Stewart/Reed Rivalry Heats up as Monster Energy Supercross Heads to Seattle.
Earlier this year, Team San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., put together a seven-race win streak after starting the season in 19th place. It’s been a year of playing catch up for Stewart, who is the 2007 AMA Supercross class champion, and his win at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium brought him within five points of current leader Chad Reed. This Saturday as Monster Energy Supercross, an FIM World Championship, returns to Seattle’s Qwest Field, he has his sights on his third consecutive win and a shot at closing Reed’s lead to just two points.
At the last AMA Supercross class race, Stewart earned his 10th win of the season at the inaugural Monster Energy Supercross race at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. The win was pivotal in Stewart’s pursuit of his second AMA Supercross class championship. Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Mike Alessi, of Victorville, Calif., started the AMA Supercross class main event by grabbing the holeshot followed closely by his teammate Reed. Reed moved past Alessi in turn two and secured the lead while Stewart snuck into second place.
Stewart tried to set Reed up in a few different sections but the Australian held his ground. Stewart stalked Reed for 13 long laps before he made a pass on the defending champion. Reed answered back and took over the lead on the same lap. Just one lap later, Stewart re-passed Reed and rode to his second career double-digit win season. Reed finished second and GEICO Powersports Honda’s Kevin Windham, of Centerville, Miss. brought home third.
While battling for the lead in Jacksonville, Stewart and Reed collided in the air over the massive triple jump. Following the race, Reed questioned Stewart’s tactic.
"I learned a lot tonight," said Reed. "I learned how he wants to play the game. When you jump across someone in the air, that is not cool, and I don’t want to play like that. I told him that if he wants to be dangerous and crazy and try and put me in the hospital like he did my teammate, I will do it too. He rode solid, but I don’t appreciate mid-air collisions on triples. I’ve have never given up at any point of my career, and I am going to keep fighting all the way down to Las Vegas."
"It was a fun race, and obviously I came out on the better end," said Stewart. "We did get close over the triple and that was scary. He went to the inside, and I was on the outside. I almost went down and he almost went down. That was not fun."
Ryan Dungey leads Jake Weimer by two points heading into Seattle in the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class
Just one week after clinching the Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites class championship, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Christophe Pourcel, of Corona, Calif., won his fifth main event of the season.
With the Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites class championship in the record book, the top contenders in the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class will resume their title chase. Leading the points standings is Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey with Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer on his heels just two points back.
Dungey and Weimer are knotted at three wins apiece heading into this weekend’s race. The two front runners are the only riders in the class to earn victories in 2009. Weimer’s teammate Ryan Morais is in third place, trailing by nine points.
At last year’s race in Seattle, Windham won his second consecutive AMA Supercross class race in front of 48,328 fans at Qwest Field. Yamaha’s Jason Lawrence, of Carlsbad, Calif., won the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class championship.
Honda Red Bull Racing’s Andrew Short, of Smithville, Texas, won the $1,500 Progressive Holeshot Award to start the AMA Supercross class main event, but Windham quickly passed him and moved into the lead. Reed came into Seattle last year 13 points ahead of Windham and crashed in turn one, forcing him to start in last place.
On lap two, while leading, Windham suffered a mechanical malfunction when a banner got tied up in his back wheel. He stopped his bike and removed the banner from the rear wheel, dropping back to sixth place. Windham charged back through the field and re-captured the lead on lap 17. Reed charged his way to second place with a last-lap pass on Short.
"I rode great tonight," said Windham last year from the podium in Seattle. "I wish I came away with more points, but that’s how it goes. I am excited to go to Las Vegas next week. It’s going to be a great race."
The AMA Supercross Lites class race will air on CBS Sports Sunday, April 19 at Noon EST and the AMA Supercross Lites class will air on SPEED Sunday, April 19 at 6:00 p.m. EST.
From 1978-1999, AMA Supercross class races were held at the now defunct Seattle King Dome. Washington native Larry Ward won his first AMA Supercross race in Seattle in 1990, and in 1999, Ward won the last AMA Supercross race of his career in Seattle. Rick Johnson holds the all-time AMA Supercross class win record in Seattle with seven. Jeff Matiasevich holds the all-time AMA Supercross Lites class record in Seattle with seven.
