Defending Supercross Champion James Stewart confirms that he will be competing in X Games 15 in Best Whip, Super X and Supermoto racing. "I’m pumped to have a chance to attend and compete," says Stewart. "I have always wanted to do the X Games, but this is the first time that it has actually worked out contract and schedule wise."
In fact just hours before showtime, Stewart and his team are hard at work in California dialing in his hybrid roadracer/dirtbike Yamaha YZ450F Supermoto race machine. "Obviously I’m at home on a supercross track but I’ve never raced Supermoto before so this is all new to me. I can’t wait though; it’ll be a blast!" As for Best Whip, "That’s in the bag," he laughs.
"Honestly, I’m pleased that James is finally making his debut at X Games," offered former AMA Supercross and Motocross champion Ricky Carmichael, an X Games Step UP Gold medalist in his own right and the winningest rider in motocross and supercross history. "X Games fans deserve to see the best of the best so it’s a natural that guys like Stewart, Josh Grant and Kevin Windham would be there. They benefit from tremendous exposure and being able to position themselves with the other elite athletes that X Games attracts." Today the former motorcycle champion is pursuing a NASCAR career behind the wheel of the #4 KHI All-Stars Monster Energy Chevrolet Silverado.
Team Manager Larry Brooks says James will be racing the same Yamaha YZ450F that took him to this year’s Supercross season title. "But we haven’t decided yet if he will do the Best Whip on the 4-stroke or compete aboard a YZ250 2-stroke."
James StewartThe L&M San Manuel Band of Mission Indians-sponsored team is approaching X Games 15 with the same single-minded determination they used to capture the 2009 AMA Supercross championship. "Although James has never raced a Supermoto event before now, he was incredibly fast in our first test and he plans to be a major factor at the X Games," says Brooks.
Keith McCarty, Yamaha Racing Division Manager, had this to say about his team: "We are very excited for people to see James Stewart competing in multiple classes at X Games. Its a great way for more of them to witness his talents. We also have Brandon Curry racing Supermoto and Nate Adams has added his name to the competition." Josh Hill currently is injured.
"This is important to the entire team and James even had the X Games built specifically into his contract for this year. Let’s face it, in terms of media value alone for team sponsors like San Manuel, the X Games reaches even more fans than the Supercross and Motocross seasons together," concludes Brooks. "A chance for James to show his amazing talents on live television before the world is invaluable. Our entire organization is really looking forward to it."
The fun begins this Thursday as fans can see Stewart in the Best Whip competition starting at 5:15 at the Staples Center and in the Supermoto Final Saturday, August 1 starting at 1:30 at the Home Depot Center.
