2003 Dallas 125cc Main (James Stewart Goes for Supercross Title #1)

This is the 125cc Main Event from Texas Stadium in Irving, TX.
In 2003, Team Kawasaki's James "Bubba" Stewart, Jr. was on a roll in the 125cc West AMA Supercross season. After a 2nd place to AMSOIL Honda's Travis Preston #1, the defending 125cc West champ, James caught fire with a win at the next round in Phoenix. Travis Preston kept things consistent with a 2nd place finish behind Stewart, but Anaheim 2 was the turning point of the 125cc West Supercross season.
At Anaheim 2, James Stewart got the early lead with Travis Preston buried back near the end of the top 10. Stewart led all 15 laps en route to his 2nd consecutive win of 2003, but more importantly, his first career win at Anaheim after 4 failed attempts. From that point on, James put himself in a class of his own and tried to match the lap times of the 250cc class. Stewart would win out the rest of the 2003 125cc West AMA Supercross season, while Travis Preston continued to struggle with good starts and have two encounters with the Pro Circuit Kawasaki team (one with Eric Sorby #917, and Matt Walker #30). Coming into Dallas, all Stewart needed was a 3rd place or better to wrap up the title.
In the main, James Stewart and KTM's Billy Laninovich #132 battled for the holeshot. It ended in tragedy for Laninovich, who crashed in the 2nd turn. Travis Preston started around 5th and moved up to 2nd rather quickly. Unfortunately for Travis, a repeat of 2002 was unlikely to happen, and did not. Stewart would win the race -- his 6th consecutive of the season -- and more importantly... the 125cc West Supercross title. It was sweet redemption for Stewart after he gave away the 2002 125cc West title to Travis Preston in this exact venue due to 4 crashes. Stewart would dominate the West finale at Salt Lake City, but suffer a horrifying crash at the 125cc East/West Shootout in Las Vegas, which would sideline him for the first 4 rounds of the 125cc Motocross Championship.
Enjoy.

[@pay2000]

NOBODY danced on a motorcycle the way JS7 did. Ever. Period. Barcia, Villopoto, RC, Mgrath, NOBODY!!!!! He STILL is the most exciting to watch ride. His style is unmatched.

[@podcastparlor4128]

Most talented human to ever ride a dirtbike, without question. And it's not even close, in fact.

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

@pay2021: No disagreements there. James was something to watch on that KX125, especially in '04 when he went head to head against all those 250cc 4-strokes. Unfortunately, James really killed his own career going SX-only way too early.

[@podcastparlor4128]

@@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames Yup, thanks for the uploads my moto friend!

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

@Fun Parler: No disagreements there. I don't think anybody could come close to the lap times that James did on a 125 -- maybe Travis if he were still racing 125s.

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

@Fun Parler: You're very welcome. Hope you'll see some of the other seasons I've posted.

[@johnnybgood774]

The God of motocross James stewart

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

In 125s, I'd agree, but not overall.

[@johnnybgood774]

@@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames God

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

@@johnnybgood774 125s only.

[@johnnybgood774]

@@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames god of all classes

[@yamahakid450f]

He's got one outdoor 450 title to Ricky's 7, and ricky beat James for two of those and lead the partial 07 season as well outdoors. James never beat ricky for a title indoors or out... James has 3 450 titles both indoors and out, ricky has 12 titles and 150 AMA wins. Please explain how James was better than RC, I'll wait.

[@44sammy4]

Its actually mind boggling how good stew was on that kx125 and preston was a unreal rider that year and somehow stew just makes everyone look like there going slow

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

It was very mind-boggling, and not to mention aggravating because after Stew ran away with the A2 race, the writing was on the wall for the season. It's even more unbelievable to hear that his lap times were SIX SECONDS FASTER than everyone else in his heat race, too!

[@RoryRamshot]

That 125 will fuck you yp

[@SouthernJeff]

Please AMA, bring back the 125 class

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

As much as I'd like to see a 125 class back again, the only bikes we'll see are Yamaha, KTM, and Husqvarna, and maybe GasGas as well. When the 250cc 2-strokes became completely extinct in the 2006 season, I really don't think anybody thought it'd happen so soon like when Honda, Kawasaki, and Suzuki introduced their 250cc 4-strokes in 2004, but 2005 was the official death of the 125 after KTM brought in their 250Fs (and Brett Metcalfe went up to the 250F at Unadilla).

[@mid-s_to_earlysViBEZ]

Ahhhhhhh…the Good Ol’ Days, *when ESPN broadcasted SX Races, and 2-Strokes RULED!!!!* 💯

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

No arguments there.

[@jraybay]

Cool upload : D

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

Glad you think so.

[@Mxrider276]

I remember preston actually thought he was Stewart's rival he was just in the way wasn't even the same level.

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

Well, considering this was only Stewart's 2nd pro season, one could presume that Preston could take him. He was lucky to win the opener when James got the bad start and could only finish 2nd. Once San Francisco came around, the writing was on the wall after Stewart dominated A2 by a GIANT margin. A Stewart/Preston battle (I'd like to think) was possible, but Preston could not get better starts than James did.

