Stewart’s dominance continues at Anaheim

James Stewart dismisses the suggestion that he’ll dominate this year’s supercross season now that Ricky Carmichael is semi-retired, but it’s one Stewart keeps reinforcing on the track.

Stewart cruised to his third consecutive Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross win Saturday night before 43,144 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, making him unbeaten so far this year.

Chad Reed was second on a Yamaha in the 20-lap main event and Honda rider Nicholas Wey of Murrieta was third.

Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., also won the season opener at Anaheim on Jan. 6 and the second race in Phoenix a week ago.

Saturday’s race “was no cakewalk,” Stewart said. “I had to put in a hard 20 laps. But I just got a rhythm going and it seemed to be working.”

The 21-year-old Kawasaki rider dueled Carmichael throughout 2006 before Carmichael prevailed to win his fifth championship in supercross, the stadium version of off-road motorcycle racing.

But Carmichael is reducing his two-wheel schedule this year as he tries to become a stock car driver, leaving Stewart as the sport’s foremost rider. However, Carmichael is scheduled to compete next week in San Francisco.

Travis Preston of Hesperia, who was fourth in the first two races this year, missed Saturday’s event after crashing during practice. The Honda rider complained of chest pain and was taken to a hospital for further examination, said AMA spokesman Tony Gardea.

In the series’ lower class, called Supercross Lites, Kawasaki rider Ryan Villopoto of Poulsbo, Wash., won by nearly a full lap over Jason Lawrence of Carlsbad on a Yamaha. Villopoto also won the first Anaheim race two weeks ago.

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james.peltz@latimes.com