by Aaron Hansel
Bench Racing Ammo: Stewart Stats
Thursday, March 8, 2012 | 2:10 PM
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It’s no secret that James Stewart no longer holds the Monster Energy AMA Supercross series in the iron grip he once did. To get an idea of just how dominant Stewart once was, we decided to pull the stats from the first nine rounds of his championship years of 2007 and 2009, and compare them to the first nine rounds of 2011 and 2012. We didn’t include 2008 and 2010 because Stewart was sidelined with injury during those seasons.
James Stewart’s stats through the first nine rounds:
2007
Heat Race Wins 9
Laps Led 113
Main Event Wins 6
Points 210
Points Position 1st
Average Position After One Lap 3.9
Average Finish 1.7
Points Back of Series Leader Led series by 19 Points
2009
Heat Race Wins 9
Laps Led 130
Main Event Wins 7
Points 199
Points Position Tied for 1st with Chad Reed
Average Position After One Lap 1.7
Average Finish 3.1
Points Back of Series Leader 0, Tied for 1st with Chad Reed
Stewart has just one win thus far in 2012, his lowest win total ever -- at this point in the series -- not including injury.
Photo: Simon Cudby
2011
Heat Race Wins 6
Laps Led 72
Main Event Wins 3
Points 173
Points Position 2nd
Average Position After One Lap 4.7
Average Finish 4.3
Points Back of Series Leader 23
2012
Heat Race Wins 7
Laps Led 11
Main Event Wins 1
Points 152
Points Position 3rd
Average Position After One Lap 7.7
Average Finish 5.4
Points Back of Series Leader 53
Obviously, the first half of Stewart’s 2012 season has not gone well in relation to the standards he’s used to. What’s to blame? Nobody knows for sure, perhaps not even Stewart himself, or anyone at the JGR team. One thing that is for sure, is that Stewart’s starts have been terrible this season. Take a look his position at the end of the first lap through the first nine races of 2012.
Stewart's average starting position in 2012 is 7.66.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Round 1 6
Round 2 13
Round 3 2
Round 4 4
Round 5 4
Round 6 6
Round 7 7
Round 8 9
Round 9 18
There’s a chance that Stewart is just a few good starts away from setting his stats on the up trend—but going back to his old 2007 level of dominance in this field will not be easy.
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Here comes a long thread
You opened a huge can of worms!!
Once he went blue it all went downhill.
Blue is one of the most popular colors, but it is one of the least appetizing. Some weight loss plans even recommend eating your food off of a blue plate. Could his appetite for winning been hindered?
Oh boy..., fire-works are being prepped...
Can't wait to read some of the 'justification' responses as to 'Why'.
Interesting stats., regardless.
Have to say that 'Bubba's World', Multi-car garages with $$$$$$$ Cars and 'SX racing only' have stolen (distracted) some of his focus and drive since back when he first burst on the scene and was racing both series, like most of the other riders...
He'll always be thought of as one of the greats but the JS7 days of domination are all but done. Move over James. Too many young, very hungry riders on their way up.
@thetoothperry116
He was blue in 2009...
@two250 but he still wasnt the same. He was best on a kawi.....
Hope I'm wrong..., JS7 is still one of the most exciting guys to watch when he's on it and keeps it on two wheels.
@thetoothperry116
I agree, but it seems like he really fell off when he quit MX...
It's called Ryan D and Ryan V, that's what has changed. 3 yrs ago his top competition was Millsaps and Windham.
@GreenMeansGo and thetoothperry116 Yes yes yes...but there are less expectations when you get a bad start isn't it...ask mike larocco..often the fastest guy on the track which was his appeal but when he started near the front not the same guy.
You have to feel that in his mind stewart doubts that he can win with anyconsistency so te best way to take the pressure of the win off of him is to get a bad start...
i've said it before you have to want the start...the guys to the first turn first is that much more hungry for it...look at any start...
Stewart runs as good as any during heat races...seems to start okay there...
Hey RacerX keep ignoring the most realistic reason.....The competition is better and faster....... Denial is a bad thing so keep pounding your head against the wall because the competition isn’t going to get any slower, but once you realize you are in Denial, It will be easier to except and move on .................. Please get there fast because this is getting very old………….
Exactly. Not riding mx has made him lose the edge.
I agree not doing the nationals is suicide speed wise... i don't race MX anymore...still ride mx but don't race (got a 2010 yz 450 please don't chew me out about that lol..)...I race MTB and roadbikes and if I miss a week the edge goes dull...I can't imagine missing a season.
Hes still fast . He can still win. The new sheriff yawns and goes back to his nap.
