Supercross looks back, forward in Anaheim

Supercross returns to Anaheim tonight with a retro-themed race that salutes the dawn of the sport’s modern era in the mid-1980s.

But reigning series champ James Stewart wouldn’t mind going back just one year.

Three of the first six races in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series take place at Angel Stadium, and Stewart, 22, swept all three events in 2007 on his way to his first championship.

At this year’s first Anaheim race two weeks ago, Stewart fell on the first turn of the opening lap in the 20-lap main event. The Haines City, Fla., rider recovered to finish second but couldn’t catch winner Chad Reed, the 2004 series champ.

But Stewart got back to his winning ways last week in Phoenix, taking the victory at Chase Field for Kawasaki -- his 25th win in 40 starts. Reed, an Australia native who rides a Yamaha, was second.

That left both riders tied for the early lead in this year’s title hunt, each with 47 points. Honda’s Kevin Windham is third with 36.

For tonight’s second Anaheim race, the series is featuring a replica of the track layout used in 1986, when the series competed in Anaheim only once a year.

Many consider that race the best in the history of supercross, the stadium version of off-road motorcycle racing, or motocross.

The race featured a battle between Honda riders David Bailey and Rick Johnson. Bailey won the event, but Johnson took the series title that year. Johnson also was the decade’s winningest driver, with 28 victories.

Both are scheduled to return tonight to celebrate their era, as are other former stars such as seven-time series champ Jeremy McGrath and five-time title winner Ricky Carmichael.

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james.peltz@latimes.com