Upgrade to enjoy this feature!
Vital MX fantasy is free to play, but Premium users receive great benefits. Premium benefits include:
- View and download rider stats
- Pick trends
- Create a private league
- And more!
Only $10 for all 2026 SX, MX, and SMX series.
This is the same issue that Tomac is facing right now, he is expected to win everything because he has the ability to do that, but that amount of pressure he just defeats himself before the gate drops a bit different to James' do or die attitude because Tomac has not got that in him, Tomac shines when the pressure is off and theres nothing to gain.
AC is similar also, expected to win everything but makes stupid mistakes due to those expectations, I hope AC watches this and chills out.
You were amazing James, its hard as a young adult to say what you're feeling if you could let that be known earlier maybe you could have had mental help from others and you would of had a better career.
Kudos.
Ego and prideful athletes do the best in those environments, but you gotta change the program tailored towards the individual, you can eat the best, drink the best, do the best training but you aint gonna do nothing if you're not happy.
The Shop
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
It will be interesting to see if USA Motocross rebounds and it (currently) feels like we will never see riders that hungry again. James was the most exciting guy to watch, and deserved everything he got, he made the sport more cool, single handedly sold products based on his image, and I hate to sound like the "old guy" but I will be telling my kids how amazing Stew was....
Hope to see him involved in the sport again someday, announcing or riding for fun. From the sound of the video he is still pretty burnt out and needs some time.
RC, RV have their own stories and I bet there are many similarities, and many contrasts.
James was the fastest and most talented rider to ever compete, he was not the most winning racer.
Dan Marino, best arm ever, most fierce competitor ever and zero championships. Michael Andretti never won the 500. Jim Kelley from the Bills. Tiger Woods had a huge fall from grace.
Its nothing unique, James is just another athlete who had his time and has moved on.
Youre a fan or a hater.
If he hated it so much, then that "can't wait" business must have been a lie.
I never could figure out people who hate their job, but keep doing it.
So many people who have regular jobs would give anything to get to race dirt bikes for millions of dollars. Kind of disappointing to find out that he hated and resented it the whole time he was doing it..........and apparently still does.
He was trapped in that life and I imagine that probably contributed to him resenting it so much.
Always confused me how when a guy makes it his parents look at dude like a lottery ticket and "retire". How many moto parents still work after the kid signs a contract? I think Dungey's dad still poured concrete, don't know about his mom. I've never heard anyone say if Big James worked while James was racing, or his mom. Don't they live on the compound now? Obviously James doesn't. Didn't RV split with his parents for a couple years? Was is Josh Grant's parents that took most of his money when he was with FC Honda? Kinda shitty to force a 5yr to race then when he makes it big ask for your money back plus interest.
May be a little off track but I think RC took the sport down this path we are on with trainers and being super fit. Seemed like back in the day guys got by on talent and some fitness, once RC hired Alden things changed. For example, I've never heard Bailey, Hannah, Johnson, Glover, Smith etc complain about hating racing or hating the sport once they retired.
Not his biggest fan but I have all the respect in the world for him and love watching him ride, just never rooted for him. I don't feel like he's saying anything I didn't know or expect already, maybe it's the questions being asked.
Don't you remember the whole Honda thing about "oh we'll race but we need factory ECU's"
What about blistergate at Millville?
Pit Row
As a kid, he had no choice in the matter, but after he reached adulthood he could have gone a different direction. Especially within the moto industry. With his notoriety, I am sure that any number of companies would have been thrilled to have him working for them.
BTW, I can understand him not personally attending Malcolm's races. It would just steal the spotlight from Malcolm.
I have to believe that the pressure of feeling like he had to win made him eventually hate racing, but I can’t believe he hated it all along.
What I don't like is all the excuses, all the talk about crashes and injuries that he had FROM TRYING TO KEEP CARMICHAELS PACE OUTDOORS, and followed with "I coulda smoked Carmichael in 08". No. Carmichesl would have done the same shit and Stewart would have crashed out trying to stop him.
James gives no other riders credit. Not even the goat. If anyone beat him it was because of his bike,.bad luck, illness, or SOMETHING. It drives me nuts to listen to. Stewart had the raw talent to squeak out one sx title over Carmichael, but he didn't have what it took outdoors to take a title from Carmichael. Not even close. Not ever. He had plenty of chances to show otherwise. He got smoked the vast majority of times and never got a smell of the outdoor title as long as RC was in it. Fact. Stewart talks about what held him back or bad luck or inferior bikes. The shit all riders experience. It was never just him not being good enough or someone else being better in any way. It's aggravating to listen to. He's the most talented ever, but Carmichael overall is the best ever. Not even close. I was disappointed in a lot of shit Stewart said and not aknowledging how badass Carmichael was. I can't respect it. I almost wish I hadn't watched the shit.
Mini dads are fucking the sport. Local to amateur/pro
Actually mini mums should be included to.
Too much pressure on the young ones
Webb for example has a chip on his shoulder/ego rider same with Herlings you can put them through more pressure and they'll come out on top but for others you need to take a different approach.
Some riders don't want it plain and simple, which is hard to spot because that comes on in later in life when it's no longer riding with your buddies.
I hope he finds some peace with the sport and comes back around in a different capacity. Would be great to hear him as a guest host at one of the races.
#2 on the AMA Pro win list, and was one of the key figures that moved MX into a more mainstream view.
I think he was the most talented bike rider in history, and his battles with Reed and RC are some of the best I have had the privilege of watching.
It's very interesting hearing about the pressure a legendary racer can feel during their career. Hoping he and maybe RD5, and RV can ride for enjoyment some day.
Either way, hoping he enjoys retirement. He has earned it.
Post a reply to: #7 RAW episode TWO