Definitely not the way I was hoping to end the season here in Vegas, but I can’t thank my fans enough for all the support you’ve given me this season. We’ll continue working hard and look forward to coming back stronger in 2012!
After storming off to a dominant win in Supercross Heat #1, all signs pointed toward a successful main event for James in Vegas. Unfortunately, bad luck would strike once again—this time in the slick, hard-packed Vegas whoops—and James found himself on the ground and unable to finish the race. Down, but certainly not out, look for James to come out swinging in 2012! Until then, enjoy some pics from the Vegas finale…
“JS7 Dealt a Bad Hand in Sin City”. The headline pretty much sums up what James has been feeling throughout the bulk of the 2011 AMA Supercross series. Though he’s the first to admit that some of his misfortune has been brought on by his own mistakes, there’s no doubt that bad luck and a series of bad hands got the best of James’ title hopes in 2011. With 16 grueling rounds of action already in the books and the championship all but out of sight, JS7 rolled into Las Vegas hoping for a series-ending win to highlight an otherwise up and down season. Unfortunately for James, a win just wasn’t in the cards tonight in Sin City, and the mighty number 7 will have to wait until 2012 to grace the SX podium once again.
SUPERCROSS QUALIFYING HEATS
• When the gates dropped for Supercross Heat #1, James rocketed down the long Vegas start straight to grab the holeshot and early lead.
• Halfway through the eight-lap heat race, JS7 set the fastest lap of the entire day with a 101.61—over a full second quicker than second-fastest Chad Reed.
• Looking absolutely flawless on the slick, challenging Sam Boyd Stadium circuit, James motored away from the rest of the pack, eventually winning by a whopping 14 seconds.
SUPERCROSS MAIN EVENT
• With 20 of the world’s fastest Supercross riders amped and ready for the final main event of the 2011 series, the gates dropped, and James immediately worked his way into the second spot before the end of lap one.
• After a multi-lap battle with Supercross veteran Kevin Windham, JS7 made a pass for the lead on lap four.
• Pushing the envelope while trying to pull away from the pack, James made a critical mistake in the whoops on lap number seven, and went down hard on the rigid Vegas soil.
• Unable to rejoin the race due to an injured foot, JS7′s hopes of a Vegas win ended in a flash.
• Though proving himself as the quickest man on the track at the majority of the 17 rounds of action this season, James was cursed with bad luck and misfortune, and sadly had to settle for fourth overall in the championship points standings.
LAS VEGAS SUPERCROSS RESULTS
1. Chad Reed
2. Ryan Dungey
3. Ryan Villopoto
4. Chris Blose
5. Andrew Short
6. Jake Weimer
7. Austin Stroupe
8. Nick Wey
9. Kyle Regal
10. Tye Simmonds
OFFICIAL POINT STANDINGS
1. Ryan Villopoto
2. Chad Reed
3. Ryan Dungey
4. James Stewart
5. Trey Canard
6. Andrew Short
7. Kevin Windham
8. Davi Millsaps
9. Justin Brayton
10. Nick Wey
