It's Official: Stewart to Yoshimura Suzuki
Monday, May 7, 2012 | 11:05 AM
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Yoshimura Suzuki Racing is proud to announce the signing of famed Supercross and Motocross Champion, James Stewart, to a multi-year contract effective immediately. Stewart will compete in both AMA Pro Motocross and Supercross aboard the Yoshimura Suzuki RM-Z450 beginning with the first round of the 2012 AMA Pro Motocross Championship in Sacramento, CA on May 19th, 2012.
Stewart, often called the “fastest man on the planet”, comes to Yoshimura Suzuki with a long list of accomplishments. The 26-year old, native Floridian has amassed 6 AMA Championships, including two AMA Supercross titles and a perfect season, AMA Pro Motocross Championship. He also has a FIM World Supercross Championship as well as two Motocross des Nations titles to his credit.
“I’m really looking forward to joining the team,” said Stewart. ”It’s been a pleasure to get to test with these guys and meet the team. I’m very excited – I love the bike – Ever since I rode it from day one I knew it was a great opportunity for me to come out and showcase my talent. With Mike Webb as the team manager and Don (Sakakura), the President of Yoshimura Racing – It’s been great what they’ve been doing – The whole team is phenomenal. We’re all excited to get the ball rolling and see what we can do over the next few years. I just want to thank everyone at Yoshimura and American Suzuki for giving me this opportunity.”
“James is a great addition to our team,” said President of Yoshimura Racing, Don Sakakura. “He is an amazing rider and gifted athlete and we feel very fortunate to have him join Yoshimura Suzuki. We will do everything possible to help ensure his and the team’s success. Our company has been built on racing and winning championships and we intend to keep that tradition alive with James and his incredible skill on a motorcycle.”
Team Manager, Mike Webb, as well as long-time Team Suzuki mechanic, Lee McCollum, and the rest of the Yoshimura Suzuki squad, will support Stewart in his run for the 2012 AMA Motocross Championship and beyond.
“We’re extremely pleased with the announcement of James joining the Yoshimura Suzuki team,” added Team Manager, Mike Webb. ”We all look forward to working with James and a rider of his caliber. We feel very confident we can provide him with the equipment that he needs to ride to his capability. We’re working hard right now, though we don’t have a lot of time, but we’re very focused on getting ready for Hangtown and we’re definitely looking forward to the opener.”
Stewart will join Yoshimura Suzuki Racing teammate, Brett Metcalfe, at the first round of the 2102 AMA Pro Motocross Championship at Hangtown in Sacramento, CA on Saturday, May 19th.
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Looks like his scrubs are back.
Old news!! LOL
It's time to get it on, now that the blues are gone.
I hope he wins if only to piss off the haters!! LOL
Oh man, here we go.
I'm not a Stewart fan but I am so happy to see him on a Suzuki and can't wait for Hangtown. I hope him a Dungey battle until Lake Elsinore!!
The zook rejuvenated the GOAT's career and Reed's also. Can it do the same for JS7?
Yep,, its cant be the bike anymore.. Its REALLY go-time now. Good luck JS !!!
Its going to be a interesting summer for sure!!!
Love him or hate him. He just saved the Nationals TV ratings this summer!!!!
Time to see if it was the bike or not.
I've never been a big fan just because of his reality TV bullshit. Jersey Shore wannabe crap.
That said, the man has talent ona bike. (Or is it had???)
here we go, he's already comfortable and who knows how long he's been testing with the broken hand (if that was even true). love the look of the bike..go Stewie!
I'm ready to see Barcia go a full season in the premier. 3 rides, 2 podiums and a win?....I'm seriously thinking he can take the MX crown this year. Wish my boy Poto didnt bum his knee though.
Metcalfe will finish in front of stewart by the end of the summer.
Ok stewart, you get some love back for riding mx. We want to see the best riders race all the time! I hope you are still healthy when washougal rolls around. F@#k yeah!
“I’m really looking forward to joining the team,” said Stewart. ”It’s been a pleasure to get to test with these guys and meet the team. I’m very excited – I love the bike – Ever since I rode it from day one I knew it was a great opportunity for me to come out and showcase my talent."
Didn't he say this last year?...
Just made the nats a lot more exciting if nothing eles. Make RD work a little for the title.
Typo on the year
Its a WIN WIN for Suzuki no matter what happens, If he Win's there bike looks GREAT if he sucks everyone will blaim JS. The dude gave up a lot of money to do this...
Yeah. It's funny to me that NOONE else has issues with the Yamaha, noone that matters anyhow. I think it's Stewart.
You know what it is,
black and yellow black and yellow!
Let the videos come!
He'll join Metcalfe on the line, but will he finish the race... or the season. If he crashes out on this bike, is it all about the equipment?
Metcalfe ,Stewart & Alessi = Suzuki domination
Hell Millsaps had issues the first half of the season, bu the was coming off a knee injury, so that was to be expected. He still pulled second in points though.....Bike my a$$.
@BillC.... Am with you on this one... I suspect to part ways amicably with JGR.. He gave them back their $$... At least the sum he was supposed to get for his SX season...
Sucks for JGR... But I am sure Milsaps will step it up!!! He did great this season...
Anyway, the real test will be in 2013... RV1 is THE man to beat.. Reed should be back and giving one more try to win a championship...
For now, should be interesting to see how the MX will unfold...
I'll bet the Zooki makes him feel like he's on his old Kawallski, and I bet he's back to winning in short order,....ONLY if the fellas in the Suzuki pits remember to gas her up. Yeah , I aint forgot, no excuses this yr, too hot, too cold,...gremlins stole it....ect....
RC, Reed, and Dungey have good seasons in Suzuki. The RMZ450 was one of the dominant bike inprevious years with the exception of mechanical failures during Dungey's last season at Suzuki. This is a great opportunity for both Stewart and Suzuki to regain their dominance in Motocross and Supercross racing. At least we can see a true competition in the 450 class.
That's a mean scrub. Wow!
