AURORA (February 19, 2007) - Torco Fuels Honda's Kevin Windham, of Centerville, Miss., won his first Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, race at Reliant Stadium since 2005 last weekend at Houston's Reliant Stadium and aims to carry the momentum into this weekend's race at Atlanta's Georgia Dome this Saturday. Last year a record-breaking 70,649 fans packed into the Georgia Dome to watch Monster Energy Supercross.
This weekend's AMA Supercross class race will air on CBS Sports this Sunday, February 24 at Noon (EST). The AMA Supercross Lites class race will air on SPEED Saturday, March 1 at 6:00 p.m.
Fans can save $10 off the $45 or $35 tickets at Ticketmaster.com and by using the pass code "Monster SX". Race Trac convenience stores are also offering a $5-off coupon that will be doubled to $10 off select tickets when redeemed at Ticketmaster Outlets or the Georgia Dome Box Office (expires 2/22). Participating Subway locations are giving away a free pit pass with the purchase of a 32oz drink.
Media day will be held this Thursday from Noon-2:00 p.m. inside the press room at the Georgia Dome. Monster Energy Kawasaki, Pro Circuit Kawasaki and the Joe Gibbs Racing Motocross team are the featured teams that will be available to the media.
This weekend the Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites championship begins. Reigning Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites champion, Ryan Villopoto, will race on the East Region this year. Last year he won all but the one race en route to the first AMA Supercross Lites championship of his career. Also expected to run up front are Torco Fuels Honda's Josh Grant, of Riverside, Calif., and Tray Cannard, of Elk City, Okla., Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Branden Jesseman, of New Brighton, Pa., Rockstar Makita Suzuki's Nico Izzi, of St. Clair, Mich., and Yamaha of Troy's Ryan Morais, of Temecula, Calif.
Red Bull Honda's Davi Millsaps, of Cairo, Ga., was the race's early leader last weekend, but crashed, giving the lead to Windham. Points leader Chad Reed, of Tampa, Fla., suffered from a bad start, but the Team San Manuel rider salvaged some points by working his way into second place on lap 11.
"I have been working hard this year, and tonight it paid off," said Windham. "I could not have won in front of a better crowd. I put my head down tonight and used the crowd to my advantage. The crowd was on their feet for the entire race."
"This is a tough pill to swallow," said Reed. "I gave it everything I had tonight, but Kevin (Windham) rode a great race. We have had a good season, and we will have to put it together in Atlanta next weekend."
Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Austin Stroupe, of Corona, Calif., won the first Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites race of his career last weekend in Houston
On lap five Stroupe, who is a rookie this season, moved past points leader Jason Lawrence for the lead and held on for the next 10 laps. The Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites championship heads into a break until April 26 at Seattle's Qwest Field.
"I finally had a decent start, and that helped me in the beginning of the race," said Stroupe. "I put myself in position to stay up front and that's what I did."
Two of the sport's biggest names, James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., and Ricky Carmichael, of Tallahasse, Fla., engaged in classic race last year. Carmichael, who competed on a select schedule in 2007 to begin a career in stock-car racing, chased Stewart during the 20-lap feature. On the way to his first AMA Supercross championship, Stewart held off Carmichael for his sixth win of the season. Once the two passed early leader Chad Reed, of Dade City, Fla., they distanced themselves from the pack and Carmichael gave Georgia race fans one last dance.
"James rode well tonight," said Carmichael from the podium after the race. "In the early part of the race, Chad (Reed) was in front of me as well as James, so I knew I had to make my move early. Once Chad went down, I tried to reel James in, but he was going so fast in the rhythm section tonight. I'd like thank all the fans who have supported me here through the years."
"Ricky kept me honest tonight," said Stewart following the race last year. "It was a great race, but I was getting caught up with some of the lappers. Every time I went through the rhythm section I was scared. We had a great crowd on hand tonight."
Last year Rockstar Makita Suzuki's Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plain, Minn., competed on the Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Series and won the main event. It was the first supercross race of Dungey's career.
The first AMA Supercross race ever held in Atlanta was March 5, 1977, and Bob Hannah won on a Yamaha. On February 22, 1986 Honda rider Keith Turpin won the first-ever AMA Supercross Lites main event.
Tickets are available at www.supercrossonline.com, participating Yamaha dealerships, the Georgia Dome Box Office or charge by phone at 404-249-6400. Gold Level Seats are $45; Mid Level Seats are $35; Treadhead Seats are $10. All tickets are $2 more on the day of the race.