Ronnie Stewart/Weston Peick

WP was getting top tens with an occasional top 5 before RCH signed him.

Agree 100%!

I don't know that I completely agree with he just needs the right equipment and circumstances. While peick and R Stewart may had similar skills a few years back, I don't think one could make the argument they still have to same skill set. Peick, IMO, has shown more improvements each year than any other rider. I do not feel that's just due to equipment. If I'm not mistaken, he got 4th in a moto at Utah on a privateteer bike.

That being said, I do think R Stewart would be a good fill in, but I really do not think he is still on the same level as Peick

I'm sure all privateers performance would improve with factory performance, but I think Peick just trains and rides with that extra chip on his shoulder. Pretty cool to watch him improve.

Factory suspension compare to privateer, bet that made a huge difference

Peick works his ass off. I believe he also credits a good portion of his rapid improvement in SX to working with Buddy Antunez for the last couple of years.

I don't know squat about Ronnie Stewart. I do root for him to get into the mains though in SX. He seems like a cool guy. Maybe he would benefit from working with someone like Buddy too.

Ronnie is on peicks 2012 level

Peick finished 9th overall in his first ever national, back in 2009. I'm sorry, but I don't see it. Peick was finishing top 5 as a full blown privateer holding off guys like Reed at Vegas for 20 laps, before he ever got an RCH ride. Ronnie is a decent privateer, but if that's the case why not Enticknap? Or Schmidt? Or any of them? What's Stewart's best finish in SX? Like 15th? Peick was a consistent top 5 contender before he ever got a shot. I might just sound like an ass, but simply talking results, Ronnie is the guy who makes main events consistently after 4-7 riders are out with injuries. Obviously a factory contract and bike would help, but it would help anyone at any level, to a certain extent... given the opportunity, he could probably be in the top 10 more often, but not on the podium. You have to remember that Peick used to battle with guys like Dean Wilson in amateurs in the B class, anyone know what Stewart's amateur career was like?

Agree with other posters here...don't think Ronnie and Peick are on the same level.

With that being said though, I am a huge fan of 69 (see what I did there?) and would love to see what he could do as a fill in on a top tier team.

What the OP isn't taking into account is the mental aspect. Racing at the top level is 99.9% mental. They all have a niche otherwise the wouldn't have made it this far. When things are somewhat equal the mental component plays the deciding factor.

Peick is obviously extremely confident in his abilities right now, and knows what he's capable of. On the other side of that coin Barcia is the complete opposite.

Putting R. Stewart might help his confidence, but I don't think it's going to make him as driven as RC to finish on the box.

So no I don't think it will make him into a top 10 contender. Will it help? Yes, but at the end of the day it's the riders decision whether he wants to drop the hammer or not.

On a side note. Schmidt deserves the ride more than anyone IMO. Obviously proven he can qualify out of the Semi on consistent basis. Just needs that extra push to get into the battle in the mains now.

not comparable..

Peick won a title @ lorettas and was doing pretty good as a privateer

Ronnie Stewart is the re-incarnation of Barry Carsten

Yes, Peick is a national title holder beat Malcolm Stewart for the 250B stock title in 2008. I made be wrong but probably got a
better look because of his brother from the factories...

That is the first thing that came to my mind. If you watch the pure privateers, they look like they are hanging on for dear life when they get any where near the whoops.

Peick's speed REALLY improved noticeably when he was on his Suzuki and had the chance to train/practice regularly with James (JS7). I think that was even more important than the factory equipment, because he was still on a privateer bike, yet his results improved dramatically, his SX form over obstacles, etc improved, he really became a beast at that point.

Whilst I think Ronnie Stewart is a good rider, I just don't see him being on the same level as Peick. Peick was a strong top 8 guy as a privateer a couple of seasons ago, even had some top 5's. I just don't see R. Stewart on that level. It'd be great to see him get a chance on some better equipment, but Peick worked damn hard for the ride he has now

This is huge for sure but Weston was doing some amazing things as a privateer and earned what he has got.

I think Ronnie has made just as much of an improvement as Weston. There was a time not too long ago Ronnie was just a local guy racing E-town. I never thought he'd be regularly making mains like he does now. 69 kicks ass (in more ways than one).

Looks like Ronnie is only 24 yrs old. He is still improving because i think he made his first SX main event in 2014, and made a few of them that year. Maybe 2016 will be a breakout year for him in SX and he will reach another level of sponsorship and support. Cheers to him for living his dream.

If I'm not mistaken Peick is only 24 or 25 as well.

IIRC, Peick was getting good results on pretty stock RMZ450s.. not sure how much suspension bling his privateer bikes had other tthan springs/revalves but its possible to do good on stock suspension