Now the REAL racing starts. Supercross is cool, but nothing like the outdoors. Too bad Villopoto and Reed are out. I hope Stew, Short, Saps and Brayton can at least make it entertaining. Metcalf may have some good weekends too.
Kawasaki should put Sauce on Villopoto's bike. I'd rather see that than him on a 250.
Good for James; if you were paying attention you had to have seen this coming. He hated his Ya last year and was sold on the changes JGR could make that San Manuel couldn't and he was testing the RMZ at the same time. Let's not forget this is the only major team(semi factory) that isn't affiliated with an energy drink aside from KTM that wouldn't conflict.. Anyway, did you guy's see the amount of posts for the official JGR release! Love him or hate him, people love to love him or hate him.
I hope he does f'up the suzuki brand when he start wadding it up all summer.
I love zook, always have and always ridem!! But I don't think the bike is gonna help a pre Madonna like js7. The guys a diva and a crybaby now!! I used to be a fan, bigtime, but damn theres only so much excuses I can take from a grown ass man!!
BillC - How do you know he gave up a lot of money?
JohnCrash2 - LOL
DeeJay - Carmichael won on any bike. Don't kid yourself. (Kawi, Honda, Suzuki)
It will be interesting series for sure. Windham should come out and ride too.
Surprise??? I think not!!! I really thought he might end up on a Husky. J/K
Vital has a photo gallery up of him on the Suzuki. Funny thing is that in the photos he is wearing one of the older models of Bell helmets, before they made the Moto-9. Just goes to show how long he has been riding the Suzuki.
Also now that he's racing the real thing (outdoors), i'm afraid to think of who all he's gonna land on, take out or kill....
Multi year... so was JGR, lasted 6 months!
Never had anything to do with the bike. Same James same excuses. He will hit the ground, and it will be not enough testing , so he will sit out the second half of the season to get ready for Supercross. James will quit for good next year half way threw Supercross.
Bubbles cost Yamaha a lot of money in sales. It was never the bike.
No RedBull logos???
someguy.... has the bell not rang for class yet? I figured by now you would be late for 7th grade P.E.?
So he's been riding it for maybe 5 weeks (by time hangtown comes)... Yeah that's enough time for him to get comfortable...it's gonna be very interesting. I can see him winning a moto in the first race...
Best of Luck James. Glad to know you still got love for the sport. Always have, always will!!!
@ Didierlotsyeng RV1 is not the man to beat. You have to be in it to win it, and RV1 will be sitting at home for the third time in four seasons. Also, you may be interested to know that RV1 won the 450 title last season because RD5's gas boiled at Texas. Just correcting the misguided and often deluded RV fans...once again.
As for Stewart, I hope he lasts a full season and we see some great racing between him and Dungey. It has certainly made things exciting again.
@LooseDIRT,, He said it in a statement he made. It was discussed that if he didnt like the Yam, he could get out of his contract and JGR would keep their money.
Well not only does he get the bike and team he desired to be on in the first place, but he's back on Dunlops. All the mental gremlins are finally away.
Time to man up...
Also the hand injury seems to be bull if he has been testing. More bull, more lies.
@texas11411- Gee, i'm hurt. Back in a bit gotta go get a tissue.
Also, What does it matter if no one else didnt mesh with that bike? (although there is definately others.) I thought everyone had copmpletely different set-ups anyways? Sooo maybe it wasnt right for him although it is for others. I bet Dungeys KTM wouldnt have gotten two or three wins this year from just anyone, but Dungey was atleast sub-Comfortable. Everyone acts like through the years there has never been weird bikes from every manufacturer, im only 26 and i can remember certain Suzuki's, or whatever brand having horrible bikes certain years... I just hope for great racing regardless of who is there, i want the best that there is to line up no matter what color bike and Race.
Fair play, hope we get to see the old JS7 again. His battles with RC outdoors in 06 were the stuff of legend, hope we see that again with him and the Dunge. And to the dude who asked where the redbull logo's are, its not a redbull team, so why would they add redbull stickers to it?
Let's see some results and grit, there's nothing else left to do. All we've seen since the beginning of 2010 is a giant circus, huge paycheques and very little results. He will win motos because he absolutely has to at this point for people to take him seriously. The bike change will do him well regardless of equipment, in his head it's better because a change has been made. His conditioning and consistency will be the question marks.
@motobk
Yes, the Yami is still a pig. The only reason Davi can ride it is because he can use all 200lbs of his tall frame to man handle it. For the normal sized rider, that thing sucks. Yes, I have ridden one and going from that to my CRF is night and day.
The only people defending that bike are the sorry suckers that wasted 9k on it.
As a Suzuki guy and a fan of all things moto, great to have him back!!! We all know he has talent, now he can open alot of peoples eyes and shut up alot of doubters or prove time has marched on..its all on the shoulders of James Stewart Jr....time to sit back and enjoy the show ....Bring on the Great Outdoors!!!!
Agreed BD25. Time to show us (if) he still has it.
@BILLC, you want him to win because you have always been a Stewtard, most of your arguments are from you defending Stewart till the end. And sure he will do fine--No Reed (who has been kicking his as$ for 2 seasons indoors) And no RV1, who would kick his as$ and then some if he was healthy. The only real speed is Dungey, who will beat Stewart like a drum. But Stewart has a chance now with all the talent injured. Its why he has jumped on the outdoors all of a sudden. Remember, just a few weeks ago it was reported that Stewart MAY race a few selected Nationals. Now that all the speed is gone, he comes running back. SAD.
Don't forget Barcia.
He will be on the 450 for 2012 right? just under the GEICO tent?
@ therealmofo,, Dude, you just don't have a clue. Do your homework before you come to class...
So is this RMZ basically a slightly refined version of the KX450 he rode a number of years ago?
@Tigole--Its obvious you have NO CLUE as to what you are talking about. For one thing, Millsaps is down to around 165 pounds. And another here are the weights of the bikes
Honda-231
Yamaha--238
Kawasaki-242
KTM-243
Suzuki-244
So by your assesment, Stewart will have it even worse on that "pig" of a Suzuki.. And if you didnt know about Millsaps weight loss in the off-season you dont pay much attention, or dont really know about anything other than your boy Stewart.
