AURORA, Ill. ( February 19, 2010) – For the second consecutive season of Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, the AMA Supercross class points race is tied heading into Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium. Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., and San Manuel Yamaha’s Josh Hill, of Yoncalla, Ore., are tied at 103 points apiece headed into Lucas Oil Stadium. This weekend also marks the opening race of the Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites class championship.

Last weekend in Anaheim, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto, of Poulsbo, Wash., captured his second AMA Supercross class win and the fourth of his career as he moved within three points of leaders Dungey and Hill. While Hill remains winless this season, Dungey, who has led 54 laps, and Villopoto, who has led 30 laps, each own two wins this season.

Dungey’s Rockstar/Makita Suzuki teammate Austin Stroupe will battle for the title in the Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites class. Also, Matt Moss is still being evaluated on a week-by-week basis, and his participation this weekend is still up in the air.

“I felt good after practice at Anaheim 3, and I feel like we had a good set up on the bike,” said Dungey. “But the track was tough. Right from the beginning it was really rutted and it made for some good racing. We made a couple changes on the bike and a couple tire adjustments for the night show, I felt good and confident.”

Dungey started the night by winning his heat race.

“I was able to win my heat,” he added. “I didn’t get a great start in the main, which put me back and I couldn’t really make the passes stick, was struggling in that area, and just did it to myself. Overall it was good, I had one little mishap that set me back, but I salvaged points which is important.”

Dungey spent the week dialing in his motorcycle in preparation for Indianapolis.

“We’re really going to work on the bike this week. I think there’s always room for improvement, and then head to Indy. It’ll be exciting. I’m really looking forward to it. I love, love the East Coast. It’ll be good to see the whole other side of the nation where there are big stadiums and domes … the whole nine yards.”

Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Team manager Roger DeCoster emphasized the importance of getting Dungey’s bike set up earlier in the day and expects a win in Indianapolis.

“Ryan was a little hesitant at A3 in his riding,” said DeCoster. “I think we need to do a better job of adjusting the bike earlier in the day. We cannot back ourselves into the main event making changes. We need to be better with that. We made a good change, but we should’ve done it earlier. This coming week is going to be good weather-wise and we can do some good testing and get back on track for Indy. The plan for Indy is we need to win.”

Villopoto is riding a wave of momentum as the Monster Energy AMA Supercross series heads east and nears its halfway point. En route to his win last weekend, Villopoto led all 20 laps of the main event.

“I’m just going about my business,” said Villopoto. “I still working hard during the week and I’m concentrating on getting good starts. The championship is our goal this season and the best way to win the title is to win races.”

Villopoto isn’t the only rider under the Monster Energy Kawasaki tent carrying momentum. Nick Wey has scored three-straight top-10 finishes and with Indianapolis being the closest race to his Dewitt, Mich. home, he feels his best is yet to come.

“I’m just getting comfortable on the bike,” said Wey. “I think I can get into the top five or maybe even sneak up on the podium. Indy is a big race for me and it is going to be loud in the stadium when I’m running near the front.”

In the supercross lites class, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki will see three new faces in the semi as the Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites class championship takes over for the next eight races. Defending East Coast Lites champion Christophe Pourcel is looking to get his season started on the right foot.

“I want to win,” said Pourcel. “I’m feeling good after my surgery and I’ve had some time on the bike so I think I can go out and do it.”

Joining Pourcel will be Canadian Dean Wilson and South African Tyla Rattray who will both be making their AMA Supercross Lites debut this season. Wilson will be on track in Indianapolis while Rattray will have to wait while he recovers from a broken shoulder.

Honda Red Bull Racings Davi Millsaps feels in top shape heading into Indianapolis this weekend. Millsaps has one win and one additional podium finish. He’s currently fourth overall in points standings.

“It was my birthday earlier in the week so I’ve had a fun week with family and friends. I’m really looking forward to the series heading back east. I like racing on the softer East Coast soil and I’m pumped for the Indy Supercross this weekend.”

With teammate Andrew Short out injured, GEICO Powersports Honda rider Trey Canard joins Millsaps in the Honda Red Bull Racing team pit at Indy. The 19 year-old is stepping up to race Short’s CRF450R at select rounds while the Red Bull athlete recovers from his ankle injury and as the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites championship takes a break.

“I’m so excited to have this opportunity to ride Shorty’s CRF450R for the next few rounds,” said Canard. “I expect to learn a lot from this experience and I’m really honored that American Honda thought of me when it came to finding a fill-in rider. The next few rounds will give me a taste for things to come and I’m sure the confidence I’ll get racing the big bike class will really help me when it comes time to get back on my CRF250R and race the final two Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class races at Seattle and Salt Lake City supercross’.”

