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/142700
INTERVIEW P86 MOTOCROSSER MALCOLM STEWART For the first time in their careers, both Stewarts – Malcolm and James – are competing on the track at the same time, and at Budds Creek, they even banged handlebars. And when all was said and done, "little" Stewart came out on top. "It was cool battling with James, it was just like at home," Malcolm says. "I felt good about it and I was comfortable with it. Unfortunately he went down and handed me third place and I just tried to keep it up from there. I almost went down " The Budds Creek National was a career moment for the younger Stewart after making the secondmoto podium for the first time. on the last lap when a lapper hit me. I've never been hit that hard in my life. But I was able to keep it up; I ended up third and I was pretty pumped about it. "I think James deserved the podium at Budds, but he's got plenty enough podiums, so if he's going to give one up then I'm glad it's to me." For sure, it was unfortunate that James fell since most of the world was watching the Stewart brothers battle for position, waiting to see how the encounter would turn out. "We don't take it easy on each other on the practice track, so need to stay up and keep chugging away and have fun. I have no pressure on me whatsoever. Everyone knows I go out and have fun, but I give everything I can, too." When it comes to having fun, there have been some on the forums that suggest that Stewart isn't as serious about his racing as his brother is. To that, the younger Stewart says, "they don't know me." "I'm definitely serious," Malcolm says. "Everyone knows I like to have fun, but that's the difference between me and other people. When it comes to race day, I'm as serious as the next guy. Just because I'm always smiling and having fun doesn't mean I'm not serious." CN I really enjoy the big bike, I think it fits my style and I don't think I'll ever go back to a 250. " I think if it had gone that far we would have mixed it up," joked the younger Stewart. "He told me he owes me one, because, in the first moto, I guess I knocked him down. That was an accident. He told me I knocked him down and got third place, so that's like a slap in the face." According to Malcolm Stewart, he knows he has the speed now to hang with the big boys and from here on out it boils down to consistency. "I know I can run with those guys now," says Stewart. "I just have to eliminate the mistakes and be there every week. I just