KTM Racing
Brayton made a solid charge though the pack from the back to finish in sixth place.
The Muscle Milk/MDK/KTM Factory West Lites Supercross Team had another great weekend with both team riders scoring top ten finishes at the sixth round of the AMA Supercross West Lites Championship Series at Qualcomm Stadium.
The night started off well for team rider Justin Brayton as he lined up for heat number one and managed to get a 5th place start around the first turn. In the quick six lap sprint he passed his way up to 3rd to qualify for the main. His teammate Ryan Sipes lined up for heat number two, where he started out 7th on the first lap and was able to move up quickly to the 4th place position easily transferring to the main. KTM support rider, Michael Sleeter, qualified from the LCQ to earn the final transfer spot in the main event.
The start meant everything in the main event given the track was very fast paced and the top leaders could pull away from the pack very easily if given a decent start. Unfortunately, Sleeter and Brayton were two of the riders that had to work even harder for a top position once they rounded the first turn in 20th and 16th respectively. Sipes had the best start of the KTM riders with a 7th place spot after the first lap.
Within the first five laps, Sipes had moved his way into 5th place where he began to pull a gap on the riders behind him. Meanwhile, Brayton was charging as hard as he could practically sprinting past the bottom half of the field to work his way into the top ten. By the fifth lap he had done just that and from then on he began to pick off one rider each lap until the tenth lap. Once he had secured 7th place he finally had some time to throw down solid lap times as he found himself all alone with the 6th place rider, Chris Blose, about a quarter of a lap ahead of him. On the final lap of the race, Brayton caught and passed Blose to finish his incredible charge through the pack in 6th place. Sipes raced a smooth and consistent race and earned his first top five finish of the season when he crossed the checkered flag in 5th.
Team Suzuki
Reed made another solid second-place finish to tie Stewart but is he familiar enough with the bike to make a first place finish?
Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing’s Ryan Dungey and his RM-Z250 recaptured the AMA Supercross Lites West Coast championship points lead after winning his third race of the season at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California, on Saturday night. The young rider won his heat race and the 15-lap main event, which is the last West Coast race until the series resumes in April.
In the Supercross class, Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Chad Reed captured his sixth-straight secondplace finish at the San Diego race. This result means the two-time and defending AMA Supercross Champion is currently tied for the overall championship points lead. Rockstar Makita Suzuki teammate Mike Alessi celebrated his best results of the 2009 season: a holeshot and a third-place finish in his heat race, and the holeshot and a sixth-place finish in the main event. Finally, Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Michael Byrne returned to racing after being off from injury, and had a fine showing, thanks to a second-place finish in his heat race and an eighth-place finish in the 20-lap main event.
Ryan Dungey:
“This was a really fun day. In both practices I felt really strong and the set-up for my Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z250 is coming along nicely. Going into the night, I felt pretty strong and then I got the holeshot in my heat race and I was happy with that. I knew that a good start would be important for the main and I wanted to take care of it right away from the beginning. In the race, I felt good and the set-up was great. The Rockstar Makita Suzuki team did an awesome job tonight, as they always do. “
Dungey took the points lead from Weimer. A much needed win for Dungey after his fourth-place finish at A3.
“It was a tough day, it seems like that’s an ongoing thing right now. In the main, I had a good start on the Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 and I tried to get to the front and I felt like I rode pretty decently. I’m finding some things that I’m working on personally with the tracks and everything, so I’m just thankful that everyone around me is being real patient. We’re not really changing anything with the bike, it’s just me getting back to where I was and going from there.”
Mike Alessi:
“I thought the weekend went good and I felt like I was riding well. The Rockstar Makita Suzuki RMZ450 was handling great in the whoops, and awesome through the rhythm sections and the turns. In the heat race, I got the holeshot but tensed up and went back to third. In the main, I got the holeshot, but a few guys got by me but I rode real solid. But around the 10th lap, I felt a little fatigued so I backed it down a bit but then put on another charge on the last five laps and tried to catch back up and ended up with sixth place, my best finish of the year.”
Michael Byrne:
“After a year and a half off from Supercross, San Diego was good for me. I accomplished what I wanted to do and that was to come in and have some fun and hopefully get in the top 10 on my Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z450, and I did that. The bike was good like always – the engine was fast, the suspension was working great and we were all out front and that shows you what it can do - and I feel like this was a successful first weekend back.”
Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing will race next at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia, on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009.
Yamaha Racing
After a first round DNF, LandM San Manuel Yamaha rider James Stewart has cut back a 23 point deficit and now joint-leads the 2009 AMA Supercross series (also an FIM World Championship) after recording his sixth consecutive victory in San Diego last Sunday.
Stewart (7) has made a huge come back from his DNF at A1 currently tied for the lead in points but will his streak continue?
The 23 year old Floridian notched his 31st career AMA success at the Qualcomm Stadium in southern California and thanks to Joe Gibbs Racing’s Josh Grant’s win at Anaheim I in early January, the YZ450F remains unbeaten after seven meetings in the seventeen race competition.
Stewart – competing at the scene of his first of his 31 triumphs in 2002 – grabbed the holeshot and proceeded to establish a margin over reigning champion Chad Reed, who would go on to finish second to the Yamaha rider for the sixth time.
"I think a lot of people wouldn't have thought, after Anaheim I, that I could be leaving California for the east coast tied for the points lead, but it's a testament to my team and the work they put in every week,” said Stewart. “They worked their butts off to make me comfortable, and I really do feel comfortable now. The track was definitely tough. I just had some good luck. The track was slick, but, man, this San Manuel Yamaha was awesome. I can't wait for Atlanta!"