Hopefully Metty takes this chump out in testing....better for him and us.
@mxmofo--bite one as$hole. You are just a Stewtard, always have been always will be. Everything in my post is accurate. Stewart was not going to race, then as soon as the reports of RV being out, here he comes. You know it to be true.
Sweet. He will be a yellow lawn dart instead of a blue one.
scrub that
Ahhh Funn reading FUN FUN..
.
someguy ....Really??
.@
LooseDIRT ...That what I hear.
.
therealmofo ... HAHAHA never mind
I hate that people say it wasn't the yamaha because somebody else rides the same bike. Anybody who currently rides a yamaha is nowhere near the speed of James Stewart. James Stewart went with JGR in the first place because of the technology. Maybe he felt like since he won 11 races on the yamaha in 09 that JGR could get him back to that point. No Factory caliber racer agrees with the yamaha. Davi Milsaps is not a factory caliber rider. A1 proved that James made the wrong choice but that was his mistake. Don't discredit the man. He does more for the fans than any other racer. He has brought alot to the sport but people don't see that. Go get em' James!
@therealmofo,, so let me get this straight,, Davi is at least 6 foot tall, and 165lbs ??? hahahaha.. Put the drugs down Dude !!!
BILLC- You don't think Barcia will have anything for those guys?
@therealmofo
Yep, you're wrong. Try looking at factory bike weight, not out of the crate weight.
Sorry you wasted 9k sucker.
someguy wrote: about 26 minutes ago
Yeah. It's funny to me that NOONE else has issues with the Yamaha, noone that matters anyhow. I think it's Stewart
Someguy, who else was running the pace of RV, CR, and RD and winning races on a Yamaha? Taking nothing away from him, and congrats to Davey for 2nd in points, and staying healthy all year. But comparing Milsaps speed to JS, RD, CR, and RV you can't. He got 2nd throught consistancy and racing every race. It can also be said that we was battling for podiums and wins after all of the injuries that plagued this SX season. Milsaps is a lot heavier than JS, plus rides at a slightly slower pace. (tenths of seconds are huge in this sport) Its a fact that the Yamaha frame was too stiff. The reason Pourcel didn't wamt to ride the bike outdoors last year. I remember the controversy that MC had one year on a Honda, when he was found out to be racing the previous years bike/frame one year becasue the new model was too stiff for him. To us "novices" it might not be a big deal, but when you are pushing a bike to its limits the smallest little thing can be drastic.
Get ready boys... the Great Outdoors are soon here!
Funny; they left impersonating an officer off James' list of accomplishments...
I'm far from a JS7 fan, but I expect him to do well on the Suzuki/Dunlop combo.
For all the haters who, eles has won on that yamaha this year? Glad to see he made that switch this is gonna be good for him, suzuki and the nationals. Get'em Stew!!
Millsaps was toward end, racing a quite depleted field. In my opinion though, even if Stewart is averaging 4-5 seconds a lap faster than Millsaps, he still should've been able to keep it on two wheels. I think he just doesnt have it anymore. Too many knocks on the head or whatever. We'll see soon enough. As I said before i've note ever been a big fan but it would be nice to actually see him race to his 6 year old standards.
JS is a Red Bull sponsored rider. He will have the logos on his helmet like he did with JGR, but thats about it.
@J_Sloan... All part of the sport (bummer for Dungey...)... RV won, and even though he did not dominate.. I recall reading RV not being 100% at the start of the MX season.. He still won... In the record books, one will see RV's name (Not Dungey)... A shame he injured himself this year.. But he's being smart... Sitting out the remainder of the year to be fit next year, 2013.
@MX4lyfe .... Stewart went with JGR because of the $$ ( a real shame.. But seeing his entourage he tags along... I guess he had to?).. And some changes he requested and JGR did manage to comply... But still did not improve the bike... I do not believe the bike was ever the issue... Stewie rides in such a way... Not suited for the yamaha... Simple as that....
No more excuses, just ride James!! Even though I'm an RV fan, I'm a fan of racing!! Good luck!!
You know I think ppl get off track with the whole "ITS THE BIKE" thing, from my experience of riding over the years and from my friends opinions that I ride with its not to say a bike is crappy..........its just everyone has their own riding style and certain bikes fit your riding style better than others, so I think ppl should stop saying Yamaha sucks ( Not my favorite bike) but im sure its a good bike for ppl that their style fits how the bike handles. Ever since bubba joined Yamaha it just hasnt seemed like a good fit for his riding style, so its not that they suck, probly just wasnt for him. I wish him luck on the Suzuki and hope we get the old bubba back cause love him or hate him the old bubba was always fun to watch, keep it on two wheels and have fun again!
someguy ... JB is ridding the lites class.
I stated it as a question bud...was thinking he was doing 450 GEICO this summer then Factory Honda the next 2 years.
The story was JS wanted to sign with Suzuki back when he signed with JGR but there was to much turmoil at the time with Yoshimura taking over and could not offer him a deal because they did not know how or whitch way things were going so that left him with JGR and time running out.
The haters are really sounding desperate on here today.....cracks me up!! Telling stories of the "weak" competition makes me laugh....RV just won a SX title with nearly all of the top five out halfway through the series when he only had a 13 point lead......made it much easier on him for sure. I have no way of knowing how this will go for James, no one does, but in my gut....I FEEEL GOOOOOOD about it!! Hell Ya!! I don't think he liked the Yamaha last year and JGR told him they could make the bike work for him......and it didn't happen, so let go of the bullcrap talk about him screwing JGR.....they both let each other down, that is why it is an amicable split kids!!! Im just sorry he wasted one more year on that bike!! Pretty pumped about this....can't wait to find out!!
As a question, YES he is fast and should be up there with RV, RD and the rest but before that you said he was going to be on a 450 so thats what I was answering someguy.
