What About...?

• 

Chad Reed and James Stewart, the last two AMA Supercross Champions, are about to debut their new SX team colors this weekend at the Rockstar Energy U.S. Open of Supercross in Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena. Reed will be riding his Rockstar/Makita Suzuki in his U.S. debut on the bike (he already raced yellow at the Motocross of Nations and his own Australian Super X Series) while Stewart rides a blue bike for San Manuel Yamaha in public for the first time in his life (though he did ride a white Y-Zinger as a kid before joining Kawasaki Team Green). They are the heavy favorites to lead this weekend’s race, according to bench racers and odds-makers alike:

James Stewart 6:5
Chad Reed 7:5
Josh Hill 9:2
Andrew Short 9:2
Broc Hepler 10:1
Ryan Dungey 10:1
Travis Preston 12:1
Ivan Tedesco 12:1
Michael Byrne 15:1
Dan Reardon 20:1
Nico Izzi 22:1
Ryan Clark 22:1
Heath Voss 25:1
Jeff Alessi 25:1
Ryan Morais 30:1
Tommy Hahn 35:1
Field 11:2

Brett Metcalfe is moving over to GEICO Powersports Honda, replacing Jake Weimer, who is replacing him at Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki.

As the teams for 2009 come together, there are a few names that have gone relatively cold, as far as their ‘09 plans go. For instance, what’s going to happen with late-season Honda Red Bull Racing replacement Jimmy Albertson? 

And what about top privateer Jeff Alessi, who rode under the Moto XXX Honda tent this summer? 

Josh Hansen may have had a lot of eyeballs on him when he won the X Games Moto-X gold, but it has not translated into a ride for 2009 – where will he end up?