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Media Contact: Denny Hartwig

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dennyhartwig@clearchannel.com

 

Lusk Earns First Supercross Since ’99 at Bank One Ballpark

Stewart Sails to First Supercross Win of ‘03

 

PHOENIX (January 11, 2003) – Kawasaki’s Ezra Lusk, of Bainbridge, Ga., won his first 250cc THQ Supercross since ’99 in front of 48, 445 fans at Bank One Ballpark. Team Kawasaki’s James Stewart won his first 125cc Western Regional Supercross of the season.

 

Team Yamaha’s Chad Reed jumped out to an early lead, winning the $1,500 SXGP.com holeshot, with Lusk and Carmichael in tow. On lap seven Carmichael went down and fell to sixth place. Lusk followed Reed for 16 laps before making the move into the lead. Lusk held on for the win, Reed was second and Tim Ferry was third. Defending champion Ricky Carmichael finished fourth.

 

“We are all professional athletes, and it’s going to take aggressive racing to win races,” said Lusk on his move into the lead. “This sport is a roller coaster ride, but if you keep your head in there good things will come.”

 

Reed now leads both the THQ World Supercross GP and AMA Supercross Series’ points standings. 

 

Australian import, Craig Anderson, who is competing in his first year of racing in America, earned the $1,000 SXGP.com holeshot in the 125cc main event. On lap four, Kawasaki’s Matt Walker, of McRae, Ga., moved into the lead, with Stewart and Preston running third and fourth. Stewart took over the lead on lap six.

 

Reigning 125cc Western Regional Supercross champion Travis Preston, who won last weekend’s opener in Anaheim, Calif., moved into second on lap 11 with a block pass that put Walker to the ground. Stewart held on for the win, Preston was second and Danny Smith was third.

 

“I came out of the gate a little crooked and hit a few guys,” said Stewart on his first win of the season. “I had to ride smart and stay out of the pile-ups.”

 

125cc Western Regional Supercross Results, Phoenix

1.       James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki

2.       Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Honda

3.       Danny Smith, Middleton, Idaho, Suzuki

4.       Sean Hamblin, Sun City, Calif., Suzuki

5.       Kevin Johnson, Albuquerque, N.M., Yamaha

6.       Craig Anderson, Australia, Yamaha

7.       Erick Sorby, France, Kawasaki

8.       Steve Mertens, Sonoma, Calif., Yamaha

9.       Andrew Short, Colorado Springs, Colo., Suzuki

10.   Billy Laninovich, Escondido, Calif., KTM

 

125cc Western Regional Supercross Season Standings, After Phoenix

1.       Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Honda, 47

2.       James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 47

3.       Danny Smith, Middleton, Idaho, Suzuki, 36

4.       Andrew Short, Colorado Springs, Colo., Suzuki, 32

5.       Kevin Johnson, Albuquerque, N.M., Yamaha, 27

6.       Christopher Gosselaar, Corona, Calif., Honda, 27

7.       Craig Anderson, Australia, Yamaha, 27

8.       Billy Laninovich, Escondido, Calif., KTM, 26

9.       Matt Walker, McRae, Ga., Kawasaki, 21

10.   Sean Hamblin, Sun City, Calif., Suzuki, 18

 

250cc THQ Supercross Event Results, Phoenix

1.       Ezra Lusk, Bainbridge, Ga., Kawasaki

2.       Chad Reed, Corona, Calif., Yamaha

3.       Tim Ferry, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha

4.       Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Honda

5.       David Vuillemin, Corona, Calif., Yamaha

6.       Sebastien Tortelli, Temecula, Calif., Suzuki

7.       Mike LaRocco, South Bend, Ind., Honda

8.       Ernesto Fonseca, Canyon lake, Calif., Honda

9.       Ivan Tedesco, Albuquerque, N.M., Kawasaki

10.   Brock Sellards, Sherrodsville, Ohio, Yamaha

11.   Ryan Clark, Albuquerque, N.M., Yamaha

12.   Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Yamaha

13.   Stephan Roncada, Menifee, Calif., Suzuki

 

