Perfect Day For Stewart

AMA/Chevy Trucks U.S. Motocross Championship

Nov. 01, 2005 By ORC STAFF
Delmont, Pennsylvania - September 1, 2002
 


A Little Cramped?

The AMA/Chevy Trucks U.S. Motocross Championships concluded with a perfect day and a record-breaking season for Kawasaki's rookie James Stewart. Stewart won both motos and ended the season with 10 out of 12 overall wins, the best of any 125 rider ever.

Stewart was the dominant rider in 2002, but at this round another Kawasaki rider, Pro Circuit's Matt Walker, gave him the most competition he has faced all summer. Stewart and his competition had their share of troubles over the course of 12 rounds, with Stewart hurting his knee at round three and suffering 2 mechanical DNFs. Australia's Chad Reed hurt his shoulder at round 4. KTM's ex-world champ and top prospect Grant Langston missed half the season due to knee surgery, and defending champion Mike Brown also was out for the season with a knee injury. Even with all of Reed's troubles, he was in a battle for second with Suzuki's Brandon Jesseman, who came into the last round as a local favorite.


Danny Smith puts in a strong effort for 4th place

KTM's Brock Sellards got the first holeshot of the day and led a couple of laps before Stewart, Walker, and Ernesto Fonseca got by him. Stewart led briefly but couldn't shake Walker, who made a pass for the lead that stuck for over half the moto. With two laps to go Stewart got inside of Walker in a fast sweeping turn and led until the finish, with Walker and Fonseca right behind him. Reed crashed hard in the first moto and finished way in the back, and Jesseman had a dead last start and charged up to 12th. Sellards held on to 4th.

 


Reed Leads - Start of 2nd Moto

In the second moto Reed got the holeshot despite a bad gate pick due to his first moto result. Sellards passed him on the first lap, the Stewart took control on the second lap and took off. Walker had to work up from 10th to 5th, which was good enough for a third overall, his first ever podium finish in an outdoor national.

"(In moto 1) Stewart, Ernesto and I all had a great race going on out there," said Walker, "It will make an interesting broadcast on TV I am sure. For me it was the first time leading for that many laps. Pro Circuit has really been behind me. Last weekend definitely was a bad weekend. It was good to come back this weekend and get on the podium, especially for the last race."

 


Steve Boniface - 8th Overall

"I felt pretty good the whole weekend," said Fonseca, who's 3-3 was good for second overall. "The last few weekends have been pretty good for me. My bike has been working good," he said, "I think there has been a little less pressure. I really don't know what happened. I am pretty happy that we kept James in sight for the first moto. It made the race go by real fast."

Fonseca will lead his home country Costa Rica's first ever entry into the prestigious Motocross of Nations event next month in San Jacinto California. "Its Costa Rica's first time at the Motocross of Nations," he said, "I don't know what to expect but I am pretty happy that I got chosen to race."

 


Larry Ward

"I don't know how I won (moto 1)," said Stewart, "Matt led most of the race. I got around him on the last two laps but I was definitely getting banged around out there. It was a good race. Definitely Ernie, Matt and I got some TV time on that one. I am lucky I got through it."

 

 


Chris Gosselaar

Jesseman had a terrible start in the first moto, but Reed's bad luck kept his bid for second place in the series going. "I started up the season pretty rocky but I picked it up after Glen Helen. I came in today and my goal was to be second in points and I did that," he said, "I had some trouble in practice and hurt my knee and got a bad start in the second moto but all in all I rode as well as I could and came out in second."


A photographer can't get a better advertisement than this!!!

Reed's outdoor season will be has last in the 125 class. It is no secret he is anxious to get on the 250 class for next year, and his next race with be the Motocross of Nations for Australia on a 250, then the US Open. "My first year (in the U.S.) went really good," he said, "I won a supercross championship. I won six straight races which really was unexpected. I appreciate Yamaha of Troy for bring me here. The outdoor season has been a little up and down but that's motocross."

After the races Stewart and 250 champion Carmichael joked a little about a possible matchup. "I know I can beat him (Carmichael) on a 125," said Stewart. Carmichael suggested if he wants a matchup, he should be the one changing classes. "Any time he feels frisky, he can step up to the 250s," said Carmichael. It won't happen next year, Stewart is racing 125s again in 2003.

 125cc AMA/Chevy Trucks U.S. Motocross Championship - Round 12
1. 1-1 James Stewart, Haines City, Fl., Kawasaki 
2. 3-3 Ernesto Fonseca, Costa Rica, Honda
3. 2-5 Matt Walker, McRae, GA, Kawasaki
4. 5-6 Danny Smith, Middletown, Idaho, Suzuki
5. 6-8 Billy Laninovich, Escondito, Ca., KTM
6. 12-4 Branden Jesseman, Fombell, Pa., Suzuki
7. 8-10 Michael Byrne, Australia, Honda
8. 7-11 Steve Boniface, France, KTM
9. 10-9 Travis Preston, Hesperia, Ca., Honda
10. 32-2 Chad Reed, Australia, Yamaha
 125cc Final Season Points Standings

1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 529 pts
2. Branden Jesseman, Fombell, Pa., Suzuki 392 pts
3. Chad Reed, Australia, Yamaha, 391 pts
4. Ernesto Fonseca, Costa Rica, Honda, 385 pts
5. Danny Smith, Middleton, Idaho, Suzuki, 312 pts
6. Matt Walker, McRae, GA, Kawasaki, 285 pts
7. Buddy Antunez, Temecula, Ca., Suzuki, 244 pts
8. Brock Sellards, Sherrodsville, Oh., KTM, 216 pts
9. Larry Ward, Florence, SC., Yamaha, 202 pts
10. Travis Preston, Hesperia, Ca., Honda, 197 pts

Comments On This Article?


Off-Road.com Newsletter
Join our Weekly Newsletter to get the latest off-road news, reviews, events, and alerts!