Good to see that most people here are talking sense. The stats show what the more objective fans (not just Stewart haters) will realize - his days of dominance are over.
Not saying that Stewart doesn't have speed, not saying he won't win races. Not even saying he won't ever be a threat for a title. But the days of Stewart always being the odds-on favourite are gone.
I think that 'heat race' analogy is unfortunately very on target. How many guys over the years have been or become great heat race winners but then, in the Main event of the night can't quite get it done?
I'm betting JS7 will somehow start to turn that around. And if he races out doors this season and gets 'humbled' some more, it might make him double his efforts in 2013.
Barcia's new approach (Stanton in the house) to a smother, less reckless racing style seems to be paying off. Maybe James needs to re-evaluate his style and race (game) plan too.
He knows Mark Barnett..., He should get some of the Bomber's old training tactics & secrets out and put them in play.
next show pimp my ride?
Stewarts done, plain and simple. He's got a few more race wins in him but no titles. Doesn't mean we can enjoy his occassional spurts of brilliance. Move on. I think he has.
really, nobody has really dominated since 2009 .....2010 in SX it was Dungey and RV taking turns before RV went out....2010 MX was i guess domination by Dungey, but if all the cats are in cages, your not going to get scratched.......2011 there wasnt a real "dominant" rider in either series, Dungey surely didnt back up his dominant 2010 year....2011 SX was a mix match with RV coming out on top, but it wasnt "domination" ..and Outdoors Reed was headed in that direction but bailed out.....2012 I think RV is reaching domination status......
As far as James Stewart goes, I am not a "stewtard" or on " his nuts"....but as a fan of racing and talent, I sure would like to see him turn it around.....we all know he has the skill and the speed....there is just something awry....The RV and Dungey are faster argument is reatarded.....they are all flying and James has shown he can beat them "straight up" as some of you folks say....and or run their pace....he just runs there pace in 12th place....not going to turn any heads or change opinions that way.....DAYTONA!!!..... Lets see RV, RD, JS7 get great starts and have a good race......
Well said Killo.
He just needs to ride MX. Like the old saying goes, "If you don't use it, you lose it."
....and, the YAM is not a good bike...
I know hindsight is 20-20 but he should have gone with the Suzuki this year. Like Chad said "he would much rather race James Stewart on a Yamaha" Its not a coincidence. I love the anticipation of where and when Stewart is going to go down during the mains. Its almost as much fun as watching the Ryan's rip it up!
I think KilloMoto is on james nuts too... I love hearing the Stewtards stick up for him!. haha JK
The problem has been stated...Its his starts, and the fact that he cant stay on two wheels. Period! Speed is not an issue. Taking away nothing from RV he is flying and doing what he is supposed to do. This is just a bad season for JS7 he will turn it around sooner than later.
And to use his reality show and his cars as a reason for his lack of focus is a poor excuse. I mean don't we want are favorite riders to get outside exposure to get the sport reckoned? Don't we want outside sponsors excited to do business. maybe we want to go back to the underground espn 2 days...
Chad Reed is is doing the same things.....Think about that
Not one of the top guys RV, RD, CR, will touch the Yami. Not a friendly bike to ride, Millsaps rides it ok and so did Brayton but you can even tell with those two that they are fighting it. And they are not running the pace JS runs. Suzuki would have been a better fit, let alone a Honda.
@bradley226... was last season a bad season for JS also, I thought he was supposed to turn it around this year? He had all summer at home to work on the bike?
If I remember correctly the last SX Mike Larocco won was @ Indy when he coincidently got the holeshot and led gate to checkered flag.
Like to see a 'stat' on how many holeshots McGrath had in his 72 Wins SX career...
Daytona should be VERY interesting! A lot of people say he's done with the sport, but I don't see how he can go out like this. Going from "the fastest man on two wheels" to "Mr. Cartwheel" is not cool. All of this humbling the past two years hopefully will ignite that fire again to be fast...without going down. I don't think he's done yet. Not so sure if he'll get back to SX 2007/MX 2008 form but he's still fast. IF he dials in a start this weekend, everybody hold on...
He's got a couple years left of contending for race wins. But he'll never win another championshi[p again. Stamp it. He doesn't have the equipment, determination, fitness, or motivation for that matter to be a title contender against the Ryans.
Not saying reality show & cars (somebody, in their defense of James, forgot no MX racing lately on his part) are the absolute reason- just a probable distraction. Some people in professional sports are better able to 'juggle' than others. Maybe James had too much going on too soon. If he wants to be the best again, he needs to put that stuff aside, period and change his approach. Personally I don't think MX/SX has any recognition problems whatsoever. We don't need to turn MX/SX into the train wreck that has become Nascar because of too much hype and exposure> which also brings higher event ticket prices with it. It will never eclipse stick-n-ball sports in this country and that's fine with me. Just my opinion.
