Malcolm Stewart captured his first ever Supercross win at Oakland. Photography by Shan Moore
After 36 career starts, GEICO Honda’s Malcolm Stewart finally captured his first 250 Supercross win and it came at Oakland’s O.com Coliseum during the fourth round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series. Stewart took full advantage of a crash by early leader Justin Hill and bad starts by series point leader Cooper Webb and opening-round winner Jessy Nelson.
Zach Bell, on the Rockstar Energy Racing Husqvarna, got things started in the main event by pulling the holeshot before getting passed on lap one by Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Chris Alldredge. Stewart was right behind, followed by the Cycle Trader/Rock River Yamaha of Alex Martin and the Red Bull/KTM of Hill. Webb came around in 10th, while Nelson was dead last at the end of lap one.
Hill went on a tear, moving into the lead on lap four, while Alldredge worked his way back after a couple of crashes, one of which was bad enough to put him out of the race for the second weekend in a row.
Hill was pulling away, but he went down all alone on lap seven, handing Stewart the lead, with Martin and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Tyler Bowers chasing. Webb was the man on the move, though, as he was picking off riders one by one in his march to the front.
With Stewart on cruise control up front, Webb capped off another come-from-behind main event with an impressive second place, but it came after another incident with Bowers along the way.
Earlier in the race, while trying to pass Zach Bell in a turn, Bowers slammed into his off-track friend on the inside of a turn, putting Webb to the ground. Webb got up and continued his march to the front, which included passing Bowers and making a late move on Martin to grab that second place. Webb made it clear on the podium that he was not happy what had transpired between he and Bowers.
“I didn’t get the start that I wanted, but I worked my way through, but then Bowers sawed my front end off,” said Webb.
But the man of the hour was first-time winner Stewart.
“This is a big moment for me,” Stewart said. “First of all, I want to thank my brother. I knew I could do it, and tonight it finally paid off.”
Martin held on to third for his best finish of his career, followed by Bowers and Bell.
Webb extended his points lead in the 250 West Series to eight over Bowers, with Nelson 15 points back in third.
Stewart holds down sixth in the standings.
RESULTS
1. Malcolm Stewart (Hon)
2. Cooper Webb (Yam)
3. Alex Martin (Yam)
4. Tyler Bowers (Kaw)
5. Zach Bell (Hus)
6. Zach Osborne (Hus)
7. Aaron Plessinger (Yam)
8. Josh Hansen (Kaw)
9. Justin Hill (Kaw)
10. Jessy Nelson (KTM)
11. Shane McElrath (Hon)
12. Zachery Freeberg (Yam)
13. Scott Champion (Yam)
14. Jackson Richardson (Hon)
15. Cole Martinez (Yam)
16. Tommy Hahn (Hon)
17. Austin Politelli (Yam)
18. Trevor Reis (Yam)
19. Brandon Scharer (Suz)
20. Nico Izzi (Yam)
21. Chris Alldredge (Kaw)
22. Aaron Simince (Kaw)
POINTS STANDINGS
1. Cooper Webb (86)
2. Tyler Bowers (78)
3. Jessy Nelson (71)
4. Zach Osborne (69)
5. Justin Hill (65)
6. Malcolm Stewart (64)
7. Aaron Plessinger (54)
8. Shane McElrath (49)
9. Alex Martin (47)
10. Josh Hansen (47)
