Stewart takes win total into double figures
By TMX Archives on 6th Apr 09
YZ450F rider James Stewart aced his tenth victory of the 2009 AMA Supercross series - also an FIM World Championship - by taking the chequered flag at Jacksonville for round 14 of 17. The LandM San Manuel representative again finished ahead of arch-rival Chad Reed and has now narrowed the deficit in the standings to just 5 points from the Australian with three races remaining.
Over 31,000 spectators flocked to the Jacksonville Municipal Stadiumfor the first visit of the supercross show to the Florida venue. ForStewart it was another chance to sample some spoils in his home Stateafter disappointment earlier in the campaign at Daytona.
The 23 year old owned his qualification heat, and in the main eventshadowed leader Reed for much of the 20 lap duration before a flurry ofexchanges for control took place. Stewart emerged victorious from theduel; that mirrors the close struggle for the title now complete withthe mind games and pressure that goes with the high stakes.
"The championship's on the line, and there is tension. If I threw dirtat him, or he threw dirt at me, we're going to flare up, and it's justpart of racing. He rode great tonight. I can't take anything away fromhim, and for me, I just came out on the better end. I have a week offto regroup, and we'll see what happens," he said after equallingYamaha's highest win total in one season, set by Jeremy McGrath in2000. It was also his 35th career success.
Stewart has again reduced Reed's numerical advantage in thechampionship after having to recover from a first round DNF in LosAngeles. Stewart's own grip on the series was loosened after hisseventh place at Daytona (Reed has not finished off the podium) andsince then he has been playing catch-up once more to the champion withtwo triumphs in the last two weeks.
Josh Hill was fourth in Jacksonville, Kyle Chisholm notched his bestfinish yet with eighth and Josh Grant failed to reach the chequeredflag.
Round fifteen will take place at the Qwest Stadium in Seattle in two weeks time.
2009 AMA-SX Jacksonville 05/04/2009
Race 1 - 20 Laps
Pos. Rider Manu. Nat. Total Time
1 James Stewart Yamaha USA 17'49.793
2 Chad Reed Suzuki AUS 0'03.664
3 Kevin Windham Honda USA 0'28.167
4 Josh Hill Yamaha USA 0'39.433
5 Andrew Short Honda USA 0'41.793
6 Mike Alessi Suzuki USA 0'46.830
7 Thomas Hahn Kawasaki USA 0'54.049
8 Kyle Chisholm Yamaha USA 0'56.922
9 Heath Voss Honda USA -1Laps
10 Billy Laninovich Kawasaki USA -1Laps
11 Broc Hepler Yamaha USA -1Laps
12 Benjamin Coisy Honda FRA -1Laps
13 Ivan Tedesco Honda USA -1Laps
14 Ryan Sipes KTM USA -1Laps
15 Troy Adams Honda USA -1Laps
17 Jason Lawrence Yamaha USA -14Laps
18 Josh Grant Yamaha USA -15Laps
Rider Standings 04/04/2009
Pos. Rider Manu. Nat. Points
1. Chad Reed Suzuki AUS 315
2. James Stewart Yamaha USA 310
3. Andrew Short Honda USA 225
4. Kevin Windham Honda USA 193
5. Josh Grant Yamaha USA 193
6. Ivan Tedesco Honda USA 187
7. Mike Alessi Suzuki USA 185
8. David D Millsaps Honda USA 168
9. Ryan Villopoto Kawasaki USA 165
10. Josh Hill Yamaha USA 146
11. Tim Ferry Kawasaki USA 100
12. Heath Voss Honda USA 86
13. Matt Boni Suzuki USA 83
14. Benjamin Coisy Honda FRA 75
15. Kyle Chisholm Yamaha USA 74
16. Broc Hepler Yamaha USA 70
17. Nicholas Wey Yamaha USA 70
20. Jason Lawrence Yamaha USA 43
30. Nathan Ramsey Yamaha USA 15
37. Sean Hamblin Yamaha USA 3
Manufacturer Standings 04/04/2009
Pos. Manufacturer Points
1. Yamaha 341
2. Suzuki 315
3. Honda 260
4. Kawasaki 210
5. KTM 73