Simple James Stewart Question

P
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Edited Date/Time 6/7/2013 9:07am
I read this today and the question that I've had since the start of the SX season started came up again. Is James doing more than just riding to prepare for the races? This is a statement that you hear from an old, out of shape, uninspired guy.

“Practice didn’t go good for us. I was kind-of disappointed. I don’t know, it was the first time in a while that I had a complete off day. I’ve had off practices but I always made it up in the Main Event but today, I just really didn’t have anything. I didn’t have any flow with the track. And it was pretty tough, with a lot of ruts and turns and jumps where you had to be pretty perfect on the motorcycle. So to have an off day on a track like that wasn’t good. But we’re going to make some changes this week, and I personally need to make some changes with myself, and then we’ll come back strong for Mt. Morris.”


I was at the Muddy Creek race and before the first moto I heard more positive comments made about James than any other rider. They were looking for him to give RV a run for his money at the first race in the South East in decades. A lot of people went home disappointed. If he can get as excited as the fans are for him he will be 20 seconds faster at the end of the moto. That may not beat RV, but it will put him in the hunt for more than a lap or two. The fans are behind you James so harness that energy and do sum'n son.

I haven't given up on him yet. I'm thinking about going to Budds Creek to check out AC, and I'm hoping that James is using this past weekend as motivation to get stronger, faster, and better than he has been!! I was there in 2003 and got an unexpected surprise (in a good way). Hopefully the same will happen this year.



P
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Brent
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6/4/2013 3:01pm
why did James and Aldon Baker part ways two years ago?
6/4/2013 3:02pm
Well said. I was never a huge fan of Stewart in his early days, but his attitude seems to really have turned around the past season or two and he seems more humble and genuine. I really hope he finds his old form again and challenges for the title!
slipdog
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6/4/2013 3:06pm
I don't think you'll see it(the real JS7) this summer. His knee is bad and I believe his wrist is bad also. You add those two things to the fact that he's 28 now and you get a top 3-5 JS7. He needs time to get 100% healthy or he has no chance to challenge for wins.

Will that ever happen again? I don't know, but I personally bet wouldn't bet against him.
gsxrcr28
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6/4/2013 3:08pm
Let it go P.

He is just not as fast as the two Ryan's. The guy has been there and done that, he's older and possibly being held up by an injury or two. I'm just glad to see him finishing races and not crashing out.

The Shop

P
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6/4/2013 3:16pm Edited Date/Time 6/4/2013 3:17pm
slipdog wrote:
I don't think you'll see it(the real JS7) this summer. His knee is bad and I believe his wrist is bad also. You add those two...
I don't think you'll see it(the real JS7) this summer. His knee is bad and I believe his wrist is bad also. You add those two things to the fact that he's 28 now and you get a top 3-5 JS7. He needs time to get 100% healthy or he has no chance to challenge for wins.

Will that ever happen again? I don't know, but I personally bet wouldn't bet against him.
If that is his problem then he should say that is what is holding him back. People can understand that, but he continues to chalk it up to bike issues and "not being able to find his groove." Like you mentioned he is older (he turns 28 in Dec. I believe) and a dropoff in speed is expected. I can understand if the young guns are faster, but from what I saw it wasn't all age and I doubt that it is all injury either. If he is hurt get him off the bike, healed up, and ready to race. Have poor showings (for a rider of his caliber) is worse than not being out there IMO.


P
6/4/2013 3:20pm
I liked Stewart ever since I watched him clinch his first 125 outdoor championship at Broome Tioga. He was a class act on how he dealt with the fans as a 16 yr old and he still has the drive and ability to beat RV.
6/4/2013 3:21pm
slipdog wrote:
I don't think you'll see it(the real JS7) this summer. His knee is bad and I believe his wrist is bad also. You add those two...
I don't think you'll see it(the real JS7) this summer. His knee is bad and I believe his wrist is bad also. You add those two things to the fact that he's 28 now and you get a top 3-5 JS7. He needs time to get 100% healthy or he has no chance to challenge for wins.

Will that ever happen again? I don't know, but I personally bet wouldn't bet against him.
P wrote:
If that is his problem then he should say that is what is holding him back. People can understand that, but he continues to chalk it...
If that is his problem then he should say that is what is holding him back. People can understand that, but he continues to chalk it up to bike issues and "not being able to find his groove." Like you mentioned he is older (he turns 28 in Dec. I believe) and a dropoff in speed is expected. I can understand if the young guns are faster, but from what I saw it wasn't all age and I doubt that it is all injury either. If he is hurt get him off the bike, healed up, and ready to race. Have poor showings (for a rider of his caliber) is worse than not being out there IMO.


