Race Report - Atlanta
Brendan Lutes
- February 22 2009
- 27,038 views
- 36 comments
Words and Photos by Brendan Lutes
Inside the warm confines of the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia, in front of a near capacity crowd, and live on Speed TV, the eighth round of the series wrapped up with San Manuel Band of Mission Indians/Yamaha’s James Stewart taking his seventh win of the season and seventh win in a row. For Stewart, the win solidified his place at the top of the points standings and served noticed to his competition that he indeed is the rider to beat in this year’s Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series. But for the defending champion, and Stewart’s main rival, Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Chad Reed, Stewart’s seventh win has left him even more determined than ever to get to the top step on the podium. Reed’s runner-up finish in Atlanta, however, is once again due largely to a mediocre start, which held him back from the beginning, forcing him to climb back up to second after rounding the first turn in seventh.
In the Lites class, Mitch Payton’s powerhouse Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team continues to dominate, as teammates Austin Stroupe and Christophe Pourcel ran one-two for over half the race until Stroupe stalled his bike, allowing Pourcel to go by for an easy win. With two rounds in the books, Pourcel enjoys a relatively comfortable eight-point lead over Atlanta’s second place finisher Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Nico Izzi.
LITES QUALIFYING
Heat One:
When the gate dropped for the start of the first race of the evening, Moto Concepts/Honda’s newest recruit Vince Friese jumped out to the early lead as the pack rounded the first turn. It wasn’t long, though, before Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Austin Stroupe got around him—the Kawasaki rider did so on the first lap—and began to pull away. With that, Stroupe was never challenged. Friese, however, dropped back to fourth by the end of the heat as Muscle Milk/MDK/KTM’s Martin Davalos and Star Racing/Yamaha’s Darryn Durham both worked their way around Friese before the checked flag flew. In the end, Stroupe took the win followed by Davalos, Durham, and Friese.
Heat One Results:
1. Austin Stroupe (Kaw)
2. Martin Davalos (KTM)
3. Darryn Durham (Yam)
4. Vince Friese (Hon)
5. Fred Karrle (Suz)
6. Levi Kilbarger (Hon)
7. Cody Gilmore (Hon)
8. Blake Wharton (Hon)
Heat Two:
Just like in the first heat, another privateer took the holeshot as Yamaha-mounted Jacob Saylor rounded the first turn in the lead. Also just like the first heat, though, a Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider was in second and made quick work to get into the lead, as Christophe Pourcel did so shortly after the pack headed down the first straight. With that, the race for the win was over. Pourcel checked out, leaving the other riders to battle for second. In the end, Star Racing/Yamaha’s Matt Lemoine took second ahead of Suzuki City’s Steven Clarke in third, a hard-charging Muscle Milk/MDK/KTM-backed Wil Hahn in fourth, and Saylor fifth.
Heat Two Results:
1. Christophe Pourcel (Kaw)
2. Matt Lemoine (Yam)
3. Steven Clarke (Suz)
4. Wil Hahn (KTM)
5. Jacob Saylor (Yam)
6. Branden Jessemen (Kaw)
7. Teddy Parks (Suz)
8. Tyler Wharton (Hon)
LCQ
With Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Nico Izzi on the line due to a gnarly crash at the start of his heat race, it was almost a foregone conclusion as to who would be winning this race. A red flag after one lap, however, spiced things up a little bit, but once the race was re-started, Izzi quickly took the lead and checked out. Matt Goerke finished second, Spencer Daily third, and Ryan Smith fourth.
LCQ Results:
1. Nico Izzi (Suz)
2. Matt Goerke (Suz)
3. Spencer Daily (Hon)
4. Ryan Smith (Suz)
Page One: Lites Qualifying, Page Two: SX Qualifying, Page Three: Lites Main, Page Four: SX Main
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February 22nd, 2009 at 2:23 am
Lutes man I love you what can I say. I got lay off from my job because of the econimal depression we are now and, I had to cut my cable tv meaning no more speed tv and suppercross live webcast this year you has to pay for it si it’s beign sad for like an exile or worst. and after every race I check here for results and you just deliver
thank you very much
i hope to land a new job soon
February 22nd, 2009 at 2:59 am
what happened to Metcalfe? I’m sure i probably missed something
February 22nd, 2009 at 3:20 am
thats what i am wondering? no reports on this site that say he is out or injured
February 22nd, 2009 at 3:30 am
I’m from Sapin(Barcelona)and speed tv doesn’t work in spain so after every race i check here the results to. I hope you found job quickly!!!! and restore the cable tv.
