More Motocross: actually riding with James Stewart

Of course, THIS is also what a ride day with James Stewart is all about: actually riding with the man. The day was incredibly fun for everyone there, as these cool pics from JS7.com demonstrate.

This is Motocross: JS7.com Red Bull Ride Day

For me, this is what James Stewart's Southern California ride day was all about: hanging out with family and friends at the track watching this singularly phenomenal motorcycle rider go out and just do his thing: ride the wheels off that bike. I'm feeling this photo from JS7.com.

I also think James may have sold a few two-stroke YZ250s that day. He definitely made that bike look like a whole lot of fun. My 01 YZ250 was a fun bike, when it wasn't scaring me with its hard-hitting power; I had much more fun on the 05 450F I once rode (thanks to Donn Maeda at Transworld Motocross).

The Flip Side

And just like that, two foreign riders lead the points chase for the U.S. motocross national championship (using the word "foreign" seems kind of, well, foreign, but it stills sounds friendlier than "non-American" I suppose). This past weekend, a truly historic occasion for American professional motocross because of the tremendous live television coverage by NBC (tremendous, to me, because it was live; I have no comment on the production values yet, as I actually missed the broadcast due to the new digital tv bullshit), Australian Chad Reed and Frenchman Christophe Pourcel did the unthinkable and SWEPT both of their respective motos.

Now, how did this turn of events come to pass, only four rounds into the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, or what I like to call, LOAPMC (because as we all know, LOAP is dope)? Well, it wasn't because these professional racers who used to contest the World Championship and now battle in the American series are any better than their American counterparts. It is because motocross is hard.

Racing motocross is hard on the body, the mind, the bank account, personal relationships, and much more. It is a hard sport and sometimes even the best get hammered past the breaking point. The 2009 season, as beautiful as it has been so far, is also turning out to be particularly hard on the fastest. First, American pre-season favorite Ryan Villopoto was injured while training and is out for the season. Then American pre-season "vice-favorite" Mike Alessi got hurt training and is no longer in contention. This left the door wide open for the rest of the 450 field going into High Point, but it was Speedy Reedy who stepped through to claim the points lead.

Pourcel did not need the same opportunities to move himself into the series lead in the 250 class. The former World Champion is very fast and amazingly smooth and was widely expected to be a title contender, if not an outright favorite to win it all. But motocross has been, and continues to be, hard on Pourcel. The terrible injuries he has overcome to make it this far in his short but stellar career, coupled with his fight with a current mysterious stomach ailment, are proof of the physical and emotional toll the sport takes on those brave enough to go for it.

But motocross was even harder on American Trey Canard this weekend, who broke his wrist when he crashed out of the lead of the second 250cc moto. According to GuyB (who took the photos and wrote the story for Vital MX), Canard took the fight to Pourcel, but it was apparently not meant to be. Trey was running third in the points chase, behind the American everyone (or at least I) regarded the title favorite, Ryan Dungey.

(And motocross was hard on Josh Grant this weekend; check out this crash!)

Will 2009 witness yet another historic milestone for American motocross, with two foreign riders winning both titles? There are 16 motos to go...

Oh No! Alessi Injured!

National motocross championship points leader Mike Alessi severely injured one of his knees while practicing on Monday, just two days after a dominant performance at the Wortham, Texas round of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship at Freestone Raceway; Racer X Online has the news.

Get well soon, M. We'll miss the crazy holeshots, like this huge jump to start the second moto. Another cool capture by GuyB at Vital MX.

C'mon Ryan

You can do this.

This is just a very cool shot of Dungey doing it in practice today at Hangtown, from a great gallery on Allisports. The Rockstar Makita Suzuki star (heh) qualified second fastest.

Glen Helen: Women at Work - Factory Fiolek

The Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship features a women's class, and Red Bull Honda factory team member and current women's National Champion Ashley Fiolek dominated the day by grabbing huge holeshots and running away with both wins. Multi-time Champion Jessica Patterson took second and Sherri Cruse finished third in some pretty exciting racing action.

While watching them race and seeing how truly fast these women are on the challenging world-class motocross course at Glen Helen, I couldn't help but think about how much butt they kick back at their local tracks. These women contesting the Lucas Oil championship can flat ride, son.

Fearless start photo by GuyB at Vital MX.

Glen Helen: Men on a Mission, Exhibit B - 2 vs 22

It may not have seemed like it at Glen Helen, but I believe this is the battle for the 450 cc crown right here, 2 versus 22. After playing his cards close to the vest during the entire supercross season, and with only two or three weeks before the start of the outdoor series, Rockstar Makita Suzuki's Chad Reed (22) announced he would participate in the Nationals. I wonder if he would have made the same decision if James Stewart were racing the series?

In any case, Reed came out swinging on Saturday morning, setting the pace in practice with the fastest laps of both sessions. But when it came to 30+2, RV proved to be the Man, running down everyone he needed to on the way to winning both motos decisively. Chad went 4-3, finishing behind only the popular Mike Alessi and the surprising Josh Grant, two guys who could (and often do) call the Glen Helen track "home."

