Reed Changes Momentum in Amp’d Mobile SX
Carmichael Returns to Atlanta; Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Opens
AURORA, Ill. (February 20, 2007) – Yamaha’s Chad Reed struck back with a huge win last weekend when Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP/Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series packed San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium, setting the stage for another exciting weekend of racing at Atlanta’s Georgia Dome this Saturday. While the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites championship head into an eight-week break, the stars of the Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites take to this track this weekend for the opening round of their championship.
“You know, when you know you can win when you put yourself in great positions,” said Reed. “My performance last weekend was pathetic, and we just wanted to bounce back and ride strong. I can’t say enough for all my team – their being there every week.”
Kawasaki’s James Stewart, 21, of Haines City Fla., will be the featured rider at the media day, Thursday, February 22, from Noon-2:00. Stewart is the reigning Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP champion and current points leader for the world and domestic championships. Joining Stewart is his teammate Timmy Ferry, 31, of Dade City, Fla., who currently sits in third place in the overall standings.
En route to winning the main event in San Diego, Reed procured the lead by the end of lap one before Stewart passed him on lap three. On lap eight Stewart crashed over the finish-line jump, allowing Reed to move into the lead and cruise to his first victory since the opening stop of Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP at Toronto’s Rogers Centre (12/2/06). Stewart’s crash set him back to eighth place, and then he staged a comeback to finish in fifth.
Since turning pro in 1991, Kawasaki rider Tim Ferry is enjoying the best season of his career. Ferry, who has three podium finishes and has not finished outside the top five in nine races this year, turned in his best performance of the year, finishing second.
“I knew I could do it,” said Ferry. “I can’t believe this is actually happening. I finished around 10th last year, and I was totally happy at that point.”
Honda’s Kevin Windham, of Centerville, Miss., also finished a season-best third place in San Diego.
“I’ll tell you what, tonight it feels great to be up here on the podium,” said an excited Windham from the podium in San Diego. ”I was hearing the crowd cheering and it sounded like an exciting race. I hated to see James go down but I’m just stoked to be riding a lot better.”
Returning to the starting line-up this weekend at Atlanta’s Georgia Dome is 15-time AMA National Champion Ricky Carmichael, who is racing a select schedule as he transitions into a career in stock car racing. The reigning Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross champion, Carmichael has competed in five races this year, yielding two wins (Vancouver/San Francisco) and three second place finishes.
With one race remaining on the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites championship, Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto picked up six wins on his way to clinching the championship last weekend in San Diego. The Poulsbo, Wash., native adds this championship to is collection that also includes the AMA Motocross Lites National Championship.
Comprised of two divisions, Eastern and Western, the AMA Supercross Lites opens its Eastern Regional championship this weekend. Last year’s Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites champion Davi Millsaps, of Cairo, Ga., moved up to the AMA Supercross class this year but has remained sidelined due to an injury.
Notable riders competing in the eastern region are: Yamaha’s Broc Hepler, Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, KTM’s Mike and Jeff Alessi, Honda’s Billy Laninovich and Kawasaki’s Ben Townley and Brett Metcalfe. Hepler and Metcalfe are nursing injuries and doubtful for the opener in Atlanta.
Last year, before an all-time record 70,133 fans at the Georgia Dome, Carmichael picked up his fourth career victory in Atlanta. On lap 11, Carmichael shot past Yamaha’s Chad Reed and held on for the win. The huge crowd set a record for the 28 years of supercross racing in Atlanta. In the AMA Supercross Lites class Honda’s Josh Grant picked up his first win of the season ahead of rival Millsaps.
Carmichael’s win in last year’s AMA Supercross main event tied him with Jeremy McGrath on the all-time supercross win list in Atlanta with five. Although Carmichael will only be racing a limited schedule in 2007, he could move ahead of McGrath on that win list. In the AMA Supercross Lites class, Carmichael is tied with Brian Swink with two on the all-time win list in Atlanta
The first AMA Supercross race ever held in Atlanta was March 5, 1977, and Bob Hannah won on a Yamaha. On February 22, 1986 Honda rider Keith Turpin won the first-ever AMA Supercross Lites main event.
This weekend AMA Supercross race will air on SPEED, Sunday, February 25, at 6:00 p.m. EST. The AMA Supercross Lites class race will air on SPEED Saturday, March 3 at 6:00 p.m. EST. The next round of Amp’d Mobile Supercross takes place on Saturday, March 3, at St. Louis’ Edward Jones Dome.
Tickets are available at www.supercrossonline.com, participating Yamaha dealerships, the Georgia Dome Box Office or charge by phone at 404-249-6400. Gold Level Seats are $45; Mid Level Seats are $35; Treadhead Seats are $10. All tickets are $2 more on the day of the race.
