Monster Energy Kawasaki Riders Score at RedBud

July 2, 2007, 4:38pm

BUCHANAN, Mich. (July 1, 2007) – Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Ryan Villopoto earned the victory in the AMA Motocross Lites class at the Monster Energy/Kawasaki Red Bud National, while teammate Ben Townley took home the second position. Monster Energy Kawasaki rider James Stewart earned the runner-up position in the AMA Motocross division.

In the AMA Motocross Lites division at Red Bud Track N Trail, Villopoto and teammate Townley laid down two impressive motos on their Kawasaki KX™250F’s, battling for the duration of each race and ultimately sweeping the top two podium positions in both motos.

Villopoto captured the win in the first moto after a great start, but the second moto did not come as easy as Townley led the first half of the race. Townley led for seven intense laps until Villopoto was finally able to put in a solid pass for the moto number two win.

“In the second moto, I felt like I could have made the pass a couple of times right before ‘LaRocco’s leap,’ but we came really close to hitting each other, and I didn’t want to force it,” said Villopoto. Fortunately, I found a really tight turn on the other side of the track and I was able to make it happen there.”

He added, “It just feels really good to get another 1-1 finish and it helps out everything, points and championship wise.”

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki teammate Chris Gosselaar rode to a solid 9th place overall.

In the AMA Motocross class, Stewart put his Kawasaki KX™450F atop the podium with an impressive first moto win. In moto two, he engaged in a heated battle with Ricky Carmichael before crashing in a slow turn with a lap and a half to go. Stewart finished the moto in second-place and earned second overall for the weekend (1-2).

“I thought the weekend was an A+,” said Stewart. “And with the way I rode today, I felt like I should have won both motos. Considering this is one of his (Carmichael’s) favorite tracks, I thought it was definitely going to be tough to beat him. I got one moto and almost had another, so I am happy.”

Teammate Timmy Ferry rode two strong motos going 4-4 for a fourth-place overall, which boosts him back into third-place in the AMA Motocross point standings.

MotoSport Kawasaki's Kyle Chisholm put in a solid 10th-place overall finish in the AMA Motocross Lites class while teammate Bobby Kiniry finished two slots behind in the 12th position. Matt Boni and Steve Boniface finished in the 22nd and 37th positions, respectively.

The teams head to New Berlin, NY., on July 14-15 for the sixth round of the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Series.

RACE RESULTS

AMA Motocross Championship Series
Monster Energy Kawasaki Red Bud National
Red Bud Track N Trail – Buchanan, Mich.
July 1, 2007

AMA Motocross (Moto Finishes)
1. Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 2-1
2. JAMES STEWART, HAINES CITY, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 1-2
3. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM, 3-3
4. TIMMY FERRY, LARGO, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 4-4
5. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 6-5
6. Grant Langston, Clermont, Fla., Yamaha, 5-7
7. Jeff Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM, 7-8
8. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda, 10-6
9. David Vuillemin, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 8-11
10. Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga., Suzuki, 11-10

AMA Motocross Class Point Standings
1. Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 241
2. JAMES STEWART, HAINES CITY, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 225
3. TIMMY FERRY, LARGO, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI, 163
4. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 160
5. Grant Langston, Clermont, Fla., Yamaha, 159
6. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM, 147
7. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda, 132
8. David Vuillemin, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 110
9. Davi Millsaps, Cairo, Ga., Honda, 102
10. Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga., Suzuki, 100

AMA Motocross Lites (Moto Finishes)
1. RYAN VILLOPOTO, POULSBO, WASH., MONSTER ENERGY/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI, 1-1
2. BEN TOWNLEY, TALLAHASSEE, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI, 2-2
3. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Honda, 4-3
4. Jason Lawrence, Murrieta, Ga., Yamaha, 3-6
5. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Honda, 7-4
6. Thomas Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda, 5-7
7. Ryan Morais, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha, 8-9
8. Andrew Mcfarlane, Newport Beach, Calif., 13-5
9. CHRISTOPHER GOSSELAAR, VICTORVILLE, CALIF., MONSTER ENERGY/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI, 10-11
10. KYLE CHISHOLM, SEMINOLE, FLA., MOTOSPORT KAWASAKI, 9-15

AMA Motocross Lites Point Standings
1. RYAN VILLOPOTO, POULSBO, WASH., MONSTER ENERGY/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI, 238
2. BEN TOWNLEY, TALLAHASSEE, FLA., MONSTER ENERGY/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI, 218
3. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Honda, 184
4. Jason Lawrence, Murrieta, Ga., Yamaha, 176
5. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 150
6. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Honda, 110
7. Joshua Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha, 105
8. Thomas Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda, 104
9. Broc Tickle, Cary, N.C., Yamaha, 86
10. KYLE CHISHOLM, SEMINOLE, FLA., MOTOSPORT KAWASAKI, 64