Stewart earns rookie honours.

It should come as no surprise that James Stewart Jr has been named as the winner of the 2002 AMA Motocross/Supercross Rookie of the Year Award following a stunning debut season in the senior leagues.

The 16-year old from Haines City, Florida, recently completed the most impressive season ever from a motocross rookie by dominating the AMA Chevy Trucks 125 US Motocross Championship. He also finished second in AMA West Region 125 Supercross earlier this season and was the winner of the prestigious Dave Coombs Sr. East/West Supercross Shootout in Las Vegas in May, riding for Team Chevy Trucks Kawasaki.

The Motocross/Supercross Rookie of the Year is based on combined Supercross and Motocross points, and must be the rider's first full year with an AMA professional motocross license.

"It was a great season," said Stewart, who became the youngest AMA Motocross champion in the history of the series, "It felt so good to win the championship - I hope it's the first of many. I want to come back next year and win a 125 Supercross title and try to defend my 125 National Motocross championship."

Stewart made his pro debut in the AMA 125 West Region Supercross Series in Anaheim in January. He went on to win three rounds in that series, the most of any rider, but inconsistency cost him the title. He finished off the Supercross season on a positive note however, taking on the cream of the crop of 125 Supercross racers in the East/West Shootout in Las Vegas and dominating the race.

Stewart became the first true rookie to win his first AMA Motocross when he took victory in the 125 opener at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, in May. Glen Helen would be the beginning of the best season any rider has ever had in AMA 125 Motocross. Stewart went on to win ten of the twelve rounds en route to the championship, setting a new record for most victories in a single season in AMA 125 Motocross.

In just one season of racing, Stewart has already moved into the top-ten on the all-time AMA 125 Motocross wins list. He's ranked ninth with Mike Kiedrowski and Ron Lechien, all with ten career victories. Stewart joins an impressive list of past AMA Rookie of the Year winners that includes champions such as Travis Pastrana, Ricky Carmichael and Jeff Stanton. Stewart will be presented his Rookie of the Year award at the 23 November AMA Pro Racing Awards Banquet at the Venetian Resort Hotel Las Vegas.