Sign of the (Lap) Times: Las Vegas

May 8, 2007, 10:45am

AMA SX

Finish	Best Lap Time	Rider	Bike
1	1:06.383	James Stewart	Kawasaki
2	1:07.414	Chad Reed	Yamaha
3	1:07.769	Kevin Windham	Honda
6	1:07.894	Tim Ferry	Kawasaki
4	1:08.525	Ivan Tedesco	Suzuki
21	1:08.839	Davi Millsaps	Honda
5	1:08.981	Andrew Short	Honda
7	1:09.579	David Vuillemin	Honda
19	1:09.629	Grant Langston	Yamaha
8	1:10.558	Josh Summey	Honda
10	1:10.566	Michael Byrne	Suzuki
9	1:11.289	Heath Voss	Honda
11	1:11.462	Brock Sellards	Honda
12	1:11.537	Jason Thomas	Honda
13	1:11.714	Paul Carpenter	Kawasaki
15	1:12.212	Kyle Lewis	Honda
16	1:12.258	Keith R. Johnson	Yamaha
14	1:12.345	Ryan Clark	Honda
20	1:12.500	Robbie Reynard	Honda
17	1:12.946	Jeff Gibson	Kawasaki

Both titles were already wrapped up, and it was just a weekend to relax and cherish the moment in Las Vegas. So how does Monster Energy Kawasaki’s James Stewart handle having no pressure? He goes out and again lays down the fastest time of the night. In fact, his fastest lap time was more than a full second faster than that of Chad Reed, who had the second fastest time. Stewart’s performance Saturday night was the exclamation point on a dominant 2007 Amp’d Mobile Supercross season. We’re officially in the new era of supercross—the James Stewart Era.
The battle for the two remaining podium positions has really tightened up lately. Second through fourth were separated by less than a half second. That’s close! Makita Suzuki’s Ivan Tedesco was also able to step it up a bit in Vegas, recording the fifth-fastest lap time.

Kevin has stepped it up

Biggest surprise: We’re going with Kevin Windham. He has really picked it up the past few weeks, and he’s making a legitimate run at Chad Reed for that second step on the podium. It’s a good way to finish up the series for K-Dub, before moving outdoors, where he’s a lot more comfortable. He could be on the box every time this summer.

AMA SX Lites

The battle of AMA SX Lites supremacy went to East Region rider Ryan Dungey, on his Makita Suzuki RM-Z250. The rookie jumped into the lead after the first two turns, and, after banging bars with Team Yamaha’s Josh Hill a few laps later, Dungey went on to win his fourth main event of the season, recording the fastest lap time in the process.

Finish	Best Lap Time	Rider	Bike
1	1:08.781	Ryan Dungey	Suzuki
4	1:08.899	Jason Lawrence	Yamaha
2	1:09.112	Jake Weimer	Honda
20	1:09.303	Josh Hill	Yamaha
5	1:09.533	Tommy Hahn	Honda
3	1:09.543	Martin Davalos	KTM
12	1:09.574	Branden Jesseman	Yamaha
6	1:09.725	Josh Grant	Honda
8	1:10.377	Ryan Morais	Yamaha
9	1:10.416	Darcy Lange	Kawasaki
17	1:10.479	Josh Hansen	KTM
7	1:10.837	Chris Gosselaar	Kawasaki
10	1:11.020	Justin Brayton	Yamaha
11	1:11.173	Billy Laninovich	Honda
18	1:11.775	Kyle Partridge	Honda
19	1:12.295	Matt Goerke	Yamaha
15	1:12.333	Troy Adams	Suzuki
14	1:12.415	Jeff Alessi	KTM
16	1:13.422	Robert Kiniry	Kawasaki
13	1:13.473	Steve Boniface	Kawasaki

The second fastest Lites rider in Vegas was a west coast racer—Jason Lawrence—who grew up on the east coast (New Jersey). Unfortunately, J-Law didn’t get the best of starts and had to work his way up through the pack to finish fourth.

Jake Weimer was very fast in Vegas

Biggest surprise: We have to give major props here to SoBe No Fear/Samsung Mobile Honda’s Jake Weimer. The Idaho-native had a pretty quiet, yet consistent, 2007 campaign, where he finished fourth overall in the Western region. His highest previous finish this season was a third, in San Francisco, and he remained consistent all year long. Weimer really shined in Vegas, though, recording the third-fastest lap time on his way to his best career finish of second. Well done, Jake!