2003 Budds Creek Chevy Trucks 125cc AMA Motocross Championship (Round 5 of 11)

[@darinelder7646]

Love these old videos....Stewart was a monster on a 2 stroke...I wish they stayed put...kinda made it more fun for some

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

Yeah, James sure represented the 125cc 2-stroke well. I too wish they had stuck around, but I think nobody expected the field to jump to 450cc 4-strokes in 2006 after everyone jumped up to 250Fs in 2005. Once James got the 125cc class figured out, nobody was man enough to challenge him. That's like a lion that hogs all the food for itself. On another note, the 250cc 2-strokes are alive in Canada, but in the MX2/250cc class. While I am glad to see they are back, I do think the bike has been considerably discredited because it wasn't long ago the 250cc 2-strokes were taking on the 450cc 4-strokes, too. That's my only complaint.

[@paulf144]

I was at that race. That second moto was what EVERY racer dreams of doing or seeing someone do in a motocross race.

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

Stewart was an ANIMAL on that 125, that's for sure. He did what Chuck Sun almost did back at Washougal 1981 (I think) when he battled from last to 1st. James is one of those guys whom you just can't touch on a 125.

[@leonrector3892]

I was also at that race and caught his hat when he threw it from the podium, people tried ripping it from me and fighting me for it. Got it signed by James “bubba” Stewart. He’s a legend.

[@buffalasouljeh]

James Stewart the best ever!

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

Mm-hmm -- from his days on the 125cc 2-stroke.

[@pay2000]

@@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames why do you keep denying it? I can't think of being disrespectful with RC, MC or Hannah, but without a doubt many of us, many, we believe, we feel, that the titles or numbers are not enough to express what we saw, what made us feel, that's why JS is the people's GOAT, nobody can deny that, it's in front of everyone

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

​@@pay2000When Stewart started to cause so many on-track incidents, my opinion of him began to decline. I respect James and the scrub, but all those on-track incidents that could very well have been prevented are things I can't overlook. There's no denying James is regarded as "the fastest man on the planet" (or should I say WAS regarded), but I have heard at least a couple of stories behind the scenes where James is not the nice guy you'd think he is.

[@Tew730]

@@pay2000 NOONE could touch JS on a 125 look at RC when he was on a 125 he was not as fast as JS listen to the Professor David-"I'm dead serious I don't think james has a practice speed-look flat out James is the fastest RIDER ever even RC admit it -RC won more titles but that does not mean JS wasn't faster -fact is like I said James was the fastest 125 rider EVER no one will ever top his skill on a 125 -and remember he rode a 250 against 450 and still smoked everyone even RC

[@pay2000]

@@Tew730 say to Mathew, no to me, for me Stew is da GOAT

[@paulf144]

Classic. I was at this race and actually saw James at a convenience store after the race. He seemed very unphased by it all. I think he was taking a nap in the back seat as they drove up to the store. 😃🙂

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

Wow lucky you! That was totally something to see James battle from last to 1st in the 2nd moto. That is definitely something we will never see again in this lifetime.

[@markwilde2206]

Absolutely unbelievable ride , never be another JS7

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

No disagreements there -- especially on a 125 2-stroke.

[@nastyjazz2282]

Listen to David Bailey to Stewart’s Bubba Scrub at 40:13

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

I still remember him saying that to this day :P. Too funny; he did a similar reaction later that season at Washougal when Stewart wheelied through the Travis Pastrana section.

[@gabrielfuenzalida9597]

James the best for ever

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

Never in a million years!

[@racebiketuner]

The last year McGrath was on a 125, he had a ride like this at the San Jose supercross.

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

That's an excellent point -- and there were only 22 riders in that field. At this time, Stewart was just invincible and nobody was man enough to challenge him. I guarantee that if that were the 450cc class later in the year, and even today... Stewart would NOT have pulled this off.

[@pay2000]

I can't think of being disrespectful with RC, MC or Hannah, but without a doubt many of us, many, we believe, we feel, that the titles or numbers are not enough to express what we saw, what made us feel, that's why JS is the people's GOAT, nobody can deny that, it's in front of everyone, just listen to Bailey

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

It's just that when Stewart started to cause so many on-track incidents, my opinion of him began to decline. I respect James and the scrub, but all those on-track incidents that could very well have been prevented are things I can't overlook.

[@pay2000]

@@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames How can you not respect someone for trying harder than anyone? it should be the opposite

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

@@pay2000 I wouldn't call landing on other riders "trying harder than anyone." As I said, I have my respect for James on the 125, and also inventing the scrub, and the mind-blowing speed he showed. If you're not bothered one bit by James' reckless riding from at least one of the on-track incidents he caused that could very well have been prevented, I don't know what you consider to be reckless riding yourself.

[@pay2000]

@@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames How many riders landings vs podiums? 98 wins, Stewart is second most winningest AMA rider of all time (STILL), i utterly respect your opinion but i think would be easy just to say "i dont like James" than put crash statistics vs wins on the table (wich clearly brings a definitive end to the discution), anyway, infinite thanks for the videos and sorry for my english

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

Second most winningest AMA rider is something that is 100% undeniable. I just never liked James after Toronto '06. The crash stats you can look at similar to sufficient evidence in a court case.

[@Tew730]

What caused james to crash at vegas and get hurt ? Missed gear ?

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

Missed a gear? Not likely -- he panicked and rushed things once he made that mistake and dropped to 6th and then bailed off his KX125.

[@toddmiley]

Here because of AC

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

+todd miley Yes, I saw his comment on Facebook today. If there's anyone I'm glad is not a Lites rider anymore, it's James Stewart because when he got the 125cc class figured out, all that followed were total snoozefests.

