mx775

I'm pretty disappointed by this. Only two explanations are possible for this decision:

1. Stewart was only racing the nationals to get on Team USA for the Motocross des Nations, and when they chose Andrew Short instead, he felt no need to continue.

2. Stewart is uncertain that he can beat Dungey at the remaining nationals, and he is afraid of being beat.

I suspect it's a combination of these two things. But in any case, I dislike seeing someone who is clearly capable of racing--and who is getting paid very, very well to do so--sitting on the sidelines with PR excuses.

Can you imagine Bob Hannah, Ricky Carmichael or Roger DeCoster ever releasing something like this? I certainly can't.

****

MURRIETA, CA (August 25, 2010) - After more than a week of training and testing since the Motocross Outdoor National race at Unadilla, a difficult decision was reached today by James Stewart and Team to withdraw from the remainder of the Outdoor National race series.  Due to his abbreviated Supercross season, Stewart, with the full support of his Team, had hoped to return to the track much earlier in the Outdoor National Series.  But a slow healing injury kept Stewart out of the series until recently, when he received medical clearance just a few short weeks before Unadilla.  With only four races remaining in the Outdoor Series, both Stewart and his Team worked hard to train and test.  And despite a very sincere attempt to return to racing, the rush to do so was visible.  Though Stewart had a good run in Moto 1 at Unadilla, lack of physical preparation and challenges with the bike set up forced him off the track in Moto 2.  Though they’ve had some time to make adjustments, James and the Team have decided they just aren’t ready to compete in the Series. 

"I hope my fans will understand.  I have said before that I wanted to be on the track starting in Sacramento.  But the slow healing nature of my wrist injury made it impossible to do that.  Watching race after race and not being a part of the series was very hard.  All along my motivation was to get back to racing and return to the Motocross National Series for my fans and sponsors.  The reality is, though my wrist is feeling great, I’m not ready to race at this level.  As much as I’d like to be out there, I need more time to prepare so that I don’t put my entire career at risk by getting injured again.  A younger James might not have been mature enough to make this decision, but I’ve learned a lot in recent years and sometimes you have to do what’s right, despite what’s in your heart.  I’d like to apologize to my fans, the Outdoor National series and my sponsors.  You've been incredibly supportive of me throughout these recent months.  I am sorry if what I’ve said or done has disappointed anyone in any way, but I'll be back on the track at Anaheim 1 and ready to race.   I plan to work hard over the next few months and do what I know I need to do to prepare for a chance at the next Supercross Championship title" said Stewart. 

From Team Manager Larry Brooks "We had every intention of racing Southwick and beyond, but sometimes you have to see the bigger picture and make a decision based on what’s right, not on what you’d like to do at the time.  We’re a team and we have to do what we feel is best to ensure we have every opportunity to win the next Championship."
 

Posted by beaupre716 at 01:42 PM | Permalink

It's time to admit it: since the weather turned nice, you've been riding your bike...to death. After countless dusty laps and too little love, your ride is in danger of turning into a rattletrap, and the Nevada State Championship Series is a mere week away.

But luckily for you, Moto Source is offering a special that will allow you and your machine to roll to the starting line with some dignity next weekend. Check it out below and get your bike to Moto Source before it's too late. 

Posted by beaupre716 at 09:00 PM | Permalink

This is from James' web site, js7.com. Evidently James wasn't happy with being overlooked in favor of Andrew Short for Team U.S.A.

****

As many of you already know, last weekend marked my return to racing after wayyy too long off the track, thanks to a broken wrist I suffered in the beginning of the Supercross series. After nearly eight months off, I decided to return for the last four Nationals. This decision was based on a few reasons; first and foremost was my own desire to race again, along with the fact that I owed it to both my fans and my sponsors to come back after spending so much time on the injured list this year.

But the other main reason I chose to come back for the last four, beginning with Unadilla, was because of a discussion I had with the decision makers for Team USA in Colorado this year regarding the MXoN. At the time, I was told that if I was to make my recovery, begin testing, and get back to racing by Unadilla, that I would be given a spot (or at least a shot at a spot) for the final team. Being on the MXoN team in the past has been one of the greatest experiences of my entire career, so after they told me I had a shot, my team and I were excited, and began to get ready to race outdoors!

Of course, we’re a Supercross-only team, so developing our bike to run outdoors with the guys that have been racing at the top level all season long was no easy goal for us… Which brings me to the race at Unadilla. When I got there, I was really excited to get out and practice, and fortunately, practice went pretty well. At that point, the track was still smooth, and though I’ve never loved Unadilla, I was feeling pretty good. My wrist felt great, and my lap times were just about where we expected them to be.

Then, for the first moto, the track got rough and things were a bit different. All of a sudden, we could see some of the lack of preparation shining through; my bike was set up way too stiff for the rough track, but all things considered, I was pretty happy with how I rode. I got into second and my lap times were right there with Dungey’s, and again my wrist was feeling pretty good, so it was all good until I got caught up with a lapper towards the end of the race. Sure I was tired, but for not racing for that long, I was happy to be on the podium. I gave it everything I had, and it was awesome seeing all my fans out there supporting me.

