Bubba’s Dome good at last

Several crashes in prvious weeks had left the former AMA Champ down the leaderboard, with many wondering

if he still had it in him to run with those at the front. 

 

But as the series moved into the eighth round of the series at the Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Stewart was eventually able to lift that weight off his shoulders, as he raced perfect 20-laps for that elusive win. 

 

Meanwhile, in the Eastern 250 class, GIECO Honda's Wil Hahn raced clean in the main event to record his first career win.

 

As the gate dropped for the 450 main, Stewart fired into the first turn to grab his first holeshot award of the season in front of nearly 70,000 fans. 

 

And once out in front the Suzuki rider never looked back as he led the entire race to take a gate to flag victory.

 

"I mean, what can I say, we won tonight,” said Stewart. 

 

"It means a lot – this whole season has been going crazy and to get a victory and to get a start, it was almost a perfect day. 

 

"I was fastest in practice, fastest in the Heat Race, I got the holeshot in the Main Event and led every lap. I'm not going to lie, I was a little nervous because I haven't been out there in a while.”

 

Reigning champion, Ryan Villopoto also got off to a good start, and hounded Stewart for the entire race. 

 

Never letting him pull away, but never able to challenge for the position, Villopoto eventual had to settle for second, only 1.468 seconds adrift.

 

Series leader, and proving yet again that consistence is the key in such a long championship was Rockstar Energy Racing's Davi Millsaps. 

 

After a mid-pack start, Davi worked his way forward and by lap three sat in third, which is where he stayed for the rest of the race. 

 

Millsaps now holds a 22-point advantage over Villopoto.

 

Also in the mix for the top points was KTM's Ryan Dungey. 

 

After a poor start, the KTM pilot was left fighting his way back from mid  pack but after a strong charge through the first few corners he was able to move into sixth. 

 

Once there Dungey set his sights on reeling in fifth-placed Tray Canard but he was having none of it and held Dungey to the flag

 

"Unfortunately, I didn't get the best start and I wasn't able to put myself in the best position for the overall tonight,” said Dungey.

 

"I am definitely disappointed with my result but the five guys ahead of me rode really well tonight. 

 

"I know what to work on and will come back stronger for St. Louis.”

 

Wil Hahn was on a mission as the gate dropped in the 250 class and he grabbed the holeshot and stayed at the front as the melee of riders behind jostled for positions. 

 

Kawasaki's Dean Wilson and Rockstar Energy Racing's Blake Wharton sneaked in behind Hahn but Wharton was only able to hold on to third until lap two, when KTM's Marvin Musquin moved into third.

 

At the front Wilson went after Hahn, but for the full 15-laps the Honda rider never really let Wilson get close.

 

"I put in a lot of hard work, and it paid off here tonight,” said Hahn. 

 

"I stayed positively out there and rode a smart race. 

 

"It's an amazing feeling to get my first win here at the Georgia Dome in front of so many fans. 

 

"This has been a long time coming for me.”

 

The Monster Energy Supercross resumes next weekend at St Louis' Edward Jones Dome, for the ninth round of the series.

 

Rd 8 – Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

SX450cc CLASS: 1 James Stewart (Suz), 2 Ryan Villopoto (Kaw), 3 Davi Millsaps (Suz), 4 Justin Barcia (Hon), 5 Trey Canard (Hon), 6 Ryan Dungey (KTM), 7 Eli Tomac (Hon), 8 Jake Weimer (Kaw), 9 Chad Reed (AUS - Hon), 10 Mike Alessi (Suz), 11 Matt Goerke (KTM), 12 Broc Tickle (Suz), 13 Justin Brayton (Yam), 14 Andrew Short (Hon), 15 PJ Larsen (Hon), 16 Joshua Hill (Suz), 17 Chris Blose (Yam), 18 Les Smith (KTM), 19 Jimmy Albertson (Hon), 20 Robert Kiniry (Yam).

SERIES STANDINGS after 8 (of 17) rounds: 1 Millsaps 174 points, 2 Villopoto 152, 3 Dungey 148, 4 Canard 135, 5 Reed 127, 6 Barcia 116, 7 Short 102, 8 Stewart 100, 9 Brayton 91, 10 Goerke 79, 11 Broc Tickle 77, 12 Weimer 61, 13 Mike Alessi 60, 14 Grant 40, 15 Peick 39, 16 Chisholm 37, 17 Lemoine 34, 18 Albertson 31, 19 Friese 30, 20 Kiniry 24,...

SX250cc (East): 1 William Hahn (Hon), 2 Dean WILSON (GB - Kaw), 3 Marvin Musquin (F - KTM), 4 Blake Wharton (Suz), 5 Jeremy Martin (Yam), 6 Justin Hill (Kaw), 7 Gavin Faith (Hon), 8 Kyle Peters (Hon), 9 Vince Friese (Hon), 10 Zachary Bell (Hon), 11 Mitchell Oldenburg (Hon), 12 Lance Vincent (KTM), 13 Cole Thompson (CAN - Hon), 14 James Decotis (Hon), 15 Steven Clarke (KTM), 16 Gareth Swanepoel (ZA - Kaw), 17 Adam Gulley (Kaw), 18 AJ Catanzaro (Kaw), 19 Kurtis McCabe (Hon), 20 Jackson Richardson (AUS - Hon).

SERIES STANDINGS after 2 (of 9) rounds: 1 WILSON 47 points, 2 Hahn 45, 3 Wharton 40, 4 Musquin 35, 5 Peters 31, 6 Hill 31, 7 Faith 28, 8 Friese 24, 9 Decotis 20, 10 Vincent 20, 11 Oldenburg 19, 12 Martin 16, 13 Bell 14, 14 Swanepoel 13, 15 Thompson 12, 16 Richardson 11, 17 Adam Gulley 10, 18 Kilbarger 7, 19 Clarke 6, 20 Zimmer 5,...

NEXT ROUND: March 2 – Edward Jones Dome, St Louis, Missouri, USA.