Both riders will campaign 2009 YZ450Fs in next year’s AMA Supercross series as well as other events including the 2009 X-Games and the Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open. It hasn’t been officially announced yet whether or not the team will be campaigning the 2009 AMA Outdoor season.

“I’m really excited,” Stewart said. “It’s time for a change. When I got the opportunity to come on board with San Manual and Yamaha I had to take it. I know the bikes are really good and I’m excited to ride them on Saturday. We plan on doing the X-Games this year. We’re going to do some events in which we can build publicity. It’ll be fun, something different.”

“I rode it a bit this week,” said Chisholm. “I got a jump start on James and the bike is unreal. I’m a bit nervous switching up bikes. I’ve been with Kawasaki since I was like nine or ten. The bike is easy to ride so it’s going to be a good year.”

Reed who was in first place at the time had established a large enough gap back to second place and held his position while he picked himself and the bike up and continued the race.

The first race of the Super X series may be well received by many but a lot of supercross fans who follow the US supercross series may be left wanting more. Watching Chad Reed lead in first place from lap 1 to 20 and lapping the rest of the field up to 6th place. Then there’s Dan Reardon, who had his first run in the AMA motocross & supercross this year, following up in second place half a lap behind Reed. Everyone else approaching 1 or more laps behind first and second place. This doesn’t provide for a very exciting race when you already know who is going to win.

Lets hope the new race formats provide some more entertainment, with shorter races which should allow some of the Australian racers an opportunity to step it up, take on and beat the big names. It would be nice to see some other riders from the US turn up for some of the events. I’m sure a lot of fans will be looking forward to the final two races of the series when the legendary Jeremy McGrath competes in the Super X series in Queensland.

With only four days to practice after recovering from recent hand surgery, Twitch flipped his way to the title with the confidence and skill for which he is known. This win was particularly special as it came at what he terms his ‘favorite event’ and happened on his birthday.

‘It is what it is,’ Twitch stated when asked for comments about
his win. ‘I came out and got first place. It’s what I do. And, I gave myself a great birthday present.’

When asked if he would be back next year, he remarked, ‘This year I got the repeat, next year I’m going for the three-peat!’

It was clear that Stenberg’s skill level exceeded his challengers, as he was the only athlete in the competition to perform three back-flip variations in succession and never repeat a trick during a run. His tricks were innovative, death defying and technically extraordinary, leaving no question as to the world’s best freestyle athlete.

Oregon’s Beau Bamberg (Gresham) captured the $20,000 second place prize with an assured performance that displayed his potential and finally exhibited his skill level, something that has been lacking since he suffered a serious injury to the triangular wall of his abdomen two months ago while preparing for a competition.

‘This feels great,’ said Bamberg. ‘The last couple of months I have not been able to ride up to my potential due to my injury. Today was the first day that I’ve felt really good and was able to perform like I know I’m can.’

Bamberg’s ability was enough to upset 2008 X Games Los Angeles and X Games Mexico champion Jeremy Lusk (San Diego, California) in the semi-final round. With his recent success, Lusk entered the competition as the favorite in many opinions. However, Bamberg executed a run that left judges in extended deliberation about who was the heat winner. When the final points were tallied, Bamberg advanced to the final round, less than a mere point ahead of Lusk.

The evening’s head judge, Regis Harrington, explained the decision to a surprised audience. ‘That was one of the closest rounds I’ve ever seen, so it was difficult. However, Bamberg did different tricks throughout his entire run, and Lusk repeated two tricks. In a competition this tight you just cannot do that.’

The event’s third place performance came from Adam Jones of Warrendale, Pennsylvania. Jones won $10,000.

Five men earned the opportunity to compete alongside the world’s best for the LG World Championship of Freestyle Motocross title with successful performances in the open qualifying round earlier in the day. These men are; Ronnie Faisst (Mays Landing, New Jersey), Cameron Sinclair (Langwarren, Victoria Australia), Dustin Miller (Garnerville, Nevada), Jeff Kargola (San Clemente, California) and local hometown favorite Wiley Fullmer (Chino, California). They all turned in solid first round performances but were prevented from advancing by the world’s top pros this season.

The break between seasons has been a busy period for the factory Pro Open and Pro Lite outfits, with crew and riders working towards tackling a raft of challenging new tracks in new and exciting venues. Pro Open Motocross champion Jay Marmont and the fast-finishing Cheyne Boyd will head up Yamaha’s campaign for the seven round series, and have spent a productive off-season preparing for the new challenge. With organisers promising significantly larger and more difficult track layouts, both riders have taken the opportunity to step up their training routines.

The duo will pilot twin 2009 Yamaha YZ450F racers, and are pleased with the progress the team has made during the final stages of pre-season testing. Team Principal Craig Dack said both riders were looking forward to the challenge of a new Supercross season.

“We completed our testing yesterday - preparations for next weekend are going really well,” said Dack. “Jay and Cheyne will both race the ‘09 YZ450F which has already proved itself as a fantastic bike.” “As a team we’re well prepared and very motivated following one of our best motocross seasons ever.”

35 nations will enter the prestigious event with the goal of winning the special Chamberlain Trophy. Defending champion’s Team USA have won it for the last three years, including the last appearance in Great Britain, in 2006 at Matterley Basin.

The American squad is now the most successful team in the history of the event, courtesy of 18 Chamberlain Trophies. The team returns to action after their home clean sweep last year at Budds Creek with a slightly revised line up, following the retirement of Ricky Carmichael.

2007 Open class rider Tim Ferry and MX2 rider Ryan Villopoto remain, but the headline MX1 seat will go to reigning AMA Motocross champion James Stewart, who missed last year’s event through injury.

