Stewart takes AMA SX triumph in Daytona mud bath

James Stewart took his second win of the 2012 AMA Supercross campaign at Daytona International Speedway while Ryan Villopoto proved himself reassuringly human with a rare in-race mistake.

Rain at the Florida venue left Daytona's Ricky Carmichael-designed circuit resembling a mud bath for Saturday's race. In extremely challenging conditions it was Davi Millsaps (Yamaha) who took the holeshot, followed by team-mate Stewart, while Villopoto endured a fall that would leave him dead last. The Kawasaki rider has dominated the campaign thus far but effectively surrendered any chance of victory at the Florida venue.

Out front Stewart overcame Millsaps for the lead on lap three and quickly opened a gap at the head of the field. He was untroubled throughout, eventually beating his fellow Yamaha rider by in excess of seven seconds. Kevin Windham (Honda) completed the podium.

"It means a lot," Stewart said of his victory, which comes in the wake of several trying weekends. "I felt good all day. I was fastest in practice and once I got in front I was just trying to survive."

Villopoto meanwhile climbed through the order to take fifth, the Kawasaki unable to overcome former MX2 world champion Marvin Musquin for P4.

But with chief rival Ryan Dungey (Red Bull KTM) out following shoulder surgery Villopoto's off weekend did not prove disastrous, his advantage over second actually increasing at Daytona. He now heads Dungey by 29 points with Stewart a further 15 in arrears. Six rounds remain on the 2012 calendar.

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James Weeks