I agree @greenmeansgo...
@BobTheBuilder,, how can you say he doesn't have the fitness ?? I think he rides the last 5 laps pretty fast. We will see his fitness in MX, but his SX fitness is fine.
I also think he gets nervous for some reason come main event time..
This isn't rocket science.........between 2009 and 2010 combined.........JS got injured and missed 2010 SX, he wasn't racing the nationals anymore, he fired the best trainer out there in Aldon Baker, started a TV show, RV and RD started putting it together on 450's in both SX and MX and upped the level of competition. Is it a surprise his results are suffering?
@Retardcross, I agree, but I don't think its quite that simple.
I think you have a valid point @retardcross...but on the same token, Reed was out with injury and missed most of the Outdoors. He came back in 2011 and was as strong as ever!
Of all the riders out there, they would have to post the stats for James. Aaron must have been bored today and needed a little entertainment. It was never a question for James if he could beat you, but by how much. Sadly today he has to wonder if he will even make the box. You have to wonder with all the years of racing, he can't figure out how to put it together? Thats what happens when you lose it. The peak of James career has come and gone. The spark, the spirit, and motivation is gone. You hear it in his words and you see it in his face.
@therealmofo Js7 stats ...03 125 supercross... 04 125 supercross ...02 125 outdoors... 04 125 outdoors ...07 supercross ... 08 outdoors perfect season ... 09 supercross that is Seven Titles ... reed has 4 titles ... facts are facts Stop with your silly behavior ! LOL !
@TheChosen1- you may be right, but with all the hype and hoopla surrounding James over the years, the expectations are much higher. To be 3rd in points is something to be proud of, but when you been labled "FMOTP" for all these years, and you can't deliver, you become a huge target for criticism.
Preston just brought a posts from a different thread!!! Good job little guy, therealmofo and my self are talking about 450 titles that was the topic.... so JS has 3 and Reed has 3....I think you can put it to rest now. Move on sport.
Stewart has two major problems that will prevent him from ever winning many races let alone another championship. RV is a little faster and a whole lot smarter.
@br411 Not a little guy or Sport , The realmofu was allways talking titles , he said it many times , even gave a football scenario, go back and read the posts He said its not about wins but titles ...Back off Sport ... and quit covering up your lack of knowledge.
@Preston, get a life, and two. Who counts 125 supercross regional titles?? HAHAHAHAHA!!! And like I said I SAID 450 titles genious!! Reed3 Stewart 3.. I am done STEWTARD!!!!!!
Js7 Four Supercross titles , Chad Reed three.. still cant get it right @therealmofo
Hamburgers get done people get finished ... next class ... grammer ...@thereakmofo
If you are so stupid that you actually count 125 Regional supercross titles, then I am wasting my time with you, because they only race HALF the competetion dummy!! Coversation over fool @Preston
Love the pic of Stewart on the top of this page, is he trying to keep his left ear from getting sunburnt , whats the deal with his hat??
alot of shit talking can any of u guys out race james? i didnt think so.
mxmofo he's not in the same kind of shape the Ryan's are.
hahaha if the people who really hated him as much they claim to than why post so much about him, his haters give him more press than his fans, there could be a link on here that just says the words James Stewart and it gets more comments than any of the other articles combined, it's quite entertaining though on a boring work day, in the end though does anyone here really think bubba gives a $h!t what anyone thinks about him, yes I'm a bubba fan, been one since he was on 50's, I also happen to be a fan of everyone, what these guys do on a motorcycle is amazing and that alone makes me fans of them all, except the alessi's, they irritate me, can't wait for indy next weekend, go shane and travis sewell!
Here is another component, maybe?
RC + Aldon = Championships
JS + Aldon = Championships
RV + Aldon = Champiionships
RC w/o Aldon = Retired
JS w/o Aldon = lost?
RV w/o Aldon = Not about to happen soon
i do agree he was the best on Kawi Well Duh the bike helps develope your riding style the bikes are all diffirent. i think Stewarts problem was NOT RACING OUTDOORS.
he lost his edge and slowly but surely got WORSE.
@therealmofo ...thats right keep changing your story , we all know your type ...you said you are Done , I mean finished ,the last post , yet you keep coming back for more .. Its OK to be wrong ther little fella ...LOL just sayin .
I see several factors leading to Stewart's "lack" of results...
