Anaheim Practice Concludes

Kit Palmer | January 3, 2009

Makita/ Rockstar Suzuki’s Chad Reed will go into tonight’s program with a slight mental edge over San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart after recording the quickest lap time in the second and final practice session for the big bikes for tonight’s opening round of the Monster Energy Supercross Series.

Moments after a short drizzle, the 450 riders took to the track, which was significantly more slippery (but far from muddy) than the earlier first session. This time, Reed posted a time of 1:01.696, which was about a half-second quicker than Stewart’s best time of 1:02.205. Third quickest was Monster Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto with a 1:02.891, and fourth-quickest was Honda Red Bull’s Andrew Short.

In the Lites class, Boost Mobile/ampm/Monster Energy/Troy Racing’s Jason Lawrence was quickest with a 1:01.588, which was actually a tick quicker than Reed’s best time, but the track was drier and tackier for the Lites’ second session.

Second-quickest was KTM’s Justin Brayton with a 1:02.039 and fourth-quickest was Trey Canard with a 1:02.220. Ryan Dungey, who reeled off the quickest time in the first session, slipped back to fifth with a 1:02.240.

Rain could be a factor in tonight’s race, as forecasters are predicting a 20% chance of light rain later this evening.