The Moment: St. Louis
Monday, April 11, 2011 | 1:20 PM
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PrintThe momentum was not at all on James Stewart’s side heading into St. Louis. Pretty much anything that could have gone wrong did go wrong for him over the previous two months, and there were plenty of other riders who looked to be on a roll. Trey Canard had won two out of three and logged the fastest lap in St. Louis practice. Ryan Dungey was closing on the points lead. Chad Reed seemed to have taken his riding to another level.
Stewart got around Dungey early to take over second.
Photo: Simon Cudby
In St. Louis, Stewart got a good start and was fast. But he had gotten good starts and had been fast in plenty of other races this year. Over the last two months, it had not worked out.
But this time, Canard was knocked from the contender list as soon as he got a bad start. Stewart was third, and made a pass on Dungey on the first lap. Dungey couldn’t get him back, Stewart avoided the sort of contact and drama that had been plaguing him, and soon rolled past Ivan Tedesco to get the lead.
Stewart then made quick work of Tedesco on his way to victory.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Then he approached a rhythm lane with six jumps. All day, riders had tried different combinations, even going inside and single, double, tripling. But Stewart sized it up and thought about triple, tripling. He went for it, and, finally, he made it without drama. At that moment, the old James Stewart mojo had made a return.
That leap gave Stewart enough breathing room over Dungey to ride without much pressure the rest of the way. Dungey nailed the jump later, but it was too late. Stewart had finally taken a big risk and saw it pay off. Don’t look now, but he’s just 16 points back with three races to go.
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No it was the tuff block stopping Reed. He would have kept RV behind him and it would have made the points race even tighter than it is. It was just another stupid unneeded risk taken by JS. He should have waited for a safer moment to make the pass. Lucky this time he did not land on someone.
James takes the finale 3 that is how I see this finishing.
Ha! I bet big james threw that tuff block in the track! Ha payback to Reed for Atlanta!! Go James finish up strong!!!!!
Canard and Villopoto were also doing the triple triple, it wasn't just Stewart.
ZV938 Stewart did it first, go back and watch the film
Uneeded risk and claiming where luck stands?
Bitter, party of one? Your pitty pot is ready...
The ''fastest crasher on the planet'' cannot go 4 races without wadding it up. The sky is blue.
unneeded risk? moron, go play in traffic, thats an unneeded risk
Seems like everyone has a case of the monday's leaving comments...
Did CBS reveal how the tuff-block wound up on the track...
right in front of CR22 & RV2; the top 2 guys in points...
just as they were about to come through?
That was a story 'in the moment'.
Another missed opportunity by CBS show producers...
amid more average to poor camera coverage.
CBS & SPEED should offer a Live feed/various camera angles...
of the Fab 5ive for the last three rounds of the season;
Follow each rider via the Internet.
Still got too love how everyone does what James does.....he shows them how to get around the track fastest....
I love how some idiotic douche -bag tries to claim that it was James fault that Chad (i can't do the triple-triple) Reed landed on a tuff- block!!! You losers will do anything to get your JS bashing rocks off wont you??? "Un-needed risk"??? Haha, you are an idiot "wrong moment"!!
I was sitting in at the section, right before the 2nd triple, where Stewart made the pass on Tedesco. It was a lot sketchier than it looked on TV.
Buzzkillington,, maybe thats why they call it RACING... Passing on a SX track is tough.. Do yo want them to just pull over if the guy behind is faster ?? If thats the way the tracks are going to be built, you are going to see a lot of "sketchy" passing. Just dont take each other out in the process.
i was very impressed with the move js put on tedesco for the lead. i just don't think he had to use it on IT9, the guy was moving over because he knew js was close. plus he has a torn ACL, it's not like he was gonna go bar to bar with james for 19 more laps. it looked like IT9 was giving him a wide berth. i don't think he was conceding the spot but i do think he was concious of the tight points race. i don't believe anything malicious was involved with the tuff block in front of CR22 either. i was however let down to see the track official just standing there looking and not doing anything. after the way i've seen them rush to help get other riders back in the race. something i really enjoyed was watching TC41 trying to make his charge through the pack. i think he may have been able to get by CR22 had he not bobbled. oh well, maybe the Honda riders will fare better next week. Go Big Red.
