Open Mic: Stewart/ JGR Press Conference
Tuesday, October 25, 2011 | 4:50 PM
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Joe Gibbs: When this team started, I was still coaching. My son Coy told me he had an idea and a goal, and since I was coaching, I thought it was on the football side. But he said it was for racing, and then I thought it was for our NASCAR team. But he told me it was motocross. It kind of came out of the blue.
This was Coy’s dream. He started it. He connected with David Evans and they started building a team. And I was still coaching, so I was too busy to really help much at first. But what we’ve seen from motocross and supercross is, this sport is on the upswing. In supercross, they’re getting 50,000 fans in the stands every weekend. Even more in bigger buildings like Dallas, and 65,000 in Atlanta. I have all of the numbers right here, and they’re all up this year, way up. This sport is going up and we’re very proud to be part of it.
We’re very excited to have James join our team. Coy and everyone on the team have worked very hard to build this team up and build the foundation.
"This sport is going up and we’re very proud to be part of it." - Joe Gibbs
Photo: Jason Hooper
Coy Gibbs: Today it’s our turn. We’re very excited have James join the team. David Evans and I loaded up a plane and went to California to start working on a team. The biggest thing we did was build a foundation. We ended up getting Jeremy on board and then the rest of the guys, a great group of guys. At that point in time, the only riders we could get were riders that could build the team. We wanted to get the team up and running and do it first class, and we feel like we’re at that point now. And James can help us with that. I’ll tell you this, I walk into the [NASCAR Sprint] Cup shop a lot, and they’ll say, “Hey, you know, we won over the weekend. How did you do? When are you going to step up?” So now we finally have that. Now I’ll be excited to walk into that shop.
Sponsors have become so critical in this. When we started, David and I went to California and we got Toyota. At that point, we didn’t really have anything! But we were lucky that Toyota bought into this program, and they understood what we were trying to build. Usually with a sponsor, the first thing they ask is, “Who is your rider?” They don’t even talk to you until they know who is riding for you. So we had Toyota. Then, David and I loaded up on a plane and tried to get a manufacturer. I promise you, I sat in 10-hour meetings, and I’d be falling asleep, I wouldn’t even know what they were talking about. They’d be saying, “You can’t touch this, you can touch that.” It was mayhem. Then we went to Yamaha and we met with Keith. In 45 minutes, our deal was done. They’ve been there for us, they supported us with tools and resources. We’re happy to extend their deal three years. We’re very fortunate to have the sponsors we have had through our growing phase—Oakley, FMF, Interstate Batteries, Yamaha, Toyota, we owe a lot to them. I’d like to thank the Stewart family for coming up. I know we were down there driving over Big James’ grass, grinding on stuff early in the morning, trying to make it work. Really, what’s exciting for me, is that James chose us. He can go wherever he wants. He chose us. And who knows, maybe someday he will be here racing four wheels.
Coy and his new star, James Stewart.
Photo: Jason Hooper
Keith McCarty: Thanks, Coy. I want to thank the Gibbs family for having us out here. As Coy touched on, it was 2007 when we first met. I was kind of shocked when Joe first called us, I was thinking, “Wow this guy has my number?”
Next thing I know we were all meeting together, and very quickly we became well acquainted. We’re really excited to extend this agreement, it started in 2008, so this will end up being the longest running satellite team agreement we’ve ever had, which is great. And I think I’ve always had this in the back of my mind when we were sharing cornbread at some restaurant first talking about this. We are well acquainted with James’ talents and abilities. We’re really exited to have him back, and to have this trio working together. We know the Gibbs family knows how to get it done, and to promote it as well.
Q and A with James Stewart
We’ve heard about this for a long time. What finally convinced you that Joe Gibbs was the place for you?
James Stewart: Well, my dad is in the back raising his hand. He wants to let everyone know it was his idea [Laughs]. When I came up to the shop, three months ago, I saw what those guys were doing here. And on the Cup side of things, and on the motocross side and what they did to their motorcycle. I had never really looked at it closely before. I was like, “Is this the same motorcycle? Is this what I’ve been racing?” Then when I got to know Coach Gibbs, and Coy, I knew it would make a great fit. It just took a long time to make the right decisions and go down the right path. I think it’s going to be pretty special.
Coy: It definitely did take awhile. My mind was made up from day one. And Big James was always on our side. I appreciate that!
The #7 is now a member of the JGR Team.
Photo: Jason Hooper
Lot of folks wondering what will be the transition from the motorcycle to the stock car?
