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
    • Free Stickers
    • Store Locator
    • Sell Racer X
  • Shop
  • About Us
  • Table of Contents
  • Subscribe Now
  • Latest
  • Features
  • Breaking News
Results Archive
GNCC
Big Buck
Articles
Overall Results
  1. Grant Baylor
  2. Thad Duvall
  3. Josh Strang
Full Results
XC2 Pro Results
  1. Michael Witkowski
  2. Craig Delong
  3. Lyndon Snodgrass
Full Results
Supercross
Orlando 2
Articles
450SX Results
  1. Cooper Webb
  2. Marvin Musquin
  3. Justin Barcia
Full Results
250SX West Results
  1. Justin Cooper
  2. Cameron McAdoo
  3. Garrett Marchbanks
Full Results
Upcoming
GNCC
Wild Boar
Sat Mar 6
Articles
Upcoming
Supercross
Daytona
Sat Mar 6
Articles
Upcoming
Amateur
RCSX
Sun Mar 7
Articles
Upcoming
GNCC
The General
Sat Mar 13
Articles
Upcoming
Supercross
Arlington 1
Sat Mar 13
Articles
Full Schedule

Monday Conversation: James Stewart

April 30, 2007 10:09am
  • 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

All day long, James Stewart's crew confirmed everything was cool, just another day. Well, of course, it wasn't: Seattle was the night Stewart was to pick up the #1 plate he’d dreamed of since he “knew what a motorcycle was," the AMA Supercross Championship, one of the hardest things to get in motorsports. There is something very special in this one, and Stewart just officially joined the club.
     Stewart just needed to stay out of trouble in the main, and he was still ready for a good race. It wasn't going to be anything other than a ride with lappers and himself after Reed tangled with Tedesco after Tedesco fell, and Reed had a throttle housing stick on the first lap. Stewart finished the main alone out front, even though with his dream on his mind, he "rode like crap" at the end.
     The new Amp'd Mobile AMA Supercross Champion and Amp'd Mobile Supercross GP Champion stopped first to celebrate with the crowd, then he greeted his team. Before he went to the podium, he stopped for a quiet and emotional moment with his dad, and the two realized how far they have come and that they had made it to the top together. After that, it was podium time, then TV time, then a moment for us.

 

The #1 jerseys were ready to go!

Racer X: James, with all that is going on, how was your concentration during the main?
James Stewart: The easiest thing for me was just go out there and do the first few laps like I always do. I was able to get a gap. When Millsaps went down, I was able to just focus on the race from there. I rode good, but then in the last five laps I rode like crap. I was so tight. I was making so many mistakes. Now I’m stoked! It hasn’t even sunk in yet. All I know is, I earned this all year. All the struggles I have been going through, as a team, and myself, I earned it.

What was the toughest part of the year?
Getting away from the all the distractions. When the season started, everyone expected me to win. It was easy to get overconfident. Every week, I did the same things. I put my laps in every week. Seattle is really good to me, the whole state of Washington. From Washougal to here, I’ve won every single one, so I look forward to here.

How many years has AMA Supercross Championship been your dream?
Since I knew what a motorcycle was, and from watching all my favorite guys, like Rick Johnson, Jeff Matiasivich, and McGrath coming up. Jeff Emig, Ricky … I always wanted to hold one of these things [plates] up, and to hold two of them up in one night is more special. I got the first one out of the way, so I feel much better. It’s like Peyton Manning winning the Super Bowl: the monkey is off the back now. We can have some fun racing now.

So is this half of one of your top career goals right now?
No, this is one of the “one things” I wanted to win in my life. It was the top of the list. Now it’s all about record books and having fun.

Was this a normal day for you, or were you a bit nervous?
Being around me, you probably couldn’t tell, but I was really nervous. Not nervous about getting a top spot, just nervous about not doing anything stupid happen, not getting caught up with a lapper or have something go wrong with the bike, or throw it away myself. I wanted to go into Vegas with a clean mind.

Did this track throw you any curves? The deep ruts, the weird dirt?
Yeah! I think in practice, we all rode like squids out there. I know for sure myself. I wasn’t able to get going but still was able to get the quickest lap time. I just still felt off. I felt the best in main event. That’s what was surprising with me - well, until the last five laps, of course!

It looks like you had an emotional moment with your dad right after that main.
Just winning the championship, this is one of the things that is a lifelong goal for him too. From when he used to work all day long and come home and take me practicing, all the hard times, the injuries, the ups and downs, we kind of like know it, now we made it. Now it is one of those things that you can never take away, and I’m just so proud.

What are you going to do to celebrate?
Let’s keep that out of the papers right now! I will just say I’m 21 now, so I’m good. Next weekend you can find me at a blackjack table. It’s Vegas and I can do it legally now! With the team, tonight, we are going to go have fun tonight, but I think after the season is done, there is going to be a big party.

 

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