[@Mxrider276]

@@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames yes I agree some of the best racing in those days, it really separated riders skill level, love the videos sometimes people forget the level stewart was on 1 of the amazing things is half of it he did it on a 2 stroke in a 4 stroke world

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

@@Mxrider276 No doubt about it. The best racing time with 2-strokes and 4-strokes out there, and the only 4-strokes out there were Yamahas. I certainly didn't forget all those snoozefests that James Stewart did in 2003 and 2004, but 2005 had to show the visible difference between the 125cc class and the 250cc class to James Stewart; in the 125cc class, everyone conceded the wins to Stewart, and in the 250cc class, they're like "IDGAS what you did in 125cc competition!"

[@jamescameron7633]

True Legend

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

No disagreements on that for sure. Stewart's best days were on that KX125 for sure. Hard to say otherwise with 2 125 Supercross titles and 18 career wins, and 2 125 Motocross titles and a 28-3 record overall.

[@johnnybgood774]

Bubba is the real goat

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

125cc class, I'd agree, but overall, never in a million years.

[@metrichotrods1763]

Honorable mention to Travis Preston for dragging his red boat anchor across the line so rapidly in a field of Pro Circuit KXs, YZF cheater bikes, Bills Pipes RMs, and freak 41hp PDS KTMs. Watch him come out of 180s, there's a bunch of noise and it just goes nowhere and has to seat bounce bunnyhop everything

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

I agree in that capacity. After what Preston had gone through with two encounters with the Pro Circuit Kawasaki team (Sorby at A2, and Walker at San Fran), finishing out with 3 2nd place finishes was pretty good, considering he locked down 2nd place in the series. The unfortunate part was that cortisone shot in his knee ultimately ended his 2003 year.

[@metrichotrods1763]

@@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames he had to be absolutely perfect everywhere on that bike or it just stopped and took a whole straight away to get moving again . Next race bike CRF450 HRC, you've got 2 months to adjust, go.

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

@@metrichotrods1763 Yeah, true that. He even said in his 2nd place interview that he was weighing in at 187 without his gear on. Actually, Preston stayed in the 125cc class in the West until the Minneapolis race. It was later reported that he pointed out after San Francisco, but he injured his knee again before Daytona and was out for the rest of 2004. It's a total shame, too because I was thinking he could get a win over Tedesco in 2004, and he never did.

[@johnnybgood774]

If james had the team and bike RC did he would have 10 championships. Kawasaki just came out with the 450 and wasnt ready to compete against the other brands

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

I wouldn't say that about Kawasaki not being ready to compete -- they just couldn't find the right guys after James jumped ship.

[@johnnybgood774]

@@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames vilipoto?

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

@@johnnybgood774 Maybe, but Villopoto was racing Lites, and then went two years (2009 and 2010) without any titles. When Villo moved up to 450s was when James jumped ship, but after 4 straight 450cc SX titles, you could tell RV2 was way over it and burned out; Tomac has got it done in MX, but not in SX... oddly enough.

[@johnnybgood774]

@@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames the team showed him no Love after 24-0 season look into it they blamed his dad lol

[@johnnybgood774]

@@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames regardless he is the LEGEND

[@RoryRamshot]

If you have the best crap, you expended. And accepted to win

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

And when you win by astonishing margins like Stewart did, it's a successful 125cc career altogether.

[@michaeldalton1687]

Hey Bob Hannah WFO Off the bike And Stayed With It

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

Hahaha

[@michaeldalton1687]

Fellas Rick Johnson danced Like a Spinning Top Amazing ,He did Great MX Cool!

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

Valid point indeed.

[@michaeldalton1687]

@@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames Fellas ,thx , Good thing we respect A Cool Cat Absolutely homie Won In the 70's

[@johnnybgood774]

More camera time needed for bubba

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

All because nobody in the 125cc class had the balls to take him on.

[@DeletedUser73926]

Wasn’t he like 17yrs old here?

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

That is correct. James had turned 17 YOA before the 2003 season began since his birthday was on 12/21.

[@RoryRamshot]

When it went to 250. Then 450. I was , good . Im fyck around And brwak my neck. Im food and goiod on that

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

I was shocked that everyone went to 4-strokes in 2006 honestly; the 125cc class, I could see coming after Honda, Kawasaki and Suzuki unveiled their 250Fs.

[@RoryRamshot]

Look, if you give a guy the best bike, he should win. There is no reason to not. Go ahead haters, say what you want. I’m right

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

It's not cut-and-dry like that. There are probably thousands of people who were on factory teams through the years and never won a Supercross race (I can think of Steve Lamson, Tyla Rattray, Sean Hamblin, Ivan Tedesco, etc.) and there are times where injuries stand in one's way, or someone else's malicious riding could derail his career.

[@JohnDLeo-rg8tc]

imagine a 125 4stroke class, it'd be a race for 5 year olds

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

Hahaha, that'd be a sight. Perhaps those CRF150Rs might be in that 125cc 4-stroke class.