Stewart started his championship defence with a victory at Anaheim 1.

Defending AMA Supercross class champion James Stewart pulled off an exciting come from behind win to open the season at the opening race of the 2010 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, in front of 43,841 fans at Angel Stadium in California, while Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer opened the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Championship with a big win.

Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey won the $1,500 SPIKE Holeshot Award in his official AMA Supercross class debut with Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto and Stewart following in second and third, respectively. Stewart made quick work of Villopoto and moved into second place.

Australia’s former two-time AMA Supercross class champion Chad Reed started in sixth place, but at the end of the first lap Reed, who finished second in the championship last year, pulled off the racetrack after colliding with Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Austin Stroupe and broke several spokes in his front wheel.

“I was at the wrong place at the wrong time,” said Reed. “The pace is really high right now, and there was nothing that I could do. I was trying to pass another rider and our lines came together.”

Stewart, aboard a San Manuel Yamaha, trailed Dungey by over four seconds until lap 17 when he made a pass for the lead and eventual win. Dungey tried to answer back on the final lap of the race but Stewart held him off for his seventh win at Angel Stadium and the 37th of his career. Dungey finished second and veteran Kevin Windham finished third.

“I stayed consistent throughout the race,” said Stewart. “I started to push myself during the last 10 laps and that is what racing is all about. I wanted to be there at the end and I was.”

Dungey, who is the defending Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class champion and raced a handful of premier class races back in 2008, is competing in his first full AMA Supercross class season.

“It was amazing,” said Dungey. “I had a few bobbles, and I am here learning. There is always another race. No excuses, James rode a great race, and this was a fun debut for me.”

Weimer won the $1,000 SPIKE Holeshot Award, leading his teammate Josh Hansen through turn one in the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class main event. At the end of lap one, Hansen slid out after the finish line and dropped to seventh place. Hansen’s mistake allowed Rockstar Energy/Suzuki/Canidae’s Ryan Morais to move into second place.

After charging through the pack, GEICO Powersports Honda’s Trey Canard passed Morais to secure second place. The win for Weimer marked the fifth of his AMA Supercross Lites class career. Canard finished second and Morais finished third.

“It feels good to have the first one done now,” said Weimer. “I rode smooth, and I did not make any mistakes. For right now, it is weekend to weekend, and the goal is to win races.”

As for the remaining Aussies at Anaheim, MotoConcepts Yamaha’s Dan Reardon crashed out of third place in the heat races, reportedly suffering a concussion, while fellow Queenslander Michael Byrne rode his privateer Kawasaki to 16th in the main event as the final rider to finish. Initial reports are that Reardon will also sit out next weekend’s second round.

Last year’s winner Josh Grant didn’t start the main event due to his broken nose suffered in a practice crash, while Jason Lawrence pulled out right before the halfway mark due to fitness issues after only being released from jail on Christmas Eve after a four-month sentence.

Monster Energy Supercross now heads to Phoenix’s Chase Field next weekend for the second stop on the championship circuit.

AMA Supercross Class Results: Anaheim 1
1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha
2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki
3. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda
4. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda
5. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
6. Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha
7. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
8. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
9. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
10. Grant Langston, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha

AMA Supercross Class Season Standings
1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha, 25
2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 22
3. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda, 20
4. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 18
5. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 16
6. Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha, 15
7. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 14
8. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 13
9. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 12
10. Grant Langston, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 11

Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Results: Anaheim 1
1. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki
2. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda
3. Ryan Morais, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
4. Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda
5. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda
6. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha
7. Tommy Searle, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
8. Josh Hansen, Elbert, Colo, Kawasaki
9. Max Anstie, Hemet, Calif., Yamaha
10. Jeff Alessi, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha

Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Season Standings
1. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki, 25
2. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda, 22
3. Ryan Morais, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 20
4. Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda, 18
5. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda16
6. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha, 15
7. Tommy Searle, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 14
8. Josh Hansen, Elbert, Colo, Kawasaki, 13
9. Max Anstie, Hemet, Calif., Yamaha, 12
10. Jeff Alessi, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 11