Motocross News
After making a huge return to the AMA Motocross series, James Stewart and his San Manuel Yamaha team decided to withdraw from the rest of the outdoor season due to “slow healing.”
Stewart has been training and testing on his YZ450F for over a week since his race at Unadilla, but a unanimous decision between him and his team was made to pull out for the remainder of 2010 MX.
Stewart and his team say that they expected to be on track much earlier in the Lucas Oil AMA Motocross season, but his slow-healing injury kept them out until Unadilla. Stewart returned for Round 9 in New York after a six-month hiatus due to injuring his wrist at Round 3 of the AMA Supercross season.
Upon Stewart’s return at Unadilla, the seven-time AMA Champion placed his Yamaha dirt bike in third during Moto1. But he reported a lack of physical preparation and challenges with bike set up forced him off the track during Moto2.
The team says though they’ve had some time to make adjustments, James and the Team have decided they just aren’t ready to compete in the MX Series. Four races remain in the AMA MX Championship, with dominance so far by AMA Supercorss Champion Ryan Dungey.
James Stewart says: “I hope my fans will understand. I have said before that I wanted to be on the track starting in Sacramento. But the slow healing nature of my wrist injury made it impossible to do that. Watching race after race and not being a part of the series was very hard. All along my motivation was to get back to racing and return to the Motocross National Series for my fans and sponsors.”
“The reality is, though my wrist is feeling great, I’m not ready to race at this level. As much as I’d like to be out there, I need more time to prepare so that I don’t put my entire career at risk by getting injured again. A younger James might not have been mature enough to make this decision, but I’ve learned a lot in recent years and sometimes you have to do what’s right, despite what’s in your heart.”
“I’d like to apologize to my fans, the Outdoor National series and my sponsors. You’ve been incredibly supportive of me throughout these recent months. I am sorry if what I’ve said or done has disappointed anyone in any way, but I’ll be back on the track at Anaheim 1 and ready to race. I plan to work hard over the next few months and do what I know I need to do to prepare for a chance at the next Supercross Championship title.”
Larry Brooks (Team Manager) says: “We had every intention of racing Southwick and beyond, but sometimes you have to see the bigger picture and make a decision based on what’s right, not on what you’d like to do at the time. We’re a Team and we have to do what we feel is best to ensure we have every opportunity to win the next Championship.”
