Third straight AMA-SX sweep for Yamaha

Yamaha owned the top steps of the podiums in both the AMA Supercross and Lites West Coast classes last Saturday in San Diego. Chad Reed clinched his fourth victory in succession on the San Manuel YZ450F, and fifth from the six rounds of seventeen held so far. Jason Law steered the Yamaha of Troy YZ250F to his third win on the trot and of his career. In front of more than 64,000 fans in the Qualcomm stadium Reed edged his lead in the standings of the AMA series (also an FIM World Championship) to 35 points while Lawrence leapt to the top of the Lites table for the first time and has a margin of 2 points over Ryan Dungey. Australian Reed continued Yamaha's splendid record in San Diego, notching the 12th win for Yamaha in a history that stretches back to Mike Bell's first success in 1980. It was Reed's fifth personal triumph in the southern Californian city and forged a landmark 100% ratio for the racer across the state. The 25 year old took part in an entertaining 20 lap main event with Honda's Davi Millsaps. The pair traded the lead in the opening circulations before Reed assumed control for nine laps but then he slipped off the Yamaha and handed the initiative back to Millsaps. Showing calmness and determination Reed reeled off a steady four laps to draw the American back to his front wheel and regained the advantage with only a few minutes of the race remaining.

"I was horrible all day, and I'm so happy to get this win," said the rider who now has 31 victories - just one of three riders to have accumulated more than 30 in the history of the sport. "I got out front, and Davi passed me back, and I knew I needed to get in behind him and let the race deepen for a few laps, and then try and make a pass and a break. I got a pretty decent gap, and then I just lost concentration and lost it. But I'm pumped to get another win in San Diego, and to win all of the rounds in California - I don't think anyone else has ever done that before." Millsaps was also passed by Tim Ferry before the chequered flag. Reed's advantage in the championship over Kevin Windham (fifth position in San Diego) means that the 2004 champion can even afford to miss a race and still hold control. Yamaha factory team's Josh Hill was sixth in the main event. AMA Motocross Champion Grant Langston was out of action with an eye complaint while the third member of the crew, Broc Hepler, is expected to be out of the Lites series for six weeks after breaking his hand last weekend in Los Angeles. The growing confidence and form of Jason Lawrence hit a peak in San Diego when the 20 year old hole-shotted and led all fifteen laps of the main event on his YZ250F, seizing control of the series from Ryan Dungey in the process, who had previously headed the championship since the opening race. "I had the 18th gate pick and I was way out here on the outside, but I got to the first turn first, somehow. I don't know how. I was amazed to see a clear track. From there on I was just trying to be smart and not crash," he said. "I was trying to keep tabs on Dungey and he actually crashed again. That's the third race in a row that he's cracked under some pressure, so we have two more races, and I'm up by two points - I'm just trying to win the title." Round seven takes place next weekend in the Reliant stadium as the AMA/FIM competition travels east to Houston. Race 1 - 20 Laps Pos., Rider, Manu., Nat., Total Time 1, Chad Reed, Yamaha, AUS, 17'0.000 2, Tim Ferry, Kawasaki, USA, 0'2.300 3, David D Millsaps, Honda, USA, 0'4.100 4, Andrew Short, Honda, USA, 0'5.800 5, Kevin Windham, Honda, USA, 0'9.600 6, Josh Hill, Yamaha, USA, 0'19.200 7, David Vuillemin, Suzuki, FRA, 0'25.500 8, Nathan Ramsey, Yamaha, USA, 0'30.000 9, Nicholas Wey, KTM, USA, 0'38.500 10, Jason Thomas, Honda, USA, 0'49.000 11, Troy Adams, Honda, USA, 0'52.600 12, Kevin W. Johnson, Yamaha, USA, -1 Laps 13, Paul Carpenter, Honda, USA, -1 Laps 14, Travis Preston, Honda, USA, -1 Laps 15, Jeff Alessi, Honda, USA, -1 Laps 16, Eric Sorby, Honda, USA, -1 Laps 17, Jacob Marsack, Honda, USA, -1 Laps 18, Josh Hansen, Yamaha, USA, -2 Laps 19, Gregory Crater, Honda, USA, -3 Laps 20, Charles Summey, Yamaha, USA, -19 Laps Rider Standings 09/02/2008 Pos., Rider, Manu., Nat., Points 1, Chad Reed, Yamaha, AUS, 147 2, Kevin Windham, Honda, USA, 112 3, Tim Ferry, Kawasaki, USA, 99 4, David D Millsaps, Honda, USA, 85 5, Andrew Short, Honda, USA, 85 6, Nathan Ramsey, Yamaha, USA, 70 7, Mike Alessi, Suzuki, USA, 69 8, Nicholas Wey, KTM, USA, 65 9, Josh Hill, Yamaha, USA, 64 10, Ivan Tedesco, Honda, USA, 53 11, David Vuillemin, Suzuki, FRA, 49 12, James Stewart, Kawasaki, USA, 47 13, Paul Carpenter, Honda, USA, 43 14, Charles Summey, Yamaha, USA, 39 15, Grant Langston, Yamaha, RSA, 38 Manufacturer Standings 09/02/2008 Pos., Manufacturer, Points 1, Yamaha, 147 2, Kawasaki, 122 3, Honda, 120 4, Suzuki, 83 5, KTM, 65