2009 AMA SX to start in Anaheim

December 30, 2008

The 2009 Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, which also doubles as the world championship, commences at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, on January 3 for the first of three races at the famed facility.

Australia's Chad Reed will defend his championship against the top racers in the world, including James Stewart, who returns from injury on a Yamaha, Kevin Windham (Honda), who was runner-up last year, and the prodigiously talented Ryan Villopoto (Kawasaki), who is moving up from the Lites class.

Reed, who's just returned to America after dominating the inaugural SuperX series in Australia, dominated at Anaheim last year, winning all three races en route to his second AMA supercross title. The three-race sweep marked the first time Reed had won at the legendary Angel Stadium since 2004. He joins former AMA Supercross class champion Stewart as the only riders to sweep all three races in Anaheim.

Windham chased Reed to the final race of the season in 2008 and finished second overall in the standings. The veteran earned four main-event wins and eight podium finishes, marking the third time in his career that he finished runner-up in the championship.

Stewart, who missed most of last season due to a knee injury, will challenge Reed for the No. 1 plate. On the way to winning his first AMA Supercross title in 2007, Stewart captured 13 wins and two additional podium appearances.

Former AMA Supercross Lites class champion, Villopoto, makes his AMA Supercross class debut at Angel Stadium. Villopoto is a three-time AMA Motocross Lites class champion and has the speed to run with the elite riders in this class.

"I don't think it's out of reach to win the championship, but it's definitely going to be tough," Villopoto added. "I might be asking a lot, though. You have to look at being consistent and that's what I want to do. If I can be consistent, I can maybe get second or third."

Also returning to the class in 2009 are Honda's Davi Millsaps, Yamaha's Josh Hill, and Australia's Michael Byrne, who is in the same Suzuki squad as Reed and Mike Alessi.

New Zealanders Ben Townley (Honda) and Cody Cooper (Yamaha) will also compete in the main class, while Australia's Daniel McCoy will be on a Honda.

In the Lites West class, Brett Metcalfe (Honda) will be the lone Australian hand at Anaheim, with Ryan Dungey (Suzuki) the early favourite.

The first AMA Supercross race was held in Anaheim on December 4, 1976, and Marty Smith won on a Honda. Ricky Carmichael and Jeremy McGrath share the all-time AMA Supercross class win record at Angel Stadium with eight wins each.

This year's AMA Supercross title will be held over 17 rounds, finishing in Las Vegas on May 2.