Stewart was however part of the winning team at Matterley Basin, although he will have a point to prove this weekend after being beaten by European legend Stefan Everts at that event.

But Everts retired at the end of 2006 and it will be a major shock if any of the Europeans can topple the American team, with Villopoto - who won both of his races at Budds Creek last year - looking as unbeatable as Stewart, while Ferry is expected to score solid points.

Second last year was Team France, which will return with GP winners Sebastien Pourcel in MX1 and Nicolas Aubin in Open, while youngster Anthony Boissiere completes the squad in the MX2 class.

After a solid mid-season in the MX1 World Championship, Pourcel ended seventh in the standings while Aubin was a positive third in MX2, becoming the highest placed Yamaha rider after defending Champion Antonio Cairoli injured and pulled out of the season. Taking a couple of MX2 podiums this year, Boissiere gained a place in the team when Steven Frossard was injured.

Mike Porra, CEO of Global Action Sports, said the positive news is a huge relief for the championship and all of the fans that have purchased their tickets and made plans for the Sydney round of Super X. There had been some uncertainty regarding the venue, after the former Parramatta Council had expressed its opposition to the event.

“We were absolutely inundated with amazing support from Parramatta, all over Sydney and even interstate when the former Council rejected Super X. I am so happy these fans will not be disappointed and will get to see the spectacular event we have planned.

“We are particularly grateful to the Minister for her sensible decision,” Porra said.

The event is expected to inject over one million dollars into the Parramatta area and highlight the stadium’s suitability to host world class events. With almost 10,000 tickets already sold promoters are expecting the event to sell out at 20,000 fans which will be the biggest crowd in Supercross history in Australia.

“With Super X we are revolutionising Supercross and our ticket sales to date are proof that we can take the sport into the mainstream. This is a great event and we are expecting a lot of families to enjoy the occasion. It would have been very disappointing if Sydney missed out on hosting one of the rounds in this national championship with TV coverage going worldwide,” Porra concluded.

The series – which kicks off in Perth on 4 October – has attracted international riders to come down under and compete including current Australian world Supercross champion, Chad Reed, who is a major shareholder in the series and is confirmed to compete in every round.

The greatest Supercross rider of all time, Jeremy McGrath from the US, is also confirmed to race in two rounds and a number of Australian riders who are now based and compete in the US will be returning home for the series.

US-style track designs, typically three to four times the size of previous local layouts, will feature at all seven rounds of the championship, forcing riders to increase their fitness and concentration levels as well as providing an amazing spectacle for fans.

All-new race formats will inject a further air of excitement into the mix and each venue will feature a specifically designed format requiring riders to quickly adapt to the challenge or face elimination.

An unprecedented television package, including live coverage on Fox Sports and highlights of every event on Network Ten, will be broadcast throughout Australia.

Event tickets, including exclusive VIP packages, can be purchased online at SuperX

The Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open will mark Stewart’s first indoor race since he suffered a season-ending knee injury during the third race of the AMA Supercross championship in January.

“I look forward to the U.S. Open; it’s a great way to get back into supercross racing after my unfortunate knee injury that took me out of the 2008 supercross series,” said Stewart. “The U.S. Open is great because we all go there to have fun and race on the side, so there’s no pressure.”

“James is world-class racer that will make his long-awaited return to indoor, supercross style racing since he injured his knee earlier this year,” said Dave Prater, director of supercross, Feld Entertainment Motor Sports. “The tight, technical racing that this track offers will showcase one of the greatest match-ups in Rockstar Energy U.S. Open history.”

At the 2006 race inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Stewart swept both nights of racing en route to his first Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open title. During the two-night race, Stewart beat defending Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open champion Ricky Carmichael.

“I love the whole atmosphere of the U.S. Open, the lights, being indoors and just putting on a good show for the fans,” said Stewart. “After all, we are in Vegas where there are always big winners.”

Stewart recently capped off a record-breaking AMA Motocross season, winning all 24 motos en route to the championship. In doing so Stewart tied Carmichael’s record as the only other rider to complete a perfect season.

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Despite the prospect of million’s of dollars being injected into the local economy as an estimated 5,000 visitors, joined around 10 to 15,000 locals who where expected to attend. The council has ruled that the event can not take place at Parramatta stadium on account of the four protests.

Parramatta councilor Chris Worthington, who moved the development application be rejected, told Sydney’s Dailey Telegraph that four was enough.

“I’m there to represent the Parramatta constituents, not the stadium quite frankly,” he stated.

The Dailey Telegraph’s Justin Vallejo wrote that leading the campaign against the Supercross was the Parramatta Park Trust, headed by former Gough Whitlam Government minister Tom Uren and trust director Chris Levins. The objection said: “The motocross will be a noisy event, far noisier than a football game with industrial levels of noise which will carry across the open landscape.”

They are one of just four objectors including Government House, the Catholic Education Office and the Sisters of Mercy.

Promoter Michael Porra of Global Action Sports told the Telegraph he would appeal the decision through the Land and Environment Court or the NSW Government.

“We’re not asking for money, we just want the assistance of the local area,” Mr Porra said.

Parramatta Stadium venue manager Luke Coleman told the Telegraph yesterday the decision would affect other events for western Sydney.

“This sounds the death knell for other major events coming out here. If this event is not staged it’s a significant setback, not only for the stadium, but for Western Sydney,” Mr Coleman said.

The world class Supercross event had already sold more than 10,000 tickets.

In a statement on their website, Global Action Sports, the promoters of Super X, said they are confident that the matter will be resolved and the event will go ahead as scheduled. In the unfortunate circumstance that the event is affected customers will be contacted immediately.

The Daily Telegraph have shown great support for the event and set up a petition in an effort to help get the decision overturned.

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