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Glad he didn't get hurt. It's great to see James, on his 11th year, still mixing it up. Saw some flashes of the 'bubba' at Millville. Great ride for 41. He needed that
DC interviewed my mom and I in 1996 (?) at Budds Creek. He asked us what it was like as black fans/racers in MX. At that time there weren't a lot of us on the MX scene.
I've never had an experience like James in that photo at any point in time in my moto life. If there were racists around they made sure to keep their ignorance to themselves, which I am grateful for because I'm not sure if our reaction would have been as non confrontational as the Stewarts. They showed great courage and class.
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I think it took him down a few notches. Dealing with the new guard (RD and RV especially) being faster has also been tough for him. I really like the new James...A LOT. It will be interesting to see if he can go to school on the some of the specific things that RV is doing to be faster (the way he corners...and his speed on jump touchdown...that is where RV is beating the field up)...and perhaps bring his game back up to that level. I am rooting for him.
And ama mx in general - it's like the Rossi win that took so long after his move, the sport needs the heroes taking victories - it's good for morale
edit:
and the racing was amazing - him and TC and JB - brilliant.
James has not had RV speed. When he tries to run RV speed...he ends up in the dirt....and he knows it. When you listen to him get interviewed...it is the same most of the time..."those guys are riding great"....meaning "I can not run that fast and stay connected to the bike". Here is a comparison of fastest lap times in "1st 5" laps for both riders...
Hangtown
Moto 1
RV 1:59.3
JS 2:02.19
Moto 2
RV 2:03.63 and...he went 2:01 next lap...
JS 2:05.28
In both races...RV started behind JS...and was faster...while going through traffic...and passing James. Over the whole race...he was over 2s a lap faster. Sorry...JS not even close. But then again...neither is anyone else.
Thunder Valley...
Moto 1
RV 2:04.94
JS 2:07.25
RV and JS were about the same in QP...but JS crashed lap 1...and went to the very back. He had a clear track for one lap...and turned a 2:07. RV was turning 2:05s...so again...JS about 2s slower.
Moto 2
RV 2:06.15
JS 2:07.38
RV starts P3, JS starts P6. JS actually turned his fastest lap on P7...so much for your 'getting tired after 5 laps' idea. Overall...JS was about 1.5 slower over the 1st five laps...and the race as a whole. Sorry...but your idea that the gap opens up as JS gets tires is BS through the 1st two races. The speed gap is consistent through the whole race....
How about Muddy Creek?
Moto 1.
RV P1, JS P5.... RVs fastest lap was his 1st full lap...at 1:58.4... Whereas JS ran his fastest lap 4 laps later...at 2:00.30... Again...early in the race...both fresh...JS 2s slower right out of the gate. Same story whole race...
Moto 2
RV crashes 1st lap following BamBam. JS is P3. RV, in lapper traffic...deep in the field...runs a 2:01.7 on his 4th lap. JS runs a 2:02.3 on lap 4. RV catches and passes JS on lap 7...after being down by about 12 s to JS at the end of lap 1. So...at MC...James was not even close to RV speed.
High Point? More of the same. In fact...James' weakest point is riding long technical ruts...and he was not good at High Point. Further...if you talk to riders who know racing...they will tell you that the race where fitness matters the least...and crazy balls aggression matters the LEAST...is High Point...it is a super technical track with long tricky ruts...
Qualifying - JS is 4th...3.0s of RV.... But that was a fluky flyer... In Practice 1...JS was P15....11s off!
Moto1 - RV holeshots....JS P12...no confidence. RV runs a 2:08.3 on lap 1. JS's best lap in his first five laps...was a 2:14 on lap 5. He went a little faster later...about lap 8. Sorry...but this had nothing to do with fitness...it is JS lack of speed and technique vs. RV. JS has a bad moto...and gets popped with a rock.
Moto 2 - James get the holeshot...and is looking OK. He gets away...but can not gap the fast guys depsite a clear track. His best lap is a 2:05.4 on lap 5. RV and RD do battle...slowing each other down while STILL bearing down on James. Over laps 5 and 6...RD and RV take 5 seconds out of JS...despite battling. By lap 6..RD and RV are both right on James...despite fighting each other. About the time they are going to blow by JS...he has a mechanical issue.
Basically....you do not know what you are talking about. JS, for most of the season...has had inconsistent P3 speed. I say this as a huge JS7 fan. If he wants to be P1...he needs to work on his riding...his speed. It is not his fitness... He is no longer the "fastest" guy...not even close. The gap between JS and the Ryans is the same over the whole race...he does not get tired and fall of the pace later.... You are clueless...
JS is getting faster...but that is because he is GETTING FASTER....that and he has more confidence on the sandy tracks.... It is not fitness....and I say this as someone who use to think that...till I looked at the actual FACTS...and the fact is...JS is slower. Period.
Good to see James win last week for sure!
Pit Row
You state that speed is his issue, not fitness. If you've raced at much of a level you know that one leads to the other. If James is still capable of stringing together an amazing lap (proven in his qualifying), a lack of fitness is indicated if he can't back that up lap after lap in the actual motos.
You're right - RV is the man right now. The points don't lie. But Stewart has shown enough all season long - in his qual times, with this win, etc. - to suggest that there's a lot of gas left in his tank.
But frankly...I do not think qualifying matters that much to RV...and especially RD. They have never placed that much emphasis on it...while JS always takes pride in 'winning' practice. Basically...I think JS pushes harder in practice than those guys do. If RV and RD are top 5...they are OK with it.
Also, the track is NOT the same during qualifying as it is for the race. It gets rougher and rougher. We have seen that one area is James' riding that is not up to his other areas...is rut and chop handling....the rough stuff.
Of course fitness improves speed...but if it were fitness detracting from James' speed...then you would see his times fall off relative to the faster guys as the race goes on. This is in fact what the post I was replying to claimed...that James was getting old...and tires out after 5 laps. He simply does not. He is 1 to 2s slower at the start...and he is 1 to 2s slower at the end. Basically...he is 1 to 2s slower.
I agree that Stewart has more to show us...but he needs to look at some of things RV is doing, technically, to up his speed. It is not going to come just from training. RV clearly has better corner speed, except in the sand, where they are probably even. Another area where RV has been smoking everyone is on his jump landings...especially in timing sections. He yards everyone by about 1/2 bike length every time he touches down from a jump...and if you watch...you can see how he does it. NO ONE ELSE is doing what he does, yet. If other riders want to beat RV...they need to go to school on him. In SX...he is gaining at least a second and a half a lap with his technique. In MX...maybe 3/4 to 1s. Over 15-20 laps...that is a lot to give up. If you do not do what RV does here...that means you need to BEAT him by 10-20s in other areas just to stay even. Not happening.
Post a reply to: JS7