James Stewart gets the hatrick…Houyston Supercross
Kawasaki Racing Team is Victorious in Houston
Press Release Issued By Kawasaki Media Relations (March 31, 2006)
HOUSTON (April 1, 2006) - It is obvious that Houston has been very good to Kawasaki Racing Team rider James Stewart. The 20-year-old Floridian successfully defended his Supercross title at Reliant Stadium before a crowd of 47,389 fans Saturday night and became the first rider since Ricky Carmichael in 2002 to win back-to-back races in Houston. The win also tied Stewart with Carmichael for the Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP championship. Team Monster/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Chris Gosselaar captured third-place in the Supercross Lites main event, and in doing so, finished second-place overall in the series.
Stewart began the evening by remaining undefeated in heat races this season. Stewart’s teammate, Michael Byrne, got the holeshot to start the eight-lap qualifier but Stewart moved into the lead on lap three and gained a substantial lead over the field before taking the checkered flag. Byrne got crossed-up in the whoops on lap six and went down. As a result, he was forced to race in the semi-qualifier where he took the lead straight out of the gate and punched his ticket to the main event with a win.
In the main event, Byrne launched his KX450F out of the gate to take his second holeshot of the evening before Stewart moved by him only three turns later and pulled away from the field. Stewart was so dominant aboard his KX450F that he had a six-second gap on the field by the second lap and maintained his lead throughout the 20-lap feature while Byrne rounded out the top five.
“I’m having a blast out there,” said Stewart. “I’m pumped to tie-up the points for the world championship, and if I want to have a shot at winning the AMA championship, I need to win races. My Kawasaki ran great and I had a great pace out there tonight, so this win feels good.”
In Supercross Lites action, Team Monster/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Chris Gosselaar posted another consistent performance in the main event to finish on the podium. Gosselaar started the 15-lap feature in fifth before moving into third-place after four laps where he held his position until the checkered flag. Teddy Maier finished eighth while his Richmond Kawasaki teammate Donnie Mcgourty finished 19th.
The Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP / Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series takes a two-week hiatus before heading to Texas Stadium in Dallas, April 22nd for the 14th stop on the 18-race series.
Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP Season Standings:
1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki KX450F, 308
2. Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Suzuki, 308
3. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha, 287
4. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 243
5. Nicholas Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Honda, 230
6. Michael Byrne, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki KX450F, 227
7. Ryan Clark, Waddell, Ariz., Honda, 162
8. Jeff Gibson, Blacklick, Ohio,, Honda, 160
9. Jason Thomas, Melrose, Fla., Honda, 159
10. Tyler Evans, Corona, Calif., Suzuki, 116
Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series Event Results, Houston
1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki KX450F
2. Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Suzuki
3. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha
4. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda
5. Michael Byrne, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki KX450F
6. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
7. Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Honda
8. Nicholas Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Honda
9. Tim Ferry, Largo, Fla., Honda
10. Ryan Clark, Waddell, Ariz., Honda
Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series Season Standings
1. Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 281
2. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha, 269
3. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki KX450F, 264
4. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 209
5. Nicholas Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Honda, 198
6. Michael Byrne, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki KX450F, 197
7. Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Honda, 160
8. Ernesto Fonseca, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 125
9. Mike LaRocco, Corona, Calif., Honda, 108
10. Tim Ferry, Dade City, Fla., Honda, 108
Amp’d Mobile Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Event Results, Houston
1. Davi Millsaps, Cairo, Ga., Honda
2. Thomas Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda
3. Christopher Gosselaar, Victorville, Calif., Kawasaki KX250F
4. Jay Marmont, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
5. Matt Goerke, Lake Helen Fla., Yamaha
6. Josh Summey, Stanley, N.C., Honda
7. Kelly Smith, Ludington, Mich., Honda
8. Teddy Maier, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Kawasaki KX250F
9. Sean Hamblin, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
10. Josh Woods, Flints, Mich., Suzuki
v Amp’d Mobile Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Season Standings
1. Davi Millsaps, Cairo, Ga., Honda, 166
2. Chris Gosselaar, Victorville, Calif., Kawasaki KX250F, 134
3. Joshua Grant, Riverside, Calif., Honda, 119
4. Thomas Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda, 102
5. Jesseman, New Brighton, Pa., Yamaha, 96
6. Kelly Smith, Ludington, Mich., Honda, 81
7. Robert Kiniry, Lafayette, N.Y., Honda, 75
8. Teddy Maier, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Kawasaki KX250F, 61
9. Martin Davalos, Cairo, Ga., Honda, 60
10. Jay Marmont, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 54
