Monster Energy Supercross Points Lead Tied as Championship Heads South to Atlanta’s Georgia Dome2010-02-23 05:17Ryan Dungey and Ryan Villopoto sit atop the AMA Supercross class points lead, knotted at 145 points apiece as Monster Energy Supercross, an FIM World Championship, heads south this weekend to Atlanta’s Georgia Dome. Christophe Pourcel leads the Eastern regional AMA Supercross Lites class points race after winning the opening race of the season last weekend at Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium before 60,019 fans. Media day is Thursday, February 25 from Noon-2:00 in the Georgia Dome Media Suites, featuring Justin Brayton from the Joe Gibbs Yamaha team will be available for interviews and will ride the track for the media. Heading into last weekend’s feature in Indianapolis, it was San Manuel Yamaha’s Josh Hill that was tied with Dungey for the AMA Supercross class points lead. In a season that has seen four different winners in seven races, anticipation runs high for this weekend’s race at the Georgia Dome. Hill finished ninth and dropped back to third place in season standings. In last weekend’s AMA Supercross class main event, Honda Red Bull Racing’s Davi Millsaps, of Murrieta, Calif., won the Spike Holeshot Award with GEICO Powersports Honda’s Kevin Windham, of Centreville, Miss., and Villopoto following in second and third, respectively. As Millsaps and Windham battled for the lead, it was Windham’s resilience that prevailed as he moved into the number-one position. On lap 11, Villopoto moved past Windham for the lead and Dungey moved into second place on lap 12. The trio would finish in that order – Villopoto, Dungey and Windham. “Going out of the last chance I had the outside gate,” said Villopoto, who failed to finish his heat race after a crash and had to qualify for the main event through the last chance qualifier. “I was second to last to line up (for the main event) and I really just can’t thank the guys at Monster Energy Kawasaki enough. It was the fastest bike out there and I was able to get a good holeshot. “Starting on the outside there killed me,” he continued. “I was able to make something of it, which was awesome.” In the opening race of the 2010 Eastern regional AMA Supercross Lites class race, GEICO Powersports Honda’s Justin Barcia, of Ochlocknee, Ga., won the Spike Holeshot Award with Pourcel and Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Austin Stroupe, of Lincolnton, N.C., in tow. Pourcel didn’t waste any time in passing Barcia for the lead before he went on to lead all 15 laps of the main event. Stroupe finished second and Barcia, in the first professional AMA Supercross Lites class of his career, finished third. “I just felt pretty good on my Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki,” said Pourcel. “Everything was ok today for me so I am just really happy to win the race tonight. The track was pretty tight tonight and I needed to win the race so coming into the main event I just gave my best (effort).” Last year in Atlanta, San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart, of Dade City, Fla., earned his seventh win in a row and seventh victory of the season en route to stealing the points lead from Reed, of Tampa, Fla. In the AMA Supercross Lites class, Pourcel grabbed his second win in a row in the Eastern Regional Championship to extend his points lead. “The start was great,” said Stewart after the race last year. “The San Manuel Yamaha pulled another holeshot. It was a good race for me. The track was tough but we came out on top. I’ve always liked the ‘ATL’ and I’m glad we could do well here. I want to thank all the fans and all the motivation they give me. It feels good to have the points lead but there is a long way to go.” The first AMA Supercross race ever held in Atlanta was March 5, 1977, and Bob Hannah won on a Yamaha. On February 22, 1986 Honda rider Keith Turpin won the first-ever AMA Supercross Lites main event. Ricky Carmichael is first on the AMA Supercross class’ all-time win list with five. Carmichael and Brian Swink share the AMA Supercross Lites class’ all-time win record with two. SPEED will broadcast this weekend’s race from the Georgia Dome live, starting at 7:30 p.m. EST AMA Supercross Class Results: Indianapolis 1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki 2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki 3. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda 4. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha 5. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Honda 6. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Honda 7. Grant Langston, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha 8. Nick Wey, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki 9. Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha 10. Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha AMA Supercross Class Season Standings 1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 145 2. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 145 3. Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha, 135 4. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 114 5. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda, 106 6. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 105 7. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 97 8. Nick Wey, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 74 9. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 69 10. Tommy Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Suzuki, 61 Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Results: Indianapolis 1. Christophe Pourcel, Groveland, Fla., Kawasaki 2. Austin Stroupe, Lincolnton, N.C., Suzuki 3. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda 4. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ky., Yamaha 5. Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda 6. Dean Wilson, San Jacinto, Calif., Kawasaki 7. Kyle Regal, Kemp, Texas, Yamaha 8. Nico Izzi, Albany, Ga., Yamaha 9. Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., Yamaha 10. Troy Adams, Homosassa, Fla., Suzuki Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Season Standings 1. Christophe Pourcel, Groveland, Fla., Kawasaki, 25 2. Austin Stroupe, Lincolnton, N.C., Suzuki, 22 3. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda, 20 4. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ky., Yamaha, 18 5. Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda, 16 6. Dean Wilson, San Jacinto, Calif., Kawasaki, 15 7. Kyle Regal, Kemp, Texas, Yamaha, 14 8. Nico Izzi, Albany, Ga., Yamaha, 13 9. Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., Yamaha, 12 10. Troy Adams, Homosassa, Fla., Suzuki, 11 Past Winners in Atlanta AMA Supercross Class February 21, 2009: James Stewart February 23, 2008: Davi Millsaps February 24, 2007: James Stewart February 25, 2006: Ricky Carmichael February 26, 2005: Ricky Carmichael February 28, 2004: Chad Reed February 22, 2003: Ricky Carmichael February 23, 2002: Ricky Carmichael February 24, 2001: Ricky Carmichael February 26, 2000: Jeremy McGrath February 20, 1999: Jeremy McGrath February 21, 1998: Jeremy McGrath February 22, 1997: Damon Huffman February 24, 1996: Jeremy McGrath February 25, 1995: Mike LaRocco February 26, 1994: Jeremy McGrath February 20, 1993: Damon Bradshaw February 22, 1992: Damon Bradshaw February 23, 1991: Damon Bradshaw February 24, 1990: Jeff Ward February 25, 1989: Jeff Stanton February 22, 1986: Rick Johnson February 23, 1985: Mark Barnett February 25, 1984: Johnny O’ Mara March 05, 1983: Mark Barnett February 27, 1982: Bob Hannah February 28, 1981: Mark Barnett March 01, 1980: Chuck Sun March 03, 1979: Bob Hannah March 04, 1978: Marty Tripes March 05, 1977: Bob Hannah AMA Supercross Lites Class February 21, 2009: Christophe Pourcel February 23. 2008: Trey Canard February 24, 2007: Ryan Dungey February 25, 2006: Josh Grant February 26, 2005: Grant Langston February 28, 2004: James Stewart February 22, 2003: Brock Sellards February 23, 2002: Chad Reed February 24, 2001: Nathan Ramsey February 26, 2000: Stephane Roncada February 20, 1999: Ernesto Fonseca February 21, 1998: Ricky Carmichael February 22, 1997: Ricky Carmichael February 24, 1996: John Dowd February 25, 1995: Mickael Pichon February 26, 1994: Ezra Lusk February 20, 1993: Doug Henry February 22, 1992: Brian Swink February 23, 1991: Brian Swink February 24, 1990: Denny Stephenson February 25, 1989: Damon Bradshaw February 22, 1986: Keith Turpin Tickets are available at the Georgia Dome Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, by phone at 800-745-3000 and at participating Yamaha Dealers. Club level tickets are available for $50.00; Gold Circle tickets $45.00; 100 & 200 level end zone seats $35.00; Supervalue 300 level seat tickets $10.00. A season-long subscription to the official webcast of Monster Energy Supercross, Supercross LIVE®, is available for $39.99: http://www.supercrossonline.com/supercrosslive. Supercross LIVE® is the only weekly live Monster Energy Supercross race call, and features long time voices of supercross, Jason Weigandt and Jim Holley. For more information on the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, please log on to www.SupercrossOnline.com. For all media requests, please contact Denny Hartwig dhartwig@feldinc.com or 630-566-6305. About Feld Motor Sports℠ Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motor sports entertainment. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. productions include Monster Jam®, SuperBull℠, Monster Energy Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Nuclear Cowboyz℠, Gravity Slashers℠, and IHRA® Nitro Jam®. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a division of Feld Entertainment, the world’s largest producer of live family entertainment. For more information on Feld Entertainment, visit www.feldentertainment.com. Source: Feld Motor Sports Click here to visit our forums to discuss this story |
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