Race Report - Houston
swapmoto
- January 25 2009
- 50 comments
The opening round of the 2009 East Coast Lites Regional Championship kicked off at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas this evening, while the premier Supercross class continued its red-hot early season.
Before the gates dropped in Reliant, Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Chad Reed had a three-point advantage over Joe Gibbs Racing’s Josh Grant. San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart, on the other hand, sat 12 points out of first place. Keeping things interesting was Geico Powesports Honda’s Kevin Windham, who finally rekindled his 2008 season last week at Anaheim 2 and found himself back on the podium. As we all know, anything can happen at Supercross; so while the Lites were about to start with a fresh slate, the premier class looked to continue its tight battle for title contention.
LITES QUALIFYING
When the gates dropped for the first heat of 2009 East Coast Lites Series, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Christophe Pourcel snatched up the holeshot, but Tyler Wharton quickly swooped in for the lead. Geico Powersports Honda’s Brett Metcalfe made short work of both Pourcel and Wharton to take the lead. Pourcel kept close to Metcalfe’s rear wheel, but Metcalfe maintained his lead. Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Nico Izzi and Division 7/Star Racing’s Darryn Durham put up a battle of their own for fourth, but Izzi came away with the position. Metcalfe held on for the win with Pourcel nipping at his heels. “I just wanted to come out here and ride as hard as I can.” Brett Metcalfe said later of his heat race win.
In the second heat, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Austin Stroupe grabbed the holeshot, but Division 7/Star Racing/Yamaha’s Matt Lemoine put serious pressure on the Stroupe. Before a lap was in the books, Lemoine put a pass on Stroupe, but Stroupe quickly passed him back. Muscle Milk/MDK/KTM’s Martin Davalos settled into third while Lemoine and Stroupe continued their battled for first. Stroupe took the win with Lemoine in tow, while the Geico Powersports Honda rookie Blake Wharton finished a respectable fourth in his first-ever Supercross heat race. “I would love to win again. I was a bit nervous because I haven’t raced in a while. “ Stroupe said after his heat race.
LCQ Note: Steven Clarke and Hunter Hewitt snatched up the final two spots in the Last Chance Qualifier.
Page 1: Lites Qualifying Page 2: SX Qualifying Page 3: Lites Main Page 4: SX Main
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January 25th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
SNORE-FEST!!! I’ll give Stewart mad props, the dude was CRAZY fast in Houston, but this is beginning of a CRAPPY BORING season if Reed, RV2, and the guys let him get away like this. It will kill the sport, kill the TV ratings, and not acquire new fans. See, us diehard Supercross fans don’t need Budweiser, white trash, and our good ole’ boys in Nascar to watch on TV or attend races. Supercross is a SHOW and is BY FAR more difficult and takes more skill than NASCAR, so SUCK IT RED NECKS!
January 25th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
totally agree this sport is starting to suck a$$ to watch all the tv coverage shows is the leading an no other battles and its killing the sport. AMA better do something quick
January 25th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
What do you suggest they do, make Stewart start a lap behind everyone else? It’s not the AMA’s fault he’s so good. Maybe everyone else should stop sucking ass.
It was good to see RV get his first supercross podium though. Ferry has really slowed down since Stewart left the team.
January 25th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
HEY! There is nothing wrong with what is happening! I LOVE IT to tell you the truth. My man Stewart is whoopin azz and he isnt even 100% dialed in yet! I’m just glad that we can see it on TV period. Stop complaining and enjoy seeing the fastest man in supercross. He is making history! When he is gone we may never see talent like that again!!
January 25th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Somebody knows what happend to Lemoine in the main?
January 25th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
He got a bad start, crashed off the track, got back up but fell before he could get back on the track, then rode to a wall to fix his tweaked front end… then resumed the race. He was really flying all night up until that point.
January 25th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Love where this sport has gone, absolutely enjoy watching it on TV and the two haters up top aren’t true fans and don’t understand what a good rider is.
January 25th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
The racing is fine, it’s Jeff Emig and whats his nuts that seem to know nothing about the sport that ruin the telecast! David Bailey, Cameron Steele, Davey Coombs and Jaime Little may you rest in peace.
Jeff Emig can’t seem to put together one intelligent thought about the racing. And whats his nuts is usually about three turns behind the tv coverage, what a joke. Speed channel would be better off drawing random fans to announce at least they could hold your attention. I find myself wanting to stab my eyes out listening to these guys!!!!!!!!!!
Speed Channel, please get rid of these guys!
Blind in Vegas!
January 25th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
Stab your ears instead
January 25th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
stewart is just lucky because reed hasnt stepped up his game in the starts. its not like james is pulling on reed. not at all
January 25th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Tickle my balls Reedy Hauls. Stewart is just a black ninja turtle on a mx bike.
