Stewart Returns To Dallas As Top Series Rider

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (March 27, 2007) – Two years ago at the Dallas Supercross a teenaged James Stewart broke through to earn his first AMA Supercross victory. That win was one of the most impressive demonstrations of the awesome talent the young Kawasaki ace possessed. This Saturday, March 31, Stewart, now 21, returns to Texas Stadium, but instead of coming to Dallas as the up-and-comer he was two years ago, Stewart has established himself as the marquee star in the Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series.

Stewart is coming off perhaps the most thrilling race of his career last weekend in Indianapolis. Caught in traffic in the first corner and forced to the rear of the 21-rider pack in the 20-lap final, Stewart came roaring back to catch leader Chad Reed and score his third win in a row and ninth in 12 races leading up to this weekend’s race in Dallas. The Indy victory pushed Stewart’s lead over L&M Yamaha’s Reed to 32 points. It also marked Stewart’s 20th AMA Supercross win.

“That might be one of the best races of my career,” Stewart said after his come-from-behind win in Indianapolis. “Being that far back I was trying to be optimistic. If I’d gotten up to second I would have been happy, but getting first was icing on the cake. Like an NFL team in the Super Bowl I was pulling out every trick play in the book to win that one.”

A victory in Dallas would move Stewart past Hall of Famer Jeff Ward into sole possession of sixth on the all-time AMA Supercross wins list.

Texas Stadium is one of the historic venues in AMA Supercross, with the first series race held there in 1975. A Who’s Who of AMA Supercross riders have won at the stadium, located in the Dallas suburb of Irving. With just four rounds remaining the hopes of Reed catching Stewart in the series points are running short, but Reed comes into this weekend’s race with the confidence of three wins in Texas Stadium.

“I was a little bummed that I wasn’t more aggressive to hold the lead in Indy,” Reed said. “I just need to find myself in better positions when getting through lappers. I still feel like I can challenge, I just have to clean up a couple of mistakes in my riding. Now I just need to pull through at the end.”

Reed has the opportunity Saturday to become the first four-time winner of the Dallas Supercross.

While Stewart has established control in the Supercross class, the battle is heating up in the AMA Supercross Lites East Series. Boost Mobile Yamaha’s Ryan Morais is riding under the radar and has quietly kept himself atop the Lites East standings with a series of top-five finishes. In Indy Morais worked his way through the field and made some smart passes late in the race to score a fourth, and with it a good load of championship points.

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Ben Townley chipped away at Morais’ lead with a second to Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey in Indy and is only 10 points down in the standings with just two rounds remaining.

“I’m a racer, I want to win,” said Townley, a former Motocross World Champion. “I hope I can come out swinging in Dallas and climb up in the points.”

The Amp'd Mobile AMA Supercross Series round from Texas Stadium will air on SPEED, Sunday, April 1, at 6:00 pm eastern.

Tickets for the Dallas Supercross are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, the Texas Stadium Box Office, select participating Yamaha dealers or charge by phone at 214-373-8000 or 972-647-5700. Gates open at 12:30 pm for the Pit Party and for fans to watch practice and qualifying. A special Family Section is also available for non-alcoholic family fun. When ordering tickets through Ticketmaster, request Family Section for an alcohol-free family atmosphere.