Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Seattle Report
April 20, 2009, 4:08pm
Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing’s Ryan Dungey won the AMA Supercross LItes race and extended his points lead at Seattle, Washington’s QWest Stadium on Saturday night. After two months off from racing due to the season’s hiatus, the young rider got a great start on his Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z250 and gapped the field to take the win in the 15-lap race. Dungey leads the overall championship points standings by nine points going into the final round of the Supercross LItes West Coast series next weekend.
In the Supercross class, Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Mike Alessi celebrated an impressive evening. The California rider (yet again) got the holeshot on his RM-Z450, led the first several laps and then battled for a podium spot for most of the night. Unfortunately, he had a minor get-off but remounted to finish in fourth place. Rockstar Makita Suzuki teammate Chad Reed had a tough night. The defending and two-time AMA Supercross Champion fell at the start of the race and had trouble working his way through the field. In the end, Reed finished up in seventh place. Finally, Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Michael Byrne remains injured and did not race. He hopes to be back racing again soon.
Ryan Dungey:
“I was fastest in both practices at Seattle and set-up for the Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z250 was really good right from the beginning. I had 100 percent effort from my whole team, from the tire guys to the mechanics to my family. The track was falling apart out there but everybody stayed focused and worked hard. I was able to get a good start in the main and just took it from there… I’m just really happy with how the race went, the fans were great and now I have some momentum going into next weekend.”
Mike Alessi:
“It was a good ride. Practice went good for me, and we made some adjustments to the bike that helped with the track. In my heat race, I got a good start and was running up front but made a mistake and got passed and ended up fourth. So I had a good gate pick for the main and got a great start on the Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z450. I was feeling really confident and was leading for the first seven laps but I went into a turn a little hot and the front washed out and I lost the lead and went back to third. Then I got passed and ran in fourth for the rest of the race. I’m pretty happy with the night because I was able to make up some points on the guys in front of me.”
Chad Reed:
“I have to admit that I’m pretty disappointed with how things went in Seattle. I’ve tried to be pretty consistent the whole year, and we’ve led the championship for most of the season. But there are still two races left and it isn’t over until it’s over. Now I’m just focusing on getting ready for Salt Lake City next weekend.”
Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing will race next at Rice Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Saturday, April 25, 2009.
Chad Reed, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing RM-Z450, #1
7th Place – Seattle Supercross
2nd Place – Overall Championship Points Standings
Mike Alessi, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing RM-Z450, #800
4th Place – Seattle Supercross
6th Place – Overall Championship Points Standings
Michael Byrne, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing RM-Z450, #26
DNR – Seattle Supercross
NA – Overall Championship Points Standings
Ryan Dungey, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing RM-Z250, #10
1st Place – Seattle Supercross Lites
1st Place -- Overall Championship Points Standings
AMA Supercross Top 10 Finishers:
1. Ryan Villopoto, Kawasaki
2. James Stewart, Yamaha
3. Davi Millsaps, Honda
4. Mike Alessi, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing (Holeshot)
5. Andrew Short, Honda
6. Josh Grant, Yamaha
7. Chad Reed, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing
8. Paul Carpenter, Kawasaki
9. Ivan Tedesco, Honda
10. Kevin Windham, Honda
AMA Supercross Lites Top 10 Finishers:
1. Ryan Dungey, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing
2. Ryan Morais, Kawasaki
3. Trey Canard, Honda (Holeshot)
4. Jake Weimer, Kawasaki
5. Jake Moss, Honda
6. Jimmy Albertson, Honda
7. Kyle Cunningham, Kawasaki
8. Chris Blose, Honda
9. Michael Hall, Yamaha
10. Jeff Alessi, Honda
In the Supercross class, Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Mike Alessi celebrated an impressive evening. The California rider (yet again) got the holeshot on his RM-Z450, led the first several laps and then battled for a podium spot for most of the night. Unfortunately, he had a minor get-off but remounted to finish in fourth place. Rockstar Makita Suzuki teammate Chad Reed had a tough night. The defending and two-time AMA Supercross Champion fell at the start of the race and had trouble working his way through the field. In the end, Reed finished up in seventh place. Finally, Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Michael Byrne remains injured and did not race. He hopes to be back racing again soon.
Ryan Dungey:
“I was fastest in both practices at Seattle and set-up for the Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z250 was really good right from the beginning. I had 100 percent effort from my whole team, from the tire guys to the mechanics to my family. The track was falling apart out there but everybody stayed focused and worked hard. I was able to get a good start in the main and just took it from there… I’m just really happy with how the race went, the fans were great and now I have some momentum going into next weekend.”
Mike Alessi:
“It was a good ride. Practice went good for me, and we made some adjustments to the bike that helped with the track. In my heat race, I got a good start and was running up front but made a mistake and got passed and ended up fourth. So I had a good gate pick for the main and got a great start on the Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z450. I was feeling really confident and was leading for the first seven laps but I went into a turn a little hot and the front washed out and I lost the lead and went back to third. Then I got passed and ran in fourth for the rest of the race. I’m pretty happy with the night because I was able to make up some points on the guys in front of me.”
Chad Reed:
“I have to admit that I’m pretty disappointed with how things went in Seattle. I’ve tried to be pretty consistent the whole year, and we’ve led the championship for most of the season. But there are still two races left and it isn’t over until it’s over. Now I’m just focusing on getting ready for Salt Lake City next weekend.”
Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing will race next at Rice Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Saturday, April 25, 2009.
Chad Reed, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing RM-Z450, #1
7th Place – Seattle Supercross
2nd Place – Overall Championship Points Standings
Mike Alessi, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing RM-Z450, #800
4th Place – Seattle Supercross
6th Place – Overall Championship Points Standings
Michael Byrne, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing RM-Z450, #26
DNR – Seattle Supercross
NA – Overall Championship Points Standings
Ryan Dungey, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing RM-Z250, #10
1st Place – Seattle Supercross Lites
1st Place -- Overall Championship Points Standings
AMA Supercross Top 10 Finishers:
1. Ryan Villopoto, Kawasaki
2. James Stewart, Yamaha
3. Davi Millsaps, Honda
4. Mike Alessi, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing (Holeshot)
5. Andrew Short, Honda
6. Josh Grant, Yamaha
7. Chad Reed, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing
8. Paul Carpenter, Kawasaki
9. Ivan Tedesco, Honda
10. Kevin Windham, Honda
AMA Supercross Lites Top 10 Finishers:
1. Ryan Dungey, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing
2. Ryan Morais, Kawasaki
3. Trey Canard, Honda (Holeshot)
4. Jake Weimer, Kawasaki
5. Jake Moss, Honda
6. Jimmy Albertson, Honda
7. Kyle Cunningham, Kawasaki
8. Chris Blose, Honda
9. Michael Hall, Yamaha
10. Jeff Alessi, Honda
