Reed’s 2nd Straight Supercross Win Keeps Bridgestone Unbeaten

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Reigning Monster Energy AMA Supercross champion Chad Reed broke through for his second victory in as many weeks Saturday at Daytona Beach, Fla., to retake control of the hotly contested championship battle with fellow Bridgestone rider James Stewart. Coupled with Christophe Pourcel’s win in Supercross Lites, it also kept Bridgestone unbeaten in the 2009 season.

Reed (Rockstar / Makita Suzuki) took the Supercross lead with three laps to go and pulled away to a comfortable margin of victory of more than five seconds. Stewart (Team San Manuel / JSE Yamaha) fell on the first turn of the first lap, but battled his way back to finish seventh. With 10 of the 17 events now complete, Reed holds an 11-point lead over Stewart, the 2007 AMA Supercross and 2008 AMA Motocross champion.

Pourcel (Monster Energy / Pro Circuit Kawasaki) picked up his third win of the season in Supercross Lites Eastern Regional competition, extending his championship lead in the process. Fellow Bridgestone rider Nico Izzi (Rockstar / Makita Suzuki) placed third Saturday to strengthen his hold on second in the championship. After four of eight Supercross Lites Eastern Regional events, Pourcel leads Izzi by 15 points, with Pourcel’s teammate Austin Stroupe in third.

Bridgestone riders have now won all 10 main events in both Supercross and Supercross Lites (including both Eastern and Western regionals) this season. Along with Reed in Supercross and Pourcel in Supercross Lites Eastern Regional, Bridgestone rider Ryan Dungey (Monster Energy / Pro Circuit Kawasaki) sits stop the Supercross Lites Western Regional standings.
Monster Energy AMA Supercross and Eastern Regional Supercross Lites return to action Saturday at the Superdome in New Orleans, La. Delayed broadcast of both main events airs on SPEED Channel, with Supercross Lites at 5 p.m. followed by Supercross at 6 p.m.

About Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations:
Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO) is a business unit of Bridgestone Americas, Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world's largest tire and rubber company. Reporting into the BATO business unit are the company's Latin American tire operations, the U.S. and Canadian consumer tire businesses and the U.S. and Canadian commercial tire businesses. BATO develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires. The business unit is focused on retail, wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off road, motorcycle, agricultural and other tires to its customers in the Americas. In addition, through its Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions unit, retreading customers have access to industry-leading research and development, manufacturing, marketing and sales expertise, providing them with a total tire solution.