Reed podium streak curtailed in Atlanta
By TMX Archives on 26th Feb 08
Yamaha's Chad Reed finished off the AMA Supercross podium for the first time this year after a crash during the main event of round eight of the series at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta meant that the Australian crossed the finish line in sixth position.
The 30th SX event in Atlanta (the first was won by Bob Hannah with a Yamaha)would not see Reed extend his career tally of podium results to 81. The YZ450Frider won his Heat, and also grabbed the holeshot, but slipped off his SanManuel machine while holding the lead after five laps and need the rest of the17 minute sprint to clamber back to sixth spot. The 25 year old left the GeorgiaDome promptly, after gingerly picking up 15 points.
Reed saw his lead in the series, also an FIM World championship, cut to 25points with nine rounds remaining.
It was left to team-mate Nathan Ramsey to hold centre stage on the YZ as theveteran posted his best finish of 2008 with fifth position.
"It's been like baby-steps since I started riding again, and I haven't quitegotten there yet, but tonight was a good start," said the American, who is sixthin the standings. "I feel my pace is starting to pick up and if I can get upthere and race with them, that stuff will all come back to me. I think tonightwas another good step in that direction, and it was fun to be racing with thoseguys."
In the East Coast Lites division top the YZ250F finisher was anotherAustralian, Jake Moss, with fourth position. Five riders from the final top tenwere making their SX debuts at the Georgia Dome. Sixteen year old rookie TylerBowers was among them - representing the Yamaha of Troy squad - and took a verydecent fifth spot on his maiden outing.
"My race was good," he commented. "Unfortunately, I made the rookie mistakeof not breathing for the first three laps and by about the third or fourth lap,I was out of breath. By the time I actually started breathing and was trying toget loose, it was too late. I was tired and a couple guys got around me. Mymechanic threw-out the pitboard and told me I was in fifth, and it said, 'Lap10'. I was like, 'Cool, I've got five more laps in me.' I found that extralittle bit of energy and made it around to the finish and pulled it off. I washappy with that."
Race 1 - 20 Laps
1David D Millsaps Honda USA 17'15.100
2 Kevin Windham Honda USA 0'6.051
3Andrew Short Honda USA 0'10.236
4 Tim Ferry Kawasaki USA 0'11.014
5Nathan Ramsey Yamaha USA 0'14.607
6 Chad Reed Yamaha AUS 0'33.910
7Charles Summey Yamaha USA 0'35.912
8 Paul Carpenter Honda USA 0'44.317
9David Vuillemin Suzuki FRA 0'51.481
10 Jason Thomas Honda USA -1 Laps
11Ryan Clark Honda USA -1 Laps
12 Heath Voss Honda USA -1 Laps
13 Bryan KJohnson Honda USA -1 Laps
14 Nicholas Wey KTM USA -1 Laps
15 JacobMarsack Honda USA -1 Laps
19 Josh Hill Yamaha USA -7 Laps
RiderStandings 23/02/2008
1. Chad Reed Yamaha AUS 184
2. KevinWindham Honda USA 159
3. Tim Ferry Kawasaki USA 137
4. David D MillsapsHonda USA 123
5. Andrew Short Honda USA 121
6. Nathan Ramsey Yamaha USA101
7. Josh Hill Yamaha USA 84
8. Nicholas Wey KTM USA 84
9. DavidVuillemin Suzuki FRA 72
10. Mike Alessi Suzuki USA 69
11. Charles SummeyYamaha USA 67
12. Paul Carpenter Honda USA 66
13. Ivan Tedesco Honda USA53
14. James Stewart Kawasaki USA 47
15. Heath Voss Honda USA 45
16.Grant Langston Yamaha RSA 38
Manufacturer Standings 23/02/2008
1. Yamaha 185
2. Honda 170
3. Kawasaki 160
4. Suzuki 106
5. KTM 84