250cc THQ Supercross Series Season Standings, After Phoenix

1.       Chad Reed, Corona, Calif., Yamaha, 47

2.       Tim Ferry, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha, 40

3.       Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Honda, 40

4.       Ezra Lusk, Bainbridge, Ga., Kawasaki, 38

5.       David Vuillemin, Corona, Calif., Yamaha, 34

6.       Sebastien Tortelli, Temecula, Calif., Suzuki, 31

7.       Ernesto Fonseca, Canyon Lake, Calif., Honda, 28

8.       Ivan Tedesco, Albuquerque, N.M., Yamaha, 21

9.       Stephane Roncada, Menifee, Calif., Suzuki, 19

10.   Ryan Clark, Albuquerque, N.M., Yamaha, 14

 

250cc THQ World Supercross GP Season Standings

1.       Chad Reed, Corona, Calif., Yamaha, 91

2.       David Vuillemin, Corona, Calif., Yamaha, 87

3.       Tim Ferry, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha, 81

4.       Sebastien Tortelli, Temecula, Calif., Suzuki, 70

5.       Mike LaRocco, South Bend, Ind., Honda, 62

6.       Grant Langston, Lake Elsinore, Calif., KTM, 60

7.       Keith Johnson, Albuquerque, N.M., Yamaha 47

8.       Ryan Clark, Albuquerque, N.M., Yamaha, 47

9.       Damon Huffman, Canyon Country, Calif., Honda, 37

10.   Jeremy McGrath, Encinitas, Calif., KTM 29

 

KTM Jr. Supercross Challenge

1.       Cody McElroy, Peoria, Ariz., KTM

2.       Josh Hinds, Phoenix, Ariz., KTM

3.       Jacob Fox, Gilbert, Ariz., KTM

4.       Ty Siminoe, Reno, Nev., KTM

5.       Allan Miller Jr., Queen Creek, Ariz., KTM

6.       Dane Silverlake, Torrance, Calif., KTM

7.       Jacob Carpenter, Spanaway, Wash., KTM

8.       William Renville, Queen Creek, Ariz., KTM

9.       Andrew Campagna, Scottsdale, Ariz., KTM

10.   Price Sandoval, Scottsdale, Ariz., KTM

11.   Taylor Cannon, Care Free, Ariz., KTM

12.   Chad Williford, Glendale, Ariz., KTM

13.   Kyle Robinson, Bosque Farms, N.M., KTM

14.   Cody Thomas, Show Low, Ariz., KTM

 

 

Competition returns to Anaheim’s Edison International Field next weekend, January 18, for the next round of competition.

 

For more information, please contact Denny Hartwig at 630-566-6305 or email at dennyhartwig@clearchannel.com. Tickets for the THQ World Supercross GP are also available at www.ticketmaster.com, www.sxgp.com, and www.tickets.com (San Francisco only), and www.unlvtickets.com (Las Vegas only).

 

About THQ World Supercross GP and AMA Supercross Series

THQ World Supercross GP is a 17-round global series that is produced and promoted by Clear Channel Entertainment and Dorna Off Road S.L. Riders must compete in the international rounds to be eligible to win the world championship. In 2002-2003, the 17-event THQ World Supercross GP will be comprised of two international events in Geneva, Switzerland and Arnhem, Holland, and 15 of the 16 events that are conducted in major markets throughout the United States as a part of the AMA Supercross Series. The other AMA Supercross Series event held in Daytona Beach, Fla., is independently produced by the International Speedway Corporation, and is not a part of the THQ World Supercross GP. An AMA Supercross Series rider will be crowned for the series of events conducted in the United States only. 

 

THQ World Supercross GP is the premier off-road motorcycle racing series in the world. Clear Channel Entertainment is the largest promoter and producer of live events in the world, with a broad based tradition in the promotion and production of motorcycle racing events. The FIM, Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme, is the body that globally governs motorcycle sport at the world level. Among other matters, the FIM groups together 85 affiliated National Federations relating to the sport of motorcycle racing. AMA Pro Racing is the National Federation representative that sanctions motorcycle-racing events in the United States. Dorna Off Road S.L. is an internationally recognized sports management group established in 1988 with an emphasis on major international motor sports events.  Dorna is headquartered in Madrid, Spain with branch offices in Barcelona, London and Tokyo.  In addition to its involvement with THQ World Supercross GP, Dorna manages the rights to MotoGP and the FIM Motocross World Championship. For more information on THQ World Supercross GP and the AMA Supercross Series, log on to www.sxgp.com. 

 

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