Past Winners in Atlanta
AMA Supercross Class
February 25, 2006: Ricky Carmichael
February 26, 2005: Ricky Carmichael
February 28, 2004: Chad Reed
February 22, 2003: Ricky Carmichael
February 23, 2002: Ricky Carmichael
February 24, 2001: Ricky Carmichael
February 26, 2000: Jeremy McGrath
February 20, 1999: Jeremy McGrath
February 21, 1998: Jeremy McGrath
February 22, 1997: Damon Huffman
February 24, 1996: Jeremy McGrath
February 25, 1995: Mike LaRocco
February 26, 1994: Jeremy McGrath
February 20, 1993: Damon Bradshaw
February 22, 1992: Damon Bradshaw
February 23, 1991: Damon Bradshaw
February 24, 1990: Jeff Ward
February 25, 1989: Jeff Stanton
February 22, 1986: Rick Johnson
February 23, 1985: Mark Barnett
February 25, 1984: Johnny O’ Mara
March 05, 1983: Mark Barnett
February 27, 1982: Bob Hannah
February 28, 1981: Mark Barnett
March 01, 1980: Chuck Sun
March 03, 1979: Bob Hannah
March 04, 1978: Marty Tripes
March 05, 1977: Bob Hannah
AMA Supercross Lites Class
February 25, 2006: Josh Grant
February 26, 2005: Grant Langston
February 28, 2004: James Stewart
February 22, 2003: Brock Sellards
February 23, 2002: Chad Reed
February 24, 2001: Nathan Ramsey
February 26, 2000: Stephane Roncada
February 20, 1999: Ernesto Fonseca
February 21, 1998: Ricky Carmichael
February 22, 1997: Ricky Carmichael
February 24, 1996: John Dowd
February 25, 1995: Mickael Pichon
February 26, 1994: Ezra Lusk
February 20, 1993: Doug Henry
February 22, 1992: Brian Swink
February 23, 1991: Brian Swink
February 24, 1990: Denny Stephenson
February 25, 1989: Damon Bradshaw
February 22, 1986: Keith Turpin
Current Points Standings
KTM Junior Supercross Challenge, San Diego
Tristan Miller, Alpine, Calif., KTM
Isaias Solis, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
Chaz Vasquez, Mira Loma, Calif., KTM
Zachary Vogt, Chula Vista, Calif., KTM
Preston Cicogni, Buckeye, Ariz., KTM
Seth Duckett, El Cajon, Calif., KTM
AJ Van Bogaert, Tucson, Ariz., KTM
Abby Nuemann, Nipomo, Calif., KTM
Nicholas Balint, Keller, Texas, KTM
Ray Romine, San Jose, Calif., KTM
Jonathan Kurzeja, Downers Grove, Ill., KTM
Carrie Killebrew, Surprise, Ariz., KTM
Sethan Hamm, Apple Valley, Calif., KTM
Spencer Maly, Santa Maria, Calif., KTM
Nathan Dean, Laguna Niguel, Calif., KTM
Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP Season Standings
James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 207
Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha, 196
Timmy Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki, 164
Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 116
David Vuillemin, Menifee, Calif., Honda, 114
Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga., Suzuki, 112
Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Honda, 110
Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Honda, 110
Nicholas Wey, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 108
Paul Carpenter, Ithaca, N.Y., Kawasaki, 100
Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series Event Results, San Diego
Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha
Timmy Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki
Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda
Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki
Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga., Suzuki
Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Honda
Paul Carpenter, Ithaca, N.Y., Kawasaki
David Vuillemin, Menifee, Calif., Honda
Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Honda
Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series Season Standings
James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 163
Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha, 151
Timmy Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki, 132
Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda, 104
Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga., Suzuki, 103
Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Honda, 87
Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 84
Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Honda, 83
David Vuillemin, Menifee, Calif., Honda, 74
Paul Carpenter, Ithaca, N.Y., Kawasaki, 70
Amp’d Mobile Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Event Results, San Diego
Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha
Chris Gosselaar, Victorville, Calif., Kawasaki
Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha
Josh Hansen, Lake Elsinore, Calif., KTM
Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., KTM
Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Honda
Troy Adams, Homosassa, Fla., Suzuki
Michael LaPaglia, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
Kyle Cunningham, Springtown, Texas, Yamaha
Amp’d Mobile Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Season Standings
Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 172
Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha, 135
Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Honda, 103
Christopher Gosselaar, Victorville, Calif., Kawasaki, 97
Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Honda, 92
Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha, 88
Josh Hansen, Lake Elsinore, Calif., KTM, 87
Matthew Lemoine, Pilot Point, Texas, Yamaha, 86
Troy Adams, Homosassa, Fla., Suzuki, 71
Kyle Cunningham, Springtown, Texas, Yamaha, 66
For more information about the Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP/Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series, please log on to www.supercrossonline.com.