Anaheim I: Series pre-event news 2010-01-04

2010 Monster Energy Supercross Championship Opens at Anaheim's Angel Stadium; Stewart Set to Defend Title Against World's Top Monster Energy Supercross Riders

ANAHEIM, Calif. (January 4, 2010) -- Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, begins its 2010 season Saturday, January 9 at Anaheim's Angel Stadium. Defending AMA Supercross class champion James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., will stage his title defense against the world's top supercross racers, including Chad Reed, Ryan Villopoto, Josh Grant and Ryan Dungey.

A pre-race press conference will be held inside Angel Stadium at the Diamond Club on Thursday, January 7 from Noon - 2 p.m. PT, featuring Stewart, former two-time AMA Supercross class champion Reed, reigning Anaheim 1 race winner Grant, former AMA Supercross Lites class champion Villopoto and reigning AMA Supercross Lites class champion Dungey. Fans that have purchased a season pass for Supercross LIVE! can tune into the press conference for free at www.SupercrossOnline.com beginning at Noon.

Last year at the Anaheim opener, JGRMX/Toyota/Yamaha rookie Josh Grant, of Riverside, Calif., won the first AMA Supercross class race of his career before 42,309 fans. San Manuel Yamaha's Stewart picked up the AMA Supercross class holeshot as Grant and Rockstar/Makita Suzuki's Reed followed in third. Reed, the defending Monster Energy Supercross champion, quickly moved into second place and began his chase on Stewart.

On lap two, Reed passed Stewart, the 2007 AMA Supercross class champion. Stewart answered back on lap six as he regained the lead, but just a few turns later Reed and Stewart collided, causing each of them to crash. Upon reentering the race, Stewart was hit by GEICO Powersports Honda's Kevin Windham. Stewart was unable to restart his bike and return to the race, while Reed reentered the race in third place.

Grant took over the lead and rode to a flawless win. Honda Red Bull Racing's Andrew Short finished second and Reed held on for third. This dramatic start to the season set the stage for one of the greatest seasons in Monster Energy Supercross history.

"I don't know what to say right now," said Grant. "To get my first win out of the way is huge, and I am so pumped. I saw those guys (Stewart and Reed) on the ground and just raced hard to the win."

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Jake Weimer, of Rupert, Idaho, won the opening race of the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class championship.

GEICO Powersports Honda's Dan Reardon, of Menifee, Calif., opened the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class main event with the holeshot, leading Weimer and KTM's Justin Brayton, of Murrieta, Calif., through turn one.

Defending class champion Jason Lawrence was involved in a massive pile-up that collected several riders, including defending Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites class champion Trey Canard, of Shawnee, Okla.

Weimer moved around Reardon on lap two and began to extend his lead. While riding in second and third place, respectively, Reardon and Brayton crashed into one another, losing several valuable positions. This allowed Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Ryan Morais, of Murrieta, Calif., to move into second.

Rockstar/Makita Suzuki's Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., started the night's race in 10th place and finished third. Morais finished second and Weimer scored the second AMA Supercross Lites class win of his career to take the early points lead.

"This was a great start to the season," said Weimer. "It couldn't be any better than tonight. I look forward to a great season."

The first AMA Supercross race was held at Anaheim on December 4, 1976, with Marty Smith winning on a Honda. Ricky Carmichael and Jeremy McGrath share the all-time AMA Supercross class win record at Angel Stadium with eight wins each. In the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class, three riders have swept all three races at Angel Stadium: Villopoto, Ivan Tedesco and Ernesto Fonseca. Stewart, Windham and McGrath are the only riders in history to win in the AMA Supercross Lites class and AMA Supercross class at Anaheim.

Tickets are available at www.SupercrossOnline.com, by phone at 1-800-745-3000 or 714-740-2000, the Angel Stadium box office, Ticketmaster outlets, www.ticketmaster.com, and participating Yamaha dealerships. Club Level tickets are $75; Diamond Club seats and Trackside Seats are $50; Extreme seats and Upper Deck seats are $35. All seats are $5 more on the day of the race. Practice and qualifying begin at 12:30 p.m. and racing begins at 7:00 p.m. Just recycle any empty Monster Energy can at the Pit Entrance for your free admission to the Pit Party with a valid Saturday event ticket from 12:30PM -- 6:00PM. Pit Passes will also be available for purchase for $10 on the event day at the Angel Stadium box office.

-source: ama