Only five points seperate Stewart from championship points leader Reed with only three races remaining.
It was an all-out battle to the checkered flag this evening in Jacksonville with L&M Yamaha’s James Stewart narrowly acing-out reigning Supercross champ and Rockstar Makita Suzuki rider Chad Reed. Stewart’s win narrowed his championship point deficit to just five from Reed’s 315 point tally with only three races remaining (Seattle, Salt Lake City and Las Vegas).
Approximately 31,000 fans came out to watch the two superstars go at it and the two Florida boys did not disappoint. At the start of the 20-lap race, it was holeshot master Mike Alessi aboard his No. 800 RM-Z450. His lead would last only about a second as Reed came flying by after the first turn.
After the first lap the running order was: Reed, Stewart, Alessi, Geico Powersports Honda's Kevin Windham, Boost Mobile Yamaha's Jason Lawrence. Halfway through the second lap, Lawrence tangled with another rider sending both of them to the ground. He remounted but would retire early from the race.
Back up front it appeared that Reed was going to make a run for it, but by Lap 4, Stewart had already started to whittle away at Reed’s lead. On Lap 6, Red Bull Honda’s Ivan Tedesco and Grant came together with both riders crashing. It’s believed that Grant may have broken his wrist in the crash.
Eventually Stewart had caught up to Reed and was doing everything he could to get his Yamaha past him. Visibly you could see that Reed’s fuel-injected RM-Z would get out of the corner just a bit better than Stewart’s carbureted Yamaha.
Rockstar Makita Suzuki's Chad Reed led the majority of Saturday's 20-lap race before Stewart eventually took control on Lap 14.
Despite Reed's apparent advantage at corner exit, Stewart found his way past Reed, however it would be short lived as Reed would immediately retaliate. The two riders had the entire crowd on their feet as they continued to jock for position. The passes were always clean though proving how much control these guys have at the limit. Stewart laid down the final pass on Lap 14 with Reed unable to counter. On the next lap Stewart had opened up a small 2-second gap. Stewart would continue pulling away taking the win almost four seconds ahead of second place Reed.
Windham would take the final podium spot some 28-seconds behind the race winner while Josh Hill made a late race pass on Short for fourth place. The series has a two week break before moving back West to Seattle, Washington.
Jacksonville Supercross Race Results:
1. James Stewart, Yamaha YZ450F
2. Chad Reed, Suzuki RM-Z450
3. Kevin Windham, Honda CRF450R
4. Josh Hill, Yamaha YZ450F
5. Andrew Short, Honda CRF450R
6. Mike Alessi, Suzuki RM-Z450
7. Thomas Hahn, Kawasaki KX450F
8. Kyle Chisholm, Yamaha YZ450F
9. Heath Voss, Honda CRF450R
10. Billy Laninovich, Kawasaki KX450F
Supercross Overall Points:
1. Chad Reed, 315
2. James Stewart, 310
3. Andrew Short, 225
4. Josh Grant, 193
5. Kevin Windham, 193
Supercross Lites
Recently crowned 2009 East Coast Lites Champion Christophe Pourcel won the final round of the East Coast Lites
Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Christophe Pourcel won the final East Coast Lites Supercross race in Jacksonville.
Supercross championship aboard his Pro Circuit Kawasaki KX250F at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida.
At the start of the 15-lap race it was MDK Muscle Milk Racing’s Wil Hahn with the holeshot. Behind was the MotoConcepts Honda of Vince Friese followed by Pourcel.
By Lap 3, the 20-rider field had already spread out with Hahn, Pourcel, Suzuki City’s Chris Clarke, Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Nico Izzi and Star Racing Yamaha’s Broc Tickle leading the charge.
For the next few laps, Pourcel slowly reeled in Hahn eventually making a pass on him on Lap 9. Immediately he opened up a gap and finished the remaining 6 laps without challenge.
Behind however, Tickle tried to make a pass over Izzi for the final podium position. The two riders came together with Tickle crashing. Tickle managed to keep the bike running and quickly re-entered the race.
On the final lap, Izzi came up short on the last triple jump, casing it and sending him into the dirt. He appeared uninjured but was unable to finish the race. His mistake would hand Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Stroupe his third place finish.
Jacksonville Supercross Lites East Coast Race Results:
1. Christopher Pourcel, Kawasaki KX250F
2. Wil Hahn, KTM 250SX-F
3. Austin Stroupe, Kawasaki KX250F
4. Darryn Durham, Yamaha YZ250F
5. Blake Wharton, Honda CRF250R
6. Broc Tickle, Yamaha YZ250F
7. Branden Jesseman, Kawasaki KX250F
8. Matthew Lemoine, Yamaha YZ250F
9. Matthew Goeke, Suzuki RM-Z250
10. Steven Clarke, Suzuki RM-Z250
Supercross Lites East Coast Overall Points:
1. Christophe Pourcel, 181
2. Austin Stroupe, 148
3. Nico Izzi, 119
4. Blake Wharton, 119
5. Branden Jesseman, 105
