TAMPA, Fla. — Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Malcolm Stewart earned his first 450SX class victory with a brilliant charge from a mid-pack start at Round 5 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship inside Raymond James Stadium.
The 32-year-old Florida native was pure joy after reaching the top step of the podium in his 109th race start. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb followed Stewart forward in the early laps and reached second place by the time the checkered flag flew.
Stewart was interviewed by his older brother James Stewart, who worked the broadcast of the event.
“Big bro, you know. You’ve done this a long time, racing Daytona and Jacksonville, and you know there’s something about that hometown crowd, buddy,” Malcolm Stewart said. “I don’t know if they were twisting the throttle for me, because, for a split second, I was like, ‘Alright I need to get this done.’ I was feeling really good, and you know what, Stewart is back in the whoops, Y’all!”
Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson, after losing some positions early, recovered to score a third-place finish. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Chase Sexton led most of the Tampa Supercross, but just as Stewart made a drive for the lead, Sexton crashed hard in the whoops.
Sexton recovered quickly, still in second, but was off the pace and dropped back to fifth in the final laps. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac injured his foot in qualifying and raced only to salvage points; he finished in 17th position.
Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki’s Ken Roczen reached second place early and was in fourth when he suffered a nasty collision with lapped riders in the track’s difficult sand section.
Defending champion Team Honda HRC Progressive’s Jett Lawrence did not race; midweek updates revealed an injury at the previous round will likely keep him out for the remainder of the season.
Adding to the rough news for both the Honda team and the Lawrence family, Team Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence crashed hard in his heat race and sat out the remainder of the night’s racing.
In the 250SX Class, the Tampa Supercross kicked off the Eastern Divisional 250SX Class Championship, and Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Max Anstie took the win and with it the early points lead.
Anstie grabbed the holeshot but Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Pierce Brown quickly took over the lead. Brown crashed hard while leading, handing the lead to Anstie and requiring a red flag stop to the race.
The staggered re-start tightened up the racing with eight minutes left. Anstie quickly broke away from the pack for the win with his teammate Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Daxton Bennick holding on to earn a career-best second-place finish.
Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Cameron McAdoo, after a race-long battle with teammate Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker finished third; the performance was especially remarkable because McAdoo was racing with a torn ACL.
Defending champion Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle finished in fifth place. Defending 250SX West Champion Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s R.J. Hampshire, contesting the 250SX East season, landed on a track obstacle and his bike became stuck. Hampshire recovered to finish 18th.
