Stewart Victorious at AMA Toyota Championship in Mount Morris

On Jun 15, 2008

Winning Streak Extends to Three for Villopoto

MT. MORRIS, Pa. (June 15, 2008) ? Monster Energy Kawasaki’s James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., kept his perfect season intact and extended his winning streak to four with a convincing sweep of today’s 32^nd Annual Kawasaki/Monster Energy Motocross National Presented by Centra Bank from High Point Raceway, round four of the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Presented by FMF. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto, of Poulsbo, Wash., won both motos in AMA Motocross Lites for his third victory of the season.

Stewart was able to overcome the two BTOSports.com Holeshots garnered by Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Mike Alessi and wound up cruising to runaway wins in both motos, to run his record to a perfect 8-0 on the season. Alessi, of Victorville, Calif., earned two solid second-place finishes for second overall, while Red Bull Honda’s Davi Millsaps, of Cairo, Ga., finished third (3-3).

“I was just happy to make it out of this weekend,” said Stewart. “My record here isn’t too good, I’ve always struggled here. The Coombs family and John Ayers did a great job in getting the track ready. The changes to the track were awesome. This is so far the best track of the year and I also think it was safest track. I had fun today and I’ve had fun all year. The key (for me) is to take it easy the first couple laps and then get on it. I’m looking forward to going to Colorado, just for some kind of change (with the night race).”

Over the last three events, Villopoto has been dominant in the AMA Motocross Lites class. On Sunday, he battled his way to the front in each moto, running away from the field once he reached the top spot to achieve his second career victory at the famed High Point Raceway.

“Getting the holeshot helps out a lot,” explained Villopoto. “But for me if I get a bad start I’m comfortable in pushing my own pace. I think the track was a way better racetrack this year. It was open and you could run with guys better. I didn’t like the rain much, but other than that it was good. I have a little bit more (points lead) than last year, but (last year) I had a bad finish and was down. It’s going to take more than (what I’ve done this year). Ryan is one of the fastest guys out there so I gotta keep my eye on him and run that pace.”

Geico Powersports Honda’s Jake Weimer, of Rupert, Idaho, put in a career-best performance, grabbing the BTOSports.com Holeshot Award in the first moto and bringing home second place despite falling in the early stages. Putting in a solid run in moto two, he brought home a fifth place finish to secure second overall and his first career podium. Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., overcame a fall in the first moto to come home in sixth and backed it up with a second place run in moto two for third overall. Motosport/Xtreme/Kawasaki’s Andrew McFarlane, of Menifee, Calif., won the BTOSports.com Holeshot Award in moto two.

With their overall wins, Stewart and Villopoto put themselves in line for the $25,000 bonus that is awarded to the rider in each class that wins all three events in the Monster Energy/Kawasaki Triple Crown of Motocross. High Point was the first of three races that make up the Monster Energy/Kawasaki Triple Crown, with RedBud and Steel City remaining on the schedule.

Stewart currently holds a 45-point lead over Alessi in the AMA Motocross standings while Villopoto has a 28-point advantage over Dungey in AMA Motocross Lites.

The AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Presented by FMF enjoys its first week off before returning to action on June 27-28 with the first-ever AMA Toyota Motocross Championship night race, the Toyota Trucks AMA National at Thunder Valley Presented by Division 7, from Lakewood, Colo.

AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Presented by FMF

Kawasaki/Monster Energy Motocross National Presented by Centra Bank

High Point Raceway ? Mt. Morris, Pa.

June 15, 2008

Round 4 of 12

Motocross (Moto Finish)

James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 1-1
Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki, 2-2
Davi Millsaps, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 3-3
Timmy Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki, 4-4
Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 5-5
Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., KTM, 7-8
Sean Hamblin, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 6-9
Cody Cooper, New Zealand, Suzuki, 10-7
Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Wash., Yamaha, 13-6
Michael Byrne, Newman, Ga., Suzuki, 8-13

Motocross Class Point Standings

James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 200
Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki, 155
Timmy Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki, 150
Davi Millsaps, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 150
Andrew Short, Smithville, Teas., Honda, 103
Michael Byrne, Newman, Ga., Suzuki, 99
Ivan Tedesco, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 95
Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., KTM, 86
Cody Cooper, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 82
Sean Hamblin, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 75

Motocross Lites (Moto Finish)

Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 1-1
Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Honda, 2-5
Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 6-2
Austin Stroupe, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki, 9-3
Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Kawasaki, 7-4
Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ky., KTM, 5-6
Matt Goerke, Lake Ellen, Fla., KTM, 8-7
Nico Izzi, Saint Clair, Mich., Suzuki, 3-15
Dan Reardon, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 11-8
Jake Moss, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha, 10-9

Motocross Lites Point Standings

Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 191
Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 163
Austin Stroupe, Lincolnton, N.C., Kawasaki, 152
Brett Metcalfe, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 128
Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Honda, 127
Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha, 113
Dan Reardon, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 76
Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha, 66
Matt Goerke, Lake Ellen, Fla., KTM, 63
Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ky., KTM, 58