“THIS IS THE BEST RACE I’VE HAD IN A WHILE,” SAID JAMES STEWART
Filed under: MX News
Kawasaki rider James Stewart returned to action by posting two podium finishes as the 2005 AMA/Motocross Series returned to Budds Creek this past weekend. Stewart scored a second-place finish in the first moto and a third-place finish in the second …
Kawasaki 6/20/2005
KAWASAKI COVERS THE PODIUM AT BUDDS CREEK
Stewart goes 2-3 in 250; Tedesco goes 2-2 in 125
BUDDS CREEK, MD. (JUNE 19, 2005) – Team Kawasaki rider James Stewart returned to 250 action by posting two podium finishes as the 2005 AMA/Motocross Series returned to Budds Creek Raceway this past weekend. The 19-year-old Floridian scored a second-place finish in the first moto and a third-place finish in the second moto, and thus earned third overall for the weekend.
250
In the first moto, Stewart started in sixth and blasted his Kawasaki KX™250 into second place before the end of the first lap. Stewart made a formidable effort to reel-in leader Ricky Carmichael throughout the course of the 14-lap moto, but remained in second for the duration of the race. Stewart’s teammate Michael Byrne started in 12th and moved up to eighth on lap six, a position he held until he passed the checkered flag.
In the second moto, Stewart launched his KX250 off the line and quickly advanced into third place before the opening lap was complete. Stewart charged forward for the remainder of the moto, finishing in third and thus scoring third overall for the event. Michael Byrne started in seventh and remained consistent for the duration of the moto, crossing the finish line in seventh. Byrne would also be credited with seventh overall for the weekend. Stewart’s pair of podium finishes propelled him from ninth to sixth in the overall 250 point standings.
“This is the best race I’ve had in a while,” said Stewart. “I had to work real hard out there, but I felt good and I feel confident going into Red Bud.”
125
In the first moto, Team Monster/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Ivan Tedesco got the best start of his teammates and rounded the first turn in third. Tedesco dropped into fourth on the second lap but held his position for 12 laps with his teammate Grant Langston close behind in fifth. On the second-to-last lap, Andrew Short, who was running in second place, got tangled up with Broc Hepler and the pair went down. The mishap left the door open for Tedesco and Langston to move into second and third, respectfully, where they finished. Paul Carpenter rounded out the top ten and Matt Walker finished 12th.
The second 125 moto began with Tedesco making a formidable charge toward the front after starting in third, with Walker close behind him in fourth. The pair would battle back and forth until Tedesco passed Mike Alessi with only three laps to go. Tedesco held his position to capture second-place for the moto and thus second overall for the weekend, and Walker finished in fifth place. Carpenter crossed the finish line in 13th and Langston was forced to settle for a disappointing 19th after he stalled his bike with two laps remaining. Langston had originally moved up from 11th place to eighth before the mishap occurred.
“I felt really good today and my Kawasaki ran great, so it was a good day overall,” said Tedesco. “I think I needed a little more outdoor riding following the Supercross series, but lately I’ve been working really hard and it’s paid off.”
Tedesco’s pair of second-place finishes puts him at second in the overall 125 point standings. Langston moves to fifth with Walker in ninth. Carpenter sits just outside the top ten in 11th.
Team Kawasaki and Team Monster/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki move on to round five, July 3, at Red Bud Track-N-Trail Raceway in Buchanan, Mich.