LOS ANGELES, CA (March 16, 2009) - Team San Manuel Yamaha's James Stewart captured his eighth win of the 2009 Monster Energy AMA Supercross series, an FIM World Championship Saturday night at the Superdome in New Orleans. Although the AMA Supercross series had not been to the Superdome in seven years, close to 40,000 fans packed the stadium for the eleventh round of action and for the 11th week in a row continued his perfect "Heat Win" streak taking first in Heat Race 2 for the direct transfer to the Main. Teammate Kyle Chisholm ran Heat Race 2 as well and finished 8th for the direct transfer to the New Orleans main event.
Stewart grabbed the holeshot and never looked back. The absolute only rider to consistently triple, triple the most technically difficult triple, back-to-back whoop section, Stewart had moved into a 3.8 second lead by lap 7. Even encountering lapped traffic on lap 11, Stewart continued to pull out in front of the pack with a 7.1 second lead on lap 17 before taking the checkered flag. Team San Manuel teammate Kyle Chisholm, qualifying for his seventh Main event of his rookie season, finished 19th.
"Well tonight it was about me and staying up! Very tough, slippery track especially those whoops! But, I knew I had to get a win tonight...it was a good night, no excuses tonight," said Stewart. "Gotta give love to Team San Manuel Yamaha, Red Bull, Oakley, Answer and Bell and Nike, it is all coming together for me."
Team San Manuel Yamaha Highlights/Daytona - Round 11 -
James Stewart - Number 7, YZ 450F - Event Finish: FIRST
Kyle Chisholm - Number 38, YZ 450F - Event Finish: 19th
James Stewart - Heat Race #2 - 1st
Kyle Chisholm - Heat race #2 - 8th
James Stewart - Season to Date: 8 wins; 1- 2nd; 1-7th; 1 - 19th
Kyle Chisholm - Season to Date: 1-9th; 1-13th; 2-14th; 1-16th; 1-17t;; 1-19th;
James Stewart - Championship Points - 238 Kyle Chisholm - Championship Points - 45
About Team San Manuel
Team San Manuel is a unique partnership between the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and L&M Racing, LLC, with the sole purpose of reaching out to Native and non-Native communities and sharing with them the value of perseverance and dedication. Building a winning team comprised of top-notch talent and community service, Team San Manuel honors the Serrano belief of caring for our community. (www.sanmanuelracing.com)
About the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians
The San Manuel Band of Serrano Mission Indians is a federally recognized American Indian tribe located near the city of Highland, California. The Serrano Indians are the indigenous people of the San Bernardino highlands, passes, valleys and mountains who share a common language and culture. The San Manuel reservation was established in 1891 and recognized as a sovereign nation with the right of self-government. Despite challenges and hardships, the San Manuel tribal community has continued to progressively maintain and enhance its unique form of government - focusing all efforts on providing a better quality of life for its citizens. Through economic diversification, both on and off the reservation, the tribe has been forward thinking in its efforts to build infrastructure, maintain civil services and promote social, economic, educational and governmental units including the departments of fire, public safety, education and environment and continues to pursue opportunities for future generations.