Congratulations James Stewart!!!

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Supercross
James Stewart wins a supercross thriller in the mud

By: Garry Morrow

Sunday, 29th January, 2006 - - 1018 Reads -

Kawasaki's James Stewart has bounced back to win round four of the Amp'd Mobile AMA Supercross Series in atrocious conditions at SBC Park, San Francisco last Saturday night. Stewart held off a determined Ricky Carmichael in the rain shortened 12 lap race. Nathan Ramsey accounted for Aussie Brett Metcalfe in another thriller to take the West Coast Lites Series win.
"I was in my own world for the first few laps," said Stewart. "I got a good start, me and Ricky hit each other off the start which luckily we survived. I made a few mistakes but I don't think I really pushed it at all tonight," he added.

It only took a lap for Stewart to hit the front and a few corners later Carmichael was once again on his rear wheel. The two championship points leaders left the rest of the field floundering in the San Francisco mud as they waged war for the second week in a row.

The 'other member' of the big three Chad Reed didn't get the start he wanted and found himself in eleventh, a similar situation to that of the last mud race - the opening round of the 2005 season in Anaheim. Reed was not on his own as riders would gain positions then fall and with the conditions deteriorating it was hard to follow what anyone was doing.

Holeshot winner Nick Wey was the surprise as the MDK Motorsport privateer defied the supercross food chain to run the full 12 laps in third position and rack up his first open class podium, and to prove how far ahead Stewart and Carmichael where they both lapped him.

"I am exceptionally pumped to get a trophy here despite the conditions," said Wey. "I definatly wasn't thinking of the conditions as an opportunity I would rather get a good start and go away with it but I am very happy with this".

At the end it was another classic Carmichael/Stewart showdown as the duo battled it out until the very last lap. Carmichael who had had a rough night after surviving a big crash when he landed on Jeff Gibson in his heat race, did get the better of Stewart two laps from home but Stewart found that little extra in the closing stages and Carmichael had championship and survival on his mind so only did what he had to do.

"Maybe I could have gone out and tried to catch him, but I felt I was riding in control, I felt comfortable and I didn't feel like laying on the mat, I did what I had to do," said Carmichael.

"It was an exciting race tonight, we both raced our hardest and James beat me. We where both on the podium and I achieved my goal," the defending champions added.

The Australian contingent followed Wey with Kawasaki's Michael Byrne taking fourth ahead of a disappointed Chad Reed. Reed having a remarkable, although largely unnoticed comeback from near dead last at one stage.

In the Lites West Coast race Red Bull KTM's Nathan Ramsey survived the carnage to give the Austrian manufacturer their ninth supercross win over Yamaha of Troy's Brett Metcalfe. Ramsey put holeshot winner Ryan Vilopoto (Monster Kawasaki) and the fast starting Metcalfe behind him in the early laps and was never challenged for the eight lap journey.

Behind Ramsey, Metcalfe had an un-challenged run for his second place and with a lap to go looked like he may steal the win. A small mistake by Ramsey allowed the Australian a chance at the win. Metcalfe threw out a last ditch challenge when he doubled the finish line double jump whilst Ramsey rolled it, Metcalfe came up agonisingly short and Ramsey rolled across the line a wheel ahead.

Ramsey's team-mate, the always fast starting, Mike Alessi survived a few scares to notch up his first ever podium finish.

Behind the podium winners it was carnage with some of the biggest names having the worst night. Vilopoto, who was an early front runner crashed a few times and could only make it back to sixth. Billy Laninovich claimed a disappointing seventh whilst Grant Langston rolled across the line as the last bike on the track with 15th place. Honda's Andrew Short was another who was no where to be seen.

"It was such a fun race, it was one of them dog paddlers, I am sure my legs will be a little sore tomorrow" Ramsey said.

"It feels really good. Tonight was just a roll of the dice and I ended up getting up there in the front and I just wanted to be as smart as I could and it worked out and I am super happy. I had a bad run in the first round and this kinda makes up for it.

After blitzing his heat race by over 30 seconds and racking up his first podium Metcalfe was stoked with his result. "I have a lot of good feelings, it was an awesome day, I won my heat race, I can't be more happier now. It's unfortunate the first few rounds haven't gone as well as planned but we are up there tonight and the rest of the season we are going to make a change," he said.