Now it's just time to endure the two weeks of hype with pictures of him scrubbing, wheelieing through whoops, whipping and the eventual videos that are supposed to scare the competition away. This really is like a replay of late November with a change of plastic. Multi-year deal, so happy, bike is awesome, can't wait, etc. Multi-year deal? Again?! Well, it will be nice to have him out there for the time being anyway. Awesome scrub though, will come in handy when he enters the best scrub contest at Hangtown.
Therealmofo.... please do tell us how all of the behind the scenes contract talks went, as you surely must have been there. JS stated from the beginning of the year that he was racing the nationals. There were rumors that he was switching teams and someone ELSE reported that it was their OPINION he might show up until a few rounds in IF he switched to the Suzuki, becasue of the short amount of testing and even getting the deal done. It looks like JS has been on the bike for a little bit and also remember, Suzuki has a ton of outdoor testing and settings from other riders and other seasons, so they do have some baselines to go from. If the deal had not been worked out and signed at the time, which was doubtful as it was about a month ago, who knows for sure if the contract had been done already. Why do you think this broke the day after the end of the SX season. No one could talk about it. So for him to tell anyone he will be at Hangtown on a different brand, while still in contract for another team, when he doesn't even have a ride for shure set in stone, how would that then look when he doesn't show up. Its funny how people put their own biased spin on stories to portray their own personal hate for a rider.
Original Barcia statement---I'm ready to see Barcia go a full season in the premier. 3 rides, 2 podiums and a win?....I'm seriously thinking he can take the MX crown this year. Wish my boy Poto didnt bum his knee though."
And the follow up--He will be on the 450 for 2012 right? just under the GEICO tent?"
BKR, then just don't open the threads to see the pictures. Simple fix for ya.
I stand corrected though, thank you sir.
Wow lil Stewie has got to be the most popular rider ever to light up the message boards. Hopefully the Zook works out for lil Stewie and lets him ride to his potential. The bike worked out great for Chad and Ricky. Also this is a great oppurtunity to find out for sure, is it the bike or lil Stewie. Good luck to James and hopefully no lawn darting this summer!
You're not totally out of line with those statements B-KR.....but even though you wont admit it, i'll bet this move makes you a little uncomfortable doesn't it?? C'mon fella, be honest!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
i am glad that james has put his black ass on that rmz450.plus he and RC are gonna be hanging...to the haters i say this....up your a holes suckers 2012 mx champs chumps
Crystal Ball of mine just said this.
After the first moto at Hangtown JS7 was riding the Suzuki well but fadded back at the end of the first moto. New is he will not start the second moto. Got food poisioning between motos and is trying to get fluids into his body.
I didn't realize Stewart started his career in 2010.
Oh, and B-KR......in James defense, go back to last year when he was first getting on the JGR Yamaha...listen to the interview when they asked him about the bike and what he said, he put a positive spin on it,, and spoke more of WHAT they would do to the bike to improve it, but i didn't believe he really "loved" the bike..... just reading the words "I love the bike" in this story and i actually believe it!
! I believe he means it!! We shall see!!
If he wins, "the competition is out" comments will flood the boards. If he loses, no one will acknowledge the winner and go right for James. Saying how its not the bike, RV has raised the bar so high that it puts everyone on the ground and no one can keep up, even when he's on the couch. Everyone will also become a keyboard doctor and diagnose him with slow reaction times due to his enormous number of concussions.
This summer should be a James Stewart filled one.
I'm not sure how anyone can claim what is and what isn't working for him. No one knows what these riders feel in the bikes. If he wanted to ride for Suzuki, good for him. It was obviously not all about the money when he signed with JGR because he just raced 2012 for basically no money from that team. A confident racer is a fast racer. If James is comfortable and confident in this team/bike then who cares. Let the guy do what he's got to do to win some races.
Let's see... Since 2008-09 he has either crashed out of a series or quit it all together. Not the type of guy I want working for me! Teams have to start realizing that they can't believe the hype any longer. The guy is a fraud.
Does anyone else see the irony when RV fans claims that RV raised the bar so high that his competition crashed out...while RV is sitting on the couch with an injury from crashing out?
no Red Bull? Like Reed said, he has had tons of golden eggs handed to him, take this one and do something with it. Sack up and race!!!!!
tomktm
Although RV has won alot in the past year and a half, that was his first full season on a 450. Him and Trey Canard are just as much of a gamble as James.
Is he going to race the entire outdoor season or just select races?
I guess the real question is can he survie an entire outdoor season?
finally we officially learn what he will be riding, AND now i can get on with my life.
This might lite a fire under BM arrss. Good to have JS outdoors again, hoepfully he will make more than one race. Come on RD.
If it is or isn't the bike. Change is good! I can't wait for the battles this summer!! Good luck to James and his new team. And bring on the Nats!!!!!
Quoting Bill C: "Ahhh Funn reading FUN FUN.."
Agreed!
Brayton back to JGR?
@ J-Sloan......Get over yourself and your love affair with RD already, Jesus Christ.........By the sounds of it you probably think Reed's crash is the same situation as RV's tip over. You gotta be in it to win it, but wadding up huge while chasing the current fastest guy out there is different than tipping over and blowing a knee out. Regardless, no asterisks, no excuses, the results talk.
@JS good luck
Is this what it feels like to be in the Twilight Zone?
Comments like, I used to be a fan or RV's out so now JS is in or JS will crash or fade.
You're still a fan if you're posting. So what if he crashes or finishes last, what does it matter, remember you're not a fan or you already think he's going to crash or DNF. So WTF?
Brayton back to JGR in 2013...
@ J_Sloan......I saw that as a fan of RV and RD also, we understand you can't seem to let go of the fact that RV bested RD the past few titles, they both had mishaps and races where their points were hurt. But it is what it is, RD is a good rider who can challenge for titles, but most on here will give the upper hand to RV when it comes time for them to battle.
J_Sloan you are a mental midget...... I can't even call RV's episode a crash.....more like he laid the bike down doing about 5 mph....it was a complete fluke that he did in his knee!
How bout you shut up with your RV bashing and enjoy the summer.....looks like your guy will get another championship and RV is out til January 2013 in all likelihood so find someone else to disparage for the summer.
