Monday Conversation: James Stewart
Monday, February 25, 2013 | 10:10 AM
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When Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart announced he had a torn ACL (suffered during practice at the first race of the year) it seemed like only a matter of time before the knee gave out completely and he would have to get surgery and call it a season. Instead, he’s actually gotten stronger. He’s avoided further damage to the knee despite a few getoffs, he resumed training and riding during the week, and finally, in Atlanta, got a good start in the main event. From there, it was on him to deliver, and he did. At the team hauler after the race, we talked with him about it—and Stewart made sure to mention how critical the team was in getting this win.
Racer X: In 2008, you had a torn ACL and dropped out of the series after the second race. This year, you’ve stuck it out. Is this why? Is it because you knew you could do this and get a win?
James Stewart: I stuck it out because the team stuck with me. Obviously we were bummed after Anaheim but they didn’t change. When you feel like the team goes, “All right, we’re done for the year,” then it’s like maybe I should get my [surgery] because they don’t have confidence in me to get it done. But they did. So a lot of people just don’t understand. Being at this point in my career, and being with Suzuki, I learned a lot from outdoors [last year]. We went in there and just won everything in the beginning. And in the third race we got hurt. And those guys were still there every weekend. We had a great off-season. And I felt like I would let myself down and the team down if I walked away. So as much as it sucked and as much as it hurt, coming to races knowing that I wasn’t even close to 100 percent, knowing I wasn’t riding during the week, it sucked. But at the same time those guys were never wavered, and honestly that’s the real reason I’m here.
Stewart went wire-to-wire to claim his first win of the season in Atlanta.
Simon Cudby photo
Oh, so you didn’t necessarily know you could get back to this form, and get a win?
I thought maybe I could do it. I didn’t know if I could do it. I knew I had to be able to train during the week to do it. Especially with how deep the field is. Nobody’s been hurt this year, and everybody’s still here. You can win a race or you can finish seventh. So I knew if I wasn’t in shape, it was kind of hard believing I could win. I knew if I stayed in it and didn’t get hurt [more], which I was trying to do that in the first couple races, just being there. I knew I’d get better. It’s cool to progress. We rode better at Oakland. Anaheim 3 we rode better. And in San Diego, and obviously Dallas. I felt like we could have done this at Dallas. But to get here and win this, it’s even more special.
Yeah just explain the impact last week had on the team.
I think we actually got stronger after last weekend. I didn’t come back to the truck mad, I didn’t throw helmets. I didn’t do anything. I actually picked the team up because I told them, “You guys stuck with me so why wouldn’t I stick with you?” And that’s why I love my team because, I can’t say it enough, as bad as this year has been, and it’s been bad, we never wavered. To have something that devastating happen, and almost be embarrassed at the same time last week sitting on the gate, to come back and get some redemption and do it the way we did it is special.
Yeah lets talk about the race a little bit. When was the last time you got a good start in a main event?
It has been forever! I haven’t got a holeshot, the closest I’ve been up to was Anaheim 2 and I think I was still mid-pack, they just had a pileup. Or when Reed got us at Oakland, that was close then. Tonight, the way we did, we got out front, which is, not being out there for a while, is probably not the best situation to be in. You’d probably rather be in second catching the guy instead of just being there leading. But to do that and have Ryan [Villopoto] on me and then to really just kind of test to see where my training was, see if it was going to fade out. I was strong the whole time.
It was all smiles for Stewart on Saturday.
Simon Cudby photo
The one section you really made up ground was that rhythm lane, where you had to double jump off of the dragon back. Ryan wasn’t doing it. How hard was it?
It was tough. I was holding my breath every time. I think it was maybe worth a tenth of a second if I got it right, but if I didn’t get it right it was way slower. That was the only part of the track that I felt like I didn’t really feel like I could do that every lap, easily. It was hard. The whoops, I had one sketchy moment through there. I got caught up with a lapper. He actually passed me back. But still, overall it was a win. Led all 20 laps, won the race, holeshotted, it was good.
Okay so the obvious final question, how good does this feel? Is this one of the most satisfying wins for you?
