Stewart scores emotional first win at Oakland

TwoTwo Motorsports/Bel-Rey/Honda’s Chad Reed, opened the Supercross class main event by winning the Nuclear Cowboyz® Holeshot with Supercross.com Honda’s Andrew Short, and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Josh Hansen, following in second and third, respectively.

Stewart, who won in Oakland last year, made quick work of Hansen, making the pass to secure third place on the end of the opening lap. Points leader heading into round four Ryan Dungey, finished lap one in ninth place. On lap two, Stewart moved around Short and set his sights on Reed. After stalking Reed relentlessly for several laps, Stewart passed him on lap nine and held the lead to the chequered flag.

Stewart became the fourth different Supercross Class winner of the season and also made Yamaha the fourth different manufacture to be represented on the top step of the podium in the first four rounds of racing. Reed finished second and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Villopoto finished third. Reed and Dungey are now tied for first place at 85 points apiece.

"I would like to dedicate this win to my mechanic, Mark ‘Tex’ Adams, who passed away this week,” said Stewart. "I got in a rhythm out there tonight and put together a great race. I had a tough couple of races this year, and tonight I got it done.” Concluded the two time SX champion.

Australian riders Brett Metcalfe endured a rough main event after being near the front of the field early in the race a mishap seen the Suzuki rider slip back to near last before working back to 14th place by the end of the Main event.

With DNA Energy Drink / Jeff Ward racing's Josh Grant on the sidelines rehabbing a shoulder injury sustained at Los Angeles SX round 3, Australia's Cody Mackie stepped up for the opportunity of his lifetime. Mackie has been in the U.S. since Anaheim 1 contesting in the 450cc class of the AMA Supercross as a privateer aboard a stock bike coming close to qualifying on several occasions but  got his big break at Oakland on a DNA Energy Drink / Jeff Ward Racing Kawasaki KX450.

Mackie finished 9th in his heat race, earning him his first trip to the main event for the 2012 season where he scored an impressive 16th place finish after a early race fall.

Racing resumes next Saturday at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif.

Supercross Class Results: Oakland
1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha
2. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Honda
3. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
4. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
5. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda
6. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda
7. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
8. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki
9. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
10. Josh Hansen, Elbert, Colo., Kawasaki


Supercross Class Season Standings
1. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Honda – 85
2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM – 85
3. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki – 83
4. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha – 73
5. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki – 61
6. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda – 58
7. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda – 52
8. Josh Hansen, Elbert, Colo., Kawasaki – 47
9. Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki – 45
10. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha – 42

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Eli Tomac won his second consecutive Western Regional Supercross Lites class race.

Rockstar Energy Racing Suzuki’s Martin Davalos, grabbed the Nuclear Cowboyz Holeshot with Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Dean Wilson, on his rear wheel as they headed out of turn one, tucked in behind the two leaders was Geico Honda's Eli Tomac holding down third spot.

While chasing down Davalos, on lap one, Wilson shot off the track, crashing and losing valuable positions as Tomac moved into second place. On lap two, Davalos bobbled, which allowed Tomac to make a pass for the lead. Zach Osborne, pushed his Monster Energy Yamaha into second place on lap six, but was passed by Rockstar Energy Racing’s Jason Anderson. Anderson crashed one lap later, going the number-two spot to Osborne.

On lap twelve, Osborne engaged on a hotly contested battle with Red Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin, Musquin made a solid pass and held on for second place with Osborne in third for the second consecutive weekend.

Matt Moss continued to improve on his early season form with a season best 5th place finish in tonight’s main event. A top six start placed Moss in a great position to vie for a podium position, after a fierce battle with the best Western region Lites Supercross riders, Moss was able to hold strong for his best performance of the year.

Jstar/JDR, KTM team mate Ryan Marmont also worked his way into his second main event of the season via a second place in the LCQ. Marmont rounded out the night in 19th position.

Tomac’s win extended his points lead to 15 before the series heads back to Angel Stadium next weekend.

"This is my best season ever,” said Tomac. "Our team worked really hard to give me a great bike, and I made the most of it. I now have a nice lead going into Anaheim.”

Western Regional Supercross Lites Class Results: Oakland
1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda
2. Marvin Musquin, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
3. Zach Osborne, Chesterfield, S.C., Yamaha
4. Ryan Sipes, Ekron, Ky., Yamaha
5. Matt Moss, Sussex Inlet, NS
6. Travis Baker, Temecula, Calif., Honda
7. Nico Izzi, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha
8. Max Anstie, Hemet, Calif., Honda
9. Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., Suzuki
10. Dean Wilson, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki

Western Regional Supercross Lites Class Season Standings
1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda – 88
2. Dean Wilson, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki – 73
3. Zach Osborne, Chesterfield, S.C., Yamaha – 67
4. Marvin Musquin, Murrieta, Calif., KTM – 64
5. Tyla Rattray, Wildomar, Calif., Kawasaki – 60
6. Cole Seely, Murrieta, Calif., Honda – 57
7. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki – 53
8. Nico Izzi, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha – 46
9. Max Anstie, Hemet, Calif., Honda – 45
10. Ryan Sipes, Ekron, Ky., Yamaha – 43