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Stewart Stays Perfect in Wortham
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Villopoto Goes Back-to-Back in AMA Motocross Lites
WORTHAM, Texas (June 8, 2008) – In his first visit to Freestone County Raceway, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., extended his winning streak to three at the Monster Energy Freestone Motocross National Presented by Yamaha, Kicker Audio, and Berkey’s Plumbing, round three of the 2008 Toyota Motocross Championship Presented by FMF. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto, of Poulsbo, Wash., swept the day’s motos to earn his second-straight overall victory in AMA Motocross Lites.
Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Mike Alessi, of Victorville, Calif., challenged Stewart early-on all day, earning the BTOSports.com Holeshot Award in the each moto and becoming the first rider other than Stewart to lead a lap this season. In moto one, an overzealous Stewart made a mistake while making his move to the front and tipped the bike over. He rebounded quickly and overcame the gap Alessi had opened to win the moto. In the second moto, Stewart made quick work of passing Alessi and quickly pulled away to victory.
“It’s a little nerve-racking being up front,” said Stewart. “You get into your own zone. I rode good today in both motos. It was really hot but it was good. I think the track is too fast. A real motocross (track) shouldn’t be two minutes (a lap) so I’m looking forward to moving on. I think I’m riding a little bit different this year. I’m standing up more. The bike is essentially the same, but I think it’s my riding that’s different. I’m full steam ahead (this year). This season is different than any before.”
Alessi returned to form after an off-weekend to finish second in each moto and second overall. Red Bull Honda’s Andrew Short, of Smithville, Texas, completed his best weekend of the season with third and fourth place moto finishes for third overall.
In the AMA Lites class, Villopoto continued to run away from the field. Grabbing the BTOSports.com Holeshot Award in moto one, he quickly opened a significant lead and cruised to his fifth-consecutive moto victory. In moto two, MDK KTM’s Ryan Sipes, of Vine Grove, Ky., sped to the BTOSports.com Holeshot Award and held the lead through lap one. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Austin Stroupe, of Corona, Calif., and Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., followed in second and third, respectively. Villopoto found himself mired in the top-10 but put in a stellar ride to march into first, passing Dungey for the lead about a third of the way into the moto.
“I wouldn’t call it a season yet,” said Villopoto. “It’s still really early, but it’s nice to get some wins and get a points lead. Ryan (Dungey) is riding good, so I’m going to have to ride hard every weekend. It was definitely hot. This has been the first weekend like that (this season). It puts a toll on everyone and I really just had to keep my eye on Ryan and keep turning laps.”
Dungey continued to keep pace with Villopoto in the standings, bringing home second overall with dual second place moto finishes. Stroupe made his return to the podium after a week hiatus, scoring two third-place motos for third overall.
Stewart currently holds a 36-point lead over teammate Ferry in the AMA Motocross standings while Villopoto has a 15-point advantage over Dungey in AMA Motocross Lites.
The AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Presented by FMF moves to the East Coast next weekend for the 32nd Annual Kawasaki/Monster Energy High Point Motocross National Presented by Centra Bank from High Point Raceway in Mount Morris, Pa.
AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Presented by FMF
Monster Energy Freestone Motocross National
Freestone County Raceway – Wortham, Tex.
June 8, 2008
Round 3 of 12
Motocross (Moto Finish)
1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 1-1
2. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki, 2-2
3. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 3-6
4. Timmy Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki, 7-3
5. Davi Millsaps, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 5-4
6. Michael Byrne, Newman, Ga., Suzuki, 8-5
7. Jeff Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Honda, 13-7
8. Charles Summey, Huntersville, N.C., Yamaha, 9-11
9. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., KTM, 14-9
10. Antonio Balbi, Riverside, Calif., Kawasaki, 10-13
Motocross Class Point Standings
1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 150
2. Timmy Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki, 114
3. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki, 111
4. Davi Millsaps, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 110
5. Ivan Tedesco, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 83
6. Michael Byrne, Newman, Ga., Suzuki, 78
7. Andrew Short, Smithville, Teas., Honda, 71
8. Jeff Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Honda, 62
9. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., KTM, 59
10. Cody Cooper, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 57
Motocross Lites (Moto Finish)
1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 1-1
2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 2-2
3. Austin Stroupe, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki, 3-3
4. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Honda, 4-4
5. Thomas K. Hahn, Alvord, Texas, Kawasaki, 6-5
6. Dan Reardon, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 11-7
7. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha, 10-8
8. Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Kawasaki, 9-9
9. Andrew McFarlane, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki, 7-12
10. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Yamaha, 16-6
Motocross Lites Point Standings
1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 141
2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 126
3. Austin Stroupe, Lincolnton, N.C., Kawasaki, 120
4. Brett Metcalfe, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 96
5. Jason Lawrence, Murrieta, Ga., Yamaha, 95
6. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Honda, 89
7. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha, 56
8. Tommy Hahn, Alvord, Texas, Kawasaki, 54
9. Dan Reardon, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 53
10. Trey Canard, Elk City, Okla., Honda, 47
Interview opportunities are available to the media by contacting AMA Toyota Motocross Championship media coordinator Brandon Short via email at Media@MXNationals.com or by phone at 951-203-2605.
For more information on the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship, presented by FMF, log on to www.amamotocross.com for live timing and scoring at @theWireLIVE!. Racer X Illustrated will host a new and improved webcast on www.motocross.com, with live racing action hosted by Jason Weigandt. The Racer X Motocross Show on Motocross.com has also been added on Saturday night of each race weekend, featuring practice footage and interviews taken earlier in the day.
Credential requests for each round of the 2008 AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Presented by FMF must be submitted via email to Media@MXNationals.com three weeks prior to the race. Media members interested in interviews with the riders of the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Presented by FMF should contact Brandon at 951-203-2605 or email Media@MXNationals.com.
About the National Promoters Group (NPG)
The National Promoters Group (NPG) comprises 12 individual promoters of the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Presented by FMF which sanctions outdoor motocross events throughout the United States, and remains the Nation's premier outdoor motocross championship series. NPG's mission is to raise awareness of motocross racing through the production of professional championship racing events nationwide.
About AMA Racing
AMA Racing is the competition arm of the American Motorcyclist Association and is the leading sanctioning body for motorcycle sport in the United States. Its professional properties include the Monster Energy® AMA Supercross Series, an FIM World Championship, the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF, the AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, the AMA Flat Track Championship, the AMA Supermoto Championship and the AMA Pro ATV Championship. In amateur and pro-am competition, AMA Racing sanctions over 4000 events in 24 different disciplines and supports over 110 thousand active members. For more information about professional racing, visit www.amaproracing.com. Accredited media outlets can also access an on line Press Room at www.amaproracing.com/pressroom. For amateur racing information visit www.amadirectlink.com/amrace/amasports.asp.
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