Round 3 Race Report - Yamaha

Edited copy and photos courtesy of Yamaha-Racing.

The third round of seventeen in the 2011 AMA Supercross series saw San Manuel LandM Yamaha's James Stewart (pictured) 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 (pictured) 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.

Dodger Stadium 24/01/2011 20 Laps

1   Ryan Villopoto Kawasaki USA   17'41.505
2   James Stewart Yamaha USA      0'04.861
3   Ryan Dungey Suzuki USA          0'06.779
4   Trey Canard Honda USA             0'10.749
5   Justin Brayton Yamaha USA       0'20.948
6   Kevin Windham Honda USA        0'24.043
7   Chad Reed Honda AUS               0'26.299
8   Brett Metcalfe Suzuki AUS          0'28.790
9   Andrew Short KTM USA              0'30.838
10 Kyle Chisholm Yamaha USA        0'38.825
11 Nicholas Wey Yamaha USA         0'49.089
12 Austin Stroupe Yamaha USA        0'54.209
13 David D Millsaps Yamaha USA     0'56.778
14 Chris Blose Kawasaki USA          -1Lap
15 Tye Simmonds KTM USA            -1Lap
16 Kyle Regal Yamaha USA             -1Lap
20 Thomas Hahn Yamaha USA         -16Laps

AMA-SX World Standing

Rider StandingsAfter Race 3 of 17

1.   Ryan Villopoto Kawasaki USA   72
2.   James Stewart Yamaha USA     67
3.   Ryan Dungey Suzuki U  SA       58
4.   Trey Canard Honda USA            56
5.   Chad Reed Honda AUS             48
6.   Brett Metcalfe Suzuki AUS        39
7.   Andrew Short KTM USA            37
8.   Justin Brayton Yamaha USA      36
9.   Kyle Chisholm Yamaha USA      33
10. Kevin Windham Honda USA        32
11. Nicholas Wey Yamaha USA       28
12. Kyle Regal Yamaha USA            24
13. Ivan Tedesco Kawasak iUSA       23
14. David D Millsaps Yamaha USA    20
15. Chris Blose Kawasaki USA         17
16. Josh Grant Honda USA               12
18. Austin Stroupe Yamaha USA       10
20. Weston Peick Yamaha USA         8
21. Thomas Hahn Yamaha USA          7
24. Jeff Alessi Yamaha USA               3

Manufacturer Standings

1 Kawasaki  72
2 Yamaha    67
3 Suzuki      58
4 Honda       56
5 KTM          37