I think it is. I think the only person that would probably feel like this if they won is Trey Canard. As bad as my luck has been, it’s not even been close to his. And he’ll get his, it’s coming. I think he would be the only person that would feel this good about a win. But for me I felt like a different person after last weekend. After last weekend, I was just sitting here like ‘Dude, maybe this won’t happen.’ But we believed again and came back and those guys are ready to go. I mean, really, I struggled all day. I kept telling those guys I sucked all day. I didn’t even like the track today. But we won.
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Good job, James. Winning is still important, title or not, it still says a lot to get a win against this field of riders! I hope you keep trying hard for more of them......it still matters!!
Congratulations to Team Suzuki and James Stewart!! Two former champions, that find themselves now as underdogs!! This victory has got to taste soooo sweet to both parties!!!
James is right. Nobody is out with injury and the field is stacked. I love this season. To top it off, the same guy is not pulling the holeshot and checking out for the victory every week.
GOD IS AMAZING!
-Ray Lewis
That Jimmy Stewart... boy he's fast!
"Oh but the track was one lined and slick wah wah wah..."
Someone is going to say it so I thought I'd preemtively make is sound as stupid as it really is...everyone is racing the same track.
Great ride and good speach- flat beat everyone.
Oh yeah...I thought fro and the people on the couch said the sand section was more difficult..glad I went with the goat and voted rythym sections...ask RV about em'
@ dinosaur......I wanted to punch Fro and Shaheen through my TV when they kept insisting the sand was the dealbreaker against RC's word, who was clearly correct.
Congrats to James on his first win this season! Great ride. Good ride by RV as well. The season got more interesting.
I say, let's start Outdoors NOW:)
@chubby chad, pray to God your not refering to that got away with murder POS football player.
Congrats to James, good to seeing him riding like his old self. I thought the track looked good and adding the sand section. Also with the dragon back and offeing an option to go around.
It was good to see James riding well. He is the magician of the first corner, and while he has lost a couple steps along the way, he reminds me a little of Ali later in his career when he had taken too many of George Foreman's overhand rights - slower but much more mentally tougher. Keep it together, dude.
@Dinosaur hahah i like how everyone is complaining it was slick. If anyone was faster than the other, there would have been passes made no matter how bad the track was. James was fastest on Saturday. That is all.
3 great starts (Dallas Heat, ATL Heat and Main) for James in a row. Hope it contiues like Davi seems to have done...Top 5 start and you still have a chance, but anything worse on tracks like these with this field and its slim pickens (see Dungey and Reed)..In ATL, we saw james and RV pretty much get a 5 second cushion within a few laps....With James nailing the start and RV right there, to be honest I was thinking that atleast James is set up for making the podium...but pumped he won....For James we all know the speed is there...just putting it all together was the challenge....Dudes who say James is washed up, out of shape and all that jazz were surely proven wrong this week....
Very good interview. Love James' attitude. I've never been a fan of his because he always rubbed me wrong with his ego and all. But this season he just seems way more relaxed, humble, and has seemingly gotten rid of the pressure of being in the spotlight. Saturday night was a great ride for him. Hope he continues down this road.
Would've liked to have seen at least one more win for Kdub before he retired, but probably wasn't gonna happen. He didn't have the pace of this class of riders. And c'mon Reed....you're due! You're better than this. Pull your head out and get a win!
That Jimmy Stewart... boy he's fast!
I'm pumped that one of the veterans has won. I like Stewart now, he is pulling through the adversity really well. Unrecognisable to a couple of years ago.
As a die hard Reed fan, it saddens me to say this, but if seeing Stewart win doesn't encourage him / fire him up, nothing will. His starts have stunk so bad in the mains...I like this championship, but it is really weird not seeing it "boil down" to two riders in the classic sense. Yes mathematically eventually there will be only two who will be fighting for it, but the winner week in week out will still be a lottery as far as guessing it is concerned. Really is so much like the 1990 season (as I said at round 2 when Coombs came out with his changing of the guard rubbish). Back to Reed...how long till he gets that spark back?? Last year he was on it in the beginning. We've yet to see that kind of agression from him. I want to see it soooo bad. Such a weird season...seeing RV not able to real Bubba in was cool but so surprising somehow. The track seem so crowded now, yet there is no rubbing, its just everyone doing their own thing..despite it being so crowded. SO WEIRD. Never seen anything like this season before!! And TV coverage seems to have no clue how to follow the racing because of this. This is when I wish I was at the event! Must have been amazing to be there....
