Main Event Wins
Jason Lawrence 3 - Ryan Dungey 2
Jake Weimer 1 - Austin Stroupe 1
Main Event top-3
Jason Lawrence 5 - Ryan Dungey 3 - Brett Metcalfe 3
Austin Stroupe 3 - Jake Weimer 2 - Tommy Hahn 2
Justin Brayton 1 - Bobby Kiniry 1
Main Event Laps Lead
Jason Lawrence 47 - Ryan Dungey 26 - Austin Stroupe 15
Jake Weimer 5 - Dan Reardon 4 - Broc Hepler 3
Main Event Fastest Times
Jason Lawrence 5 - Ryan Dungey 2 - Brett Metcalfe 1
Heats Wins
Ryan Dungey 6 - Jason Lawrence 4
Jake Weimer 3 - Brett Metcalfe 1
Heats top-3
Ryan Dungey 7 - Jason Lawrence 6 - Brett Metcalfe 4
Austin Stroupe 4 - Justin Brayton 3 - Jake Weimer 3
Dan Reardon 3 - Chris Blose 2 - Broc Hepler 2
Kyle Cunningham 2 - Tommy Hahn 2 - Matt Lemoine 1
Billy Laninovich 1 - Michael Lapaglia - Zack Osborne 1
Practice Fasted Time
Jason Lawrence 5 - Ryan Dungey 2
Stantings Points Lead
Ryan Dungey 5 - Jason Lawrence 2
Stantings Points top-3
Ryan Dungey 7 - Jason Lawrence 6
Dan Reardon 3 - Justin Brayton 2
Broc Hepler 1 - Brett Metcalfe 1
Austin Stroupe 1
Weimer-30 Dungey-28 & Kiniry-45 at Phoenix
pic from transworldmotocross.com
Supercross Lites West Stats after Houston
Gracyk and Gosselaar on 450s in the East
A week or two ago, the AMA put out the call
for Lites West guys who might want to jump
to the big-bore bikes once the series moves
East, and it looks like Troy Lee Designs Red
Bull Honda’s Gavin Gracyk and Chris
Gosselaar will answer that call.
With the start of the AMA Supermoto season
just a few weeks off, don’t look for the TLD
big rig out that way. Gavin and Chris will be
riding out of Gavin’s standard home for the
outdoor season, the Cycra rig. vitalmx.com
Factory Riders Out (injured) in AMA SX-class
James Stewart - Monster Energy Kawasaki
Grant Langston – Team Yamaha
Ivan Tedesco – Red Bull Honda
Mike Alessi – Rockstar Makita Suzuki
Michael Byrne – Rockstar Makita Suzuki
pic from tedescophoto.com
Jason Lawrence Places 2nd at Houston – Puts 6 Points On Dungey For WSX Title
Monster Energy-backed Jason Lawrence (Yamaha of Troy) has taken
an eight-point deficit with three Western Supercross Lites class rounds
to go and turned it into a six- point lead in his favor, placing 2nd this
past weekend at Houston’s Reliant Stadium – Round Seven of 2008
Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship.
Lawrence, who trailed Ryan Dungey by as much as 34 points after
Anaheim 2, has been all over Dungey in the past several races,
winning three in a row (before Houston) while Dungey has struggled.
“I think my A-game is being smart,” said Lawrence from the podium.
“Dungey can win it (the final WSX race) by a mile and I’ll still win the
title.”
Lawrence, who had the fastest practice time (47.516) and was nearly
a half second faster than Dungey in the main event as well (48.246
to 48.726), led the contest early then seceded the lead to the hard-
charging Monster Energy-backed rookie Austin Stroupe.
“Congratulations to Austin on his first win,” said Lawrence.
Lawrence and the rest of the WSX Lites racers will have to gut out a
two-plus month wait until the WSX resumes in Seattle (April 26th).
“Whatever,” said Lawrence when asked of the time off. “Doesn’t
effect me a bit. I’m just going to get out and start training for the
Outdoor Nationals.”
Next up for the Monster Energy Supercross Western Lites
Championship is the April 26th finals in Seattle.
monsterenergy.com - pics from tedescophoto.com
Thor’s Austin Stroupe celebrates his first win of his AMA career in Houston
Since the start of the season, Stroupe has placed in the top 5 in 5
of the 7 west coast rounds, he’s grabbed the hole shot and
made the podium 3 times with 1 win. Not bad for a rookie.
