Monday Kickstart: Anaheim 2
bayodome
- January 19 2009
- 26,199 views
- 32 comments
What a weekend! Three rounds down, and this season is shaping up to be much more exciting than the passed few years.
While James Stewart continues to tweak and learn to ride a brand of machine he has not ridden since about the age of six, he still looks scary fast every time he hits the track. But there is a catch that has manifested in the form of an Australian rider who has surprised just about everyone so far this year, including Mr. Stewart.
Chad Reed looks, and sounds, like the guy whom many will recall from his 2004 season of dominance. Chad’s demeanor, both on and off the track, shows a rider who is confident in his equipment, his abilities, and his fitness to ride above the rest. While Reed has yet to collect a win this season, it is not for a lack of trying. Crashes and bad luck have so far kept him from winning. However, if Saturday’s charge from 19th to second at the finish is any indication, Reed is more than due for a win.
Although Stewart has been visibly upset on the podium and is behind in points, he still has two wins to his credit and the San Manuel/ L&M/ Yamaha team will continue to test to find the best 
settings for their star rider. At the moment, if Stewart is the hard-working student getting straight “A’s”, then Reed is the brainiac whose dog just ate his homework.
Away from the standouts, the action is still fast paced. While Supercross class rookies Ryan Villopoto and Josh Grant continue to learn the ropes, veterans like Kevin Windham and Tim Ferry are doing their best to keep the kids honest.
In Lites competition, three riders have established themselves as the front-runners in the form of Ryan Dungey, Jake Weimer, and Ryan Morais. All three riders a
re running similar lap times, while Dungey has had the edge the last two rounds and appears much more aggressive out on the track than in years past. Dungey knows what he wants, and is willing to fight to get it. And let’s not forget about Jason Lawrence. It is not often that the wild card goes to the defending champion, but in this case, Lawrence fits the bill with no OEM support, a team he is largely funding on his own, and his questionable past. Although his chance for retaining the West Lites title is a long shot, Jason is still an ultra-fast rider who is always a threat for a win and finished just behind the podium on Saturday.
Below you will find a gallery of pit shots of the weekend, as well as links to the many galleries of race action from Anaheim 2. Enjoy and be sure to check back throughout the week some more interviews.
KN1M8726.JPG
Troy Lee Designs' Chris Blose. Hard to believe he was a replacement rider as he is now tied for fourth in points after three rounds.
MORE FROM ANAHEIM ON PAGE TWO
To upload photos or videos, 
»
January 19th, 2009 at 2:31 am
RIP IT LAWRENCE. i could and would support you.
January 19th, 2009 at 8:22 am
Just keep doing your business Dungey…
January 19th, 2009 at 10:33 am
-At the moment, if Stewart is the hard-working student getting straight “A’s”, then Reed is the brainiac whose dog just ate his homework.
haha i love that. keep up the good work!
January 19th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
The pictures scroll to fast
January 19th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
don’t forget to flush
January 19th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
First the site is too slow, now it’s too fast. Wow, you can just never be happy… How about using the pause button, then scrolling through the photos at your own pace…
January 19th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
?
January 19th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
Is it me or does Stewart not look good at all on that Yamacrap. That bike is by far the worst one out there and even in the TWMX Shootout nobody liked that bike. He is going to get hurt on that bike, he is just to fast for that thing. why do you think Reed left that Yamacrap. Reed looks great on that Zook…Im a fan of both I just dont think that was the right fit for Stewart..this season has been great so far though… Anybody watch it on CBS, no announcer sound at all through the whole thing, that was terrible.
January 19th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
STEWART IS RIDING A GARBAGE BIKE, I ALSO THINK HE IS WAY TO GOOD FOR IT, HOP ON THE ZOOOK STEWART
DOOOOO ITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
January 19th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
I bought the digital subscription, i cannot access the February edition, even though it was supposed to come out the 12th, whats up with that?