THE BEST NEWS ALL YEAR IN MX. WE ALL SAW IT COMING WHEN MIKE WEBB DID NOT PUT A REPLACEMENT RIDER. And JS& said that Big james wanted JGR but JS7 was into the suzuki but they could not commit for more than a yr and when they could it was a WEEK too late as JS7 had signed with JGR. Mike webb chose to wait and see how the JGR deal would go and BINGO good choice. With RV out,Reedy we might just see another 24-0 in the making. No doubt Stewart has come OUT OF THE BLUES!!!!
My only question is did everyone forget what happened to the Suzuki at Freestone and Southwick ? Also at Southwick didn't the Honda 450's blow up in both motos ?
BTW....not really a Stewart fan....love watching him race just not big on the rest of the package. That being said I've been a Suzuki fan ever since my old man rolled into our driveway with the 1981 RM125 in the trailer. I'm hoping Stewart can find the conditioning to make a series of this and bring the Zook back to the fore front.
Truthfully I see him winning a lot of first moto's and and RD winning all the second moto's.
Ok...does anyone remeber Reed on the Yam? Remember seeing/hearing him after each race? Same as Steward lately..that bike is just not made for someone that fast. Have any of you seen Steward riding that bike live at any of the SX events this year? The bike handeled like crap compared to RV's and Reed's bike...although it seemed to handle great for someone at Milllsap's speed. All that I know, everytime I've seen Stewie riding that bike in practice and the events, that it seemed very unbalanced and the front end very lite as well. ..also the rear end seemed very unsettled.
I'm hoping Stewie hasn't lost his confidence after riding that Yam for so long. I'm hoping that he gets that comfortable feeling back to were he could push it hard again and know that the bike is going to be there for him (like when he was on the Kawi). Personally, I think its going to take a couple of races for him to get that back...but we will see
I forgot about that dude TheChosen1 . The guys who said he is done and will not race the Nats are gone as well... Hmmmmmmmmmm
I really hope people are not giving Bubbles the title just because he is on yellow and CR22/RV1 and TC41 are no-shows. Dungey is going to real stubborn as is shorty and others. He (james) has a lot to prove
Hope Stewart's in shape. Dungey's going to have Stewart's tongue dragging the ground trying to stay up with him for 30 plus 2. Twice.
Everyone knows that the RM-Z450 is a winner. It's all on James now. I think Stewart's raw speed will win more first motos while Dungey's endurance will win more second motos.
These pics are from last summer. Transworld was doing article because it looked like he was going to zook. Then he went to JGR.
I don't know why you all are getting so hyped! He's not joining the series for another 90 years!
"Stewart will join Yoshimura Suzuki Racing teammate, Brett Metcalfe, at the first round of the 2102 AMA Pro Motocross Championship at Hangtown in Sacramento, CA on Saturday, May 19th."
He rode the zook all summer. So yea, he knows it.
Changing a bandaid won't heal anything. Got to get rid of the infection.
bigtireguy You keep talking up Shorty... Not bashing him but I REALLY don't see him winning. Hell after his big SX win he has done CRAP!! Sat he ran 11th thru 9th the whole race!! I hope I am wrong but history seldom is.
This has got to be the longest thread ever-proving james polarizing nature... He should have rode the bike he liked...in the first place. With the production rule there is only so much you can do weight bias and geometry wise.
Good luck James...every one including yourself should now be out of reasons/excuses....
I think we learned a lot here, that JS has been riding the RMZ for a while now and probably why he struggled in SX this year: he knew there was a better bike he could be riding. In this sport, you can't blame a guy who could have a career ending injury every time he gets on the bike for taking the money at 26 y.o. Signing with JGR was just smart business which many posters don't understand. I also never heard Stewart bad mouth Yamaha once, that has all been internet/media conjecture, yet the same posters act like Stewart has been the one doing it. Can't wait to see Stewart holeshot Hangtown, back to the Nationals where the real fans have wanted him for a long time.
this is not about money as someone stated. James gave up a lot to race the yellow bike that is the same as kawi.
I worked for SX and everytime I saw james on the yami I saw problems. only time I didnt was when he was on factory Yami.
also the tire's were shit. now he's on dunlop and has mad trust in them.
he's been on the yellow for sometime now. he wasnt at home with a wrist injury that bad.
once he crashed and gave villo the title early he said its over for this blue bike.
and millsaps looks good on the yami cos he is not fast as james and his *2nd is cos all the top guys were out.
lets see if JGR switches brands next year.
"I rode them all and the JGR Yamaha proved to be the best..."
A slightly paraphrased quote from James Stewart on a Steve Mathis podcast shortly after he signed with JGR Yamaha. During the interview he also said he tested the Suzuki.
Fastest man on the planet? Maybe for a few laps...
Ready for the outdoor nationals? Probably not...
Good for the sport? Certainly keeps it interesting!
Good luck James. Get focused and get ready.
The great outdoors are upon us!
Many people want Stewart to finally bring his “A game” to MX. He needs to remember RC, Reed and Dungey all won on the RMZ 450. It is a proven championship bike. If Stewart stumbles on the RMZ the haters will have a field day. If Stewart stumbles…it may be his last days as a racer.
I hope he does well and comes rejuvenated to outdoors. We will see better racing with a motivated Stewart.
How can anyone say that he's not ready for nationals? You must all work as his trainer. To say that he is going to come out and win an overall off the bat may be a little much, but once he shakes the cobwebs off and knows what he needs to do, he will be back in race shape. But I wont go as far to say that he is going to dominate or even win the title. Look at RV last year, it took him a few rounds to get going but once he did, he was a freight train. You people make this guy out to be a lazy, junk food eating racer. He has won championships...
Sounds like a lot of trigonometry going on in Millsaps' program. heh heh.
so he goes from the 2nd worst bike to The worst bike. interesting. im glad he is racing nationals. Going to be a great Summer!
