Reed Brings Opening Round Win Momentum to Chase Field for Round 2 of Monster Energy

Dungey Tops Competitive Lites Class Heading into Chase Field

AURORA (January 7, 2008) – Despite a rain-drenched Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif., last Saturday night, Yamaha’s Chad Reed, the 2004 AMA Supercross class champion, reeled off an impressive win at the opening round of Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, and carries the momentum and his speed into Phoenix’s Chase Field this Saturday. In the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class, Suzuki Ryan Dungey, who scored his first-ever win in Anaheim last weekend, makes his debut at Chase Field.

Reed, who hails from Australia and has never won at Chase Field, enters this weekend as the championship’s points leader. Likewise, Dungey, who is his second year in AMA Supercross Lites competition, has never raced at Chase Field.

Last weekend in Anaheim, Calif., Yamaha’s Grant Langston, of Clermont, Fla., scored the $1,500 Progressive Holeshot Award, leading Suzuki’s Mike Alessi, of Victorville, Calif., and Reed through turn one in the AMA Supercross class. Defending AMA Supercross class champion, James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., crashed in turn one and started in last place.

On the opening lap, Reed passed Langston and on the same lap, he stalled his bike, allowing Langston to assume the lead. Reed, who won his heat race earlier in the night, regained the lead on lap four. Reed led the next 16 laps and earned his fourth victory in Anaheim.

“I have been thinking about this race since last May,” said Reed. “I knew I needed a good start tonight and had to fight. I have been working really hard, and this win shows that hard work pays off.”

“Someone clipped my wheel in the first turn, and I went down,” said Stewart. “It was very slick out there. I give it up to Chad for this win. It’s going to be a great season.”

Honda’s Matt Lemoine, of Pilot Point, Texas, won the $1,000 Progressive Holeshot Award with Kawasaki’s Austin Stroupe, of Corona, Calif., and Dungey through the first turn of the AMA Supercross Lites class. Jason Lawrence, of Carlsbad, Calif., pushed his Yamaha to first place on lap four after a sixth-place start.

On lap seven, Dungey made an aggressive pass on Lawrence over the triple jump and moved into the lead. Lawrence trailed Dungey closely until he crashed on lap nine. Lawrence re-entered the race and salvaged a second place finish.

“This is awesome,” said Dungey on the win. “Coming from Minnesota, this is a huge win for me. I could not do this without my entire family. It was a great race, and we will see who comes out on top at the end of the season.”

Last year Stewart and Carmichael spent the first six laps battling for the number-one position, but on lap seven Stewart made the move to the lead and rode off to his 13th-career AMA Supercross class victory and the second consecutive of the season. Stewart went on to win the AMA Supercross class championship last year.

“I gave it 100% tonight, but James beat me,” said Carmichael. “I looked up in the stands and everyone was standing when James and I were battling. After he passed me, I wanted to put in a surge at the end of the race but didn’t have it. Phoenix is a very special place for me, and I had a blast here tonight.”

Kawasaki’s Christophe Pourcel, of France, captured the first AMA Supercross Lites class win of his career last season, beating teammate and eventual champion Ryan Villopoto.

The first AMA Supercross race was held at this venue on January 23, 1999, and McGrath won on a Yamaha. Ramsey won the first AMA Supercross Lites race in Phoenix while riding for Kawasaki.

Tickets are available through www.supercrossonline.com, all Ticketmaster outlets, charge by phone at 480-784-4444, participating Yamaha dealers and at Chase Field’s box office. Club Level seats are $50; Gold Level Seats are $40; Mid-Level Seats are $30 for adults and $10 for kids; Xtreme seats are $20 for adults and $10 for kids; Treadhead Seats are $10. Chase Field offers family section tickets on the lower level for $40. The pit pass outlet will be announced shortly. Gates open at 12:30 for practice and qualifying and racing begins at 7:00 p.m.

AMA Supercross Class Results, Anaheim 1

1. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha
2. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki
3. Tim Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki
4. Grant Langston, Clermont, Fla., Yamaha
5. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda
6. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki
7. Davi Millsaps, Cairo, Ga., Honda
8. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda
9. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., KTM
10. David Vuillemin, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki

AMA Supercross Class Season Standings

1. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha, 25
2. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 22
3. Tim Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki, 20
4. Grant Langston, Clermont, Fla., Yamaha, 18
5. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda, 16
6. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki, 15
7. Davi Millsaps, Cairo, Ga., Honda, 14
8. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 13
9. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., KTM, 12
10. David Vuillemin, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 11

Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Results, Anaheim 1

1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki
2. Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha
3. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
4. Dan Reardon, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
5. Austin Stroupe, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki
6. Tommy Hahn, Alvord, Texas, Kawasaki
7. Gavin Gracyk, Blissfield, Ohio, Honda
8. Andrew McFarlane, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki
9. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Suzuki
10. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Yamaha

Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Season Standings

1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 25
2. Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha, 22
3. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 20
4. Dan Reardon, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 18
5. Austin Stroupe, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki, 16
6. Tommy Hahn, Alvord, Texas, Kawasaki, 15
7. Gavin Gracyk, Blissfield, Ohio, Honda, 14
8. Andrew McFarlane, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki, 13
9. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Suzuki, 12
10. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Yamaha, 11

Past AMA Supercross Class Winners in Phoenix

January 13, 2007: James Stewart
January 14, 2006: Ricky Carmichael
January 15, 2005: Ricky Carmichael
January 10, 2004: Kevin Windham
January 11, 2003: Ezra Lusk
January 26, 2002: Ricky Carmichael
January 27, 2001: Ricky Carmichael
January 19, 2000: David Vuillemin
January 23, 1999: Jeremy McGrath

Past AMA Supercross Lites Winners in Phoenix

January 13, 2007: Christophe Pourcel
January 14, 2006: Nathan Ramsey
January 15, 2005: Broc Hepler
January 10, 2004 Ivan Tedesco
January 11, 2003: James Stewart
January 26, 2002: James Stewart
January 27, 2001: Ernesto Fonseca
January 19, 2000: Casey Lytle
January 23, 1999: Nathan Ramsey

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