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Edited Date/Time
1/27/2012 11:20am
James Stewart has frequently stated that he’s interested in breaking only one record: Jeremy McGrath’s 72 Supercross wins. In Stewart’s mind, that is the only record that matters and breaking it will somehow be a measure of his greatness.
There are quite a few arguments that Stewart will never break McGrath’s record, but let’s assume he does, that he notches 73 or more Supercross wins before he retires. Will that make Stewart the greatest Supercross racer ever?
Hardly. It will be an accomplishment, no doubt, but 73 victories alone will not make Stewart equal to McGrath. Or even Carmichael. Being the greatest Supercross racer ever isn’t just about victories. It’s about victories AND championships. And domination.
McGrath has 72 victories AND seven titles. He strung together four championships from 1993-1996 and backed it up with another string from 1997-1999. Carmichael racked up five championships in six years, and barring a torn ACL, he might have had six in a row. (And quite a few more victories.) Stewart has 42 wins, but only two championships—and they were not consecutive.
Stewart may be the fastest man on the planet, but his wreckers or checkers mentality may work against him in this quest for Supercross greatness. Unless he can back up his victories with titles, he will have won some battles, but he will have lost the war.
There are quite a few arguments that Stewart will never break McGrath’s record, but let’s assume he does, that he notches 73 or more Supercross wins before he retires. Will that make Stewart the greatest Supercross racer ever?
Hardly. It will be an accomplishment, no doubt, but 73 victories alone will not make Stewart equal to McGrath. Or even Carmichael. Being the greatest Supercross racer ever isn’t just about victories. It’s about victories AND championships. And domination.
McGrath has 72 victories AND seven titles. He strung together four championships from 1993-1996 and backed it up with another string from 1997-1999. Carmichael racked up five championships in six years, and barring a torn ACL, he might have had six in a row. (And quite a few more victories.) Stewart has 42 wins, but only two championships—and they were not consecutive.
Stewart may be the fastest man on the planet, but his wreckers or checkers mentality may work against him in this quest for Supercross greatness. Unless he can back up his victories with titles, he will have won some battles, but he will have lost the war.
MC's dominance of supercross for close to a decade earned him that place in history and until someone does what he did, in 8 years, with more wins, then they can take the "King" status from him.
Plus by not racing and all the bull crap he will never be loved like McGraph's fans. Plus I don't think there is anyway he will hit 73 anyway. RV, KW, RD, TC and CR all have and can beat him and he crashes way too much. The numbers just don't add up at this rate.
The Shop
i think the real question is, can james turn himself into a champion racer, not a champion lap time guy. (there is a difference, look at Reed and RC... and MC)
i remember back when he moved up to 250's everyone thought RC was done for...low and behold, JS never amounted to much in terms of what everyone thought he was going to do.
Normally i'd say RV has his work cut out for him but I think we are witnessing a new era of dominance.
JS knows this...
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