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.