@ retardcross You say that you can't compare Reed's crash while chasing the fastest guy out there, to RV's episode and then go on to say no excuses...sounds like you are justifying the difference, thus making an excuse, A crash is a crash, and RV crashed while pushing to get up front after a bad start. Fact of the matter is, Reed was running faster than RV the night he crashed out so Reed wasn't chasing the fastest guy out there, he was chasing the second fastest guy out there....and catching him. RV fans were all about the other riders crashing out while trying to run RV's mythical pace, and now RV is out with an injury after pushing it to get up front after a bad start. But all is not fair with RV fans: They make excuse after excuse for RV and then won't allow the same excuses for other riders.
@Ripdown, maybe one day you will learn to move beyond personal insults and discuss things without the anonymity of a keyboard.
Hey Fellow posters, Yes I just logged on. WE all knew this was gonna happen. Whithout DeCoster we will see what he can do?
This is my take on the Stewart and several other riders and I have never saw it said yet?
The problem is the people that have had to never work on a bike and just let someone build it for them, cannot tell the Tech's what is really wrong so they just have to guess? For example RV , Dungey Reed and several more had to do work on thier bikes and knew what was wrrong. Anothe example I think would be Allesi and there are a lot more that probably have never even cleaned an air filter nor checked tire pressure.
I think that is stewarts problem and a lot of the others that had talent and could not make it. Stewart can ride but I dont think he even knows how to adjust the clickers on his suspension. AKA Dampening that is what the towel gets when I wipe the sweat off????
Just my 25 cents worth, yes ilt is no longer 2 cents worth? Did that make sense to yall????????????
LETS RACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Coming from J_Sloan ............ THE KING of excuesses!!
.I will give you credit though I think that was your first post this year that you did not say anything about RD's chain or fule....Did it feel good??
I don't need to make excuses J_Sloan, the results (the only thing that matters) favor the best rider. I'm not saying RV is running some mythical pace, I'm saying Reed's crash and RV's crash are two totally separate animals. Pushing to the brink and wadding up while chasing the reigning champ is entirely different than a low speed tip over taking out your ACL in a nothing crash.
Has anyone considerd that maybee JS is tottaly BORED WITH BIKES. ya know.... kinda like a job, no mater what cubical they put you in, its still the same job.
As BillC said, you are the king of woulda, shoulda, coulda. The only time you come out of hiding is when you have the opportunity to throw jabs at why RD hasn't won the last 3 titles. It's old at this point.
@ retardcross you may need to make excuses, but you DID make excuses. The only time I come out of hiding is when I am replying to some misinformed RV fan who puts things out there that are either flat out wrong, very hypocritical (as in your case), or at the very least, debatable. This is a discussion forum, after all.
@BillC, Shorty has shown through his career he is better outdoors than in, and he has a great bike under him, and remember he has been top 3-5 in the finals in the outdoors. Remember the grand national series? (SX/MXcombined points) Shorty would have rode a Blue #1 plate like Bailey A few times. Just saying with the absent guys, Shorty has a real shot this year. LOL just sayin.......
You're a lost cause J-Sloan, so I'll just let you have it and say that RV crashed trying to run Short's pace at Seattle by your logic (crowd laughs). By the way, you pointed out Reed had a faster lap time than RV for the first time of the series, is it odd that he had a catastrophic crash shortly after? You were pretty proud that someone was faster than RV for once, but didn't mention he didn't finish the moto.......
@ downwheel, you may have valid point but the only one who can answer that question is James himself. I just hope this isn't like in stick and ball sports where an aging player is looking for the last championship hurrah any way he can. Having seen Bubbas World back when he was getting ready for Unadilla. It seemed like he couldn't describe what the Yamaha was doing but in the Racer X Race Tech test of the same bike, Ping spoke well of the stock disadvantages. Also Ping could tell you how the bike was handling after the mods. The truth is some fast guys just don't test well while others do.
@mxmofo--If you didnt hear or read about Millsaps and his weight loss, its obvious you pay no attention to anything other than Stewart. It has been all over the racing news this season. Get your head out of Stewarts behind and get a clue. The guy biked all off-season with a trainer and lost over 35 pounds. He said himself he was around 165.. Wake up.
@ retardcross You can correct me if I am wrong, but wasn't RV racing to get up front, no matter who was up front? Maybe RV was just in cruise mode in front of his hometown crowd and was just content to chill in the back of the pack. My mistake, RV must not have been pushing to get up front like he did in all the preceding races.
I wish i had a dollar for every time that d-bag "tomktm" has said James is a "fraud"!!! Good lord dips--t shut the f up!!!
I can hear his theme song now, "black and yellow, black and yellow, black and yellow" You will hear this at some point associated with james and his new suzuki.
@MXMOFU--If you hadnt heard about Millsaps off-season workouts and his extreme weight loss, you nedd to get your head out of Stewarts behind and read about another rider or two. It has been all over the press this season. He hired a personnal trainer and lost around 35 pounds, Millsaps said he was at around 165 pounds. If you dont believe it call Millsaps and tell him he is lying.
Crap, my computer must be acting up, didnt see my first post to mofu come up, sorry guys.
Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Don't even try to reason with J_Sloan. He is still struggling to face reality. RV won last year and he did it with 10 moto wins over Dungey's 6. Everyone who followed the outdoors last year knows RD could have been a repeat champion had he been able to beat RV in the final few rounds but he couldn't. J_Sloan just has some crazy bromance obsession with Dungey.
I'm happy for Bubba and thank the lord they were able to put this together because the "premiere" class has become quite a snooze fest up front. Hopefully Bubba and Dungey can provide some good racing for us to watch.
Just saw the video! ITS ON AND CRACKIN! This is just want he needed! The same thing happened to Bob Hannah when he got rid of the yamaha and went to Team Honda! Like someone else said on here, night and day difference! Can you say COMFORTABLE! And its not even his set up and ready race bike. I CANT BELIEVE the fools that say he is washed up! These people have such a huge delusional disorder its not even funny! Haters come one and come all! Its just what he needed to make you more hateful and jealous. Just be happy for someone that needed something to make him feel comfortable. Yamaha! Hmmm! See ya!! haha!
