AMA-SX: Stewart takes first AMA win with YZ450F

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RACE REPORT 11/01/2009 Stewart seals first AMA win with YZ450F Stewart in form James Stewart successfully erased the painful memory of his DNF in Los Angeles last week and ruled the second round of seventeen in the 2009 AMA Supercross series (also an FIM World Championship) in Phoenix on Saturday. The 23 year old gained the lead on his San Manuel LandM YZ450F Yamaha before the end of the opening lap after overtaking rookie winner and brand-mate Josh Grant, who had aced the holeshot at Chase Field. Stewart then worked hard to defend his advantage from reigning champion Chad Reed to obtain his first chequered flag in blue colours, watched by almost 47,000 spectators. In the lead "My goal was to try to win the race and I was able to do that, so it was good," he said. "I just wanted to ride better than I did last week." "It is nerve-wracking but at the same time, I just had to be composed and ride in my own head," he commented regarding his close duel with Reed. "That's the only way I can get it done. Obviously he was riding good; he had better parts than I did, and I had better parts than he did. The crowd was going wild and I knew when he would get close." Phoenix podium It was the third consecutive triumph for Stewart in Phoenix and the perfect response to his mishap seven days earlier in which he missed a gear exiting a corner and was involved in a collision with Reed. "There is still a long way to go and a lot of work to do," he said. "If we just think about each weekend and I win races then eventually the points will come. The championship is definitely not going to be given to me and I know I have to work for it. After last weekend, having the bobble that I had, I don't think it was anybody's fault, but I do think I put myself in a small hole and I have to dig myself out." Grant on the first lap Grant collected third position for his second podium result in a row and after just two race appearances in the Supercross class. The youngster leads the championship by three points over Reed, with Stewart now starting to make ground and stands seventh. "As long as my starts continue to be this good, I should be fine. I had fun racing with the guys up there, and I can't thank the guys at Joe Gibbs Racing Yamaha enough for what they've done for me," Grant said. West Coast Lites champion Jason Lawrence had a crash in his qualifying Heat and could not make the cut to the main event. Round three takes place next week and heads back to the Anaheim stadium in LA. Circuit Length: unknown Crowd: 46,566 Weather: Dry 2009 AMA-SX Phoenix, AZ 11/01/2009 Race 1 - 20 Laps Pos. Rider Manu. Nat. Total Time 1 James Stewart Yamaha USA 17'37.908 2 Chad Reed Suzuki AUS 0'0.591 3 Josh Grant Yamaha USA 0'28.232 4 Ivan Tedesco Honda USA 0'35.193 5 Andrew Short Honda USA 0'41.241 6 Kevin Windham Honda USA 0'55.127 7 Ryan Villopoto Kawasaki USA -1 Laps 8 Josh Hill Yamaha USA -1 Laps 9 Tim Ferry Kawasaki USA -1 Laps 10 David D Millsaps Honda USA -1 Laps 11 Mike Alessi Suzuki USA -1 Laps 12 Charles Summey KTM USA -1 Laps 13 Paul Carpenter Kawasaki USA -1 Laps 14 Travis Preston KTM USA -1 Laps 15 Nicholas Wey Yamaha USA -1 Laps Rider Standings 10/01/2009 Pos. Rider Manu. Nat. Points 1. Josh Grant Yamaha USA 45 2. Chad Reed Suzuki AUS 42 3. Andrew Short Honda USA 38 4. Ivan Tedesco Honda USA 33 5. Ryan Villopoto Kawasaki USA 30 6. Tim Ferry Kawasaki USA 30 7. James Stewart Yamaha USA 27 8. Kevin Windham Honda USA 21 9. David D Millsaps Honda USA 20 10. Mike Alessi Suzuki USA 20 11. Paul Carpenter Kawasaki USA 19 12. Nicholas Wey Yamaha USA 18 13. Josh Hill Yamaha USA 18 14. Heath Voss Honda USA 14 15. Benjamin Coisy Honda FRA 13 Manufacturer Standings 10/01/2009 Pos. Manufacturer Points 1. Yamaha 50 2. Suzuki 42 3. Honda 40 4. Kawasaki 32 5. KTM 10 Yamaha Racing Communications Hoogte Kadijk 61hs / 1018 BE Amsterdam / The Netherlands T. +31 (0) 20 625 6539 / F. +31 (0) 20 420 9470 E. office@yrc.nl W. http://www.yamaha-racing.com