After missing most of the 2008 AMA Supercross season, James Stewart made a triumphant return during round one of the AMA Toyota ꦿMo🀅tocross Championship Presented by FMF at Glen Helen Raceway.

The Monster Energy Kaw🅘asaki star posted perfect 1-1 moto finishes to notch his fifth overall victory of his AMA Motocross career. Rockstar Makita Suzuki's Mike Alessi finished 2-2 for second overall while Red Bull Honda's Davi Millsaps was thi🥂rd with 3-3.

"I am stoked to come back an🐓d get a 1-1 today," said Stewart, who missed a majority of the 2008 season with an injured knee. "We have been working hard. I didn't know where I was going to be at, but I was having a blast out there. I feel like we can improve and each we can 𝓰get better. I'm looking forward to going to Sacramento [next week] and that track is rough and it should be hot."

In the Lites class, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Austin Stroupe picked up his first career win. Stroupe capitalised on a strong opening moto, using his runner-up finish to help overcome a fall in moto two while in 🐠the lead. After falling to fourth, he battled with team-mate Brett Metcalfe to take the tಌhird in the closing laps.

Third Monster Kawasaki rider and defending AꦐMA Motocross Lites champion Ryan Villopoto - whom many fans had hoped would be stepping up to the 450cc class this season - overcame a tough first moto to take the top spot in moto two, posting a 5-1 for second overall. Boost Mobile Yamaha of Troy's Jason Lawrence took third overall, garnering his first moto win in the opening race and backing it with a🐽 fifth place in moto two.

"I came [into the season] ready to go," said Stroupe, starting his first full season as a pro. "But it's going to be tough. Ryan [Villopoto] got a really bad start in the first moto and we had to play catch up with Jason Lawrence. But other than that, me and Brett [Metcalfe] rode a strong race and had a good battle. In the second moto I made a mistake. We were running a faster pace and he [Villopoto] was pressuring me and my front wheel wash🍎ed out and put me on my back. It took me a couple laps to get back but I made a clean pass on Brett later on."

The AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Presented by FMF heads north toꦯ California's capital in Sacramen🐓to to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Hangtown MX with the 34th Annual Honda Hangtown Motocross Classic Presented by Jackson Rancheria Hotel and Casino.