P
At this point he just needs to be out there for his sponsors if he packed it in again this season some might jump ship on him and that would hurt his bottom line. So a year of limping just to keep the backing behind him and then get better for 2014 just to WOW people all that much more. Just my 2 cents.
NeKawBoy
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6/4/2013 3:22pm
The pace keeps getting faster and faster...as you get a little longer in the tooth eventually they catch you and pass you. It happens to everybody that continues to ride. We're human...our comfort level hanging it out starts to fade with age and experience. Plus...when the others start to gain on you I think you start to worry about what will happen with your career after the next injury...this erodes a little bit more of that desire to let it all hang out.
Keep racing and riding for years to come....
JBDANK
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6/4/2013 3:24pm
you cold see flashes of bubba like that scrub when 800 was trying to pass him it was real aggresive then u saw him make few mistakes and back it down ! he not racing in attack mode like bubba use to !! hope he can pick it up
fader418
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6/4/2013 3:55pm
Good question P. I would think he trains just as hard as he always has if not harder. I hope he gets back up to where he was
slipdog
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6/4/2013 3:56pm
slipdog wrote:
I don't think you'll see it(the real JS7) this summer. His knee is bad and I believe his wrist is bad also. You add those two...
I don't think you'll see it(the real JS7) this summer. His knee is bad and I believe his wrist is bad also. You add those two things to the fact that he's 28 now and you get a top 3-5 JS7. He needs time to get 100% healthy or he has no chance to challenge for wins.

Will that ever happen again? I don't know, but I personally bet wouldn't bet against him.
P wrote:
If that is his problem then he should say that is what is holding him back. People can understand that, but he continues to chalk it...
If that is his problem then he should say that is what is holding him back. People can understand that, but he continues to chalk it up to bike issues and "not being able to find his groove." Like you mentioned he is older (he turns 28 in Dec. I believe) and a dropoff in speed is expected. I can understand if the young guns are faster, but from what I saw it wasn't all age and I doubt that it is all injury either. If he is hurt get him off the bike, healed up, and ready to race. Have poor showings (for a rider of his caliber) is worse than not being out there IMO.


P
Having no intimate knowledge of his program, I wonder what clauses are written into his contract with Suzuki. There's also the fact that he's the only one in his Seven gear, you can't sell it if people don't see it. Even though 3rd-5th is not what his fans expect, everywhere I look I see photos of him and people are talking about him. At this point in his career I think that makes his sponsors happier than winning 4 motos and missing the rest of the season.
BobbyM
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6/4/2013 4:12pm
Well he didn't wash the front end out while having a chance to win the OA. Front end wash outs are rookie
moves you will agree...no?
disbanded
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6/4/2013 4:22pm
Napkins beware!
WhKnuckle
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6/4/2013 4:39pm
Lets face it: Riders go through different phases in their career. The early phase is trying to win a moto, then win an overall. If they're really talented and have some breaks, they contend for a title and maybe win one. Then they go on to a domination phase. Then, time and injuries and bulging bank accounts get them back to winning the occasional race and hoping for titles but not winning them. Then they give up on titles and want to win overalls. Then they give upon overalls and hope for moto wins. Then they give up on overalls and hope to get on the podium. Then they give up on podiums and hope for top 5s. Then they go out for practice in a supercross, like Kevin Windham did, and pull in, take off their gear, and say, "enough". James is in the later phase. There's no shame in that - I for one will always feel blessed to have seen him in his prime. He owns the sport nothing.
danman
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6/4/2013 4:41pm
All I want to see is for him to win a moto and bust out the sprinkler on the podium during the interview!!!!
kong0036
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6/4/2013 4:51pm
I honestly think confidence and Injury play huge part of any one of these riders . I think that James and Chad are both suffering from this. Those big dirt diggers take a lot out of you as well as those little niggling injuries can all add up to a second here and there which doesn't sound much. 1 second off the pace is like the blink of the eye to us on a track but these machines run 30 min motos and over that period of laps and time and those little 1 seconds can add up to a lot. It just shows me how much intensity,speed.and fitness this sport has reached . I'm sure Chad and James will be both back up front with some time for those injuries to heal and some time to build up that confidence which is all needed to race with the Ryans' at this level.
fader418
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6/4/2013 4:52pm
BobbyM wrote:
Well he didn't wash the front end out while having a chance to win the OA. Front end wash outs are rookie
moves you will agree...no?
Cmon Bobby. That comment should be from a vital rookie, not a X Factory Maico rider. James forks are too stiff
sundios
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6/4/2013 5:03pm
I think he is not into bike as he was on 2002- 2008 he has been in this sport for his entire life. Let him enjoy what he's doing
jeffro503
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6/4/2013 5:10pm
slipdog wrote:
I don't think you'll see it(the real JS7) this summer. His knee is bad and I believe his wrist is bad also. You add those two...
I don't think you'll see it(the real JS7) this summer. His knee is bad and I believe his wrist is bad also. You add those two things to the fact that he's 28 now and you get a top 3-5 JS7. He needs time to get 100% healthy or he has no chance to challenge for wins.

