450 Words: Anaheim II
January 27, 2010 12:00pm | by: Steve Cox
It’s unbelievable that so many people can boo a rider like San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart after last Saturday night’s performance in Anaheim. No, he didn’t win, but he tried to. And he did so with who knows what injuries. While we do know that he is hurt, we don’t really know what is ailing him. All we have is speculation and hearsay, both of which are saying it’s his right wrist. Maybe it is and maybe it isn’t, but the truth is that the ride he put in at Anaheim II was nothing short of heroic.
But when Hill got around Stewart, most expected him to back it down a notch. But he didn’t. He continually dived inside of Hill and did anything and everything he could to keep the lead. Stewart doesn’t know how to lay up. He nearly ate it in the whoops one lap while battling side-by-side with Hill, and that save may have been the final nail in his race’s coffin, as it wasn’t long after that when Dungey got by, then chased down Hill for the lead and the win. Hill hung on for a solid second place, but the big story – well, besides the utter dominance of late by Dungey, who is showing un-rookie-like poise – was that Stewart went to battle already injured, and despite having one hand figuratively tied behind his back, he was not in defense mode, but rather offense mode. He attacked until he simply couldn’t anymore. And that’s why his fans love him, and why even his detractors love watching him race – even if they won’t admit it.
But it’s also why he ends up in such tight championship battles even in seasons where he’s plainly dominant and mostly healthy, because when you ride like James Stewart, it seems like it’s “when” rather than “if” something is going to go wrong and cost you a lot of points. He’s a homerun hitter who also strikes out more than anyone on the team.
But the team isn’t going to trade him for the guy who doesn’t really win a lot of games, but doesn’t lose many either.
James Stewart is spectacular in victory and defeat, and the chances are he will be until he’s done racing. After all, he’s in his ninth season now, and that hasn’t changed yet.
But when Hill got around Stewart, most expected him to back it down a notch. But he didn’t. He continually dived inside of Hill and did anything and everything he could to keep the lead. Stewart doesn’t know how to lay up. He nearly ate it in the whoops one lap while battling side-by-side with Hill, and that save may have been the final nail in his race’s coffin, as it wasn’t long after that when Dungey got by, then chased down Hill for the lead and the win. Hill hung on for a solid second place, but the big story – well, besides the utter dominance of late by Dungey, who is showing un-rookie-like poise – was that Stewart went to battle already injured, and despite having one hand figuratively tied behind his back, he was not in defense mode, but rather offense mode. He attacked until he simply couldn’t anymore. And that’s why his fans love him, and why even his detractors love watching him race – even if they won’t admit it.
But it’s also why he ends up in such tight championship battles even in seasons where he’s plainly dominant and mostly healthy, because when you ride like James Stewart, it seems like it’s “when” rather than “if” something is going to go wrong and cost you a lot of points. He’s a homerun hitter who also strikes out more than anyone on the team.
But the team isn’t going to trade him for the guy who doesn’t really win a lot of games, but doesn’t lose many either.
James Stewart is spectacular in victory and defeat, and the chances are he will be until he’s done racing. After all, he’s in his ninth season now, and that hasn’t changed yet.
