The 450 main event got off to a ugly start when multiple riders when down just past the 90-degree, right-hand first turn, and one of those riders was fast-qualifier James Stewart on the San Manuel Yamaha.
While battling for positions in the pack, Stewart got swallowed up over the first jump by a couple of riders, including Matt Goerke, and went down in a heap, as did Goerke. Stewart was in obvious pain and did not get up. He was strapped to a backboard and rushed to a nearby hospital with what might be an injury to his pelvis, but no one can confirm this right after the race.
Stewart was hoping to make big ground on series points leader Ryan Villopoto, who did not qualify for the main event. The Monster Energy Kawasaki rider, Villopoto, who held a 26-point lead over Stewart going into the Jacksonville round, went down on the first lap of his heat race and went back to the pits to prepare for the Last Chance Qualifier.
In the LCQ, Villopoto was struck from behind by another rider as they headed into the first turn. This caused Villopoto to straighten up and run off the track, taking Muscle Milk/Toyota/JGR Yamaha's Justin Brayton with him. Villopoto had no chance of coming through the pack in the short four-lap race, though he still tried but to no avail. Brayton didn't make it either.
The 20-lap main event saw KTM's Mike Alessi, on the 350, nail the holeshot, but Canard quickly took over the lead and set the pace from there on out.
Chad Reed, on the TwoTwo Motorsports Honda, eventually got around Alessi and slowly closed the gap on the Honda rider, Canard. By about the 15th lap, Reed had caught Canard and actually passed him for the lead, but Canard countered right away and took it back. At that point, Reed, who later said he didn't want to risk a podium finish, especially in light what had happened to Villopoto and Stewart, backed off and bit, though he made one last attempt right at the end. Canard held on to take the win by less than a second over Reed. It was his second of the year.
Defending Supercross Ryan Dungey finished third after getting off to a fifth-place start. By the time he got into third, he had some catching up to do. He made up some ground on Reed in the early stages but couldn't get any closer as the race progressed.
GEICO Powersport Honda's Kevin Windham was on the gas and got fourth. He made many passes before taking the checkered flag.
Fifth place went to Andrew short on the KTM 350, followed by Dodge Motorsports/Hart & Huntington Kawasaki's Ivan Tedesco, Alessi, Valli Motorsports Yamaha's Austin Stroupe, VMS/Rockstar Yamaha's Nick Wey and Dodge Motorsports/Hart & Huntington Kawasaki's Chris Blose.
Despite failing to qualify, Villopoto is still on top of the leaderboard but by just seven points over Reed. Dungey is 11 points behind Reed.
Credits: Cycle News. See the full report here...
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