Reason 1 - Other people have copied his riding style and have stepped up their speed. When he hit the scene in the 125's he had a completely different style from everyone else. The bubba scrub, the way he hit corners, everything. His riding style was faster, plain and simple. He revolutionized how to ride a dirt bike fast. MC did the same thing during his era with his pre-jump to stay lower off the triples. It takes everyone else time to adapt to the faster riding style. People have now had that time to adjust. Everyone scrubs now.
Reason 2 - The Yamaha doesn't fit him as well as the Kawasaki did. JS7 said in 2010 when Reed went to Kawi that the bike wasn't going to work for him because it needed to be ridden on the edge to go fast and that wasn't Reed's style. He was right. Reed wasn't as fast on the Kawi and crashed more. The bike does make a difference. The Kawi somehow fit Stewart better than the Yamaha does.
Reason 3 - He doesn't have the mental edge anymore. His competition doesn't just expect him to win. He's not in their heads anymore. Between distractions, others stepping up, and the bike not working for him as well he has lost some of his confidence and is frustrated. You can't just get confidence back out of nowhere and riding that edge takes confidence. I think the lack of confidence is mostly why he isn't getting good starts right now. I don't think that's a bike thing.
He is still very capable of winning any given race, but I don't see him ever being as dominant as he was earlier in his career.
@Ride2Five--I'm not so sure, the RV and Dungey thread about whether RV slowed, brought out as many comments as any I have seen.. And in the summer when the MEN race, these threads are lighting up as well..
Just read all this and I got to say therealmofo just got owned by preston!
I knew I was a GENIOUS ! LOL! thanks for the Coommeent ! Squirt , I mean spurt , I mean Sport ... GEEEZZZ
Stewart used to be a great starter and so did Mike Alessi.What has happened to their starts.
@therrealmofo.Yout are right.Nobody counts the stats of the 250 Regional class.So @Preston you are wrong.But preston you are right when you you say therealmofo is probably gay and a total Moron with a capital M.
I'm with Preston.
Second note: A Championship is obviously a big deal but winning is far greater in my eyes. You can go all season in second place win the Championship and be second best in most peoples eyes. You are only as good as your last race. A racer is a racer, RV wants to dominate, leave no card un turned. We will see how it plays out.
@czmark They did this same topic with RD last weekend. You dont like Stewart don't read it. Press covers Stewart because that's what people are talking about good or bad. Every post regarding other riders turns into a topic on Stewart. He may not be winning but everyone is still asking why and when he will turn it around. Must be a reason Bro!
They do count ...sorry , but they do .
Remember in 2010 Yamaha change the design of their motorcycle to have a upright engine, this completely changed the ergonomics of the bike. Personally I don't think that is the main factor in the decline in his results, but it is definitely a factor.
When Yamaha made this change I went to the dealer and bought one. In my opinion the handling was shit, compared to previous years. I now happily own a Kawi.
Never called@ therealmofo Gay , thats his business , or a Moron .. his business as well ! not into name calling , but I am a world champion pig caller !
By the time Stewartfan finishes listing all his titles he has about 13. They include World SX titles, US Open Titles, 125 SX titles, MXoN titles, etc.. Generally the rest of us only count outdoor titles and big bike SX titles. That being said James has 5 titles (2-125 MX, 2-450 SX, 1-450 MX). Why not count 125 SX titles? Because they didn't have those until the mid-80s. RJ, Hannah, Ward, O'Mara, Bailey etc never had the chance to rack up a few 125 SX titles like others have since. As it stands James and RV have the same number of titles......5. RC has 15 titles not counting 125 SX, US Open, World SX, etc. He'd have about 35 titles if we counted the way they do for James.
Ferry won a championship , and never won a race ...no one remembered
I think Js7 has 18 amateur Titles as well >> but who is counting .... Me
Everyone makes great points and most of us can all agree to disagree. But we can all agree that the speed is still there and the aggression is too. He isn't getting slower.
just needs to stay off the ground and get a start. he had one really good start in Oakland and we saw what happened.
No Outdoors = Done!
No more in the tank to eclipes anymore records, could at least stop everyone else from getting close.
Glad you count those Preston, if it makes you sleep better then why not. All of that is fine and you can't take it away, Alessi has a ton of amateur titles as well. The point is in two years he is an off the box 4th and 5th place rider. You can't win titles these days by just being fast. Keep saying all you want scooter, live in the glory days...you kind of remind me of Tony Alessi. He may win Daytona, he may win Indy or Vegas. But he will still be 50 points away from the top. He will have a good experience in Nascar where all 30 guys are fast, not just 3 others.....next topic.