GO FAST RIDE SMOOTH
February 22nd, 2009 at 3:37 am
he injured his shoulder on practice yesterday
February 22nd, 2009 at 3:40 am
Damn, bubba is fast! I feel sorry for Reed.. Reed needs better starts if he wants to win! I know he will get better laptimes too, if he`s not buried back in the pack all the time.. Bubba`s gonna scrub his way to championchip victory;)
February 22nd, 2009 at 5:16 am
Everytime I see James Stewart go to work in the main , That makes my training in and out of the jim climb stronger.
You gotta admit hard work does pay off! Congrates #7.
February 22nd, 2009 at 9:22 am
I’m a huge Chad Reed fan and I always will be, but what the hell? There’s no argument that Reed wasn’t as fast or faster than Stewart at the first few rounds. But now it seem’s like he’s getting slower, not faster. I sure hope he find’s the speed he had at the beginning of the season, or it might as well be over now. Good luck #1
February 22nd, 2009 at 9:23 am
Congrats 2u JS-7!!!I’snt it funny how every one is saying Reed needs to get good starts to run with JS-7,well he has had some very good starts but he still cant run JS-7 pace.c
Congrats STEWART
February 22nd, 2009 at 9:29 am
one of those monster girls needs to have a wardrobe malfunction
February 22nd, 2009 at 9:56 am
1st of all, MAD PROPS to Transworld for practice AND race coverage - also always killer pics! 2nd, the Lites Class was like a yard sale with all of the guys crashing in the heats and the main - pretty exciting to watch. The SX class - SUCKS, BLOWS, PUTS ME TO SLEEP, and is LAME! I can’t believe I PAID $14.00 to go to Lucas Oil Stadium this Sat. to be bored to tears. Oh yah, that’s right: THAT BLACK HAIRED HOT A$$ MONSTER 30 SEC girl - I hope she is suprised when I propose to her!
February 22nd, 2009 at 9:57 am
Hey thanks
my Mom its from Pozuelo de Alarcon Madrid, Spain, I have never visit it, but I want to go bad. to visit my Ankle but it’s not the time now
even worst I bought a CRF 450r 09 and the transmition died on me
have some of you hear about a recall or defect on this bikes
my 05 last for ever and this one died after trhee months
February 22nd, 2009 at 10:31 am
Stewart is definately in a class by himself speed wise. If Villipoto can get his corner speed and fitness up, he’ll be in front of Reed, but unless Stewart makes a mistake, everyone’s fighting for “first loser”. Too bad for Stroupe, he was laying wood to everyone before the stall.
February 22nd, 2009 at 11:07 am
Big ups to Josh Hill. Complletely horrible start. Probably nutted him self getting caught up on the gate like that. Hits the first turn dead last. Puts his ‘Im a Charger Beanie’ on and managed to pull out a 9th place finish. TV coverage didn’t mention him at all during the race either, besides his bunk start. That main was jammed pack with the best of the best, and the youngster showed veteran like skills. His longevity in the sport will be thru the roof if he keeps showing raw talen like that.
And a special shout out to Lutes and the rest of TWMX staff for providing us the info that keeps us frothing at the mouth for more !! Can’t wait for the next race
February 22nd, 2009 at 12:25 pm
I completely agree, maybe the one that stands on the podium all the time, that would be geart.
February 22nd, 2009 at 12:34 pm
BOOOOOOOORING
February 22nd, 2009 at 1:19 pm
I agree…thats why they don’t show stewart during the whole race
February 22nd, 2009 at 1:59 pm
I included it in the final practice report, although I didn’t say that he broke his collarbone. Read the text before looking at the pretty pictures
You should subscribe to our Twitter, it basically alerts you when we post news on it. I was sending updates to that from my phone right when I heard news.
