This Week In Monster Energy Supercross: Jacksonville

AURORA, Ill. (April 3, 2009) - For the first time in AMA Supercross history, Jacksonville Municipal Stadium will host a Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, race tomorrow night as one of four remaining stops on the 2009 schedule. The 2009 season concludes at Las Vegas' Sam Boyd Stadium on May 2 where a champion will be crowned. Vying for the championship are Florida natives Chad Reed, of Tampa, and James Stewart, of Haines City. The two fastest racers in the world are separated by just eight points.

"Jacksonville is a new stop and I'm looking forward to that," said Reed. "Also, it's nice to have a race that I don't have to fly to; Jacksonville is only three hours from my house. I've never been to that venue and it'll be exciting to race someplace new. Hopefully the weather will be nice and we'll have good dirt and we'll challenge for a win again."

Stewart, the 2007 AMA Supercross class champion, has won nine main events this season, but suffered a 19th-place finish at the season opener in Anaheim and a seventh at Daytona. Reed, a two-time AMA Supercross class champion, has just three wins but has been on the podium at every race - with his worst finish a third at Anaheim 1.

Holeshot artist Mike Alessi picked up his best results of the 2009 season at the recent Indianapolis race. His third-place finish was his first-ever AMA Supercross-class podium. He is currently in seventh place in the overall championship standings.

"We have a place in Florida, so Jacksonville will be my hometown race," said Alessi. I'm looking forward to it and it should be a good race. I know I'll have a lot of friends and family there, so hopefully we'll put on a good show there in front of everybody. Also, it'll be everyone's first time there, so that should be exciting."

Nico Izzi has put in a consistent sophomore season, finishing on the podium at five AMA Supercross Lites class races. He is currently third in the overall championship points standings.

"Overall, I'm actually pretty happy with how the season has gone so far. I was pretty consistent the whole year, though I did have two bad rides - one that probably cost me the title, and last week I struggled a bit. But overall, I'm pretty happy because I had quite a few podiums. My plan going into Jacksonville this weekend is to get back on my routine that I've done all year. I want to go out this weekend and not do anything crazy, ride as hard as I can and have a good time. I want to try to stay in the top three and go off to Vegas."

Yamaha's Josh Hill and Broc Hepler haven't exactly enjoyed dream seasons in 2009. Hill, who scored an AMA Supercross class win as a rookie last year, only has one podium, which he landed last weekend in Toronto. Hepler missed the majority of the season with a broken collar bone that he suffered at the opening race of the season. In New Orleans, Hepler picked up the first podium finish of his career in the premier class.

"Hill put in a strong main event ride last weekend, just what he has needed," said Yamaha Team Manager Jim Perry. "Hepler has put in some strong riders, but he needs to be more consistent from week to week. Jacksonville will be interesting being a new event."

Although Muscle Milk/MDK/KTM Factory rider Wil Hahn didn't get the results he was looking for at the Toronto stop, he definitely showed the crowd that he had the speed to earn a podium spot.

Now heading to the final round of the AMA Supercross Lites Eastern Regional Championship, Hahn is determined to finish the season on the podium. "I am happy with my speed last week but wish my results would have been better," commented Hahn. "My KTM is running great and I know I can move it into the top three and that's what I plan to do this weekend."

His teammate, Martin Davalos, has had to sit out the past two races after breaking his fibula earlier this season. Davalos is trying to take the proper precautions with his injury and hopes to be able to race this weekend in Jacksonville but may have to hold off until the Las Vegas finale.

With the AMA Supercross Lites Eastern Regional Championship trophy in his hands, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Christophe Pourcel wants to end the season with another win. Pourcel locked up the title last week in Toronto, but the French rider is still ready to climb to the top step of the podium again.

"It is so good to have the championship done," said Pourcel. "Now there is no pressure this weekend and I can just ride for another win. Once we finish in Jacksonville I'm going to start getting ready for the outdoor season."

With Pourcel already crowned champion, his teammate Austin Stroupe is looking to secure the runner-up position in the championship standings. The easiest way for him to do that is finish on the podium or even end the season with a win.