Catching Up With…James Stewart
bayodome
- June 24 2009
- 4,705 views
- 23 comments
You have seen the photos and videos, now hear what James had to say about his free-to-the-public ride day held this weekend at Milestone Ranch MX. By all accounts, the event was a success, and it sounds like it won’t be the last…
What prompted you to put this ride day together?
The whole idea was for the fans to feel like they are appreciated and to see me in a different way. Everyone has a certain perception of me and I am a racer at heart and I do take my racing very seriously. But then I get here, and I can ride a two-stroke all day, something I haven’t done in four years, stop and talk with people and mess around doing some goon riding out on the track. Things like that I can’t do when I’m racing. You see all of these people standing around and its pretty cool to come to an event with so many people who came to see you. It was my deal, but Red Bull really kicked in to make this happen.
So will we being seeing any more events like this, or is this a one-time deal?
I think the fans really appreciated it and there will definitely be a couple more. The next one will be in my home state, Florida, and I am definitely looking forward to that one. I will probably be riding the two-stroke and after the one in Florida, I will probably do one up North. I have been talking with Red Bull, and we have discussed maybe opening my house up. Probably not to ride, but so people can come watch me ride and maybe have some freestyle guys as well. This whole off-season is going to be about the fans
What does this event mean to you as a rider who once, just like every kid, looked up to the top guys when you were growing up? The kids who you rode around with today will never forget that.
It means a lot to me. I know how it feels for the little kid who is standing on the other side of the fence. Honestly I wish some of the guys, like Jeremy McGrath and Damon Bradshaw, could have done this when I was a kid; I could only imagine riding with those guys. This will be a day the kids remember, the day they got to ride with James. By the time they are old enough to ride Supercross I will probably be retired by then, so I think it will be a special thing for them.
The inevitable final question: are we going to see you racing any of the Outdoor Nationals this year? Everyone wants to know…
Probably not. As much fun as I have racing them, I don’t really want to do them. I have more fun doing this, giving back to the fans. You get worn out from racing and you don’t necessarily get what you want out of it. At the same time, I definitely want to race; I’m a racer. Doing what I did today, and as much fun as I had, I have no urge to go and race the Nationals. Chad Reed is definitely the guy to beat, and unfortunately Mike Alessi and Ryan Villopoto got hurt. I wouldn’t want to get in the way of anyone’s chances for a championship.
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June 24th, 2009 at 11:30 am
first
June 24th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
james is the man. I love this guy. Supercross champ for '10 and hopefully we'll see him outdoors next year.
June 24th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Awesome! James needs to come down to Texas and do one.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
James is the man…. Talk like that is BAD FOR OUR SPORT> the sport is MOTOCROSS JAMES!
supercross is the circus that helps keep the sponsers so we can have the NATIONALS. no wonder FOX dropped. you.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
Your censorship is ridiculous! It only proves that you are not real journalist when you censor a legitimate comment, a comment free of any speech that is not protected by the First Amendment. I know…the First Amendment, you probably have no clue to what it is I am referring to.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
Oh wait…you are not censoring me now! Okay, so I just wanted to say how uncool it was the James was goon riding amongst novice and beginner riders on "HIS RIDE DAY." That is not the time or place to be doing that. If I were a novice/beginner on the track with him when he was doing that, I would feel low. Other than that goon riding bit, the event was really cool! I think the PR people are really on to something!
June 24th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Wow there are three retarded comments on here make that four with the 'first' crap.
First of all this is a private company not the government they can censor whatever the heck they want, especially people that have 0-clue of what they are talking about.
Second, James good riding is faster/safer than anyone out on that track, and its entertaining to everyone and I'm sure novice riders didnt go home crying cause James gooned 2ft next to them, they had woodys from getting to ride with him.
Anything James says/does is good for our sport, so smokers only you are halftard as well.
June 24th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
I don't like James don't do the nationals and only Supercross….. But is a very cool rider to watch, is motocross skill is very high…. And the "HIS RIDE DAY." is a very cool think….
