Stewart Wins Phoenix, Grant Holds on to Season Lead

AURORA, Ill. – Two races into the drama-packed Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., picked up the first his first win of the season at Phoenix’s Chase Field and carries the momentum into Angel Stadium this Saturday. This week will be the first of seven Monster Energy® Supercross races that will be broadcast on CBS Sports (Sunday, January 18 at Noon EST).

Media Day will be held Thursday, January 15 inside the Diamond Club at Angel Stadium from Noon-2:00pm. The GEICO Honda team, including Kevin Windham, Trey Canard and Dan Reardon, will be available for interviews and photographs.

Angel Stadium played host to the first race of the 2009 Monster Energy® Supercross season in which Stewart was forced to withdraw from the main event after an early-race crash with rival and defending AMA Supercross class champion Chad Reed. Heading in to Phoenix, Stewart, the 2007 AMA Supercross class champion, was 23 points behind points leader and Anaheim 1 race winner Josh Grant. After Saturday night’s win, Stewart climbed to seventh overall in the point standings, narrowing the deficit to 18 points.

“I knew that Chad (Reed) would make it tough on me tonight,” said Stewart. “That is the type of racing that we love to do, and I am pumped because I picked up the win.”

In the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class race at Chase Field, Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., moved into the points lead as he picked up his first win of the season.

Anaheim 1 winner Jake Weimer, of Rupert, Idaho, pushed his Pro Circuit Kawasaki into the lead through turn one as he picked up the holeshot with Dungey and P.J. Larsen, of Stanley, N.C., following in second and third respectively before a packed Chase Field crowd.

While leading on lap six, Weimer crashed and allowed Dungey to assume the lead and MDK/KTM’s Justin Brayton, of Murrieta, Calif., to move into second place. Dungey finished the race off by completing six solid laps en route to the win. Brayton finished second and Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Ryan Morais finished third.

“After I saw Jake (Weimer ) crash, I knew there were plenty of laps left in the race, so I needed to be smart and consistent,” said Dungey. “I’m happy to move into the points lead as we head back to Anaheim next weekend.”

Tickets are available at www.SupercrossOnline.com, by phone at 714-740-2000 or 213-480-3232, the Angel Stadium box office, Ticketmaster, Ticketmaster outlets, www.ticketmaster.com, and participating Yamaha dealerships. Club Level and Diamond Club seats are $75; Trackside Seats are $45; Extreme seats are $35; Upper Deck seats are $30 for adults and $15 for kids. All seats are $2 more on the day of the race. Practice and qualifying begin at 12:30 and racing begins at 7:00 p.m.  Just recycle any empty Monster Energy can at the Pit Entrance for your free admission to the Pit Party with a valid Saturday ticket from 12:30PM – 6:00PM.  Pit Passes will also be available for purchase for $10 on the event day at the Angel Stadium box office. 

AMA Supercross Class Results, Phoenix

1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha
2. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Suzuki
3. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha
4. Ivan Tedesco, Tallahasse, Fla., Honda
5. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda
6. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda
7. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
8. Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha
9. Tim Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki
10. Davi Millsaps, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda

AMA Supercross Class Season Standings

1. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha, 45
2. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Suzuki, 42
3. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 38
4. Ivan Tedesco, Tallahasse, Fla., Honda, 33
5. Tim Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki, 30
6. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 30
7. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha, 27
8. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda, 21
9. Davi Millsaps, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 21
10. Mike Alessi, Apple Valley, Calif., Suzuki, 20

Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Results, Phoenix

1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki
2. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
3. Ryan Morais, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki
4. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki
5. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Honda
6. PJ Larsen, Stanley, N.C., Kawasaki
7. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ken., KTM
8. Cedric Souberas, Entraygues Songue, Yamaha
9. Ben Evans, Boise, Idaho, Honda
10. Dan Reardon, Menifee, Calif., Honda

Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Season Standings

1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 45
2. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki, 43
3. Ryan Morais, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 42
4. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 36
5. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Honda, 34
6. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ken., KTM, 29
7. Ben Evans, Boise, Idaho, Honda, 24
8. Cedric Souberas, Entraygues Songue, Yamaha, 18
9. Adam Chatfield, Cherry Valley, Calif., Honda, 17
10. Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha, 16 

This Saturday night’s AMA Supercross class race will air on Sunday, January 18 at Noon EST on CBS Sports. The AMA Supercross Lites class race will air on SPEED Sunday, January 18 at 6:00 p.m. EST.

For more information on the Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, please log on to www.SupercrossOnline.com. For all media requests, please contact Denny Hartwig dhartwig@feldinc.com or 630-566-6305.

About Feld Motor Sports

Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motor sports entertainment.  Feld Motor Sports, Inc. productions include Monster Jam®, Monster Energy® Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Freestyle Motocross, and IHRA® Nitro Jam®.  Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a division of Feld Entertainment, the world’s largest producer of live family entertainment.  For more information on Feld Entertainment, visit www.feldentertainment.com.