The 2010 AMA Supercross season kicks off this weekend in Anaheim, California, where defending champion and legend of the sport, James Stewart renews rivalries with four-time runner-up Chad Reed after returning from a serious injury to reclaim the title in 2009…
7...
Stewart’s favourite number. It was the national number that he won his first championship title with. He calls it his ‘Lucky #7’ and he clearly takes the superstition seriously as his official website is called JS7.com. Seven is also the number of consecutive wins that Stewart chalked up in the 2009 season to close the deficit on arch rival Chad Reed.
23...
The number of points in arrears that Stewart found himself behind Reed at the start of the 2009 season. However, Bubba was never likely to fade in the face of adversity and he clawed his way back to take the title on the final day in Las Vegas, much to the disappointment of Reed. Many observers believe that the pair’s bitter rivalry dates back as far as 2003, when during a race Stewart slowed to allow Reed to overtake him before Stewart proved his dominance by overtaking back – seemingly at will.
11...
The number of wins from 17 races that enabled Bubba to reclaim the world title in 2009. It is also the number of amateur titles that Stewart won in a stellar junior career. The first of these wins came at the tender age of just six.
24...
Stewart became only the second rider in history after Ricky Carmichael to complete a perfect season in AMA 125 Motocross, when in 2008 he won all 24 races. And just to make the achievement that little bit better, Stewart did it after recovering from major surgery on his knee.
259...
Bubba has ridden with number 259 out of respect for his childhood friend and idol Tony Haynes, who was one of the first black Americans to show great talent on a motocross track. Haynes used to ride with the number and when Bubba was just seven-years-old, Tony – then aged 16 – was left paralyzed from the waist down after a serious motocross accident. Tony then gave Stewart permission to take over his number and they remain close friends.
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