Reed had gotten used to finishing second behind a stocky redhead, Ricky Carmichael. I'm pretty sure Monster Energy Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto (2), another redheaded racer, would like to keep Reed in that familiar runner-up position all year long. Reed clearly has the speed to run with Ryan, so this championship is going to be determined by sheer guts. It's gonna be awesome! Coolpic by GuyB at Vital MX.

Glen Helen: Men on a Mission, Exibit A - Ryan Dungey

Ryan Dungey just might be the only guy in the 250cc class able to keep the National Motocross championship from falling into foreign hands this year. Sure, Justin Barcia wowed the crowd with his energetic style, and Trey Canard ran hard all day, but it was the Rockstar Makita Suzuki-mounted Dungey that took the biggest step towards the title. Powerphoto by GuyB at VitalMX.

And now... Motocross

In it's natural setting, outdoors and freed from the confines of football stadiums, baseballparks and basketball arenas, this sport of racing lightweight, high-powered motorcycles really comes alive. Ryan Walters and David Bulmer of Vurbmoto submit the following evidence:

Congratulations to L&M Racing/San Manuel Band of Mission Indians for another Supercross Championship!

Two in a row. With different racers. Good job!

There are two 2-time supercross champions now

Who will break the tie in 2010?

Never mind that, what's going on in Reed's mind in this GuyB pic from Vital MX? "If I can get him to stall that Yamaha, he might not be able to get it re-started..." ...? I don't know, but according to Steve Matthes' race report at Racer X Online, Reed "sent a little message to James by forcing him off the track." What's up with that, Chad?

"I don't despise James Stewart, I just despise his fans"

The headline quote is not mine, but it paraphrases sentiments I've read posted at various motocross message boards over the years. Did Las Vegas rock for Stewart? I don't know; I wasn't there and I didn't see it or hear it and haven't read much about it yet (and that will soon change), but I'm looking at this shot and guessing that the reason the guys in the front row aren't cheering and clapping and giving James thumbs up and all that, is that they were actually hired to hold the railing in place.

Or maybe their arms are just too tired after all the cheering they did for the winner of the main event, Ryan Villopoto. In any case, the guy who would know, GuyB at Vital MX that is, says the fans were appreciative.

Stewart brings the Supercross crown back to America

The family that plays together stays together. James celebrates his championship with his parents, brother and fiance. GuyB at Vital MX took this shot and says the cool shirts were made by Stewart's sponsor, Answer racing.

The best podium of all: the 2009 AMA Supercross Champion

11 wins in 17 races. But those are just numbers; the 2009 Monster Energy AMA/FIM Supercross championship was a thrilling duel from the very first round. Here's the victor, James Stewart, Jr., claiming his second 450cc title by vanquishing a very fast foe, Chad Reed. The #1 plate has changed hands.

James took a moment to gather his thoughts reports GuyB at Vital MX.

Ryan Dungey is a Champion!

Rockstar Makita Suzuki's Ryan Dungey finally wrestled that mean ol' "no title" monkey off of his back, when he sealed the deal on his very first professional motocross championship, the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series West Region 250cc crown. Yes, he stepped up and relieved Jason Lawrence of the Number 1 plate, although Lawrence was a factor for exactly one race in this series... that is to say, not a factor at all. I think Dungey has vindicated himself after losing the points lead, and title, to Lawrence last year.

Congratulations Ryan Dungey!

Podium photo by GuyB at Vital MX.

Salt Lake City Beauty

Here's to another beautiful Monster... Monster Energy drink spokesmodel, that is, stopping to smile for GuyB's camera atop the scenic Rice Eccles stadium in SLC. GuyB and Vital always get their girl.

Seattle: In the pocket

Some say James rode a smart race. James himself said it "...was the best second-place finish that he'd ever got" according to GuyB at Vital MX. It was probably all that and more, and the biggest winners were those that got to see it. Check the body language and positioning; look at the roost coming off the tires: more motocross art by GuyB.

A large part of the buzz out of Seattle, though, is from the big swing in championship points due to Chad Reed's sub-par performance. Chad clearly wasn't feeling it in Seattle, and that first turn crash didn't help at all. Stewart took the points lead for the first time all year with only two rounds to go. Now we'll really get to see who wants it more.

Seattle: This is why you go to the races

Look at that sea of open mouths. The Pacific Northwest Motocross faithful showed up in Seattle to get a mess 'o the MESS. They wanted to see some motocross action and James Stewart complied, putting on a passing show that had to be seen to be believed... or so I'm told. GuyB, of course, got this shot of Stewart soaring past Troy Adams over a triple!

Kids, if you do this at home, you should be doing it at a Supercross near you.

Seattle: More obscure music refs

I think the drummer wants some more. Ryan Dungey (10) is due and clearly the man is hungry for it. He really wants this championship and it showed in Seattle... kind of like last summer in Washougal. He's not out of the woods yet (har), but his win increased his lead to 9 points going into the final West Region 250cc round this Saturday in Salt Lake City.

Will he choke? Will his team choke? Will his rival, Jake Weimer, choke?

Another cool pic by GuyB at Vital MX.

Seattle: There will be more of this

Monster Energy Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto scored his first 450cc main event win on Saturday, severely ticking off Mike Alessi in the process. In this GuyB photo of Ryan in his heat race, some say he's looking back to see where James Stewart is... I say he's just checking his roost to see if it can draw enough attention to his sponsor's logos on the tuff blocks...