Stewart, Tomac win AMA Freestone

Originally Published: May 26, 2012
Associated Press

James StewartSimon Cudby/MX SportsJames Stewart won his second consecutive AMA Motocross event of the season Saturday.

WORTHAM, Texas -- James Stewart swept the motos Saturday for his second consecutive 450 Class victory to start the AMA Pro Motocross season, and Eli Tomac dominated the 250 Class at Freestone Raceway.

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Stewart, the Team Yoshimura Suzuki star from Haines City, Fla., raced to his 18th career victory. Red Bull KTM's Ryan Dungey, from Belle Plaine, Minn., was second in both motos.

"I thought my day went good," Stewart said. "It was a tough one, but fun. I got two good starts, made quick passes, and set the tone with a good pace. Ryan rode really well, but I did my own thing out front. I knew he'd be there the whole time. I felt like we were even today and if he had gotten out front, he could have done the same thing."

Stewart extended his championship lead to 14 points over Dungey.

"I got off to good starts in both motos," Dungey said. "I tried to make a pass happen the whole moto, but there was maybe more I should have done. It just didn't come together. James is a tough competitor and it's good for the both of us to push each other to new limits."

In the 250 Class, GEICO Honda's Eli Tomac, from Cortez, Colo., also swept the motos for his second career victory. He recently won the AMA Supercross Western Regional title.

"The last two seasons have been roller-coasters to say the least," Tomac said. "I pretty much ruined my rookie season here (due to the heat), so to come back and get a win is just awesome. I've been doing this for three years and every year you learn the tracks and the bikes more, and I feel like everything is working perfectly now. I didn't get the greatest starts today, but I found some good lines and got a good flow."

Kawasaki's Blake Baggett, from Grand Terrace, Calif., was second in both motos. He leads the standings.

In the Women's Motocross Championship, Honda's Ashley Fiolek, from St. Augustine, Fla., overcame food poisoning for her first victory of the season.

AMA Pro Motocross, Freestone, May 26, 2012: 450 Class

Rank Name
1 James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki (1-1)
2 Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM (2-2)
3 Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki (5-3)
4 Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki (3-6)
5 Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Kawasaki (6-4)
6 Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda (10-5)
7 Tommy Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda (9-7)
8 Brett Metcalfe, Mannum, Australia, Suzuki (13-10)
9 Nico Izzi, Rochester, Mich., Yamaha (4-25)
10 Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ky., Yamaha (8-17)

AMA Pro Motocross, Freestone, May 26, 2012: 250 Class

Rank Name
1 Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda (1-1)
2 Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki (2-2)
3 Ken Roczen, Apolda, Germany, KTM (3-4)
4 Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Suzuki (6-3)
5 Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Honda (4-5)
6 Marvin Musquin, La Reole, France, KTM (5-8)
7 Jessy Nelson, Paso Robles, Calif., Honda (7-9)
8 Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda (12-6)
9 Jake Canada, Sun City, Calif., Honda (8-14)
10 Kyle Cunningham, Fort Worth, Texas, Yamaha (13-12)


Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press

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