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Edited Date/Time
1/24/2012 10:07am
Where would he rank among the greatest racers of all time?
I don't know the older guys good enough to know where they rank
The Shop
You've never heard of Jeremy McGrath?
If that's the end of the road for his career, I'll feel privileged to have seen him race. I've seen a lot of riders, and I don't think I ever saw anyone who could match his willingness to do whatever he could, take any risk, to find the absolute maximum speed that he could go. He has been an artist on a motorcycle, and like most artists, some people like his work and some don't. Stewart had speed in his inner person and he expressed that on the track - the closest parallel I can remember in another rider was Danny Chandler, who also paid a big price for his art.
Riders will come along and benefit from new technology and changing tracks, as well as improved and new techniques in the sport, and will be faster then James ever was. There was a time when Mcgrath was the fastest Supercross racer ever and people doubted and wondered how the sport would go to the next level, now there are a handful of guys who are easily faster then Jeremy was. It's called progression.
I just think james owes his status to ride on the edge. Others don't.
I would put him (right now) behind Hannah, Johnson, MC (of course), Broc Glover, Wardy as they all have more titles. I put him ahead of Stanton, Emig, Larocco, Reed because they have less titles.
That said, James Stewart is one of the greatest racers/riders of all time, and that's all that really matters. He stomped everyone's ass on the 125cc and put up a hell of a fight his rookie year on the two stroke (against the thumpers outdoors). At the beginning of his big bike career, a lot of riders had been mentally beaten down by Ricky, and had lost all hope in themselves. Despite coming up short on some titles, James put up a warrior's effort, schooling Ricky almost on a weekly basis in supercross and took it to him on his own turf racing outdoors - and to me, that is badass! James should not be remembered in comparison to Ricky though, but rather as one of the most amazing and exciting to watch racers to EVER throw a leg over a motorcycle.
Only one guy will hold up the championship trophy in Vegas, but Reed, Stewart, RV, Canard, and Dungey have all ridden like champions this year, and in a sense, I'm genuinely sadden that four of them are going to walk away from the track in Vegas with their head down, given their incredible champion efforts.
He's not done yet though, so we should all cherish the next however many years he decides to race.
Pit Row
Do you suppose if someone posted a picture like this of you when you were 18 it might go to your head a little?
But someone is more accurate with the titles portion. He has 6 major titles, that puts him at, I think, #4 because Wardy has 7, right?
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