Stix/Star Racing Yamaha

#25 – Ryan Sipes*

#35 – Kyle Cunningham*

#72 – Nick Paluzzi*

XX – Gannon Audette*

#387 – Gareth Swanepoel*

BTOSports.com/BBMX/Palmetto Suzuki

#26 – Michael Byrne

#47 – Jason Thomas

Valli Motorsports/Rockstar Yamaha

#27 – Nick Wey

#75 – Austin Stroupe

Red Bull KTM

#29 – Andrew Short

XX – Marvin Musquin*

#194 – Ken Roczen*

#800 – Mike Alessi

Factory American Honda

#33 – Josh Grant

#41 – Trey Canard

JDR Motorsports/Motorex KTM

#34 – Dan Reardon

XX – PJ Larsen*

#942 – Tye Simmonds*

Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil Honda

#36 – Cole Seely*

#58 – Travis Baker*

#144 – Christian Craig*

Eleven 10 Mods/Renegade Fuels

#37 – Darryn Durham*

#46 – Alex Martin*

XX – Brandon Mays

Warthog Racing

#39 – Matt Goerke

#53 – Jarred Browne

#64 – Derek Anderson

XX – Spencer Dally

#801 – Jeff Alessi

XX – Mike Picone

XX – Justin Sipes

Honda of Troy/Kilbarger Racing

#42 – Nico Izzi*

#44 – Les Smith*

XX – Levi Kilbarger*

Rock River Yamaha

#43 – Weston Peick

#87 – Drew Yenerich*

#707 – Alex Millican*

Violation1.com/Shea Racing/National Switchgear

#70 – Tevin Tapia*

#94 – Ricky Renner*

#129 – Vernon McKiddie*

#804 – Jason Langford Jr.*

Experts-Exchange.com/Fly Racing

#73 – Topher Ingalls*

Red Seven Ride Co.

#76 – Kyle Partridge

#149 – Casey Hinson

Rockwell Fire/Police

#85 – Ryan Clark

XX – Cole Siebler*

XX – Landen Powell*

Weinert Racing

#89 – Taylor Futrell*

Inforce Technologies

#520 – Tony Gallo*

Tickets are available at Angel Stadium Box Office, all Ticketmaster retail locations, charge by phone at (800)745-3000, SupercrossOnline.com, or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
Practice and qualifying begins at 12:30 p.m., and the main event begins
at 7:00 p.m. Club Level tickets are available for $75 Adult/Child;
Diamond Club and Field $50 Adult/Child; Sections 401-436 $35
Adult/Child; Sections 506-535 $35 Adult/Child; Sections 501-505 &
536-540 $20 Adult/Child.  Fans can also get into the Pits for FREE from
12:30 – 6 PM Race Day when they recycle a MONSTER Energy Can at the
stadium Pit Entrance (valid only with event ticket). 

For more information on the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, please log on to www.SupercrossOnline.com. For all media requests, please contact Denny Hartwig dhartwig@feldinc.com or 630-566-6305. To follow Monster Energy Supercross on Facebook and Twitter, log on to http://www.facebook.com/supercrosslive and http://twitter.com/supercrosslive.

About Feld Motor Sports®

Feld Motor Sports^®,
Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motor
sports entertainment.  Feld Motor Sports, Inc. productions include
Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam^®, Monster Energy Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Nuclear Cowboyz℠, and IHRA^® Nitro Jam^®. 
Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a division of Feld Entertainment, the
world’s largest producer of live family entertainment.  For more
information on Feld Entertainment, visit www.feldentertainment.com.