@Preston, you just made my arguement more legit. NOBODY remembers Ferrys title because it was in the 125 class LOL Like I said BIG BIKE TITLES HAHAHAHAHAH!!!
Preston is the reason somebody came up with the term STEWTARD!!
As crazy as it sounds but the rumors of JS7 switching to the Reed camp might just be what JS7 needs. Yea, I know they don't get along and it may never happen but with Chads incredible determination/drive matched with JS7's abilities they could be an absolute toxic duo. Just think about it, we know the bikes are fast.
@PW29- can't argue with that! Stewie is the most controversial person out there, love him or hate him, inquiring minds always wonder whats next for him.
@br411 You do realize he is still racing , You have put a cap on his career, and its not even over ...do you have crystal ball that actually works ... Remember you may be back on here sunday with your tail between your legs , or maybe me , But the title may be gone but not the racing , James is a Racer , He has proven that ! .. and come on man 3rd most sucessful racer of all time , I am not just a fan of Js 7 , but a fan of all the riders , but to tear him down the way some do , is just insane , makes me wonder why .. Pretty sure I know the reason , when people are concerned about his Hat .. @ therealmofo , really his hat bothers you ... must suck to be @br411 ..such little knowledge ... this is fun , your turn , scooter , or sport or chief , I like that one , You are now The CHIEF !
Preston, the reason people bag on Stewart as much as they do is thanks to people like you with comments like "3rd most successful race of all-time".
He has 5 titles. Rick Johnson, Bob Hannah, Jeff Ward, Jeff Stanton, and Broc Glover all have more.
It looks like he will be behind RV even in titles at the end of 2012.
Stewie has brought swagger and style to this sport. Sorry to hurt alot of peoples feelings but riding a dirt bike is no longer a White sport.
RC, MC, RJ, JW, BH, JStanton, BGlover......that makes James the 8th most successful SX/MX racer ever......unless I missed someone. 9th after 2012.
Hey,
Either way you slice it Stewart was the only one to give the Goat a run for his money. He kept him honest, no one else was able to do that.
I am ok with "Chief" that works! I have no crystal ball except the tv in front of me on Saturday nights. It is what it is and I actually dont dislike JS as a rider at all, these are just opinions on him. His skill of going exteremly fast on a bike are undeniable, but to win a title or come close you need to have a whole lot more. He doesnt have it...Do I really care about his hat no, do I think it is funny...yes. I am sure you are one of the JS fans that said Reed is a homo because he wears diamond studs that cost more than you make a year. There are always two sides of the token, respect on you for backing him up, it is a hard thing to do...I have done it with Reed for a long time. But again you never heard Reed say "Mc's record is not do-able it is Stewable" When you have 2 full summers to prepare for the SX season then by damn you better be ready to dominate and have the bike flawless. Instead he is a fourth place finisher in 2011 and would have been 4th again if Reed didnt wad up. He deserves 3rd and it is a great acheivment, but I wont give him credit for the "HYPE" and claims of beating the record. I wont tuck my tail and hide if he wins Daytona it could happen, but his dominance is over. Maybe he will head to 22 and gain some respect and learn a few things from the man that went through the ringer and came out on top. Just opinions skipper...I wish you would come up with something more valid other that am titles and 125 titles. No disrespect he acheived a ton, but we are in the big boy class now.
Wow, some serious Stewart hating there, @therealmofo.
Seems to me there are many aspects that go into the making of a championship winning rider. Skill, talent, speed, fitness, equipment are only part of the picture. Arguably the most important aspect is mental toughness. I think this is where Stewart needs work. After dominating to such a high degree for so many years, to lose that dominance must be difficult. Couple that with the high degree (unprecedented, really) of hatred directed at him by so many, must take a heavy toll on him psychologically. Couple this with the unique garbage he has to deal with that NOBODY ELSE in the sport must face...racism (as evidenced by the drunk fans at Southwick in 2007 who yelled "f#@k you n#@%&er;" in front of Stewart's mother every time he rode by, or the fan at A2 this year who spit in James' father's face) and of course it must be tough for him mentally. I think every time he lines up for a main event, he feels he CAN'T get a bad start and finish poorly, and in doing so, ensures that he will.
I believe he will get it together again someday soon. In the meantime, I'm happy he's part of the sport. It's fun to watch one of the most talented, gifted riders the sport has ever seen race, whether it's winning or going from 18th to 5th. And you haters? Get a life and realize your judgement of this wildly talented kid does NOTHING to define him. It just defines YOU as a loser with no class.
