Spy Optic’s Racers Dominate in Vegas

Kevin Windham, Andrew Short and Trey Canard all make the podium and to give Spy Optic more guys on the podium at the Vegas SX finals than any other goggle manufacturer

CARLSBAD, Calif., (May 5, 2008) – Spy Optic racers had another HUGE weekend on the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, tour - culminating with three Spy-backed racers – Kevin Windham (2nd, SX class), Andrew Short (3rd, SX class) and Trey Canard (3rd, Lites class) – all making the Las Vegas finals podium and giving Spy the most riders of any goggle manufacturer on the podium.

“I can’t think of a better way to cap off a record-setting season for Spy than to dominate the podium like that at the Vegas finals,” said Spy Optic spokesman Jeremy McGrath. “Spy had more riders make the podium this year than in any other competition supercross season. So congrats to K-Dub, Shorty & Trey on a fine job at Vegas and – and all the rest of the guys running Spy goggles - and we’ll be looking forward to the start of the Nationals in just a few short weeks here at Glen Helen.”

Kicking off the action at Vegas in the second Lites class heat race was Canard (Torco/Honda). Near the last lap the reigning ESX champion was seemingly wallowing around in 4th place or so when he came alive and made a spectacular last lap pass on Nico Izzi, then held off a charging Matt Goerke in what turned out to be a burner of a heat race. 

Following that run Canard’s Spy Optic-clad teammate, Dan Reardon, just snuck into the main event with the 4th place transfer spot out of the LCQ.

In the Lites main the two would wind up going 3-4 to give Torco/Honda the most bikes in the top five at the race which brought the best racers from both the East and West regions in to battle in out in one main event.

But the best was yet to come.

Arriving at the Supercross class main event, via a win over rival Chad Reed in his heat race, was Windham (Torco/Honda). The Louisiana native and easily the favorite of the fans attending Vegas was phenomenal at Sam Boyd Stadium. His starts were flawless and his speed and style was something of legend as the series veteran raced strong through the main event checkers and graciously congratulated champion Chad Reed from the podium while accepting his 2nd place trophy.

Said Windham: “I saw a lot of #14s in the crowd out there tonight, which fired me up and I was hoping to pull it off for you guys – but it just wasn’t in the cards. Chad rode a great race and was just eating me up all night in the whoops, and that’s where he got me there for the final time.”

Windham rode masterful main event, leading the first 13 of 20 laps before Reed got by him. Windham then cruised easily into 2nd place in the main, giving him 2nd place overall on the season to match his best- ever Supercross class finish in 2004.

Not to be lost in the success of Windham was the impressive ride Spy Optic’s Short (Honda) put together. Short got out in 3rd place at the start, battled with Reed – fairly – for a portion of the race to not only try and help Windham out, but also his own cause. He then finished out smart and made the podium in 3rd – his third consecutive premier SX class podium finish and fifth on the season.

“This is my first full season racing in the Supercross class. It started out a little slow, but with the help of my sponsors, including Spy goggles, I was able to pick it up, finish strong and make the overall podium,” said Short.

Also putting up a season-best finish for Spy Optic was MDK/KTM’s Nick Wey. Wey, who finished 9th overall in the Supercross class – the best finish ever on a KTM 450SX bike – pulled a couple blistering starts in his heat race and main and went on to battle with the other factory riders, nearly topping factory Honda’s Davi Millsaps for 5th overall.

Next up for the Spy Optic racers is the opening round of the AMA Outdoor Nationals at Glen Helen (San Bernardino, Calif.), May 25th.