Anaheim 2 Preview
|
Kawasaki’s Stewart Aims for Third-Straight Win in Anaheim; AMA Supercross Lites Points Race Heats Up
AURORA, Ill. (January 16, 2007) – Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP/Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series returns to Anaheim’s Angel Stadium this Saturday, January 20 with Kawasaki’s James Stewart, 21, of Haines City, Fla., the new points race leader. Stewart picked up his second consecutive win last weekend at Phoenix’ s Chase Field and leads the field into another exciting weekend of racing in southern California.
A pre-race press conference will be held inside the Diamond Club at Angel Stadium Thursday, January 18 from Noon-2:00 p.m., featuring the Yamaha of Troy team.
Stewart, who chased Suzuki’s Ricky Carmichael for the first six laps of last week’s race, controlled the lead from lap seven to 20 as he moved into the points lead for both the Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP and Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series. In front of 44,953 fans at Chase Field, Carmichael displayed another great ride – his last in Phoenix before pursuing a stock car racing career – finishing second. He will be in the announcer’s booth this weekend providing color commentary for the CBS Sports broadcast Sunday, January 21, at Noon EST.
Setting a precedent at Anaheim 1, on January 6, Stewart led all 20 laps in the AMA Supercross class main event. The win marked his second Anaheim 1 victory in the premier class; he captured two AMA Supercross Lites wins back in 2003.
“I am very focused this year,” said Stewart. “I think the difference from this year, to last year, is that I am a lot stronger. I keep getting stronger each week. It’s a lot of hard work. I think the racing will continue to get better every weekend."
Coming on strong recently is Honda’s Travis Preston, of Hesperia, Calif., who finished in fourth place at the first two domestic AMA Supercross class races, challenging third-place rider Chad Reed for the podium position. Preston is a former AMA Supercross Lites class champion (2002), and is expected to be front-runner this year.
In his second career AMA Supercross Lites race, Frenchmen Christophe Pourcel, who rides for the Pro-Circuit Kawasaki team, captured his first race win, beating Anaheim 1 winner and teammate Ryan Villopoto, of Poulsbo, Wash. Pourcel moved into the AMA Supercross Lites class points lead heading into this weekend. Kawasaki’s Chris Gosselaar, Yamaha’s Jason Lawrence and KTM’s Josh Hansen each have 33 points and round out the three, four and five positions in the overall standings respectively.
“It should be good this weekend,” said Villopoto. “We (Pourcel) always joke around and have a good relationship. It’s fun to be around him, but we are competitors. He was fast at Anaheim 1 and fast in Phoenix.”
Ironically, Pourcel has a contract to race in Europe where he will defend his MX2 World Championship. The original plan from Kawasaki was to have him enter the west region AMA Supercross Lites competition on a part-time basis.
“I am going to decide what I am going to do after the Anaheim 3 race,” said Pourcel. “I didn’t really think about winning races this year.”
This weekend will mark the 23rd time that the Amp’d Mobile Supercross will pack Angel Stadium as the world’s best supercross riders will compete for the number-one position.
This year’s AMA Supercross class features its deepest field of competition ever. Last year’s AMA Supercross Lites champions Langston and Millsaps will race the premier AMA Supercross class this year along with Ivan Tedesco, Tim Ferry, David Vuillemin, Travis Preston, Nick Wey and Kevin Windham.
Amp’d Mobile Supercross, which made its racing début in Anaheim on December 4, 1976, brings a multi-million dollar economic impact to the city for each race, where fans from around the world converge to watch the world’s top racers compete in the storied city. Carmichael is tied at eight with seven-time supercross champion Jeremy McGrath for the all-time win record in Anaheim.
Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP Season Standings
1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 92
2. Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 91
3. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha, 85
4. Timmy Ferry, Largo, Fla., 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, Kawasaki, 39
10. Paul Carpenter, Ithaca, N.Y., Kawasaki, 38
Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series Event Results, Phoenix
1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki
2. Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki
3. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha
4. Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Honda
5. Timmy Ferry, Largo, Fla., 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
Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series Season Standings
1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., 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., Kawasaki, 32
6. Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga., Suzuki, 26
7. Nicholas Wey, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 26
8. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda, 25
9. Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Honda, 24
10. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 21
Amp’d Mobile Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Event Results, Phoenix
1. Christophe Pourcel, France, Kawasaki
2. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
3. Christopher Gosselaar, Victorville, Calif., Kawasaki
4. Matthew Lemoine, Pilot Point, Texas, Yamaha
5. Steve Boniface, Corona, Calif., 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
Amp’d Mobile Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Season Standings
1. Christophe Pourcel, France, Kawasaki, 47
2. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 47
3. Christopher Gosselaar, Victorville, Calif., 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., Kawasaki, 26
8. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Honda, 23
9. Troy Adams, Homosassa, Fla., Suzuki, 23
10. Kyle Cunningham, Springtown, Texas, 20
KTM Junior Supercross Challenge
1. Logan Chambers, Parker, Ariz., KTM
2. Kyle Sullenbarger, Riverside, Calif., KTM
3. Tyler Dudderth, Mesquite, Texas, KTM
4. Carson Clower, Romana, Calif., KTM
5. Austin Zambach, Peoria, Ariz., KTM
6. Blaise Murray, Perris, Calif., KTM
7. Zachary Bright, Valley Center, Kan., KTM
8. Joey Roe, El Paso, Texas, KTM
9. Matthew Bryant, Mesa, Ariz., KTM
10. Luke Ellis, Costa Mesa, Calif., KTM
11. Brock Everist, Paulden, Ariz., KTM
12. Peyton Ballard, Vista, Calif., KTM
13. Ashley Gyory, Chandler, Ariz., KTM
14. Joshua Cobb, Phoenix, Ariz., KTM
15. Ryan Carlson, Scottsdale, Ariz., KTM
Past winners in Anaheim
AMA Supercross
January 6, 2007: James Stewart
January 07, 2006: James Stewart
January 21, 2006: Ricky Carmichael
February 04, 2006: Ricky Carmichael
January 8, 2005 Kevin Windham
January 22, 2005 Ricky Carmichael
February 5, 2005 Ricky Carmichael
January 3, 2004 Chad Reed
January 17, 2004 Chad Reed
January 31, 2004 Kevin Windham
January 04, 2003: Chad Reed
January 18, 2003: Ricky Carmichael
February 01, 2003: Ricky Carmichael
January 05, 2002: David Vuillemin
January 19, 2002: Mike LaRocco
February 02, 2002: Ricky Carmichael
January 06, 2001: Jeremy McGrath
January 20, 2001: Jeremy McGrath
February 03, 2001: Ricky Carmichael
January 8, 2000: Jeremy McGrath
January 15, 2000: Jeremy McGrath
January 09, 1999: Ezra Lusk
February 06, 1999: Ezra Lusk
January 27, 1996: Jeremy McGrath
January 28, 1995: Jeremy McGrath
January 29, 1994: Jeremy McGrath
January 23, 1993: Jeremy McGrath
January 25, 1992: Damon Bradshaw
January 26, 1991: Jeff Stanton
January 27, 1990: Damon Bradshaw
January 28, 1989: Rick Johnson
January 31, 1987: Jeff Ward
January 18, 1986: David Bailey
February 02, 1985: Broc Glover
January 28, 1984: Johnny O’Mara
January 29, 1983: David Bailey
January 30, 1982: Donnie Hansen
January 31, 1981: Kent Howerton
November 17, 1979: Kent Howerton
November 11, 1978: Gaylon Mosier
November 12, 1977: Bob Hannah
December 04, 1976: Marty Smith
AMA Supercross Lites
January 06, 2007: Ryan Villopoto
January 07, 2006: Andrew Short
January 21, 2006: Grant Langston
February 04, 2006: Grant Langston
January 8, 2005 Nathan Ramsey
January 22, 2005 Ivan Tedesco
February 5, 2005 Ivan Tedesco
January 3, 2004 Ivan Tedesco
January 17, 2004 Ivan Tedesco
January 31, 2004 Ivan Tedesco
January 04, 2003: Travis Preston
January 18, 2003: James Stewart Jr.
February 01, 2003: James Stewart Jr.
January 05, 2002: Travis Preston
January 19, 2002: David Pingree
February 02, 2002: Brock Sellards
January 06, 2001: Ernesto Fonseca
January 20, 2001: Ernesto Fonseca
February 03, 2001: Ernesto Fonseca
January 8, 2000: David Pingree
January 15, 2000: Tallon Vohland
January 09, 1999: Casey Johnson
February 06, 1999: Nathan Ramsey
January 27, 1996: Kevin Windham
January 28, 1995: Damon Huffman
January 29, 1994: Damon Huffman
January 09, 1993: Damon Huffman
January 25, 1992: Jeremy McGrath
January 26, 1991: Jeremy McGrath
January 27, 1990: Michael Craig
January 28, 1989: Jeff Matiasevich
January 31, 1987: Jeff Matiasevich
January 18, 1986: Tyson Vohland
February 02, 1985: Mike Healy