An interview with James Stewart

What is inside of you that makes you so dominant in Supercross?

Well, I think it’s a combination of a few things. I love to jump, it’s what I’ve always liked to do and I’ve gotten good at it. I also just love the feeling of winning, knowing that you’re the best guy out there is a very satisfying feeling. The com¬petition is what gets me revved up. There is nothing like looking around and knowing that you were the best on that day.

What is bigger fun: Supercross, outdoor Motocross or X-Games?

For me, it’s Supercross. I mean, I love the nationals-that’s what we grow up racing and to win every moto was an awesome feeling. I’ve had some big crashes and heartbreaks in the outdoors as well. The X-Games, well I never really got a chance to find out how I liked it (laughs!)

I love supercross, I love how a full stadium of 70,000 fans feels. The roar of the crowd and the glamour of supercross is for me. I love the chal¬lenge of racing twenty perfect laps, both mentally and physically.

How do you find yourself in a role where kids look at you as their hero?

It’s cool, no doubt about it. I was once one of those kids and I used to look up to the riders back in my day. Guys like McGrath, Matiasevich and Lusk were my heroes. I try to be the same guy that I’ve always been with the fans. It sucks sometimes because I could sit there for ten hours and sign autographs and there would be some kids that don’t get to meet me. I have to limit the signing to certain times so that I can focus on my race.

It’s nice to know that kids look up to me and see me as a hero. I try to remember that at all times.

Do we have any chance to see you in some music video, any plans for "Rock star" career after racing?

(Laughs) No, no plans. That is just something we do for fun. I only do that kind of stuff when I put the work in on and off the track. When I was behind the points last year, there weren’t many videos.

Who is your MX childhood hero?

Really my first hero was Jeff Matiasevich who was on factory Kawasaki and was a two-time sx champion. His nickname was Chicken and mine was baby chicken.

What would you do if you were not racing?

I have no idea. Really I don’t, racing has been eve¬rything to me and I’ve never thought of that. I guess something in the entertainment industry.

What was the last most exciting thing that you did off the bike?

I don’t know, I’m kind of a homebody really. Maybe when I proposed to my girlfriend (laughs.) I’d like to go up in some fighter jets at some time. That would be awesome to do and a lot of fun. I guess maybe I should say that anytime I’m driving one of my cars, it’s exciting!

What would we find in your garage?

A BMW M6 with an Akrapovic exhaust, a Lam¬borghini, a Ferrari. A pick-up truck and a bunch of old cars that my dad collects. I’m not sure what he has in there. Oh yeah, a YZ450 as well!

You are using Akrapovic exhaust on your bike, what is your opinion?

Yeah, man I love the pipes. They are so good and the thing that stands out for me is how well they are built. I’ve used a lot of pipes and they don’t seem to last that long but the Akra is built for the long haul. Also when I first started using them, I was surprised at how little testing we did with the pipes as you guys got it right the first few times. We usually only change from our main system when track conditions change.

Some advice for MX addicted people apound the world?

Man, I want to thank the fans that do follow it as they pay my salary and all that and I guess the only words I have is, watch me! I’m going to try and take this sport to the next level.