DeCal Works Presents Monday Gate Drop

As we reach the mid-way point of the month of November, we’re all getting ready for the upcoming cold winter. As most of us are thinking about the off-season, the fine people at DeCal Works are working overtime to bring you all of the latest and very cool custom graphics, the same way they have for over 20 years. DeCal Works is a proud supporter of Canadian motocross, and of this weekly Monday Gate Drop column. If you need a set of custom graphics then all you have to do is log onto www.decalmx.com and within a few short minutes you can design and order a set of the best graphics in the industry.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of France!

Even with no racing on Canadian soil this past weekend, events in France certainly kept us tuned to social media as they unfolded. No, I’m not talking about the awful shootings that took place in Paris, those are a completely separate issue that I could go on and on about. While I don’t feel this column is the place to get all political, all of our thoughts and prayers go out to the people of France and those directly affected by the actions of those fanatics.

The event in France I’m talking about was the return of James Stewart to racing at this past weekend’s Lille SX. For the second time in the last month the motocross the world got excited about Stewart’s planned return to racing. Since his first attempt at the Monster Energy Cup a few weeks ago didn’t go that well, everyone was excited to see how things would go this time. After easily setting the fastest time in practice, Stewart had a little trouble in his heat race and then a lot of trouble in the main event. After a so-so start Stewart went down with his brother and was not able to continue and actually had to be carried off the track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eu2FRzOorM0#t=47

While the exact injury is unknown, it looked as though it was James’s ankle or foot that was giving him problems. Obviously, with his condition, James was not only done for the night but he was also out for the entire weekend. In his place was American journeyman Weston Peick who stepped up and took home the King of Bercy (Lille) award for the overall winner of the weekend. Peick has been quickly improving his SX skills over the last year, and with his determination and fitness level, Weston could be a real threat when the gate drops at Anaheim. For Stewart, it was yet another failed attempt at getting some races under his belt before the 2016 SX series kicks off. Since he also missed all of this past year because of his suspension, King James is really behind the eight ball, in my opinion. Even if his injury isn’t that bad, he will still be off the bike for at least another week or two. He was supposed to go to Australia for a SX at the end of November, but he will not be able to compete in that race now. This all means that James will head into Anaheim 1 having just turned 30-years-old, with only practice laps under his belt and no real races for almost a year and a half. To me at least, this sounds like a recipe for disaster!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv74w4ZUyLM

While I’ve certainly been a huge fan of James Stewart’s riding over the years (I mean who isn’t a big fan?), I, like a lot of people, have questioned his race decisions on more than one occasion. Throughout the last decade we’ve seen James pull off moves on the race track that leaves us both shaking our heads in amazement and in disbelief. How many times have we seen Stewart race and end up saying “I can’t believe he just did that?” James has definitely given us some exciting moments during his career, both good and bad. More than any other racer in his era, the word ‘normal’ has never applied to James; he’s always been either incredible, or a big disappointment. Yes, he has won a few championships over the years, however from my recollection he has always done so by completely dominating that particular series. He has never possessed that Ryan Dungey or Ryan Villopoto attribute of just hanging around and being consistent, that just isn’t James Stewart. While that style has carried him to numerous race wins and more fame and fortune than most of us can imagine, can this style help him with the challenges he now faces as he tries to get back to the top of this sport?

Everyone is hoping James Stewart can once again find the speed and the success that has so far made him one of the top riders in the World. Photo by James Lissimore

When talking to the recently retired Bobby Kiniry, one of the things he mentioned that as he approached 30 years of age, his ability to make lightening quick decisions on the race track became tougher and tougher. At first he didn’t know why he was making little mistakes. Maybe it was the bike? Maybe it was the conditions he was racing in? As those little mistakes began to lead to big crashes, Bobby looked for some advice from riders who had previously been in his position. They told him that it was the unavoidable by-product of turning 30 years of age! Bobby quickly came to the conclusion that regardless of how hard he trained and how much extra effort he put into his racing, these mistakes would keep happening. Now, whether this is what happened to Bobby in Sarnia when he crashed and got seriously injured or not, the fact remains that at 30-years-old, your ability to make quick decisions under the stress of pro racing gets harder and harder.

This brings me back to James Stewart and the question, “Can he make a successful comeback to racing?” Even though things are going to be happening very fast at Anaheim 1 and beyond, can he mentally slow things down enough to keep him not only at the front of the pack but also on two wheels? My opinion is that it’s going to be an uphill struggle for JS7. Not only is his age and riding style a concern, but from looking at his program from the outside, James has the same team around him as he did when he was winning races with ease. These people have seen James win and they expect it every time he lines up. Will they be able to coach him through this comeback and take in the fact that he might not be the same old James Stewart? For a successful athlete like Stewart, everything around him reinforces the fact that he’s a winner and that he still should be winning all the time. In the past, when we’ve seen successful comebacks, the athletes in question almost have to start fresh and come at their sport from an entirely new perspective. What has worked in the past sometimes doesn’t work anymore. Not only do they have to change how they approach their sport, but they sometimes have to change how they play their sport. All of this takes a lot of time and when you’re a 30 year old pro motocrosser, time is definitely not on your side. I for one hope Stewart can get back to the top. I think the sport needs him at the front of the pack as he’s still the most exciting rider on the track. However, so far his comeback has not gone as planned and it might be time to change things up a little.

Here is one of James Stewart’s last SX wins. What a night it was for him in Toronto as he came from almost dead last to first in the main event:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qtyYuJNHjQ

So that’s it for me this week. I hope everyone has a great week and a fantastic weekend. With no racing this coming weekend it might be a good time to get out and begin your Christmas shopping. It’s definitely that time of year!! Have a great week!