Monster Energy Kawasaki Teams Top the Podium in Anaheim
Stewart and Villopoto Capture All Three Anaheim Victories
ANAHEIM , Calif. (February 3, 2007) - Monster Energy Kawasaki's James Stewart and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Ryan Villopoto made a clean sweep of Angel Stadium on Saturday night with impressive main events wins.
Stewart's win was his fourth of the season and also put his name into the record books as the only rider in the sport's history to win all three Amp'd Mobile Supercross races in Anaheim. He rode a smart race and overcame the constant challenge from Chad Reed to bring home the victory aboard his factory-tuned Kawasaki KX450F.
"I think this weekend he (Reed) gave me all he had," said Stewart. "Maybe he felt this was one of those weekends that was crunch time and (the points) could have been narrowed down to 12 and made the series tight, but I moved it up to 18 points. I think we are in a good position for the championship only five races in."
Monster Energy Kawasaki teammate Timmy Ferry continued his climb up the ranks and placed his Kawasaki KX450F on the podium with a solid third place. "It feels great to podium. Last year I wasn't sure if I would even be racing this year. To be back up here is a great opportunity and I have to thank Kawasaki for that," said Ferry.
Stewart pushed his lead to 18 points in the AMA Supercross Series and 15 points in World GP, while Ferry sits comfortably in third in both series.
Cernic's Kawasaki rider Paul Carpenter rode to a ninth-place finish and moved up to tenth in the World GP point standings. Teammate Jeff Gibson also rode a solid race finishing in 13th position.
Villopoto, who was not riding at 100 percent due to the flu, was completely dominant on his Kawasaki KX250F on this night and won the AMA Supercross Lites main event with ease. For a majority of the race, he was lengthening his lead by more than a second per lap and wound up with a 16.009 margin of victory.
"In practice, I would go one hard lap and felt like I did a ten lap sprint," said Villopoto, referring to his low energy from the flu. "Tonight's track was the most technical so far all year. I think it was good, it went from easy to hard and it separates the good riders."
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki teammate Chris Gosselaar came into Angel Stadium with an injured left shoulder but was able to put together a solid seventh-place finish.
Team Motosport Kawasaki riders Steve Boniface and newly hired Joaquim Rodrigues finished 15th and 16th in the AMA Lites division.
For photos of this event and additional news and race results, visit www.kawasaki.com/racing.
Amp'd Mobile Supercross
Angel Stadium - Anaheim, Calif.
February 3, 2007
AMA Supercross
1. JAMES STEWART, HAINES CITY, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI
2. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha
3. TIMMY FERRY, LARGO, FLA., KAWASAKI
4. Nick Wey, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
5. Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga., Suzuki
6. Nathan Ramsey, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha
7. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda
8. Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Honda
9. PAUL CARPENTER, ITHACA, N.Y., CERNIC'S KAWASAKI
10. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites
1. RYAN VILLOPOTO, POULSBO, WASH., MONSTER ENERGY/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI
2. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Honda
3. Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha
4. Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha
5. Josh Hansen, Lake Elsinore, Calif., KTM
6. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Honda
7. CHRIS GOSSELAAR, VICTORVILLE, CALIF., MONSTER ENERGY/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI
8. Kyle Partridge, Las Vegas, Nev., Honda
9. Kyle Cunningham, Springtown, Texas, Yamaha
10. Matt Lemoine, Pilot Point, Texas, Yamaha
Amp'd Mobile World Supercross GP Season Standings
1. JAMES STEWART, HAINES CITY, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 164
2. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha, 149
3. TIMMY FERRY, LARGO, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 122
4. Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 116
5. Nicholas Wey, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 108
6. David Vuillemin, Menifee, Calif., Honda, 89
7. Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Honda, 80
8. Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga., Suzuki, 80
9. Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Honda, 80
10. PAUL CARPENTER, ITHACA, N.Y., CERNIC'S KAWASAKI, 73
Amp'd Mobile AMA Supercross Series Season Standings
1. JAMES STEWART, HAINES CITY, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 122
2. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha, 104
3. TIMMY FERRY, LARGO, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 90
4. Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga., Suzuki, 73
5. Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 69
6. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda, 66
7. Nicholas Wey, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 60
8. Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Honda, 60
9. Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Honda, 55
10. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 53
Amp'd Mobile Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Season Standings
1. RYAN VILLOPOTO, POULSBO, WASH., MONSTER ENERGY/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI, 122
2. Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha, 91
3. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Honda, 59
4. CHRIS GOSSELARR, VICTORVILLE, CALIF., MONSTER ENERGY/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI, 65
5. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Honda, 64
6. Matthew Lemoine, Pilot Point, Texas, Yamaha, 63
7. Josh Hansen, Lake Elsinore, Calif., KTM, 62
8. STEVE BONIFACE, CORONA, CALIF., CERNIC'S KAWASAKI, 61
9. Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha, 52
10. Kyle Partridge, Las Vegas, Nev., 51