Sorry, i come from Quebec and my English is bad…
June 24th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
Hey, I went to the ride day and have rode Milestone many times. It was FANTASTIC to have James come out and ride. Frankly, after that exeperience, I could careless if he rides the Nationals. Just watching him and being out there on the track with him blows away any motocross experience with a PRO I've ever had. I hope he visits a state near you! If he does, make a point to go!!! I even got a chance to put a hand on his bikes. I've never had the opportunity to peak inside a BEAST of a championship bike like that before. James do your thing! We really appreciate it! I even saw Rado out there riding.
-Dempsey Tillman
June 24th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
I am not going to get into a pissing match with you, but it should be said that a non-governmental actor can be in violation of the Constitution. So your critique is only half correct. Admittedly, in this scenario, twmx would be entitled to censor whomever they please. I just thought it ironic that they would resort to such policing of the comment boards as they had been doing on the video that was posted of this ride day. So, my friend, I do know what the hell I am talking about. I could talk circles around you concerning law, james stewart, and anything else you claim to have any thought of. By the way, it was goon riding that I complained of, not "good riding." Maybe that is the source of your illogical rant. You may not have accurately read what it is I wrote!
June 24th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
Come on!
June 24th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
If I write more than 15 words, my comment has to be policed!
June 24th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
I don't blame James for not riding the Nationals. Look at the crashes he's had outdoors in the last few years. Crashing at his speed, man, he's lucky to still be racing. He can have a long, championship-filled career racing Supercross only; then have the free time in his off-season to do amazing events like this ride day. JSE and RedBull teaming up like this will have some very positive effects for our sport. I wish I was there.
June 24th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
As far as the goon riding is concerned, I recall when I was learning how to race, pro-goon vids would make me want to try harder to not ride like that. If anything, seeing pros goon made me a better rider because it becomes blatantly obvious what you should not be doing on the motorcycle. Oh, plus it's funny as hell to watch!
June 25th, 2009 at 1:26 am
James should ride the Super X in Australia an smoke Reedy again.
June 25th, 2009 at 4:52 am
"theone" i believe you are the first person i have ever heard nay-saying on goonin, and seeing pros do it is awesome, and it was HIS RIDE DAY so who care if he'd come out with full face helmet and leathers it was all fun. one more thing dont dis on anyone who could run circles around you on anything with 2 wheels, stop lyin to yourself hes "THE ONE" with the #1 plate from mx last year and will ride #1 in sx this season
June 26th, 2009 at 12:46 am
oh and hes not going fast at supercross? i think hes just as likely or more to crash ther
June 26th, 2009 at 2:47 am
i thought he said he did want to race outdoors but L&m didnt. now he says he doesnt want to, its not fun enough to race and he doesnt want to ruin the "vibe/battle" thats going on. ????? well, i want to see him race, but not win, but being the champ, he deserves a win, so i hope he gets one/all of the rest of them. good luck!!
June 26th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
It just goes to show you that people like "smokers only" and "the one" are bigots.
A pro who, I personally think has zero obligation to the fans, puts himself out their for the fans, and people have to say something bad about it because they are ignorant, hard line, rednecks. (probably) It doesn't matter what this kid does there will always be a negative comment just because of the color of his skin.
I guess thats what happens when a historically white sport is dominated by a black athlete.
June 26th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
it will be very easy to know if he is going to ride the outdoors.. if he is on san manuel.. he won't.. if he is not on san manuel. 90% he will
June 26th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
wow ur the first ur pretty cool
June 27th, 2009 at 5:32 am
If James comes out for one national and blows Chad away by 30 seconds a moto, Which would happen. Chads maybe top 5 when the real guys are in in Nationals. Then would everyone be happy. Because God know Outdoors vs Chad would be a friking blowout.
Hay If anyone has a problem with James, You can always go out and beat him in outdoor supercroos whatever. But then again no one can. Believe me, if everyone P/him/O enough. Hell go out and clean slate again in Nationals for you in 2010, since thats what you want to see. And these idots will have a bet on the rest of the field, they dont care.
By the way Ryan and Mike would of killed Reed all year, and James would of dusted them.
June 30th, 2009 at 2:56 am
Bubba is an alien involved in scientific? experiments that gave him superhuman abilities and he escaped from Area 51 in Nevada and he was so fast that the scientists could'nt catch him and he ran away to Florida where he currently resides.