Supercross rivalry ready to boil over at world championship

Steve Silver

Defending AMA Supercross champion Chad Reed speaks at a press conference inside Sam Boyd Stadium Friday. Reed is currently in second place in the overall standings. He will have to win Saturday’s main event to repeat as tour champion.

By Steve Silver (contact)

Friday, May 1, 2009 | 2:30 p.m.

Two of the sport's most dominant competitors and heated rivals will clash for a world title in Las Vegas Saturday night.

No, not Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton –- supercross stars James Stewart and Chad Reed.

Stewart and Reed enter Saturday's Monster Energy AMA Supercross finale at Sam Boyd Stadium just six points apart in the season standings. Stewart, who has 357 points thanks to 11 victories this season, holds the No. 1 spot over the defending world champion Reed.

"It's been fun, but unfortunately I've been on the worse end of the stick a lot of the time," said Reed, who has three titles of his own this year, in addition to 11 second-place finishes.

"Through it all, I've never given up and that's what I'm most proud of… I feel like I should have won a lot more races this year, but it's good to be here in Vegas and still have a shot at it. It's a good shot and I believe I can pull this off."

Reed's chances at repeating as season champion could have been a lot better, however, if were not for a disgraceful incident that occurred last week in Salt Lake City and tarnished the entire sport.

In the season's penultimate race, Reed found himself in familiar territory – trailing Stewart with five laps remaining. As Reed desperately tried to chase down his foe, Stewart's San Manuel Yamaha teammate Kyle Chisholm, who was not on the lead lap, appeared to intentionally block Reed with his bike.

Although Chisholm's questionable move allowed Stewart to cruise to the victory, it also drew a black flag from race officials and led to Chisholm's suspension from Saturday's race.

"Who can deny that it wasn't intentional?" Reed asked the media during a press conference Friday at Sam Boyd Stadium. "If you watch the video it's quite obvious. His line. His position being a lap down. The obvious, being James' teammate. It was a shame. I don't believe that Kyle is a bad person or anything like that…it seems weird that a good person would go do that. "

Stewart, who was previously scheduled to attend Friday's press conference, did not show up to face the media or Reed – yet another twist in the dramatic rivalry between Stewart and Reed.

"It seems weird that you would miss the final press conference of the year," Reed said. "… I think you are very influenced from the people around you and I'll leave it at it."

Although Stewart's image has suffered as a result of the Chisholm incident, he still remains the most dominant racer in the AMA Supercross.

Stewart has won most races from start to finish, leading 194 of 321 laps this season with five Holeshot awards. Stewart enters Saturday's championship having won three of his last four races.

"Reed and Stewart seem like they hate each other and that's awesome for the fans, said Andrew Short, who is in third place with 257 points. "Rivalry is great. We need that. Then that battle for third place has been amazing. For our sport that is great."

Short appears to be a lock for third place as Reed and Stewart can not finish worse than second in overall points no matter what happens Saturday.

But if Stewart's no-show at the pre-race press conference proved anything, it's that Stewart is not racing for points, money or even the Toyota truck awarded to each race's champion.

"There is a lot of pride involved and a lot of hatred," Reed said. "… There is nothing more that I want to do than stand on that podium tomorrow night and be the champion."

Steve Silver can be reached at 948-7822 or steve.silver@lasvegassun.com.