Well, number one, I came over here to win a championship for the JGR motocross team. I think Coy, Jeremy [Albrecht], David [Evans] and all the guys, I look at the future, and I think car racing is the future, sure. But I have a lot of things I want to accomplish on the motorcycle, and the first thing I want to do is win a championship for these guys. For sure, car racing, I’m going to get my feet wet with that, in fact in a few weeks, I’m going to test one out. But for now my main focus is to win a championship on this motorcycle.
Coy, the good news is you have James Stewart. The bad news is, you no longer have excuses. What’s that pressure like?
Honestly I think the biggest pressure was trying to get this deal done! I think any form of pressure on the racing side? That’s easy. Trying to get him signed? That was not easy. That was a difficult deal. We have a first class team that can help him win.
James, Coach Joe Gibbs is well known as a very good recruiter. He has his ways of getting someone when he wants them. What’s your best story of him recruiting you?
James: I have a bunch of them [Laughs]. For one, calling me after 11 pm. He’d call me every night, and if I missed a phone call, he’d call me back. He’d even leave a message saying, “I’m gonna' call you back.” And when I would talk to him, he’d just say, “James, I want you.” One time he said, “Hey, what are you doing tomorrow.” I told him I was going riding, and he said, “Okay, well I’ll see you down there tomorrow.” He came out and I was riding, my dad was there, and he just said, “I want you. You know that. I want you.” Then he flew back to North Carolina, and he called me again that night and said, “James, I had a lot of fun today. I want you. You know I want you.”
I really like Coach because he’s a good guy and an honest guy. But my favorite thing about him is, he will never call you from the same number twice. Like, he calls you from cell phones, but they’re not his cell phones. So first of all, I’ve never seen someone call you from a different phone every time. And second, he’ll never even send you an email. The email will say, “On behalf of Joe Gibbs.” And he’ll have someone else writing it for him. So I knew it was going to be good working with these guys, it’s just a good comedy.
This is one of the first major motocross teams to not be based in Southern California. How is that going to work out, logistically?
Coy: We’ve obviously had a relationship with Yamaha for a long time. And the best thing about a motorcycle is, the parts on it can fly. And it’s only a day’s drive down to James’ house in Florida, and James, he can fly here and visit us really quickly. I think James and us both being on the East Coast will be good, and since we already have a relationship with Yamaha in California, it will be good.
Press day at JGR.
Photo: Jason Hooper
James: I think it will be good. It’s a nine-hour drive and an hour and 10 minute flight. You don’t have to be in California on the West Coast test tracks. I’ve always liked the East Coast, and we can do the work here. I know the flight here will be easy. But the only thing is, I saw on Friday that it’s supposed to be 50 degrees here. So you may not see me back here until April or something! I don’t like the cold! I’ll have to get used to it.
Will you be riding supercross only, or supercross and motocross?
The plan is to ride both series. I’m looking forward to it. I knew this year with the group of guys that’s out there, you have to be 100 percent ready to go racing. And we weren’t. To race against both Ryans and Chad, we weren’t ready.
And the Monster Energy Cup?
We’re planning on racing everything. I think what Ryan Villopoto did this year sets the standard for racing. I think in 2005, Ricky [Carmichael] did the same thing, and so, it’s one of the things I’ve never accomplished, winning everything in one year. For 2012, that’s the goal.
What’s the difference between this JGR Yamaha, and the one you rode last year? Is there a big difference?
I think the biggest difference is we have a group of guys that work together. Yes, you have different colors and different suspension. But I think when it comes down to it, you have a relationship with guys for three years, and you have ups and downs. I think the biggest thing for me is, I just wanted to be on a team where I could come race. Focus on going racing. I felt like the last team we were on, we did win a championship and we did win races, but there was always something going on. With these guys, with Jeremy, and Coy, and Coach, I think this was a chance to get back to the roots. I know Jeremy well from my days at Kawasaki. We have a relationship, it’s an easy transition. And being at Yamaha, that helped a lot because it was only changing teams, not motorcycles. So we didn’t have to change everything.
For our NASCAR media members, what’s the laid out plan for cars?
Every time I call Coach I tell him I want to race [a car]. I’m excited, I think we’re going to South Boston in a few weeks to do a Late Model race. But like I said, the number one goal is to bring Coy a championship on this side.
And when I did that off-road truck series in Chicago a few months ago, I flipped it, I flipped it on the first lap, and I said, “This isn’t for me!” But I got back in and tried again that night and the next night and I actually kind of enjoyed it. We’ll see how the transition goes, but right now it’s all about winning on the motorcycle.
