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AMA MX: Stewart Sweeps Season Opener
James Stewart made a most impressive Yoshimura Suzuki debut, racking up a 1-1 in the Hangtown Classic to kick off the 2012 AMA Motocross season.
Team Yoshimura Suzuki's James Stewart (Photo: Suzuki Racing)
A massive crowd watched the FMF Hangtown Motocross Classic on Saturday afternoon for the opening round of the 2012 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. After three seasons away from the Nationals, Team Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., made a memorable return to action, sweeping the day’s motos en route to the 450 Class win. In the 250 Class, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Blake Baggett, of Grand Terrace, Calif., raced to his second straight overall victory at Hangtown, winning both motos.
Stewart grabbed the holeshot in the day’s opening moto, but was forced to battle with Team Chaparral Honda’s Andrew Short, of Smithville, Texas, for the lead early. Despite the challenge, Stewart assumed the top spot prior to the completion of the opening lap and never looked back.
In Moto 2, Stewart secured another strong start, following MotoConcepts Suzuki’s Mike Alessi, of Victorville, Calif., out of the gate. Stewart engaged in a battle with both Alessi and Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., for the first couple laps, but made an impressive move to pass both riders and take over the lead. Dungey paced Stewart throughout the moto, but lapped traffic ultimately separated the two, allowing Stewart to pull away.
“(Today) went better than I thought,” said Stewart. “I thought I’d come and struggle a bit, which I did a little. This (season) is one of those things where you continue to build and we got a good start on it. I’m just here to enjoy it. I didn’t come to be the fastest; I came to learn the motorcycle. Everything is new. We’ve got a long way to go. I’ve been away for a while, but I don’t realize how much I miss it till I’m gone.”
Stewart made headlines coming into the season by signing with Yoshimura Suzuki just two weeks ago, committing to compete in Lucas Oil Motocross. In his last full-time season of Nationals competition back in 2008, Stewart claimed the premier class championship by becoming the second rider in history to compile a perfect season, winning all 24 motos to join Ricky Carmichael.
Stewart grabbed the holeshot in the day’s opening moto, but was forced to battle with Team Chaparral Honda’s Andrew Short, of Smithville, Texas, for the lead early. Despite the challenge, Stewart assumed the top spot prior to the completion of the opening lap and never looked back.
In Moto 2, Stewart secured another strong start, following MotoConcepts Suzuki’s Mike Alessi, of Victorville, Calif., out of the gate. Stewart engaged in a battle with both Alessi and Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., for the first couple laps, but made an impressive move to pass both riders and take over the lead. Dungey paced Stewart throughout the moto, but lapped traffic ultimately separated the two, allowing Stewart to pull away.
“(Today) went better than I thought,” said Stewart. “I thought I’d come and struggle a bit, which I did a little. This (season) is one of those things where you continue to build and we got a good start on it. I’m just here to enjoy it. I didn’t come to be the fastest; I came to learn the motorcycle. Everything is new. We’ve got a long way to go. I’ve been away for a while, but I don’t realize how much I miss it till I’m gone.”
Stewart made headlines coming into the season by signing with Yoshimura Suzuki just two weeks ago, committing to compete in Lucas Oil Motocross. In his last full-time season of Nationals competition back in 2008, Stewart claimed the premier class championship by becoming the second rider in history to compile a perfect season, winning all 24 motos to join Ricky Carmichael.
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