Yamaha are the most prolific manufacturer at the San Diego meeting, having claimed 13 of the 26 main events held so far in the city.
For the first time this season Josh Grant was not able to finish in the top five. The rookie slipped off in the first corner and was recovering positions through the pack when he ‘cased’ a jump and hit his throat on the bars, forcing his retirement.
Round eight will take place in the confines of the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. If Stewart or another YZ450F racer takes the chequered flag then Yamaha will equal their streak of eight successive wins record in 2000.
Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki Heads into Season Break with Double Podium
Heading into an eight-week break in the AMA Supercross Lites schedule, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Ryan Morais and Jake Weimer both climbed up on the podium finishing second and third respectively. In the Supercross class, Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Ryan Villopoto rode through the field to finish fourth while Timmy Ferry overcame a fall in the first turn to finish 14th.
Payday
Morais rocketed to another holeshot on his way to finishing second. Missing some of the first practice didn’t hamper Morais at all as he finished second in both his heat race and the main event.
“My Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki machine is just amazing,” said Morais. “It helps me so much. My starts have been incredible this year and unfortunately they took the holeshot award away because I would have some extra money. I feel like I rode well today considering my day hasn’t been on pace. I rode less than half of the first practice session and I was riding tight all night. I was able to pull it together in the main event.”
Weimer made a solid finish in San Diego but couldn't catch up to Dungey.
Weimer overcame a slow start to work his way up to third but after winning the last two main events, Weimer wanted to get his third win in a row.
“You always want to win and when you don’t you’re a little bit bummed out,” said Weimer. “It’s just dirt bike racing though and my starts just weren’t where they needed to be tonight. Third place was the best I could do. I wouldn’t say I’m really bummed to finish third, but if I were to draw a picture of how I wanted this race to go I wouldn’t have been exactly like this.”
Coming Back
In San Diego, the rookie Villopoto showed veteran skills working his way up from ninth after the start to finish fourth. It was almost his third podium of the season as he charged into the final turn with a chance to grab third place.
“I didn’t get the start I wanted,” said Villopoto. “I started charging forward and I picked off guys pretty quick. It came down to just catching Shorty (Andrew Short). I showed him a wheel in the last corner before the checkered flag, but it wasn’t enough. It was a good ride, especially coming off of last weekend. Everything came out good tonight, it was a better ride.”
Teammate Battle
Late in the main event Morais faced a challenge from his Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki teammate Weimer. The two came up on lapped traffic and Morais was able to knife through quicker.
“I was riding a little tight during the main event,” said Morais. “I started to pull it together when we got to the lappers and I was able to get through them and plan everything a couple of turns ahead. It paid off and I got some breathing room. Jake has been riding awesome and its great for both of us to keep our feet up on the podium”
Tricky Pass
The track layout in San Diego included a combination of a flat left then right turn that was easily the most slick part of the track. After Villopoto got passed Kevin Windham in the rhythm leading into the flat section, Windham charged back and they both went into the tricky section side-by-side.
“I passed Kevin in the rhythm section before we came on the start straight,” said Villopoto. “He squared me up on the last jump and got beside me. I was able to inch him out on the outside going to the staircase obstacle. It was a pretty close right there, being on the outside, especially with how slippery the turn was.”
Still Searching
Morais is still looking for his first win, but it seems every week he is in the hunt to get it. For the fourth time this season Morais has claimed the second step on the podium.
“I’ve been working so hard during the week to get my first win,” said Morais. “It’s about putting in the time. I dedicate every day to this, going to bed early and waking up early. It’s going to pay off one of these days and it’s going to be worth it.”
First Turn Woes
Right after the gate dropped, Ferry looked to be in position for a good finish, but when a couple riders fell in the first turn, Ferry was collected and he went down as well.
“I got a really good jump out of the gate,” said Ferry. “I got a little squirrelly down the straight and a couple of guys went down in front of me and I just kind of fell on top of them. We were kind of bouncing off of each other and I’m sure they didn’t want to go down either. Man, the start is key right now and if you go down start you might as well forget it.”
Climbing Up
After going down in the first corner, it took just one kick for Ferry to get his Kawasaki KX 450F started and he began his ride to salvage a good finishing position.
“I got going quick,” said Ferry. “I wanted to put in some fast laps and my first lap was my fastest so it was kind of a good starting point. I laid down some good laps and finally caught the pack. When the race is going on it feel like you’re never going to catch it. I made some okay passes once I caught up. I feel like I rode well tonight.”
Stacked Heat
Both Villopoto and Ferry qualified for the second heat which had an amazing number of fast riders. Four of the top five riders in the points standings lined up on the gate for the heat race.
“You normally don’t see that in the heat race,” said Villopoto. “It was basically the whole field expect for just a couple of guys. I got a good start and stayed on Chad (Reed) and that was good for me.”
Steady Progress
Villopoto’s ride in San Diego showed his continued progress on the Kawasaki KX 450F as he fought his way into the top five and battled for a podium finish.
“For me, I don’t think this was my best ride of the season,” said Villopoto. “But for the Monster Energy Kawasaki guys, I think they like what they see. Obviously we all want to win and its going to take steps to get there. You can’t just go out and expect to win right off the bat.”
Taking TIme Off
As the series shifts to the East Coast, both Weimer and Morais will have an eight week break before their next race in Seattle, Wash. Weimer is second in the standings heading into the break, sitting just two points back and going to use the time to start working on his outdoor program.
“No matter how much I think about it, or talk about it, I’m not going to be able to change the points during this break,” said Weimer. “It’s just time to take some time off from racing and go to work. I’m going to do some outdoor testing I’m sure and come out swinging at Seattle. It’s always nice to take a little break, this may be a little long, but it should be fun.”
