Stewart Wins 11th Supercross Race at Rice-Eccles Stadium

SALT LAKE CITY (April 25, 2009) – San Manual Yamaha’s James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., won his 11th Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, a FIM World Championship, race at Rice-Eccles Stadium before 40,612 fans. Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., capped off the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class season with the championship. In tonight’s Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class main event, GEICO Powersports Honda’s Trey Canard, of Shawnee, Okla., won his first race of the season.


Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Chad Reed, of Tampa, Fla., opened the AMA Supercross class main event with the holeshot with Honda Red Bull Racing’s Davi Millsaps, of Tallahassee, Fla., and Stewart following in second and third respectively. Stewart passed Millsaps one turn later and secured second place.


On lap four, Stewart passed Reed, but Reed bounced back and regained the lead. The same scenario would unfold on lap eight, but it was on lap 12 that Stewart made the pass and rode off to victory. Millsaps finished third. The Monster Energy® Supercross finals takes place next Saturday at Las Vegas’ Sam Boyd Stadium with Stewart leading Reed by xx points.

“I got the holeshot and started the race out great,” said Reed. “There are little things here and there that I need to work on, but it was a good race. We head to Las Vegas next weekend for the last race of the season, and I am looking forward to it.”

“That was a fun race for me,” said Stewart. We passed one another several times and it was fun. Chad was on it tonight, and I almost crashed a few times. We have one more race next weekend in Las Vegas.”

Villopoto Captures First Career SX Victory in Seattle

SEATTLE (April 18, 2009) – Clear skies greeted the 50,016 fans that filled Qwest Field for the 15th race of the 2009 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, season in Seattle. Hometown rider Ryan Villopoto, of Poulsbo, Wash., was able to take advantage of a good start and capture his first career AMA Supercross class victory for Monster Energy Kawasaki. In the penultimate round of the AMA Supercross Lites Western Regional Championship, Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., took advantage of a stellar start to gap the field and extend his points lead heading into the class’ final round next weekend in Salt Lake City.

The most exciting championship fight in decades became even more intriguing as neither Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Chad Reed nor Team San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart finished the night on top.


As the AMA Supercross main event blasted out of the gates, Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Mike Alessi, of Victorville, Calif., sped to yet another holeshot with U.S. Air Force Honda’s Heath Voss, of Mico, Texas, and Villopoto in tow. Reed, of Tampa, Fla., crashed coming out of the gate and found himself in 19th place while Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., was mired in 11th by the end of lap one. Throughout the early portion of the race, Alessi and Villopoto battled for the top spot before Alessi washed out just before halfway to give up the lead. Villopoto, in his first race back since New Orleans on March 14, put his head down and rode to an impressive and surprising victory.


“It’s awesome,” boasted Villopoto, who missed the last three races with a virus. “I can’t thank my team enough and everybody that put effort into it. It hasn’t been the year we wanted but they never gave up. I could see James and Chad out of the corner of my eye sometimes. I just focused on Mike (Alessi) and he made that mistake. The track was super tricky tonight and there were some slick spots so you really had to ride smart.”


Stewart worked his way through the field to bring home a hard-earned runner-up finish while Reed found difficulty passing his competitors and could only muster a seventh-place finish, his first outside of the top three this season. Stewart now sits in the points lead, three ahead of Reed with two races remaining.

“I don’t know what happened. We all almost went down and we got the short end of the stick,” said Stewart. “I was so far in the back and saw Ryan and Mike out front and realized how far back I was. It’s all about the championship though and tonight was good for that. The way Chad has been riding all year, it was definitely surprising to see how things played out.

Stewart Scores 10th Win at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (April 4, 2009) – Team San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., won his 10th AMA Supercross class race at the inaugural Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, race at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium before 31,653 fans. Stewart’s win narrowed current AMA Supercross class point leader Chad Reed’s points deficit to just five. Just one week after clinching the Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites class championship, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Christophe Pourcel, of Corona, Calif., won his fifth main event of the season.

Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Mike Alessi, of Victorville, Calif., started the AMA Supercross class main event by winning the holeshot followed closely by his teammate and current points leader Chad Reed, of Tampa, Fla. Reed moved past Alessi in turn two and secured the lead and Stewart snuck into second place.

Stewart tried to set Reed up in a few different sections but the Australian held his ground. Stewart stalked Reed for 13 long laps before he made a pass on the defending champion. Reed answered back and took over the lead on the same lap. Just one lap later, Stewart re-passed Reed and rode to his 10th victory of the season. Reed finished second and GEICO Powersports Honda’s Kevin Windham, of Centerville, Miss.

“I had fun out there tonight,” said Reed. “I tried to be smooth and consistent out there. This was a great race, and we have three more left on the season. It’s time for me to get up there and go to battle.”

“It was a great race, and we actually collided over the triple jump, but that’s racing,” said Stewart. “I look forward to the next race in Seattle.”