Unfortunately, the second moto didn’t quite go so well. As the track got rougher, our lack of bike preparation showed even more. After getting a bad start, I was just fighting with the bike; it was way too stiff and just not set up properly. At that point, I really had nothing to gain by staying out there, so I just decided to pull off, lick my wounds, and learn from the weekend.

I’m not going to say I didn’t get tired, but given the lack of racing, and the fact that I know where I need to be physically to win, I feel good about Unadilla, overall. Bottom line: We’re a Supercross-only team; we got to Unadilla, and we looked like a Supercross-only team! But my wrist felt better than expected, so with a little bike prep I think we’ll be back on our game.

But back to the MXoN topic. I was really disappointed in how that whole deal went down. Like I said earlier, after being told that if I was to make it back for the last four Nationals, I would be given a shot at being on the team. Well, when I got to Unadilla, apparently the decision had already been made before my bike was even unloaded! So after all that work from me and my team to come back in order to make the des Nations, just like that, the rug was pulled out from under me with no warning. They picked the team already, and I wasn’t on it.

I feel like I was straight-up lied to. Being on the MXoN team is one of the biggest honors and compliments that you be given as a professional rider, and I know that with my injury there was some question as to whether I would be ready or not. I get that; all I wanted was to be even given the original chance they promised me, let me get through a couple races, and hopefully the team could see that I would be ready come September.

At the end of the day, all that really matters to me is that Team USA wins, and I think the team they selected is a solid team that will get the job done. I mean no disrespect to any of those guys, and I hope they kick butt! I’m just bummed that I was given the fair shot that the decision makers from Team USA promised me earlier that I would have.

-James Stewart

Posted by beaupre716 at 07:44 PM | Permalink

RMS is at it again with another Tent Sale--check it out:

Posted by beaupre716 at 03:05 PM | Permalink

Posted by beaupre716 at 01:29 PM | Permalink

A longtime and consummate professional, Red Dog will be missed on the circuit. Here is the press release by his former mechanic and manfriend, Steve Matthes.

****

Former Factory Kawasaki, Yamaha and Suzuki rider Timmy Ferry announced today that he's retiring from professional motocross effective immediately. Ferry has been trying to recover from a broken heel suffered at the 2009 Daytona Supercross and although he came back to race last summer, the injury lingered and prevented "Red Dog" from riding to the best of his ability.

"Going into 2010, I had a couple of offers to race but I thought it was best to just heal up and try to get back to being able to train and ride the way I need to in order to be competitive. Unfortunately, my foot has not allowed me to do that." says Ferry "I can't race to the level I was use to so it is time to hang up my boots"

With a professional career that started in 1991 as a multi-time amateur champion, Ferry has certainly left a mark on professional supercross/motocross with the 1997 125 East Coast Supercross championship, a 3-time member of Team USA at the Motocross des nations, two 125 supercross wins, four AMA motocross national wins, an AMA rookie of the year award in 1992 and the top privateer award in supercross in 1999.

Having achieved a career that spanned so long and produced so many wins and podium finishes certainly makes it easier to accept retiring for the 35-year old Ferry.

"I can't believe that I've been able to do as much as I have in the sport and I'm grateful for all the fans that cheered me on over the years as well as the relationships that I've made. Everything I have in my life has been because of motocross and even though I feel like I'm ending my career a little prematurely, I have no regrets with how everything has turned out" said Ferry.

"I had a ton of fun in my career, especially the last few years when I rode for Monster Energy Kawasaki and I'd like to thank those guys for everything they've done for me. I'd like to thank everyone at O'Neal, Scott, Etnies, Gaerne, OMS Sports and most of all my coach and trainer Dean Golich and the CTS crew for always keeping me in great shape. Also my doctors Warren Kramer, Thomas Bienz, Sten Kramer, Greg Solis, Gardner Tarlow and Stanley Moles for being there for me." 

"I'd also like to thank Yamaha Motor Corp, Factory Suzuki, Mike Rossini and Alan Brown for all that they've done. As well, I'd like to thank the media who have always been great to me and Steve Matthes, Mark Russell, Shawn Irwin, Jason Hasseig and the Nicolini family for their support and most of all my family for supporting me in every way possible. Thanks to everyone for a great career!"

Posted by beaupre716 at 12:53 PM | Permalink

Dee tells me this is the biggest sale they've ever had, so if you fancy yourself something orange, this is the time...

Posted by beaupre716 at 12:42 PM | Permalink

Looks like local talents Aaron and Ty Siminoe will be working this summer. But instead of rounding up shopping carts in a K-Mart parking lot (as I did one summer,) they will be helping Kurt Henricksen with some special Reno-area motocross schools.

Enjoy it, boys, because shopping carts can find their ways to strange and distant places, and you don't want any part of that operation.

Posted by beaupre716 at 07:49 PM | Permalink

Nevada Motorcycle Specialties is now carrying Deft gloves and clothing.

Posted by beaupre716 at 09:00 PM | Permalink

Feel like something orange is missing in your life? Check out the sale on KTMs that Carson Motorsports is having.

Find out more about CMS on their web site.

Posted by beaupre716 at 06:45 PM | Permalink