Stewart Quickest In Anaheim Supercross Qualifying

Kit Palmer | January 8, 2011

ANAHEIM, CA, JAN. 8 –

The opening round of the 2011 Monster Energy Supercross Series is officially underway at Angel Stadium of Anaheim and, so far, there have been some surprises following timed qualifying in both classes.In the Supercross (450cc) class, San Manual Yamaha’s James Stewart has posted the quickest lap time of the day, but he has close company. The 2009 Supercross champ, Stewart, reeled off a 57.634-second time around the fairly technical Anaheim track, but right him is Team Honda’s Trey Canard, with a 58.525, and TwoTwo Motorsports Honda’s Chad Reed, with a 58.574.And what about the defending champ, Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey? Well, he’s fourth-fastest but still right behind both Canard and Reed with a 58.809. Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto is next best with a 59.007, and he’s followed closely by JGR/Muscle Milk/Toyota Yamaha’s Justin Brayton, Hart & Huntington Kawasaki’s Ivan Tedesco, MotoConcepts Yamaha Tommy Hahn, Team Honda’s Josh Grant, GEICO Honda’s Kevin Windham, Red Bull KTM’s Andrew Short and MotoConcepts Yamaha Kyle Chisholm.New Rockstar/Makita Suzuki team member Brett Metcalfe is next, followed by JGR/Muscle Milk Yamaha’s Davi Millsaps and Valli Motorsports Yamaha’s Austin Stroupe.Andrew Short, on the KTM 350 SX-F, is about 2.5 seconds behind Stewart, while his teammate Mike Alessi is about four seconds back.Sixteen-year-old Ken Roczen of Germany startled the lites class contenders by recording the quickest time in just his first AMA Supercross. Roczen, on the Red Bull KTM, is also in close company, as the next two-fastest riders are within a second of him.Martin Davalos, on the Rockstar Energy/Suzuki, and Monster/Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Josh Hansen are both within a second of the German ace.Hansen’s teammate Brock Tickle is fourth fastest, followed by DNA/Shred Stix Yamaha Kyle Cunningham, GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Tyla Rattray and Troy Lee Designs Honda’s Christian Craig.So far, the opening round is going smoothly and the weather is cooperating. Despite overcast and cool conditions, there is no threat of rain, but maybe a light drizzle before the night is over.A couple of riders suffered injuries in practice today. Lites-class rider Wil Hahn, on the GEICO Honda, fell during practice and will not compete tonight with a back injury, and Jimmy Albertson fell and reportedly broke his leg.