Stewart Keeps Points Race Tight With Win At Rogers Centre

TORONTO, Canada. (March 28, 2009) – San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., won his series-leading ninth race of the season in front 36,984 excited fans inside Toronto’s Rogers Centre, the lone race outside of the United States for the 2009 Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, season. Just one week after giving away victory with a crash while leading, the 2007 series champion bounded back resoundingly leading every lap. In the AMA Supercross Lites class, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Christophe Pourcel, of Corona, Calif., won his fourth race of the season to capture his first career AMA Supercross Lites Eastern Regional Championship with one race remaining.

With four races left of the 17-race title chase, the championship battle appears to be coming down to the wire at the culminating round in Las Vegas. Stewart reduced his deficit to points leader Chad Reed, of Tampa, Fla., to just eight points and needs to continue to earn victories in order to keep pace with the consistent Rockstar/Makita Suzuki rider.


“Every week it’s 100 percent,” said Stewart. “Everyone makes mistakes once in a while but it’s a long championship and there’s gonna be drama all the way to the end. I went too far inside (on the start) but it worked out and then I turned it on. I want to thank all my guys at San Manuel. We’ve been working hard all week to get here. At the end of the day, I know me, my team, and everyone involved are giving 100 percent and that’s all we can do.”


As the gates dropped on the 20-lap main, renowned starter Mike Alessi, of Victorville, Calif., grabbed the holeshot aboard his Rockstar/Makita Suzuki. Canidae/Motosport Kawasaki’s Tommy Hahn, of Decatur, Texas, and Stewart followed in second and third with Reed fifth. The series’ top two riders asserted themselves at the front of the pack by the completion of the first lap. The Australian native and reigning series champion stayed close to Stewart throughout the first half of the race, but settled into second en route to recording his ninth runner-up finish of 2009. Factory Yamaha’s Josh Hill, of Yoncalla, Ore., brought home a season-best third place finish.


“The track was tough tonight,” stated Reed. I gave it all I had. I just made way too many mistakes and (James) slipped away. I want to thank everybody at Rockstar/Makita Suzuki. We’ll just move onto to Jacksonville (next week). It’s always good to have close racing (for the title) but I’m looking forward to that week off. It will be good for everyone. (My team) wants to be there every week and win this thing. It’s our goal.”

Reed Takes Advantage of Stewart Mistake and Extends Points Lead Heading into Toronto’s Rogers Centre

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (March 21, 2009) – In front of 55,815 rabid fans inside St. Louis’ Edward Jones Dome, Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Chad Reed, of Tampa, Fla., earned his third win of the 2009 Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, season and extended his series points lead. In the AMA Supercross Lites class, GEICO Powersports Honda’s Blake Wharton, of Pilot Point, Texas, broke through with his first-career victory, ending the stranglehold by Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki.

San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., was undoubtedly the fastest rider on the track all night, but found himself on the ground on three separate occasions throughout the evening. The ever-consistent Reed took advantage of his rival’s misfortune to persevere and take what could be the biggest victory of the season with just five races remaining.

“Like I say every week, you got to be in it to win it and that’s what we’re doing,” boasted Reed, who extended his advantage over Stewart to 11 points. “I’m having a ball out here. The track was just awesome tonight. Travis (Pastrana) designed a great track. I just love this St. Louis dirt. James started hitting his lines early on and pulled away, but I just kept my head down.”

Stewart Answers Back with Win at Superdome

Team San Manuel Yamaha's James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., won his eighth race of the 2009 Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, season before 36,754 fans at the Superdome. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Austin Stroupe, of Lincolnton, N.C., won his second Eastern Regional AMA Supercross class main event of the season and moved into second place in points standings

Stewart jumped out to an early lead with the holeshot as Reed was on his back wheel to start the AMA Supercross class main event. After winning the previous two races, Reed spent the 20-lap race chasing Stewart, who put down 20 perfect laps. Reed settled for second and Stewart moves within eight points of Reed's championship points lead.

Yamaha's Broc Hepler, of Kittanning, Pa., picked up his first podium of the season with a third-place finish.

"I got a great start," said Stewart. "I had to win tonight – point blank. I had to win. This is what I needed heading into the race next weekend in St. Louis."

Chad Reed’s third career triumph

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 7, 2009) – Suzuki’s Chad Reed slipped past surprise leader Jason Lawrence with three laps remaining to win the Daytona Supercross By Honda on Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway.

The victory was Reed’s third career triumph in the Daytona Supercross By Honda and his second straight AMA Supercross win of the season.

“I found it tough to pass tonight,” Reed said. “I felt that I wasn’t as aggressive as I needed to be. That kind of hurt a little bit. I was lucky that it was this guy’s first race and that he hadn’t been racing a whole lot so I put my head down and tried to go for it.”

Lawrence, the defending West Supercross Lites champion who was making his first career start in the main 450 Supercross class, led 15 of the 20 laps to take runner-up honors. Davi Millsaps, who made the main event by winning the last chance qualifier, took third place.

The margin of victory was 5.670 seconds

Pre-race favorite James Stewart, who lives in nearby Haines City, fell off his Yamaha in an incident on the race’s first turn but battled back for a seventh-place finish.

