Motocross
Why Motocross Needs James Stewart
He hasn't raced in 2015, but JS7 is still the most incredible rider to watch on the planet.
JS7 rides at home
© Garth Milan/Red Bull Content Pool
Meanwhile, Stewart has continued to ride, determined to return to racing, whenever that might be, at the top of his game. His talent is undeniable. Over the duration of his pro career, he has been widely considered the most talented racer out there. He continues to satisfy fans’s thirst for his immaculate style and ability through social media. It's clear that his hunger to come back to racing has only become more intense in his months off.
James Stewart’s style literally evolved the sport. When he went pro in 2002 at just 16 years old, the young Floridian had a technique that no one had ever seen in motocross. He rode far up front on the bike, which left him more vulnerable should something unexpected happen, but it also allowed him to soak up jumps and stay low. This meant that he could put the power to the ground quicker.
A motorcycle cannot gain speed in the air, so staying low on a jump can pick up valuable fractions of a second. Stewart had developed a technique of pitching the bike sideways on the face of the jump, which not only kept him lower to the ground but allowed him to hit the jump with more speed than other riders who come at the jump straight. This technique of scrubbing height while maintaining speed was dubbed the “Bubba Scrub,” and is standard practice in motocross today.
Today, Stewart still regularly hits sections and jumps on tracks that seem impossible. Even current pro riders when asked if a section is doable will say something to the effect of, "Only if you're riding a No. 7 Suzuki.”
Stewart also brings with him an effortless ability to control the bike that few can replicate. He is one of the only pro racers to have medaled at the Best Whip event at the X-Games for just that reason. Stewart's style has changed the sport. There is no other racer today in the pro scene that has impacted MX and SX in the way that James Stewart has.
A mega Bubba Scrub from JS7
© Garth Milan/Red Bull Content Poo
It was rumored that Stewart had been considering retirement, content to leave the sport with all that he had achieved. But with the tsunami of support since his controversial suspension, Stewart has promised to return to racing with a renewed vigor. His time away from the track has reignited his passion for the sport, a sport that he can do better than anyone. Stay tuned for news on the imminent return of James Stewart.
