Sacramento, CA - May 16, 2004
By Steve Cox

Chevy Trucks Kawasaki’s James Stewart did as he was expected to do at the Hangtown AMA/Chevrolet National Motocross Championships opener: He won both motos. However, it was the relative size of the lead in the motos that was the story, as Pro Circuit/Kawasaki/Chevy Trucks’ Stephane Roncada kept him honest in the first moto to stay within 10 seconds of Stewart, and then battled it out with him throughout moto two.

" It was a lot of fun today," Roncada said. "Two perfect starts, and in the first one Bubba passed me in the right and left and took off. In the second moto, I got another good start, and after he passed me the first time, I tried and make a race. It was really fun for me, and it was a good challenge."

Stewart was less enthused, even though he won both motos.

" You know, I actually got a really good jump today in both motos, but I sunk down in the sand," Stewart said. "The last couple of weekends, with Vegas and everything, have been four-stroke tracks, so I don’t know. I feel like I’ve got a good bike. I got arm pump all day. The second moto, first lap, my hands cramped up, so I wasn’t feeling my bike a lot. Hopefully we can get it fixed before Mt. Morris."

Amsoil/Chaparral Honda’s Josh Grant got the holeshot in the first moto, and to almost everyone’s surprise, he began to quickly pull away – that is, until lap three, when he tipped over in a turn and stalled his CRF250R and could not restart it.

That gave the lead to Stewart, who raced away with the win in front of Roncada, who came through the pack impressively.

Moto two saw Roncada get out front early, and Stewart quickly moved in behind him with Suzuki’s Broc Hepler in tow. The three quickly gapped the field, with Stewart and Roncada swapping the lead numerous times before they dropped Hepler. The two Kawasaki pilots went at it for much of the moto before a couple of mistakes caused Roncada to lose just enough time to not be a threat for a pass, and the race was over. Stewart raced on to the win.

" Last time I raced here I got arm pump, but this is the worse ever," Stewart said.

Roncada was more enthusiastic about his performance, and he really wants to win a race. "It’s going to be really hard," Roncada said. "My bike’s running really good outdoors. I’d like to win a race."

125cc Moto 1:
1. James Stewart, Haines City, FL Kawasaki
2. Stephane Roncada, Lake Elsinore, CA Kawasaki
3. Ryan Hughes, Temecula, CA KTM
4. Mike Brown, Johnson City, TN Yamaha
5. Eric Sorby, Murrieta, CA Kawasaki
6. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, CA Kawasaki
7. Steve Lamson, Camino, CA Honda
8. Danny Smith, Middleton, ID Yamaha
9. Christopher Gosselaar, Victorville, CA Honda
10. Broc Hepler, Kittanning, PA Suzuki

125cc Moto 2:
1. James Stewart, Haines City, FL Kawasaki
2. Stephane Roncada, Lake Elsinore, CA Kawasaki
3. Broc Hepler, Kittanning, PA Suzuki
4. Mike Brown, Johnson City, TN Yamaha
5. Nathan Ramsey, Menifee, CA Honda
6. Ryan Mills, Clintondale, NY Honda
7. Ryan Morais, Turlock, CA Honda
8. Kelly Smith, Ludington, MI Yamaha
9. Christopher Gosselaar, Victorville, CA Honda
10. Brock Sellards, Sherrodsville, OH Yamaha

AMA/Chevrolet 125cc National Points Standings (and overall results):
1. James Stewart, Haines City, FL 50
2. Stephane Roncada, Lake Elsinore, CA 44
3. Mike Brown, Johnson City, TN 36
4. Broc Hepler, Kittanning, PA 31
5. Ryan Hughes, Temecula, CA 30
6. Nathan Ramsey, Menifee, CA 24
7. Christopher Gosselaar, Victorville, CA 24
8. Danny Smith, Middleton, ID 21
9. Ryan Morais, Turlock, CA 17
10. Kelly Smith, Ludington, MI 17

For full results, visit usmotocross.com