Bridgestone-shod Stewart Wins 2nd Straight Supercross Main; Reed Takes Points Lead - Dirt Rider Magazine

NASHVILLE, TENN. (January 21, 2009) - James Stewart took his second consecutive victory in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross series Saturday, in the second of three events this season at Anaheim, Calif. Meanwhile, fellow Bridgestone rider and reigning Supercross champion Chad Reed made a sensational comeback to place second and snag the season points lead.Most of the 43,000-plus in attendance at Angel Stadium were looking for another showdown between Stewart (Team San Manuel Yamaha) and Reed (Rockstar/Makita Suzuki). But a first-turn mishap sent Reed to the rear of the pack, forcing the Australian to work his way from last place. Reed set the fastest lap in the process and nabbed an impressive second place by passing Kevin Windham on the final lap. Stewart started mid-pack but was up to fourth by the second lap. He passed Bridgestone-shod Ryan Villopoto (Monster Energy Kawasaki) and Anaheim I winner Josh Grant (JGRMX/Yamaha/Toyota), also on Bridgestone tires. Stewart then passed Windham on lap 10 to take the lead for good.Reed, with 64 points, leads Grant by three markers after the third of 17 events. Stewart sits fourth and Villopoto fifth, giving Bridgestone four of the top five Supercross riders.Meanwhile in the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class, Ryan Dungey rode his Bridgestone-shod Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki to the win - Dungey's second straight victory. Ryan Morais (Monster Energy/Pro-Circuit Kawasaki) took second place with teammate Jake Weimer coming in third, giving Bridgestone a sweep of the 250 class podium for the second time this year. Dungey, Morais and Weimer also rank 1-2-3 in Supercross Lites points, giving Bridgestone a current sweep of the top three championship positions."We are very pleased with the results from this event," said Doug Schopinsky, who oversees Bridgestone tire development for the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series, an FIM World Championship. "It's great to have James Stewart and Ryan Dungey each score two victories in a row. Track conditions were quite good. Our pre-season testing and development was put to the test, elevating Bridgestone shod machines to five of six podium positions. We now look forward to next weekend's event and continued success in Houston."About Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations:
Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO) is a business unit of Bridgestone Americas, Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world's largest tire and rubber company. Reporting into the BATO business unit are the company's Latin American tire operations, the U.S. and Canadian consumer tire businesses and the U.S. and Canadian commercial tire businesses. BATO develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires. The business unit is focused on retail, wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off road, motorcycle, agricultural and other tires to its customers in the Americas. In addition, through its Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions unit, retreading customers have access to industry-leading research and development, manufacturing, marketing and sales expertise, providing them with a total tire solution.