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Edited Date/Time
1/26/2012 9:02am
Just saw the video on the main page. What do you guys think? Personally, I think that he's lost behind the camera (which is surprising considering that he's been filming Bubba's World), and even more lost when it comes to where he'll be come Saturday night. Do you think he has any chance of making it on the podium?
The Shop
I think come the East he will do ok.
I don't know if a podium is out of reach for him or not.
But I guess time will tell....
I think the most important thing for him will be making the mains,staying injury free and completing the entire series. Anything after that will be a bonus.
Also seeing him on Bubbas World last night.
Boy,old Big James was really getting on is ass. LOL
on the plus side:
you train and ride with unarguably one of the fastest guys to every race. so a "normal" pace for him is going to be much higher than the normal pace for any other group. By default hes going to have speed, the question is, how much? (example: there was a riding group in the earl 90's. This group included, Factory Phil, Pederson, Albrect's, Stephenson, Antunez, Emig, MC, Hughes. Everyone on that list has won a pro race except the albrects, and one runs JGR and has how many championships as a mechanic?) The speed your group goes, you will go. Its not absolute, but it has some teeth.
His brother can knocked down a bunch of barriers. He doesnt have to "prove" himself going in, pedigree will open otherwise closed doors to a degree. Add to this, someone knows the roadmap now. Knows if you turn left here, its disaster, but if you turn right, you keep going. Ask around, this is invaluable, in anything in life.
He's the little brother. Little brothers often base their self validation and person goals, not thru their father, they often base it off their older brother. The old cliche, one of these days you are going to wake up and your little brother is going to be bigger than you and whip your ass as payback... all cliches are based in truth. As much of a mental game as this sport is, that could possibly be huge.
minuses:
You train and ride with unarguably one of the fastest guys in the world, you can never get over the mental hurdle to beat him, even at home practicing, you resign yourself to this fact, so you never develope what your brother, rc, mc, emig, johnson, bailey, any champion has... that killer self confidence that noone can beat you and should they beat you, its a fluke... and you believe this to your core.
You're someones little brother, so right along with your "normal speed" being higher than everyone elses, the expectations laid on you are so much higher. A rookie to get a top 10 is a healthy, worthly, goal. Malcolm, I cant see anyone getting pumped over a 7th, or a 6th, even a 4th. Its be on the box or win or it can be viewed as "not living up to expectations". And expectations can be more harmful than your other competition on the track.
here is the worst, let say right out of the gate, he wins. he keeps winning, and is the champion. He'll be on cloud 9, then this happens, its because of his big brother. He showed him the way, Mookie got his speed from big brother, he got his training, and the formula from big brother.... it will happen. It wont be Mook doing it, it will be because of his big bro and he will be lauded more than the guy that actually won sometimes. The shawdow is VERY hard to step out from under. If he can do it, which means literally beating his brother, then he has to deal with more of the same, because of the age difference, he didnt beat js in his prime. Now this sounds like every arguement of any new champion ever to come along in our sport, Dungey got a dose of it, and is going into this saturday with a helping as well.... issue is, those guys arent "the dunges" brother. Has more mental weight.
lastly, is he racing because this is what we do, not because this is what he wants. There isnt enough room on the net for riders that have fell into this catagory. Noone, and I mean NOONE, will be a champion, or even win alot at the pro level, when they are doing it because they think they dont have a choice. You have to want to do it, not want it because this is what we do, want it because this is what YOU, to your core, want. MA is a perfect example of this. How many races has he won as a pro? Not saying he isnt fast, fast and winning are 2 different things and not mutually exclusive. Does Mookie do this because he truly wants to, or this is the road, and this is all he knows as a future, so you go thru the motions and do well, but never rise to the top. Obviously this can be said about anyone, not saying the guy is a basket case, just saying that when you are a little brother of a famous racer, this can be prevalent.
if he can mentally overcome those, and be truly happy for himself with what he acheives, it wont matter what the rest say or think. I know for a fact I am cheering for him more than I do his brother.... same reason I am a Reed fan, I always seem to side for the underdog, the guy that "dares" to compete with the star. Hope he comes to Atlanta (thats first east round right?) and wins.
Any help he gets, people automatically accuse him of getting it only because of James
If he does well, people will claim he gets "special parts" because of James
I feel bad for Malcolm and how people do and will treat him.
Especially from those who have some odd deep-rooted hatred for James
Looks like he is out west training with the team? Not with Bubba in FL?
I watched Malcolm race at Loretts 2 years ago when he was healthy. He was fast but did not win. Has he turned up the speed that much??? Time will tell.
Regardless.....Suzuki City made a large gamble inve$ting in him but regardless Malcolm will get a lot of exposure for the team.
Pit Row
At the track during his amateur days, people were hating on him because of the attention he got simply from being JS' brother.
one thing i wouldnt disregard from the show is that malcolm is a very nice kid. key word being, hes a kid. dont expect him to be perfect in front of the camera just yet.
i dont think this is a case similar to the mike alessi / jeff alessi situation where jeff never really cared or wanted it as bad as mike did, and indeed the shadow was a burden even tho most thought that in jeff's amateur days, he was the better natural talent.
at the moment, malcolm seems to not care that he's bubba's brother and relishes the opportunity. we'll see how that lasts. but that is the right mindset to have i one were to be in his position.
that said, a lot can be said about motivation and what youre facing in life if you dont win. bubba was carrying a lot more on his shoulders from a much younger age. sub-consciensiously, malcolm will always have a lot to fall back on if he doesnt live up to the stewart name, and by human nature, that may affect his motivation in a negative way. its the reason talented athletes from suburbia make shitty pro football players....if youve never faced and overcome real adversity in your life growing up, then you will wilt facing it for the first time come sunday.
if he's truely that competitve to overcome his plush upbringing, i dont think most would ever be able to appreciate just how good he really is. hell, he runs top 5 and makes it to the 450s and runs top 10 and that would be a huge accomplishment all things considered.
but like dave said, the lemmings wont consider all things and this kid will probably take an undeserved beating from fans.
P
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