Last weekend at the final Anaheim race in the series, GEICO Powersports Honda’s Kevin Windham scored his second podium of the season aboard his CRF450R, taking third place.

“Finishing on the box last week was awesome,” said Windham. “I rode well, felt good and it’s a result I’m really happy with. I still have a big fire and the will to win in me, and that’s why I’m out there racing. GEICO Powersports Honda gives me a great race bike week after week and for that they deserve to enjoy success.”

GEICO Powersports Honda’s Justin Barcia blasted onto the professional racing scene last year when he finished on multiple AMA Motocross podiums and scored a win in his rookie season as a professional. This weekend the young Honda racer makes his professional AMA Supercross Lites debut.  

“I’ve never been to Indianapolis so I’m really excited to go there this weekend,” said Barcia. “I can’t wait to start racing supercross, and I’m excited that I get to race the Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites. Indianapolis will be my first time ever racing inside a big stadium, and I’m really excited to experience that big crowd atmosphere. I have a lot of confidence in my GEICO Powersports Honda CRF250R and I’m pumped with the support I’ve received from my team in preparation for my pro supercross lites debut.”

Last year, Brett Metcalfe put GEICO Powersports Honda second on the podium at the opening round of the Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites competition before injuring his collarbone at the second race, ending his season early. The CRF250R racer is out to make amends in 2010.

“I have a lot to prove this year after getting hurt early on in the series last year,” said Metcalfe. “More than anything I want to put the GEICO Powersports Honda team up on the podium in Indianapolis as repayment for all the support they have given me over the last two seasons. I kicked last season off with a podium finish and that’s my plan for the 2010 season opener this weekend.”

SPEED will air the AMA Supercross class and AMA Supercross Lites class races live, starting at 8:00 p.m. EST.

Tickets are available at Lucas Oil Stadium, all Ticketmaster locations, by phone at 800-745-3000 and soon at participating Yamaha Dealers. Club level tickets are available for $40.00; Gold Circle tickets $35.00; Mid Level tickets $25.00; Treadhead tickets $10.00.

A season-long subscription to the official webcast of Monster Energy Supercross, Supercross LIVE®, is available for $39.99:  http://www.supercrossonline.com/supercrosslive.  Supercross LIVE® is the only weekly live Monster Energy Supercross race call, and features long time voices of supercross, Jason Weigandt and Jim Holley.  

For more information on the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, please log on to www.SupercrossOnline.com.

About Feld Motor Sports(SM)
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®, SuperBull(SM), Monster Energy Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Nuclear Cowboyz(SM), Gravity Slashers(SM), 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.

Monster Energy Supercross Update

AURORA, Ill. (February 12, 2010) – For the first time in two decades, Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, has seen four winners through the first five rounds of the season. Not since 1990 has there been so much parity in the premier AMA Supercross class and coming into tomorrow night’s final race from Southern California at Anaheim’s Angel Stadium, the championship battle is heating up between Ryan Dungey, Josh Hill and Ryan Villopoto.

After a tough outing last weekend, Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Dungey carries just a four-point lead over San Manuel Yamaha’s Josh Hill coming into Anaheim III. Dungey still leads all riders with two victories, but has finished off the podium the last two weeks, watching his points lead dwindle into the single digits. Hill has done what he needs to so far in 2010, riding consistently and taking advantage of the opportunities to capitalize on Dungey’s misfortune.

Last weekend in San Diego, Dungey was forced to overcome a pair of falls on the opening lap of the main event en route to his worst finish of the season in sixth. The slippery conditions thanks to a day of rain caused the points leader’s wheel to slip out from under him off the holeshot and from there he rode in an effort to salvage as many points as possible.

“I put us in a good position off the start last weekend in San Diego,” explained Dungey. But (I) ended up losing the front end, which made for a very long night coming from the back. I just carried too much speed in there I guess. There are 12 more races and the season is a long one, so in the end a sixth-place finish still keeps me in the points lead and right there in the mix.”

Suzuki team manager Roger DeCoster knows all too well that sometimes accidents happen and when the team discovered that Dungey’s bike had a hole in its radiator throughout the entire 20-lap main event, he also acknowledged how much luck can play into winning a championship.

“Ryan was patient in his heat race in San Diego, but in the main event he hit a slick spot in the first turn,” said DeCoster. “He went down, got back up, and then went down and broke the radiator. He just kept plugging away, and went from last to 6th. We still have a four-point lead, and Ryan is fine. There’s still a long season to go. We’re looking forward to going to Anaheim and do well there…and leave California on a good note.”

Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto is looking to continue to close the gap to the championship leader after cutting his deficit to 10 points last weekend. Despite getting caught in a first turn crash, Villopoto worked his way through the field and finished just one spot off the podium.

“We’re going in the right direction,” said Villopoto. “Last week was tough with the weather and getting caught up in the first turn. I’m riding really well right now and things are coming together nicely. I’m going to keep working during the week and hopefully I’ll be back on the podium in Anaheim.”

Villopoto’s teammate Nick Wey has scored two consecutive top-10 finishes on board his Monster Energy Kawasaki and he feels confident he can continue to move forward.

“We made a couple of more changes to the setup of the bike,” stated Wey. “This is only my third race with the team and now we are getting the bike closer to how I like it. We’re going to keep working hard and try and crack the top five.”

For Honda Red Bull Racing, San Diego was a circumstance of the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. The team returned to the top step of the podium for the first time since 2008 with a dominating victory by Davi Millsaps. The two-time winner in 2008 capitalized on a strong start and never looked back, going relatively unchallenged on the way to his third-career victory. On the flip side, a potential 1-2 finish for the red riders came to a crashing halt when Andrew Short came up short on a triple that became increasingly tricky in the conditions while running second. The veteran rider looked as though he would challenge his teammate for that elusive inaugural win, but instead will miss the next six weeks of action with injuries suffered from the crash.

“It was awesome to get the win last weekend,” boasted Millsaps. “I felt good heading into the event and knew the key to being upfront was to ride smart and not make mistakes, and that’s what I did. It definitely feels good to be back on top. It was a night of highs and lows for the team-with my win and then Shorty’s injury-but I plan to deliver plenty more highs for the team throughout the season.”

In the AMA Supercross Lites class, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer is riding at the top of his game as he holds a commanding lead in the championship standings. Weimer has won four of the five races and he is hoping to win for the third time at Angel Stadium this year.

“We have a long break after this race so I want to close with a win,” explained Weimer. “I’m still focused on the championship so I’m going to go out and ride smart and not take unnecessary chances. I still want to be on the top of the box, but I’m going to do it conservatively.”

Josh Hansen is still looking for his first podium of the season. Hansen has shown he has the speed to run up front, he just hasn’t been able to put together a 15-lap main event.

“I know I can win races,” asserted Hansen. “I’m just working hard to be consistent throughout the race and get back up on the podium.”

GEICO Powersports Honda’s Trey Canard was hoping to make it two wins in a row in San Diego and it looked as though he would have a chance at doing so after he grabbed the holeshot in the 15-lap main event. However, the 2008 Eastern Regional Champion lost traction at the tail end of the first lap and found himself on the ground. He did his best to recover, bringing home a sixth-place finish, but he also lost ground to Weimer in the championship fight. He looks to rebound this weekend with a solid podium effort before the Western Regional Championship takes its midseason break.

“After getting the holeshot in San Diego I made a costly mistake,” said Canard. “I was really fast out of the gate and was in the lead when I crashed. There are a lot of fast guys in this competition that are always right there ready to take advantage of any mistakes you make. I’m second in the series points with three rounds to go so it’s crucial I finish on the box this weekend to be in the point’s race at the end.”

CBS Sports will broadcast the AMA Supercross class Sunday, February 14 at Noon EST. SPEED will broadcast the AMA Supercross Lites class on Sunday, February 14 at 6:00 p.m. EST.

Tickets are available at www.SupercrossOnline.com by phone at 1-800-745-3000 or 714-740-2000, the Angel Stadium box office, Ticketmaster outlets, www.ticketmaster.com, and participating Yamaha dealerships. Club Level tickets are $75; Diamond Club seats and Trackside Seats are $50; Extreme seats and Upper Deck seats are $35.  All seats are $5 more on the day of the race. Practice and qualifying begin at 12:30 p.m. and racing begins at 7:00 p.m.  Just recycle any empty Monster Energy can at the Pit Entrance for your free admission to the Pit Party with a valid Saturday event ticket from 12:30PM – 6:00PM.  Pit Passes will also be available for purchase for $10 on the event day at the Angel Stadium box office.  

A season-long subscription to the official webcast of Monster Energy Supercross, Supercross LIVE®, is available for $39.99:  http://www.supercrossonline.com/supercrosslive.  Supercross LIVE® is the only weekly live Monster Energy Supercross race call, and features long time voices of supercross, Jason Weigandt and Jim Holley.  

For more information on the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, please log on to www.SupercrossOnline.com.

About Feld Motor Sports(SM)
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®, SuperBull(SM), Monster Energy Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Nuclear Cowboyz(SM), Gravity Slashers(SM), 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.