Press Release

Stewart Wins in a Tiebreaker at AMA Toyota Motocross in Lakewood

Townley wins fourth of the season in AMA Motocross Lites

LAKEWOOD, Colo. (July 22, 2007) – Kawasaki’s James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., picked up his first win in a tiebreaker at the Toyota Trucks Pro Motocross Nationals Presented by Division 7, round seven of the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Presented by FMF. Kawasaki’s Ben Townley, of Tallahassee, Fla., won his second-consecutive overall and fourth of the season in AMA Motocross Lites.

Stewart finished the day in a rare three-way tie with KTM’s Mike Alessi and Honda’s Andrew Short, but based on official AMA rules, he was awarded the overall victory based on his better finish in the second moto.

Stewart won the hearts of many in the crowd when he returned to race the second moto after riding through obvious pain while finishing fourth in the first AMA Motocross moto. A high-speed crash last week at Unadilla left Stewart’s status for racing at Lakewood in doubt. But the reigning AMA Supercross champ gutted out a second place finish in the final moto to earn the victory, the fourth AMA Motocross win of his career.

“I was sitting back in the motor home when my dad (James Stewart Sr.) said I had more heart than this,” said Stewart, who took over the points lead from Suzuki’s Ricky Carmichael, who has begun the early stages of his retirement. “I got up and started looking at the big picture. I want to win the championship. I’ve rode hurt before, but if it wasn’t for dad, I would not have rode the second moto.”

Alessi, of Victorville, Calif., earned second place overall with a 3-3 moto finish, while Colorado Springs, Colo., native Andrew Short finished third with a 2-4.

Townley has been battling his Kawasaki teammate Ryan Villopoto for much of the season in AMA Motocross Lites, and today’s overall victory came down to the duo who have claimed five of the six wins coming into Lakewood. Villopoto, of Poulsbo, Wash., ran away with the first moto win, while Townley, who had fallen on the opening lap, worked his way up to finish second to keep his title hopes alive.

The second moto was a turn of fate, as this time it was Villopoto who would hit the dirt as Townley shot out to the front. Townley cruised to the second moto win and overall victory. Villopoto worked back to second in the moto and finished second overall on the day. Honda’s Josh Grant, of Riverside, Calif., was third overall with a 3-4 moto finish.

Villopoto and Townley, who entered the event tied in points, remain even atop the standings with 310 points apiece. Grant is in third with 253 points.

The AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Presented by FMF will make its annual visit to Washougal, Wash., for next weekend’s Unbound Energy Washougal National Presented by Snap-On, Scott USA and Yamaha on July 29-29.

AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Presented by FMF
Toyota Trucks Pro Motocross National Presented by Division 7
Thunder Valley Motocross Park – Lakewood, Colo.
July 22, 2007
Round 7 of 12

Motocross (Moto Finish)


  1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 4-2
  2. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM, 3-3
  3. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 2-4
  4. Davi Millsaps, Cairo, Ga., Honda, 1-8
  5. Timmy Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki, 11-1
  6. David Vuillemin, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 8-5
  7. Josh Summey, Stanley, N.C., Honda, 7-7
  8. Gavin Gracyk, Blissfield, Ohio, Honda, 6-10
  9. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda, 5-11
  10. Grant Langston, Clermont, Fla., Yamaha, 10-9

Motocross Class Point Standings


  1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 265
  2. Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 241
  3. Timmy Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki, 239
  4. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 237
  5. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM, 224
  6. Grant Langston, Clermont, Fla., Yamaha, 213
  7. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda, 203
  8. Davi Millsaps, Cairo, Ga., Honda, 172
  9. David Vuillemin, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 164
  10. Gavin Gracyk, Blissfield, Ohio, Honda, 129

Motocross Lites (Moto Finish)


  1. Ben Townley, Tallahassee, Fla., Kawasaki, 2-1
  2. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 1-2
  3. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Honda, 3-4
  4. Jason Lawrence, Murrieta, Ga., Yamaha, 7-3
  5. Brett Metcalfe, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 5-5
  6. Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., KTM, 6-6
  7. Chris Gosselaar, Victorville, Calif., Kawasaki, 10-7
  8. Andrew McFarlane, Newport Beach, Calif., Suzuki, 9-8
  9. Thomas Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda, 8-9
  10. Broc Hepler, Kittanning, Pa., Yamaha, 11-12

Motocross Lites Point Standings


  1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 310
  2. Ben Townley, Tallahassee, Fla., Kawasaki, 310
  3. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Honda, 253
  4. Jason Lawrence, Murrieta, Ga., Yamaha, 246
  5. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 212
  6. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Honda, 141
  7. Thomas Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda, 129
  8. Andrew McFarlane, Newport Beach, Calif., Suzuki, 128
  9. Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha, 121
  10. Kyle Chisholm, Seminole, Fla., Kawasaki, 111

For more information on the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship, presented by FMF, log on to www.amamotocross.com for live timing and scoring at @theWireLIVE!.

Racer X Illustrated will host a new and improved webcast on www.motocross.com, with live racing action hosted by Jason Weigandt. The Racer X Motocross Show on Motocross.com has also been added on Saturday night of each race weekend, featuring practice footage and interviews taken earlier in the day.

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