Will that ever happen again? I don't know, but I personally bet wouldn't bet against him.
P wrote:
If that is his problem then he should say that is what is holding him back. People can understand that, but he continues to chalk it...
If that is his problem then he should say that is what is holding him back. People can understand that, but he continues to chalk it up to bike issues and "not being able to find his groove." Like you mentioned he is older (he turns 28 in Dec. I believe) and a dropoff in speed is expected. I can understand if the young guns are faster, but from what I saw it wasn't all age and I doubt that it is all injury either. If he is hurt get him off the bike, healed up, and ready to race. Have poor showings (for a rider of his caliber) is worse than not being out there IMO.


P
I have become a bigger fan of James myself over the past two years as well . And could copy and paste ( as I am now ) of what "Weapon" wrote above....

" Well said. I was never a huge fan of Stewart in his early days, but his attitude seems to really have turned around the past season or two and he seems more humble and genuine. I really hope he finds his old form again and challenges for the title! "

I feel the same. But on what Slipdog pointed out......maybe the wrist may be bugging him , I don't know. But the knee? I very much doubt that. A torn ACL is something that can keep a rider off the bike for a few months , but "without repair" can be just fine to race is you strengthen the muscles around it. Matthess hit on this very subject a few weeks back on the .60 show.

BUT....the knee and the wrist both could of been a determining factor in his training for the outdoors. I don't know if either one is holding him back , as he's even mentioned himsefl that both were fine to race. Blake Baggett's wrist is destroyed and may take up to a year to heal correctly if things go right. Barcia's wrist will never be the same and now wears braces on both wrists.....they are both "making it work".

I think James is in some what of a burn out. Some riders can pull out of it and some can't. This is what can happen when you do a "full season"......which we haven't seen James do since what 2008? These new fast dudes are young , strong , fast , very skilled and want to win. James is missing a part in almost all those categories.

I want to see him just make it through THIS season healthy.....and be ready for A1.

And maybe over the past 5yrs or so.....there was more to the story than what some of us thought about him not doing full seasons. He burns out and the Nationals are no friggin' joke! You better be fit and ready.
jeffro503
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6/4/2013 5:14pm
Just a side note I forgot to add about the torn ACL. There was another racer ( probably more than one other).....that had a torn ACL before his first pro race.....he went on to win 7 SX championships with a missing ACL. It all depends on how you take care of it and how well you condition the muscles around the bad knee. You don't "NEED" an ACL.
jeffro503
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6/4/2013 5:14pm
Damn IT!...one more thing. Great post P!
yamadogyz
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6/4/2013 6:24pm
Brent wrote:
why did James and Aldon Baker part ways two years ago?
He wouldn't listen to Aldon, diet or train how Aldon wanted him too so Aldon quit.
Outsider
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6/4/2013 6:33pm
BobbyM wrote:
Well he didn't wash the front end out while having a chance to win the OA. Front end wash outs are rookie
moves you will agree...no?
Pinch

BobbyM
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6/4/2013 7:08pm
WhKnuckle wrote:
Lets face it: Riders go through different phases in their career. The early phase is trying to win a moto, then win an overall. If they're...
Lets face it: Riders go through different phases in their career. The early phase is trying to win a moto, then win an overall. If they're really talented and have some breaks, they contend for a title and maybe win one. Then they go on to a domination phase. Then, time and injuries and bulging bank accounts get them back to winning the occasional race and hoping for titles but not winning them. Then they give up on titles and want to win overalls. Then they give upon overalls and hope for moto wins. Then they give up on overalls and hope to get on the podium. Then they give up on podiums and hope for top 5s. Then they go out for practice in a supercross, like Kevin Windham did, and pull in, take off their gear, and say, "enough". James is in the later phase. There's no shame in that - I for one will always feel blessed to have seen him in his prime. He owns the sport nothing.
James early career was "trying to win a moto"?

