Yamaha's Chad Reed won his fifth 250cc AMA Supercross round of the season at Houston on Saturday night, increasing his championship lead to 26 over Kevin Windham.
Reed earned his third Butterfinger holeshot award at the start of the main event, the Aussie just edging out KTM's Grant Langston and Yamaha's Erick Vallejo, and would never look back.
Meanwhile, Honda rider Windham wasn't have things so easy, and after a mid-pack start 'K-Dub' eventually moved into second place, but was unable to catch Reed. Honda's Mike LaRocco finished third.
"Kevin (Windham) started catching me and I could see him, but then he slowed down," said Reed. "When I saw him catching me, I started charging harder in the whoops. There was a lot of fun, technical stuff out there tonight."
"I rode a little tight out there tonight," admitted Windham. "I did the best I could and need to look forward to the rest of the season. I started catching Chad (Reed), but then I tightened up."
Houston also played host top the opening round of the 125cc East Coast championship, where all eyes were on Kawasaki superstar James 'Bubba' Stewart – the reigning West Coast champion – who was expected to wipe the floor with the opposition.
But while Bubba wouldn't disappoint, it was Suzuki's Broc Hepler - competing in the first Supercross race of his career - who caused the biggest upset as he grabbed the main event holeshot.
Hepler's reign latest until Stewart, who won his heat race but managed just a mid-pack start in the final, passed him for the lead on lap three. Broc nevertheless held on to finish second ahead of Kawasaki's Eric Sorby.
"I had a bad start because I was spinning down the start straight," said Stewart - riding a KX125 two-stroke - on his first-ever 125cc Eastern Regional win. "I made some good passes the field started to separate. I am so happy to ride for the fans on the East Coast."
"I'm delighted with the result because I wasn't sure if I would be ready for the race after the injury," beamed Hepler. "I've been doing physio therapy three times a week and last week, my doctor gave me the green light to race."
