Monster Energy Kawasaki Makes History at Phoenix Supercross
PHOENIX, Ariz. -- Monster Energy Kawasaki heated up a cold night in Phoenix with a history-making performance before an enthusiastic crowd at the Amp’d Mobile Supercross at Chase Field. A masterful win by James Stewart followed an “all green” podium in the AMA Supercross Lites main event where Christophe Pourcel earned his first AMA Supercross victory ahead of teammates Ryan Villopoto and Chris Gosselaar.
Stewart had to overcome a bit of adversity to earn his second-consecutive win of the year. First, the main event was red flagged due to a downed rider after Stewart had broken away from the pack off the start. His misfortune continued on the restart as he got off the gate slowly and allowed Ricky Carmichael to get out front.
Stewart was a few tenths of a second slower than Carmichael in both of the daytime practices and their respective heat races. But Stewart wouldn’t allow lap times or the restart to hold him back as he quickly moved his way through the pack onto the rear tire of Carmichael. He would later comment, “Nothing really changed from practice to the main event except for me. I felt I was better than I was riding. We looked at video and made some changes in my lines, especially leading in to the whoops.”
He patiently followed for a few laps before making a spectacular pass through the same whoops, bringing the crowd to their feet. Once out front, Stewart not only had to hold off Carmichael but also needed precise navigation through the scattering of lapped riders, which resulted in a 1.227-second margin of victory.
“I really don’t get worried anymore and don’t let a lot of things bother me,” said Stewart, commenting on the main event restart and ensuing poor start. “Having raced (supercross) for years, and having raced Ricky so many times, I just felt like an ironman because now I can focus on what I’m doing. We got to lappers and I didn’t let any of that bother me.”
Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Tim Ferry continued his solid riding with a second consecutive fifth-place finish. Ferry was near Stewart off the start and wound up picking his way through the field. Stewart now holds the top spot in both Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP and Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series point standings. Ferry is fourth and fifth, respectively.
Cernic’s Kawasaki riders Jeff Gibson and Paul Carpenter finished 15th and 19th, respectively, but remain in the top ten (ninth and 10th, respectively) in the Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP standings.
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki had arguably the finest night of any team in the history of supercross, with each of its three AMA Western Region Supercross Lites riders finishing on the podium. Never before has an entire team of riders finished one-two-three in a main event.
Although Pourcel’s early success may be a surprise to some of the fans in the U.S., those who have seen him ride in Europe, where he won the MX2 world title a year ago, don’t seem all too surprised. The Frenchman shot off the gate and into the lead in the early stages of the opening lap, leaving teammates Villopoto and Gosselaar to battle their way up after bad starts.
“Me and Goose were on the outside and I accidentally moved over on him and then went back to the outside,” said Villopoto about the start. “It was pretty crazy through that first rhythm section. I had to really slow it down and just make it through there. There are a lot of new guys out there and you just have to wait for it to calm down.”
Pourcel has shown speed and skill in supercross and never was that more evident than when he was in the lead with a clear track of his own. He was able to sprint out far enough that by the time Villopoto passed up to second, Pourcel was too far ahead.
Villopoto backed it down on the final lap to secure the second position, with Gosselaar comfortably finishing in third.
MotoSport Outlet Kawasaki’s Steve Boniface also turned in a strong performance and finished fifth, giving Kawasaki four of the top five finishers in the class. Kyle Chisholm crashed in practice and was diagnosed on site with a broken heel. He will get another evaluation this week and his status is uncertain.
Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series Event Results, Phoenix
1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., monster energy Kawasaki
2. Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki
3. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha
4. Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Honda
5. Timmy Ferry, Largo, Fla., Monster Energy Kawasaki
6. Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga., Suzuki
7. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
8. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda
9. Nicholas Wey, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
10. Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Honda
Manuel Rivas, Spain, Kawasaki
15. Jeff Gibson, Blacklick, Ohio, CERNIC’S Kawasaki
18. Jacob Marsack, Allenton, Mich., Kawasaki
19. Paul Carpenter, Ithaca, N.Y., CERNIC’S Kawasaki
Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series Season Standings
1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Monster energy Kawasaki, 50
2. Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 44
3. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha, 40
4. Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Honda, 36
5. Timmy Ferry, Largo, Fla., Monster Energy Kawasaki, 32
6. Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga., Suzuki, 26
7. Nicholas Wey, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 26
8. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda, 25
9. Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Honda, 24
10. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 21
Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP Season Standings
1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., monster energy KAWsaki, 92
2. Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 91
3. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha, 85
4. Timmy Ferry, Largo, Fla., MONSTER ENERGY Kawasaki, 66
5. Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Honda, 55
6. Nicholas Wey, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 54
7. David Vuillemin, Menifee, Calif., Honda, 53
8. Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Honda, 47
9. Jeff Gibson, Blacklick, Ohio, CERNIC’S Kawasaki, 39
10. Paul Carpenter, Ithaca, N.Y., CERNIC’S Kawasaki, 38
Amp’d Mobile Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Event Results, Phoenix
1. Christophe Pourcel, France, monster energy/pro circuit/Kawasaki
2. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., monster energy/procircuit/Kawasaki
3. Chris Gosselaar, Victorville, Calif., monster energy/pro circuit/Kawasaki
4. Matthew Lemoine, Pilot Point, Texas, Yamaha
5. Steve Boniface, Corona, Calif., motosport outlet KAWASAKI
6. Josh Hansen, Lake Elsinore, Calif., KTM
7. Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Calif., Yamaha
8. Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha
9. Kyle Cunningham, Springtown, Texas, Yamaha
10. Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., KTM
12. Justin Keeney, Lebanon, Ore., Kawasaki
20. Andres Guzman, Riverside, Calif., Kawasaki
Amp’d Mobile Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Season Standings
1. Christophe Pourcel, France, monster energy/pro circuit/Kawasaki i, 47
2. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., monster energy/pro circuit/Kawasaki, 47
3. Chris Gosselaar, Victorville, Calif., monster energy/pro circuit/Kawasaki, 33
4. Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha, 33
5. Josh Hansen, Lake Elsinore, Calif., KTM, 33
6. Matthew Lemoine, Pilot Point, Texas, Yamaha, 32
7. Steve Boniface, Corona, Calif., motosport outlet Kawasaki, 26 8. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Honda, 23
9. Troy Adams, Homosassa, Fla., Suzuki, 23
10, Kyle Cunningham, Springtown, Texas, 20