Windham Wins First Monster Energy® Supercross Race Since ’05

Rookie Stroupe Captures First Win of his Career
HOUSTON (February 16, 2008) – Torco Fuels Honda’s Kevin
Windham, of Centerville, Miss., won his first Monster Energy®
AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, race at Reliant
Stadium since 2005 in front of 49,986 fans. Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s
Austin Stroupe, of Corona, Calif., won the first Western Regional
AMA Supercross Lites race of his career.

Red Bull Honda’s Davi Millsaps, of Cairo, Ga., won the $1,500
Progressive Holeshot Award with Monster Energy® Kawasaki’s
Tim Ferry, of Dade City, Fla., in tow through turn one. Points
leader Chad Reed, of Tampa, Fla., went through turn one near
the middle of the pack.

While leading, Millsaps crashed and Windham moved into the lead
and never looked back. Reed, who rides for Team San Manuel,
moved into second place on lap 11 and couldn’t catch Windham.
Reed finished second and Ferry finished third.

“I have been working hard this year, and tonight it paid off,” said
Windham. “I could not have won in front of a better crowd. I put
my head down tonight and used the crowd to my advantage. The
crowd was on their feet for the entire race.”

“This is a tough pill to swallow,” said Reed. “I gave it everything
I had tonight, but Kevin (Windham) rode a great race. We have
had a good season, and we will have to put it together in Atlanta
next weekend.”

Rockstar Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., won the
$1,000 Progressive Holeshot Award as he led Pro Circuit
Kawasaki’s Brett Metcalfe, of Murrieta, Calif., and Lawrence
through turn one. Metcalfe passed Dungey for the lead but was
re-passed on the opening lap. Moments after moving into the
number-one position, Dungey crashed and fell back several
positions and allowed Lawrence to assume the lead. Two laps
later Dungey suffered another crash.

On lap five Stroupe, who is a rookie this season, moved past
Lawrence for the lead and held on for the next 10 laps.

“I am going to the next race, and I plan to do exactly what I
did here tonight,” said Lawrence who now has a six-point lead.
“I will
be ready for the next race.”

“I finally had a decent start, and that helped me in the
beginning of the race,” said Stroupe. “I put myself in position to
stay up front and that’s what I did.”

AMA Supercross class race will air on CBS Sports Sunday,
February 17 at Noon, and the AMA Supercross Lites class race
will air on SPEED Friday, February 22 at Noon.

supercrossonline.com
pics from tedescophoto.com