[@keiannschyler]

+todd miley LOL.. me too

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

teeburshow Someone on here said last year's Supercross season was "watching grass grow" and I disagree completely -- seasons and races like THIS... is "watching grass grow."

[@user-lh8rb5wx6q]

To refuse to admit that James will not be The Fastest guy, when all the drama is over, is so stupid. " This Kid is special" - David Bailey said. And it went on for years! He came a moto away from being the only one having 2 perfect seasons. At an age when most have not even sat on the 450's today. People get offended and talk about RC, and his titles. But RC was dominant, in the Pre-Stewart era. He got his hands full at his peak by a 20 year old right of the bat. Is like AC would have torn the 250 class so bad that it was only a game, and by now went on to beat and battle Roczen, Dungey, Tomac, and then dominate the premier class in both sx and mx in 07-08-09. And he rode a kx 125, it took so much skill to get this momentum going on the old machines, on the 450 there is always power to make up for lost ground. 12 years of being at least arguably the fastest rider of all. It took a generation of new scribbers to adapt and chase a sidelined and completely out of shape and, something more, whatever it is, to haunt him down. ( yes he dominated totally a few times even 14, Toronto SX was as good as this. Thats 2 years ago. Man all these moments, they will be watched more times than Dungeys -15 season, even if he had gotten 4 titles that year. It took ? 2 laps to get from 40-> 16 th ? JS changed how we ride motocross. He is bullied by the fans of the sport. Makes me sick.

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

True there, but what really made me lose respect for James Stewart was his decisions through the years. He went Supercross-only in 2009 at the prime of his career. Then in 2011, Larry Brooks leaves the San Manuel Yamaha team and rumors were speculating that James bought the team... then James makes some stupid choices like being pulled over for impersonating a cop before Dallas '11. How he handled the Larry Brooks situation was super terrible though. There were times where I called him "The Fastest IDIOT on the Planet" and how he was riding in '11 and '12 was solid proof. I think James was well on his way back to stardom before his positive test for a banned substance and that really zapped his drive and speed. I opposed the number of on-track incidents Stewart caused, but now, I was beginning to like the guy myself.

[@user-lh8rb5wx6q]

I live in Sweden and I was of MX for say 10 years, I re-entered by the time JS seemed to be the one again, in -13 he was not really as fit as in -14, when he put in some of the best rides I seen. And there are a few down that lane. I never got how he is so refused any credit for what is obvious : he is the biggest star of mx even if barely completing a race in 2 years. Nothing involves people as much I see, I heard some of what you tell here, and I guess I missed out on it. Still. Latest interviews seem so honest and self-critic I have to wonder what is going down, and have a hard time to see him make a joke of a career seldom seen for money. It makes no sense to me. And the people claiming that are the same saying it is time to raise funds for Suzuki since they decided to hire him. I can not motivate it, but I can not think of anything I wish more in this sport than to see him shut them mouths one last time. On paper it is possible. But what has been this last year, is Impossible, on paper. Either way I am sure the hate will fade the day he calls it a career. A day that might be any day by now.

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

+P* Yes, Stewart has gotten better through the years, but the fact he's now trying to get out of his Suzuki contract is another example of "burning bridges", which might be bad news for Malcolm Stewart trying to find a ride for 2017. I think that Stewart's positive drug testing might be more for him to handle. Look at what happened to Stephane Roncada -- he won the 125cc East in 2000, advanced to the 250cc class from '01-'03, had minimal success, returned to the 125cc West for 2004, but suffered a problem with drugs and retired after 2006. Drugs ruined Roncada's racing career, but he's revived it with designing the new MX video games.

[@user-lh8rb5wx6q]

Did not know on Roncada, thanks for the info. Overlooked major problem for sure. Still. There is a difference between being one of very many people on ADD/ADHD medications on legit reasons, and drug abuse. If there was a proper diagnose in the first place, it is rarely a problem of abuse. But it was not small news to the MX world, at all, no matter what. Seems to have made James depressed. Any other guy gaining weight and losing so much confidence in...well, he appeared -14 shape some 6+ months before A1. And has a legit prescription as I recall. What really went down is out of my imagination. Someone using stimulants regularly, and for some reason quitting them, will gain weight, lose motivation, get slower reflexes....be the James of 2016. I wonder if we will get to know anything but the obviously fake press releases on this. Wish there were better footage from the 2000-2002 seasons, or any footage (vids) at all.

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

P* Yeah, that's an example of how cruel this sport can be sometimes. I'd like to think to some extent, Ivan Tedesco falls in this category, too. After a great rookie season in '06 (and an injury at the final round in Vegas which knocked him out of the Natonals early), I think Tedesco was well on his way to some success before Stewart and he got in an incident at Toronto Supercross 2006 in practice. I think if JS didn't do "come back too soon" things, he might not have had so many injuries.

[@keiannschyler]

hey matthew, been watching your videos for years now but haven't subscribe until now. sorry

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

+teeburshow No worries; hopefully you will see some of my other races if you're a fan of the old days :)

[@tyalore2826]

That corner at 9:38 mmmm

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

Hahaha. Only James could do that stuff.

[@JokersWild70]

JS7 is absolutely the fastest ever, no doubt. The best decisions on and off the track? No. The best ever? No but he absolutely had the potential to be. He made some very bad choices, burned a lot of bridges, and got lazy.

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

Fully agree. Going SX-only at the prime of his career certainly killed his chances of winning more titles. This asinine argument of people saying "James is the GOAT" is so ridiculous, sometimes I wonder if people even know what they're talking about.