Yawn...stretch...snooze...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
That SpottedMarley............man he's an attention seeker! Great ride James, keep the ball rolling. Hope you are able to race the Great Outdoors.
Sweet ride James, way to hang tough! And also another new winner, love the parity. Who's next: Canard, Reedy, Tomac? I dunno. Fun to watch though and a great season so far!
Stewart – back in the winners circle and the return of the humble boast!
QUOTE: "I mean, really, I struggled all day. I kept telling those guys I sucked all day. I didn’t even like the track today. But we won."
TRANSLATION: Even though I *really* struggled all day (despite setting fast time in both practice sessions), and just sucked overall, and not even liking the track – I *STILL* one!
WON! Not 'one'! :P
Here you can check Stewart's win video report: http://motocrossone.blogspot.de/2013/02/james-stewart-atlanta-race-report.html
Did I read this correctly, James when he does poorly goes back to the truck and throws his helmet like a little 10 yr old. What a great role model! boo hoo I did bad so I will go and pout in my truck.
Why is everyone so surprised RV couldn't reel JS in anyway? He was uncharacteristically bad in qualifying.....(when was the last time he was as far down as 7th in practice times?)
His heat race was poor too....frankly I was pumped to see him get out in 2nd and maintain position for 20 laps. It's obvious he wasn't comfortable with something in Atlanta. Daytona should be good....if these guys can't get into some real racing there then the series is in trouble.
Yamahaa, nope you read it wrong. He wasn't referring to himself doing it; just riders in general who fall under similar circumstances.
@Langston_fan - Awesome season, for sure! The TV package is getting a little better. There were a few split-screen moments that made a world of difference. Now--like you said--if Reed can get his program back to what it's capable of we'd be all set.
@yamahaa - James said, "I didn’t come back to the truck mad, I didn’t throw helmets. I didn’t do anything. I actually picked the team up because I told them, 'You guys stuck with me so why wouldn’t I stick with you?'" Don't try and make it something it's not.
Great interview from Stewart. It's hard not to be pumped for the guy.
yamahaa - you'll look for anything to make him look bad LOL people like you are soo sad.
good job james, way to make these races even more interesting! lets see another first time winner next week, canard or reed!! the way the racing is going this year, nobody is ever going to move up in records as far as wins go
I am glad James finnaly got a long desevered win! This is one of the best years I have saw for a long time! There is no pecking order, yes the start counts that is why it is called racing. These people talking about a one line track as I have said before all tracks have one line! It is about finding a way to pass and this year the compitetion is so close and that is only gonna make the racers faster!
It may not be his last win but I am hoping for a few more of the guys to stand on the center podium yet this year. That is why we race, or in my case used to race.
Sometimes the best guy that day wins I dont think RV was saying anyting else.
PS: I have tried so hard to win and lost that I did cry and threw my helmet and it did hurt. I finished with my lungs burning ,my thighs on fire and was pushing till the last inch of the race was over! Those of us that have felt that knows how it can hurt. Yes I have lost because the other guys were just better than me and that is the way it goes sometimes. Gee I miss racing!
Great ride Stewy.. The fastest on the track the last 2 weeks.. I bet his mouth is watering for Daytona..
I like that he gave props to Canard. He will probably be the next one to join the list of 2013 SX winners, not sure how soon though. I was really hoping Reed had one more great year in him, but it's not looking good. He was 38 seconds down from the leader. Even Dungey, in 6th, was only 12 seconds off, with a half-ass start.
