Bubba's back in the Chase!
By TMX Archives on 21st Jan 11
It's been over a year since San Manuel/Red Bull Yamaha's James Stewart stood on the top step of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross podium, but on Saturday night James Bubba' Stewart showed that he means business in the 2011 series after taking a decisive win in the second round of the series at Chase Field, Phoenix, Arizona.
Meanwhile in the Western Lites class, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Josh Hansen took his second consecutive win after a tussle early on with team mate Broc Tickle.
The Chase Field stadium was electric on Saturday as a huge crowd descended to witness the beginnings of what promises to be a real battle for the 2011 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, and disappointed if they were not as the top riders all had something to prove. For James Stewart things couldn't have gone better, after claiming the all important holeshot Stewart was able to get ahead of the pack and avoid the melee behind him.
Stewart led out of the gates, followed by GEICO Honda's Kevin Windham, Rockstar Makita Suzuki's Ryan Dungey and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto. Villopoto, winner of last week's opening round in Anaheim, wasted no time in getting round Dungey and Windham, and once in second quickly made up some ground to sit right on Stewart's tail. Villopoto, who had looked unbeatable in his heat race, continued to push Stewart hard, hoping that the top Yamaha runner would eventually make a mistake and allow him through. However, on lap nine it was the man in green who took a tumble and allowed Stewart to sail through to the flag and claim his first win of the season.
"It feels good to get a win again, and I'm glad to get it out of the way,” said Stewart. "I was even a little nervous out there. This was one of those tracks that you could only ride at 70% and you just had to be patient.”
Villopoto was able to quickly remount and take a well earned second as Trey Canard raced past Windham and Suzuki's Ryan Dungey for third place on the night. Chad Reed was also in the mix with Dungey and after a fierce battle took fourth, leaving the reigning champ with a less than satisfactory fifth overall.
Reflecting on his crash Villopoto said "That section has been tough all night. We were pushing the limit on it all night and it finally got me. I was pushing James 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 back to Anaheim on to the new Dodgers Stadium.”
In the Western Lites division the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki team were once again out in force as Broc Tickle came through to claim the holeshot ahead of Rockstar Energy Suzuki's Ryan Morais and team mate Josh Hansen. Tickle looked to be on form and held an impressive lead for seven laps but a costly mistake in a tricky turn caused him to slide out and let Hansen through and take his second consecutive win. Remounting in third behind Ryan Morais, Tickle was quick to get back in the race and wasted no time in working his way round Morais for second overall.
I'm really stoked to get the win,” said Hansen. "I didn't get the start I needed to, but I tried my best to be patient and it worked out for me.”
The Monster Energy AMA Supercross and AMA Western Lites class continues on Saturday, January 22 for round three at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
AMA & WORLD SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Rd 2 – Chase Field, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
SUPERCROSS CLASS: 1 James Stewart (Yam), 2 Ryan Villopoto (Kaw), 3 Trey Canard (Hon), 4 Chad Reed (AUS - Hon), 5 Ryan Dungey (Suz), 6 Justin Brayton (Yam), 7 Andrew Short (KTM), 8 Brett Metcalfe (AUS - Suz), 9 Kyle Chisholm (Yam), 10 Kyle Regal (Yam), 11 Davi Millsaps (Yam), 12 Nick Wey (Yam), 13 Weston Peick (Yam), 14 Ivan Tedesco (Kaw), 15 Chris Blose (Kaw), 16 Thomas Hahn (Yam), 17 Ryan Clark (Hon), 18 Jeff Alessi (Yam), 19 Kevin Windham (Hon), 20 Austin Stroupe (Yam).
SERIES STANDINGS after 2 (of 17) rounds: 1 Villopoto 47 points, 2 Stewart 45, 3 Dungey 38, 4 Canard 38, 5 Reed 34, 6 Metcalfe 26, 7 Short 25, 8 Chisholm 22, 9 Tedesco 21, 10 Justin Brayton 20, 11 Regal 19, 12 Wey 18, 13 Windham 17, 14 Grant 12, 15 Millsaps 12, 16 Blose 10, 17 Peick 8, 18 Mike Alessi 7, 19 Thomas 6, 20 Hahn 6,...
SUPERCROSS LITES (West): 1 Joshua Hansen (Kaw), 2 Broc Tickle (Kaw), 3 Ryan Morais (Suz), 4 Cole Seely (Hon), 5 Eli Tomac (Hon), 6 Tyla Rattray (ZA - Kaw), 7 James Decotis (Hon), 8 Travis Baker (Hon), 9 Martin Davalos (Suz), 10 Kyle Cunningham (Yam), 11 Jake Canada (Kaw), 12 Ben Evans (Kaw), 13 Bruce Rutherford (Kaw), 14 Antonio Balbi (BRA - Kaw), 15 Nick Paluzzi (Yam), 16 Casey Hinson (KTM), 17 Ryan Marmont (AUS - KTM), 18 Scott Champion (Kaw), 19 Ken Roczen (D - KTM), 20 Christian Craig (Hon).
SERIES STANDINGS after 2 (of 8) rounds: 1 Hansen 50 points, 2 Tickle 44, 3 Morais 35, 4 Rattray 35, 5 Seely 34, 6 Davalos 30, 7 Tomac 27, 8 Baker 26, 9 Cunningham 19, 10 Paluzzi 18, 11 Evans 18, 12 Balbi 17, 13 Decotis 14, 14 Roczen 14, 15 Rutherford 13, 16 Marmont 11, 17 Canada 10, 18 Gilmore 6, 19 Hinson 5, 20 Bright 4,...
NEXT ROUND: January 22 – Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California, USA.