AMA-SX: Seventh win continues Stewart AMA streak

RACE REPORT 23/02/2009 Seventh win continues Stewart AMA streak Stewart wins again LandM San Manuel Yamaha rider James Stewart is the new leader of the 2009 AMA Supercross series (also an FIM World Championship) after taking his YZ450F to a brilliant seventh consecutive success last Saturday. Round eight of seventeen at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, filled almost to capacity, was the scene of his latest victory and another chapter in the fierce spell of domination he is casting over his peers. Stewart 22 years after Bob Hannah won the first an Atlanta SX meeting on a Yamaha, Stewart was again placing a blue machine on the top of the podium. His flight from main rival Chad Reed once more increased his career victory tally to 32 and become the 5th most successful rider in the history of the sport. "Streaks are always meant to be broken, so I want to make it eight!" said Stewart who equalled his superb run of 7 wins taken in 2007. "I know Chad rides good every weekend, and I always have my hands full, so I'll just go back and prepare. However to come out of Anaheim I 23 points back and now be 3 points in the lead, it definitely feels good." Atlanta podium Thanks to Stewart's increasing total of wins and Josh Grant's maiden triumph, Yamaha remain unbeaten Indoors in 2009. With 8 trophies Yamaha can start to look towards beating their own record of success when in 2000 they accumulated 14 victories. Broc Hepler Grant finished 13th in Atlanta in the wake of his spill and neck injury in San Diego. There was bright news for Yamaha's Broc Hepler, who ran as high as second for a sizeable period of the race before finishing fifth; his best result of the season so far. "I didn't ride that speed all night, so I didn't know whether I could go that speed for 20 laps or not," he said. "I haven't done a 20-lap moto since December. I just slowed it down a little bit because I was making a few mistakes... I just didn't want to be 19th again." Stewart now leads Reed by 3 points. Round nine takes place next weekend at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Weather: Dry Lap Record:: 0' 52.919 (Ricky Carmichael , 01/01/2006) Last Years Winner:: Troy Adams 2009 AMA-SX Atlanta, GA 23/02/2009 Race 1 - 20 Laps Pos. Rider Manu. Nat. Total Time 1 James Stewart Yamaha USA 16'47.418 2 Chad Reed Suzuki AUS 0'9.417 3 Ryan Villopoto Kawasaki USA 0'13.424 4 Andrew Short Honda USA 0'19.569 5 Broc Hepler Yamaha USA 0'26.206 6 Kevin Windham Honda USA 0'30.591 7 Ivan Tedesco Honda USA 0'32.277 8 Tim Ferry Kawasaki USA 0'35.746 9 Josh Hill Yamaha USA 0'38.178 10 David D Millsaps Honda USA 0'46.376 11 Mike Alessi Suzuki USA 0'51.511 12 Matt Boni Honda USA -1Laps 13 Josh Grant Yamaha USA -1Laps 14 Kyle Chisholm Yamaha USA -1Laps 15 Nicholas Wey Yamaha USA -1Laps Rider Standings 21/02/2009 Pos. Rider Manu. Nat. Points 1. James Stewart Yamaha USA 177 2. Chad Reed Suzuki AUS 174 3. Andrew Short Honda USA 140 4. Ryan Villopoto Kawasaki USA 126 5. Josh Grant Yamaha USA 120 6. Ivan Tedesco Honda USA 116 7. Kevin Windham Honda USA 111 8. David D Millsaps Honda USA 102 9. Mike Alessi Suzuki USA 93 10. Tim Ferry Kawasaki USA 87 11. Josh Hill Yamaha USA 76 12. Heath Voss Honda USA 51 13. Nicholas Wey Yamaha USA 50 14. Paul Carpenter Kawasaki USA 46 15. Kyle Chisholm Yamaha USA 38 22. Broc Hepler Yamaha USA 18 31. Sean Hamblin Yamaha USA 3 Manufacturer Standings 21/02/2009 Pos. Manufacturer Points 1. Yamaha 200 2. Suzuki 174 3. Honda 152 4. Kawasaki 139 5. KTM 24 Yamaha Racing Communications Hoogte Kadijk 61 HS / 1018 BE Amsterdam / The Netherlands T. +31 (0) 20 330 2709 / F. +31 (0) 20 420 9470 E. office@yrc.nl W. www.yamaha-racing.com