Have you seen JS7's crash reel? I'm pretty sure you can say he's been through the ringer and came out on top! OOOhhhhhh good huh?
I read two posts that were pertinent in my estimation. One was about Aldon Baker. That is VERY interesting to note. The second one was about the bike. It's pretty clear the Yamaha is giving them fits, every one of the journalists has written something about it and still it is one of those danced around topics that nobody accepting a check from Yamaha motor corp. wants to answer. They (meaning Yamaha) needs a new (old) bike. Why did Stewart take the Yama-bucks if he knew what he was getting into?
Well said mgwest! JS1 will be back soon guys.
PW...please bud come up with something better. Not talking about crashes as a "ringer" talking about fans bashing on him. JS is at a point where everyone hates, the same place Reed was until 22 Motorsports. Read between the lines, come on kid.
Oh, what a suprise....an article about Stewart!!!!!!!
Stewart is definitely losing speed. This year he has had the fastest lap in the main event 0 times and 2011 after nine races he had the fastest lap 5 times.
Stewarts got more wins in him yet, don't count him out. NOBODY does what he does on a bike and when he's on the track in practice you KNOW you can't take your eyes off him. James Stewart Entertainment is a good choice for his company's name for he certainly is that. Go get em James, light it up in Daytona!!!
This just in....James wants to know if anything good is on TV "rite" now, on his Twitter. Maybe too much TV is the problem? Maybe watch some tapes of the races past and present and find something to work on? Just a suggestion.
I'm telling ya, JS7 to 22motorsports! C'mon man, make it happen.
I think Stewart is just not as hungry as he used to be. Sometimes when you make mega bucks for a few years, you then start to get not as determined as before because you have already made your nest egg. If James would put the passion back in his racing and all the hard work that goes with it, I bet he will be right on top again.
mtman76 has summarized it.
... And maybe a 4th reason would be the Pirelli tires which appear to be in a progression phase.
James has to debug the bike vs riding style AND the risks vs reward. You need to have a strong head to deal with that - in all circumstances.
Mental state is key and in this area I bet Aldon was no stranger to James' past successes.
The dude is somethin special to watch, and when hes turnin it on, NO ONE is in the same ballpark.
Heres my theory-
JS used to race, and often win, because he WANTED to win and BELIEVED he could.
now he is racing and feels like he SHOULD win, look at the lap times and heat races, but in the big show hes not gettin it done because hes feeling he SHOULD be winning, and gettin frustrated when it doesnt just 'happen'
Hope you get my drift.....
Fingers crosse he doesnt get the sooks with our sport and jump ship to NASCAR. Hope coach gibbs has said "sure you can have a NASCAR drive when we have an SX and MX title"
The races are always more interesting when he's there . . . I want to see him win some more this spring, and want to see him outdoors battling up front as well. Back in December he told us he doesn't care about more championships, he wants 73 SX wins. He signed a 3 year deal and basically needed to win 10 SX mains each year to own the record. It seemed possible last December, fan or not; but 9 rounds in and only 1 win make it look like he'll have to take SX wins from Adam Cinc if he wants to get to 73. Having said that I still wouldn't bet against him winning out the rest of the season, it's still in him to get some holeshots and quiet the haters. Bring on Daytona baby.
Has there been any talk on if the 2013 450f will be any different than the 2012?
... the 2013 YZF will have a padded gas cap, no precision on where the vent tube goes.
Oh, dear god...see what I mean? lol
Any bets on him not racing MX????? I agree with the BLUE THING! After he put the blue light on his truck he was done.
frame sliders like they put on street bikes too?!
I was just curious to see if they even considered a change in design after all the talked about feedback.
This just in... Villopoto swares off TV, says not watching TV is the secret to his success. Dang B-KR, you must be some kind of Moto-Guru.
@MgWest--Show me where I said or did anything to "hate" Stewart?? I dont hate him at all, never said I did. @Preston said he was the 3rd most succesfull rider of all time, and I disagreed.. He based his stats on supercross wins, I based mine on big bike titles. All I said was he had the SAME big bike titles as Reed, and Preston had a hissy fit.. Other Stewtards called me names, as did Preston, but it was just my opinion, and still is. I feel titles are the most important thing in moto, not just winning a single race.. I dont have any problems with Stewart.. How can I hate him, I dont know him.
I am sure they are going to change the frame, Doug Dubach has a kit to relocate the motor now , he has worked for Yamaha a long time , and helped with alot of the YZs in the past !
Seriously, have you seen how far forward on the bike James is sitting when approaching corners? He is almost sitting on the forks!
JGR has made a special narrower tank/airbox/shrouds for him.
