Thursday, May 5, 2005 | 9:39 a.m.
James "Bubba" Stewart's debut in the 250cc THQ AMA Supercross Series this year was one of the most anticipated events in the 31-year history of the sport.
He hasn't disappointed.
Although Stewart, 19, missed nine Supercross events this season with a fractured left forearm he suffered in practice before the second race of the season, he earned his first 250cc victory in his second race back and is on a two-race winning streak heading into the season finale Saturday night at Sam Boyd Stadium.
Stewart's early season accident and subsequent layoff came as little surprise to those who have followed his career; his highly successful amateur and 125cc professional career was dotted with crashes and injuries. His crash in Phoenix in January fueled Stewart's critics, who maintained he needed to tone down his kamikaze style of riding if he wanted to achieve longevity -- and success -- aboard his Kawasaki.
Stewart said he would have none of that.
"I definitely hear (the criticism) from all you guys out there," Stewart said following his third victory of the season last weekend in Houston. "It's something I really get tired of hearing. It's weird going into practice in Phoenix and everyone's saying I'm smooth. Then I crashed and everyone's saying I'm out of control.
"At Phoenix, I don't really know why I crashed. I wasn't pushing it; I wasn't doing anything (different). It's kind of hard to sit there and change my riding style when I don't even know what happened. It was just a freak accident -- I wish it hadn't happened but that's the cards I got dealt and I think it made me a better person in the long run."
That riding style has paid off handsomely for Stewart to this point in his career. He turned pro in 2002 after a phenomenal amateur career that included 11 AMA amateur national championships. In his first year as a pro, just after he turned 16, Stewart became the youngest rider ever to win a Supercross race and a Motocross championship, and set a record for most 125cc victories in a season (14). He was named the 2002 AMA Rookie of the Year.
In 2003, Stewart won his first of two 125cc regional Supercross championships and in doing so, became the first black American to win a major motor sports championship. Last year, Stewart won 18 of 20 regional Supercross events and established an AMA record for most career 125cc AMA professional victories with 47.
Stewart left the 125cc ranks at the end of the 2004 season to test himself against the "big boys" in the 250cc class. Stewart struggled to a fifth-place finish in his debut in January on a rain-drenched Anaheim Stadium track. The following week, he crashed in the final practice before the 250cc main event at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix.
Prior to his victory last weekend in Houston, Stewart again took a tumble and hit his chest against the handlebars of his KX250. Despite being in pain and having trouble breathing, Stewart went out and won his second consecutive race.
Stewart insisted that his crashes this season are not the result of getting accustomed to the more powerful 250cc bikes.
"If it was power, I think I should be looping out," Stewart said. "I should be going the opposite way (but) I've been endo-ing. The crashes that I've had this year have been really freaky -- nothing where I felt out of control or anything."
Stewart comes to Las Vegas having won three of the past four races, but is a distant ninth in the standings because he missed nine races. Had he remained healthy all season, would Stewart have been able to give Ricky Carmichael a run for the championship?
"I'm sure I would have had a better chance not sitting out nine races," Stewart said. "But you know, I've got to give it up to Ricky ... he won. There's nothing else you can say about that. He's the 2005 250(cc) Supercross champion and there's nothing me, Chad (Reed) or anybody else can take away from him.
"He won fair and square, and I've just got to congratulate him."
Though Saturday's THQ AMA Supercross Series finale at Sam Boyd Stadium is listed as a sellout, some single seats were available as of Wednesday afternoon.
archive
