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It's clear neither side wants to give an inch.
The most amazing thing about this is .... three days after the incident apparently NO ONE has been able to interview James and ask him straight up what happened. JT$ has plenty of cred but why do we have to settle for him trying to explain James actions.
Is it asking too much for some of the usual moto journalists to simply ring James up and ask him?
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EVERYONE ELSE SHUT THE FUCK UP
Great article, forgiving JS7. I am on the same boat.
As I mentioned on Saturday night, I think there are so many factors involved in this incident :
1. Inexperience to get lapped, yes it interfered after half a lap...
2. But also 20 months off = I think he was just fully focused on racing forward, and didnt see the flags immediately
3. After 18 laps & almost 20 months off, tiredness can play a part in not looking flags while racing, more the track
4. First track East: the track developed big ruts, mentally more challenging/less forgiving than really hard pack
5. Until late we do not see the flaggers making a huge effort to be seen (at least that is what I saw from video)
6. Which includes the white and blue flags put at the same time, difficult to see it at the speed they go (no I will not put 1 point about the 4 stroke vs. 2 stroke
7. The first half of the season has been dominated by RD; perhaps JS7 was thinking there was no battle, just RD with a 5 seconds lead and that it would be ok
8. JS7 was indeed not willing to lose another position, racing for 14th may already not that fun for him
9. He was probably not giving it too easy to Dungey either since A1's other racing incident
10. Musquin's inexperience to lap in this class, so the millisecond decision to triple whereas he could have doubled / tripled, safer but it could have caused a crash too (if Dungey was tripling) or he could have been passed
11. JS7 also lapped a ton of riders and had to change his lines, he probably thought it was ok until the incident
12. One of the most technical sections this year ; so many top guns doing different rythms here
13. Partially caused by a soft corner that needed to be rebuilt very often. Very technical.
Lots of factors in this incident, and based on how ugly it could have been, that was scary, I was just glad all the riders mentioned were healthy and able to keep rolling (for Dungey) and building (for JS7 and Musquin). It happened at the wrong time, which caused a lot of discussion, but it was for me just a racing incident.
"Dungey pulled up on his teammate multiple times, but he never made any aggressive moves. It appeared Musquin was headed for his career-first win… but just after the white flag came out, the KTM duo soon came up on lapped rider James Stewart, who appeared not to heed the blue flag that was waving alongside the white one. Stewart continued his way in the main line, making no attempt to get out of the way for the leaders, and as a result, Musquin was caught off guard and didn’t get a good drive out of the turn. He came up a little short as he attempted to triple out of the corner, which sent him bobbling and swapping through the rest of the straight. Stewart sailed up the inside, and meanwhile Dungey was barely able to stay clear of Musquin, who fumbled his way off the side of the track. Fortunately he was able to keep the bike upright and complete the rest of the lap, but he couldn’t stop Dungey from taking the win.
Second place marked a career-best for Musquin. The Frenchman showed a lot of class on the podium, commenting that he was happy with his night and called it a good race but he couldn’t help but find a sour note in his podium finish.
“James Stewart was in the way and I just got so scared of him. I just went sideways because I heard him coming,” Musquin explained. “He was a lap down and I’m really mad right now because I feel like the win was for me. Even with that mistake, it was still a great race and I’m happy for the team. Second is my best result ever.”
"
If someone has more from the actual CN issue let's hear it.
JT's pretty good with his reportage' of our sport. But, that "comb back" is epic - is he going bald? I say, embrace your folicular retreat, JT$, if it's what you're faced with!
Views as regards to JS's riding put aside - hell, right there, you could have seen Team KTMs entire season go completely 'tits up' if Marvin and Dungey had hit. They dodged a bullet - well, a widespread, high load shottie charge - right there. Could have been so, so nasty.
As always, I'm mainly happy that SX carnage did not claim a few more riders.
Pit Row
Perhaps you could fill us all in?
http://magazine.cyclenews.com/h/i/217434183-cycle-news-2016-issue-08-march-1
It's about time to see JS7s personal reaction. How are not more magazines interviewing Stewart? I haven't seen Cycle News in a while but this is the 2nd time they seem to have a really good scoop (the last being the Canard vs FIM issue at practice a couple of weeks ago & now the only Stewart comments I've seen on lapper gate).
Why can't Thomas, or something else, talk to Stewart about what happened?
I love listening to JT and reading his columns. Smart guy with great insight.
I don't see it as James fault.
Post a reply to: Jason Thomas look on the 'Stewart got Lapped' Issue.