"I want to get another win this year," said Stroupe. "My goal was to win the title and I can't do that, but I am going to try and get the win in Jacksonville. I'm also getting ready for Las Vegas. I can't wait to race against the guys from the West Coast and I want to win that (Toyota) truck."
Monster Energy Kawasaki's Billy Laninovich is hoping for a better result this weekend after failing to make the main event in Toronto. Laninovich has been riding all week to improve his endurance as well as to get more comfortable on the bike.
"I've been working hard this week,' said Laninovich. "This is a great team, everyone here has been fun to work with and they all are working to get good results. We're going to go to Jacksonville and get those results."
GEICO Powersports Honda's Blake Wharton, a rookie in the Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites class, scored the first win of his career at St. Louis and hopes to close out his season with another win after a dismal race last weekend in Toronto.
"Going down at the start of the race last weekend and rejoining almost a lap down, I really had my work cut out for me-getting back up into the top 10," said Wharton on about his performance in Toronto. "I rode well to catch-up, but 10th place was the best that time allowed me to race back too. Launching my pro career with the GEICO Powersports Honda team has been an awesome experience. Their Honda race bikes are great, the team is great and I couldn't have asked for a better way to enter into the pro ranks. Going into the final round of the championship at Jacksonville, my goal is to finish the season on a high. I will be racing to win again this weekend."
Former two-time AMA Supercross Lites class champion Ivan Tedesco, of Tallahassee, Fla., has yet to put his Honda Red Bull Racing motorcycle on the AMA Supercross class podium in 2009, but this weekend, which is considered his home race, may be his best chance in 2009.
"I'm looking forward to racing in front of my home crowd this weekend in Jacksonville. I've had an up and down season but I think with the crowd's supports, I will be able to better my fifth place finish from Toronto last weekend. With only four races remaining in the season-and looking to better my fifth placing in the championship race-I will be chasing hard for a podium this weekend."
The AMA Supercross Lites class race will air on SPEED Sunday, April 5 at 5:00 p.m. EST and the AMA Supercross class will air on SPEED following the Lites class race at 6:00 p.m. EST.
Tickets are now available at Jacksonville Veterans Arena Box Office, Jacksonville Municipal Stadium (Day of race only), participating Yamaha dealers, www.supercrossonline.com, Ticketmaster.com or by phone at (904) 353-3309. Club seats are $40 Adult/$40 Child; Sideline seats are $30 Adult/$20 Child; Corner seats are $20 Adult/$20 Child; Endzone, 300, 400 level seats are $10 Adult/$10 Child. Practice begins at 12:30 p.m. and the race starts at 7:00 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 dhartwig@feldinc.com or 630-566-6305.
About Feld Motor Sports
Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motor sports entertainment. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. productions include Monster Jam, Monster Energy Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Freestyle Motocross, and IHRA Nitro Jam. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a division of Feld Entertainment, the world's largest producer of live family entertainment. For more information on Feld Entertainment, visit www.feldentertainment.com