I'm not saying this is the future design change but it certainly shows that JS is seriously investigating some new riding techniques. Well, let's see where it goes...
Yea, I read about JGR narrowing the bike for him. They would be crazy to keep the bike the way it is for another year. The 2012 250f had some big changes. I'm not saying it would make a difference in his performance, but it couldn't hurt him anymore at this point.
Once again, THE absolute most talked about rider in the sport!! Nope, doesn't make him the best or the fastest or any of that, but people just can't resist the urge to talk about the guy.......do ya think his sponsors like that?? Bet they do!! Hell, B-KR has shown time and time again that he doesn't care for the guy, yet he follows him on twitter!! I love it!!
Stewart's days of domination are long gone. Everyone has caught up, and the top 250 riders moving up next year will be right on pace with the top 450 riders.
STEWART BROUGHT NEW STYLES AND SPEED (BUBBA SCRUB TO NAME ONE), TO SX/MX AND HAS PLENTY LEFT TO OFFER.
HERE'S HOPING HE CAN RESOLVE HIS ISSUES HE CURRENTLY HAS, WHETHER ITS THE BIKE OR WHATEVER.
HE IS THE FASTEST PERSON ON AN MX BIKE AND HAS CRAZY SKILLS.
GO BUBBA. JUST DO IT, BUT FOR YOURSELF!
SMOKE EVERYONE THIS WEEKEND.
Let me get this straight, some of you guys are arguing over whether or not a 125/Lites SX Title is considered a "title"....Well your answer is right in front of you....Its called a "TITLE" or better known as " CHAMPIONSHIP"......I'm betting if anyone of you bozo's won an East / West Coast 125/Lites Title, you would surely count is as a Title.....what a dumb argument..... whether you boned a hefer or a hottie...you still got your jimmy wet.....
Winning 125 or Lites SX Titles/Championships is part of the game. You go tell Mitch Payton that the 20+ titles he has plastered on his doors are not for real......It sets the stage for a riders career....If you dont win one of these titles, you most likely are not going to pull it off in the 450 class....Are there any SX champs out there that didnt win on the 125/Lites class??....did
...and the last time I checked, the 125/Lites Outdoor Nationals run the same amount of races as the 250/450 guys do and usually they have a bigger pool of competetion on any given week..... go tell Micky Dymond, Jeff Ward, RC, Jeff Emig, Guy Cooper , Ryan Villopoto, Trey Canard etc that there outdoor titles in the 125/Lites class dont count......how lame
Jeff Stanton and RJ are the only guy that comes to mind that didnt win any 125 titles and still were able to nab a SX title or two...or 3
@therealmofo .. Quits posting when the competition gets rough . , A title is a TITLE ... the end
@ KilloMoto, obviously small bike titles are significant, I think the point was that you have to compare apples to apples when speaking in the history of the sport or ranking a rider in "all time". The point was (I think) you can't count regional titles in a total for more recent riders when those titles were not available for anyone to win a generation or two ago. That is why people compare big bike titles, because they are a "constant" and have always been there to contend for and are a true measure when comparing riders from now to back in the day. This is the same reason most people thought the "World SX" title is a joke when the AMA title is the real prize. If you disagree, I guess you think Heath Voss is better than Reed (2004).
@bkr ... just tried to read your post ...got bored halfway through ...
alot of talk about titles , My original post was about Wins .. and in the end thats what it is all about for these guys ,
Say you do a five race Championship Series. After each race your friends ask you what place you got. You tell them second. Last race you come home with a Championship trophy. Same question repeats itself, what place did you come in? You respond, second. How did you get a Championship trophy with second place finishes? Wins do count, sure you have to think long term but this is racing. Your year could end in one race.
Way too over-analyzed in my humble opinion. Certainly the fame and money affected him-it does every rider whether they seek it or not. But he's a grown man, and I'm sorry, he has acted like a spoiled brat for years. So when the others (especially CR, RV, RD, and TC) stepped it up, he has melted, folded and choked at times. I've said it a hundred time: If you meet or exceed his speed, he will crash, crash you or crash and crash you 90% of the time. The competition is stiff now and the cream is rising. And it's only gonna get tougher the next couple of years with Barcia, Wison, Tomac....I have always liked Joe Gibbs but JGR SCREWED UP because they believe every thing they touch turns to gold. I've lost a lot of respect for them. They are being humbled on many fronts these days.
@RCRDDW,, So if JGR "screwed up," who else could they have picked up that could win championships ???
