Despite winning his heat race and providing plenty of excitement in the Supercross main event, JGR’s James Stewart fell, recovered and ultimately finished eighth in round two of the 2012 AMA Supercross season in Phoenix, Ariz. on Saturday night, Jan. 14. Teammate Davi Millsaps finished 13th in a tough evening for the YZ450F racers.
Stewart was eager to make up for his sixth-place finish in the Anaheim season opener on Jan. 7, setting the sixth-fastest time in practice before winning his heat race to earn himself a choice gate pick for the 20-lap Supercross main event. But he didn’t quite get the start he wanted in the race, arriving at the first turn outside the top 10 as eventual winner Ryan Dungey grabbed the holeshot. But Millsaps did start strongly inside the top three and looked set for a great race until getting slowed by a first-lap pileup, which dropped him downfield.
Stewart quickly rallied from the awkward start, passing riders with the breathtaking speed that’s become his trademark. But he too fell in a tricky sandpit on lap seven, losing multiple positions in the process. He charged back throughout the event, clawing his way up to eighth before simply running out of laps. Stewart is now seventh in points as the long series returns to Southern California for its second-ever visit to Dodger Stadium on Jan. 21. “The start and the crash cost me a podium but we were way better than last week and we'll only get stronger,” Stewart tweeted. “I’ve got faith in my team and there’s 15 more rounds left.”
| Supercross Results |
| 1 |
Ryan Dungey |
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| 2 |
Jake Weimer |
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| 3 |
Ryan Villopoto |
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| 4 |
Kevin Windham |
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| 5 |
Chad Reed |
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| 6 |
Andrew Short |
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| 7 |
Trey Canard |
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| 8 |
James Stewart - YAM |
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| 9 |
Brett Metcalfe |
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| 10 |
Josh Hansen |
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| Standings After 2 of 17 |
| 1 |
Ryan Villopoto |
45 |
| 2 |
Ryan Dungey |
45 |
| 3 |
Chad Reed |
38 |
| 4 |
Jake Weimer |
38 |
| 5 |
Kevin Windham |
31 |
| 6 |
Andrew Short |
29 |
| 7 |
James Stewart - YAM |
28 |
| 8 |
Justin Brayton |
25 |
| 9 |
Josh Hansen |
22 |
| 10 |
Brett Metcalfe |
22 |
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In Supercross Lites West, Star Valli Yamaha/Rockstar’s Ryan Sipes had the speed in practice but was knocked out of the last chance qualifier and did not make the Lites main event. Fortunately two other Yamaha YZ250F riders, Monster Energy/Yamaha’s Zach Osborne and Sipes teammate Nico Izzi, fought hard and finished sixth and eighth, respectively in the Lites class.
| Supercross Lites Results |
| 1 |
Dean Wilson |
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| 2 |
Marvin Musquin |
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| 3 |
Tyla Rattray |
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| 4 |
Eli Tomac |
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| 5 |
Cole Seely |
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| 6 |
Zack Osborne - YAM |
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| 7 |
Jason Anderson |
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| 8 |
Nico Izzi - YAM |
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| 9 |
Max Anstie |
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| 10 |
Travis Baker |
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| Standings |
| 1 |
Tyla Rattray |
42 |
| 2 |
Cole Seely |
41 |
| 3 |
Dean Wilson |
40 |
| 4 |
Marvin Musquin |
40 |
| 5 |
Eli Tomac |
38 |
| 6 |
Jason Anderson |
28 |
| 7 |
Zack Osborne - YAM |
27 |
| 8 |
Nico Izzi - YAM |
22 |
| 9 |
Travis Baker |
22 |
| 10 |
Max Anstie |
17 |
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