Stewart Fastest At Southwick Qualifying

Shan Moore | August 23, 2008

Not surprisingly, Kawasaki’s James Stewart set the fastest lap in qualifying at Southwick today with a time of 1:57.764. However, GP regular Marc De Reuver turned the second fastest time with a 1:59.785, which was considerably faster than Andrew Short’s 2:01.064.

Cody Cooper rode a Suzuki to a time of 2:01.573, while Team Kawasaki’s Tim Ferry was next with a 2:01.708. Then came Michael Byrne (2:01.923) and Josh Hill (2:02.022), rounding out the top six. Interestingly, all of these times came from the first practice session when the track was much smoother. The course was much rougher in the second session but that didn’t keep Stewart from again posting the fastest time, followed by De Reuver, Ferry, KTM’s Matt Goerke and Short.

Stewart wrapped up the 450 title at last week’s round in Millville, but he is still in pursuit of a perfect season, and tomorrow, at round 11 of the AMA Motocross Series, if things go as they did today, it looks like De Reuver has the best shot at upsetting Stewart’s plans.

In the Lites division, Geico Powersports Honda’s Josh Grant topped the time charts with a 1:59.350, while Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey continues to be on a roll, setting the second fastest time at 2:01.149. Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto came next with a 2:01.573, followed by Honda-mounted Scott Champion (2:01.996) and Kawasaki’s Brett Metcalfe (2:02.996).