From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

Everything going Ward’s way heading into Reno Supermoto Series leader takes advantage of teammate Henry’s misfortune

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Racing can be an unkind game. Just ask AMA Supermoto Championship racer Doug Henry. Twice this season Henry has built solid leads in Supermoto finals only to be thwarted by bad luck. However, putting himself in position to take advantage of his teammate’s misfortune has been Henry’s Troy Lee Designs Honda teammate Jeff Ward. As a result Ward has two race wins to his credit and the series points lead as the championship comes to the streets of Reno, Nevada, on Oct. 2, for round four of the seven race series.

Reno was originally scheduled to be round five of the championship, but the South Boston, Va. race, scheduled for Sept. 18 was moved to Oct. 9 due to complications arising from Hurricane Ivan.

Ward, the 43-year-old former AMA Motocross and Supercross Champion, has experienced a revival in his racing career with Supermoto. Last year Ward showed good speed en route to winning three AMA Supermoto races. After a full off season of testing and training Ward is even faster this year and could match his win total of 2003 with a victory at Reno.

Ward has built a 12-point lead over Germany’s Jurgen Kunzel, of the Red Bull KTM squad. Frenchman Alexandre Thiebault, who rides for the CHM Exhaust Pro Honda Oils team, is third; just three points back from Kunzel.

Chris Fillmore made a jump up to fourth in the standings after earning the runner-up position in Nashville. Reno’s street course layout, promises to be technical like the Nashville circuit, so Fillmore could move even higher in the standings after the coming weekend.

The hard luck Henry has shown great speed, leading all three rounds this year, but has just one victory to show for it. He won the opener at Copper Mountain, Colo., but in the second leg of that weekend’s doubleheader his bike broke. In Nashville Henry stretched out a good lead before stalling his bike on the backside of a jump in the Parts Unlimited UrbanCross section. The Connecticut rider is looking forward to getting back to the top step of the podium.

X-Games Gold Medallist and former AMA Motocross champ Travis Pastrana showed great promise in his AMA Supermoto debut in Nashville. The Cernic’s Racing Suzuki ace qualified on the front row and ran near the front early before fading to tenth by the finish.

“I’m having a blast,” said Pastrana of racing in AMA Pro Racing’s newest championship. “I’m learning by leaps and bounds and hopefully I’ll be in position to do really well in some of these races by the end of the season.”

Ben Carlson is hoping to have a good weekend at Reno. The young Wisconsin rider is one of the few top level Supermoto riders to come out of flat track racing.

The powerful Troy Lee Designs team, with Henry, Ward and Fillmore, has established a solid lead in the AMA Supermoto team championship. Red Bull KTM is second and CHM Exhaust Pro Honda Oils is third.

Jurgen Kunzel is three for three wins in the Supermoto Unlimited class. The world championship competitor (where Unlimited is the premier class) has a 13-point advantage over Red Bull KTM teammate Micky Dymond. Kurt Nicoll missed the Nashville round, but holds onto third in the standings. Red Bull KTM leads HMC Racing in the team standings.

The Reno round will be taped for telecast on the Outdoor Life Network (OLN).

The race is free to the public. A $10 pit pass is available at the paddock entrance. For additional information call (303) 377-3278.

Schedule of Events

Friday, October 1

3:00 – 6:00 PM – Registration: Riders, Crew, Sponsors & Guests

3:00 – 6:00 PM – Tech inspection

6:00 PM – Entries Close for all classes



Saturday, October 2

7:00 AM – 3:00 PM – Registration: Crew, Sponsors & Guests

7:00 AM – Tech Inspection Opens

9:00 AM – Practice: 1. Supermoto – Group A – 12 minutes; 2. Supermoto – Group B – 12 minutes; 3. Honda Red Riders Jr. Supermoto Challenge – 8 minutes; 4. Supermoto Unlimited – 12 minutes

10:15 AM – Mandatory Riders Meeting

11:00 AM – Timed Qualifying Session #1: 1. Supermoto – Group A – 12 minutes; 2. Supermoto – Group B – 12 minutes; 3. Supermoto Unlimited – 12 minutes; 4. Honda Red Riders Jr. Supermoto Challenge Practice – 8 minutes

12:00 PM – Timed Qualifying Session #2: 1. Supermoto – Group A – 12 minutes; 2. Supermoto – Group B – 12 minutes; 3. Supermoto Unlimited – 12 minutes

12:45 PM – Lunch Break/On Track Autograph Session

1:25 PM – Opening Ceremonies

1:30 PM – Heat Races: 1. Supermoto – 4 races, 6 laps; 2. Honda Red Riders Jr. Supermoto Challenge – 4 laps; 3. Supermoto Unlimited – 2 races, 6 laps

3:20 PM – Supermoto Superpole (top 8 riders from heats)

3:45 PM – Semi-Finals: 1. Supermoto – 2 races, 4 laps each; 2. Supermoto Unlimited – 4 laps

4:15 PM – Intermission

4:30 PM – Supermoto Final – 18 laps

5:10 PM – Honda Red Riders Jr. Supermoto Challenge Final – 8 laps

5:30 PM – Supermoto Unlimited Final – 18 laps