LMAO...hell the other riders were trying get 2nd I'd say.
fader418
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6/4/2013 7:18pm
This year he is way more humble. Really like his interviews every week
MX690
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6/4/2013 7:20pm
slipdog wrote:
I don't think you'll see it(the real JS7) this summer. His knee is bad and I believe his wrist is bad also. You add those two...
I don't think you'll see it(the real JS7) this summer. His knee is bad and I believe his wrist is bad also. You add those two things to the fact that he's 28 now and you get a top 3-5 JS7. He needs time to get 100% healthy or he has no chance to challenge for wins.

Will that ever happen again? I don't know, but I personally bet wouldn't bet against him.
James just said on the pulpmx show that he is almost 100% fit, so that rules out the knee as a reason. Lets face it you have some good days and you have bad days. James is still getting podiums and he's still in the series, I think people need to cut him a bit of slack. By the way it was a good interview on the pulp show, I like this humble James more than a cocky James, he's a good guy and I'm becoming more of a fan of his, and he said a some good things about Chads situation.
WhKnuckle
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6/4/2013 7:20pm Edited Date/Time 6/4/2013 7:21pm
WhKnuckle wrote:
Lets face it: Riders go through different phases in their career. The early phase is trying to win a moto, then win an overall. If they're...
Lets face it: Riders go through different phases in their career. The early phase is trying to win a moto, then win an overall. If they're really talented and have some breaks, they contend for a title and maybe win one. Then they go on to a domination phase. Then, time and injuries and bulging bank accounts get them back to winning the occasional race and hoping for titles but not winning them. Then they give up on titles and want to win overalls. Then they give upon overalls and hope for moto wins. Then they give up on overalls and hope to get on the podium. Then they give up on podiums and hope for top 5s. Then they go out for practice in a supercross, like Kevin Windham did, and pull in, take off their gear, and say, "enough". James is in the later phase. There's no shame in that - I for one will always feel blessed to have seen him in his prime. He owns the sport nothing.
BobbyM wrote:
James early career was "trying to win a moto"?

LMAO...hell the other riders were trying get 2nd I'd say.
I wasn't talking about James in particular. I was talking about the average prodigy. But other than the fact that James won early and often, his career will follow a similar trajectory. I think the only real example of someone who beat that history was RC.
jtomasik
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6/4/2013 7:30pm
Unfortunately, I think James' best days are behind him. It was enjoyable watching the young man race. It wasn't good times watching him take dirt samples. Hopefully he finds a new, successful path, in something that produces better for him. He's a class act, and best wishes in anything he does....even if he proves me full of shit.
cody331
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6/4/2013 7:41pm
I don't think it's been mentioned anywhere, but isn't his deal with Suzuki one year only? If his injury were part of it, pulling out of both series this year wouldn't look good when it's time to sign elsewhere. Better off getting third or fourth in the championship hunt than sitting out. IMO of course..
jeffro503
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6/4/2013 8:44pm
cody331 wrote:
I don't think it's been mentioned anywhere, but isn't his deal with Suzuki one year only? If his injury were part of it, pulling out of...
I don't think it's been mentioned anywhere, but isn't his deal with Suzuki one year only? If his injury were part of it, pulling out of both series this year wouldn't look good when it's time to sign elsewhere. Better off getting third or fourth in the championship hunt than sitting out. IMO of course..
I thought I had read it was a 2 year deal.....but I could be wrong.

Whatever the case........his bike looks kinda shitty to me in a lot of the places around the track. If he would some how get the bike setup like the way he had it last year at the first two rounds.......and just LEAVE IT alone , he would be golden.

The bike seems to get worse and worse for the guy......and I hate to say it , but it's his own doing! That is another reason why his bike setup skills suck......I guess he doesn't listen to anyone. The first two rounds last year.....the team had it set up with specs the KNEW would work....and guess what?.....it looked better than ever. Now....he has it all fucked up again.

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