Australian Mark Avard and Ben Carlson each have at least a mathematical shot of overtaking series leader Jeff Ward (Honda) at Irwindale for the Las Vegas qualifying points lead. Avard and Carlson are two of the riders who are making names for themselves through AMA Supermoto racing.
Avard is an accomplished Australian off-road specialist and also leads the flourishing Yamaha Australian Supermotard Championship, but he's best known to American racing fans as one of the first new stars of AMA Supermoto. Avard, who is riding for Pacifico Saunders Suzuki, has scored top-10 finishes in all four rounds leading up to Irwindale, including a podium finish in South Boston, Va. Carlson is a young rider from the AMA Grand National ranks who seems to have found his calling in AMA Supermoto. The 18-year-old from West Bend, Wis., rides for the powerful Red Bull HMC KTM Supermoto Racing Team, which leads the team championship.
A latecomer to the series is former AMA Motocross champ Doug Henry. Since debuting in Columbus, Ohio, last month Henry has served notice that he will be a contender for the win at Irwindale on his Team Motodynamics Tuluie Yamaha. Henry has two third-place finishes to his credit in his first two races in the series and was a huge crowd favorite at both events.
