Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart became the first rider to win a Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, race in 10 consecutive seasons and scored the first win of his 2014 season in San Diego and the 46th of his career. As the championship heads to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas tomorrow night, Stewart looks for his 47th win of his career.
TELEVISION PROGRAMMING ALERT:
**FOX Sports 2 will air the Arlington race live at 8:30 p.m. ET**
**Live coverage from Arlington will also be available on the authenticated FOX Sports Go app**
**FOX Sports 1 will re-air the Arlington race on Sunday at Midnight ET**
Leading all 20 laps in the Main Event was reminiscent of Stewart’s dominant 2007 and 2009 championship winning seasons, where he amassed a combined 26 wins.
450SX Class race winner, James Stewart
Photo Credit: Hoppenworld
Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing’s James Stewart captured his first win of the 2014 AMA/FIM Supercross season in San Diego. Stewart dominated the competition, racing his Yoshimura Suzuki RM-Z450 to his 46th career Supercross victory and moving up yet another position in the overall championship points.
“I felt like I was riding good,” said Stewart. “This win has been six weeks coming, but I finally got a good enough start, and the Yoshimura Suzuki RM-Z450 got me up front on the first lap. I felt great and, about halfway through the race, I felt even better. I just kept feeling stronger and stronger as the race went on. I have to hand it to the Yoshimura Suzuki team, they’ve been fighting for me. Now, hopefully we can build on this momentum as we head into Arlington. We’ll keep on fighting and keep on believing, and hopefully do it again.”
Discount Tire Racing/TwoTwo Motorsports’ Chad Reed joined Ryan Villopoto as the only riders to win two races this season with his thrilling win at the third race in Anaheim. On the final lap in San Diego’s Main Event, Reed collided with Ken Roczen’s rear tire, sending him off his bike to a screeching halt as he slammed into the dirt. As a result, he suffered three broken bones, scapula, T-1 vertebrae, and collarbone.
Discount Tire Racing/TwoTwo Motorsports’ Chad Reed
Photo Credit: Hoppenworld
While most riders would call it a season, Reed plans on lining up for tomorrow night’s race. Not that he needs any additional motivation, but he’s atop the Toyota Triple Challenge point standings heading into the second of three races. After winning the first of three races in this mini championship at Angel Stadium two weeks ago, Reed is in position to win $250,000 and a 2014 Toyota Tundra if he wins this weekend and at the first-ever stop at MetLife Stadium on April 26.
Three-time defending Monster Energy Supercross Champion Ryan Villopoto has a nine-point lead in season standings over Roczen. Last year heading into Arlington, Villopoto was trailing Rockstar Energy Racing’s Davi Millsaps by 19 points.
“I’m excited to get to kick off the east races in Arlington,” said Villopoto. “We got out of California with the points lead and are confident as the dirt in the east suits my style better. AT&T Stadium is always a cool venue and we don’t have to worry about weather now that we’ve into domes. It should be a good weekend.”
Following a two-win 2013 season, Team Honda/Muscle Milk’s Justin Barcia continues to struggle. During last week’s Main Event, Barcia charged from an eighth-place position at the end of the opening lap to fifth place before a crash set him back to sixth place, where he finished.
450SX San Diego Podium
Photo Credit: Hoppenworld
“I felt like I should have been on the podium tonight,” stated Barcia. “I didn’t get a great start but was moving forward through the pack when I lost the front end in a corner and went down. After that I just started riding tight. We made some adjustments between races and the bike was even better in the Main Event than in the heat race.”
After missing the first four races of the season, GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac earned a season-best seventh place in San Diego.
“Today wasn’t bad for just my second race back,” said Tomac. “I’m feeling better and better and my shoulder is getting stronger. I know that as it gets better, my finishes will get better as well. We always want to do well for GEICO and our sponsors, but with this race being a salute to the military and having my brother here, I really wanted to do the best I could and give them a great show. It was really special. I struggled all day in practice but we found a good set up and that worked good throughout night. Now I have one full race under my belt and something to build off.”
Tomac’s teammate Wil Hahn was unable to compete after reinjuring his hand in practice.
“I probably should have waited a week but I really wanted to race here, especially with it being Military Appreciation Night,” explained Hahn. “As soon as I crashed in practice I realized right away that it happened because my hand isn’t healed all the way. If I had been able to grip the handlebars like normal, I wouldn’t have gone down. I decided to take the night off to make sure I can race next weekend in Dallas.”
After finishing a season-best 10th place at the third race in Anaheim, Rockstar Energy Racing’s Ivan Tedesco finished 13th in San Diego.
“It was a weird track this weekend, and I kind of fought it all day,” said Tedesco. I didn’t ride good in practice. I was a little better in the [heat] races, but in the Main Event I just couldn’t really get into a flow. I knocked it back a notch and ended up 13th. It’s not where I want to be but it’s another week down. We’re going to work on it and try to be better next week.”
Jake Weimer will sit out this weekend as result of a crash in San Diego. Weimer broke a bone in his wrist that he will let heal before returning to racing.
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Justin Hill earned the first Western Regional 250SX Class win of his career in San Diego.
Western Regional 250SX Class winner, Justin Hill
Photo Credit: Hoppenworld
“Everything went my way tonight,” said Hill from the podium in San Diego. “It said it all day, ‘I need to execute and I did. ‘When I got out front, I tried to ride solid and not think too much about it and it paid off. These guys are running an incredible pace this year.”
With a second-place finish, Rockstar Energy Racing’s Jason Anderson extended his points lead to four as the championship heads into a seven-race break.
“The weekend was good; I guess I just did damage control,” said Anderson. I had a good practice and then my qualifier was rough; I had a little digger 10’ out of the gate. Then I ended up salvaging a second in the main. I could have won, but I was just really nervous with points on the line. I was good until I almost hit a tuff block. Then I decided second place was good. “
It was an exciting night for Troy Lee Designs/ Lucas Oil/ Honda’s Malcolm Stewart who put together an exceptional ride aboard his CRF250R, climbing on the podium with a third-place finish. Stewart joined his brother on this podium in San Diego.
As the Eastern regional 250SX Class Championship gets underway, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s three-man team of Bale Baggett, Martin Davalos and Adam Cianciarulo are ready for a fast start.
Baggett enters his fifth year in the class. After an injury set him back in the open race of the 2013 season, he’s excited about racing in the Eastern Regional 250SX Class Championship.
“I’m looking forward to getting back behind the gate,” said Baggett. “I got hurt at Anaheim last year and missed the whole series, so it’s been a while since I’ve raced supercross. I’m excited to race the east coast and plan to be up front from the get go.”
A native of Georgia, Davalos believes he has an advantage on this region of the country.
“I haven’t raced in Arlington since 2010,” said Davalos. “I’m really excited to race the Eastern Regional 250SX Class Championship because Georgia is where I have a home, and where I trained when I first started supercross. I’m really feeling good about this year.”
And the highly anticipated supercross debut of Adam Cianciarulo has finally arrived, and this marks a moment he’s dreamed about his entire life.
“This is what I’ve dreamed about and I’ve trained hard to get here,” said Cianciarulo. “Dallas will be my first career professional supercross, but I have raced and won at the Monster Energy Cup which is very similar. I want to be on the podium every weekend and stay consistent.”
For the first-time ever, the entire Monster Energy Supercross season will air live on FOX Sports. FOX Sports 1 will air 13 races live and FOX Sports 2 will air four races live, in addition to every race re-airing on FOX Sports 2. The live Monster Energy Supercross programming on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2 also includes live coverage on the authenticated FOX Sports Go app.