AMA-SX: GRANT TAKES DEBUT VICTORY IN LA

Yamaha continued their streak of victories in the AMA Supercross
Championship (also an FIM World Championship) as Joe Gibbs
RacingTeam’s Josh Grant surprisingly took his YZ450F to first place at
the opening round of seventeen in the 2009 campaign at Anaheim in Los
Angeles last Saturday. 2008 champion Chad Reed clinched the last race
of 2008 and Grant beat both the Australian, and pre-event favourite –
and new Yamaha recruit – James Stewart to the chequered flag.

It was a dramatic first AMA outing for Stewart as part of the
title-winning L and M San Manuel squad. In front of a bumper
collective of 42,309 spectators, the 23 year old took the holeshot in
the main event and pull away from the pack with Reed in pursuit. The
pair swapped the lead before a collision caused both to hit the dirt.
Stewart’s bike was hit by the pursuing Kevin Windham and he was unable
to restart, pulling out of the sprint after just six laps.

Grant was running in third position prior to the Stewart-Reed incident
and fronted the pack for the rest of the race for a sensational debut
result in his first meeting in the Supercross category since joining
Yamaha during the winter.

“I just kept plugging away and I didn’t even look at the board or the
laptimes or how many laps were left. I just kept going and when it
felt like halfway I looked up and it said ’18 laps’ and I was like,
‘Thank God!’ said the young Californian, who had to nurse his machine
across the line after catching a trackside banner in his rear wheel
with two laps remaining. ‘I’m just so pumped, and I didn’t want to
take too many chances with the banner in the wheel, so I just kept
riding and it came through.’

After winning the US Open in Las Vegas and then at Paris, Bercy, it
was a disappointing night for Stewart who classified 19th after his
retirement.

‘I got the holeshot and uncharacteristically I let him (Reed) go by. I
was making a few mistakes in the beginning and I wasn’t really
comfortable yet. He ended up getting by me and actually pulled away,’
he said. ‘I found my rhythm and came back up and he might have started
fading a little bit – I don’t know what he was doing – but I went past
him pretty quick and then I came into that corner and I missed a
shift. Once I clicked back in, all I know is – just like Toronto in
2006 – I was getting hit from the rear. He took me out and I was down
and out, and couldn’t start my bike again.’

In the Lites category reigning champion Jason Lawrence recovered from
his involvement in a first lap pile-up to guide his YZ250F to 4th
place.

Round two will take place next Saturday at Chase Field in Phoenix.

Race 1 – 20 Laps

Pos., Rider, Manu., Nat., Total Time

1, Josh Grant, Yamaha, USA, 22’4.768
2, Andrew Short, Honda, USA, 0’6.718
3, Chad Reed, Suzuki, AUS, 0’10.433
4, Tim Ferry, Kawasaki, USA, 0’19.648
5, Ryan Villopoto, Kawasaki, USA, 0’22.814
6, Ivan Tedesco, Honda, USA, 0’26.118
7, Heath Voss, Honda, USA, 0’39.522
8, Benjamin Coisy, Honda, FRA, 0’43.099
9, Nicholas Wey, Yamaha, USA, 0’48.068
10, Paul Carpenter, Kawasaki, USA, 0’49.372
11, Mike Alessi, Suzuki, USA, 0’57.609
12, David D Millsaps, Honda, USA, 0’58.348
13, Cole Siebler, Honda, USA, 1’13.225
14, Matt Boni, Honda, USA, -1 Laps
15, Kevin Windham, Honda, USA, -1 Laps
16, Josh Hill, Yamaha, USA, -1 Laps
17, Steve Boniface, Honda, FRA, -1 Laps
18, Robert Kiniry, Kawasaki, USA, -1 Laps
19, James Stewart, Yamaha, USA, -14 Laps
20, Charles Summey, KTM, USA, -14 Laps

Rider Standings 03/01/2009

Pos., Rider, Manu., Nat., Points
1, Josh Grant, Yamaha, USA, 25
2, Andrew Short, Honda, USA, 22
3, Chad Reed, Suzuki, AUS, 20
4, Tim Ferry, Kawasaki, USA, 18
5, Ryan Villopoto, Kawasaki, USA, 16
6, Ivan Tedesco, Honda, USA, 15
7, Heath Voss, Honda, USA, 14
8, Benjamin Coisy, Honda, FRA, 13
9, Nicholas Wey, Yamaha, USA, 12
10, Paul Carpenter, Kawasaki, USA, 11
11, Mike Alessi, Suzuki, USA, 10
12, David D Millsaps, Honda, USA, 9
13, Cole Siebler, Honda, USA, 8
14, Matt Boni, Honda, USA, 7
15, Kevin Windham, Honda, USA, 6
19, James Stewart, Yamaha, USA, 2