Dungey Jumps out to Western Regional AMA Supercross Points Lead with Opening Race Win

AURORA, Ill. (January 5, 2008) – Former AMA Supercross class champion Chad Reed, of Tampa, Fla., won tonight’s Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship race at Angel Stadium. Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., won the opening round of the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites championship, marking the fifth Lites victory of his young career.

Yamaha’s Grant Langston, of Clermont, Fla., scored the $1,500 Progressive Holeshot Award, leading Suzuki’s Mike Alessi, of Victorville, Calif., and Reed through turn one in the AMA Supercross class. Defending AMA Supercross class champion, James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., crashed in turn one and started in last place.

On the opening lap, Reed passed Langston and on the same lap, he stalled his bike, allowing Langston to assume the lead. Reed, who won his heat race earlier in the night, regained the lead on lap four. Reed led the next 16 laps and earned his fourth victory in Anaheim.

“I have been thinking about this race since last May,” said Reed. “I knew I needed a good start tonight and had to fight. I have been working really hard, and this win shows that hard work pays off.”

“Someone clipped my wheel in the first turn, and I went down,” said Stewart. “It was very slick out there. I give it up to Chad for this win. It’s going to be a great season.”

Honda’s Matt Lemoine, of Pilot Point, Texas, won the $1,000 Progressive Holeshot Award with Kawasaki’s Austin Stroupe, of Corona, Calif., and Dungey through the first turn of the AMA Supercross Lites class. Jason Lawrence, of Carlsbad, Calif., pushed his Yamaha to first place on lap four after a sixth-place start.

On lap seven, Dungey made an aggressive pass on Lawrence over the triple jump and moved into the lead. Lawrence trailed Dungey closely until he crashed on lap nine. Lawrence re-entered the race and salvaged a second place finish.

“This is awesome,” said Dungey on the win. “Coming from Minnesota, this is a huge win for me. I could not do this without my entire family. It was a great race, and we will see who comes out on top at the end of the season.”

AMA Supercross Class Results, Anaheim 1

Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha
James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki
Tim Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki
Grant Langston, Clermont, Fla., Yamaha
Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda
Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki
Davi Millsaps, Cairo, Ga., Honda
Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda
Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., KTM
David Vuillemin, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki

AMA Supercross Class Season Standings

Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha, 25
James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 22
Tim Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki, 20
Grant Langston, Clermont, Fla., Yamaha, 18
Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda, 16
Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki, 15
Davi Millsaps, Cairo, Ga., Honda, 14
Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 13
Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., KTM, 12
David Vuillemin, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 11

Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Results, Anaheim 1

Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki
Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha
Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
Dan Reardon, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
Austin Stroupe, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki
Tommy Hahn, Alvord, Texas, Kawasaki
Gavin Gracyk, Blissfield, Ohio, Honda
Andrew McFarlane, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki
Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Suzuki
Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Yamaha

Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Season Standings

Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 25
Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha, 22
Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 20
Dan Reardon, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 18
Austin Stroupe, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki, 16
Tommy Hahn, Alvord, Texas, Kawasaki, 15
Gavin Gracyk, Blissfield, Ohio, Honda, 14
Andrew McFarlane, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki, 13
Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Suzuki, 12
Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Yamaha, 11

Racing returns next Saturday, January 12 at Phoenix’s Chase Field. SPEED will broadcast the AMA Supercross Lites class race on Saturday, January 12 at 6:00 p.m.

For more information on the Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, please log on to www.SupercrossOnline.com. For all media requests, please contact Denny Hartwig dennyhartwig@livenation.com or 630-566-6305.

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