Reed maintains podium record with 2nd position in Houston

San Manuel Yamaha rider Chad Reed saw his run of five
consecutive victories come to an end in Houston for the seventh
round of seventeen in the 2008 AMA Supercross series, a FIM
World Championship, but the Australian continued his 100%
podiumrecord with second position and guards a 32 point lead in
the competition.

The 42nd Supercross in Houston did not witness a fourth straight
sweep for Yamaha in both classes even though Jason Lawrence
did also climb the rostrum in second spot in the Lites West Coast
category to remain poised at the top of the standings with one
round to go.

In 1974 Pierre Karsmakers marked Yamaha’s first success in
Houston and the manufacturer has enjoyed thirteen more
triumphs since then, Reed himself contributing two of those.

In a so-far-dominant campaign the number ‘22’ was not able to
increase his season statistics at the Reliant Stadium. Kevin
Windham, who helped design the short layout, gained his first 25
points of the year after taking the lead on the first lap and
setting the pace at the front. Reed, who had started badly, pulled
through the pack to pass brand-mate Josh Hill and secure second
place at mid-race distance but could not close to Windham’s rear
wheel. Tim Ferry was third.

That’s a tough one to swallow. I gave it everything I’ve got.
Kevin rode a good race, and I want to congratulate him but this is
a disappointment,” said Reed, who took his third career runner-
up position at Houston and has never dropped out of the top
three at the event.

“It was just one of those nights,” added the 25 year old who has
totalled 31 victories and became the first racer to win all the
Californian rounds with his chequered flag last week in San Diego.
“Once I got into second, I couldn’t cut into Kevin’s lead. We’ve
had a good season, and it’s still good to be up on the podium.”

18 year old Hill was running as high as second before being
overtaken by Reed and Ferry. With Broc Hepler and Grant
Langston still absent with physical ailments (broken hand and
an eye problem respectively) the teenager produced a positive
showing for his second best result of the season so far.

In the Lites category Yamaha of Troy’s Jason Lawrence again
made the podium for the fourth meeting in succession. His
second position on the YZ250F behind Austin Stroupe and some
costly mistakes by title rival Ryan Dungey means that the 20
year old stretched his advantage in the championship by five
points, to six in total. The final round of the West coast series will
take place on 26th April in Seattle as the East coast championship
now cranks into life.

“I think that might be my main advantage, being smart –
something Dungey hasn’t been all year. That’s four races in a row
that he’s crashed out,” said Lawrence. “He’s handing me this title,
and I’ve got one more race to hold it together. I’m going to go to
that race and do exactly what I did right here. Dungey can win it
by a mile, but I’m going to get the title.”

The schedule refuses to ease for the riders and teams and they
continue onto Atlanta for round eight next weekend. yamaha-
racing.com - pics from tedescophoto.com