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Yamaha Racing
Reed takes 10 points to season finale, Lawrence Lites champion
A title-worthy performance from Yamaha's San Manuel rider Chad Reed, after pulling back from a first corner crash to finish second, at Qwest Field in Seattle for the penultimate round of the 2008 Monster Energy AMA Supercross series (also an FIM World Championship) means that the Australian carries a ten point advantage to Las Vegas in search of his second crown next week. Yamaha of Troy's Jason Lawrence claimed the West Region Lites series with his YZ250F.
Reed embarked on one of his finest rides this season - a term that has seen him net eight victories and twelve podiums - rallying from last position to exchanges some brusque moves with Andrew Short on the final lap and obtained the runner-up slot for the second week in succession. The 25-year-old was still not at optimum fitness with his YZ450F after suffering a broken shoulder during practice in Detroit.
“I don't know what's going on with my crashing, but I ran into the back of Millsaps and went down, and I just tried to come through and be smart. This result feels good; I'd rather take a 10-point lead into the final than be 10 points down," said the former champion who has set records this season and had led the title chase since the first round in Los Angeles.
"I knew the start was going to be really important tonight, and I didn't think it was going to be possible to come through and get back up on top. There's another race, and another opportunity, and we minimised the points-loss as much as possible," he continued. "This title is going to be a lot of fun in Vegas, and I want to thank Shorty - that was a nice little move at end there, and it ripped the bars right out of my hands. We fought back and got him in the last corner, so that felt pretty good."
"It's going to be fun in Vegas," he added. "The opposition has taken this title to a whole new level, and I can't wait."
Reed holds ten points over Seattle victor Kevin Windham. Even if his rival wins in Nevada then he needs only to finish sixth to wrap up the championship.
Yamaha had cause to celebrate when Jason Lawrence placed a blue machine on the second step of the podium the same evening and in doing so picked up his first West Coast Lies crown. The teenager managed the feat with six podium results, including three wins from a total of eight events. He was joined on the podium by Broc Hepler in third place.
"I'm happy about that. That was our goal," the champ said of his success. "I would've never thought that I would win the supercross title before I would win the outdoor title, but maybe I'll get them both in one year!" The seventeenth and final round (including the East-West Lites Shootout) will take place at the Sam Boyd stadium this weekend.
KTM Racing
US Supercross Series
MDK KTM Factory rider Nick Wey moved into 9th place in overall series points after last night's Seattle Supercross.
Wey, who pulled the holeshot in last week's heat, repeated that start this weekend when he got a great jump and quickly pulled out front in the start of Supercross Heat #2. Unfortunately, he made an early mistake which allowed two riders to pass him pushing him back into third. He battled with Josh Hill for the remainder of the moto losing 3rd to Hill on the last lap which placed him 4th overall in his heat.
In the main event, Wey managed a respectable 9th place start. On the second lap he moved up one position into 8th. One lap later he passed David Vuillemin for 7th. By lap six, he had caught up within a bike length of the 6th place ride of Heath Voss. On this same lap the series point's leader, Chad Reed, caught and passed Wey which set him back to 8th. It would only take one more lap before Wey moved back up into 7th by making the pass on Voss. Near the end of the moto Wey bobbled which allowed Josh Hill to pass. This put Wey into 8th position where he would finish for the night. His 8th place result moved him into 9th overall in series points.
US Supercross Lites West Series
Justin Brayton, showed up in Seattle to compete in the West Lites Supercross class. Brayton got a decent start in his heat rounding the first turn in 4th. By the end of the second lap he moved into 3rd where he stayed to easily qualify into the main event.
Brayton started well in the main event coming around the first lap in 3rd. He soon passed for 2nd and was holding his pace until he made a mistake that caused him to run off the track and dropped him back into 3rd. A couple turns later Broc Hepler made a block pass on Brayton that allowed Brett Metcalfe and himself to pass. Brayton now found himself in 5th. He stayed close to the riders ahead trying to find ways to gain speed and move closer. Unfortunately, near the end, he made one more mistake that allowed Tommy Hahn to pass. Brayton now sat in 6th position where he would finish his night. His 6th place finish moved him to 6th overall for the season.
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