Tuff block or not, Reed finished right where he would have. Villopoto would have passed him sooner or later. Reed said it himself he was riding crappy that night.
The pass JS put on IT can hardly be called masterful. It was just another "don't think" and go for it, " I hope this works" move. It worked, but could have as easily ended in disaster. You cant tell me that JS knew IT was not going to hug the inside. He just rolled the dice and hung on hoping to not meet IT at the end.
No need to push that hard, that early.
can't wait for Vegas!!
@Hawk, thank you. Thank you for explaining what I was going to have to say. @mxmofo chill man. No need to freak out on me. Just saying what I saw.
Buzzkillington,, Not freaking out ( hahahah).. Its just most of these tacks suck, and you about have to put someone in the bleachers to pass them..
MXmofo, maybe you haven't noticed that Stewart has been on his head a bunch of times this year and often it is because he takes unnecessary risks? He calls it bad luck, but that is what will happen if you roll the dice that much. He lands on people all the time because he does what he would do as if they aren't there, and hopes they don't get in his way. When they happen to be in his way, they both go down. Racing is risky enough without worrying if the supposed best SXer is going to land on you off of every bump on the track. If there was one guy that you'd think WOULDN'T land on anyone, it should be the supposed best.
B-KR,, I agree some with what your saying. You said " He lands on people all the time." I think thats streching it alittle. He comes up on poeple fast, and that costs him sometimes. I agree thopugh, he copuld be a little safer,,, but then you will have some other poeple complaining about someting else they find wrong with him.
@mxmofo haha true that man, true that.
wrong moment we will never know but I would BET RV gets passed Reed.
Hawk & Bzzkill - Stewart passed people all day long where he passed tedescoe and I think he did during the heat (i think)...Sure it was close, but thats racing....he was not out of control or just making a last minute decision...It looked pretty smooth to me. Also, with this field you need to push hard and early to get up front or you will behind as we saw this week or battling for 5th place.......
RV was about 4-5 seconds behind Reed and reeled him in before Reed jumped on the tuff block...I think RV would have passed him in that same straight since Reed was doubling that section.
I have been saying the same thing as "mxmofo" all year. Track design is the main reason for the issues with passing ... and crashes. The quality of MX tracks (outdoor and indoor) has always been the worst part of the sport. Building a track is a skill and requires intelligence. In some cases, these track designers are former pros who do not have a clue as to the proper way to build a track and are only hired because of their names.
BK-R, Everyone of these guys takes a risk out there everyrace, RC rode the edge a lot just like JS does, Even a guy like RD who is very controled makes some tight passes sometimes, I think the JS passes get looked a much more than any others though. Now don't take me the wrong way JS is VERY agresive but there are lots of guys like that out there he is just the fast one that gets talked about the most.
Whoa haha. mofo...mx..(please don't use that name), did you just say pros (the guys who rode these tracks for years and know what works and what doesn't) don't have a clue on how to build tracks? Did you not like Daytona? Just curious, whats your thoughts on what qualifies someone to build a track?
@Rick Melon, yeah I get what you're saying. And yes, he made a few passes there.
Also the whole thing with Reed and RV... RV would of passed him regardless. Obviously later in the race, but it would of happened.
I was at the race, a lapper ( who will remain nameless ) clipped the tuff block that Reed hit, that reminds me i owe that dude 50 bucks....lmao
The DUMB comment of the day:
"The pass JS put on IT can hardly be called masterful. It was just another "don't think" and go for it, " I hope this works" move."
It's called racing and you pass your opponent any chance you can, especially when it was within the first lap, when everyone was all bunched up. That's where one can make up the biggest gains.
Let me guess you DON'T race ????? Keyboard racing doesn't count !!!!!
I would like to add a comment on the CBS/Speed coverage. Why don't they have a camera on one of the top riders helmets like Canard, Dungey, Reed, Stewart, or Villipoto during a main event? Hell, why not do all five? It would be especially cool at Vegas since the title will most likely go all the way to the last round. It's cool to see someone do a lap with the hemet camera during practice, but it would be a lot cooler to have one or more of the top 450 riders do it during a main event.
