James Stewart made it two wins in a row in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series with an impressive performance in Cowboys Stadium tonight in Arlington, Texas, the 47th win of the Yoshimura Suzuki rider’s career.
Ryan Dungey led the first three laps of the race after grabbing the holeshot at the start of the 20-lapper, however, Stewart moved into the lead on lap four and never looked back, taking the win by three seconds ahead of the Red Bull KTM rider.
Dungey was never challenged for second, but the battle for the final spot on the podium waged on between Barcia, Brayton, Roczen, and Villopoto.
Barcia ran in third during the opening laps on his Team Muscle Milk Honda, however, Brayton put his JGRMX/Toyota Yamaha into third when he passed Barcia on lap three. Brayton held the postion for the next four laps before crashing and allowing Barcia to retake third.
Ultimately, Barcia held on to third to secure his first podium result of the season.
With the win, Stewart moved to within one victory of tying five-time Monster Energy Supercross champion Ricky Carmichael for second on the all-time 450SX Class wins list. It was his first win inside AT&T Stadium, but his third in North Texas following wins in 2005 and 2007 inside the old Cowboys Stadium in Irving, Texas. He also joins Villopoto and Discount Tire Racing/TwoTwo Motorsports’ Chad Reed for the most wins in the division this season with two.
“I’m so happy,” said Stewart. “I thought we needed to be better for the Main Event and we were. The track was really difficult and I knew I had to get myself to a certain point in order to make a pass and control the race. The championship doesn’t matter right now. We just need to keep riding like we are. If we do that, then we’ll be good.”
Villopoto finished fourth and maintains his lead in the championship standings, which now sits at 12 points over Roczen, who finished sixth. Stewart moved into third place, 14 points out of the lead.
Chad Reed rode the first and third practice sessions, but elected to pull out of the race about an hour before the evening program. The Discount Tires/TwoTwo Motorsports Kawasaki rider broke his scapula, collarbone, and T1 vertebrae last week in San Diego. Reed fell from third to sixth in the championship standings.
450SX Class Results
1. James Stewart (Suz)
2. Ryan Dungey (KTM)
3. Justin Barcia (Hon)
4. Ryan Villopoto (Kaw)
5. Justin Brayton (Yam)
6. Ken Roczen (KTM)
7. Broc Tickle (Suz)
8. Wil Hahn (Hon)
9. Josh Hill (Suz)
10. Andrew Short (KTM)
