This Week in Monster Energy Supercross: Seattle

AURORA, Ill. (April 17, 2009) - In a typical season, 10 AMA Supercross class wins would solidify a championship, but that's not the case for James Stewart, who by many is considered the fastest man on the planet. Heading into tomorrow night's Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, race at Seattle's Qwest Field, Stewart has seven more race wins than rival Chad Reed, but he trails Reed by five points in the championship. While this year's championship race is being called the greatest ever, it does resemble a handful of epic championships in the sport's history; however, no title race has ever been filled with this much drama.

"I don't recall a title being this close, or at least not one with this much drama," said Davey Coombs, editor in chief, Racer X Illustrated. "The personal rivalry between them (Stewart/Reed), and the fact that they both seem to find each other every weekend makes it so we don't want to take our eyes off these guys! Even when they confront each other on the cool-down lap or the podium, you are watching them, waiting for something to happen."

Even when the perfect storm came in 2005 when Stewart moved up to the premier class to race against Reed and Carmichael, it was clear that Carmichael was the leader of the pack. He showed that by winning the title. In 2006, when he and Reed came into the final race of the year at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas tied in points, Carmichael defended his '05 title and won the fifth AMA Supercross championship of his career before heading into retirement.

"When Ricky was in the mix, he ruled with a heavy hand," added Coombs. "There was no real animosity with the three players, and it was generally understood that it was Carmichael's last year, so the rivalry between Reed and Stewart had yet to develop like it has."

The Stewart/Reed rivalry also shares a different flare in that there is more to the story than their on-track battles.

"I think what changed everything was when James took over Chad's ride with San Manuel Yamaha," laments Coombs. "That kind of made it more personal for the both of them, as well as the fact that they are both at the top of their game now."

Reed appears to be in the driver's seat, knowing that just one win and two second place finishes at these three races would almost certainly give him his third AMA Supercross class championship.

"I'm extremely motivated for the last three races," said Reed. "At the very worst, I need a win and two second-place finishes to win the title, so I will do whatever it takes to get the job done."

Since 1974, after 35 seasons of AMA Supercross class racing, the rider with the most wins in a season has gone on to win the title 27 times.

1976: Jimmy Ellis and Marty Smith each won two races and Jim Weinert won the title.
1982: Mark Barnett and Donnie Hansen each won four races and Hansen won the title.
1983: Bob Hannah had five wins, Mark Barnett had three wins and David Bailey won the title.
1985: Ron Lechein had three wins, Johnny O'Mara had two wins, and Jeff Ward won the title with one win. During this year, AMA Supercross was a two-moto format.
1987: Rick Johnson had seven wins (he DNFed the opening race of the year) and Jeff Ward won the title with five wins.
1990: Jean-Michael Bayle had five wins and Jeff Stanton won the title with four wins.
1992: Damon Bradshaw had nine wins (a record back then) and Jeff Stanton won the title with three wins.
2003: Chad Reed had eight wins, but Ricky Carmichael won the title with seven wins.In 35 seasons of AMA Supercross class racing, only seven times has a rider won 10 or more times in a season. In each of those seven years, the rider that has won 10 or more races has gone on to win the championship.

1995: Jeremy McGrath (10 wins)
1996: Jeremy McGrath (14 wins)
2000: Jeremy McGrath (10 wins)
2001: Ricky Carmichael (14 wins)
2002: Ricky Carmichael (11 wins)
2004: Chad Reed (10 wins)
2007: James Stewart (13 wins)
2009: James Stewart (10 wins) 3 races to go, 2nd in points by 5 points.

"I think this weekend off came at a great time," said Reed. "It has given me time to work on a few things with the Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 that I believe will help a lot and make me a little more comfortable at race pace."

"The advantage right now is momentum, and Stewart seems to have that, but he's also much more inconsistent than Reed -- his aggressive riding style can sometimes lead to mistakes, which we saw a couple of times recently," said Coombs. "Right now, Stewart controls his own destiny: If he wins out, he wins. But if Reed gets what he's waiting for -- another Stewart mistake -- in one of these last three races, he'll be in the driver's seat. Right now, I think it's still a toss-up!"

During this off weekend, Monster Energy Kawasaki is not slowing down. With Ryan Villopoto expected to race in Seattle, along with Billy Laninovich still trying to increase his fitness level, the team has been at the test track every day working to dial in each riders' Kawasaki KX450F.

"I really can't wait to be back racing," said Villopoto. "It has been hard watching the last few rounds on TV. I'm working hard to get back. I'm still having tests done to make sure everything is where it needs to be so I can race in front of my hometown fans in Seattle."