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Pirelli Teams and Riders Open 2008 Monster Energy
AMA Supercross Season in Anaheim Placing 8 Riders in the Main Event

LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif. (January 5, 2008) – Pirelli Tires opened the 2008 Monster Energy Supercross season at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif., by unveiling their upgraded support efforts, including a full semi, to the sponsored riders and teams competing in AMA Supercross/Motocross. Pirelli’s racer-assist program will carry on at the remainder of the AMA Supercross races and run through the 12 AMA Motocross races.

In maintaining its world-wide motorsports brand, Pirelli has taken its professional support program to the next level by bringing top-shelf trackside assistance to its riders and teams.

“The 2008 AMA Supercross season started last weekend in Anaheim, and Pirelli brought in the new year by providing trackside support to our team of riders in an effort to help deliver solid results,” said Pirelli MX Manager Josh Whitmire. “At Pirelli, we recognize the importance of providing support to not only the factory teams but to the hard-working privateers as well. Pirelli has assembled a solid, yet diverse line-up for this year, and we hope that our commitment is part of the overall package the riders need to succeed at this high level.”

During Saturday night’s night program Pirelli-backed riders Eric Sorby, Jeff Gibson and Jeff Alessi qualified for the main event with Sorby headlining the field with a 12th-place finish, which was good enough for him to earn top privateer. In the AMA Supercross’ Heat 1, Gibson established an early lead when he earned the holeshot on the Scorpion MX Mid Soft (32) tires, over former AMA Supercross class champion Chad Reed and Factory Kawasaki’s Tim Ferry before finishing a solid fourth place to advance to the main event.

The Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class saw Pirelli’s Chris Blose, Michael Blose, Michael Willard and Jeff Northrop line up for the 22-main feature. Chris Blose earned top honors for the Pirelli-mounted riders with a ninth-place finish. Northrop, a former arenacross standout, finished an impressive 12th place at the opening round and hopes to build off of his early success. Ryan Grantom earned the Racer X Gas Card in the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ).

Pirelli’s 2008 AMA Supercross/Arenacross Teams

AMA Supercross Class
Cernic’s Kawasaki
Jeff Gibson
Dusty Klatt

Pro 30/Bad Boy Honda
Jeff Alessi
Jacob Marsack

MotoXXX/Tamer/Hooters/Honda
Eric Sorby
Antonio Balbi Jr.
Ryan Grantom
Vernon McKiddie
Mitch Dougherty

AMA Supercross Lites
Fun Center Suzuki
Michael Blose
Chris Blose
Brady Sheren

Rockstar/Suzuki
Justin Sipes
Tyler Medaglia
Willie Browning
Jimmy Albertson

SVM/ Bud Selct Honda
Billy Payne
Jeff Northrop
Eric McCrummen

Team Cycra
Michael Willard

Wyvern Motorsports
Leighton Little

Chaplin Kawasaki
Robbie Marshall
Greg Dube

AMA Supercross Class Results, Anaheim 1

1. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha
2. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki
3. Tim Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki
4. Grant Langston, Clermont, Fla., Yamaha
5. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda
6. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki
7. Davi Millsaps, Cairo, Ga., Honda
8. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda
9. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., KTM
10. David Vuillemin, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
11. Nathan Ramsey, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha
12. Eric Sorby, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda/Pirelli
13. Paul Carpenter, Ithaca, N.Y., Honda
14. Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Honda
15. Ivan Tedesco, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda
16. Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha
17. Jeff Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Honda/Pirelli
18. Bryan Johnson, Cairo, Ga., Honda
19. Troy Adams, Homosassa, Fla., Honda
20. Josh Hansen, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
21. Jeff Gibson, Blacklick, Ohio, Kawasaki/Pirelli
22. Jason Thomas, Melrose, Fla., Honda

AMA Supercross Class Season Standings

1. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha, 25
2. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 22
3. Tim Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki, 20
4. Grant Langston, Clermont, Fla., Yamaha, 18
5. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda, 16
6. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki, 15
7. Davi Millsaps, Cairo, Ga., Honda, 14
8. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 13
9. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., KTM, 12
10. David Vuillemin, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 11
11. Nathan Ramsey, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha, 10
12. Eric Sorby, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda/Pirelli, 9
13. Paul Carpenter, Ithaca, N.Y., Honda, 8
14. Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Honda, 7
15. Ivan Tedesco, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 6
16. Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha, 5
17. Jeff Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Honda/Pirelli, 4
18. Bryan Johnson, Cairo, Ga., Honda, 3
19. Troy Adams, Homosassa, Fla., Honda, 2
20. Josh Hansen, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 1
21. Jeff Gibson, Blacklick, Ohio, Kawasaki/Pirelli, 0
22. Jason Thomas, Melrose, Fla., Honda, 0

Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Results, Anaheim 1

1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki
2. Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha
3. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
4. Dan Reardon, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
5. Austin Stroupe, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki
6. Tommy Hahn, Alvord, Texas, Kawasaki
7. Gavin Gracyk, Blissfield, Ohio, Honda
8. Andrew McFarlane, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki
9. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Suzuki
10. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Yamaha
11. Broc Hepler, Kittanning, Pa., Yamaha
12. Jeff Northrop, Murrieta, Calif., Honda/Pirelli
13. Michael LaPaglia, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
14. Michael Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Suzuki/Pirelli
15. Michael Willard, Thornville, Ohio, Honda
16. Adam Chatfield, Cherry Valley, Calif., Suzuki
17. Kyle Cunningham, Fort Worth, Texas, Honda
18. Matthew LeMoine, Pilot Point, Texas, Yamaha
19. Brett Metcalfe, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki
20. Eric McCrummen, Oakley, Calif., Honda/Pirelli
21. Shaun Skinner, Stuart, Fla., Honda
22. Zach Osborne, Abingdon, Va., Yamaha

Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Season Standings

1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 25
2. Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha, 22
3. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 20
4. Dan Reardon, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 18
5. Austin Stroupe, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki, 16
6. Tommy Hahn, Alvord, Texas, Kawasaki, 15
7. Gavin Gracyk, Blissfield, Ohio, Honda, 14
8. Andrew McFarlane, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki, 13
9. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Suzuki, 12
10. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Yamaha, 11
11. Broc Hepler, Kittanning, Pa., Yamaha, 10
12. Jeff Northrop, Murrieta, Calif., Honda/Pirelli, 9
13. Michael LaPaglia, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 8
14. Michael Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Suzuki/Pirelli, 7
15. Michael Willard, Thornville, Ohio, Honda, 6
16. Adam Chatfield, Cherry Valley, Calif., Suzuki, 5
17. Kyle Cunningham, Fort Worth, Texas, Honda, 4
18. Matthew LeMoine, Pilot Point, Texas, Yamaha, 3
19. Brett Metcalfe, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 2
20. Eric McCrummen, Oakley, Calif., Honda/Pirelli, 1
21. Shaun Skinner, Stuart, Fla., Honda, 0
22. Zach Osborne, Abingdon, Va., Yamaha, 0