Toyota AMA Arenacross Series Tuesday Interview: Reno, Nevada, Double Class Winner Dan Reardon

AURORA, Ill. (Nov. 27, 2007) – Australian Dan Reardon gave fans of the AMA Supercross Series a bit of a preview as to what he has in store for the Lites class this year. Reardon turned in an impressive performance at last weekend’s Toyota AMA Arenacross Series stop at Reno’s Livestock Event Center.

Reardon, who opened Friday night by winning the AMA Arenacross Lites class main event, then stepped up moments later and was vying for the lead in the Arenacross class when he clipped a Tuff Block and went down. Reardon re-grouped and rallied back from the rear of the pack to 4th overall.

The following night in front of a packed house Reardon buckled down and, in only his second race on American soil (the recent Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open being the first), swept both the Lites and AMA Arenacross classes – the first time that’s been done this season on the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series tour. Note: Reardon finished 7th/4th in two nights of premier class racing at the Rockstar U.S. Open.

The 2007 Australian Supercross Pro Open champion, Reardon, riding the Honda CRF250R for the SoBe/No Fear/Samsung/Honda team, put the hammer down on Saturday against four former Toyota AMA Arenacross Series champions in Danny Smith, Chad Johnson, Josh Demuth (Friday’s Arenacross class winner) and Robbie Reynard.

Question: First off, congrats on your win last week. That’s huge – sweeping the AMA Arenacross Lites and AMA Arenacross class. Didn’t know if we’d see that happen this year with the change in format, but you proved it can be done.

Reardon: “Thanks. That was lot of fun. Last-minute decision, really. Me and my trainer, Andy Cunningham and my mechanic, ‘Schnikey,’ decided to run up from SoCal. It was definitely worth the trip.”

Question: Growing up and racing in Australia, did you get many chances to race Toyota AMA Arenacross-style events?

Reardon: “The series back home used to be more arenacross-style, up until like the last year and a half. Now things there are being styled more towards the American supercross tracks. So I wasn’t too far out of my comfort zone.”

Question: The competition this year on the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series has been insane – three events, five races, four winners. How was that going in knowing you could line up against a field that included four former Toyota AMA Arenacross Series champions?

Reardon: “I definitely like riding with the best and don’t like going up against riders that make it easy for myself.”

Question: Talk about your weekend of racing in Reno.

Reardon: “I rode well, but unfortunately I had a crash on Friday. I was working to make a pass and hit a Tuff Block. Then I had to come back from like 15th to 4th.

Question: Toyota AMA Arenacross is structured now so it resembles the minor/major league baseball program. Do you feel, based on what you saw at Reno, that this will be a good way to help riders advance in order to race at the AMA Supercross Lites class level?

Reardon : “Yeah, for sure. Arenacross is a perfect stepping stone for the up-and-comers to get some experience. Guys who have raced supercross before as well. But my advice to the younger racers would be to get out and race arenacross for sure.”

Question: That said, you’re about to start your first full season of AMA Supercross. What are your thoughts heading into the season here beginning in Anaheim, Calif., the first weekend in January?

Reardon: “We’re not 100-percent sure yet whether we’ll be racing West or East Lites. But I’m preparing for the first race in Anaheim. It’s definitely realistic for me to make the top five in both supercross and motocross. But at the same time I didn’t come here to get 2nd, you know? So what ever happens happens.

For more information on next weekend’s upcoming Toyota AMA Arenacross Series rounds in Rockford, Ill., and Rochester, N.Y., link to www.arenacross.com

About Toyota AMA Arenacross Series
In its 24th year, the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series, owned by Live Nation, is the premier indoor motocross series in the U.S. playing to sold-out arenas nationwide. Information on the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series events may be found at www.Arenacross.com. Live Nation is the world's largest live music company. Our mission is to inspire passion for live music around the world. We are the largest promoter of live concerts in the world, the second-largest entertainment venue management company and have a rapidly growing online presence. We create superior experiences for artists and fans, regularly producing tours for the biggest superstars in the business, including The Rolling Stones, Barbra Streisand, Madonna, U2 and Coldplay. Globally, we own, operate, have booking rights for and/or have an equity interest in more than 160 venues, including House of Blues® music venues and prestigious locations such as The Fillmore in San Francisco, Nikon at Jones Beach in New York and London’s Wembley Arena. Our websites collectively are the second most popular entertainment/event websites in the United States, according to Nielsen//NetRatings. In addition, we also produce, promote or host theatrical, specialized motor sports and other live entertainment events. In 2006, we connected nearly 60 million fans with their favorite performers at approximately 26,000 events in 18 countries around the world. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Live Nation is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, trading under the symbol “LYV.” For more information regarding Live Nation and its businesses or concerts near you, please visit our website at www.livenation.com.

About AMA Racing
AMA Racing is the competition arm of the American Motorcyclist Association and is the leading sanctioning body for motorcycle sport in the United States. Its professional properties include the AMA Supercross Series, the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF, the AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, the AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track Championship, the AMA Supermoto Championship and the AMA Pro ATV Championship. In amateur and pro-am competition, AMA Racing sanctions over 4000 events in 24 different disciplines and supports over 110 thousand active members. For more information about professional racing, visit www.amaproracing.com. For amateur racing information visit www.amadirectlink.com/amrace/amasports.asp.