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I just saw some footage of stewart riding his 250 2 stroke at the pace of everyone on 4 strokes back in 2005. Even almost getting hole shots, was stewart just that good he could ride an underpowered bike that fast or do you guys think the 450s weren’t that strong back than?
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1. It was James Stewart...
2. We've had over ten years of development on 450s since, they're putting out more power and in an even easier to use manner now than they did in '05.
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He had select races where he was running up front but more often than not he was the fourth fastest guy behind RC, Reed, and Windham. Definitely underpowered.
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This.
Plus I remember in an interview from Budds after he got 3rd behind Ricky and Chad, Erin Bates asked him what it will take for him to run with Ricky his response was "A 450."
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I'ts really a shame that Kawi was late to the party with their 450. Then the next year when they gave him one it tried to end his career at least once that I remember. I've said it before and I'll say it again that James and Magoo were the two guys I've seen in 40+ years of watching this sport that I would literally never take my eyes off of when they were on the track.
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Would love to know how much power his 05 kx250 made.
Is there any decent footage of him racing that bike where we can enjoy the sound of it?
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I miss seeing him around the sport. Its so weird you don't see him involved with sport that meant so much to him for a long time at all anymore - not even to support Malcolm. My best guess is that he's resentful of the sport and how his career ended.
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The heat race with reed from sx which comes up suggested next is what it's all about, the debate is not necessary that's what a lot of us got hooked on
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Not on a 250, but worth posting because I still think it's crazy. I'm gonna start it at 28min, but pay attention from 28:50 to 29:00... 
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thrillbillie91 wrote:
I LOL'd at this video as it is pure-Stewart:
insane speed.
insane attack.
insane desire.
Then he got pressured, and:
DIRT.
I don't think anyone ever beat Stewart more than he beat himself. Even his little crash in this race...Reed goes down, and Stewart instantly looks back. Ok, I'm in the clear. That's all it took to mess with his concentration and...BOOM.Clearly the fastest man on the track and he finishes 4th.
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Shame about the bike colour, but still, what an amazing sound! JS259 & 2strokes are/were a complete match made in heaven.
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thrillbillie91 wrote:
From that year on, SX pretty much died for me. That was the last year (for the 250 class) that I had any excitement for it.
It's just a snooze fest now.
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LumpDog841 wrote:
Soooo much cringe in that video "I am a happy person, I will always be a happy person".......
sigh.....
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thrillbillie91 wrote:
“I don’t think anyone beat Stewart more than he beat himself”
Depends on how you look at it. Others with his capabilities (which is a very small list just so we are clear) took 2nd instead of risking the crash riding over their head to get 1st. He didn’t. So that keeps that sentence up there technically true but in reality it isn’t.
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SEE ARE125 wrote:Not on a 250, but worth posting because I still think it's crazy. I'm gonna start it at 28min, but pay attention from 28:50 to ...more
That track looks so cool!
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thrillbillie91 wrote:
Come on dude, no one has ever had the capabilities of Stewart. Get real. If anyone comes close its RC or McGrath or K-dub on a good day. RC would crash his brains out before getting beat, and MC was just too smooth to crash I guess.
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Donovan759 wrote:James Stewart woke up every day and pissed excellence. And that's about it.
excellent at yard sales in 05 maybe....
"If you feel in control, you're not going fast enough" ~Mario Andretti
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thrillbillie91 wrote:
Agreed, when the top guys pushed so hard and got everything out of the bikes. I wish they would do 125 2 strokes and 250f's in sx now.
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motomike137 wrote:I'ts really a shame that Kawi was late to the party with their 450. Then the next year when they gave him one it tried to end ...more
good thing we got a like button now...because i can't agree more. 
fascinating to watch them ride.
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Stewart hated that bike and called it a "deathtrap," for the record.
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