Is it safe to say you’ll end your motorcycle racing career with this team?
Absolutely. I’m signed with these guys for three years, and I plan on ending my career here. I like the facility, I like what they have here. Unless they start hating me, which could happen! But no, I think to go anywhere else after Joe Gibbs Racing, you’d be going backwards. Hopefully we’ll be racing and winning championships, and I can take these guys to the level they want to go to, and they can help me do it, too.
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This could be a very painful year for JS again because the bike simply doesnt fit him and outdoors?? It's going to be even worse.
By the way..........FIRST!!
James and Malcolm going to be yard sailing and ghost riding all year long and BIG James is going to be foaming at the mouth mad at every race.
You know, it is really hard to just say the bike doesn't fit him!! he was up and down with results last year for sure, didn't look so good at times, but there were a few times when he looked incredible and nobody had anything for him......and yes, there were times that he didn't have anything for RV either...i know!! I guess i'm not sure what to think caused the roller coaster results...but there were times when he looked just fine on that bike!! We'll see what JGR and James can do for each other soon enough i guess.....whatever that is i'm glad he will be out there giving it a shot!!
....stop being a d-bag "johnarm02"!!! Who do you think you are?? Nostradamus?? lol
Jeez... Why didnt Dungey get this much press and " articles" about his big sighning ? Oh my bad, Hes not James Stewart....Here we go again, all I see is James Stewart this and James Stewart that,
This is the way I see it and expect it , same bike = same results....next
Its funny how many people short side JS and think his resulsts will be the same as last year. Don't you think he learned any lessons from last year? I agree that his bike doesn't suit him as good as the others but he did usually have the fastest lap time so he just needs to put it all together and I think his new team will help him do that. He's still the fastest rider in my book but we'll see if he can be consistent although I wish he would have picked a different bike. Is it just me or does the yamaha look like the radiators are extra long and the radiator shrouds are fugly
Win or lose James will be fast. He was fast last year. He will win races, he will lose races. He will crash. Championships are going to be hard to come by for any of the top riders. I doubt anyone will dominate, but who would bet against James to win the most races? Not me. This is great for the sport, crossover marketing, mega coverage. Just PLEASE keep the cameras away, no goofy TV shows!
All we can do is wait for A-1...... People were bashing James last year and as whatever says, he did have those races that he was unstoppable...he had more of those convincing runaway wins than anyone....even my boy RV. Yes, James did throw some away, but he did pretty good for a guy going through all the things he laid out on the table.... So dont be so quick to say he is going to fail...The bike issues could be fixed by adding a few shims for christ sake....So here you go...People were saying " Brayton and Milsaps like their Yamaha."...Or " the JGR bikes look fine to me".....so now JS7 has a better bike....he has the JGR bike.....so leave it alone until the gate drops.....
Slarveson - The bike is UGLY....no doubt.....it just looks weird...but some people chase fat girls....so there ya have it....I have heard people say the Yamaha looks amazing....Yamaha's have always looked "odd" to me....maybe the 2002 YZ 250 looked ok...but most of the years they look odd...
Hmm, no pressure huh? I actually hope stewart steps up and fights. He needs to follow through with his "plan" and do outdoors also. Not my favorite guy, but i want to see the best guys this sport has all year kicking ass.
OBTW, the whole thing about the bike and what bike is best or better makes me laugh. Supposedly the '09 CRF 450 was a pile, nobody could ride it. Then 3 years later it's the greatest bike ever! It's the same bike!! Just 3 years of tuning and adjusting and messing with it made it great. I can go mess with the clickers on my 450 and make it feel like crap, or set it up perfect, go to a different track and it's off, or off because of changing track conditions or how fast or slow I'm going. At the pro level the 5% bike is huge and how it's tuned is everything! It also sounds like James is saying there were allot of distractions...that isn't good to have that junk swimming around in your head when you are lining up with the best in the world.
I like the NC being too cold line by JS. Probably thinks we all living in our igloos already way up here in Minnesota LOL
If the handling problems that people are alleging for the YZ are because of the frame, or some part they can't change, it could be a long season. You only have to look at RV this year. After a few weeks on the 2012, he was already faster than on the11, and they had been fiddling with all the legally-changeable parts for 9 months.
The plan is to do outdoors...... Hasn't that been the plan for 2 years? MEC? That was in the plan also... I'd feel safer in a room with gun slinging 4 year old then on a Nascar track with JS7!!! Do you think KW or JT would get on a track with him?
