Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128400
Where's Bubbal Even though he never made a lap around the track over the weekend, Team Kawasaki's lames Stewart was the talk of the pits. Stewart came to Las Vegas on Thursday, did some interviews and said he was ready to race. He was seen early in the day Friday, but after that he seemed to have vanished. He was a no-show for Friday afternoon's practice, and the rumors started circulating - and there were many of them. The official word from Kawasaki, however, was that Stewart came down with a stomach ailment dUring the day on Friday. Kawasaki released the following statement on Friday: "Team Kawasaki rider James Stewart will not be competing in the opening round of the U.S. Open in Las Vegas this evening. Stewart, who stated that he was 'IOO-percent ready' during Thursday's press conference and webcast. began feeling nauseous by midmorning today. Stewart was evaluated on site by the Asterisk Mobile Medical team and transported by ambulance to Spring Valley Hospital for further evaluation. Stewart's return to competition will be determined pending approval from his physician." Stewart dtd not return. As a result, Kawasakj sent out this release on Saturday: 'Mer careful consideration, it has been decided that Team Kawasaki rider James Stewart will not be competing in the final round of the U.S. Open this evening. Stewart, who began feeling nauseous early yesterday, was treated and released from Spring Valley Hospital yesterday evening but remained too weak for competition. Stewart continued to experience recurring bouts of nausea and stomach pain today but remained determined to race. After additional consuttation with the team, it was determined that Stewart should not race until he had an opportunity to further consult with his personal physician." On Saturday, Kawasaki's team manager, Mike Fisher, said: "He's in a lot of pain right now, and he can't even stand up straight. We have no idea what's causing it." Damon HufIman used this year's U.s. Open to offICially announce his retirement from racing. The 29-year-old Huffman is a former l25cc Supercross Champion, and he was a factory rider for Team Suzuki and Kawasaki. Huffman won the inaugural U.S. Open in 1998. He received a standing ovation from the U.S. Open fans Friday night after making his retirement official. "I've been a professional for 14 years and have been racing for 25 years," Huffman said. "It's been a long career, and you can't race forever: It was time to make a choice and it's time to hang it up. I'm sad, but at the same time, I'm relieved, and I'm glad to be leaving on my own tenns," Defending U.S. Open Champion Chad Reed wasn't able to suit up to defend his U.S. Open tide this year, but he did attend. The factory Yamaha rider is still mending from surgery perfornned on his wrist a while back. and getting hit by a car while training on his road bicycle in ",",stralia didn't help any, either. That incident left him with a broken bone in his fool, but the injury wasn't serious, and he was walking around the Vegas pits with only a slight limp. He has started riding again. "I started riding again last Friday," Continuea on a e '9