AURORA, Ill (July, 18 2011) – Feld Motor Sports® hosted a press conference today at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, featuring GEICO Honda’s Kevin Windham, to kick off the return of Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, to the Louisiana Superdome. Windham hosted a meet-and-greet with fans followed by an announcement of the on-sale date for tickets to the 2012 supercross race in New Orleans.
“Supercross is very special to me,” said Windham. “I have dedicated my life to it. Growing up in the south and riding in the Spillways around the New Orleans area back in the 1980s made memories that I will carry forever. Take those memories and catapult them to the biggest stage inside the Superdome, and it’s hard to even find the words. It’s going be crazy!”
Monster Energy Supercross returns to the Louisiana Superdome April 14, 2012, where fans will enjoy the amenities of the recent $85 Million renovations to the venue. The last Monster Energy Supercross race was held at the Louisiana Superdome on March 14, 2009, where 36,754 fans watched eventual Supercross class champion James Stewart win his eighth race of the season.
“The Superdome is thrilled that Feld Motor Sports will be bringing Monster Energy Supercross back to New Orleans in 2012,” said the Superdome’s General Manager Alan Freeman. “Supercross has not been at the Superdome since 2009 and SMG management believes there is significant pent up demand to witness first-hand the high-octane energy of this event.”
Following the devastation suffered from Hurricane Katrina, the Superdome has been reborn and is awaiting the arrival of Monster Energy Supercross.
“Superdome officials also want fans to experience the many venue upgrades that have been completed over the past few years. Fans will especially appreciate the completely reconfigured lower seating bowl which brings them much closer to the action on the event floor. They will also welcome the new seats, wider concourses, and additional concession stands and restrooms.”
Windham began his professional supercross career in 1995 before winning the Western Regional Supercross Lites class championship and defending that title the following year. In 1998 Windham captured the main event win in New Orleans en route to finishing fourth overall in the Supercross class. He has 18 supercross class wins and has finished second in the Supercross class championship three times. With 192-career starts, he’s second on the all-time Supercross class start list.
“Next year will be my 18th season of professional racing,” said Windham. “I am old enough to realize my days are numbered. Every win I have had is memorable for me, but as time passes they become worth more and more. To get more wins, hopefully in the Superdome, would be the best yet! I am a huge fan of the Saints football team, and I love the Superdome, so whether it is football or supercross, here’s to the Big Easy.”
Kevin Windham’s Supercross Class Stats by the Numbers
192 career starts, 2nd all-time
18 wins
15 supercross seasons with a start
8 supercross seasons with a win
1st active Lites rider to win a Supercross class main event (Charlotte, 1997)
3 different decades with a win
109 top-five finishes
73 podium finishes, 5th all time
13 seasons with a podium
14 seasons with a top-five finish
9 seasons of finishing within the top-five in season standings
90 consecutive starts, 3rd all-time
1st career start was on 1/13/96
Past Winners in New Orleans
Supercross Class
June 4, 1977: Marty Smith
May 20, 1978: Bob Hannah
June 2 1979: Steve Wise
May 3, 1980: Mike Bell
May 4, 1980: Mark Barnett
March 14, 1998: Kevin Windham
April 17, 1999: Ezra Lusk
April 15, 2000: David Vuillemin
March 3, 2001: Ricky Carmichael
March 16, 2002: Ricky Carmichael
March 14, 2009: James Stewart
Supercross Lites Class
March 14, 1998: Ricky Carmichael
April 17, 1999: Ernesto Fonseca
April 15, 2000: Stephane Roncada
March 3, 2001: Travis Pastrana
March 16, 2002: Chad Reed
March 14, 2009: Austin Stroupe
the Superdome has been reborn and is awaiting the arrival of Monster Energy Supercross.