Anyone that thinks that Yamaha will rest until that bike is working as well as anything on the track better check there track record. A fantastic company and everything they build is high quality...ole wirlwinds handling WILL come around and theres obviously no lack of HP. Anyone who has raced at Pro level knows small differences in the shop make big differences on the track sometimes and 'feeling' comfortable on the bike can vary even on the same model,same brand due to set up. These guys are not jokin' and they will be a force to be reckoned with.
same bike = same results, huh???
20011 SX WINS
YAM - 5
KAW - 6
HON - 5
SUZ - 1
hmmm...that POS YAMAHA WON 5 races...freakin horrible bike,how could any one ride it
I would guess that JS would not sign if he did not think he could win consistently on that bike.The yamaha may have issues but JGR has the resouces to overcome them.I thing it is awesome to have JGR in the sport and they are helping to elevate SX and MX to the next level.Hopefully more organizations will follow thier lead,could you imagine Penske and Ganassi motocross teams.
It sure sounds like JGR has really developed into a great MX/SX organization in just a few years. And why wouldn't they. The have a great reputation for a winning organization in athletic sports and motorsports. Motocross is a combination of the two. James should have all the pieces to put the puzzle together to win. There should not be excuses that (don't) fall on his shoulders for anything but success, and I wish him and JGR all the best. It should be an interesting marriage to see play-out over the next few years.
It is comical how people are hyping up James for this year. We saw what he has last year and here's the problem, RV is hauling ass compared with his speed in SX in 2011. Is anyone thinking this is the same RV now that was fading in the 2nd motos and getting 3rd's 45 seconds back of Dungey? James will have to step it up BIG this year, bigger than he has at 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25 years of age. He just didn't want it last year? He wanted it very badly but that didn't translate into winning a title. 3 years is a long time, for both James and JGR. Will be cool to see him outdoors, although I'll believe it when I see it.
James, listen to the Coach. I have watched you make the wrong choices for the past two years..... Your Dad says you gotta make your own choices as you are now grown up. Big Mistake.......Listen to the coach........Do what you do best and ride fast....Let the coach take the heat, he has the figures he has the backing, he has the knowledge.....You cant put an old head on young shoulders.... Keep your focus on the track. Listen to the coach......... sunk in yet?????
The only positive about JGR is they have a workshop where they make everything aftermarket.. And like JS7 pointed out he was only 4 points away at one point so its true to say he will win again on the blue machine. Dont forget JS7 rode all bikes and he would have gone anywhere including Honda.
@VISTAJIM:
I agree...Having JGR step up for 2012 will hopefully bring more "race teams" into the sport. I would be nice to see Penske and Ganassi get in there (and bring back the 2-strokes!)
Lotta people worried to death about what brand of motorcyle he's going to use. I'm kinda interested in how much coin The Coach and Coy had to lay out for James services over the next 3 years?
Lotta people worried to death about what brand of motorcyle he's going to use. I'm kinda interested in how much coin The Coach and Coy had to lay out for James services over the next 3 years?
The thing is everybody is forgetting is he won the SX Title in 09 on a YZ450 and crashed plenty too.......so he can definetly do it. A lot of it is also just luck like at JAX this year, he just got taken out and ATL- taken out by Reed, would have won.
Bummer he's still on Yamahas and bummer "the plan is to go racing outdoors" since that is Stewart code for not actually committing to it.... been hearing that for a few years now from James.... planning is different from actually doing.
Its obvious that JS7 always goes where he gets paid the most. He is the most over paid rider ever. If you were to add the amount he has been paid since turning pro and the amount of wins he has produced. He has been paid probably about 3 times as much as any other rider for those wins. I sure hope Gibbs gets his moneys worth.
Bumbles always bounce!
So riding a Yamaha wasn't Stewarts problem all along? How does this Yamaha team make him any better? All the Stewpids kept blaming the Yamaha for his issues yet he signs on to keep racing them. Somebody please enlighten me.
Suzuki, Kawasaki, Honda and Yamaha are all proven winners. I would like to see Stewart win 100 supercross races and break RC's out door records. I just hope that he will ride cleaner and smarter, if he does not he will not last long enough to make it happen. Good luck JGR and JS. Keep it clean and we should have an awesome season in 2012 with RV1, RD5, JS7, CR22 and TC41 it could be epic.
RV1 in 2012
I don't know,it could be his year. I have lost a lot of respect for him the last couple of years but this could be the team he needs. I doubt Gibbs is going to tolerate a bunch of BS. Remember Coach knows how to deal with a rich, young, arrogant, super talented athlete. JS7 is not in control of the team, probably for the best.
