For the second consecutive week, Yamaha’s Josh Hill finished on the Supercross podium, moving up to a second place finish at Anaheim 2. While teammate and current Supercross Champion, James Stewart finished third. After more than a solid week of record level rainfall in Southern California, Round 3 of the 2010 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, started Saturday afternoon with clear skies and a remarkably dry track.
Before a crowd of die-hard race fans, enduring rare chilly 40-degree evening temps at Anaheim 2 (Angel Stadium), both Stewart and Hill ran Heat Race #1 of the evening providing an uncanny preview of what the evening’s Main event would bring. With fans on their feet, Stewart led the Heat race while Hill moved his way up from a 4th place start to pass Stewart on lap 6 – Heat Race #1 finish – Hill 1st and Stewart 2nd.
Although coming off of a week of intensive physical therapy due to the jarring crash suffered in Phoenix just last weekend, Stewart looked strong in the Main and was quick off the start to take the lead on the first turn of lap 1, Hill running 4th. By lap 5, Hill had moved into second just behind Stewart and passed Stewart to take the lead on lap 6. An exciting, thrill-a-minute race to watch although being run on deep rutted track due to the past week’s soaking, Team San Manuel Yamaha’s Hill and Stewart ran 1st and 2nd until lap 13 when Ryan Dungey passed the two to take the lead, ultimately finishing the 20-lap race in that order.
Josh Hill Speaks…
“I really just tried to run my own race and I think this is the fastest race I’ve ever run!” “I gotta say these past 2 weekends have been real confidence builders for me and working with Larry Brooks and Team San Manuel – I don’t think there could be a better place for me right now!”
Visibly in pain and certainly extremely sore James Stewart conceded, “After about lap 8 it was hard to even hold on. I gave it my best…but Ryan and Josh rode great races.”
Team Yamaha Supercross Season Highlights (Anaheim 2 – Round 3)
James Stewart – Season to Date: 1st; 15th; 3rd
Josh Hill – Season to Date: 6th; 3rd; 2nd
James Stewart – 5th in Championship Points: 51
Josh Hill – 2nd in Championship Points: 57
