Monster Energy’s Grant Langston Wins Freestone

September 5, 2007, 6:18am

Langston (Yamaha) extends his overall series points lead over Red Bull-backed rival Mike Alessi and factory Honda’s Andrew Short

CORONA, Calif., (Sept. 3, 2007) – Monster Energy’s Grant Langston (Yamaha) took another step towards securing the 2007 AMA Toyota Motocross Championship this past weekend by taking the overall victory at the inaugural Monster Energy/Tetco Freestone MX National in Wortham, Texas.

Langston highlighted a consistent yet excitingly fast weekend with a 1st place effort in the second moto to seal the overall win. In doing so Langston dispatched of rival Mike Alessi on the third lap, then two laps later passed the fastest (time-wise) racer of the weekend, Andrew Short, and took charge of the race from lap five on through the checkers – winning by more than eight seconds to take the 2-1 overall event win.

“It’s all coming down to Glen Helen this weekend,” said Langston. “And I’m sure the Corona-based Monster Army will be out in force, pulling for all the Monster guys. I’ve been in a similar situation as this back in 2001 at Steel City, so I’m looking forward to having that added support as it’s going to be an intense two motos.”

The Steel City event Langston alluded to was when he ended up losing the overall 125 title to Mike Brown in the last moto of the season – one of the most exciting endings to an AMA motocross championship in recent years. Langston would avenge that loss in 2003, winning the overall 125 class title and making him the first (and only) rider to win both an FIM World GP title and AMA 125 class title.

Heading into this weekend’s Glen Helen National Langston holds an eight-point lead over Short, with a 13-point edge on Monster Energy/ Kawasaki’s Tim Ferry and a 15-point lead over Alessi.

Next up for the Monster Energy’s Langston is the finals of the 2007 AMA Toyota Motocross Championship at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, Calif. (Sept. 9th).