@ mxmofo1: They showed almost no interest in Dungey or anyone else and there are several riders coming up from the lights that will be available. I don't hate Stewart or deny his talent but the "Buuba Machine" ruined him and unless he pulls a Chad Reed in the next year or two (and I don't see that happening) he has seen his best years as far as wins and records go. Joe Gibbs has been a wise, humble man for years and he should have used the same wisdom and humility that has made him successful before. Decoster built a champion by CHOOSING Ryan Dungey when nobody else gave him a serious thought. People criticized him and Suzuki but he proved that it takes more than flash and talent to be a great Champion. Character matters....
@ RCRDDW,, I think they made the right choice for now because they wanted a 450 rider. They have a year or two to decide on Lites Riders. JS will come around, you watch.
"Preston wrote: about 2 hours ago
alot of talk about titles , My original post was about Wins .. and in the end thats what it is all about for these guys"
I can say I totally disagree with you on that and 90% of riders would and it won't change. Titles hold so much more weight than single race wins, I can't believe you said that considering you seem to know your stuff for the most part. You are just picking the race wins because that's what JS seems to think is important and it favours him. Are you seriously saying that any contender would choose more race wins and no title over less race wins and winning the title?
Forgot to add.............Race Win = $$ , Championship = $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
That right there is the one and only thing needed to justify my side of the argument. If you think more money and titles is less important than single race wins you are insane.
If there comes a point where Stewart is out of solutions for his troubles, does he jump ship and sign with Reed / Suzuki / whomever????
Contract-wise, I think he's locked up for three years. Could / would he breach just to get away from the Yamaha?
@ mxmofo1: Well it certainly wouldn't be the first time I was wrong about something if you turn out to be right. And Joe Gibbs has already accomplished great things. I truly believe that if what you say happens though, it will be because he changes his attitude and tells his dad he'll handle things himself. If he gets rid of the "machine" I mentioned earlier then I might have to eat my words. If that happens, I'll be pulling for him much like I have pulled for CR22 the last 2 or 3 years. Having said all that, I don't think ANY rider will dominate because the competition is truly getting better and better. Thanks for the FRIENDLY exchange. :)
I think if he would just date weimers old chick then dump her he would be immediately better for at least one race for sure. It worked for Jake
This article raises an interesting question: Back in 2007 who would have said that James would have "only" accomplished what he has done to this point? The guy seemed set to dominate a la RC. Sure RV and RD have brought a little higher level competition in the 450s but I'm pretty sure all of us at the end of 2007 would have said James will win about 10 SX mains per year, 60-70% of the outdoor motos, and the majority of the titles from 2008-2012.
I really hope he gets it back on track. He needs to get starts and lead races again, that will really show if he and JGR have the bike figured out and if he's capable of riding 20 laps consistent.
Can you say money pit? You can only do so much to that Yami. Not sure if you can get JS 100% comfortable on that bike. If he's not 100% comfortable, his confidence level isn't 100%, if his confidence isn't 100%, he can't ride at 100%. He's always going to be second guessing. Why lay it all on the line if your equipment isn't 100%? It's all mental, so first thing is JS needs to believe in his equipment.
I've stated that CR's turn around was doing outdoors, well he's got is bike dialed in too. CR always talks about how great his bike is. CR is 100%, mentally
& equipment. You talk to James, we have stuff we need to work on. Bike or mental, until he's 100%, we won't see the old JS.
The ERGONOMICS of that Yami isn't for JS, if they have to narrow the front-end. That bike will never be right cause the engine is backward which makes it wide in the seat. If he's stuck on that Yami for the next 2.5 years all the more reason to ride outdoors. If they can't get the bike 100% right, JS is going to have to change his riding style to try and make 100%.
Don't get me wrong, JGR is moving in the right direction. Look how much better DM is riding.
@RCRDDW,, I agree... It just sucks that so many poeple on here rag on him, and they don't even know his situation..
Looks like you guys are still having fun without me!
I really thought Stewart would be better this year than last, that he'd be pushing the pace up front with Villopoto. But that prediction was built on the fact that he had GREAT starts last year.
I made the same prediction with Barcia. He kept his starts from last year and so far he's dominating.
Lotta issues for Bubba. Race outdoors and you just might see some of them disappear. But if it's mostly confidence he needs...I don't know if he's gonna get it back watching RV walk away from him for the first five rounds.
Man. I hope we can get some more articles about Stewart, he just does not get enough media attention!
Doubt you'll see this Whatever, but the Twitter feed here on RacerX is all my involvement with it entails. I certainly am not "following" anyone, James or otherwise. And if you should check in Preston, outstanding response about having ADD and getting bored!
GL won a 125 outdoor title- with no wins.