Austin Stroupe Closes Out WSX Season On The O/A Podium

April 29, 2008, 6:34am

Stroupe places 4th in Seattle WSX main event and winds up 3rd overall in WSX points chase in rookie campaign on Monster Energy SX tour

CORONA, Calif., (April 29, 2008) – Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/ Kawasaki’s Austin Stroupe raced to a near podium 4th place finish on Saturday in Seattle, securing the 3rd place overall spot in the Western Lites Region points chase in 2008 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship.

Stroupe, who finished on the podium (3rd) in the second heat race, had to overcome a tough start that had him coming around in 10th place after the first lap. Persistency and speed would pay off for Stroupe as he worked his way back towards the race leaders, moving into 4th place by lap nine and holding onto that position to score 3rd overall in the WSX season.

“When you break it down, had Austin been able to score a podium finish at Phoenix (round two of WSX) – or event a win like he did at Houston – then he would have been right in the middle of the overall points chase with Monster Energy’s (Jason) Lawrence, the eventual champion, and (Ryan) Dungey,” said Monster Energy’s Director of Sports Marketing, John Lee. “So in the end getting third overall made for a heck of a rookie season for Austin. Everyone at Monster Energy is pumped for him.”

Stroupe accumulated 131 points in the six of seven main events he made – including three podium finishes (win at Houston). As Lee pointed out, had Stroupe been able to score a podium finish at Phoenix (instead of a DNF), the 20-plus points would have put him right in the thick of things with Lawrence and Dungey heading into Seattle.

Right behind Stroupe in the overall WSX scoring was his Monster Energy/ Pro Circuit/Kawasaki teammate, Brett Metcalfe. With a 7th place finish at Seattle, Metcalfe sealed 4th place overall in the WSX standings – just five points in back of Stroupe (131-126). Metcalfe got things going early with a runner-up finish in the first heat race, then avoided trouble early and stayed with the leaders through the 15th lap checkers in 7th.

As it stood heading into Seattle, Stroupe had a one-point lead
(113-112) over Metcalfe for the third and final WSX podium spot.

Next up for Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Stroupe, Metcalfe, Ryan Villopoto and Branden Jesseman is this weekend’s Dave Coombs Sr. East/West Lites Class Shootout at Las Vegas’ Sam Boyd Stadium (May 3rd).