ANAHEIM, Calif. (January 17, 2009) – Before 43,009 fans at Angel Stadium, Team San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., won his second consecutive Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, race. Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Chad Reed, of Dade City, Fla., moved into the AMA Supercross class points lead with a valiant come-from-behind race where he started in 20th and finished second. Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., won his second consecutive Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class race.
GEICO Powersports Honda’s Kevin Windham, of Centerville, Miss., led the AMA Supercross class through turn one as he picked up the holeshot award. Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Mike Alessi, of Apple Valley, Calif., and JGRMX/Yamaha/Toyota’s Josh Grant, of Riverside, Calif., followed in second and third respectively. Defending champion Reed started in 20th place after a first turn crash and Stewart was near the middle of the pack.
“I was somewhere in the top five off the start and someone took me out,” said Reed.
After two laps, Stewart made his way into fourth place, and by lap six his was in third place. By lap eight Stewart held down second place and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto, of Poulsbo, Wash., was third. Out front, Windham was unable to hold off Stewart, who made the pass for the lead on lap 10.
“I didn’t get the greatest start,” said Stewart. “It was a freight train out front, but I was able to get around Windham (Kevin) and Ryan (Villopoto). I came up short on the triple jump and lost my back brake for a few laps.”
On lap 18 Reed moved into second place and chased down Windham on the last lap to finish second.
“I tried to play damage control tonight,” added Reed. “It was a super difficult track to pass on. We have the points lead now, so I am so excited. Our team has been working their butts off, and I am confident. I tried to be smart for 20 laps. I knew these guys would get tired, so I kept my head down and charged hard.”
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Ryan Morais, of Murrieta, Calif., jumped out of the gate to win the holeshot award in the AMA Supercross Lites class main event. Following in second and third place were GEICO Powersports Honda’s Dan Reardon, of Menifee, Calif., and Dungey respectively.
Dungey, who came into tonight’s race with the points lead, made his move around Reardon on lap two and set chase on Morais. At the start of lap four Dungey secured the lead and rode to victory and extended his points lead to six points. Morais finished second and his Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki teammate Jake Weimer finished third.
“It was a great ride,” said Dungey. “I heard the fans every step of the way. The track played out really good for us. This is really enjoyable. We have a two week break in the Lites class, so we can go back and work hard and show up prepared for the next race.”
AMA Supercross Class Results, Anaheim 2
- James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha
- Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Suzuki
- Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
- Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha
- Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda
- Ivan Tedesco, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda
- Tim Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki
- Mike Alessi, Apple Valley, Calif., Suzuki
- Davi Millsaps, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda
AMA Supercross Class Season Standings
- Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Suzuki, 64
- Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha, 61
- Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 53
- James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha, 52
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 48
- Ivan Tedesco, Tallahasse, Fla., Honda, 47
- Tim Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki, 43
- Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda, 41
- Mike Alessi, Apple Valley, Calif., Suzuki, 32
- Davi Millsaps, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 31
Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Results, Anaheim 2
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki
- Ryan Morais, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki
- Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki
- Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha
- Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Honda
- Dan Reardon, Menifee, Calif., Honda
- Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
- Kyle Cunningham, Fort Worth, Texas, Kawasaki
- PJ Larsen, Stanley, N.C., Kawasaki
- Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ken., KTM
Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Season Standings
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 70
- Ryan Morais, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 64
- Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki, 63
- Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 50
- Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Honda, 50
- Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ken., KTM, 39
- Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha, 34
- Ben Evans, Boise, Idaho, Honda, 31
- Dan Reardon, Menifee, Calif., Honda, 28
- PJ Larsen, Stanley, N.C., Kawasaki, 26
Tonight’s AMA Supercross class race will air on Sunday, January 18 at Noon EST on CBS Sports. The AMA Supercross Lites class race will air on SPEED Sunday, January 18 at 6:00 p.m. EST.