Reed, who entered the Daytona Supercross By Honda tied with Stewart for the points lead, now owns an 11-point advantage in the AMA Supercross championship standings.

Chad Reed wins 20 lap 450 Supercross Main event in Indy!

The 450 Supercross Main Event? Once again, the top two riders in the world going at it! Chad Reed and James Stewart! Chad is the defending AMA/FIM Supercross Champion, and James has recently taken over the points lead with his seventh win in a row last weekend in Atlanta. Tonight - Chad comes out on top of the 20 laps main event, with James second. They are now tied on points with 199 each as they head to the Daytona Supercross by Honda next Saturday! Tonight was Chad's first win of the season as well. Third place and final spot on the podium? Mike Alessi! His best finish of the season too! He was super-pumped to get his first podium in 450 Supercross ever!

Chad Reed said after his first Supercross race win of the season "I just needed to put myself in a good position and battle for it. James made a little mistake and I was able to sneak through. I might move to Indy ... you guys (here) are awesome ... I felt like I was in my hometown in Australia! And it felt good to get a holeshot. The holeshot was sweet."

James Stewart said "I felt good. I made a few mistakes. Chad rode awesome and he deserves to win. That was the funnest, and hardest race I've had all year!"

The 250 East Supercross class 15 lap main event win went to Austin Stroupe. Team-mate and points leader Christophe Pourcel finished second, and maintains his points lead. Third place went to Suzuki's Nico Izzi.

James Stewart taking his seventh win in a row!

Inside the warm confines of the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia, in front of a near capacity crowd, and live on Speed TV, the eighth round of the series wrapped up with San Manuel Band of Mission Indians/Yamaha’s James Stewart taking his seventh win of the season and seventh win in a row. For Stewart, the win solidified his place at the top of the points standings and served noticed to his competition that he indeed is the rider to beat in this year’s Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series. But for the defending champion, and Stewart’s main rival, Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Chad Reed, Stewart’s seventh win has left him even more determined than ever to get to the top step on the podium. Reed’s runner-up finish in Atlanta, however, is once again due largely to a mediocre start, which held him back from the beginning, forcing him to climb back up to second after rounding the first turn in seventh.

James Stewart, 6 in a row...

SAN DIEGO (February 14, 2009) – Before the 2009 Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, moves east, the world’s best riders brought the action to a close in the state of California as San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., extended his winning streak to six races at Qualcomm Stadium. In the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class, Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., reclaimed the Western Regional championship points lead with his third win of the season.

Over the past six races, Stewart completely erased the 23-point deficit he faced after the season-opening race in Anaheim, Calif., and now sits in a tie with rival and reigning champion Chad Reed, of Tampa, Fla. The Rockstar/Makita Suzuki rider has been the picture of consistency this season, finishing on the podium in every race, capped off by a runner-up finish tonight to give him six straight second-place efforts behind Stewart.

Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Mike Alessi, of Victorville, Calif., grabbed the holeshot in the 20-lap main event with Stewart and Reed in tow. The class’ top two riders quickly made their move around Alessi and gapped the field. Reed kept pace with Stewart for a couple laps, but the Yamaha rider slowly pulled away, leading flag-to-flag.

“The track was definitely tough,” explained Stewart. “I just had some good luck. The track was slick, but, man, this San Manuel Yamaha was awesome. To come back where we were at, 23-points back, it’s just amazing. (San Diego) is special to me - it gave me my first victory in 2002 so I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for the city.”

Reed held of the late charges of both Honda Red Bull Racing’s Andrew Short, of Smithville, Texas, and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto, of Poulsbo, Wash., to capture second while Short edged Villopoto at the line for third.

“I got great starts and I was there,” stated Reed. “I just wasn’t fast enough. James rode awesome and I want to thank the team for being patient with me all day. I’m happy to be second and once again San Diego was good to me. I want to thank my team and all my sponsors. We’re just keeping it consistent.”

Tragic News Regarding Jeremy Lusk

It is with the greatest sadness that we report...our beloved Jeremy Lusk passed away at approximately 11:03 PM PST this evening due to complications from the crash sustained Saturday evening in Costa Rica. He died of head injuries after a horrible crash while attempting to land a back flip during the X-Knight Freestyle show in Costa Rica. He was doing a move known as the Seatgrab Indian Backflip when he lost control of his bike.

Still in the Calderon Hospital Intensive Care Unit, he was surrounded by his loving Mother and Father, Chuck and Gina Lusk, his wonderful wife Lauren, his Mother and Father-in-Law Lynne and Larry and many of his closest Mulisha family members including Brian Deegan, Ryan Hagy, Cameron Steele and Erik Apple.

“He was in a medicine-induced coma as a protective measure, and the medicine was being reduced to see how his organism responded,” he said. “That didn’t mean he was going to wake up. He was in shock and that got worse last night, until he stopped responding and entered into cardiac and respiratory failure.”

Please keep Jeremy and his family in your thoughts and prayers. All the warm thoughts, comments and support are comforting in these times.



Here's the video of Jeremy's crash: