Stewart, Grant Lead Saturday Practice from Southwick

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Stewart and Grant On Top After Saturday Practice and Qualifying at Kicker Audio Southwick Motocross National

SOUTHWICK, Mass. (August 23, 2008) – Sunny conditions and a manicured sand track greeted the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Presented by FMF on Saturday at Motocross 338 for practice and qualifying for the Kicker Audio Southwick Motocross National. Newly crowned AMA Motocross Champion James Stewart, of Monster Energy Kawasaki, and Geico Powersports Honda’s Josh Grant paced the field in their respective classes after two rounds of on-track activity.

James Stewart - Credit VitalMx.com.

Stewart’s fastest lap came in the first session of the day, with a blistering 1:57.764. His time bested second place, Red Bull Honda’s Marc De Reuver, by two seconds with a 1:59.785. The two riders were the only class competitors to break the two-minute barrier.


"Today was good," said Stewart. "The track is rough and I'm riding really hard. I'm just looking to get two more moto wins."


De Reuver, a competitor in the World GP series, is making a one-race trip to the US. Red Bull Honda’s Andrew Short rounded out the top three with a time of 2:01.064.

Josh Grant - Credit VitalMX.com.

In the AMA Motocross Lites class, Grant led all his competitors for the second time this season. He posted the only time under two minutes in the first session of the day at 1:59.350.


Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, gunning for his third consecutive overall victory, was second with a time of 2:01.149. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto, who won his third straight AMA Motocross Lites Championship last weekend, rounded out the top three at 2:01.573.


Sunday’s main event action for the Kicker Audio Southwick Motocross National kicks off at 1 p.m. ET. In addition to live audio coverage, streaming video from SPEED of the first motos can be found at live.motocross.com. SPEED will televise the final motos with same day coverage, beginning at 6 p.m. ET.

Jessica Patterson - Credit VitalMx.com.

In the first moto of the AMA/WMA Women’s Motocross National Championship Presented by Kawasaki, American Honda/Honda of Houston/Fox Racing/Bad Boy Energy Drink’s Jessica Patterson took the win, overcoming points leader Ashley Fiolek, of American Honda/Red Bull/Alpinestars, who took the Meterman Holeshot Award. Zip Ty Racing/Malcolm Smith Suzuki/Accelerade’s Sherri Cruse grabbed third.


The gates drop on the final moto of the AMA/WMA Women’s Motocross National Championship tomorrow at 10:40 a.m.


Motocross Class Saturday Practice

1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 1:57.764

2. Marc De Reuver, Netherlands, Honda, 1:59.785

3. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 2:01.064

4. Cody Cooper, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 2:01.573

5. Tim Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki, 2:01.708

6. Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga., Suzuki, 2:01.923

7. Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha, 2:02.022

8. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., KTM, 2:02.716

9. Matt Goerke, Lake Helen, Fla., KTM, 2:02.723

10. Kyle Tobin, Climax, Ga., Honda, 2:02.895

Motocross Lites Saturday Practice

1. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Honda, 1:59.350

2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 2:01.149

3. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 2:01.573

4. Scott Champion, Temecula, Calif., Honda, 2:01.996

5. Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Kawasaki, 2:02.177

6. Jake Moss, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha, 2:02.960

7. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Honda, 2:03.105

8. Martin Barr, Great Britain, Yamaha, 2:03.139

9. Steven Clarke, Cairo, Ga., Suzuki, 2:03.164

10. Stephen Stella, Westminster, Md., Kawasaki, 2:03.239

AMA/WMA Women’s Motocross National Championship Presented by Kawasaki

1. Jessica Patterson, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda

2. Ashley Fiolek, St. Augustine, Fla., Honda

3. Sherri Cruse, Bakersfield, Calif., Suzuki

4. Marissa Markelon, Shelton, Conn., Yamaha

5. Sarah Whitmore, Cheboygan, Mich., Suzuki

6. Tarah Gieger, Vero Beach, Fla., Yamaha

7. Kimberly Kocher, Paris, Ohio, KTM

8. Elizabeth Bash, Riverside, Calif., Kawasaki

9. Ayla Cabus, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha

10. Brittany Gagne, Dummer, N.H., Suzuki