And oh, I forgot! If the haters didnt give a damn, why is it that Stewart gets alllll this attention? Think about it! No other rider gets this much online attention with all these comments. I have sat back and let the crap go but all I can say we will see how things go this summer! I wish him all the luck and I hope he whips em. Wouldnt matter if RV was there or not. He was still planing to race the nationals for awhile now!
Fiction reveals truths that reality obscures.
Newguy: I'm not at all worried. See, I don't think it's the bike at all, so I expect nothing new from James on the Suzuki. Add to that that he hasn't ridden outdoors for so long and I expect nothing more from him than what happened in SX. I watched the video of him on it and I see him riding the same smoothed out track with zero holes and cross ruts and realize he still is practicing for show and not go. The other guys purposely ride bombed out tracks for outdoors, as that is where you can see what suspension is doing. James rides on a track that it can't be determined what the suspension is doing, so he hits the race and is ill-prepared. My feeling is that James' concussions have caught up to him and have limited his concentration. That is why he can win 8 lap heats but crashes in 20 lap mains over and over.....often due to simple screw-ups. Guys like you think EVERYONE has the same mental spazcisity for "their guy" as you do. Not true though.
Seems like I remember an interview with Chad Reed a while ago where he's talking about Stewart and says, "I'm just glad he's not on a Suzuki." I hope the switch does him well.
But will Stewy sack up? That is the question ....
How could anyone get bored riding dirtbikes? We need Stewart & Dungey for MXON sand bash!
The video is from last year also, just like the pics. Just released it now is all.
I don't understand why so many people are like bk-r haters
it was ok when he win 24 race,But now He not wining its a problem.That's what you call a hypocrite.bk-r
Thanks James for making the outdoors worthwhile to watch again!!! I hope you do well.
@ rjstreets, yeah i agree, it seems like JS has gotin complatiant. but i dont belive its the bike hes on, not in this day and age. but one thing is a garantee, TIME WILL TELL.
Signed a multi year contract.Where have we heard that before?
Bubba has had obvious problems trying to give his Tech guys any accurate feedback in the handling dept. He has most likely never had to turn a wrench in his whole life, so he lacks some ability to troubleshoot suspension and steering setup. The Yamaha (at his level) must throw some nasty feedback at him that he can't comprehend, almost similar to the first couple of versions of Honda's AF's. This brand change for Bubba is for some sort of "Mental Confidence"(?) A Confident JS7 is a Dangerous JS7. Hopefully his Physical abilities of present times can keep up with this new "Mental Confidence". This season of MX will be FAST and I'm excited to see it get started. Bubba's new re start of sorts will only add to this excitement for all of us.
wow is js7 popular hes gets the most posts great for the sport
If Stewart wins the outdoor title this year, I want to know if the Stewtards will slam this title just like they do for Reeds supercross titles, since RV1 is hurt and Reed is hurt.??
Retardcross...is exactly what he claims to be...a FKing retard. Having watched the 9 minute video RacerX put up here you can already tell that he has his mojo back. The way he scrubs and whips the jumps in preparation for the next obstacle is amazing. Can't wait until he dominates the competition once again and retardcross and all his flamer friends can suck a fat one. Like him or not, nobody can ride a bike like James when he's on his game and you can already tell he has it back.l..eat $hit Retardcross boy.
@therealmofo I'm sure you are aware that weight distribution can effect the perceived weight of the bike and that feel is much more important than the bike weight on a scale. Having a rearward canted cylinder and an airbox where the tank should be certainly makes the bike feel much different and could be described as a "pig" by some.
As far as Millsaps ability to ride the bike goes I think the diminished field had more to do with his "improvement" than him getting better on the bike. Not trying to bash Davi but it's true.
Someone mentioned Suzuki rejuvenating RCs career. From what I recall there was no rejuvenation required. I think he could've won on a Schwinn.
Hopefully Suzuki will be all JS hopes it will be. The more competion for RD the better.
@ slarveson....Jesus you sound like you're married to him, I'm sorry I'm not sorry I offended you. I don't even recall chirping JS once in this thread (because I didn't) so what started that rant? You people of low IQ are easy to identify by your knee jerk attacks and lack of comprehension to anything not praising JS. You're right though, based on a 9 minute video on his groomed backyard track, he's going to dominate for sure. You're setting yourself up for disaster with the domination talk, best pump the brakes before you look extremely stupid. I guess that's the beauty of the internet though, you don't have to worry about anyone knowing who you are. Carry on slarveson, anything else intelligent to say?
Retardcross...Im not pissed or anything but you're the one who makes stupid comments bagging on JS on anything you can possibly come up with so finally just got sick and tired of it. My point is that just by watching his video you can tell that he is much more fluent and smooth on the bike than on the YZF and everyone says its not the bike? Even all the guys who really know what they are talking about in the industry like pingree, mathis, Reed, and many others agree with that. RV is the man but I don't think he can ride like how JS was riding in that video period. I've said it a million times already but RV is the man right now but JS is still the fastest man on the planet when he has his crap together and I believe he has it together now that he got off the $hitty YZF. Check back with me in a month and thank me later Retardcross.
I'm not too concerned, consistency doesn't seem to be his thing when there is competition, RD on the other hand........ (minus this SX season lol)
To all that still think that its not the yamaha, just go back and look at the few other riders riding blue and see how many times during the season that the yamaha didn't do something really weird and they fell because of it, and remember that they were provably going much slower than JS.
or even easier just go and ride one and you will see....
I really wanted this team to pick up Canard next season. Hopefully it is still possible if they get rid of Metty. He's a nice guy but in my opinion he does not deserve a factory bike, he simply is not fast enough. Anyway good luck to james, I would really like to see suzuki win like it used to.
2 Observations. Broken yellow plastics and poor Metty, now teamy's with Js7 no doubt the most inconsistent rider out there today.
