6 Pirelli Team Riders Make Phoenix Main Event

January 14, 2008, 10:39am

Rome, Ga. – Round Two of the Monster Energy Supercross proved to be another solid weekend for the team of Pirelli-backed riders at Phoenix’s Chase Field in front of 46,121 fans. Seven Pirelli riders made their way into the main event led by Antonio Balbi in the AMA Supercross class.

In the AMA Supercross class, MotoXXX/Tamer/Hooters/Honda’s Balbi, who came to the U.S. from Brazil and now resides in Riverside, Calif., finished 18th in the main event. He fought hard in the heat race to earn a ninth-place position in his qualifier, and is now 21st in the season point standings. Behind Balbi in the main event was his Pirelli teammate Jeff Gibson, who finished 19th after earning second place in the last chance qualifier. The Cernic’s Kawasaki rider is now in 22nd place in points.

SVM/ Bud Selct Honda’s Jeff Northrop, of Murrieta, Calif., repeated his performance last weekend in Anaheim with a 12th-place finish. Coming out of his qualifier in seventh place, Northrop transferred to the feature and now sits in 11th place in AMA Supercross Lites class point standings.

Also impressive in the AMA Supercross Lites class main event was Northrop’s SVM/ Bud Selct Honda teammate Eric McCrummen, of Oakley, Calif., who finished 13th overall. McCrummen is now in 13th place in season standings.

The Blose Brothers, Michael and Chris, appeared to follow one another throughout the night. First in the qualifiers, where Michael finished sixth and Chris finished seventh. Then in the main, Michael finished 16th and Chris finished 17th.

Pirelli-mounted Michael Willard, of Thornville, Ohio, won the Racer X Gas Card in the AMA Supercross Lites class, missing the main event by one position.

“I’m very happy with all of the Pirelli riders, but Antonio Balbi was very impressive on the slick and dry conditions at Chase Field,” said Pirelli MX Manager Josh Whitmire. “The Blose brothers stayed consistent, finishing 16th and 17th respectively. Northrop led the charge in the lites class with his second 12th-place finish of the season.”

AMA Supercross Class Results, Phoenix

1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki

2. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha

3. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda

4. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda

5. Ivan Tedesco, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda

6. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki

7. Nathan Ramsey, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha

8. Josh Hansen, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha

9. Charles Summey, Huntersville, N.C., Yamaha

10. Tim Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki

13. Eric McCrummen, Oakley, Calif., Honda, Pirelli

16. Michael Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Suzuki, Pirelli

17. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Suzuki, Pirelli

AMA Supercross Class Season Standings

1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 47

2. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha, 47

3. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda, 36

4. Tim Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki, 31

5. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 31

6. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki, 30

7. Nathan Ramsey, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha, 24

8. Ivan Tedesco, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 22

9. Davi Millsaps, Cairo, Ga., Honda, 21

10. Grant Langston, Clermont, Fla., Yamaha, 19

18. Eric Sorby, lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda, Pirelli, 9

21. Antonio Balbi, Riverside, Calif., Honda, Pirelli 3

22. Jeff Gibson, Blacklick, Ohio, Kawasaki, Pirelli, 3

Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Results, Phoenix

1. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Honda

2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki

3. Brett Metcalfe, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki

4. Broc Hepler, Kittanning, Pa., Yamaha

5. Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha

6. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM

7. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Yamaha

8. Dan Reardon, Murrieta, Calif., Honda

9. Kyle Cunningham, Fort Worth, Texas, Honda

10. Billy Laninovich, Fort Worth, Texas, KTM

12. Jeff Northrop, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, Pirelli

13. Eric McCrummen, Oakley, Calif., Honda, Pirelli

16. Michael Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Suzuki, Pirelli

17. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Suzuki, Pirelli

Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Season Standings

1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 47

2. Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha, 38

3. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 35

4. Dan Reardon, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 31

5. Broc Hepler, Kittanning, Pa., Yamaha, 28

6. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Honda, 25

7. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Yamaha, 25

8. Brett Metcalfe, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 22

9. Tommy Hahn, Alvord, Texas, Kawasaki, 22

10. Michael LaPaglia, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 18

11. Jeff Northrop, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, Pirelli, 18

14. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Suzuki, Pirelli, 16

17. Michael Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Suzuki, Pirelli, 12

19. Eric McCrummen, Oakley, Calif., Honda, Pirelli, 9

Pirelli Tire North America specializes in manufacturing and marketing high-performance tires for passenger vehicles, motorcycles, ATV’s and motorsports. An industry leader in technology and quality, Pirelli operates its highly advanced Modular Integrated Robotized System (MIRS) in Rome, Georgia, to better serve the American OEM and Replacement markets. For more information please visit: www.us.pirelli.com.