Seattle SX Notes: Part 2

AURORA, Ill. (April 27, 2007) – The Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP/Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series titles can be clinched this tomorrow evening at Seattle’s Qwest Field. Kawasaki’s James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., brings a 36-point lead in the Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP and a 38-point lead in the Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series.

 

Stewart’s run at his first Amp’d Mobile Supercross Series championship and second Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP title this year is coming into focus as this weekend opens the opportunity to clinch with one race remaining. Heading into the weekend, Stewart has led 203 laps compared to Chad Reed’s 54, who sits in second place. The inconsistent approach that has plagued Stewart in years past appears to be gone. He could give Kawasaki their fourth title of the year this weekend.

 

After winning his eleventh main event of the supercross season in Detroit, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Stewart headed back home to Florida to prepare for the last two rounds of competition.

 

“We have a 38-point lead with two races left and I am feeling really comfortable," said Stewart. "If I go out there and just do my job like I have been doing every week, I think I should have no problems in Seattle. We just always have to keep it smart and keep it on two wheels. We are really close and there is not reason we can’t get it now.”

 

Although Qwest Stadium is notorious for being a muddy venue, Stewart is confident that rain or shine he can seal the deal this weekend in Seattle. 

 

“I have won every mud race in supercross, knock on wood,” he said. “And I consider myself good enough, maybe not the best, to be competitive and win races.”

 

Teammate Timmy Ferry, who won his heat race with a blistering pace in Detroit, is looking forward to Seattle to capture another podium finish as well as clinch third place in the final AMA Supercross and World GP standings.

 

“Seattle is going to be a really tricky race because the weather is always rainy, obviously,” said Ferry. “The last few years it’s been a wet race. Anything can happen there and anything can happen to anybody out there racing.”

 

He added, “I would definitely like to get third locked up, that’s going to be a great accomplishment for me this year, especially in supercross.” 

 

In the AMA Supercross Lites class, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto, after clinching the 2007 Western Regional AMA Supercross series earlier in the year, feels at ease going into Seattle.

 

“I can relax now that I won the championship, because when we go to Seattle it is probably going to be muddy,” said Villopoto. It’s a lot more risky racing in the mud, anything can happen.  “Getting it done in San Diego was a huge thing and now Seattle is just another race to win not a championship.” 

 

Speaking of laps led, the AMA Supercross Lites class leader and Western Regional AMA Supercross champion Ryan Villopoto owns 84 to Dungey’s 48 and Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites champion Townley’s 38. These two regions have been foreshadowing the pinnacle event of the year next weekend at Las Vegas’ Sam Boyd Stadium with the Dave Coombs Sr. East/West Shootout. Before the packed live event audience, the race will be delivered live to homes across the country on SPEED.

 

Teammate Chris Gosselaar, who currently sits fourth in the AMA Western Regional Supercross Lites standings, is looking forward to Seattle where he can finally race again at 100 percent again. While he did podium at the last round in San Diego, Gosselaar was still nursing a separated shoulder.

 

Earlier this year Yamaha’s Chad Reed won four consecutive $1,500 Progressive Direct Holeshot Awards, Atlanta, St. Louis, Orlando and Indianapolis. He sits atop the leader board for holeshot this year with six to injured rider Nick Wey’s three. Ironically, Stewart has only scooped up the $1,500 check from Progressive Direct at two races. Last weekend Stewart scored the second of his two holeshots in Detroit. “That fifteen hundred bucks is going to pay for my flight here, so I’m leaving here good,” said Stewart.”

 

Former Factory Yamaha rider David Vuillemin positioned himself to clinch top privateer honors this weekend, which includes $25,000 from the United States Smokeless Tobacco Company and a new trailer from Weekend Warrior. Vuillemin, who now rides for MDK Honda, is currently in sixth place for the Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP with his best finish of the year coming at Vancouver’s BC Place Stadium.

 

As Team Makita Suzuki Racing’s Ivan Tedesco heads toward the Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross at Qwest Field in Seattle, Wash., the former AMA Supercross Lites and AMA Motocross Lites Champion is excited about a strong finish to the 2007 race season.

 

“I need to get up on that podium,” said Tedesco.  “I know I can do it, I’m just having one of those years, I guess.  I’ve been on the ground way too much and I need to pull it together these last two and get the Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 up on the box and get some confidence going into the Outdoors.  I’ve felt really good during testing for the Outdoors, and I really feel like I could do something.”

 

Meanwhile, Makita Suzuki teammate Ryan Dungey finished out the AMA Supercross Lites East Coast season with a win last weekend in Detroit and will take some time off before the final round in Las Vegas.

 

“I learned a lot this year,” said Dungey of his rookie supercross season.  “I’ve learned to be a little more patient and to not get in over my head.  This year during the season I feel like I’ve matured a little bit, and mentally I feel like a better rider now.  I think better, and that’s what helped me out this year.  I hope we have a good season next year and in the Outdoors.”

 

For more information about the Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP/Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series, please log on to www.supercrossonline.com.  For media requests, please contact Denny Hartwig at 630-566-6305 or e-mail at dennyhartwig@livenation.com.