Anaheim, Calif. (January 3, 2009) – JGRMX/Toyota/Yamaha rookie Josh Grant, of Riverside, Calif., won the first AMA Supercross class race of his career before 42,309 fans at the Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, season opener at Angel Stadium. Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer, of Rupert, Idaho, won the opening race of the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class championship.
San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., picked up the AMA Supercross class holeshot as Grant and Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Chad Reed followed in third. Reed, the defending Monster Energy® Supercross champion, quickly moved into second place and began his chase on Stewart.
On lap 2 Reed passed Stewart, the 2007 AMA Supercross class champion. Stewart answered back on lap six as he regained the lead, but just a few turns later Reed and Stewart collided, causing each of them to crash. Upon reentering the race, Stewart was hit by GEICO Powersports Honda’s Kevin Windham. Stewart was unable to restart his bike and return to the race, while Reed reentered the race in third place.
Grant took over the lead and rode to a flawless win. Honda Red Bull Racing’s Andrew Short finished second and Reed finished third.
“I don’t know what to say right now,” said Grant. “To get my first win out of the way is huge, and I am so pumped. I saw those guys (Stewart and Reed) on the ground and just raced hard to the win.”
GEICO Powersports Honda’s Dan Reardon, of Menifee, Calif., opened the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class main event with the holeshot, leading Weimer and KTM’s Justin Brayton, of Murrieta, Calif., through turn one.
Defending class champion Jason Lawrence was involved in a massive pile-up that collected several riders, including defending Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites class champion Trey Canard, of Shawnee, Okla.
Weimer moved around Reardon on lap two and began to extend his lead. While riding in second and third place, respectively, Reardon and Brayton crashed into one another, losing several valuable positions. This allowed Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Ryan Morais, of Murrieta, Calif., to move into second.
Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., started tonight’s race in 10th place and finished third. Morais finished second and Weimer scored the second AMA Supercross Lites class win of his career and leads the points race.
“This was a great start to the season,” said Weimer. “It couldn’t be any better than tonight. I look forward to a great season.”
AMA Supercross Class Results, Anaheim 1
- Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha
- Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda
- Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Suzuki
- Tim Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
- Ivan Tedesco, Tallahasse, Fla., Honda
- Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Honda
- Ben Coisy, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
- Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Yamaha
- Paul Carpenter, Ithaca, N.Y. Kawasaki
AMA Supercross Class Season Standings
- Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha, 25
- Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 22
- Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Suzuki, 20
- Tim Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki, 18
- Ivan Tedesco, Tallahasse, Fla., Honda, 16
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 15
- Ben Coisy, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 14
- Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Honda, 13
- Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Yamaha, 12
- Paul Carpenter, Ithaca, N.Y. Kawasaki, 11
Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Results, Anaheim 1
- Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki
- Ryan Morais, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki
- Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Honda
- Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha
- Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ken., KTM
- Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
- Jeff Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Honda
- Ben Evans, Boise, Idaho, Honda
- Chris Gosselaar, Spring Valley Lake, Calif., Kawasaki
Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Season Standings
- Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki, 25
- Ryan Morais, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 22
- Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 20
- Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Honda, 18
- Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha, 16
- Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ken., KTM, 15
- Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 14
- Jeff Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Honda, 13
- Ben Evans, Boise, Idaho, Honda, 12
- Chris Gosselaar, Spring Valley Lake, Calif., Kawasaki, 11
Tonight’s AMA Supercross and AMA Supercross Lites class races will be broadcast on SPEED tomorrow, Sunday, January 4 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. EST. Racing resumes next Saturday, January 10 at Phoenix’s Chase Field.