I just can't seem to control my urges to smack-talk about stewart!! I need more love in my life i guess, i'll try harder to be nice!! GO DUNGEY!!
EAT CROW, I was at the race and saw the pass. I agree with you that when a opportunity presents itself to make a pass you should take it, especially in supercross when riders are all bunched up on the first few laps and the race is so short. But another part of me thinks that it was a tad bit risky for Stewart. He is obviously more talented than Tedesco, and probably could have made a pass somewhere else on the track that was less dangerous for both.
true jojo, but if JS waits maybe he has to fight RD the hole race, I say ASAP on passing.
Hawk, et. all,
Calling out riders for pushing their limits at your local track on a Saturday practice session and your point may be valid. But this is PRO RACING, not checkers! Have you noticed how crazy the starts are? Your logic of “no risks too early” has you waiting to be the last to turn one.
A large percentage of the maneuvers in Supercross are highly precise. However, to make a pass at race pace takes split second decision making and a "go for it or stay home" attitude. JS pushes that limit more than any other rider. When the pace is at that level, a minute imperfection can be catastrophic. You fault him for taking the risk because you're not able to do the same, or because he made your favorite rider look like he was standing still. JS has smashed into riders, and the dirt, multiple times this year. That is the byproduct of the "go for it or stay home" mentality. That mentality has also resulted in his number 7 leading the most laps this year, as well as many championships. Hate 'em or love 'em, he is the reason riders like RV, RD, & TC are pushing their limits and elevating the sport.
RC had wild rides in his day when he was pushing his limits. JS brought it to RC’s level and pushed beyond that threshold. RV was doing the same last year to beat out RD and took a nasty spill. This year RV is faster than last year.
Are you really taking the “he’s too extreme for our extreme sport” side? The AMA would black flag him if he was that bad. TP back-flipped a finish line and the elders were up in arms. You must’ve been one of them.
@eatcrow, & gbs417, ...guys, I am not a JS hater. I do question some of his moves this year though......and some of the problems in the past with mowing others down from behind. All I am saying is that JS could benefit from a little patience on the track.....afterall, if he had a little more patience in some of the previous rounds he would be in the points lead now.
James would be the most dominate rider ever if he would just slow down sometimes when the urge to go bigger and faster hits.
Which is better.....Being the fastest man on the planet, or being the winningest rider ever?.
.....and yes, I do still ride. My experience is top local pro, SX and Nationals for 2 years.
No hard feelings Hawk. It is not like your comments are out of left field.
JS doesn't have a speed below Mach five, and he has the patience on the track of a four year old. However, that's why he is challenging MC for the most career wins of any rider.
@gbs417 Not yet. Stewart is still 3rd on the all-time win list
16 POINTS IS A LOT
16 POINTS IS A LOT
16 POINTS IS A LOT
16 POINTS IS A LOT
with 3 races remaining. its gonna be Dungey, RV or Reedy
stewart is a shit prick..chad all the way
mike oxard is a shit prick.........screw reedy!!
i must stop reading comments... my faith in humanity is about to be lost
If Reed was doing that triple-triple, he'd have jumped over the tuff-block. Poor guy. Also, if Villopoto had followed Chad's line that lap, would he have KILLED CHAD REED? I guess that's why you don't follow.
I agree that Stewart's pass on Ivan looked risky--it might have been easier to do it where he passed Dungey, over the dragon back. Ivan COULD have cut over into Stewart's line, but I think he heard James' motor flying past his head and knew that the Bubman cometh.
If your leading the 450 Sx and go single single in the center of the track and go in the middle of the corner, you better get passed or landed on, or both. Ya stewieee
Yes I wonder how many of these comment are made by "keyboard" racers? glad to have you in the spoert but unless you have raced in the top levels most of you cant understand. Many times we make passes that are now or never cant waste time ya I have went down hard many of times but it was never for lack of trying that is what makes James special and yes it is sometimes just good ole lick when you get by then on to the next person. I can pretty much tell by the posts what someone knows about racing. I used to call it win, crash or break trying. Never give up and yes I have gave it all and even cried cause I tried so hard and came up short it called desire.
Thats right on Welker, I would rather go home knowing I gave it my all even if I crashed than go home getting 3rd thinking if i only.......