Retardcross, geez enough with the Reed vs. RV crash and trying to justify it. They both made mistakes, a crash is a crash, they both got hurt. To say reed is out of control for hitting a kicker is asinine. I assume you do ride. So if my assumption is right then are you saying you've never hit a kicker, or neutral and fought you off guard, even when you were not riding over your head? Reed just happened to make a mistake at a worse time than RV... It's racing, crashing happens. Trying to justify why YOUR riders crash was any different than another's riders mistake is absurd. You make it seem like Reed was all wisky throttle hanging off the back goon style and crashed into the mechanics area. Tomac and Barcia caught an edge on the same lap on Saturday. neither was riding over their head. Sometimes sh*t happens.
Ride111mph I like your avatar pic- what is that thing?
And retardx- didn't Stewart 'tip over and blow a knee out' while leading the 2007 outdoors? That was the one and only time where he was injured outdoors and couldn't continue. All of the other season ending-ruining injuries are from supercross. Look it up. '03 sx ruined the '03 outdoors- '05 sx ruined the '05 sx- '07 outdoors ruined the '07 outdoors and '08 sx- '10 sx ruined the '10 sx and '10 outdoors. Thats it for his outdoor inuries that ruined the title opportunities. He is not known for being a lawn dart in the outdoors- only the indoors.
Yeah Villopoto was going 5 mph when he torqued his knee- but he was going about 35 mph a quarter of a second earlier. He came into that turn way too hot- looked as impatient as Stewart sometimes does.
@j_sloan and wfo.. first off saying that rv fans are misinformed, yeah why would we back up our favorite racer that won literally everything in the 2010 series..musta been a coincidence, but then again your right he did get hurt this sx season..only difference is he did what he needed..clinched the championship stewart is the perfect example of any superstar pro racer can have the fastest lap. but champions are consistant and i would say if anything rvs injury will be a well deserved vaca from winning a sx championship, mx championship, leading the mxon team to another overall win, winning the monster million, then coming back this season to win another sx championship..sounds like were misinformed
I'm a Yamaha guy, but I really enjoy watching James and am happy he's away from Joe Gibbs. I don't think his head was in the right place when he signed with Gibbs. I think he was more concerned about his future after MX/SX and just wanted to get buddy buddy with the owner of a big time NASCAR team. I think this move now says that he knows where he really belongs, on a motorcycle and that he's focused on motorcycle racing over anything else.
alessi, stewart, dungey. hangtown 1-2-3
Uhhhmm- misinformed? RV didn't win anything in 2010.
i honestly cannot believe how people think mike alessi is going to win another mx. maybe if stewart, dungey, short and millsaps all go down at once he might have a chance...
Does anyone remember that crappy year that Dungey had that last year on Suzuki? Do you rememeber how uninspired the Suzuki pits were, how mismanaged their team was...and what crappy mechanics the factory Suzuki wrenches were? I'm all about JS7 being fast, and he'll go fast...for a while, on the Suzuki. But if the bikes start to fail him like they did Ryan Dungey ( who is much easier on the equipment that JS7 )...then he'll bail on them also
2010 was a typo..and you would know that being a fan i meant 2011
Love or hate JS7, by the number of posts here, nobody can say he isn't interesting.
If he wins the outdoor championship in yellow, I will take back my theory that the nerves he damaged when he hurt his wrist are the real reason he has had so many problems recently staying on the bike.
JS will be competitive w/RD if he's in outdoor shape.Otherwise,I hope he doesn't crash his brains out and drop out of the series.Maybe he should gauge his speed and conditioning before he pushes it.As has been said before;no one generates as many posts as JS.Love him or hate him;hopefully he's good for attendance and ratings for the Great Outdoors.It's time for results and nothing else will do.I hope if JS does start winning again,all the haters don't go away because at least their rantings are entertaining-which we should hope the outdoors is also.
Bubba no longer has the desire to be a champion, doesnt matter what color bike he rides. He was on his ass frequently when he was on a Kawi. Quite frankly he rides over his head and doesnt have the mental capacity to surrvive an outdoor series. I have been watching Stewart since he was a kid racing a kx 60 atr Bithlo and he really hasnt matured that much. Never compare him to RC. RC was a true Champion who would win on anything. Yellow plastic won't give Stewart heart which is what it will take to win. Will give him credit for being fast but you have to be on two wheesl at the checkers.
"Well, if it isn't a, Cat Fight in the Alley Tonight"
So hard to believe too, with the "Number One Tuna" as bait.
Somebody get the garden hose quick, so we can get some sleep.
It's a work day tomorrow....
@texag... RC did mention the suzuki deal prolongd his career.. As after the Honda saga, RC felt burned out...
And... Honda was being ungratefull towards RC for not offering him another contract... But that's another story..
DeCoster was smart to sign on RC, and the RMZ250 and their 4 stroke program was already in full swing... Look what RC did!! HE won big times!
And... I seriously doubt RC would have won on a husqvarna, or even a KTM back then.. Ha,ha... RC is smart enough to join teams who were capable of winning... Hence he earned his nickname "the GOAT"!
Hey "realmofo", if you are worried about the fact that there is no RV or CR out there for MX and that it will somehow tarnish JS results....lets not forget that TC, CR and RD all went out by the halfway mark of the SX season and RV only had a 13 point lead at that time. Yes, he was the favorite for sure, but 13 points with half the series left may well not have stood!! No doubt much of the pressure was off with those guys out.......RV's 2012 SX Title*...........*not all the top riders were out there full season* ASTERISKS!!!
@ REF-man.................No asterisks, for past titles or the outdoors coming up. Gotta be there and be healthy, the results are the results.
Maybe they should install electric start. Or better yet, an asterisk medical tracking device.
Guess when you are the fastest man on the planet you can just terminate a contract anytime you want and pick up another the next week. Remember when chad did that, he got abandoned and had to start his own team. JS7 is a lucky sonofa and the worst part about it is he will probably win now and regain that ego of his.
SpeedWheelie, from what I have heard it was a mutual decision to split, and there was a clause in the contract. So honestly you can't bag on James for that. I don't blame hime for his decision. If that is what he feels what was holding him back, and in my opinion agree, then he needs to do what he needs to do to get him back to his top form. A lot of riders might have just say back and cashed in with average results. To me this shows me how determined he is to show everyone what he can still do.