AMA

Bridgestone secures titles at Millville

Bridgestone Clinches Both AMA Motocross Titles on Same Day Stewart Wins 1st in Motocross, Villopoto Takes 3rd Straight Motocross Lites MILLVILLE, Minn. (Aug. 19, 2008) - Bridgestone extended its American motorcycle dirt racing dominance by ...

Published: Aug 20, 2008, 7:18 PM

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Bridgestone Clinches Both AMA Motocross Titles on Same Day
Stewart Wins 1st in Motocross, Villopoto Takes 3rd Straight Motocross Lites

MILLVILLE, Minn. (Aug. 19, 2008) - Bridgestone extended its American motorcycle dirt racing dominance by wrapping up both championships Sunday in the AMA Toyota Motocross National Championship Presented by FMF. James Stewart clinched the AMA Motocross title by winning both main motos at Spring Creek Motocross Park, while Ryan Villopoto made a sensational recovery from an early spill in his second moto to nail down his third consecutive AMA Motocross Lites crown.

For Stewart, rider of the #7 Monster Energy Kawasaki on Bridgestone tires, it marks the sixth major AMA title of his incredible career, including winning the 2007 AMA Supercross championship and the 2002 and '04 Motocross Lites crowns. All of Stewart's professional AMA Supercross and Motocross wins and titles have come on Bridgestone tires.

Stewart, 22, continued his amazing unbeaten Motocross season by easily winning both motos at Spring Creek. With just two remaining events, he is 20-0 in races and 10-0 in overall motos this season.

"The track was really tough today," said Stewart. "There were a lot of ruts and it was really rough. We choose the right Bridgestone tires and I was able to pull a really big gap in the second moto. It feels really good to win the championship and we couldn't have done it without the consistent Bridgestone tires."

Villopoto, aboard the #1 Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki on Bridgestone tires, won the first Motocross Lites moto easily Sunday, but crashed on the opening lap of the second moto and dropped to the back half of the 40-bike field. Needing a top-eight finish to clinch the championship, he raced back into the top four by the fifth lap and finished second to fellow Bridgestone rider Ryan Dungey to sew up hi s third straight Motocross Lites crown - again, all on Bridgestone tires. It was a fitting way to celebrate the 20th birthday earlier in the week for Villopoto, who also won the 2007 West Region Supercross crown.

Dungey, racing on his home track in the Rockstar/Makita Suzuki, edged Villopoto for the overall moto on this day, but it wasn't enough to prevent Villopoto from the title three-peat.

"I really wanted to win both motos," said Villopoto. "To win the championship is great, but I wanted to get the overall win, too. Everything on my bike was great today. My engine gave me good power and my Bridgestone tires gave me all the grip I needed to fight my way through the field in the second moto."

Bridgestone has easily been the dominant winning tire in AMA Supercross and Motocross competitions over the past 13 seasons. Adding Stewart's and Villopoto's accomplishments over the weekend, Bridgestone has shod four straight Motocross and five consecutive Motocross Lites champions. Since 1996, Bridgestone tires have been on 19 of 26 national season champions in Motocross and Motocross Lites, and 25 of a possible 39 national season champions in Supercross and Supercross Lites.

"Bridgestone would like to congratulate James Stewart, Ryan Villopoto and their teams for such an impressive display all season long," said Bob Graham, General Manager, Motorcycle/Kart Products, Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC. "For both riders to clinch their titles with two events remaining shows just how tremendous they have been this summer. Motocross racing is an extreme challenge for a tire maker, with all the different types of tracks, terrain and conditions, but Bridgestone has risen to the challenge time and time again to provide winning tires for AMA national champions. We are proud that James, Ryan and so m any other racing greats over the years have put their trust in the Bridgestone brand to take them to the top."

In AMA Supercross and Motocross national competition, Bridgestone is the exclusive tire supplier to the factory Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha teams, plus the Pro-Circuit Kawasaki team.

About Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC: Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) is a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world's largest tire and rubber company. BFNT develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires. The company is focused on wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off road, motorcycle, agricultural and other tires to its customers in North America. In addition, through its industry-leading Bandag brand, BFNT develops, manufactures, markets and sells retreading materials and equipment.

Bridgestone-equipped AMA Motocross National Champions: 2008-James Stewart, 2007-Grant Langston, 2006-Ricky Carmichael, 2005-Ricky Carmichael, 2001-Ricky Carmichael, 2000-Ricky Carmichael, 1998-Doug Henry, 1997-Jeff Emig, 1996-Jeff Emig.

Bridgestone-equipped AMA Motocross Lites National Champions: 2008-Ryan Villopoto, 2007-Ryan Villopoto, 2006-Ryan Villopoto, 2005-Ivan Tedesco, 2004-James Stewart, 2002-James Stewart, 2001-Michael Brown, 1999-Ricky Carmichael, 1998-Ricky Carmichael, 1997-Ricky Carmichael.

Bridgestone-equipped AMA Supercross National Champions: 2008-Chad Reed, 2007-James Stewart, 2006-Ricky Carmichael, 2005-Ricky Carmichael, 2004-Chad Reed, 2001-Ricky Carmichael, 2000-Jeremy McGrath, 1999-Jeremy McGrath, 1998-Jeremy McGrath, 1997-Jeff Emig, 1996-Jeff Emig.

Bridgestone-equipped AMA Supercross Lites National Champions: 2007-Ben Townley (East), Ryan Villopoto (West), 2006-Grant Langston (W), 2005-Grant Langston (E), Ivan Tedesco (W), 2004-James Stewart (E), Ivan Tedesco (W), 2003-James Stewart (W), 2002-Travis Preston (W), 2000-Shae Bentley (W), 1999-Nathan Ramsey (W), 1998-Ricky Carmichael (E), John Dowd (W), 1997-Kevin Windham (W), 1996-Mickael Pichon (E).

-credit: bridgestone

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