Posts
1284
Joined
12/4/2019
Location
Addison, TX
US
Edited Date/Time
8/29/2021 2:32pm
James Stewart!!!!
Cheeky smiles, fun, just a great guy. These days, the guys are robots, following corporate lines. Doesn't work with our sport, really.
The Shop
MC’s MO: get the start, throw down a couple of heaters, manage the lead, finish line nac-nac. Predictable, but successful.
JS: poor start/hit the deck, remount, take SX to the next level. Do things others can’t, or won’t. Wildly unpredictable, but supremely entertaining.
Not to say MC wasn't talented, he 100% was but most I think you have to say it's James... he could do 250 laptimes on a 125, which in SX is very rare. His corner speed opened up everything and then he was basically looking at the track working out how to do it pinned.
And then i'd say Travis, KW, Ronny, CR and Kenny are close too, in how they ride SX.
I was just thinking this weekend how the guys seem lees like robots than they have in years. Half the time podium guys don't even thank their sponsors. Guys like Jett, Dylan, Ken, etc. It's refreshing.
I'm sticking with Mcgrath.. Final answer.
Everyone seems to forget how fast RV was in corners. Which is half of the track in SX.
When MC came back in 2005 (may have been a different year) on the 2 stroke and was still a top 5 guy.....it was awesome.
MC 7 Crowns and 72 wins....case closed
pure excitement - JS pure determination - RC
Pit Row
People forget that Jeremey brought his BMX skills to the sport and before that, it has been fairly different in how things are done.
James came into a pro scene wherein you had to have the bike skills, fitness, mental game and stars aligned in order to win. And he obliterated people regularly.
I'd say James was more "skilled." His wins were harder to come by than Jeremy's.
Mc had to get into his 30’s to start getting beat regularly and was finally taken down by a child prodigy with the heart of a lion that had to get in tremendous shape to even be able to do it. I’m a huge fan of all these greats but Mc gets my vote.
Riders had to change how they rode. JS7 is awesome, and absolutely very talented, I would not rank him above MC though and the numbers tell the same story.
Chad Reed
Ricky Carmichael
Jean-Michael Bayle
Christophe Pourcel
Ezra Lusk
David Bailey
Ryan Villopoto
Ryan Dungey
Jeff Stanton
Bob Hannah
Jeff Matiasevich
Damon Bradshaw
All those guys deserve a place somewhere in a list
Some have changed racing a lot, others changed it more subtle by the way how they took a turn (Ryan Villopoto). But Kevin Windham for example is also a guy who deserves a place in a Hall of Fame if there is any. Ryan Dungey for the way how he could race a full championship without making much or even any mistakes, always finishing top 5.
It tends to look like an attempt to diminish the tens of thousands of hours of work put in……
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