Round 3 – AMA Motocross Series
Wortham, Texas
Freestone County Raceway
June 7 - 8, 2008

In spite of 100-degree temperatures, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing’s Mike Alessi gave a strong performance at Freestone County Raceway in Wortham, Texas, on Sunday. The young rider holeshot both motos and then brought home two second-place finishes to take second-place overall. Rockstar Makita Suzuki teammate Michael Byrne celebrated his second sixth-place finish of the season, thanks to eighth- and fifth-place moto finishes. Currently, Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Alessi is third in the overall championship points while Byrne is sixth. Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s David Vuillemin is out due to injury and did not race this weekend.

In the Motocross Lites class, the Freestone race saw Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey pick up his second consecutive second-place overall finish. Currently, second in the overall championship points, Dungey finished second in both motos to get the impressive result. Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Nico Izzi sat out the Freestone event after a rough crash last week at Hangtown.

Mike Alessi:
“I got a killer start in the first moto and just tried to ride my own race. I knew James (Stewart) was going a little faster and my goal was just to be consistent because that’s how you win championships. This was a tough race, it was hot and the track was rough but we gutted it out. In the second moto, I got another holeshot and I was riding good, I put in a good sprint at the beginning. I tried to stay with James but it’s just going to take more work to win. Thanks to the whole Rockstar Makita Suzuki team for giving me a bike that worked so fantastic – I was really, really pleased with it.”

Michael Byrne:
“It was pretty hot out there, and I’m glad I went home to Georgia to ride in the heat first. I got a couple good starts on the Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 and the bike was really fast at the beginning of the motos. I’m happy with the result and I’m just trying to get better week-by-week. After having so much time off with my knee injury, I just need to keep building on my strength and my fitness.”

Ryan Dungey:
“This was the hottest race of the year, I guess it show’s a true man’s fitness. I was right there and tried to keep my calm, but I’m pumped to come out with second. Thanks to my Rockstar Makita Suzuki team because my RM-Z250 was working great at this track. I grew up racing amateur races around here and it’s good to have so many fans and family here.” Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing will race next at High Point Raceway in Mt. Morris, Pennsylvania, the weekend of, June 14 - 15, 2008.

AMA Motocross Top 10 (Moto Finishes)
1. James Stewart, Kawasaki, 1-1
2. Mike Alessi, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing, 2-2
3. Andrew Short, Honda, 3-6
4. Timmy Ferry, Kawasaki, 7-3
5. Davi Millsaps, Honda, 5-4
6. Michael Byrne, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing 8-5
7. Jeff Alessi, Honda, 13-7
8. Charles Summey, Yamaha, 9-11
9. Nick Wey, KTM, 14-9
10. Antonio Balbi, Kawasaki, 10-13

AMA Motocross Lites Top 10 (Moto Finishes):
1. Ryan Villopoto, Kawasaki, 1-1
2. Ryan Dungey, Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing, 2-2
3. Austin Stroupe, Kawasaki, 3-3
4. Jake Weimer, Honda, 4-4
5. Thomas K. Hahn, Kawasaki, 6-5
6. Dan Reardon, Honda, 11-7
7. Broc Tickle, Yamaha, 10-8
8. Brett Metcalfe, Kawasaki, 9-9
9. Andrew McFarlane, Kawasaki, 7-12
10. Wil Hahn, Yamaha, 16-6