In the Lites class, it was a five-way battle for the lead. Ryan
Dungey, Jason Lawrence, Jake Weimer, Thor’s Brett Metcalfe and
Thor’s Austin Stroupe made the race exciting and unpredictable.
Dungey started off in the lead, then lost it after stumbling in the
whoops. Stroupe then caught up to the top 4 and worked his way
through the pack, passing Lawrence for the lead on lap 6. It was
a close battle between Stroupe and Lawrence, but Stroupe stayed
in front and landed his first career AMA win!
Stoupe is now third in the Lites season point standings, with
teammate Brett Metcalfe in fourth. Stroupe and Metcalfe will get a
break while the AMA heads to the east coast – returning to the
west coast in Seattle on April 26th for an exciting fight for the #1
plate.
In the SX main, Thor's Chad Reed had a rough start and finished
the first lap in seventh. He worked his way through the pack,
trying to catch up to leader Kevin Windham. Thor's Josh Hill held
onto second for most of the race, until Reed came charging past
him on a mission to take over the... full story on thormx.com
Ryan Dungey finally fourth at Reliant Park
Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey will be taking off a few
months as the next and final round of the class will not be
held until late April. In the weekend’s race, young Dungey
was again extraordinarily fast in practice and in his heat race,
where he took the win. In the 15-lap main, Dungey got the
holeshot and was battling for the lead when he crashed twice.
In spite of this, he still charged hard on his Rockstar Makita
Suzuki RM-Z250 to bring home a strong fourth-place finish.
“This weekend started out pretty good. We were fastest in
the first practice session and then I won my heat race. In the
main, I got a great start on the Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-
Z250 and got the holeshot. I got passed but then I took over
the lead again. Then, I made a little mistake and went down.
I tried to push and catch those guys in front and went down
again. At that point, I just put my head down and tried to get
as many points as possible. I admit I’m a little disappointed
with how things have gone in these last few races. But we’re
still in the hunt for the championship and that’s what counts.
We have a lot of time between now and the last round in
Seattle, so I’m just going to focus on doing my program and
being positive.” full story on teamsuzuki.com
pic from vitalmx.com
Red Riders Race Report: Houston Supercross Lites
The Torco Racing Fuels Honda team had to be happy in Houston.
First of all there was Windham’s win, but in the Lites class, both
Dan Reardon and Jake Weimer had good showings in the first
heat. Reardon finished third, with Weimer in fifth. In the main,
the two riders’ positions switched. Weimer got an excellent start,
rounding the first lap in third, while Reardon was back in 14th.
Reardon began his march forward, riding through some tough
traffic but eventually battling his way up to a respectable sixth.
Weimer, on the other hand, was slugging it out with the fastest
riders in the field, passing, getting passed, and repassing in the
earliest laps. By lap four he was in a solid fourth, where he rode
most of the race. But on the last lap, Weimer had come within
striking distance of Brian Metcalfe. Metcalfe crashed, and Weimer
took over third. Yet the race was far from over. Within sight of
the finish, Weimer himself went down, but kept his bike running
and remounted without losing a spot—a well-earned third place
for the Torco Racing Fuels Honda rider! hondaredriders.com
Austin Stroupe Gets First Win in Houston
In only his seventh supercross race, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/
Kawasaki rider Austin Stroupe stood on the top step of the
podium after earning his first career AMA Supercross Lites win.
His teammate Brett Metcalfe finished fifth. In the Monster Energy
AMA Supercross, an FIM Championship main event, Monster
Energy Kawasaki’s Timmy Ferry earned his third straight podium,
finishing third at Reliant Stadium. Travis Preston finished 20th.
Everything is Bigger in Texas
They say everything is “Bigger in Texas” and nothing was bigger
on Saturday night than the ride by Stroupe to win his first race as
a professional. The 17-year-old rider used a good start to get
near the front of the field before taking the lead for good on lap
six. The win moves Stroupe to third in the series’ standings just
one point ahead of his teammate Metcalfe.
“It feels awesome,” said Stroupe. “When I saw the checkered flag
it was great. Near the end of the race I was just trying to get
good lap times and stay loose. I felt good coming into the season
and it just is awesome to get a win. It has been tough all season
and I’m just stoked.”
Three Times a Podium
For the third straight week, Ferry put his Kawasaki KX™450F on
the podium. After getting caught in traffic on the first lap, Ferry
fought his way through the pack to finish third. Ferry continues to
hold down the third spot in the championship standings.
“It was a good night,” said Ferry. “Third was just my spot. It was
a good ride and three podiums in a row keeps us up in the points.