I just read BD25's comment on the "Yamaha Wake up Call" AS usuall he says thing the best! The posters are now complaining about the races no matter what? Guess what people this is the best year of racing for a long time! Be Glad! Yes I think it is Reed's or maybe Tomac's turn next or who knows maybe Welker will show up????? In my deamsZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
@Welker ,, Yes, this is a great racing year so far,,, but I think its because the SX tracks suck..
Welker- I will put my money on you at Daytona! Fred has a hot looking trophy girl for you. He told me she is a monster girl, just didn't say what kind of monster. Keep dreaming my friend! lol
@ mxmofo1 how many laps have you put on a Supercross track?
Looks like the Suzuki haters , JS7 haters , Webb haters etc all get a well deserved week out to rest their flapping lips and burning brains......smells better around here already....Go RV...41....18...............is it just me or is the plainer looking gear SOOOO much better......
@Welker,, None,, but thats not the point.. The tracks suck for the top riders.. Nothing to seperate them.. Thats why the holeshot is 85% of the race.. Comprendo? We all know you live in the past, but the tracks suck these days, and the top riders are the ones saying it..
JS Congrats to you and your team...even though I am not a big fan (KW is my man and Hannah, once upon a time) it was good to see you in better form.Keep up the good work,and its also nice to hear a humbler James.I did agree with RC,and I also wanted to slap that pompous tool JE for saying the sand was the toughest. It was clear that RC was right,seeing how everyone couldn't get settled into a steady fast pace.No rider looked real comfortable out there,and it takes more than one section of tract to do that..
@langston fan - Reed actually was top 5 in the main start...he just went backwards....Seeing James ride off with a wire to wire W while he (reed) had a chance to do the same in SD and failed must chap his hide...he'd never admit, but after the season James is having to date compared to Reed.....One would think, especially chad that he should have a win already.... Barcia, Canard and Tomac have no issues with their Factory bikes.....
sometimes you have to hit bottom to become a better person.... I say this with some experience. We have watched James grow into a man from a boy..... the subtleties of a track that everyone complained about, hearing the best of the night say he held his breath over an obstacle every lap is deep stuff, any one think it is easy?
"Welker--MXMOFO, how many laps have you put on a supercross track?" --@MXMOFO--Answers "None" exactly.....
@therealmofo,, I know 5 year old kids that need less explaining than you do... How bout ole' Stewy, huh?
@yamahaa wrote: To answer your question based upon your comment; No, you did not read correctly. Thanks for asking!
@ mxmofo1 wrote "this is a great racing year so far,,, but I think its because the SX tracks suck."
Do you see the irony in you statement?
@motoxdoc ,,, No I dont.. Its great racing because the tracks are easy, so everyone is going the same speed,, you know, like NASCAR.. All you have to do is listen to what the riders are saying. 9 or 10 riders last week where within a second of each other.. That ='s an easy track for those guys. Its why Daytona is such an interesting race.. That track is extremy technical,, which seperates the men from the boys.. The Promoters WANT close racing,, and the only way to do that is make the track easier, so everyone can do the same obsticles.. Hell, there are even ruts at Daytona..
Where are all the JS haters?? The guys who said HE WILL NEVER WIN AGAIN?? LOL they will crawl back into their holes now untill he does bad again.
@pippidekok,, yeah, its "rigged." They told JS,, "Hey, go out there and tear your ACL." JS said, "OK." Then they told RV,, "Hey, go out and crash twice in the main at A1." RV said, "OK."
Man,,,, there sure is all different kinds in the world....
I doubt SX is rigged and Stewarts TV show has not been on or filmed for over 3 years now....get over it...
Stewart is fat... that is Hilarious....You sure you are not talking about RC?? Holy crap..he should be ashamed of himself....hahaha.... Looked like Jo Jo Keller out there.....
@ BillC.....I don't know, but it would be nice if the JS blowhards only came out of their holes once or twice a year when he did well and disappeared for the other 90% of the time lol. Two way street.
@billc ...HAHA indeed.. Well apparently, this one was James last victory.... The washed up, out of shape and now FAT (still laughing) James Stewart who lead wire to wire with one of the most fit and quickest riders we have ever seen behind him the whole way just got lucky on this one I guess.....JS7 and RV are my two favorite dudes and I was pretty impressed...beginning of the main I thought to myself, cool....RV is going to take this one away from James and hopefully James takes second and gets the podium cobwebs off.....but James pulled it off...he is clearly not capable of winning again...hahah...
