SuperX: Anaheim II round five event report

Stewart Victorious Before a Sold Out Crowd at Angel Stadium
Injured Hansen Pulls off Third Lites Class Win

ANAHEIM, Calif. (February 5, 2011) -- Team San Manuel Yamaha's James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., led tonight's Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, race at Angel Stadium wire to wire, en route to his third victory of the season before a 45,050 fans. Despite breaking his left pinky finger in practice today, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Josh Hansen, of Elbert, Colo., won his third Western Regional Supercross Lites class main event and extended his championship points lead to eight over his teammate, Broc Tickle.

Stewart led the field through turn one and began to distance himself from the field in the Supercross class feature. Monster Energy Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto rode in the number-two position for all 20 laps of the main event. TwoTwo Motorsports' Chad Reed, of Tampa, Fla., finished third.

"The track was slippery tonight, but I had to ride hard and ride smart," said Villopoto. "I've learned from a few mistakes I have made this year, so I am happy to finish second and move on to next weekend's race in Houston."

Stewart extended his championship points lead to five over Villopoto.

"I am so proud of everyone on my team for making this happen," said Stewart. "It's awesome to come here and win in front of a sold-out crowd here at Angel Stadium. I am out here racing against the best guys in the world, so this is never easy."

Defending Supercross class champion Ryan Dungey did not finish tonight's race due to a mechanical failure.

Hansen and Geico Honda's Eli Tomac and Red Bull KTM's Ken Roczen carved their way through turn one with just inches separating them to start the Western Regional Supercross Lites class main event. On lap two, Roczen moved around Tomac, but five laps later, Tomac returned to the number-two position.

Tomac and Hansen traded places for the lead on lap 10 before Hansen used an aggressive move to secure the lead and ride to his third race win of the season. Tomac finished second and Roczen finished third, marking the first podium of his career.

-source: ama