Past Winners in Seattle AMA Supercross Class
April 26, 2008: Kevin Windham
April 28, 2007: James Stewart
April 29, 2006: James Stewart
April 23, 2005: James Stewart
January 30, 1999: Larry Ward
January 31, 1998: Jeremy McGrath
February 1, 1997: Doug Henry
February 3, 1996: Jeremy McGrath
February 4, 1995: Jeremy McGrath
May 7, 1994: Mike Kiedrowski
January 30, 1993: Jeremy McGrath
February 1, 1992: Damon Bradshaw
February 2, 1991: Jean-Michael Bayle
February 17, 1990: Larry Ward
February 4, 1989: Rick Johnson
February 5, 1989: Rick Johnson
February 13, 1988: Rick Johnson
February 14, 1988: Ron Lechien
March 28, 1987: Rick Johnson
March 29, 1987: Rick Johnson
February 15, 1986: Jeff Ward
February 16, 1986: Rick Johnson
February 8, 1985: Ron Lechien
February 9, 1985: Ron Lechien
February 11, 1984: Jeff Ward
February 12, 1984: Rick Johnson
February 12, 1983: Bob Hannah
February 13, 1983: Bob Hannah
February 13, 1982: Donnie Hansen
February 14, 1982: Mark Barnett
February 14, 1981: Darrell Shultz
February 15, 1981: Darrell Shultz
February 9, 1980: Mike Bell
February 10, 1980: Mike Bell
February 9, 1979: Mike Bell
February 10, 1979: Bob Hannah
February 18, 1978: Jim Ellis
AMA Supercross Lites Class
April 26, 2008: Ryan Dungey
April 28, 2007: Ryan Villopoto
April 29, 2006: James Stewart
April 23, 2005: James Stewart
January 30, 1999: Nathan Ramsey
January 31, 1998: David Vuillemin
February 1, 1997: David Vuillemin
February 3, 1996: Kevin Windham
February 4, 1995: Damon Huffman
May 7, 1994: Ryan Hughes
January 30, 1993: Phil Lawrence
February 1, 1992: Jeremy McGrath
February 2, 1991: Jeremy McGrath
February 17, 1990: Ty Davis
February 4, 1989: Jeff Matiasevich
February 5, 1989: Jeff Matiasevich
February 13, 1988: Jeff Matiasevich
February 14, 1988: Jeff Matiasevich
March 28, 1987: Donnie Schmit
March 29, 1987: Kyle Lewis
February 15, 1986: Willie Surratt
February 16, 1986: Donnie Schmit
February 8, 1985: Bader Manneh
February 9, 1985: Mike Healey
AMA Supercross Class Results, Jacksonville
1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha
2. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Suzuki
3. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda
4. Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha
5. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda
6. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki
7. Thomas Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Kawasaki
8. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Yamaha
9. Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Honda
10. Billy Laninovich, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Kawasaki
AMA Supercross Class Season Standings
1. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Suzuki, 315
2. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha, 310
3. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 225
4. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha, 193
5. Ivan Tedesco, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 193
6. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda, 193
7. Mike Alessi, Apple Valley, Calif., Suzuki, 185
8. Davi Millsaps, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 168
9. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 165
10. Josh Hill, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 146
Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Results, San Diego
1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki
2. Ryan Morais, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki
3. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki
4. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda
5. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ky., KTM
6. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
7. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Honda
8. Jake Moss, Temecula, Calif., Honda
9. Jeff Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Honda
10. Cole Seely, Newbury Park, Calif., Suzuki
Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Season Standings
1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 135
2. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki, 133
3. Ryan Morais, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 124
4. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 103
5. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ky., KTM, 85
6. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Honda, 82
7. Dan Reardon, Menifee, Calif., Honda, 59
8. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda, 54
9. Jeff Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Honda, 51
10. P.J. Larsen, Stanley, N.C., Kawasaki, 51
Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Results, Jacksonville
11. Christophe Pourcel, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki
12. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, KTM
13. Austin Stroupe, Lincolnton, N.C., Kawasaki
14. Darryn Durham, Wildomar, Texas, Yamaha
15. Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda
16. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha
17. Branden Jesseman, New Brighton, Pa., Kawasaki
18. Matt Lemoine, Collinsville, Texas, Yamaha
19. Matthew Goerke, Lake Helen, Fla., Suzuki
20. Steven Clarke, Cairo, Ga., Suzuki
Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Season Standings
11. Christophe Pourcel, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki, 181
12. Austin Stroupe, Lincolnton, N.C., Kawasaki, 148
13. Nico Izzi, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 119
14. Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda, 118
15. Branden Jesseman, New Brighton, Pa., Kawasaki, 105
16. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, KTM, 105
17. Matt Lemoine, Collinsville, Texas, 95
18. Matthew Goerke, Lake Helen, Fla., Suzuki, 94
19. Daniel Blair, Modesto, Calif., Honda, 85
20. Steven Clarke, Cairo, Ga., Suzuki, 82
Photos by: Brian Robinette and Frank HoppenÂ
