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AMA 1 25cc Western Regional Supercross Series Round S: Qualcomm Stadium is that defending AMA 125cc Western Regional Supercross Champion Travis Preston has fallen into the habit of having to come from behind. At San Diego, Preston didn't get off to his worst start of the year - he was sixth into turn one - but the Amsoil/Chaparral Honda rider slashed his way through the pack just the same to bag his third runner-up position in six rounds (Preston won at the Anaheim opener). Along the way, the Amsoil/Chaparral Honda rider disposed of his nemesis, Pro Circuit/Kawasaki/Chevy Trucks' Matt Walker, as the field jostled for position on the opening lap, and he picked up another spot when Adams crashed in the second whoop section on lap three. Preston then cleanly worked his way past battling So Be Suzuki teammates Danny Smith and Sean Hamblin on the next two laps to take over the second spot for good. By then, however, Stewart had built up a 13-second lead. "It was a pretty good night," Preston said. "My race was pretty uneventful. I just got a good start." Despite Preston's runner-up finish, his inability to stop Stewart means that all the Kawasaki rider needs in order to sew up the Western Region number-one plate is to finish third or better when the West series resumes in Dallas, Texas, on April 12. In the meantime, By SCOTT ROUSSEAU PHOTOS By STEVE BRUHN SAN DIEGO, CA, FEB. B of the competition in Western Regional Supercross Series continued at Qualcomm Stadium, where Chevy Trucks Kawasaki's James "Bubba" Stewart Jr. edged ever closer to his first career supercross title by shellacking the field in the 15-lap main event. Even when Stewart appeared down at the start of the main, he was hardly out. Off to a midpack start, at best, when the 22-rider field drag-raced up the long start straightaway, Stewart simply feinted to the inside of the lefthand first turn while the leaders all let their momentum carry them to the berm. The shrewd move put him third, behind holeshot artist Tiger Lacey, on the CRS Team Safety Yamaha, and MotoXXX's Troy Adams, who ran second early. Bubba skipped past Adams in the first set of whoops, railed the right-hand berm and shot past Lacey in the second set of whoops, and then rode off into the night, pulling away at every turn in 'l7 he battering U the 125cc !Above) If it weren't so much fun to watch him ride, James Stewart Jr. would be making the 125cc class very boring. He won his fifth main in a row at Qualcomm. (Right) Deji vu: Travis Preston came from behind for yet another second place· by the time he got into second, Stewart was long gone. what seems to have become his signature supercross style. Stewart once again lapped his way through much of the field, putting the eventual ninth-place finisher, Boost Mobile/Yamaha/Troy Racing's Josh Hansen, one lap down just before the finish. Stewart's margin of Victory was over 18 seconds. "This race was just like the rest of them," Stewart said. "The challenge was just getting a good start and getting through that first set of whoops. The lapped riders were pretty bad tonight. Going through the whoops, they were taking the main lines, and a lot of people were crashing in them. I just rode my own race and had fun." Just as Stewart's M.a. has been to get out front and run away early, so it cue' e n ... _ S • FEBRUARY 19, 2003 13