The third round of seventeen in the 2011 AMA Supercross series saw San Manuel LandM Yamaha’s James Stewart take a third consecutive podium finish with 2nd position. Across a slippery and difficult track inside the inaugural setting of the Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles Stewart was joined at the top of the leader-board by JGR’s Justin Brayton who rode to 5th on his YZ450F.
The unroofed arena in the heart of LA became the 40th venue to host an AMA SX event and provided a slick and challenging layout for the riders of the premier class and the West Coast Lites competition. Stewart, who celebrated his 38th career victory last week in Phoenix and is now joint-third on the all-time winners list, made a reasonably good start and was able to seize the lead early in the 20 lap Main Event after Brett Metcalfe crashed and he overtook reigning champion Ryan Dungey.
The 2009 No.1 would only front the field until mid-race distance when he made a mistake and his front wheel slipped away but was able to recover and place his YZ450F into the runner-up slot behind Ryan Villopoto before the chequered flag.
“I got into the lead and then Ryan ran into me, and it was like, ‘All right, let’s go…’ and then I just came into a corner and washed the front end out,” said the 25 year old Floridian. “I’m very, very, very disappointed with this one. I just threw it away. I feel bad for my team because we’ve been working hard and you can’t win them on the ground. This won’t happen again.”
Brayton would cross the line three seconds ahead of Kevin Windham for his best ranking of the season so far. Motoconcepts Yamaha’s Kyle Chisholm came home 10th.
After three meetings Stewart is second in the standings and trails Villopoto by 5 points. Brayton is eighth with Chisholm holding ninth. Round four takes place at the Oak-Alameda Stadium in Oakland, California next Saturday.
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