I had to make some block passes in the corner after the short set
of whoops. It was tricky out there. It was rough and bumpy and
some of the ruts were down to the concrete floor. The track
challenged us and that is good for me.”
Fifth Place Finish
After finishing second in his heat race, Metcalfe carried that
momentum in the AMA Supercross Lites main event. Metcalfe
never ran lower than third until the last lap when he went down
on his own. Metcalfe quickly recovered to finish fifth. “It’s real
disappointing,” said Metcalfe. “It would have been nice to get
another podium. My front end washed out and that was it. I was
just trying too hard and I tried to get through that turn a little
better. Before the last lap the race was going well. After I went
down I was able to salvage a fifth but I it could have finished
much better.”
Something Spoke
For Preston, a broken spoke ended his night early. While battling
in traffic on the fourth lap, Preston and another rider made
contact and the foot-peg from the other bike broke a couple of
spokes on the front wheel. Preston wasn’t able to continue and
finished 20th.
“I got together with someone and their peg broke a couple of my
spokes,” said Preston. “Right now I need all the laps I can get so
it’s not good to pull off early. I was riding pretty good but I still
need to get better starts.”
full story on kawasaki.com
pics from tedescophoto.com
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
Boost Mobile/Yamaha of Troy's Jason Lawrence Extends Points Lead in Houston!
Jason Lawrence scored a second place finish in the
Supercross “Lites” Main Event at Reliant Stadium tonight,
to extend his lead in the overall Supercross “Lites/West”
Championship series points race to six points over
Championship rival, Ryan Dungey, of the Factory Suzuki
Team.
With just one round remaining, and eight weeks off until
that last event, Lawrence will use his time-off to further
refine his program in preparation for the Supercross
“Lites/West” season final on April 26, 2008 at the Seattle
Kingdome in Seattle, Washington. vitalmx.com
Houston Supercross Lites class Main Event
Once again it was a clinic on how to properly choke one's self out
of championship contention courtesy of Rockstar Makita Suzuki's
Ryan Dungey. The one-time points leader needed a great start and
smooth pace to best the red-hot Jason Lawrence and his Yamaha
of Troy mount.
With the Progressive Direct holeshot under his belt, the first part of
the equation was complete, but a pair of crashes on Lap 1 and Lap
4 sent the RM-Z rider from first to 13th. While the mechanics
wrestled the suicidal gun away from Roger DeCoster, Monster Pro
Circuit Kawasaki's Brett Metcalfe gave way to Lawrence and PC
teammate Austin Stroupe for the lead on Lap 2.
Rookie Stroupe followed J-Law for four laps before making his
move stick and then held the point position until the finish of the
15-lap main event.
"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."
Lawrence took second place and Metty was well on his way to the
box as well before a hard-charging Jake Weimer on his Torco
Racing Fuels Honda made the pass on the final circuit, as did the
rebounding Dungey to salvage fourth.
"I am going to the next race, and I plan to do exactly what I did
here tonight," said Lawrence. "I will be ready for the next race."
That race is a long way off as the series heads to the East Coast
until finally returning to Seattle on April 26. motorcycle-usa.com
pic from vitalmx.com
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
Houston AMA Supercross Lites class Results
2008 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series
Reliant Park - Houston, TX - February 16, 2008
AMA Supercross Lites West Round 7: Houston
Supercross Lites Heat 1 top-10
1. Ryan Dungey (Suzuki)
2. Austin Stroupe (Kawasaki)
3. Dan Reardon (Honda)
4. Wil Hahn (Yamaha)
5. Jake Weimer (Honda)
6. Tommy Hahn (Kawasaki)
7. Matt Lemoine (Yamaha)
8. Brady Sheren (Suzuki)
9. Davide Esposti (Suzuki)
10. Shaun Skinner (Honda) NQ
Supercross Lites Heat 2 top-10
1. Jason Lawrence (Yamaha)
