Rockstar Makita Suzuki Indy Report
March 2, 2009 3:12pm
Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing’s Chad Reed celebrated his first AMA Supercross victory aboard his Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. The two-time, defending AMA Supercross Champion got the holeshot and rode flawlessly to take his first 2009 win. Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing teammate Mike Alessi captured his first AMA Supercross-class podium at Indy, thanks to an impressive third-place finish, and joined Reed on the box. Meanwhile, Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Michael Byrne also had a good night, bringing home an eight-place finish in only his third race back from injury.
In the Supercross Lites class, Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Nico Izzi enjoyed his third podium finish in as many races on Saturday night. The young rider won his first heat race of the season and then finished third in the 15-lap main event. Currently, Izzi is in second place in the overall championship points chase.
Chad Reed:
“Getting this first win is really, really awesome. The Rockstar Makita Suzuki team has been great and I’m happy to get this win for those guys. I went into the season feeling really strong at the beginning of the year and then I went through a phase where I just wasn’t riding as good as I thought that I could. But the team and I’ve been able to make some progress, and this weekend I was able to put myself into a good position -- be at the right place at the right time. It was awesome to be in a position to win.”
Mike Alessi:
“The Indy race was a really, really good night. Practice didn’t go so great but – it seemed kind of weird – when the night show started, my racing instinct just took over. In my heat race, I got the holeshot and led about four laps and almost won the race. In the main event, I got another great start on my Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 and was right behind Chad. I felt like I rode a solid, aggressive, smart race and ended up third.”
Michael Byrne:
“Indy was a good race overall. I was doing OK in my heat race but I came together with another rider and went down. I got back up and finished seventh, and while that wasn’t that great, it got me into the main. In the main, I got a good start – the Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 is really going good, as you can see from all three of us being in the top five in the start – and just tried to ride a pace I could ride the whole time. It wasn’t very eventful for me but the bike was running great, as usual.”
Nico Izzi:
“’The track was super-difficult tonight, what with the big sand turn leading right into the whoops. But I was happy to get my first heat race win, I just tried to get a good start and ride a smart race on the Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z250. In the main, I got a bad start and had to work my way up into third. But I’m happy that I’ve been up on the box every weekend and I’m still fighting for a win.”
Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing will race next at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Saturday, March 7, 2009.
Chad Reed, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing RM-Z450, #1
1st Place – Indianapolis Supercross
Tied for 1st Place – Overall Championship Points Standings
Mike Alessi, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing RM-Z450, #800
3rd Place – Indianapolis Supercross
8th Place – Overall Championship Points Standings
Michael Byrne, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing RM-Z450, #26
8th Place – Indianapolis Supercross
NA – Overall Championship Points Standings
Nico Izzi, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing RM-Z250, #20
3rd Place – Indianapolis Supercross Lites
2nd Place -- Overall Championship Points Standings
AMA Supercross Top 10 Finishers:
1. Chad Reed, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing (Holeshot)
2. James Stewart, Yamaha
3. Mike Alessi, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing
4. Josh Grant, Yamaha
5. Ivan Tedesco, Honda
6. Ben Coisy, Honda
7. Davi Millsaps, Honda
8. Michael Byrne, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing
9. Ryan Villopoto, Kawasaki
10. Tim Ferry, Kawasaki
AMA Supercross Lites Top 10 Finishers:
1. Austin Stroupe, Kawasaki
2. Christophe Pourcel, Kawasaki (Holeshot)
3. Nico Izzi, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing
4. Branden Jesseman, Kawasaki
5. Steven Clarke, Suzuki
6. Levi Kilbarger, Honda
7. Daniel Blair, Honda
8. Matt Lemoine, Yamaha
9. Shane Sewell, Yamaha
10. Kyle Keylon, Honda
In the Supercross Lites class, Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Nico Izzi enjoyed his third podium finish in as many races on Saturday night. The young rider won his first heat race of the season and then finished third in the 15-lap main event. Currently, Izzi is in second place in the overall championship points chase.
Chad Reed:
“Getting this first win is really, really awesome. The Rockstar Makita Suzuki team has been great and I’m happy to get this win for those guys. I went into the season feeling really strong at the beginning of the year and then I went through a phase where I just wasn’t riding as good as I thought that I could. But the team and I’ve been able to make some progress, and this weekend I was able to put myself into a good position -- be at the right place at the right time. It was awesome to be in a position to win.”
Mike Alessi:
“The Indy race was a really, really good night. Practice didn’t go so great but – it seemed kind of weird – when the night show started, my racing instinct just took over. In my heat race, I got the holeshot and led about four laps and almost won the race. In the main event, I got another great start on my Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 and was right behind Chad. I felt like I rode a solid, aggressive, smart race and ended up third.”
Michael Byrne:
“Indy was a good race overall. I was doing OK in my heat race but I came together with another rider and went down. I got back up and finished seventh, and while that wasn’t that great, it got me into the main. In the main, I got a good start – the Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 is really going good, as you can see from all three of us being in the top five in the start – and just tried to ride a pace I could ride the whole time. It wasn’t very eventful for me but the bike was running great, as usual.”
Nico Izzi:
“’The track was super-difficult tonight, what with the big sand turn leading right into the whoops. But I was happy to get my first heat race win, I just tried to get a good start and ride a smart race on the Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z250. In the main, I got a bad start and had to work my way up into third. But I’m happy that I’ve been up on the box every weekend and I’m still fighting for a win.”
Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing will race next at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Saturday, March 7, 2009.
Chad Reed, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing RM-Z450, #1
1st Place – Indianapolis Supercross
Tied for 1st Place – Overall Championship Points Standings
Mike Alessi, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing RM-Z450, #800
3rd Place – Indianapolis Supercross
8th Place – Overall Championship Points Standings
Michael Byrne, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing RM-Z450, #26
8th Place – Indianapolis Supercross
NA – Overall Championship Points Standings
Nico Izzi, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing RM-Z250, #20
3rd Place – Indianapolis Supercross Lites
2nd Place -- Overall Championship Points Standings
AMA Supercross Top 10 Finishers:
1. Chad Reed, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing (Holeshot)
2. James Stewart, Yamaha
3. Mike Alessi, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing
4. Josh Grant, Yamaha
5. Ivan Tedesco, Honda
6. Ben Coisy, Honda
7. Davi Millsaps, Honda
8. Michael Byrne, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing
9. Ryan Villopoto, Kawasaki
10. Tim Ferry, Kawasaki
AMA Supercross Lites Top 10 Finishers:
1. Austin Stroupe, Kawasaki
2. Christophe Pourcel, Kawasaki (Holeshot)
3. Nico Izzi, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing
4. Branden Jesseman, Kawasaki
5. Steven Clarke, Suzuki
6. Levi Kilbarger, Honda
7. Daniel Blair, Honda
8. Matt Lemoine, Yamaha
9. Shane Sewell, Yamaha
10. Kyle Keylon, Honda
