SUPERCROSS: World: San Diego summary

Reed Takes Advantage of Stewart Crash and Rides to First Win Since Toronto
Villopoto Clinches Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Championship

SAN DIEGO (February 17, 2007) -- Chad Reed, of Tampa, Fla., won his first Amp'd Mobile World Supercross GP/Amp'd Mobile AMA Supercross Series race aboard a Yamaha at Qualcomm Stadium before 60,529 fans. Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto, of Poulsbo, Wash., clinched the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites championship, marking his sixth win of the season and his first-ever AMA Supercross Lites championship.

Suzuki's Ivan Tedesco, of Murrieta, Calif., won his first $1,500 Progressive Direct Holeshot Award of the season, beating Reed and Kawasaki's James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., through turn one. By the end of lap one, Reed moved into the lead while Stewart pulled into second place on lap two. After trading positions on lap three, Stewart passed Reed for the lead where he stayed until lap eight. While taking off on the finish line jump, Stewart was ejected from his bike, resulting in a crash that sent him back to seventh place. Reed rode off to the win and Kawasaki's Tim Ferry, of Dade City, Fla., finished second. Honda's Kevin Windham, of Centerville, Miss., finished a season-best third place.

"I love this place," said Reed. "I have had so many great races here, and this is huge for me. Second place was getting really old. It's a shame to see James crash like that, but this is a big relief for me because I know I can win."

Kawasaki's Christopher Gosselaar, of Victorville, Calif., earned the $1,000 Progressive Direct Holeshot Award with KTM's Martin Davalos, of Cairo, Ga., in second. Starting in third place, Villopoto made a quick charge around Davalos on lap one and passed Gosselaar on lap 2. He went on to ride the next 13 laps flawlessly en route to the championship. Yamaha's Jason Lawrence, who had a mid-pack start, blitzed his way through the field to finish in second place. Gosselaar was third.

"I am so ecstatic right now," said Villopoto. "I had a great start in my heat race, then a great start in the main. My teammate, Christopher Gosselaar was in the lead early on and by lap two I made my way to the lead. This is a great accomplishment for me, and I could not have done it without my family."

Tonight's AMA Supercross race will air on SPEED, Sunday, February 18, at 6:00 p.m. EST. The AMA Supercross Lites class race will air on SPEED Tuesday, February 20, at 2:00 p.m. EST. The next round of Amp'd Mobile Supercross takes place on Saturday, February 24, at Atlanta's Georgia Dome.

<pre> KTM Junior Supercross Challenge 1. Tristan Miller, Alpine, Calif., KTM 2. Isaias Solis, Murrieta, Calif., KTM 3. Chaz Vasquez, Mira Loma, Calif., KTM 4. Zachary Vogt, Chula Vista, Calif., KTM 5. Preston Cicogni, Buckeye, Ariz., KTM 6. Seth Duckett, El Cajon, Calif., KTM 7. AJ Van Bogaert, Tucson, Ariz., KTM 8. Abby Nuemann, Nipomo, Calif., KTM 9. Nicholas Balint, Keller, Texas, KTM 10. Ray Romine, San Jose, Calif., KTM 11. Jonathan Kurzeja, Downers Grove, Ill., KTM 12. Carrie Killebrew, Surprise, Ariz., KTM 13. Sethan Hamm, Apple Valley, Calif., KTM 14. Spencer Maly, Santa Maria, Calif., KTM 15. Nathan Dean, Laguna Niguel, Calif., KTM

Amp'd Mobile World Supercross GP Season Standings 1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 207 2. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha, 196 3. Timmy Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki, 164 4. Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 116 5. David Vuillemin, Menifee, Calif., Honda, 114 6. Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga., Suzuki, 112 7. Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Honda, 110 8. Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Honda, 110 9. Nicholas Wey, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 108 10. Paul Carpenter, Ithaca, N.Y., Kawasaki, 100

</pre> -credit: www.supercrossonline.com.