Team Rockstar/WBR/Suzuki Feels The Heat in Atlanta

Kelly Smith debuts in the top ten
Byrne gets caught in first heat melee

Chino, CA – February 26, 2007 - With the East Coast Series of the Lites Class beginning this weekend in Atlanta, Georgia, expectations were high for the Eastern half of the team. Kelly Smith, #47 was the lone Lites class contender for the team as Andrew McFarlane is still out with an injury. McFarlane is expected to be joining Kelly and Byrne under the awning at Daytona.

Kelly started out the night with a fifth in his heat race. He had a hard fought battle with the front runners. “I wanted to have a good showing for the team since they have worked so hard to get my RM-Z250 working for me. I was able to get a good gate pick going into the main event, so I was pretty happy.” Smith ended up 10th in the main event and with this being the first round, he will remain 10th in points till next week’s race in St. Louis, MO.

Team Owner Brad Williams was happy to see Kelly finally join in: "Kelly has been training really hard in Florida and has been anxious to get into the game. He looked good out there and we're expecting him to be in the top 5 next week."

Michael Byrne had a rough night. In the first heat race of the night for the Supercross class, Byrner had to make a quick move to get past a rider and was then landed on by another rider. With a deep tissue bruise to his leg, he found it hard to walk it off. The AMA red flagged the race, which gave Michael some time to decide if he wanted to get back on the bike. “I was feeling the bruise pretty good almost immediately. I decided to try it out in the heat, but I came up one short of making it. I headed to the LCQ only to fall while I was leading.” Because of the new AMA rule that allows a rider in the top ten two exemptions, Byrner ended up taking a provisional position putting him into the main event.

A very sore Michael ended up holding onto a 14th in the main event, which put him in 5th place in the points for the season. Byrne plans on healing up quickly and come back strong for St. Louis.

Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series Event Results, Atlanta
1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki
2. Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki
3. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha
4. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
5. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda
6. Timmy Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki
7. Bryan Johnson, Cairo, Ga., Honda
8. David Vuillemin, Menifee, Calif., Honda
9. Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Honda
10. Jeff Gibson, Blacklick, Ohio, Kawasaki
14. Michael Byrne Newnan, GA Suzuki
 
Amp’d Mobile Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Event Results, Atlanta
1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki
2. Darcy Lange, Hemet, Calif., Kawasaki
3. Matt Goerke, Lake Helen, Fla., Yamaha
4. Ryan Morais, Temecula, Calif., Suzuki
5. Branden Jesseman, New Brighton, Pa., Yamaha
6. Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha
7. Zach Osborne, Abingdon, Va., KTM
8. Matt Boni, Geneva, Fla., Kawasaki
9. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ken., Honda
10. Kelly Smith, Ludington, Mich., Suzuki

TV Schedule
March 3 Lites - Atlanta SPEED 6:00 PM EST
March 4 SX - St. Louis SPEED 6;00 PM EST
March 10 Lites - St. Louis SPEED 6:00 PM EST