Monster Energy Kawasaki Sweeps Daytona Speedway SX

March 12, 2007, 5:22am

DAYTONA (March 10, 2007) – Monster Energy Kawasaki rider James Stewart and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Ben Townley took back to back wins in the AMA Supercross and AMA Supercross Lites classes at the Daytona International Speedway. Teammate Timmy Ferry rode an impressive race and finished fourth.

Stewart, who did not post the fastest lap time in practice, took the field by surprise with an untouchable heat race win. He continued the momentum into the main event, leading every lap of the 20-lap race before taking home his first ever win in Daytona.

“It felt good to come back and take the win after last year when I crashed leading the race,” said Stewart. “I was struggling all day in practice. We kept modifying the bike since the track was like an outdoor and it was hard to get a set-up since we have been racing supercross.”

He added, “The first few laps of the main, I rode around trying to get a rhythm and seeing if I could flow. I think it was on lap 11, I put my fastest lap in and it started to click from there. My lines got better and I was able to limit my mistakes.”

With the win in Daytona, Stewart stretched his points lead in the AMA Supercross standings to 24, which is just one point shy of the total points awarded for one main event win. Stewart is now in great position for the championship. Teammate Timmy Ferry also stretched his third place points lead in the AMA Supercross standings to 14 after a great ride on his Kawasaki KX™450F.

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Townley showed Florida that he’s no fluke; he’s here to stay and ready to win. After a rough qualifying heat where he worked his way through the pack, Townley got a great start in the main and sailed to victory lane in the Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites division.

“I am not sure if I got the feeling from last weekend. To win again now, it’s awesome,” said Townley. I am not too worried about points or anything right now. I am just trying to take it race by race now and that seems to be working.

He added, “Next weekend it will be no different. It’s a big learning curve right now and people seem to forget it’s only my third supercross and I am still learning a lot.”

Teammate Lange put in a strong sixth-place finish on one of the most grueling tracks of the year and now sits four points behind the leader after three of seven rounds. Townley, with two wins under his belt, is now a big contender for the Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites title sitting a mere two points behind teammate Lange.

MotoSport Kawasaki’s Bobby Kiniry finished 13th in the AMA Supercross Lites main event and teammate Matt Boni finished right behind in 14th.

Cernic’s Kawasaki riders Jeff Gibson and Paul Carpenter put in solid rides in the last chance qualifier, but were unable to make it into qualifying position for the AMA Supercross main event.

Amp’d Mobile Supercross
Daytona International Speedway
March 9, 2007

AMA Supercross Series
1. JAMES STEWART, HAINES CITY, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI
2. Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki
3. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha
4. TIMMY FERRY, LARGO, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI
5. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda
6. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
7. Grant Langston, Clarmont, Fla., Yamaha
8. David Vuillemin, Menifee, Calif., Honda
9. David Millsaps, Cairo, Ga., Honda
10. Joshua Summey, Stanley, Nc., Honda

Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites
1. BEN TOWNLEY, TALLAHASSEE, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI
2. Thomas Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda
3. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM
4. Billy Laninovich, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda
5. Ryan Morais, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha
6. DARCY LANGE, HEMET, CALIF., MONSTER ENERGY/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI
7. Jeff Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM
8. Branden Jesseman, New Brighton, Pa., Yamaha
9. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ken., Honda
10. Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha

World Supercross GP Season Standings
1. JAMES STEWART, HAINES CITY, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 254
2. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha, 236
3. TIMMY FERRY, LARGO, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 186
4. Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 163
5. David Vuillemin, Menifee, Calif., Honda, 144
6. Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Honda, 137
7. Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga., Suzuki, 127
8. Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Honda, 122
9. PAUL CARPENTER, ITHACA, N.Y., CERNIC’S KAWASAKI, 119
10. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 112

AMA Supercross Series Season Standings
1. JAMES STEWART, HAINES CITY, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 235
2. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha, 211
3. TIMMY FERRY, LARGO, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 167
4. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda, 153
5. Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 138
6. Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga., Suzuki, 123
7. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 118
8. Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Honda, 117
9. David Vuillemin, Menifee, Calif., Honda, 114
10. Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Honda, 98

Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Season Standings
1. Ryan Morais, Temecula, Calif., Suzuki, 56
2. DARCY LANGE, HEMET, CALIF., MONSTER ENERGY/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI, 52
3. BEN TOWNLEY, TALLAHASSEE, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI, 50
4. Matt Goerke, Lake Helen, Fla., Yamaha, 49
5. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM, 38
6. Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha, 37
7. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ken., Honda, 37
8. Jeff Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM, 36
9. Billy Laninovich, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda, 34
10. Branden Jesseman, New Brighton, Pa., Yamaha, 29