2. Brett Metcalfe (Kawasaki)
3. Zack Osborne (Yamaha)
4. Bobby Kiniry (Honda)
5. Kyle Cunningham (Honda)
6. Michael Lapaglia (Suzuki)
7. Chris Blose (Suzuki)
8. Adam Chatfield (Suzuki)
9. Michael Willard (Honda)
10. Bradley Graham (KTM) NQ
Supercross Lites LCQ top-5
1. Billy Laninovich (KTM)
2. Michael Blose (KTM)
3. Jeff Northrop (Honda)
4. Bradley Graham (KTM)
5. Ryan Grantom (Honda) NQ
Supercross Lites Main Event
1. Austin Stroupe (Kawasaki)
2. Jason Lawrence (Yamaha)
3. Jake Weimer (Honda)
4. Ryan Dungey (Suzuki)
5. Brett Metcalfe (Kawasaki)
6. Dan Reardon (Honda)
7. Wil Hahn (Yamaha)
8. Michael Lapaglia (Suzuki)
9. Matt Lemoine (Yamaha)
10. Bobby Kiniry (Honda)
11. Kyle Cunningham (Honda)
12. Tommy Hahn (Kawasaki)
13. Billy Laninovich (KTM))
14. Michael Blose (KTM)
15. Chris Blose (Suzuki)
16. Jeff Northrop (Honda)
17. Adam Chatfield (Suzuki)
18. Bradley Graham (KTM)
19. Brady Sheren (Suzuki)
20. Michael Willard (Honda)
21. Zack Osborne (Yamaha)
22. Davide Esposti (Suzuki)
AMA Supercross Lites West Standings top-15
1. Jason Lawrence (Yamaha) 135 points – 3 wins/5 top-3
2. Ryan Dungey (Suzuki) 129 points - 2 wins/3 top-3
3. Austin Stroupe (Kawasaki) 113 points – 1 win/3 top-3
4. Brett Metcalfe (Kawasaki) 112 points - 3 top-3
5. Tommy Hahn (Kawasaki) 101 points – 2 top-3
6. Dan Reardon (Honda) 95 points
7. Justin Brayton (KTM) 85 points - 1 top-3
8. Wil Hahn (Yamaha) 70 points
9. Bobby Kiniry (Honda) 68 points – 1 top-3
10. Billy Laninovich (KTM) 62 points
11. Gavin Gracyk (Honda) 62 points
12. Broc Hepler (Yamaha) 59 points – 1 top-3
13. Kyle Cunningham (Honda) 57 points
14. Jake Weimer (Honda) 55 points - 1 win/2 top-3
15. Chris Blose (Suzuki) 52 points
Justin Brayton AMA Interview -ozzy go-
Coming into 2008, MDK KTM’s Justin Brayton was my dark-
horse pick to capture his first AMA Supercross win in the
West Coast Lites division - and with his third place finish at
Anaheim 1, he reinforced that. Although #114 has yet to
back that podium spot up, he’s nonetheless right in the mix
with the anticipated favorites. In this stacked class, the
transplanted Iowan is currently sixth in points; only eleven
points out of third. I recently tracked down the 23-year old
via cell phone to get his perspective on his supercross
season, and what he has planned for his upcoming break.
interview on amamotocross.com - pics from
tedescophoto.com
Lawrence Steals Lites Class Points, Will Stage Defense in Houston Saturday Night
In a startling turn of events, the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites
class’ championship has changed hands and was taken over by Yamaha of
Troy’s Jason Lawrence, of Carlsbad, Calif., last Saturday night at San Diego’s
Qualcomm Stadium. Lawrence captured his third consecutive AMA
Supercross Lites class win and removed Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Ryan
Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., from the enviable number-one position. This
Saturday night for as low as $10, fans can watch this epic duel go down at
Houston’s Reliant Stadium. The 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.
As Dungey, who had a 22-point lead earlier this season, proved last
weekend, the lead can change with one bad race. He left Anaheim 1 with a
three-point lead over Jason Lawrence. He went into Anaheim 2 nine points
ahead of Lawrence. Heading into San Francisco, he was 22 points ahead of
Broc Hepler. He led Dan Reardon by 19 points heading into Anaheim 3, and
at San Diego he left two points behind Lawrence.
“I was keeping tabs on where Ryan (Dungey) was during the main event,”
said Lawrence after last weekend’s race. “He crashed for the third weekend
in a row. He cracked under the pressure. We have two more races to go,
and I am up by two points. I am trying to win this championship. I can have
the target on my back for the rest of my life because I do ok under
pressure.”
In the AMA Supercross class, Team San Manuel’s Chad Reed, of Tampa, Fla.,
brings a solid, yet vulnerable 35-point lead in the championship points race
to Houston. Reed is a two-time AMA Supercross class winner at Houston.
