Boni Brings Narrow Point Lead to Vegas in USSTC Pro Privateer Challenge

April 28, 2009, 3:58pm

AURORA, Ill. – With just one race remaining in the 2009 Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, season at Las Vegas’ Sam Boyd Stadium, the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company (USSTC) Pro Privateer Challenge points battle is coming down to the wire. Four riders hold a shot at capturing the $25,000 on the line for being the championship’s top non-factory rider. A total of $50,000 will be awarded to the top three riders that currently stand as Rockstar/Hart & Huntington Honda’s Matt Boni, Moto-Concepts Honda’s Heath Voss, and Boost Mobile/AMPM/Monster Energy Yamaha’s Nick Wey.

Currently, Boni, who joined the Hart & Huntington team about halfway through the season, sits atop the standings just a single point ahead of Voss. The Florida native moved into the points lead after a career-best finish of seventh in Salt Lake City. Voss, a former Monster Energy® Supercross World Champion, has controlled the points for much of the season, but will have to be at the top of his game this weekend. Veteran rider Wey still holds a chance as well, lurking in third just 14 points out as does reigning top privateer Paul Carpenter. All four riders have experienced their share of ups and downs throughout one of the most competitive seasons in Monster Energy® Supercross history. The deepest field in many years has forced each rider to miss making the main event at least once this season, making for an extremely tight and exciting showdown in Las Vegas.

The 2009 U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company Pro Privateer Challenge will award $25,000 to the top-finishing privateer, $15,000 to second place and $10,000 to third place.

“It’s nice to have a lead going into Vegas, even if it is just one point,” said Boni. “Last weekend was a huge boost for me and hopefully it continues. The way this season has played out, it’s still anybody’s championship. I need to be on the top of my game.”

While Boni and Voss have been the top privateer competitors throughout the season, the two have put on great battles week in and week out while the fight for third place has been equally exciting between Wey and Cernics Kawasaki’s Paul Carpenter.

Last year, Carpenter won top privateer honors aboard his privateer Honda team while Voss finished second, just 15 points behind, with Jason Thomas bringing home third.

2009 USSTC Pro Privateer Challenge Standings

1.                   Matt Boni 103
2.                   Heath Voss 102
3.                   Nick Wey 89
4.                   Paul Carpenter 88
5.                   Kyle Chisholm 79

For more information on the Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, please log on to www.SupercrossOnline.com. For all media requests, please contact Denny Hartwig dhartwig@feldinc.com or 630-566-6305.

About Feld Motor Sports

Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motor sports entertainment. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. productions include Monster Jam®, Monster Energy® Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Freestyle Motocross, and IHRA® Nitro Jam®. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a division of Feld Entertainment, the world’s largest producer of live family entertainment. For more information on Feld Entertainment, visit www.feldentertainment.com.