Weekly Notes Part 2: Seattle – This Week in Monster Energy® Supercross 

AURORA, Ill. (April 25, 2008) – Tomorrow’s Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, brings its parity-packed storyline of both classes to Seattle’s Qwest Field. In the Western Regional AMA Supercross class, the championship will be decided between Yamaha of Troy’s Jason Lawrence and Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey. In the premier AMA Supercross class Fuels Honda’s Kevin Windham, of Centerville, Miss., picked up his third main event win of the season and tightened the championship race between he and Team San Manuel Band of Mission Indians’ Chad Reed last weekend at St. Louis’ Edward Jones Dome. The AMA Supercross will air on SPEED Sunday, April 27 at 6:00 p.m., and the AMA Supercross Lites class race will air on SPEED Saturday May 3 at 3:00 p.m. EST.

To listen live to the Seattle round of Monster Energy® Supercross at Qwest Field log onto Supercross LIVE! Saturday night at 10:00pm EST/ 7:00pm EST. Supercross LIVE! Is the only live race call of Monster Energy® Supercross, which is hosted by Jim Holley and Jason Weigandt.  Supercross LIVE! can be found at www.SupercrossOnline.com.  

 Lawrence, who has three wins this year, leads Dungey by six points heading into Seattle. Dungey took advantage of the down time and raced three events in the premier AMA Supercross class, collecting a podium finish along the way. He heads into the final Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class race in second place in the overall championship points and is hoping to win his first championship.  

“I’m looking forward to having a good weekend,” said Dungey. “Racing the Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 was a great experience. Because the races went well, it was good for my confidence. It was also just good for future reference, to see what the bike is like. After my last race on the 450, I traveled between California and Florida, spending a lot of time training. I feel as prepared as I can be and I’ve done everything I can to accomplish what I need to. At the same time, I’m going to take it like any other race. I know what’s got to happen and I know where I need to be. I hope everything works in my favor, but I’m just going out to have a good race and a good time.” 

Windham, of Centerville, Miss., won the 1996 AMA Supercross Lites class main event in Seattle. This weekend the likeable Windham lines up for his 135^th AMA Supercross class start. He’s now 11^th on the all-time AMA Supercross class win list. 

Yesterday, the Honda Red Bull Racing team and Joe Gibbs Racing Motocross team visited Seattle’s Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center to take part in the 3^rd Annual MX for Children’s Inside Line Experience charity event, which is held in conjunction with the Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, race at Qwest Field.  

Red Bull Honda Racing’s Andrew Short and Davi Millsaps joined Joe Gibbs Racing Motocross’ Josh Summey for an exclusive meet and greet with MX for Children’s top fundraisers. These top fundraisers will enjoy the benefits of the “Inside Line Experience” that also includes watching a private riding session, a track walk, factory rig tours and premium seating. 

With only two races to go, MDK KTM Factory rider Nick Wey is determined to break into the top five this weekend and move up in the overall AMA Supercross class points chase.

After leading six laps of his heat race in St. Louis, Wey knows he has the speed to run up front. “I’ve felt great these past two weeks, and I know my speed is quick enough to run inside the top five, but I just have to work on my starts and keep it on two wheels,” commented Wey.  

Wey’s teammate Martin Davalos, who has been competing in the Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites class, will take this week off to recover from a groin injury as he prepares for the Dave Coombs Sr. East/West Shootout at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas next weekend. “I am feeling a little better now and I hope to heal enough to race at Las Vegas,” stated Davalos. 

MDK KTM Lites Team riders Justin Brayton and Billy Laninovich are excited to return to the racing action. Brayton is full of confidence after finishing seventh overall in his first AMA Supercross class race last weekend. “I’ve been training hard and was happy with my performance last weekend. Now I want to shoot for a top three at the last Lites race to end my season on a high note,” reported Brayton.  

Laninovich, who has been recovering from a back injury after a bad crash at Perris Raceway, will not be able to compete in either of the last two AMA Supercross Lites races. “I’ve been at home resting and going to therapy to help my back heal. I am hoping to return for the start of the outdoor season,” said Laninovich.

Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s David Vuillemin, who competes in the premier AMA Supercross class, is looking forward to Seattle race because he wants to finish the 2008 season strong. 

“What can you expect of a race in Seattle in April in an open stadium,” asked Vuillemin, who excels in wet conditions.  “A little mud race ... We have been going to Qwest Field since 2005, and it has been muddy since then.  I like the mud in motocross, but in supercross, it's a little different with all the jumps on the track.  It's a good way to score a lot of points if we are smart and well-prepared.” 

Monster Energy Kawasaki is ready to return to the left coast and Seattle, Wash., for the 16^th of the Monster Energy® Supercross. Timmy Ferry is looking to rebound from last weekend and get back on the podium. The climate in Seattle means heading into the weekend is a guessing game for the riders and teams. 

“Seattle is always a big mystery,” said Ferry. “The dirt is soft, but it is a matter of how soft is it going to be. Seattle is a great town, but it is just not the best place for an outdoor supercross. I’ve always run well there and I’m looking forward to good things this weekend.” 

Travis Preston is also hoping for a good run in the Pacific Northwest. He has been riding well as of late and is shooting for a podium finish before the season ends. Preston didn’t begin training for the supercross season until the late January and is finally feeling like he is ready to run at the front. This weekend he knows the weather could change, but he is ready for everything. 

“In Seattle, the weather is like a coin flip,” said Preston. “It could go either way. It seems like the rain has been following every week, even when we are racing inside, so I’m ready for just about anything. I’m riding really consistent right now and I feel like my fitness is starting to be where it needs to be.” 

For Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki riders Austin Stroupe and Brett Metcalfe, who have had an eight-week break since they last raced in Houston. Stroupe holds a one-point advantage over Metcalfe in the standings and both riders are ready to fight for third place. 

“I’ve been riding a lot during the break,” said Stroupe. “It has been good riding at the test track with Ryan (Villopoto) and Branden (Jesseman) and I have been getting faster. After the win in Houston, I wish we could have raced again the next week, but that’s how it is. Seattle should be a good race and I hope I can win again.”

Metcalfe has finished outside of the top five only once this season, but is still looking for his first win. 

“My break was good,” said Metcalfe. “I’ve been riding well and getting faster. I know it is going to be tough, but I want to get the win in Seattle. “