Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

National Champion, so I guess that's the only chip I have on my shoulder." The transition for I2Ss to 2S0s is never easy - even without the extra competition the bigger class brings. There's an adjustment period to get used to the extra power... well. not if your name is Stewart. "Riding a 250 is way easier for me than riding a 125," Stewart says. his competition's heart rate racing a bit more after reading this. "I feel way more comfortable and I think it [the 250] suits my style better. Maybe racing 250 guys or something else is going to be the toughest thing for me. But as far as riding and getting ready. I have not found one problem yet." Okay so there's no adjustment period with the new bike. But he will be lining up against the Carmichaels. Reeds, Wind hams and Vuillemins of the world. Again, no fear on Stewart's part. "I guess I'm supposed to get up there on the gate and pee my pants because I'm scared of everybody." Stewart says. "I don't think what these guys realize is. although I've been in the 12Scc class. I've been watching those guys. And like when I practiced. I had the same lap times as those guys. I think the only things that will change is that I'll be way more excited to be on that gate and see Ricky and Chad and Jeremy all around me. I think that's only going to motivate me more to be that much better." As for the big guys pushing him around at Anaheim when wheels are turned in anger for the first time... well. bring it on. When asked if he's worried about the welcome mat being thrown at him instead of just out. Stewart responds in typical Stewart fashion. "Yeah. and I'll be like, 'Welcome back...· Stewart said. "I will not be pushed around. I already know it. I know those guys are going to run in on me. I'm probably just going to look back and shake my head on them. I've prepared myself for those things to happen. I'm just going to be ready for it. If they want to push me around, I'm going to push back. I'm not scared of anyone out there. I'll push back just as hard - or maybe even harder." While Carmichael opted to run the two Canadian World rounds of the series to get up to speed on his new Suzuki, Stewart opted to skip them. Why? Simple: It's all about Anaheim, baby. "Everything for me was based around Anaheim," Stewart said. "I wanted to make my first race there and everything. Then, with the testing and stuff, we are on a new bike. As far as getting used to the 250. that's been good. But it's just been about testing parts and getting ready. Right now. with this season coming up, it's such a big year. Like we all know. I have not raced 16 races in a row. So for me to go race two races a month before everything starts. then that means I would only have two months off. It just wasn't conceivable for me and Kawasaki to do the World rounds this year. Next year I plan on doing that, so it should be cool." One thing that Stewart is used to already is the media attention. No one in the history of the sport has been interviewed. written about or photographed by as many mainstream media outlets as Stewart has. Whether it's HBO Sports. GQ Magazine or Cycle News. Stewart knows it's part of the job. Fortunately, he's blessed with the personality to make it all work. Like brushing his teeth. it's all part of his daily routine. 'There are a lot of things that I go through during the week with the media and stuff," he said. "I usually have Tuesdays and Thursdays to deal with the media. When you break it down. the hardest part is trying to find time to ride. Like today. I just came from a physical for Kawasaki, I'm doing another interview for ESPN and I'm 18 JANUARY 12,2005 • CYCLE NEWS talking to you guys. I have a photo shoot tomorrow - there's a lot of hard work and dedication. My whole week is based around racing motorcycles, whether it's riding a motorcycle or talking on the phone to newspapers. If you want to be like Mike, you have to act like Mike. You just have to pretty much dedicate your life to doing it." We've all read that NASCAR covets Stewart. Ditto for CART and the IRL, and any other car racing series that would relish the opportunity to market Stewart to the world. But first things first, Stewart says. "I think that when you start getting into outside sports like NASCAR. it's all about what sells products." Stewart said. ''As far being on the inside racing supercross and winning these races. I think it only affects the fans and the people on the inside to be that great athlete. I was talking a little earlier about Travis Pastrana - the guy hasn't finished a supercross season ever on a 250. But the guy is super popular. You see him on commercials. live TV and X Games and stuff. I think its all about what sells products for those guys out there. I think a lot of people see my motivation to win races and see that I am different and do dances and stuff like that. They kind of look at that if 1 win on two wheels. then hopefully I can win on four or hopefully be there [near the top). I just think it's kind of about what sells the most. "I haven't thought about anything besides racing. The whole NASCAR thing got blown out of proportion. Yes. there are serious things out there for me to do that. but my whole life right now is just dedicated to racing. I've got to look at what I'm doing first before I even think about doing something after that. I just want to get through this season and a few more years and then figure it out from there. Until then. it's all about two wheels." Last year at this time, Stewart was criticized for wanting to do another year in the 12Scc class. He was going to "cherry-pick" for another season. and it irked more than a few spectators who wanted Bubba on 2S0s and wanted it now. But there was more to it than that. Bubba says. "I didn't really have a choice but to wait," Stewart said. "I felt Iwasn't ready. Iwasn't ready last year. If Iwould have gone out. then I would be sitting here like, 'I don't know how I'm going to do.' But at least now. at least I can have a ballpark [guess] at how I'm going to do. Last year, a lot of people wanted me to move up, but it wouldn't have been good. I can tell you last year I wouldn't have finished the season in the 2S0cc class. This year, I can tell you I can." So. instead, Stewart went out and dominated the 12Scc class, winning by yawning margins that for the most part made a mockery of the rest of the field. But it still wasn't boring. he says. "No. because it was fun," Stewart said. "To me, it was a little different - there wasn't really anyone there. It was kind of bumming to me toward the end of the outdoor season. because I knew that I had another class to step up to. And if I start winning like that in the 2S0cc class. then I can say that I'm really that good and I don't have another class to step up to. I'm only going to go downhill from there. When I win there. then that's it, and I can only be happy because I can't step up. So with the 12Scc class. I felt like that toward the end of the season, that I had another class to step up to." Many have seen the video that's available online of Stewart casing his KX2S0 at his practice track in Florida. It's a painful-looking near crash that he was fortunate to walk away from. No big deal. Bubba says. "First of all, Kawasaki should be a little more mad at me then they are." Stewart said. "I shouldn't have been riding that bike. It's an outdoor bike. set up for outdoor suspension, and so everything is a little bit softer compared to supercross. So when I did case that. it was a little harder than what it should have been. They were a little mad at me for being out there. The bike this year. I honestly believe that it's one of the best bikes out there. The guys are doing a great job on the suspension, plus it's a whole different bike from last year. It's really good; it's kind of more like a 125. which helps me a little bit." A three-time champion at the tender age of 19. Stewart is about to face the biggest challenge of his young career. But. as he would say. it's all good. "I'm just starting to grow up." Stewart said. "This is my fourth year going into this. and it doesn't seem long, but it's been a long four years. I'm just really looking forward to going into this. A lot of things have changed in my life. Everything is starting to come around more where I'm now used to dealing with the media. used to racing all these supercrosses and used to dealing with the fans. I just think that's kind of helping me grow up, and I just look at everything totally different as I've done in the past." eN

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