So if he doesn't win the sx in '12 he's gonna sit out the rest of the year again? Lame. What kind of attitude is that seriously? Jeez.. To go from RC, who raced everything, always willing to travel to the MXoN, to this guy?? Whatever.
@ramey223... I agree with you there... Am dissapointed Stewie did not have the balls to try out with the suzuki... Knowing that they are now in a transitional period... Yoshimura taking over the operations and as wqell as a manufacturer not having the same budget when it comes to giving the big bucks...
Remember reading that Dungey was getting a base salary of 600k at suzuki... And now he's getting a couple of millions from KTM...
JGR have some pretty big sponsors now... Yamaha chose their team to step up their collaboration and yamaha has always been notorious to cough up some serious $$ when it came to signing riders...
Now am curious to see which brand Reed will choose for his team... I am sure he will try to negotiate somethin with suzuki
jgr has the tools...js7 has the skill....ought to be interesting...bring on A1
IDK Y PPL HATE ON HIM SO MUCH. ONE DUDE SAID HE HOPE HE FAIL... THE CRAZY THING IS U HATE BCUZ U CAN'T N NEVER WILL ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT HE HAS, DONE. NOBODY IN THE COMMENT SECTION CAN DO WHAT ANY OF THESE RIDERS DO ON A TRACK, SO SHUT UP. U DON'T LIKE HIM BCUZ HE'S THAT GOOD.
JS7 HOPE U DO GOOD IN 2012...
^ Yet another HOOKT ON FONIX success story! Hallelujah! ^
Should be a good year- but that bike is seriously capital F fugly. Yes, I'm H8N. OH NO I DITTENT... Oh I did.
I'm betting Reed will end up on a Suzuki, especially now that James did not....i think that is why we hadn't heard what color CR was going to be on....waitin' to see where James landed.....who knows though!
James will be fine..All he has to do is go out and have fun again.Bike will be set up perfect and James will be ready come Anaheim 1..Just find your "Happy Place" James and everything else will fall into place..
“James, I had a lot of fun today. I want you. You know I want you.”
HAHAHAHA
I have heard no mention of Reed changing bikes. Why would he switch when he chose the honda last year over the suzuki and it has not changed.He had success on the crf and seemed to have a great relationship with honda,they should pony up and give him a factory bike.(which I think he got last year after Grant and Canard were out) Honda gives Windham one and that is money well spent.
NASCAR sucks. Watching cars make left turns for 300 laps is lame. JS7 and JGR should go MOTOGP, AMA, WSBK!! That would be awesome and epic in the history of moto riders! .... too bad.
Almost anyone can jump in a NASCAR after a little bit of training and race.... NEVER could a NASCAR driver hop on a bike and ride at the pro level of SX or MX. I'm sure most of you would agree with this. Going to NASCAR is only a step up financially. I would say his skills are far superior than those needed to race NASCAR, which is why I think this is fundamentally and over the long run bad for him. He could do a lot more than just left turns and circles for hours.
Not a fan of James, but I respect his skills. I'm glad he didn't sign with Suzuki, I mean Yoshimura, because I'd rather see somebody I like riding my preferred bike. It would have been a long season of watching my beloved RM's get trashed.
@JV212... Agree on the financial side when it comes to earning what the race purse has to offer.
RC was still getting way more when he raced dirtbikes... (If you combine the race wins which translates to bonuses... And he set the standard in base salaries from either the manufacturer & personal sponsors).
According to the nascar website.. RC has earned thus far 256k... A percentage he shares with his team...
I am pretty sure, the title sponsor and personal one as well (Monster) is paying way more just to have RC promoting their brand.
Nevertheless... RC has been riding around for some yrs now... He's not really a talent on 4 wheels (never won a race... ).. And he just seems to fit the mould very well of nascar drivers.. Growing fat and keeping himself busy riding around in circles...
The good news is James is still Shast, the bad news is he will
on that Cannondale once again.
@jairtime.. Ha,ha.. Maar wel een hele snelle brulaap.. Ha,ha
@jairtime... More like... De snelste man die op zijn bek gaat! Ha,ha!
Signing for three years shows some serious maturity changes for James.
Realizing that he's gotta motocross also to be happy, well that is gonna be good for everybody who likes competition. I'm a little worried about signing with JGR for their retirement plan though, but thinking about his future life after mx is a very wise decision.
Best wishes to James and JGR
Now make us forget about the Ryans this year and all the love in the universe will be yours.
Tell me more of your wishes