AURORA,
Ill (April 1, 2011) – As the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM
World Championship, returns to Cowboys Stadium tomorrow, TwoTwo
Motorsports/Bel-Ray Racing’s Chad Reed carries with him a three-point
advantage over Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto, of Poulsbo,
Wash. The last time that Reed, of Tampa, Fla., held the Supercross
class points lead was April 4, 2009.
During
the pre-season hype, Reed, who started his own team just prior to the
start of the 2011 championship, wasn’t high on the list of favorites to
walk away from Las Vegas’ Sam Boyd Stadium with the sport’s most
prestigious trophy, the Monster Energy Supercross crown. It would have
been easy to assume the nine-year veteran began making the turn toward
retirement. After all, he has won two championships, is fourth on the
all-time win list and he’s never finished worse than third in season
standings during his tenure (In 2010 he finished 17th, but was sidelined with an injury for most of the season).
Chad
Reed is currently tied with Jeremy McGrath for all-time podium finishes
at 111. A podium finish this weekend for Reed will make him the current
leader in this category.
Photo Credit: Hoppenworld.com
Reed’s
ability to manage a team and have a competitive edge as a racer was
certainly in question. He certainly has silenced the critics with five
races remaining on the schedule. The way he handled the criticism and
the way he responded to it during the last 12 races explains why he is
considered one of the greatest supercross racers of all time. If the
critics need this point seasoned, look no further than his 81.6% podium
average. In 136 starts, he’s been on the podium 111 times, which ties
him with Jeremy McGrath, the all-time winningest supercross racer in
history. And he’s still in the game.
“Before
the 2004 season, I dislocated my shoulder and was away from training
and riding for almost seven weeks,” said Reed. “That year I won 10
races and was on the podium six times. Following the 2007 season, I had
the entire summer off and won the 2008 championship.”
History is the greatest story teller.
As
Villopoto had to work his way back from a crash in Toronto, he knows he
is still a prime candidate for the championship, leading the field with
the most wins at five.
“I
know I can win and I am not going to give up this championship until
Las Vegas,” said Villopoto. “I am only three points out and ready to
bounce back. I’m going to keep working hard and I’m determined to be
back on the podium in Dallas.”
“I
am sad that it is my last race with the team, but happy that Jake is
better,” said Izoird. “It was really fun getting the holeshot last week
and maybe I’ll be able to do it again in Dallas. My family is coming
out to the race, so hopefully I can get my best result of the season.”
Defending
Supercross class champion Ryan Dungey rode strong all day in Toronto,
scoring the fourth best time in the afternoon qualifying and picking up
a second-place finish in his heat race. In the main event, his Suzuki
powered him out of the gate and into second place through the first
turn. Dungey easily made his way to the front by the end of the first
lap, which is where he stayed throughout the entire 20-lap main event.
His RM-Z450 performed flawlessly as Dungey threw down 20 strong laps on
his way to a convincing first victory of the season. Dungey sits
solidly in third place in the championship points and a mere eight
points out of first.
Saturday marks the 31st time the gate will drop for a Supercross class race in the Dallas/Fort-Worth area.
Photo Credit: Hoppenworld.com
"We
had a great day today,” Dungey said in Toronto. “My Rockstar Makita
Suzuki team did a great job setting my bike up for this track and I
felt really comfortable all day. I knew going into the main that a
holeshot was gonna be key. I got a good start and ended up second and
was able to work my RMZ into the lead in the first lap. From there, I
tried to put down the laps as best as I could – I tried to focus on my
own race and not behind me. It was cool to be able to come around and
get this first win. I’m very thankful. I couldn’t have done it without
the help and support of my whole Rockstar Makita Suzuki team and my
family. I’m really looking forward to Dallas. I was able to get a win
there last year and it’s a great stadium; it’s new and big. The fans
there are great and it’s always a good race."
Team San Manuel Yamaha Red Bull’s James Stewart finished fourth in the 12th
in Toronto last weekend. Following a race ending crash in
Jacksonville, Stewart had taken time off to rest and recuperate during
the week. However, Stewart showed no sign of injury Saturday night, by
once again posting the fastest lap times and dominating his heat
race. In heat two, Stewart started strong, taking the lead in Lap 1 and
maintaining the lead for eight solid laps, finishing a clear 20 seconds
ahead of the pack. As the gates dropped for the Main Event, Stewart
faced some unfortunate luck, when a small mistake in the first turn had him starting near the back. Stewart quickly made his way through the field from 12th place to fourth, where he stayed for the remainder of the race, despite his continued charge.
“I
feel like I rode pretty good, especially after last weekend’s race,”
Stewart said. “I’m trying my hardest out there and will hopefully turn
my luck around for Dallas.”
Stewart
didn’t get the finish he was hoping for, but did gain some valuable
championship points, narrowing the lead once again. With five rounds
to go, Stewart is in fourth place with 216 points, 20 points shy of the
lead.
The
Monster Energy Kawasaki team will welcome back Jake Weimer, the
defending Supercross Lites class champion, next weekend in St. Louis.
Weimer was injured prior to the start of the season and is on the road
to recovery.
Justin
Barcia currently controls the points lead in the Eastern Regional
Supercross Lites class by 16, trailed by Dean Wilson and Ryan Sipes.
Photo Credit: Hoppenworld.com
Monster
Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Dean Wilson will be riding the high of
his second win that he captured last weekend in Toronto. He’s riding
smart and patient, knowing it will be beneficial when race time comes
in Dallas. He trails points leader Justin Barcia, who rides for the
GIECO Honda team, by 16 points.
“I
feel like I’ve found a groove and I really want to stand on top of the
podium again in Dallas,” said Wilson. “I didn’t get to race there last
year so I know it’s going to be exciting for me to see Cowboys Stadium
for the first time.”
Wilson’s teammate Blake Baggett looks forward to heading back to Dallas where he got his very first win last year.
“It
will be good to go back to Dallas because I have a lot of good memories
from that race last year,” said Baggett. “I think it will give me a big
boost in confidence, which is always good when you come off a tough
race.”
CBS
will broadcast the AMA Supercross class race at 12:00 p.m. EST/9:00
a.m. PST and SPEED will broadcast the AMA Supercross Lites class race
at 6:00 p.m. EST/3:00 PST on April 3, 2011. SPEED will also broadcast
the AMA Supercross class race at 3:00 a.m. EST/12:00 a.m. PST on April
8, 2011.
Tickets are available at the Cowboys Stadium Box Office, all Ticketmaster retail locations, online at www.ticketmaster.com,
or charge by phone at (800) 745-3000. Tickets will also be available at
participating Yamaha dealers. Club Level tickets are available for $55
Adult/Child; Price Level 2 (near Goal Line) $50 Adult/Child; Price
Level 3 (Endzone Area) $45 Adult/Child; Price Level 4 (Upper-Level) $40
Adult/Child. Practice and qualifying begins at 12:30 p.m., and the main
event begins at 7:00 p.m.
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.
4/1/2011 12:46pm
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