Stewart Responds With Convincing Win in Phoenix
PHOENIX, Ariz. A huge crowd filled Chase Field on Saturday night for the second race of the 2011 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, season.
After finishing third at the season opener one week ago, San Manuel/Red Bull Yamaha’s James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., took his first win of the championship. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Josh Hansen, of Elbert, Colo., captured his second Supercross Lites Western Regional Championship in as many races.
As the gates dropped on the Supercross class main event, it was Stewart who grabbed the holeshot with GEICO Honda’s Kevin Windham, of Centreville, Miss., and Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., following closely. However, Stewart went on to win with a wire-to-wire victory despite a tough challenge from week one winner Ryan Villopoto, of Poulsbo, Wash.
“I really wanted to pull that holeshot,” said Stewart. “This track was tough tonight but I haven’t won in over a year so I really wanted this one. I was even a little nervous out there but I want to thank everyone on my team for giving such an awesome bike. This feels great.”
On Lap 9, Villopoto, who was mere bike lengths behind Stewart, fell but was able to remount in second and carry it to the finish.
“That section has been tough all night,” said Villopoto. “(All the riders) were pushing the limit on it all night and it got me. I was pushing James (Stewart) and waiting for a mistake, but I ended up being the one (to make one). I still was able to do what I came here to do and leave with some valuable points. Now it’s on to Dodger Stadium.”
Supercross class rookie and American Honda rider Trey Canard, of Shawnee, Okla., finished third.
In the Supercross Lites class, it was another strong night for Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki. Broc Tickle, of Holly, Mich., raced to the holeshot with Rockstar Energy Suzuki’s Ryan Morais, of Murrieta, Calif., and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Josh Hansen, of Elbert, Colo., in tow. Tickle led for seven laps, but made a costly mistake by tipping the bike over in a turn. Hansen, who had moved into second at the time, took advantage of it and never looked back. Tickle remounted in third, but battled back for his second runner-up effort of the season with Morais rounding out the podium in third.
“I’m really stoked,” exclaimed Hansen. “I didn’t get the start I needed to, but I tried my best to be patient and it worked out for me. I want to thank everyone on my team for helping me out and giving me a good bike and all these fans (in Phoenix) for coming out tonight.”
Supercross Class Results: Phoenix
1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha
2. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
3. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda
4. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Honda
5. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki
6. Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C, Yamaha
7. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM
8. Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki
9. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Yamaha
10. Kyle Regal, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
Supercross Class Season Standings
1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki – 47
2. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha – 45
3. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda – 38
4. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki – 38
5. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Honda – 34
6. Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki – 26
7. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, KTM – 25
8. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Yamaha – 22
9. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki – 21
10. Justin Brayton, Cornelius, N.C, Yamaha – 20
Supercross Lites Class Western Regional Results: Phoenix
1. Josh Hansen, Elbert, Colo., Kawasaki
2. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki
3. Ryan Morais, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
4. Cole Seely, Corona, Calif., Honda
5. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda
6. Tyla Rattray, Wildomar, Calif., Kawasaki
7. Jimmy Decotis, Peabody, Mass., Honda
8. Travis Baker, Temecula, Calif., Honda
9. Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., Suzuki
10. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha
Supercross Lites Class Western Regional Season Standings
1. Josh Hansen, Elbert, Colo., Kawasaki – 50
2. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki – 44
3. Ryan Morais, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki – 35
4. Tyla Rattray, Wildomar, Calif., Kawasaki – 35
5. Cole Seely, Corona, Calif., Honda – 34
6. Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., Suzuki – 30
7. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda – 27
8. Travis Baker, Temecula, Calif., Honda – 26
9. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha – 19
10. Ben Evans, Garden City, Idaho, Kawasaki – 18 11. Nick Paluzzi, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha – 18
The 2011 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season continues next weekend with the inaugural race from legendary Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif.
For more information on the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, please log on to www.SupercrossOnline.com. For all media requests, please contact Denny Hartwig dhartwig@feldinc.com or 630-566-6305. To follow Monster Energy Supercross on Facebook and Twitter, log on to http://www.facebook.com/supercrosslive and http://twitter.com/supercrosslive.
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