@KilloMoto - I think we may need to build an Alternate Universe/Witch Hunt Forum.
@bd200,, where are youuuuuuuu???
@MXMOFO--Thanks for your concern, I am right here, why??
@bd200,, Oh trust me, I'm not concerened, so don't flatter yourself.. Whats your thoughts? Having Big James on the start might not have been a bad idea, huh?
@therealmofo,, Not much to say this week, huh? Stay in your closet..
@mxmofo--Big James wasnt on the start, did you even watch the race?? his mechanic was--THAT was the best idea.. My thoughts are the race was alright, not real bad, not alot of passing or racing for the front though... I'm not sure what your angle here is, but I am NOT one of those who said your boy would never win.. I said he will get his wins now and again, but wont win another title. And it looks like I was right.. But Millsaps is still the Man right now, and will be as long as he keeps hitting the podium steady as ever... Another hole-shot and he wins again, he is fast enough..
@MXMOFO- I have had alot to say--to people who matter.. Look at some other post Dummy.. So your guy got a win finally--Now he is only 100 points down, LOL!!!!!!!!!! Reed is doing terrible and is kicking his as$.. You are just trolling arent you?? Are you trying to start an arguement or what, first BD200 and now me.?? I think we have another Troll who needs cleaned up Jordan Roberts!!!!!
It is funny how someone who has been absent for a couple of weeks shows up when Stewart wins trying to call out all of the haters? That's pretty funny!
I have a great name for the posters in RacerX.
VitardRX
Awesome to see JS7 get a win. The 450 class is staaaacked! Epic racing. I wonder what JS7 will do for nats this year...
@therealmofo,, I'm "trolling?" I believe you are the one that brought me up first.. Dude, are are an absolute moron...
@therealmofo,,, yeah, I would pick Reed way over JS for a race win.. You know, because Reed has more points so far.. hahahaha,,, you are whacked man...
seriously,, how do some people go through life being so ignorant? therealmofo,, tell us how you do it?
@bd200,, I'm glad you can be honest.. Also, I never said that Big James was on the line at this race.. My point was, having his dad on the line obviously had a positive effect.. Would you agree with that?
@MXMOFO--again contributes nothing but hate-- and he has NEVER been on a supercross track--and calls others ignorant saying that THEY dont understand?? LOL!!!!!
@therealmofo,,, there you go again.. You called me "Dummy," remember? Also, i never called "others" ignorant,, just you.. Others,,, means you..
@therealmofo,, after you collect your welfare check tomorrow, go get an MRI.. Your loss of memory is frightening.
I am happy that JS7 won. I think he can win again. He looks smooth out there and smooth is always fast. Next up, Daytona.
Sounds like Stewy will ride mx this year.
Why did some gangster rapper have to come up with the word "hater?" Anybody who uses that word is lame. Every time I hear the word, I know somebody's been watching too much B.E.T.
@ again MXMOFO contributes nothing but hate...Typical..
Some Funny post's on here. LMAO
@ speedshifter, everyone is entitled to be ignorant from time to time, you sir are abusing it. That is uncalled for and plain dumb stupid comment. Just when I thought people couldn't get that primitive, you proved me wrong.
@SpeedShifter, I'm gonna do like JS7 and take the high road. I want to call you so many MF's, and ignorant SOB's, but I am not going to call you those things. I just hope you know you are all of those things already!
i dont know if james will ever win another title but he still has the speed to win races , i remember hannah towards the end of his career would still put it to guys like bailley and omara, man im gettin old lol
i dont know if james will ever win another title but he still has the speed to win races , i remember hannah towards the end of his career would still put it to guys like bailley and omara, man im gettin old lol
Yawn...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
@SXFanMan/StarPlaya4Life--why did you switch your name back to post to speedshifter??? It really doesnt matter what name you post under, just what you write.. Yes I know you are one in the same..