Chad Reed, sporting Charger bolts on his lid, snagged his fifth victory of the 2008 Supercross season after an action-packed San Diego main.
Round 6 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, saw 64,251 fans cheering on the festivities at San Diego's Qualcom Stadium. With the program featuring an exhibition backflip from fan favorite Travis Pastrana, the crowd was primed once the gates dropped.
The 20-lap Supercross main event provided some excitement with Chad Reed earning his now customary victory, but not without fending off some serious competition. The main challenge to Reed's dominance came right off the holeshot. Charging down a long starting straight, a tricky sand wash was awaiting the 20 riders. As the sand kicked up in a dusty cloud, Honda's Davi Millsaps emerged as the leader, with Reed following close behind.
Millsaps not only snared the $1500 Progressive Holeshot, he kept a looming Reed at bay during the opening laps. Reed was followed by Honda's Andrew Short and SX vets Tim Ferry and Kevin Windham.
It was only a matter of time before Reed made his move, and as the ecstatic crowd cheered, the two leaders diced it up for the lead. Reed pulled ahead by Lap 4 and began to open things up.
Davi Millsaps gave Chad Reed a challenge for the lead, not once but twice, in the 20-lap San Diego main event.
Millsaps and Short kept pressing and on Lap 12 their perseverance was rewarded when Reed went down in the dirt. Millsaps shot into the lead, but it was a short-lived advantage, as the Aussie was able to run down the Honda man and gain his fifth victory of the year.
Millsaps ran out of steam in the final laps of an impressive race, relinquishing second-place to a late-lap charge from Kawasaki's Ferry. The Honda man would hold on to the third and final podium position, followed by fellow CRF riders Short and Windham.
The victory for Reed further solidified his imposing points lead, with a 35-point advantage over the second-placed Windham.
"I am so happy to get this win," said Reed. "I knew I needed to catch Davi after I fell. I have never won all of the races in California, and with this win tonight, I accomplished a new goal. I get to leave the west coast with a big points lead."
Supercross Lites
Jason Lawrence delivered a mammoth championship shot to Ryan Dungey at San Diego, with the Yamaha rider vaulting past the Suzuki ace with a victory in the 15-lap Lites main. J Law scored a dominating flag-to-flag victory and assured victory with a stellar start. As the 22 entries rocketed off the starting gate, Lawrence hit the sand washed first turn with a flurry, ripping wide and snagging a clear holeshot.
Jason Lawrence had much to celebrate at San Diego, with his victory giving him a 2-point lead over rival Ryan Dungey.
"I came into the first turn and had an open track in front of me," said Lawrence. "I am excited to take over the points lead heading into Houston next weekend.
From there it was wide open for Lawrence, who catapulted into the points lead thanks to a number of errors by the then points-leading Dungey.
The Suzuki rider had a pair of tumbles, which made catching the speedy Lawrence impossible. Instead, Dungey had to focus on stopping the points bleeding as he motored to a sixth-place result.
Stepping it up in Lites were Kawasaki's Tommy Hahn and Honda's Bobby Kiniry, who finished a respective second and third. Kawasaki's Brett Metcalfe and KTM's Justin Brayton rounded out the top five.
AMA Supercross Class Results, San Diego
1. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha
2. Tim Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki
3. Davi Millsaps, Cairo, Ga., Honda
4. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda
5. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda
6. Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Calif., Yamaha
7. David Vuillemin, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
8. Nathan Ramsey, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha
9. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., KTM
10. Jason Thomas, Melrose, Fla., Honda
AMA Supercross Class Season Standings
1. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha, 147
2. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda, 112
3. Tim Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki, 99
4. Davi Millsaps, Cairo, Ga., Honda, 85
5. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 85
Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Results, San Diego
1. Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha
2. Thomas Hahn, Alvord, Texas, Kawasaki
3. Robert Kiniry, LaFayette, N.Y., Honda
4. Brett Metcalfe, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki
5. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
6. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki
7. Austin Stroupe, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki
8. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Yamaha
9. Michael LaPaglia, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
10. Billy Laninovich, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda
Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Season Standings
1. Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha, 113
2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 111
3. Brett Metcalfe, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 96
4. Tommy Hahn, Alvord, Texas, Kawasaki, 92
5. Austin Stroupe, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki, 88
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