1. Malcolm Stewart is out for the Nationals, Cooper Webb could be as well. Is that strange or just how it goes?
Jason Weigandt: It should be something to get angry about but this is how it goes in this sport. 450 supercross is the holy grail, and anything that compromises that will get pushed to the wayside. In the case of Webb, he might try to gut out a few 250 Nationals but navicular breaks are notoriously hard to heal, and I can't imagine Yamaha wants to risk his future as a big-dollar 450SX rider on another shot at the 250 National title. Providing Jeremy Martin stays healthy, the brand has a superb shot at winning it again anyway. So I expect them to proceed with extreme caution.
As for Malcolm, it's a shame we won't see him outdoors, but he knows his market value in trying to get a top-line factory 450 ride next year is at a peak right now. Unless he goes out and kills it outdoors—I'm talking moto or overall wins—he's only going to hurt his stock. That's the market and that's how the game is played. Yeah, this is stupid, I know. Should his value go down because he voluntarily skipped the nationals? Probably should, but I guarantee you that it won't—teams just don't think that way. You somehow get more credit for staying home than for sucking it up and getting what you get outdoors (and I’m not sure between Malcolm’s size and fitness if he would do much outside. If he thought so he’d be out there.) Bottom line: supercross isn't the tail that wags the dog, it IS the dog. So these guys are planning their future around it. In this case, don’t hate the player, hate the game.
Jason Thomas: Well, we have two different situations here. Cooper is hurt and yes, that's just how it goes. Motocross is an inherently dangerous sport. I know that because former AMA motocross manager Duke Finch used to say that at every rider’s meeting at all 29 races of every year until he stepped down. All of Cooper's deals are signed (the big ones anyway) so he has no pressure to perform this summer. He just delivered his second consecutive 250 West Region championship and has a legitimate wrist injury that needs attention. Sitting out the summer, at least in part, is the smart and in my opinion, obvious move.
Mookie is a different deal. He is healthy and riding incredibly well. I think his decision to not ride is much more controversial. He is contracted to ride the outdoors but from what I hear, simply doesn't want to. He is a bigger guy and doesn't feel he will be competitive against the lighter 250 riders on the long starts, setting himself up for an even longer summer. The solution here has to be getting him on a 450 like he was in 2014. I know, I know, Justin Bogle has that spot but there has to be a way to come up with more parts or even a non-factory, but still competitive, 450. It will give Mookie a legitimate chance for success and also a platform to sell himself to 450 teams, too. I know it's not that easy and he probably hasn't even ridden a lap of outdoors yet, but it seems like a possible fix.
David Pingree: Well, it is certainly odd that both 250 supercross champions are going to miss the nationals. It makes sense for Cooper Webb though; as much as he’d like to win the outdoor title he already has his sights set on the 450 class and a navicular fracture is not something to mess around with. Ask Denny Stephenson if you don’t believe me. Cooper is smart to get his wrist fixed and be 100 percent for the 2017 season.
As far as Malcolm is concerned, that one is a head scratcher for me. How is his team letting him just sit at home and collect a paycheck just because he doesn’t feel like racing the nationals? He complains about being too heavy but that is an easy problem to fix… put in some long cardio followed by ten rounds of STOP eating so much crap! If he got serious about his diet he could drop fifteen to twenty pounds in a couple months time. Look, I don’t know what the hell is going on here but it’s shady and not racing the nationals only puts you behind the competition going into 2017.
2. Up until recently, did you ever imagine Malcolm Stewart would win a supercross title?
Weigandt: No way. By the time this year's 250SX East Region season began Malcolm was definitely a contender, but he wasn't in that spot any other year, including the lead up to the 2015 season, when he didn't even have a ride until late. I remember watching Malcolm at Loretta's every year, with the industry always wondering if he could finally win a title. But he never did (in his best year, he was outdone by some unknown named Weston Peick. Now it turns out that wasn't so bad). So, mostly, Malcolm was known more as James Stewart's friendly, outgoing brother, not for his own merits as a racer. I don't think anyone was predicting titles. So this just becomes another of a recent trend, with late bloomers finding their stride as pros. Like Peick himself, or Cole Seely, or Jeremy Martin, or Justin Brayton, heck, Ryan Dungey—lots of guys who weren't expected to become what they turned out to be.
Thomas: If I have learned anything in 250 racing, it is that anything is possible. The class is made up of kids mostly and that brings unpredictability and wild variations in the results. Mookie has won in the class before and knew that this was his year to shine. He didn't have to face Webb, which was a huge bonus, too. I think it was a great job by the team of strategically putting him in the East, Mookie preparing more than he ever has, and the engine builders for getting him to the front each week on the start. As a group, they all had a hand in winning this title.
Pingree: He’s shown speed for years but never any heart. He’s admitted himself that racing wasn’t a passion of his and he would rather be fishing. Recently that must have changed to a certain degree because he had a couple gritty rides in this series that saved the title for him. On the other hand, he’s contracted to race the nationals and opting to sit out because they are a lot of work. It seems like Malcolm is headed for a SX-only career in the sport.
3. What rider really needs a turnaround when the nationals start?
Weigandt: I know everyone is going to say Barcia, but he at least has a deal locked in for 2017. Blake Baggett's contract with Yoshimura Suzuki is up, and he didn't get much a supercross season to sell himself. Outdoors is his forte, but he's going to face alien-level 450 speed with Dungey, Roczen and Tomac. If he shows the stuff to mix it up with them a bit that will be a huge boost in his stock for next year. If he doesn't, he'll just be in the middle of a gigantic free agent line.
Thomas: Is there anyone that needs it more than Justin Barcia? I don't know how there could be. Justin is one of the highest paid riders in the sport worldwide and that means he is expected to deliver results. It's just that simple. Last summer, he caught fire and was at the front each and every week. He brought the fight to Ryan Dungey more than once and entering this supercross season, many wondered if he could bring that momentum indoors. After all, he was incredibly good at the MXoN in France, looked to have a great off-season and I would argue that no one on earth looks faster on Instagram. It wasn't until rumors leaked that he suffered a thumb injury on Monday before Anaheim 1 that things took a downward turn. That injury seemed to derail the forward momentum he had built and led to another disappointing supercross season. Next weekend gives Justin another chance to get back to the front. If I was him, I would spend the last hours before bedtime reviewing the last five or so nationals when he was firing on all cylinders. Getting that confidence back and finding that edge he had will be the key to his entire summer.
Pingree: Trey Canard. His deal is up at Honda and the friendly Oklahoman never saw the podium in supercross this year. Everybody knows he has the talent but if you can’t turn that into consistent results you will eventually find yourself without a ride. I’m pulling for Trey to find his mojo this summer and remind all the factory teams why he should be on their short lists.