January 19th, 2009 at 7:07 pm
watch Reed ride the track!!! he doesn’t even have to use the berms. that thing turns on a nickel. Villo is getting closer and closer. a few more weeks and he will be riding around alone in third place (on a normal track).
January 19th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
and wipe
January 19th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
hey dumb ass he won didnt he?
January 19th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
yay chris blose wo wo
January 19th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
Or wash
January 19th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
Good idea
January 19th, 2009 at 9:00 pm
I wonder how he would do on a honda? Its better than that yamaha
January 19th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
haha i bet he got alot of crap from that name, haha he did good tho im a fan
January 19th, 2009 at 10:05 pm
So… Who won the stewart contest?
January 19th, 2009 at 11:55 pm
If that Yamaha is so bad, then why has Stewart won everyrace but one? And if Chad Reed’s Suzuki is so good, why can’t he win? It’s a lot easier to follow in second. Stewarts 09 record U.S. open: 1
Bercy 1 A2: 1 Phoenix 1. You don’t think Stewart wouldn’t have gone from last to second? C mon.
January 20th, 2009 at 9:14 am
and suzuki
January 20th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
I am awsome so is Brandon
January 20th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
I like to say that Chad Reed now is the faster man on supercross track I take my hat for him he is the best and I’m sure he is gonna win the championship this year .God protec you for the coming racers and do the best and kick STEWART’S ASS. JAJAJAJAJA
January 20th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
GOOD RACE CHAD REED ,yOU GONNA BE THE CHAMPION DONT’ WORRY .YOU HAVE MORE RACES COMING .YOU THE FASTER MAN ON SUPERCROSS TRACK GOD PROTECT YOU AND I WISH YOU THE BEST.
January 20th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
all you guys who bag on yamaha are all nothing but a bunch of brainwashed idiots and chad reed bandwagon fans he left yamaha becuase he wanted more money than his sorry ass is worth. stewart will get it right soon on the yamaha and will whoop his ass more than he already is soon!!!! all you kids have no idea what your talking about and should shut your mouth
January 20th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
That coverage was HORRIBLE! They didn’t show passes, and they only had “packages” on Reed and Grant, nothing on Stewart. Even in the voice-over, Ralph Sheheen only referred to Stewart as “the competition” and there was ZERO mention of him. That was pathetic. Or was it itentional?
I hope it’s not becuse Bubba is back to his arrogant “I’m too busy/cool/etc. to give an interview” ways? Does anybody know what happened?
Care to comment? Staffers? Maeda? Insiders?
January 20th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
actully mxrider844 it is the other way around. reed wasn’t happy at yamaha for the last two years he was there, he even said it. if anything stewert is looking for the big checks, hell i would look for the most money. also anyone who support jason lawrence should just go jump off a bridge…. GO DUNGEY!!!! reppin minnesota
January 21st, 2009 at 7:20 am
You people and your brand loyalty make me LOL. This sucks, that sucks, they all suck! Why? Because they are 4 strokes! Just kidding. A good rider can ride anything. Throw your own bars on it and ride it like you stole it!
January 21st, 2009 at 10:04 am
Straight up, dude.. Anything anywhere.. Ride anything, im still fast!!!
January 22nd, 2009 at 12:43 pm
I’m in 40+ am. I have a 05 yz250 that I race, but just for shits and gigs I took out my old 91 yz 125 and kicked butt with it. You wanna see grown men cry? You couldnt put a price on it. I blew by guys on brand new, heavily moded 450s!
January 23rd, 2009 at 7:54 pm
#213 thats my favorite rider kramer patterson and my number one mechanic shawn watkins. their my heroes finally made it on here
January 25th, 2009 at 9:57 am
the grammer is so sh!tttyy!!! why can’t you guys profread something before you post it? i mean come on! you guys are in a businesss. there are no spaces after commas, there are no caps… come in, this is a discrace… and if it makes you people feel better correcting my grammer, after i clearly am writing like this on purpose (and no, TWMX is not witing like that on purpose)and telling me that i don’t know how to write myself, lol… then so be it.