James Stewart has emerged as Ryan Villopoto's main threat in AMA Supercross heading to Indy. Image

Monster Energy AMA Supercross will continue this weekend in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium, the 11th stop of the 2012 season.

Last weekend in Daytona it was James Stewart who took his second win of the season for Toyota/Yamaha/JGRMX, adding it to his triumph at Oakland six weeks earlier.

Stewart’s victory was significant in that it allowed the former Monster Energy Supercross Champion to show the progress he and his Joe Gibbs Racing team have made in recent weeks.

For the past two races, Stewart has shown tremendous speed, but encountered misfortune at both Atlanta and St. Louis, ultimately limiting his results. In Daytona, Stewart was able to secure the start he needed and put together 16 strong laps for a much-needed win.

For points leader Ryan Villopoto, the difficult conditions almost resulted in a disastrous night for his hopes of capturing back-to-back titles.

After news broke Friday afternoon that Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey was going to be out of the championship indefinitely due to injury, Villopoto’s closest championship challenger became Stewart. As a result, Villopoto entered Saturday with a 53-point cushion.

In the main event, Villopoto became entangled in a set of tuff blocks while fighting for position on the opening lap. As freed himself and attempted to remount his Kawasaki, the wet, muddy conditions forced him to lose control of his motorcycle and ultimately fall into the ground.

Villopoto crossed the line in 17th and could have lost as many as 21 points to Stewart out front. The reigning Supercross Class Champion fought valiantly through the field in the most challenging conditions of the season, working his way into the top 10 by lap five.

By the time the checkered flag flew, Villopoto had moved into fifth, his worst effort of the season, but just his second finish off the podium in 2012. In the end, Villopoto lost just nine points to Stewart, and carries a 44-point advantage into Indianapolis.

With a two-rider battle in store for the final seven races of the championship, Villopoto and Stewart will lead the field into Lucas Oil Stadium.

Behind them, GEICO Honda’s Kevin Windham, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer, and Millsaps will engage in battle for the final spot on the championship podium.

Last season’s Monster Energy Supercross visit to Lucas Oil Stadium produced one of Villopoto’s most dominant efforts of the entire 2011 championship.

The Kawasaki rider led all 20 laps of the main event, marking his fifth win of the season and generating a three-race winning streak at a pivotal point on the schedule.

The first Supercross race in Indianapolis was held on March 21, 1992, and Jeff Stanton won a Honda. This will be the 21st time the gates will drop in Indianapolis and the fourth time that Lucas Oil Stadium has been the host of the race.

The first Lites class race was held March 21, 1992, and Jimmy Button won on a Yamaha.