AURORA, Ill. (January 6, 2007) – Kawasaki’s James Stewart picked up a thrilling victory before a sold-out crowd of 45,050 at the Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP/Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series. Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto won the AMA Supercross Lites main event.
Yamaha’s Chad Reed won the Progressive Direct Holeshot Award off the start of the 20-lap main event in the AMA Supercross class but was under immediate pressure from Kawasaki’s James Stewart. Suzuki’s Ricky Carmichael was in tow, just a few bike lengths back in third.
With the top three contenders out front, the table was set for another battle the sport is becoming accustomed to. At the end of the first lap, Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., had taken claim of the lead as Carmichael began working on Reed for second. Stewart began pulling away before a crash on the finish line jump handed Carmichael, of Tallahassee, Fla., the top spot.
Reed, of Tampa, Fla., who was riding injured with a cracked shoulder blade, began to drop off the pace, leaving the battle to Carmichael and Stewart. Carmichael held off Stewart for a couple of laps before Stewart made the pass for the lead on lap seven. Carmichael stayed close for a couple of laps but a crash on lap 13 would end his hopes of a win.
Stewart held on for the victory, his 13th career AMA Supercross win. Carmichael regrouped to finish second, while Reed, in obvious pain, toughed out a solid third place finish.
“I went home and put my head down and put in some hard work,” said Stewart in reference to the four-week break for the holidays. “I was lucky enough those guys saw me when I went down. I had a couple of burns and scrapes on my arm but was able to get back up and get the win.”
Kawasaki’s Christophe Pourcel grabbed the Progressive Direct Holeshot Award to start the 15-lap AMA Supercross Lites main event. He held the lead for the first two laps before being passed by Villopoto, of Poulsbo, Wash., who put an inside pass on his teammate just after the finish line jump.
Pourcel, a Frenchman who resides in Corona, Calif., kept Villopoto honest for the next couple of laps but was never able to get closer than a couple of bike lengths. In the end, Villopoto was able to open up a sizeable gap and cruised to the easy victory. Pourcel finished second while Yamaha’s Jason Lawrence, of Carlsbad, Calif., was third.
“Everyone was a little nervous coming into the first race,” said Villopoto. “I got on the inside of him (Pourcel) was going a little too fast to stop. He didn’t go down so it was all good. He’s my teammate and I’m happy we were both able to make it up on the podium.”
Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP Season Standings
Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 69
James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 67
Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha, 65
Timmy Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki, 50
David Vuillemin, Menifee, Calif., Honda, 49
Nicholas Wey, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 41
Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Honda, 37
Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Honda, 35
Paul Carpenter, Ithaca, N.Y., Kawasaki, 33
Jeff Gibson, Blacklick, Ohio, Kawasaki, 31
Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series Event Results, Anaheim
James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki
Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki
Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha
Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Honda
Timmy Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki
David Vuillemin, Menifee, Calif., Honda
Nicholas Wey, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Honda
Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda
Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga., Suzuki
Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series Season Standings
James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 25
Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 22
Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha, 20
Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Honda, 18
Timmy Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki, 16
David Vuillemin, Menifee, Calif., Honda, 15
Nicholas Wey, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 14
Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Honda, 13
Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda, 12
Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga., Suzuki, 11
Amp’d Mobile Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Event Results, Anaheim
Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
Christophe Pourcel, France, Kawasaki
Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha
Josh Hansen, Lake Elsinore, Calif., KTM
Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Honda
Troy Adams, Homosassa, Fla., Suzuki
Matthew Lemoine, Pilot Point, Texas, Yamaha
Christopher Gosselaar, Victorville, Calif., Kawasaki
Kyle Chisholm, Seminole, Fla., Kawasaki
Justin Keeney, Lebanon, Ore., Kawasaki
Amp’d Mobile Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Season Standings
Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 25
Christophe Pourcel, France, Kawasaki, 22
Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha, 20
Josh Hansen, Lake Elsinore, Calif., KTM, 18
Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Honda, 16
Troy Adams, Homosassa, Fla., Suzuki, 15
Matthew Lemoine, Pilot Point, Texas, Yamaha, 14
Christopher Gosselaar, Victorville, Calif., Kawasaki, 13
Kyle Chisholm, Seminole, Fla., Kawasaki, 12
Justin Keeney, Lebanon, Ore., Kawasaki, 11