Weimer Works Through Tough Competition to Win Supercross Lites

PHOENIX, Ariz. (January 16, 2010) - After an epic premier one week ago, round two of the 2010 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, season didn't disappoint as Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki's Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., won his first career AMA Supercross class victory en route to taking the points lead. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Jake Weimer, of Rupert, Idaho, captured his second straight AMA Supercross Lites Western Regional victory.

The night began dramatically when points leader James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., was involved in a frightening crash during his heat race. The San Manuel Yamaha rider overcame obvious pain to compete in the last chance qualifier where he took the win and qualified for the main event. As the gates dropped, Dungey raced to his second straight SPIKE Holeshot Award, with Monster Energy Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto, of Poulsbo, Wash., and teammate Austin Stroupe, of Lincolnton, N.C., following, and never looked back leading all 20 laps of the main event.

"I'm just pumped on the nice performance (tonight)," said Dungey. "This is a big step in my career. I owe a lot of thanks to all the people supporting me. I'm glad to get this out of the way and I'll never forget it. It's early in the season and last week was tough. James was on it and I hope he's ok. It's just great to come out with a win here in round two."

Stewart found himself buried in the back of the field alongside rival Chad Reed, of Tampa, Fla., and the duo followed one another throughout the early part of the race until Reed attempted to pass the reigning champion on lap five, causing a collision and subsequent fall for both riders. Reed failed to finish for the second week in a row while Stewart soldiered home in 15th. Villopoto rode to a solid runner-up finish while San Manuel Yamaha's Josh Hill, of Yoncalla, Ore., landed in third.

As the AMA Supercross Lites class blasted out of the gates, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Josh Hansen, of Elbert, Colo., grabbed the SPIKE Holeshot Award with GEICO Powersports Honda teammates Blake Wharton, of Pilot Point, Texas, and Trey Canard, of Shawnee, Okla., following in second and third, respectively. As the field entered the section before the first triple, Hansen lost control of his bike and suffered a hard crash. Wharton assumed the lead and would hold it until lap 12 when Rockstar Energy Suzuki/Canidae's Ryan Morais, of Murrieta, Calif., made the pass with Weimer close behind. The next lap, Weimer made the pass for the win.

"I struggled a bit for some reason," said Weimer. "I got my first win (in Phoenix) and I love it here, but I always struggle in the sand (section) every year. I made some mistakes in the beginning and never thought I'd be up here. This is kind of a surprise but it's great."

Morais finished just behind in second while Wharton held on for third.

Dungey currently holds a nine-point advantage over Villopoto in the AMA Supercross standings while Weimer leads Morais by eight points in the AMA Supercross Lites Western Regional standings.

AMA Supercross Class Results: Phoenix

1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki

2. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki

3. Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha

4. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha

5. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda

6. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda

7. Austin Stroupe, Lincolnton, N.C., Suzuki

8. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha

9. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Honda

10. Tommy Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Suzuki

AMA Supercross Class Season Standings

1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 47

2. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 38

3. Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha, 35

4. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda, 35

5. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 34

6. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 32

7. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha, 31

8. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 26

9. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 24

10. Tommy Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Suzuki, 21

Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Results: Phoenix

1. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki

2. Ryan Morais, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki

3. Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda

4. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda

5. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha

6. Cole Seely, Newbury Park, Calif., Honda

7. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda

8. Tommy Searle, Murrieta, Calif., KTM

9. Robert Kiniry, Holland Patent, N.Y., Suzuki

10. Phil Nicoletti, Bethel, N.Y., KTM

Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Season Standings

1. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki, 50

2. Ryan Morais, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 42

3. Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda, 38

4. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda, 36

5. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda, 34

6. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha, 31

7. Tommy Searle, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 27

8. Cole Seely, Newbury Park, Calif., Honda, 22

9. Robert Kiniry, Holland Patent, N.Y., Suzuki, 20

10. Jeff Alessi, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 19

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.