Stewart adds Supercross title to a resume full of dominant wins
By Lance Oliver
James Stewart only needed to finish ninth or better in the Amp'd
Mobile AMA Supercross Series round at Seattle to wrap up his first title
in the premier Supercross class. To nobody's surprise, he won, instead
of finishing ninth.
If it seems like Stewart has been the heir apparent to motocross
legend Ricky Carmichael for a long time, it's probably more a testament
to Carmichael's amazing durability and skills than any slowness in
Stewart's rise. It also has a lot to do with the way youth rules Supercross and motocross. It seems we've been watching James Stewart
race forever, but he's still just 21 years old.
Stewart won his first Supercross title the same way he won his
earlier titles, from his amateur days in the AMA youth ranks at the
Loretta Lynn Ranch to his Supercross and motocross titles in what was
then the 125 class, now Lites. He won in dominating fashion, making
absolutely clear that he was the fastest guy on the track.
More importantly, Stewart didn't lose this year's Supercross title
the way he lost his three-way battle for the championship last year,
when he was also often the fastest guy on the track but lost points due
to crashes. In 2007, he showed
the control and maturity and consistency that, when added to his
phenomenal speed, guaranteed a championship in the top class.
 With 12 wins, two second-place finishes and just one fifth-place
finish due to a crash, Stewart left no doubt this time, and no opening
for a rival to nip him by a few slim points, as happened in 2006.
If we adjust our thinking to accept the idea that Ricky Carmichael is
now a rookie NASCAR driver instead of the world's best motocrosser, then
the hierarchy is very clear: James Stewart is the best Supercross rider
in the world; Chad Reed is a clear second; the rest of the field has
some work to do if they aspire to catch up.
There's still one round to go in the season, but we can already add the 2007 Amp'd Mobile AMA Supercross Series title to Stewart's
other accomplishments:
- Tied for most career titles at the AMA Youth and Amateur
Motocross National Championships at the Loretta Lynn Ranch with 11
- Won the 2002 AMA 125cc Motocross Championship with 10 overall
wins
- Won the 2003 AMA 125cc West Region Supercross title with seven
wins in eight races
- Won every round of the 2004 AMA 125cc East Region Supercross
title
- Won all but one moto in the 2004 AMA 125cc Motocross
Championship
- Member of Team USA that won the 2006 Motocross of Nations
© 2007, American Motorcyclist Association
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