February 22nd, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Of course not , the camera crew could only keep up with the slow ball!.
Gotta put sandbag saddles on the #7 bike.
February 22nd, 2009 at 6:59 pm
What is a true champion!! Is it someone who says he needs to this and needs to do that? Or is it someone who goes out there and proves to the world that he’s the best? Someone who knows that getting a good start and blasting away the opposition early wins races. Who cares what those haters think. Surely what matters the most is getting that title at the end of the season, whether it’s by destroying the rest of the field or a winning by the skin of your teeth. James Stewart is the best!! Boring what!!? I could watch him ride all day, the man is super fast and gifted when it comes to riding mx.
February 22nd, 2009 at 7:53 pm
the ama held the gates too long
that pised me offf cuz they always do that >:(
February 22nd, 2009 at 11:48 pm
sht up biaches
February 23rd, 2009 at 3:40 am
Is Nico sponsored by Speed? Everytime I watch, he’s all they talk about.
February 23rd, 2009 at 8:38 am
Hahaha …Villapoto’s corner speed is something he is renound for! Def. isn’t his problem!…as far as fitness, I think it is an intensity issue…20 laps flat out, he’ll get there sooner rather than later.
February 23rd, 2009 at 8:42 am
If that were the case.. shouldn’t Nico talk about Speed instead?;)
February 23rd, 2009 at 3:14 pm
Gilmore should be getting a little more credit than wat he is for getting Seventh in the heat he has been fightin cancer.
February 23rd, 2009 at 3:38 pm
The tweets are great on saturday nights. Keep em comin.
February 23rd, 2009 at 4:51 pm
Good job this weelkend Lutes
February 23rd, 2009 at 5:53 pm
Not boring , A real champion is consistancy , winning or staying near the points when landing in Vegas to bring home the championship!
As of late the only biaches I see are the ones in high heels walking on dirt on race day! (To most woman I know that was a compliment.)
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:18 pm
Thanks for posting the winner in the caption of the home page picture. Way to spoil it for those of us who won’t see the race until Tuesday’s Speed coverage. awesome (sarcasm)
February 24th, 2009 at 12:45 am
James Stewart is unbelievable. I wish they would show more of him. Tedesco is great and all and so is Villapoto, but Stewart just is so much more athletic. They show JS, then go to Tedesco and villapoto and stewart makes them look so slow and uncordinated. We will never see athleticism on a bike like this again. Ricky Carmichael’s title should be the gun (greatest until now). Mcgrath raced until he was in his thirties, Carmichael knew he had nothing for stewart after 07 and retired at 27, which was a smart move.
February 24th, 2009 at 4:26 am
Why isnt there any pictures of Davi Millsaps? I havent seen any pictures of him in the past few race reports. That needs to change..PLEASE!
February 24th, 2009 at 10:53 am
If he would step up his game he might be in more pictures….
Why dont people just quit watching the races if they are so boring. Stewart has worked hard for this. If its so damn boring then get as good as him and make it exciting… if not then shutup and turn the channel.
February 24th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
No worries bud. I aim to please (sarcasm).
February 24th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
There’s RV2 leading the pack… then there’s Reed out on his own in front of that… then there’s JS7 out front of that. This Freak is unbelievable. A true natural freak of nature. Im a CR1 fan as he is an amazing rider but JS is even better then that. CHAD.. PULL YOUR $%^*ing.. finger out…. you can do it.. you should be riding like there’s nothing to lose now!! takes some risks man!!
My next question is .. where does JS go from here? I would looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooove to see him on a MotoGP bike. Stewart V’s Rossi….. I recon he can do it and how cool would that be? As long as he even knows what MotoGP is seeing as yanks have no idea of what goes on outside there pissy little world.
March 4th, 2009 at 9:55 am
i dont think chad has a chance this year best he can get is silver