January 25th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
Shorty is as exciting as your granny with a dildo. WEY flat out should cut off his arm with that skid tattoo. Tedesco sucks as much as his honda, can i say useless!!! Grant and reed are dope. Stewart has a huge gead and teeth. he must be an alien. yep. definitely an alien. Alessi is also usless. i hope he gets killed the next time he gets run over by everyone in a national. Davi, he doesn’t even deserve to be mentioned. Ex-miss supercross better wake up and realize she married the wrong guy in the sport, poor choice miss pro-ho.
January 25th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
yeah, i was really rooting for him till he went down.. that suks for him.. better luck at the next race.
January 25th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
You F’ers crack me up! First of all, Carmichael is and always will be the Greatest of All TIME. Second, Stewart is already only racing a Supercross deal/contract, meaning he’ll be gone to race Nascar before he breaks all of Ricky’s records. My POINT above to all of you RETARDS that can’t stop swinging on Stewarts’ nuts, is yes he is incredible, but him riding away with every damn race is NOT helping progress the sport and keep gaining an audience. And yes, whoever said above the TV casts are horrible is DEAD ON. WHY don’t you have Weigandt and Jim Holley do the TV casts and Emig and Mr. Boring do the internet or just bounce, etc??? Weege’s internet broadcasts are ALWAYS full of excitement. Jeff Emig can’t stop slurping Kawasaki’s knob and the sport is losing the momentum it had accumulated. Oh, by the way, the track SUCKED in Houston.
January 25th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
i thought that bubba was supposed to use pro taper bars!
January 25th, 2009 at 7:15 pm
i wish the 450 racing could be as good as the 250 racing
January 25th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
As far as I’m concerned, Reed is much faster than Stewart this year. And some of you are right, I’ve met Chad and I’ve met James. Stewart was arrogant, while Reedy came up to us and signed our stuff and talked to us for a bit after the race. I know they both get bothered all the time, but keeping support is important.
Stewarts always been the fastest…This is a new year. Let’s see Reedy put it all together and beat him flat out with his speed this year. Anyone watched him through the whoops yet…WOW.
January 25th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
agree
January 25th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Reed needs to go practice starts with Alessi and maybe he could take the top spot.. Austin “the punisher” Stroupe was taken names and front tires out on the track all night ruben is racing
January 25th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
Go Stewart you are the fastest on the track. Keep those 1st places coming.
January 25th, 2009 at 9:57 pm
Better yet he needs to practice starts with B Geezy who never misses a holeshot
January 25th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
FIRST i would like to thank all my fans out there.. Just for that it has inspired me to throw a double no footer well attempting to whip off a jump that is to small for a any type of butt scrub on my next hole shoot in the “a+”class.. I was watching the lites racing today and I have concluded that amateur motocross is a crock of shit. Half of the field raced the “B” class one year ago. How is a normal person suppose to compete with those studs who get factory rides at 12 and do not have the common knowledge to let off the gas or stop taking bong rips. I would say some type of schooling is needed for these morons that way we could have decent coverage by and ex pro who is still pissed off he got caught hitting the mary jane on the off season. Just to finish I think the sport will be fine now Because we got Hobama in office and always could ask for a bail out??
January 25th, 2009 at 10:57 pm
Guys you forgot once Bubba catches up in points AMA is gonna fine him for fuel or something just like the did Ricky
January 25th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
Hey Bgeezy its Obama not Hobama. Dont be mad hes black mixed or whatever. thats the it is just appreciate.
January 25th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
I cant believe the cameras dont show all the battles the fans want to see. After Bubba kills it like he should the cameras need to show the points leaders battle it out until they all finish. Just because Bubba crosses the finish line dosen’t
mean the race is over for the other top riders.
January 25th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
hey just a question what exactly is a mad prop? and how do i go about giving one to someone? do i have to have one of those hats with a really flat peak or bill? is it necessary to have heaps of really shit tattoo’s and do the finger in photos? just wondering
January 26th, 2009 at 2:49 am
this year track of houston really sucks
January 26th, 2009 at 6:49 am
There is always going to be a better rider. It might take 5 years to see it but its going to happen.
January 26th, 2009 at 11:23 am
Yamaha is now sponsered by TAG… the whole l&m team and factory of yamaha run tag bars now
January 26th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Stewart looked alot better on the bike this week. anybody agree?
January 26th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
REED IS MUCH FASTER THIS YEAR,THEN YOU SAY STEWART HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE FASTEST? YOUR NOT SUPPOSED TO DRINK THE BONG WATER!
January 26th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
I think Mr. Harry nutzak needs to trim his man bush so he can see the t.v.
January 26th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
wow… glad to see that wonderboy jason lawerance is really producing this year!!!
