San Francisco SX Preview
Carmichael Makes Final Appearance at AT&T Park
AURORA, Ill. (January 23, 2007) – Amp’d Mobile Supercross, the world’s premier indoor off-road motorcycle racing series, returns to San Francisco’s AT&T Park this Saturday, January 27, 2007. Kawasaki superstar James Stewart enters the race with a three-race win streak after picking up a huge win at the second of three Anaheim races last weekend.
“I love racing with Ricky (Carmichael), and I can’t wait to race him this weekend,” said Stewart. “Once I was out front, I was making up a lot of time, and rode a great race. The only goal I have this year is to put myself in a position to win the championship. As long as I keep doing the work that I do during the week, I should be fine. I never have any doubt in my mind that I can do something, and that has carried my through the season.”
A pre-race press conference will be held at AT&T Park Thursday, January 25, from Noon-2:00, featuring KTM’s Josh Hansen, San Manuel Yamaha’s Chad Reed and Nathan Ramsey along with MDK Motorsport’s Nick Wey and David Vuillemin. The riders will be available for the media and will ride a pre-produced, two lanes of the track with exciting elements of Saturday night’s show, including the ‘triple jump’ that sends riders some 70’ in distance and three stories high. For additional media opportunities, please contact dennyhartwig@livenation.com.
Last weekend in Anaheim, Stewart led all 20 laps in the AMA Supercross class main event at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif. Yamaha’s Chad Reed, who is still riding on the mend from a shoulder injury, finished in second place. Honda’s Nick Wey scored his first podium finish of the season, the second of his career, with a third-place finish.
“With Ricky (Carmichael) being gone, it gives us more hope to get on the podium,” said Wey. This is a stepping stone for me, and I am looking to improve.”
“My injury is getting better,” said Reed. “I need to work on my breathing and try and turn it around this year. We all know James (Stewart) is riding great, but I need to get healthy and bring it when I come to the race track. I was excited to race this weekend, and I hope I can bring that same attitude next weekend in San Francisco.”
Teenage sensation Ryan Villopoto, 18, of Poulsbo, Wash., picked up his second win of the season in AMA Supercross Lites competition. The win moved Villopoto into a substantial points lead (72-55) over Yamaha’s Jason Lawrence, of Carlsbad, Calif. Villopoto’s teammate, Christophe Pourcel, came into last week’s race atop the standings, but finished in 19th place, dropping him fourth place overall.
“All of the riders are riding well,” said Villopoto. “It’s up to me to win the championship now. I know that the starts are important, and that is what I have to work on. My teammate Christophe (Pourcel) was riding with an injury tonight, so I know he is not happy with his results.”
Suzuki’s Ricky Carmichael, who is racing a select schedule this year, skipped last weekend’s race but is returning this weekend to make his final appearance in San Francisco. Carmichael, who is pursuing a career in stock race racing, won the San Francisco main event in ’03 & ’05. The 15-time AMA National champion won the Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP main event in Vancouver back in December and finished second at Anaheim 1 and Phoenix respectively.
More than 500 truckloads of dirt will be brought into AT&T Park to sculpt Saturday night’s proving grounds as the world’s top supercross racers take over the San Francisco Giants’ playing field and Yamaha ace Chad Reed will pull out all of the stops in pursuit of victory this weekend.
Last year Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., earned his fourth win of the season on the drenched field at AT&T Park. Yet, more than 37,000 fans packed the stadium – despite less-than-favorable conditions – to take in the fourth-annual race at the facility. Stewart became the first racer at AT&T Park to win the AMA Supercross and AMA Supercross Lites classes. If Stewart wins this weekend, he will tie Carmichael on the all-time win list at AT&T Park with two wins.
In the AMA Supercross Lites class last year, Ramsey picked up his second win of the season in San Francisco and moved into the points lead for the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites division. Despite his two wins on the season, Ramsey went on to finish fourth in the standings.
Supercross made its début at the facility back on January 23, 2003 when Ricky Carmichael won the AMA Supercross class and Stewart won the AMA Supercross Lites class. Carmichael holds the record for the most wins at AT&T Park with two.
Tickets are available at www.supercrossonline.com, the AT&T Park box office, Giants’ Dug Out Stores, participating Yamaha dealerships and all Tickets.com outlets. Club Level seats are $60; Trackside Seats are $45 for adults and $10 for kids; Upper Deck Seats are $30 for adults and $10 for kids. All seats are $2 more on the day of the race. Practice and qualifying begin at 12:30 and racing begins at 7:00 p.m. The pit party will be open from 12:30-5:30 p.m., and pit passes will be available at East Bay Motorsports in Hayward.
Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP Season Standings
James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 117
Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha, 107
Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 91
Timmy Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki, 84
Nicholas Wey, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 74
David Vuillemin, Menifee, Calif., Honda, 64
Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Honda, 56
Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Honda, 55
Paul Carpenter, Ithaca, N.Y., Kawasaki, 53
Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga., Suzuki, 51
Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series Event Results, Anaheim 2
James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki
Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha
Nick Wey, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
Timmy Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki
Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga., Suzuki
Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda
Paul Carpenter, Ithaca, N.Y. Kawasaki
Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
Josh Summey, Stanley, N.C., Honda
Nathan Ramsey, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha
Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series Season Standings
James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 75
Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha, 60
Timmy Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki, 50
Nicholas Wey, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 46
Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 44
Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga., Suzuki, 42
Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda, 40
Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Honda, 36
Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 34
Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Honda, 32
Amp’d Mobile Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Event Results, Anaheim 2
1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
2. Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha
3. Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha
4. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Honda
5. Christopher Gosselaar, Victorville, Calif., Kawasaki
6. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Honda
7. Steve Boniface, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki
8. Troy Adams, Homosassa, Fla., Kawasaki
9. Kyle Partridge, Las Vegas, Nev., Honda
10. Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., KTM
Amp’d Mobile Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Season Standings
Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 72
Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha, 55
Christopher Gosselaar, Victorville, Calif., Kawasaki, 49
Christophe Pourcel, France, Kawasaki, 47
Matthew Lemoine, Pilot Point, Texas, Yamaha, 42
Steve Boniface, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki, 40
Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Honda, 38
Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha, 36
Troy Adams, Homosassa, Fla., Suzuki, 36
Josh Hansen, Lake Elsinore, Calif., KTM, 33
Past Winners in San Francisco
AMA Supercross Class
January 28, 2006: James Stewart
January 29, 2005: Ricky Carmichael
January 7, 2004: Chad Reed
January 25, 2003: Ricky Carmichael
AMA Supercross Lites Class
January 28, 2006: Nathan Ramsey
January 29, 2005: Billy Laninovich
January 24, 2004: Nathan Ramsey
January 25, 2003: James M. Stewart