The track was the toughest obstacle tonight, and James Stewart was the toughest man on it, as the San Manuel Red Bull Yamaha rider got the lead on the first lap and took off. Ivan Tedesco got the holeshot, Chad Reed and Stewart challenged him and then briefly battled for the lead before Stewart pulled away.
Kevin Windham then got into the mix, meanwhile, Ryan Villopoto and Ryan Dungey were down in turn one. Mike Alessi even made a run, passing Windhm for third and even closing on Reed. But the 800 started making mistakes, Windham struck back and held third. Late in the game, Villopoto and Dungey had gotten to 4th and 5th and then with two laps to go, while running second, Reed went over the bars hard with a big crash. Windham passed him for second, and Reed got up right in front of Villopoto. The battled hard on the last lap, pushing on each other, and then eventually Villopoto got cross rutted and went down. He took fourth, Dungey fifth, Reed third, Windham second and Stewart took his second win in a row.
Unofficially, Stewart has 284 points, Dungey 286, 287 for reed and 293 for Villopoto.
In the Lites class, Lucas Oil Troy Lee Designs Honda’s Cole Seely has proven his win in Los Angeles was no fluke, he grabbed the holeshot and completely checked out on his way to a dominant win. Behind him the championship scenario stirred, as Broc Tickle and Josh Hansen were second and third. Then Hansen, who had crashed and hurt his hand badly again in practice, started to drop back in pain. Tickle was left alone in second until Eli Tomac charged through the pack to catch and pass him. Tomac took second and Tickle third, Hansen went as far back as seventh before passing Ryan Morias back on the last lap to finish sixth.
Tickle takes the points lead with Hansen and Tomac right behind him