PHOENIX (January 13, 2007) – James Stewart raced his Kawasaki motorcycle to his second consecutive Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP/Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series race win in front of 44,953 fans at Chase Field. Kawasaki’s Christophe Pourcel, of France, won his first-ever AMA Supercross Lites main event.

Yamaha’s Jeff Dement, of Kingwood, Texas, earned the $1,500 Progressive Direct Holeshot Award in the AMA Supercross class with Suzuki’s Ricky Carmichael, of Tallahassee, Fla., in second and Stewart in third. As lap one concluded, Carmichael moved into the lead with Stewart in second and Yamaha’s Chad Reed, of Dade City, Fla., in third.

Stewart and Carmichael spent the first six laps battling for the number-one position, but on lap seven Stewart made the move to the lead and rode off to his 13^th-career AMA Supercross class victory.

“I gave it 100% tonight, but James beat me,” said Carmichael. “I looked up in the stands and everyone was standing when James and I were battling. After he passed me, I wanted to put in a surge at the end of the race but didn’t have it. Phoenix is a very special place for me, and I had a blast here tonight.”

“This feels great,” said Stewart. “I did not feel good all day, and then, when the main event started, I started to feel good. I know my goals this year, and I look forward to accomplishing them.”

KTM’s Martin Davalos, of
Cairo, Ga., earned the $1,000 Progressive Direct Holeshot Award in the AMA Supercross Lites main event. Last week’s winner, Ryan Villopoto, of Poulsbo, Wash., left turn one in 10^th place. On the opening lap Pourcel passed Davalos for the lead and Yamaha’s Matt Lemoine, of Pilot Point, Texas, moved into third.

Villopoto moved into second place on lap seven. On the final lap Kawasaki’s Chris Gosselaar, of Victorville, Calif., passed Lemoine for third place, giving Kawasaki a one-two-three sweep on the podium as Pourcel finished first, Villopoto second and Gosselaar third.

“I am surprised at my finish,” said Pourcel. “I’d like to thank everyone, and I look forward to racing next weekend in Anaheim.”

Tonight’s AMA Supercross race will air on CBS Sports, Sunday, January 14, at 12:30 p.m. EST. The AMA Supercross Lites class race will air on SPEED Friday, January 19, at Noon EST.

Amp’d Mobile Supercross continues next Saturday, January 20, at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif. The television show from the Anaheim race will air on CBS Sports at Noon EST Saturday, January 21. The AMA Supercross Lites class race will air on SPEED Friday, January 26 at Noon EST.

I know for a fact there are a lot of people who struggle with changing tires,  so when I found this article on TransworldMotocross.com on how to change a Tire, I figured people would appreciate this.  If you have any additional tips, or just a great tire changing story, be sure to comment below.

Supplies Needed:

• 3 tire irons
• Ratchet/Sockets for rim lock and valve stem nuts
• Motion Pro “Bead Buddy”
• Windex
• Baby Powder
• Tire changing area. Some sort of work surface approx waist level, and less than the diameter of the rim. This way the tire can fall off, and the rim will still be supported. An object such as a 5 gallon bucket (with heavy ballast to hold it still) on a low table should suffice.

Removing the Old Tire:

1. Remove valve core.
2. Set the tire on its side either sprocket side up or down.
3. Loosen rim lock to last thread. Make sure rim lock is free by pressing stem. It should retract into tire and come back out when you let go.
4. “Break” the bead by working your way around tire with spoon, pressing the tire bead down further into rim center (away from rim bead seat). Flip rim over and repeat this for the other side.
5. Make sure the rim lock is still loose.
6. To save your fingers, place the sprocket side down.
7. Unmounting the Tire:
   • Start 180 degrees from rim lock by inserting 3 tire spoons each just over hand width apart from each other.
   • Press in rim lock, and hold.
   • Lean against tire with your waist to press tire down into center of rim and hold pressure on it.
   • Let go of the rim lock (still holding with waist/knees).
   • Pull tire over the rim with the three spoons.
   • Remove middle spoon, but leave the other two spoons in place.
   • Push the tire bead down and insert spoon about one hand width apart from spoons that are still in place. Pull the tire over the rim.
   • Repeat this process until you reach the halfway point of the tire. Now there should be less tension on the bead, and you should be able to continue the rest of the way with just one spoon.
   • Remove the tube and inspect for any damage. Put the valve core back in tube (if re-using), and apply baby powder to the tube (this one if re-using, or new one if you are installing a different one).
   • There should be just enough air in the tube that if you let it hang from one finger it should crease around that finger, but otherwise hold its shape. If it doesn’t crease, it has too much air and may be difficult to install. If it doesn’t hold its shape, it doesn’t have enough air and may twist when installing. Set tube aside.
   • Flip the wheel over (sprocket side now up), and starting 180 degrees from rim lock, insert 3 tire spoons and repeat the removal process on this side of the tire until it falls off the rim.
8. Remove rim lock nut and remove rim lock.
9. Inspect wheel, rim band, spokes, and rim lock for damage.
10. Repair/replace any damaged components.

Installing the New Tire:

1. Re-install the rim lock and rim lock nut loosely.
2. Set the rim on its side, sprocket side down.
3. Remove any dust, rocks from inside of tire, and Windex both sides of it.
4. Starting 180 degrees from the rim lock, press that portion of the tire over the rim.
5. Pry the tire on with a spoon 90 degrees left of where you started to stretch it on. Repeat this just left of the rim lock. The tire should fall in place, if not keep working around until it does.
6. Install the tube—valve stem area first—aligned as much as possible with the valve stem hole in the rim, leaving the valve stem hanging out, resting on the outside bead of rim.
7. Install the rest of the tube, making sure not to twist it (partial inflation of tube from before helps here).
8. Make sure the rim lock is still free.
9. Flip the valve stem inside of the rim, and guide the valve stem down into the valve stem hole of the rim.
10. Re-lube the tire with Windex on both sides.
11. Re-check to make sure the rim lock is free and the tube is not twisted.
12. Mounting the Tire:
    • Start at the rim lock with the first spoon, and while pressing the rim lock stem in, pry the bead into place. Pry the bead in place first at the rim lock, then using your other spoons pry it in to the left of the rim lock, and then to the right. Hold the bead in place with a free hand as you do this.
    • Once you get it started to the left and right of the rim lock, use the Bead Buddy to hold it in place.
    • Continue prying the bead in place until you get to the valve stem.
    • Make sure that the valve stem still moves freely.
    • Keep taking hand-width bites with the tire irons until it starts to get difficult (about 2/3rds the way around).
    • At this point, hold pressure on the last spoon you placed and reach around the tire to make sure it isn’t trying to seat on the rim bead. If it is, force it down into the middle of the rim.
    • Start taking smaller bites with the tire spoons and when approaching the last portion, put one spoon in between where you are currently prying, and the Bead Buddy. This way it is already in place for the last pry next to finish mounting the tire.
    • Remove the Bead Buddy.
    • Inflate the tire so that the bead seats all the way around (on both sides). This shouldn’t take more than 30 or so psi. If it does, the tube may be twisted, or the tire may not be mounted properly.
13. Tighten the rim lock partially.
14. Set your pressure, and then tighten the rim lock the rest of the way.
15. Put valve stem nut on loosely.
16. Replace valve stem cap.
17. Go ride!

I will start making a list of Motocross Riding Tips, and Dirt Bike Riding Tips.  If you have any tips you would like to share please post them in the Share Your Motocross Riding Tips section.

More Tips Coming Soon!

Starting Tips

• Concrete Starting Tips
• Dirt Starting Tips

Cornerning Tips

• Sand Corners
• Flat Corners

Jumping Tips

• Scrubbing Jumps

Other Obstacles

• Whoop Riding Tips