Rockstar Makita Suzuki San Diego Report

February 16, 2009, 3:31pm

Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing’s Ryan Dungey and his RM-Z250 recaptured the AMA Supercross Lites West Coast championship points lead after winning his third race of the season at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California, on Saturday night. The young rider won his heat race and the 15-lap main event, which is the last West Coast race until the series resumes in April.

In the Supercross class, Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Chad Reed captured his sixth-straight second-place finish at the San Diego race. This result means the two-time and defending AMA Supercross Champion is currently tied for the overall championship points lead. Rockstar Makita Suzuki teammate Mike Alessi celebrated his best results of the 2009 season: a holeshot and a third-place finish in his heat race, and the holeshot and a sixth-place finish in the main event. Finally, Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Michael Byrne returned to racing after being off from injury, and had a fine showing, thanks to a second-place finish in his heat race and an eighth-place finish in the 20-lap main event.

Ryan Dungey:
“This was a really fun day. In both practices I felt really strong and the set-up for my Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z250 is coming along nicely. Going into the night, I felt pretty strong and then I got the holeshot in my heat race and I was happy with that. I knew that a good start would be important for the main and I wanted to take care of it right away from the beginning. In the race, I felt good and the set-up was great. The Rockstar Makita Suzuki team did an awesome job tonight, as they always do. “

Chad Reed:
“It was a tough day, it seems like that’s an ongoing thing right now. In the main, I had a good start on the Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 and I tried to get to the front and I felt like I rode pretty decently. I’m finding some things that I’m working on personally with the tracks and everything, so I’m just thankful that everyone around me is being real patient. We’re not really changing anything with the bike, it’s just me getting back to where I was and going from there.”

Mike Alessi:
“I thought the weekend went good and I felt like I was riding well. The Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 was handling great in the whoops, and awesome through the rhythm sections and the turns. In the heat race, I got the holeshot but tensed up and went back to third. In the main, I got the holeshot, but a few guys got by me but I rode real solid. But around the 10th lap, I felt a little fatigued so I backed it down a bit but then put on another charge on the last five laps and tried to catch back up and ended up with sixth place, my best finish of the year.”

Michael Byrne:
“After a year and a half off from Supercross, San Diego was good for me. I accomplished what I wanted to do and that was to come in and have some fun and hopefully get in the top 10 on my Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z450, and I did that. The bike was good like always – the engine was fast, the suspension was working great and we were all out front and that shows you what it can do - and I feel like this was a successful first weekend back.”

Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing will race next at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia, on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009.

Chad Reed, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing RM-Z450, #1
2nd Place – San Diego Supercross
Tied for 1st Place – Overall Championship Points Standings

Mike Alessi, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing RM-Z450, #800
6th Place – Dan Diego Supercross
9th Place – Overall Championship Points Standings

Michael Byrne, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing RM-Z450, #13
8th Place – Dan Diego Supercross
22nd Place – Overall Championship Points Standings

Ryan Dungey, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing RM-Z250, #10
1st Place – Dan Diego Supercross Lites
1st Place -- Overall Championship Points Standings

AMA Supercross Top 10 Finishers:

1.      James Stewart, Yamaha

2.      Chad Reed, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing

3.      Andrew Short, Honda

4.      Ryan Villopoto, Kawasaki

5.      Davi Millsaps, Honda

6.      Mike Alessi, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing (Holeshot)

7.      Kevin Windham, Honda

8.      Michael Byrne, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing

9.      Nick Wey, Yamaha

10.   Ivan Tedesco,

AMA Supercross Lites Top 10 Finishers:

1.      Ryan Dungey, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing

2.      Ryan Morais, Kawasaki (Holeshot)

3.      Jake Weimer, Kawasaki

4.      Trey Canard, Honda

5.      Ryan Sipes, KTM

6.      Justin Brayton, KTM

7.      Chris Blose, Honda

8.      Jake Moss, Honda

9.      Jeff Alessi, Honda

10.   Cole Seely, Suzuki