Spy Optic has Banner Evening in Atlanta
Spy’s Kevin Windham and Andrew Short both make premier SX class podium while rookie Trey Cannard wins his first-ever SX Lites class main event
CARLSBAD, Calif., (Feb. 25, 2008) – Are Spy Optic racers having one heck of a competition supercross season or what? This past Saturday night before 67,000 fans at Atlanta’s Georgia Dome, Round Eight of 2008 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, Spy Optic racers scored a double podium finish in the premier SX class with Kevin Windham (Torco/Honda) and Andrew Short (Honda) coming in 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
The podium for Short would be his first of the year. And if that wasn’t enough of an added highlight, the support race for the premier SX class – the Supercross Lites – was won by another Spy Optic- running racer, Torco/Honda rookie Trey Cannard!
“HUGE night of racing for Spy’s guys,” said Spy Optic spokesman Jeremy McGrath. “Atlanta’s got to be on of the biggest races of the year – especially if you’re going by the size of the crowd. So for K-dub, Short and Trey to step up like they did was unreal. Spy Optic’s success ratio in supercross has been unmatched this year and looks like it’s only going to get better.”
Windham and Short got things going early with a 1-2 finish in the 1st heat race. Windham was flat out FLYING as he topped Short by more than ten seconds. With good gate picks for the main, Short got the jump on Windham and was in 4th place after the first lap.
“I spun coming off the gate and didn’t get that great of a start,” said Windham.
Windham would begin his charge towards the front of the pack early, picking off a number of top riders and capitalizing off a Chad Reed crash. In 2nd place by lap seven, Windham would close on race leader Davi Millsaps, but wouldn’t be able to make up the time he lost as the start to his fellow Honda racer.
For Short there was some poetic justice in his first podium finish of the year as he and rival racer Tim Ferry would dice a bit – with Short winning that battle in Atlanta. “I wasn’t going very fast all day, but I dug deep and gave a little back (to Ferry),” said Short, who’s finished in the top five four-straight times now.
In the SX Lites class, the opening round of the Eastern Lites Supercross Series (ESX), Canard (Elk City, Okla.) sent a message home early that he was going to be a legit podium contender when he topped two-time defending SX Lites champion Ryan Villopoto by more than a second in the opening seeded pro practice session (52.338 to 53.546).
It should also be noted that Canard’s Spy Optic teammate, Josh Grant, topped Villopoto by a half second in the second pro practice session, 51.006 to 51.573.
Canard then came out and spanked everybody in his heat race, topping 2nd place Ryan Sipes by nearly two seconds for the win. And the momentum didn’t stop there as Canard pulled the $1,000 Progressive Insurance holeshot and led the entire 15-lap main event for his first career victory.
“I do not know what to say right now,” said the elated Canard from atop the podium. “I have waited my whole life for this and to get the win means so much to me.”
Grant, who collided twice with rival Villopoto in the main, would finish 7th overall.
Next up for the Spy Optic racers on the Monster Energy Supercross tour is the March 1st Indianapolis Supercross, Round Two of the ESX series.
About Spy
Spy Optic designs, develops and markets premium products for the action sports and youth lifestyle markets. Spy’s principal products, sunglasses and goggles, target the action sports market, including surfing, skateboarding, snowboarding, motocross, wakeboarding and skiing, and the youth lifestyle market within fashion, music, and entertainment. Spy’s innovative proprietary products utilize high- quality materials, handcrafted manufacturing processes and engineered optical lens technology to convey premium quality, contemporary style, and progressive design. Spy is a wholly owned subsidiary of Orange 21, Inc. (NASDAQ:ORNG). www.spyoptic.com
About Crown Athlete Management Group
Crown Athlete Management Group is the most comprehensive marketing, branding and athlete management firm focused on the future of action sports. For sponsorship opportunities or media information please contact (info@crownamg.com) or by phone at (760) 918-9382.
Please visit us online at www.CrownAMG.com