January 26th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Ok my boy luke vonlinger lead the laptimes for 10 out of 15 laps in qualifying but they dont mention his name at all. Kid made his pro debut in supercross…qualified and all i head about is stewart and reed and all the factory guys. The privateers really make the show when they come out of podunk towns and make a supercross heat. I think that all the websites and magazines need to start showing the real laptimes and not what people want to see. Go check out AMA’s livewire and look at the lap charts. Luke Vonlinger #812 lead the most of the laps in qualifying practice session two.
January 26th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Dude I think Reed deserves the credit out there hes way faster than stewart and actually looks like he knows what he is doing stewart is so outa control its ridicluous i dont even know if he knows half the crap he is doin i mean i went to A2 and he almost crashed more than an ive seen in a local c class moto Reedy is gonna win the championship and u can say all u want about bubba not bein dailed in but their both on new bikes its not rocket science its a equal playin field and bubba is gettin flat out beat fo sho.
January 26th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
does anyone else think that this years tracks have been a little lame. with the exception of phoenix the tracks are starting to resemble arenacross tracks, they are way too tight, which makes for one lined racing and lappers getting in the way of the leaders. i might be way off, but it just seems like they are trying to build tracks to stop the riders from actually riding.
January 27th, 2009 at 12:42 am
I don’t understand where people come off complaining about this season being boring. After the 08 motocross season, supercross has been really exciting.
The first 3 races Reed was as fast or faster than Stewart. They battled in race one, and certainly would have carried that battle to the next 2 rounds if Reed could find the first turn without 8 riders in front of him.
Reed was struggling (by comparison atleast) at Houston, on top of his bad start. He never even attempted the quad during practice or the races, and couldn’t keep his momentum through the whoops enough to jump into the turn. Stewart was so on it I don’t think it would have mattered. He was dialed in and started cruising by lap 10.
January 27th, 2009 at 7:10 am
as much as i hate to say it cause im a big bubba fan i dont think he will just walk away with it this year
January 27th, 2009 at 8:35 am
Reed isnt faster then stewart!The racing is very good,Reed has the points lead but i think that if Stewart gets the points lead reed can for get it!! Has any one noticed how fast Stewart is in the whoops now??The Blue bike is looking more dailed every wk end!
January 27th, 2009 at 8:53 am
I Love the racks this year… most of them were designed by “legends”… bailey rc, pastrana etc. They are meant to slow the riders a little so they dont finish the race as fast ala the s curves and all… I really like them, they are something different than what we have seen lately… chad just needs to make it through a start and the racing will be more interesting… he is going really fast right now, probly even faster than stewart at times…
January 27th, 2009 at 9:31 am
i agree with steveo but the race was boring because reed went down, look how fast reed came through the pack and im not a reed fan but if he would have stayed up right it would of been a good battle
January 27th, 2009 at 9:51 am
You Know the tv coverage was the best in years. you got to see the lead battle with rv and Stewart, reed come through the pack, Keven burn up a lap back to Stewart then Short and Ferry then Stewart fo the final to. If your a rider you want to see the best burning up laps thats it thats all.
January 27th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
The tracks are to tight for good racing. RV will win at least 2 this year. If Reed could get a start OR the tracks were not be so tight and 1 line Bubba and Reedy would put on a show. When Srewart is pushed he rides WAY over his head, soon he will crash and lose points. He is known for it. The tracks are as bad as the announcers, and that is BAD.
January 27th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
Hey I will watch just to see Erin Bates shove the mike in the riders faces when she really should not just to see how cool they can keep composed. She looks good turned 90 degees to.
January 27th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
you want better racing? call up the rest of the 450 feild(beside stewart,villopoto,reed,grant) and tell them to pick up the freakin pace.4 guys go faster then the rest. the rest go slower is it that hard to figure out? its reaility man this is the premiere class the big 450 class its sad to see these riders can’t hang.
January 28th, 2009 at 10:33 am
Where are the points for SX class @?!?!?!?!
January 29th, 2009 at 9:32 am
People like you shouldnt even be allowed to talk on transworld how can you say alessi is useless and you hope he dies the next time he gets run over…….i dont like alessi at all but im sure you will NEVER have the talent he does and you would probably be to big of a pussy to hop back on a bike after a crash like that……..and for davi you only wish you could pick up a women like his!
January 29th, 2009 at 9:34 am
People like you shouldnt even be allowed to talk on transworld how can you say alessi is useless and you hope he dies the next time he gets run over…….i dont like alessi at all but im sure you will NEVER have the talent he does and you would probably be to big of a pansey to hop back on a bike after a crash like that……..and for davi you only wish you could pick up a women like his!
January 30th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
reed is by far faster.so instead of drinking your own bong water why not give credit where credit is do and go ahead and jump off the james is the best wagon and lick my balls for awhile.
February 14th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
i rekon if reed and metcalfe got holeshots it would be an all aussie win…
they both have speed
but are always chasing….especially reed
but congrats to pourcel