James Stewart was the class of the field Saturday night at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, Calif., leading wire-to-wire to earn his first Monster Energy Supercross victory of the season.
The two-time series Champion worked his way into first on the opening lap and held off reigning Champion Ryan Villopoto to lead all 20 laps and pick up his first win in nearly one year.
“It is always special to win, but especially this season,” Stewart said. “Tonight was our military-themed race, and everyone here was one big family. This was an amazing race, and I look forward to heading to Cowboys Stadium next weekend.”
Behind the leaders, a three-way battle for the final podium spot unfolded between Ken Roczen, Chad Reed and Ryan Dungey. Unfortunately, Reed crashed in the whoop section after making contact with Roczen’s rear wheel.
Reed, a two-time winner in 2014, was immediately tended to by the Asterisk Medical team with focus on his right shoulder and wrist. He finished 12th.
Roczen was not phased by the contact and went on to finish third ahead of his Red Bull KTM teammate Dungey and Weston Peick.
The series now heads East to Arlington, Texas, where Villopoto holds a nine point lead over Roczen. Reed drops to third, 15 behind Villopoto.
