After only competing in only two rounds of Monster Energy AMA Supercross in 2023 before sustaining a knee injury that would take him out the rest of the year, Malcolm Stewart was able to compete in all 31 rounds of the SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) in 2024. The veteran from Florida sat down with the media in Anaheim California recently to talk about his 2024 season, staying healthy, plans for next year and being content with his long career.
It seems every year there are rumors before the start of supercross of Stewart flying at the test track. Once the season starts, Stewart shows flashes of that speed and then more often than not has some big crashes, leaving fans to think, “What could have been.” But we 2024 we saw a much more mature (which tends to happen when you reach your 30s) Stewart, as he told the media.
“For me, I guess for this year, of course, it was a very quiet year for me, right," he said. "Getting back out there after the knee in ‘23 and then coming back this year just trying to lead off where I was, but you also got to accept reality too. You just don't bounce back the way you want to and that kind of humbles you up a little bit. So, I had a really good off-season so far. I did a Paris race just recently and that went very well. And so that kind of helped definitely motivate me and things like that and so far, everything's been going fairly well. So, Anaheim 1 is coming around the corner and we're just gonna enjoy it, just enjoy the moment and have fun with it and whatever the results happens where it's at. But I'm gonna go out there and give it everything I got.”
After competing in an entire season, it seems Stewart’s mindset has shifted from the “Checkers or wreckers” mindset of his youth.
“You know, for me, I just kind of have a different aspect, more so it's all about timing, right?" he said." You know, a lot of people go out there and you want to go out there of course, I wouldn't be doing it if I didn't have the mindset to win, right. But at the same time, I also want to have the mindset of going out there and finish in all 31 races and doing the best results and putting the best results for my team. So, like I said, you can win one race and not be out there for the rest of the season or whatever. So, to me, it’s again, as I said before, it's just about embracing and having fun and just go out there and put the best results I can.”
Winning is important to anyone who races for a living, but Stewart was able to reflect on his long career when asked what would happen if he never gets that illusive 450SX win:
“I'll be okay. Why, because I felt that I made it a lot longer than I ever thought I was going to, first off. You know, a lot of the same guys that we used to play in the same sandbox have already retired. So, the fact that I'm still able to be out here racing in front the fans, I'm okay with it, you know. So, it's about making memories, man at this point and having fun and enjoying it but racing hard. So again, I'm thankful still be able to be on a factory team and things like that. So, I'm doing something right.”
And finally, Stewart reflected on his previous run ins with now training partner Justin Barcia, and what it is like to ride together at Baker's Factory.
“You know I've had that question quite a bit since he’s came over there," Stewart said. "You know, again, for me, you always try to look past that, right? And look forward to a very positive year and again, I have nothing against Justin. He's a great rider. He's always been phenomenal as a rider and he's even a better person off the motorcycle, right? So, there’s always things, that you have that encounter with anybody, but it's just kind of like my brother and Chad Reed at the time and now when they get done racing, they're cool, right? So again, everybody has an ego and things like that, but he's a great rider to train with and spar with. So, we don't want to spar too much. But we are definitely gaining a lot of respect for each other and at the end of the day we want the same thing, and you want to go out there and do the best we can in front of the teams in front of the fans and stuff like that.”
With his aggressive riding style and big personality, Malcolm Stewart has always been a fan favorite. Stewart fans were happy to see him at all 31 rounds in 2024 and are looking forward to the same in 2025. He is looking to build on his gate drops this year for next season.
"Having a full year under my belt, I think it's been the biggest positive for me and helps with race shape and race craft and things like that," he said. "So I'm in a really, really good, happy spot where I'm at with everything."
