AMA-SX: Two Yamahas in LA top five‏

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