AMA-SX: 2010 Anaheim I Results

The defending champion trailed Dungey for the opening 16 laps of the 20-lap race at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif. Stewart trailed by as much as four seconds in the race before pushing his San Manuel Yamaha YZ450F past Dungeys Rockstar Makita Suzuki RMZ450.

Dungey put up a strong challenge on the final lap but was unable to beat the champion to the finish.

I got a little lazy and messed up in the whoops, says Stewart. Ryan (Dungey) got me but I got him right back ... I just stepped up my game and took the win.

Dungey finished second for an impressive beginning to his 450 class career, showing he is capable of running with the likes of Stewart.

I was able to put down some clean laps at the beginning of the race, but I got out of my flow toward the end of the race, says Dungey. You really had to hit your lines good, and if you didnt you couldnt hit the timing sections, and that was pretty important. I think (Stewart) might have messed up at the first of the race, which allowed me to gap him. But then I messed up, which allowed him to get back around me. I tried to make a little effort there at the end, but I just couldnt get it done.

GEICO Powersports Honda s Kevin Windham passed factory Honda rider Andrew Short and Monster Energy Kawasaki s Ryan Villopoto to claim the final podium position.

It was a great day, says Windham. The GEICO Powersports Honda team has done a lot of work in the off-season, and weve got another year under our belt on the new Honda. Things are going great. I was actually pretty content through the race with where I was and how it was going; I thought fifth was going to be respectable and all of a sudden I saw the guys in front of me start making mistakes and I realized that I could do it. I didnt make it about them, I just made it about riding the best I could. Luckily, for me, it worked out to be a podium so I was really excited.

Kept off the podium was Monster Energy Kawasaki's Chad Reed. The 2009 AMA Supercross runner-up was expected to challenge Stewart for the 2010 title. Reed did not finish the first lap, however, as the front spokes of his KX450F were damaged after getting caught on the foot peg of Suzuki's Austin Stroupe.

Despite the opening-race setback, Reed says he still has a chance for the title.

The critics will see a round DNF as a massive blow to my championship but it wont be, says Reed. Remember this is a long championship where anything can happen and everyone will have a bad week. I will just stick to my simple plan which is to win races and let the championship come.

Reed need only look to his rival, Stewart as proof. Stewart finished a disappointing 19th in the 2009 season opener but finished strong to win the championship.

The 2010 AMA Supercross Championship continues Jan. 16 at Chase Field in Phoenix, Ariz.

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