Round 12 - AMA/FIM Supercross Series 2009 - St. Louis - March 21

2009 AMA/FIM Supercross - Round 12 - St. Louis - March 21

 Chad Reed scores win in 450 Supercross Main event in St. Louis tonight! Blake Wharton wins his first ever 250 Supercross event!

Edward Jones Dome

450 Supercross Class: It almost appears at if everyone has forgot that the 2009 AMA/FIM Supercross Series is a battle between supercross heavyweights Chad Reed and James Stewart. Why? The return of Travis Pastrana to racing supercross!

If you'd like to read a great interview with Travis Pastrana - here's the link.

Travis gave his input on the track design from the beginning. But in recent weeks, rumors started that Travis would actually be racing at the St. Louis Supercross. And, in fact, he did!

Chad Reed easily won the first 450 heat. In the second 450 heat, it included both James Stewart and Travis Pastrana. James led early on .. but fell. He was working his way back up towards the front ... and fell again. Meanwhile, Travis Pasrana was in the last direct qualifying position (ninth), but then he went down! Kevin Windham ended up winning the heat, ... Stewart came back to ninth to make the last direct qualifying spot, while Pastrana finished 16th - has to go to the LCQ.

So, the LCQ would be Travis Pastrana's chance to make it into the main event. He battled hard, bumping and banging his way as much as he could towards the front. But at the end, Davi Millsaps would win, with Kyle Chisholm second - and only the top two go onto the main event. Travis would finish 18th, with a busted radiator - and Travis will not go to the main event. Maybe he'll try another supercross soon?

Travis said "I really appreciate all the support. I was was really hoping for a lot better. I've been training a bit, but these guys out there are so good. The Suzuki was amazing. I want to thank everyone for getting behind me. I had to get really agressive back there ... I didn't get the start I wanted. I really apologize to Marsack. I hit him so hard I busted my radiator ... those things don't bust easy! Thank you guys for cheering us on. Nitro Circus - wooooo!"

The main event had Josh Grant with the early lead. But it would again come down to the big two - Chad Reed and James Stewart. Reed took over the lead, with Stewart running second. But on the beginning of lap four, James went by Chad and into the lead! On lap ten, it's Stewart out front, Reed second, Josh Grant in third, Andrew Short fourth, and Jason Lawrence in fifth.

On lap 14, Stewart goes down right before the finish line jump. Reed takes over the lead! On lap 16 it's Chad Reed leading by almost 10 seconds, James Stewart is second, Josh Grant is running third, followed by Short, Lawrence, and Tedesco.

At the end of the 20 lap main event - Chad Reed wins his third 450 Supercross of the season, and pulls out a bigger points lead in trying to retain his AMA/FIM Supercross Series Championship! James Stewart finishes second, followed by Josh Grant, Andrew Short, and then Jason Lawrence on his YZ 450.

Chad said "I tell you, every week you have to be 'in it to win it', and not always the fastest guy wins. I'm having a ball out here ... this track was awesome tonight. I want to thank Travis Pastrana - it was a great track and I had a lot of fun. I was riding well ... I felt comfortable out there tonight. James was hitting his lines really, really good, and he kinda' got away from me, but I guess he made a mistake and went down."

Chad leads James by 11 points with five rounds remaining in the 2009 AMA/FIM Supercross Series. Next weekend - Toronto.


To view our new Rider Profile on Travis Pastrana, and post a message for him, please visit this link. He'll dig it!


250 East Lites Supercross Class: Blake Wharton was the leader on the first lap. But that's not all, Blake, riding the #61 Geico Powersports Honda, led all 15 laps in the 250 East Supercross Main Event to secure his first ever professional supercross win! Second went to Austin Stroupe, and third went to Nico Izzi. Points leader Chris Pourcel finished fifth, but has a comfortable (25) points lead over team-mate Austin Stroupe.

Notes: Martin Davalos, riding for KTM, will not be racing. He had a rider fall on him last weekend at the New Orleans Supercross. At first, the injury was thought to be a bruise. But it turns out to be a cracked fibula - he'll be out of action for a while. And, another rider not racing the St. Louis Supercross tonight - Kawasaki's superstar Ryan Villopoto. Ryan has a viral infection and will rest until that gets to be 100%. Lap times for the fastest guys averaged approx. 45 seconds per lap.
 

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Comments (7)

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450
written by ray, March 21, 2009

way to go kevin windham winning heat race.

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250 lites
written by ray, March 21, 2009

good job for blake wharton on his first supercross win

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..., Low-rated comment [Show]

250 and 450
written by kx85racer326, March 22, 2009

that was a great race but were was villopoto and ferry

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Damn....
written by Matty, March 22, 2009

Hellz yeah....good job wharton...

And rough_neck

you know where its at...stewart is the fast man on a bike...he keeps it on two wheel no one can stop him

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250 lites
written by ray, March 23, 2009

nico lzzi rode aggressive in st.louis came in 3rd good job

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450
written by ray, March 23, 2009

james stewart had a 45.1 heat qualifyer thats fast.

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