Sign of the (Lap) Times: Houston
AMA Supercross
Since James Stewart’s departure, San Manuel Yamaha’s Chad Reed has been the fastest rider on the track at every round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross tour from Anaheim 2 on. Although Kevin Windham was able to top him in practice this past weekend in Houston, Reed still managed to log the fastest lap time of the night, which came on lap four of the 20-lap main event. Windham wasn’t that far off of Reed’s best lap, and his 46.890 came on lap seven. Yamaha factory rider Josh Hill had the next best time—a 47.302—which came on lap five. Check out the rest of the fastest lap times below:
|
Finish
|
Best Lap Time
|
Rider
|
Bike
|
|
2
|
46.794 |
Yamaha
|
|
|
1
|
46.890 |
Honda
|
|
|
4
|
47.302 |
Yamaha
|
|
|
5
|
47.468 |
Honda
|
|
|
3
|
47.509 |
Kawasaki
|
|
|
8
|
48.220 |
Honda
|
|
|
6
|
48.664 |
Yamaha
|
|
|
19
|
49.002 |
Yamaha
|
|
|
7
|
49.229 |
Yamaha
|
|
|
9
|
49.954 |
KTM
|
|
|
11
|
50.767 |
Honda
|
|
|
12
|
50.783 |
Honda
|
|
|
10
|
50.795 |
David Vuillemin
|
Suzuki
|
|
13
|
50.914 |
Kawasaki
|
|
|
20
|
50.941 |
Kawasaki
|
|
|
15
|
51.203 |
Honda
|
|
|
14
|
51.448 |
Honda
|
|
|
18
|
51.578 |
Honda
|
|
|
17
|
51.682 |
Bryan Johnson
|
Honda
|
|
16
|
51.735 |
Dusty Klatt
|
Kawasaki
|
Nate Ramsey had a season-best sixth place in Houston.
Biggest Surprise: Let’s give some credit to Chad Reed’s teammate, Nathan Ramsey, who is quietly putting in a very solid and consistent season aboard his San Manuel Yamaha. Ramsey finished sixth in Houston, the best finish of his 2008 campaign, and is sixth in points. Keep it up, Nate Dogg.
Supercross Lites
The three-race win streak for Boost Mobile/Yamaha of Troy’s Jason Lawrence came to a halt Saturday night at the hand of Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Austin Stroupe, who grabbed his first-ever professional victory, as well as the first on the season for Mitch Payton’s team. Regardless, it appeared that Lawrence may have just been playing it safe, protecting his points lead after Ryan Dungey crashed out of the lead on lap 2. Lawrence still posted the fastest main event time (48.246), followed closely by Stroupe (48.350). Phoenix winner Jake Weimer was back on form, as he ran a 48.609, pointing his Torco Racing Fuels Honda to a podium finish. As for Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, he had the fourth-fastest time—coming on lap 10—and finished fourth. Check out all the top lap times below.
|
Finish
|
Best Lap Time
|
Rider
|
Bike
|
|
2
|
48.246 |
Yamaha
|
|
|
1
|
48.350 |
Kawasaki
|
|
|
3
|
48.609 |
Honda
|
|
|
4
|
48.726 |
Suzuki
|
|
|
5
|
48.788 |
Kawasaki
|
|
|
13
|
49.581 |
KTM
|
|
|
12
|
49.954 |
Tom Hahn
|
Kawasaki
|
|
21
|
50.134 |
Zach Osborne
|
Yamaha
|
|
11
|
50.337 |
Honda
|
|
|
6
|
50.391 |
Honda
|
|
|
10
|
50.589 |
Yamaha
|
|
|
9
|
50.794 |
Michael LaPaglia
|
Suzuki
|
|
8
|
50.812 |
Yamaha
|
|
|
7
|
51.063 |
Honda
|
|
|
15
|
51.566 |
Suzuki
|
|
|
16
|
51.877 |
Jeff Northrop
|
Honda
|
|
18
|
51.929 |
Brad Graham
|
KTM
|
|
17
|
51.976 |
Suzuki
|
|
|
20
|
52.139 |
Honda
|
|
|
22
|
52.215 |
Davide Esposti
|
Suzuki
|
|
14
|
52.298 |
Michael Blose
|
Suzuki
|
|
19
|
52.605 |
Brady Sheren
|
Suzuki
|
Zach Osborne
Biggest Surprise: In only his second race back after suffering a shoulder injury, Boost Mobile/Yamaha of Troy’s Zach Osborne is laying down some pretty impressive lap times. He had the eighth quickest time in Houston, less than two seconds slower than that of his teammate, Lawrence. If he can keep it together for 15 laps in Seattle, Osborne could contend for a podium position.