Alessi was up beat and happy with his progress, "The last couple of weeks haven't been going to well for me but tonight I rode a good consistent race tonight, even though I crashed twice, so it feels really good to back on the podium".

Ramsey now takes over the championship lead at the midway point of the season.

Ampd Mobile AMA Supercross Series
Supercross Class - Round 4
Pos. Rider name Bike Laps Gap
1 James M Stewart Kawasaki KX450F 12 ---
2 Ricky Carmichael Suzuki RMZ450 12 2.78
3 Nicholas A Wey Honda CRF450R 11 ---
4 Michael Byrne Kawasaki KX450F 11 ---
5 Chad Reed Yamaha YZ450F 11 ---
6 Tyler Evans Suzuki RMZ450 11 ---
7 Travis A Preston Honda CRF450R 11 ---
8 Jeff Gibson Honda CRF450R 11 ---
9 Ryan D Clark HondaCRF450R 10 ---
10 Jason W Thomas Honda CRF450R 10 ---
11 Mike Larocco Honda CRF450R 10 ---
12 Clark Stiles Yamaha YZ450F 10 ---
13 Jacob Marsack Yamaha YZ450F 10 ---
14 Jeff Dement Suzuki RMZ450 10 ---
15 Doug Dehaan Honda CRF450R 10 ---
16 Ivan Tedesco Suzuki RMZ450 10 ---
17 Ernesto Fonseca Honda CRF450R 10 ---
18 Kyle Lewis Honda CRF450R 9 ---
19 Timmy M Ferry Honda CRF450R 8 ---
20 David Vuillemin Honda CR250R 3 ---

Supercross Class -Series Points after Round 4
Pos. Rider name Points
1 Ricky Carmichael 92
2 James Stewart 90
3 Chad Reed 82
4 Nick Wey 61
5 Mickael Byrne 58
6 Mike Larocco 55
7 Ivan Tedesco 51
8 Ernesto Fonseca 48
9 Travis Preston 47
10 Jeremy McGrath 44

Ampd Mobile AMA Supercross Series
Supercross Lites West Coast - Round 4
Pos. Rider name Bike Laps Gap
1 Nathan Ramsey KTM 250SXF 8 ---
2 Brett Metcalfe Yamaha YZ250F 8 0.579
3 Mike A Alessi KTM 250SXF 8 21.498
4 Jason D Lawrence Suzuki RMZ250 8 24.926
5 Ryan Mills Suzuki RMZ250 8 26.652
6 Ryan D Villopoto Kawasaki KX250F 8 41.138
7 Billy R Laninovich Honda CRF250R 8 45.27
8 Paul P Carpenter Honda CRF250R 8 54.854
9 Ryan Morais Suzuki RMZ250 8 57.727
10 Marco Dube Yamaha YZ250F 8 63.424
11 Kyle Partridge Yamaha YZ250F 8 72.518
12 Eric Sorby Honda CRF250R 8 76.078
13 Andrew T Short Honda CRF250R 8 78.757
14 Ryan J Abrigo Honda CRF250R 8 84.375
15 Grant Langston Kawasaki KX250F 8 117.9
16 Jesse Casillas Honda CRF250R 8 182.13
17 Michael J Lapaglia Suzuki RMZ250 7 ---
18 Justin D Brayton Yamaha YZ250F 7 ---
19 Vernon A Mckiddie Suzuki RMZ250 7 ---
20 Daniel Sani Honda CRF250R 7 ---
21 Colton Facciotti Kawasaki KX250F 7 ---
22 Adam B Chatfield Suzuki RMZ250 6 ---

Supercross Lites West Coast - Series Points after Round 4
Pos. Rider name Points
1 Nathan Ramsey 79
2 Billy Laninovich 74
3 Andrew Short 71
4 Grant Langston 69
5 Ryan Villopoto 64
6 Brett Metcalfe 60
7 Mike Alessi 57
8 Paul Carpenter 49
9 Jake Weimer 39
10 Jesse Casillas 33

ID: 1934-263

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