SX Pics: 2010 AMA Supercross, Round 4

Photography by Jeff Allen

One day before Round 4 of the 2010 Monster Energy AMA Supercross/FIM World SX Championship, San Manuel Yamaha rider James Stewart announced he had undergone surgery to fix the scaphoid bone in his right wrist that was broken in Phoenix and would not race in San Francisco. Despite his determined third-place result at Anaheim, Stewart no longer has a realistic shot at winning back-to-back titles.

Some were saying that Stewart's absence would give other riders more motivation to step up and race for the championship. Personally, I don't think it makes a difference. If you're racing at the level of a Ryan Dungey, Josh Hill or Ryan Villopoto, you're already giving 100 percent, with or without Stewart or Chad Reed, who is also injured.

In fact, in San Francisco, Dungey appeared to be riding with the same speed and willpower that led to victories in Rounds 2 and 3. Much the same can be said of fellow series front-runners Hill (Stewart's teammate) and Andrew Short; the Red Bull Honda-mounted Short even nabbed the first heat-race win. Monster Energy Kawasaki's Villopoto was also fast, winning the second heat with little trouble.

Dungey had everyone covered in the Main Event—until he looped his Rockstar/Makita Suzuki. He managed to get up, run to his bike and remount while still in the lead. Soon, however, it was a four-man battle, with Villopoto, Hill and Red Bull Honda's Davi Millsaps eventually passing the dazed Dungey. Villopoto got his first win of the 2010 season, Hill was second for the second week in a row and Millsaps earned his first podium. Exciting!

Lites action wasn't quite as eventful as the big-bike class, with a clean Main Event from start to finish. Geico Honda's Trey Canard took the win, stopping the three-race streak of Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Jake Weimer. Star Racing Yamaha rider Broc Tickle rounded out the podium.

The next race is in San Diego, California, this coming weekend, followed by yet another round in Anaheim.