Anaheim II: Series round three preview

Dungey Takes Over AMA Supercross Class Points Lead as Monster Energy Supercross Returns to Anaheim's Angel Stadium

AURORA, Ill. (January 19, 2009) -- Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, returns to Angel Stadium this Saturday, as the gate drops for the 52nd AMA Supercross class race in the city that is called the home of supercross. Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki's Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., leads the AMA Supercross class points standings and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Jake Weimer of Rupert, Idaho, leads the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class points standings.

Media Day will be held Thursday, January 21 at Noon, inside the Diamond Club, featuring San Manuel Yamaha's Stewart and his teammate Josh Hill. Stewart and Hill will be available for interviews and will ride the track for the media.

Two weeks ago when the 2010 Monster Energy Supercross championship kicked off at Angel Stadium, it was Stewart and Weimer that drew first blood in their respective race divisions. Last weekend at Phoenix's Chase Field Dungey won his first career AMA Supercross class victory en route to taking the points lead.

In Phoenix, Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., who came into the race as the championship's points leader, was involved in a frightening crash during his heat race and transferred to the main event after winning the last chance qualifier despite the pain and soreness from the heat race crash. Dungey opened the main event with his second straight SPIKE Holeshot Award, as Monster Energy Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto, of Poulsbo, Wash., and Dungey's Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki teammate Austin Stroupe, of Lincolnton, N.C. followed in second and third respectively.

Dungey used the clear track in front of him to win the race while the drama unfolded behind him.

"I'm just pumped on the nice performance (tonight)," said Dungey. "This is a big step in my career. I owe a lot of thanks to all the people supporting me. I'm glad to get this out of the way and I'll never forget it. It's early in the season and last week was tough. James was on it and I hope he's ok. It's just great to come out with a win here in round two."

Stewart and rival Chad Reed, of Tampa, Fla., started mid-pack and followed one another throughout the early part of the race until Reed attempted to pass the reigning champion on lap five, causing a collision and subsequent fall for both riders. Reed failed to finish for the second week in a row while Stewart soldiered home in 15th. Villopoto rode to a solid runner-up finish while San Manuel Yamaha's Josh Hill, of Yoncalla, Ore., landed in third.

In the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class, it was Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Josh Hansen, of Elbert, Colo., who claimed the SPIKE Holeshot Award with GEICO Powersports Honda teammates Blake Wharton, of Pilot Point, Texas, and Trey Canard, of Shawnee, Okla., following in second and third, respectively.

As the field entered the section before the first triple, Hansen lost control of his bike and suffered a hard crash. Wharton assumed the lead and would hold it until lap 12 when Rockstar Energy Suzuki/Canidae's Ryan Morais, of Murrieta, Calif., made the pass with Weimer close behind. The next lap, Weimer made the pass for the win.

"I struggled a bit for some reason," said Weimer. "I got my first win (in Phoenix) and I love it here, but I always struggle in the sand (section) every year. I made some mistakes in the beginning and never thought I'd be up here. This is kind of a surprise but it's great."

Morais finished just behind in second while Wharton held on for third.

Dungey currently holds a nine-point advantage over Villopoto in the AMA Supercross standings while Weimer leads Morais by eight points in the AMA Supercross Lites Western Regional standings.

The AMA Supercross class will air on CBS Sports Sunday, January 24 at 1:00 p.m. EST and the AMA Supercross Lites class will air on SPEED Saturday, January 24 at 10:00 p.m. EST.

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. Stewart can tie McGrath and Carmichael on the all-time win list in Anaheim with a win this weekend. 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