Reed was challenged by Red Bull Honda’s Davi Millsaps, of Cairo, Ga., last
weekend in San Diego where the two traded positions throughout the AMA
Supercross class main event. full story on amamotocross.com
pic from racerxill.com
AMA Supercross Teams Rankings
2008 Teams Rankings after San Diego top-22
1. Rockstar Makita Suzuki - 229 points +1
2. Torco Racing Fuels Honda - 228 points -1
3. Red Bull Honda - 223 points
4. San Manuel Yamaha - 217 points
5. MDK KTM - 205 points
6. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki - 186 points
7. Team Yamaha - 159 points
7. Monster Energy Kawasaki – 159 points +1
9. Boost Mobile/Yamaha of Troy - 121 points
10. Xtreme Team Green - 109 points
11. Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull Honda - 87 points
12. Butler Brothers/DNA/BTO Sports Honda - 75 points +2
13. Fun Center Suzuk I - 74 points +2
14. Toyota/Gibbs Racing Yamaha - 69 points -2
15. MDK/Wonder Warthog Racing - 68 points -3
16. Star Racing/Lucas Oils Yamaha - 60 points
17. Team Solitaire/MB1 Racing - 62 points
18. Hart & Huntington/Rockstar Honda - 45 points +2
19. Jayco/Richardson’s RV Suzuki - 44 points +2
20. Team Atomic Racing – 43 points – 1
21. Team SVM - 36 points -2
22. Hooters/Tamer Billet/Moto XXX - 36 points +2
pic from motocross.com
Tommy Hahn Xtreme Interview: Post San Diego -ozzy go-
Tommy Hahn has turned on the heat as of late. What looked to
be a top ten season for the Motosport Kawasaki Xtreme Team
Green rider has shifted gears and now has Hahn looking at a
possible top three...or better.
In only their first year as a professional team, Xtreme is already
showing signs of duplicating their success in the amateur ranks
at the next level. A success not so well known by many other
first year teams.
While there is still the question of the east, Motosport Kawasaki
Xtreme Team Green seems to be heading in the right direction.
As for Hahn, he now sits only four points behind third place rider
Bret Metcalfe and only 22 points back from Jason Lawrence in
first. With Houston and Seattle still to go, it's sure to be an epic
end to an already epic season. interview on
xtremeteamgreen.com - pic from vitalmx.com
Bobby Kiniry RacerX Interview –ozzy go-
Monday Conversation with Bobby Kiniry February 11, 2008
Bobby Kiniry isn’t a name that was on a lot of lips when people
were speaking of the podium threats for the 2008 Lites West SX
Championship, but as they say, there’s a reason why the races
are run. If we knew who would finish where before the drop of
the gate, there would be no point in holding the race. Kiniry has
shown good speed all season, but it finally came together for him
in San Diego, where he got his first-ever AMA Supercross
podium. Incidentally, it was also Team Solitaire’s and MB1’s
first podium finish. Interview on racerxill.com
Jason Lawrence Fights Back From 34-Point Deficit to Lead
In winning the San Diego WSX Lites class race before 65,000
fans on his adopted home turf of Qualcomm Stadium – his third-
straight win of the Monster Energy Supercross season - Monster
Energy-backed Jason Lawrence (Yamaha of Troy) has erased a
34-point deficit to take the overall WSX points lead, 113-111,
over Ryan Dungey.
Round Six of Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World
Championship, got underway Saturday afternoon with Lawrence
laying down the law as he usually does in the practice sessions.
Topping points leader Dungey, the Monster/PC/Kawasaki racers
and Honda factory riders, Lawrence would open up even further
in the second practice session – topping Dungey by nearly a half
second.
“I like sending a message home in practice – something I’ve
been able to do pretty consistently here this year,” said
Lawrence.
Lawrence was set to do the same in his heat race (No. 2), but
instead got tangled with another rider at the start and came out
dead last after the first of six laps. The Carlsbad, Calif.,
transplant then began his march to qualifying position, picking
off rider after rider before he got up to around 10th place. There
Lawrence would get into an exciting battle with Justin Brayton
for a couple laps, before finally getting past Brayton when both
racers went for the same spot in a corner.
To make the heat race that much more exciting, having already
come from last to a transfer spot, Lawrence crashed – again –
on the last lap and just barely made it into the main, finishing
9th overall.
“That was probably the wildest heat race I’ve had all year,” said
Lawrence. “I just never gave up.”
Never giving up are some of Lawrence’s words that stand as a
solid lesson for up-and-coming racers. Remember, after Round
Three of Monster Energy Supercross Lawrence trailed Dungey
by 34 points. THIRTY FOUR points. In an abbreviated regional
Lites class supercross season that’s a seemingly insurmountable
points total to overcome. However, Lawrence’s gritty
determination – coupled with the fact he’s the fastest WSX Lites
class racer out there – full story on monsterenergy.com