Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Reed Cards Another Podium
April 6, 2009, 11:24am
Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing’s Chad Reed remains on top of the overall championship points standings after picking up a second-place finish at Saturday night’s AMA Supercross at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. The two-time, defending AMA Supercross Champion led the first 15 of 20 laps before capturing a second-place result in the main event. So far, Reed has been on the podium at every race this year. Rockstar Makita Suzuki teammate Mike Alessi also had a strong performance on Saturday night. The Californian finished an impressive third in his heat race and sixth in the main event. Finally, Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Michael Byrne remains injured and did not race. He hopes to be back racing again soon.
In the Supercross Lites class, Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Nico Izzi finished second in his heat race and then got the holeshot in the 15-lap main. Unfortunately, the young rider crashed and another rider landed on his bike. Izzi finished up the Supercross Lites East Coast Series in third place overall.
Chad Reed:
“It was great to get such a good start on the Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 and to get out front and lead a few laps. James (Stewart) rode a good race and I can’t take anything away from him. I needed that little kick in the butt. We have a week off and I think the racing is going to be awesome when we get back to it.”
Mike Alessi:
“My heat race was great… and I ended up leading for five laps. But my teammate Chad got by me and that kind of wore me out. The pace was pretty fast and I ended up tightening up. In the main event, I got the holeshot on my Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 and ended up running third with Chad and James. Unfortunately, I was pushing a little too hard trying to stay with them and I washed out the front and dropped back to seventh or eighth. I charged back to sixth so it was good and I was happy about that. I made up some good points on the guys who are in front of me so I look forward to two weeks from now in Seattle.”
Nico Izzi:
“Overall, I’m actually pretty happy with how the Supercross season went. I was pretty consistent the whole year, though I did have a few tough rides – one that probably cost me the title. It would have been great to finish the season with a win or a podium, but overall I’m happy because I had quite a few podiums.”
Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing will race next at QWest Stadium in Seattle, Washington, on Saturday, April 18, 2009.
Chad Reed, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing RM-Z450, #1
2nd Place – Jacksonville Supercross
1st Place – Overall Championship Points Standings
Mike Alessi, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing RM-Z450, #800
6th Place – Jacksonville Supercross
7th Place – Overall Championship Points Standings
Michael Byrne, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing RM-Z450, #26
DNR – Jacksonville Supercross
NA – Overall Championship Points Standings
Nico Izzi, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing RM-Z250, #20
14th Place – Jacksonville Supercross Lites
3rd Place -- Overall Championship Points Standings
AMA Supercross Top 10 Finishers:
1. James Stewart, Yamaha
2. Chad Reed, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing
3. Kevin Windham, Honda
4. Josh Hill, Yamaha
5. Andrew Short, Honda
6. Mike Alessi, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing (Holeshot)
7. Thomas Hahn, Kawasaki
8. Kyle Chisolm, Yamaha
9. Heath Voss, Honda
10. Billy Laninovich, Kawasaki
AMA Supercross Lites Top 10 Finishers:
1. Christophe Pourcel, Kawasaki
2. Wil Hahn, KTM
3. Austin Stroupe, Kawasaki
4. Darryn Durham, Yamaha
5. Blake Wharton, Honda
6. Broc Tickle, Yamaha
7. Branden Jesseman, Kawasaki
8. Matt Lemoine, Yamaha
9. Matt Goerke, Suzuki
10. Steven Clarke, Suzuki
*Nico Izzi, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing (Holeshot)
In the Supercross Lites class, Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Nico Izzi finished second in his heat race and then got the holeshot in the 15-lap main. Unfortunately, the young rider crashed and another rider landed on his bike. Izzi finished up the Supercross Lites East Coast Series in third place overall.
Chad Reed:
“It was great to get such a good start on the Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 and to get out front and lead a few laps. James (Stewart) rode a good race and I can’t take anything away from him. I needed that little kick in the butt. We have a week off and I think the racing is going to be awesome when we get back to it.”
Mike Alessi:
“My heat race was great… and I ended up leading for five laps. But my teammate Chad got by me and that kind of wore me out. The pace was pretty fast and I ended up tightening up. In the main event, I got the holeshot on my Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 and ended up running third with Chad and James. Unfortunately, I was pushing a little too hard trying to stay with them and I washed out the front and dropped back to seventh or eighth. I charged back to sixth so it was good and I was happy about that. I made up some good points on the guys who are in front of me so I look forward to two weeks from now in Seattle.”
Nico Izzi:
“Overall, I’m actually pretty happy with how the Supercross season went. I was pretty consistent the whole year, though I did have a few tough rides – one that probably cost me the title. It would have been great to finish the season with a win or a podium, but overall I’m happy because I had quite a few podiums.”
Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing will race next at QWest Stadium in Seattle, Washington, on Saturday, April 18, 2009.
Chad Reed, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing RM-Z450, #1
2nd Place – Jacksonville Supercross
1st Place – Overall Championship Points Standings
Mike Alessi, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing RM-Z450, #800
6th Place – Jacksonville Supercross
7th Place – Overall Championship Points Standings
Michael Byrne, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing RM-Z450, #26
DNR – Jacksonville Supercross
NA – Overall Championship Points Standings
Nico Izzi, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing RM-Z250, #20
14th Place – Jacksonville Supercross Lites
3rd Place -- Overall Championship Points Standings
AMA Supercross Top 10 Finishers:
1. James Stewart, Yamaha
2. Chad Reed, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing
3. Kevin Windham, Honda
4. Josh Hill, Yamaha
5. Andrew Short, Honda
6. Mike Alessi, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing (Holeshot)
7. Thomas Hahn, Kawasaki
8. Kyle Chisolm, Yamaha
9. Heath Voss, Honda
10. Billy Laninovich, Kawasaki
AMA Supercross Lites Top 10 Finishers:
1. Christophe Pourcel, Kawasaki
2. Wil Hahn, KTM
3. Austin Stroupe, Kawasaki
4. Darryn Durham, Yamaha
5. Blake Wharton, Honda
6. Broc Tickle, Yamaha
7. Branden Jesseman, Kawasaki
8. Matt Lemoine, Yamaha
9. Matt Goerke, Suzuki
10. Steven Clarke, Suzuki
*Nico Izzi, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing (Holeshot)
