Pontiac is shaping up to be another James Stewart show.
Practice finished up today in the Pontiac Silver Dome in Pontiac, Michigan for round 13 of the THQ AMA Supercross Series and although no timing transponders were used, it appeared to most that Team Kawasaki’s Stewart is going to have a successful night tomorrow. He was the first one to find a new way through a challenging rhythm section, and he rode with Makita Suzuki’s Ricky Carmichael for a while before slowly pulling away.
Stewart garnered his first win of the season, and the first 250cc win of his career, last weekend in Dallas, Texas and since then his team says that the pressure he felt previously is off.
As for Stewart’s teammate Michael Byrne, who got his first ever 250 podium this year, he will more than likely be out until the outdoor season begins. His bike, however, still is sitting under the Team Kawasaki tent.
Series points leader Carmichael was on Stewart’s pace all day and is looking to just stay consistent tomorrow to keep his healthy lead alive. Team Yamaha’s Chad Reed, however, wants to cut into that points lead. Last week in Dallas, Reed ran second until a fall on the last lap dropped him to third and allowed Carmichael to cruise to second. After Dallas, Reed is down 31 points to Carmichael.
In the 125cc class, championship contenders Team Monster/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Grant Langston, Team KTM’s Josh Hansen and Team Makita Suzuki’s Davi Millsaps all looked fast out on the track today. Langston and Hansen even hooked up and circulated the course together. Needless to say, it will be interesting tomorrow night. Only seven points separate the two riders, with Millsaps just 10 points down from the lead position.
Tomorrow the rider’s meeting is slated for 11:45 a.m. with practice starting shortly after. The night program begins as usual at 7 p.m.
