Supercross Round 3
Moving towards Anaheim 2 it looks as though James Stewart is injured but ready to race Supercross. In a recent online interview with Racer X, Stewart admitted that while both his shoulders and ankles are sore, he’s still “healthy enough to race.” After suffering 2 significant accidents at the last bout in Phoenix, Stewart took to the internet waves to shed his thoughts on what happened between himself, Kyle Partridge and Chad Reed.
Communicating via webcam, Stewart blamed landing on Partridge’s back as his own fault. In order to avoid running into the back of a slower-moving Kevin Windham, he took the triple to the right without really looking as to who was already there. Unfortunately Partridge got an aft end of YZ450 as a result. On a positive note, Partridge was still able to ride through the LCQ that night and will be back on the track for the second round of Anaheim.
As to the collision with Chad Reed, Stewart admits to letting his emotions get the best of him. “Everyone knows Chad and I didn’t have the greatest relationship,” Stewart confessed during the chat session. In the heat of the moment, he was under the impression that Reed cleaned him out intentionally and then hit him in the back of the head.
Reed was initially suspended from the Supercross at Anaheim 2 and fined $5,000, but after an appeal and further review of the race, it was determined that Reed was only moving Stewart off his broken hand and no punishment will ensue. The situation escalated when Stewart entered Reed’s pit and knocked his bike off the stool fueling an already intense feud between the two.
Regardless of the tempers that have flared between the duo, their rivalry will have to wait until Reed’s left hand heals from surgery in approximately 6 weeks. With the heavy rains that have been raging in Southern California and the smoking hot success of rookie Ryan Dungey, it seems Stewart has bigger fish to fry. One thing is for sure, the Anaheim 2 Supercross is going to be a dirty one for plenty of reasons other than bickering.
