PHOENIX SUPERCROSS | Bikesportnz

The comeback is complete for Yamaha’s James “Bubba” Stewart.

After nearly a year on the sidelines, Stewart has taken just two events to propel himself back to the top in the United States.

He finished a solid third in the opening round of the AMA Supercross Championships in Anaheim, California, a week ago but finished on top of the podium at round three in Phoenix tonight.

Runner-up was round one winner Ryan Villopoto (Kawasaki), another rider on the comeback.

But former Lites Motocross and West Coast Lites Supercross champion Villopoto, out of action most of last season because of injury, still leads the 2011 supercross championship standings, now by just two points from the resurgent Stewart.

Stewart and Villopoto headed home Honda’s Trey Canard (Honda), Australian Chad Reed (Honda) and defending supercross champion Ryan Dungey (Suzuki).

Dungey has dropped from second to third in the championship standings, seven points behind Stewart.

Meanwhile, Kawasaki rider Josh Hansen, the son of motocross legend Donnie Hansen and winner of the Australasian SuperX Championships’ open class crown in 2010, won the Lites final for the second consecutive week.

It was once again fellow Kawasaki rider Broc Tickle who chased him to the flag, with Suzuki’s Ryan Morai taking third spot.

Hansen is now six points ahead of Tickle, with Morais nine points further back in the championship standings

Photo courtesy Yamaha