The Oakland round of the 2011 Supercross Series got off to rough start for Bell Rider James Stewart (L&M/San Manuel Yamaha), after a pair of get-offs during the first practice session that had the entire stadium wondering how bad the diggers were. Rumors reached a fever pitch when the 2009 Supercross Champ sat out the second practice session, but the word from Stewart’s camp was that everything was A-OK and James was just saving himself for the evening program. It’s a strategy that paid off as Stewart went on to win both his heat race and the main event in convincing fashion, taking the series lead and sending a message that he is indeed back.
Fellow 450 Bell Rider Justin Brayton (JGR/Toyota/Muscle Milk Yamaha) also won his heat race–one that was stacked with top riders reigning champ Ryan Dungey, then series leader Ryan Villopoto, Chad Reed and Kevin Windham. Unfortunately Justin was unable to take the momentum into the main event as he cross-rutted on a wet, slimy triple and went down pretty hard and went from top-five contention to dead last. After shaking it off and re-mounting Justin was able to make up a couple places and finish 18th. While he’s yet to put it all together in one night, JB has shown flashes of greatness that will undoubtedly pay off soon.
In his first race back since suffering a knee injury days before A1, Daniel Reardon edged out his JDR Motorsport/J-Star Motors KTM teammate Tye Simmonds for the final transfer spot in the Supercross LCQ. Reardon would go on to finish 16th in the main event–not a bad result given the rough start to his season
In the Lites class, JDR’s Ryan Marmont won the lites LCQ and finished 10th in the main event.
- Squibbs Media
