Racer X Online - Motocross & Supercross NewsRacer X Online

  • Subscribe Now
  • Latest
  • Features
  • Breaking News

Racer X Online - Motocross & Supercross NewsRacer X Online

  • One Click Sign-In

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    OR

    Sign in with your username and password

    • Sign In
  • Features
    • 10 Things
    • 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers
    • 3 on 3
    • 250 Words
    • 450 Words
    • Between the Motos
    • Breakdown
    • Deals of the Week
    • GNCC Report
    • Great Battles
    • How to Watch
    • Injury Report
    • Insight
    • In the Mag, On the Web
    • Lockdown Diaries
    • Longform
    • MXGP Race Reports
    • My Favorite Loretta Lynn's Moto
    • Next
    • Observations
    • On This Day in Moto
    • Open Mic
    • Privateer Profile
    • Race Day Feed
    • Racerhead
    • Racer X Awards
    • Racer X Redux
    • Rapid Reaxtion
    • RX Exhaust
    • Saturday Night Live
    • Staging Area
    • The Conversation
    • The List
    • The Moment
    • Things We Learned at the Ranch
    • Unphiltered
    • Wake-Up Call
    • Where Are They Now
  • Multimedia
    • Podcasts
    • Photo Galleries
    • The Weege Show
    • Racer X Films
    • Video
    • SX Preview Shows
    • Factory Tech Tip
    • MX Preview Shows
    • Behind The Bars
    • Racer X Rapid News
  • Races
    • Series Schedules
    • TV Schedules
    • Results
    • Champions
    • Teams
    • 2021 Numbers
  • Results
    • Points Standings
    • Race Results
    • Riders
    • The Vault
    • Loretta Lynn's Vault
  • The Mag
    • Customer Care
    • Digital Magazine Bookstand
    • Current Issue
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletter
    • Store Locator
    • Sell Racer X
    • Free Stickers
  • Shop
  • About Us
  • Table of Contents
  • Subscribe Now
  • Latest
  • Features
  • Breaking News
Results Archive
Supercross
Atlanta 1
Articles
450SX Results
  1. Eli Tomac
  2. Chase Sexton
  3. Cooper Webb
Full Results
250SX West Results
  1. Nate Thrasher
  2. Justin Cooper
  3. Cameron McAdoo
Full Results
Australian MX
Wonthaggi
Articles
Supercross
Atlanta 2
Articles
450SX Results
  1. Ken Roczen
  2. Chase Sexton
  3. Jason Anderson
Full Results
250SX West Results
  1. Justin Cooper
  2. Hunter Lawrence
  3. Cameron McAdoo
Full Results
Live Now
GNCC
Tiger Run
Articles
Supercross
Atlanta 3
Articles
450SX Results
  1. Cooper Webb
  2. Ken Roczen
  3. Eli Tomac
Full Results
250SX West Results
  1. Nate Thrasher
  2. Justin Cooper
  3. Seth Hammaker
Full Results
Upcoming
Supercross
Salt Lake City 1
Sat Apr 24
Articles
Upcoming
GNCC
Hoosier
Sat May 1
Articles
Upcoming
Supercross
Salt Lake City 2
Sat May 1
Articles
Full Schedule

Monday Conversation: James Stewart

March 26, 2007 8:52am
  • Home
  • Interviews
  • The Conversation
  • Monday Conversation: James Stewart

Alpinestars has been delivering performance of the highest level on the motocross tracks of the world for over 50 years. Racing on Sunday and developing on Monday is a way of life at Alpinestars.

Advertisement | Advertise with Us

Monster Kawasaki’s James Stewart got shut out at the start of the main at Indianapolis and had one of the toughest challenges of 2007: could he go from last to first, right when Chad Reed grabbed the holeshot and was checking out? 
    Stewart put together an amazing charge, and by the halfway point, he was in second place with about seven seconds to make up. He used a triple-triple combination just after the first whoops and put more than a second a lap on Reed until he caught him and made a pass to win with about five laps to go. It was an amazing race that had the fans on their feet, so forget about SX being over with without RC! We caught up with James, who now holds a 32-point lead in the AMA rankings, just after the TV interviews at Indy.

James Stewart (7) put in an incredible ride to overcome his near-last-place start
Racer X: What happened with the start?
James Stewart: Chad had a better jump. He just cut me off.  He had the right. He had a wheel on me. I had to back off, otherwise he would have taken my front end out. I thought maybe I could squeeze through in the first corner, give them my normal move, but I was too far back. It was all right, I got through best as I could.

You were nearly last going into the first turn, weren’t you?
I think I was—they said I was second-to-last, but either way, that’s not good. From 19th to first, I’ll take that any day of the week!

Were there any scary moments?
One time through the whoops, I got a little bucked and went sideways. I think [Davi] Millsaps ran into me just before the whoops. It was just carnage back there! But I was so far back, you have to expect that. They were probably shocked to see me that far back!

What chances did you give yourself to win after about a lap?
I don’t know.… I didn’t know how good my chances were. All I knew is, I was in shape and I had to push for 20 laps. I knew that if I could get up quick enough and keep it within seven or eight seconds, I had a chance.

Stewart had to pass 18 riders on his way to the top of the podium
What was the gap?
About eight seconds. I was actually making up a little time while passing 18 guys, so I’m stoked.

Did you have any idea how fast you were making up time?
No. It was really hard. We were going super fast on the straightaway, so it was hard looking at the mechanic’s area. I really didn’t have a sense of where I was. It reminded me of last year, but I came up a little but short [then]. I thought, I gotta give these guys a good show, I gotta do it.

When it was down to just you and Chad, did you know you would get around him?
I didn’t know if he was pacing himself to run the last 10 laps. I think he knew if I didn’t fall, that I was coming. He picked it up when I got there, but I had to dig a little deeper and pick it up and bust a few hard laps, and that was it.

It looks like he ran it in on you in a turn once you passed him.
Yeah, I’m not worried about that. That was normal. It’s the way it is. That race said enough, that’s all.

What about that section right after the start and the first whoops? You found a place to triple out. Were you doing that all day?
Yeah, I was doing that in practice. The only thing was the triple-triple [in front of the press box]. I didn’t start doing that until the heat race. I didn’t do it until the first part of the race, and I needed to make up some time. It was a bit sketchy. It was like that rhythm section in Atlanta. It was taking a big chance trying to do it. I had to make up some time. You can’t come that close and not get it.

If you get this title, are you going to think this is one night where you earned it?
I think I earned it so far this season, just by being smart and trying to do my best to stay up and win these races. I think I’m doing that right now. I feel I’m doing really well as far as my program and the way I come to the races. I can’t pick one night. I earned it for the season if I win it.

  • Racer X Films: Kevin Windham Racer X Films: Kevin Windham 10:20am
Presented by:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Website
Read Now
June 2021 Issue Now Available
Get Racer X on your iPhone
Check out all the exclusive content this month on any device!
Read Now
The June 2021 Digital Issue Availalbe Now

Motocross & Supercross News - Racer X Online

122 Vista Del Rio Drive, Morgantown, WV 26508 | 304-284-0084 | Contact Us
©1999 - 2021 Filter Publications LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
designed at: Website DesignImpulse Studios