James Stewart to Miss Remaining SX Races
Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart has struggled in 2016 Supercross since his season-opening crash at Anaheim I. This caused the two-time SX Champion a loss of nearly the entire season, including San Diego I and Anaheim II. He then suffered a DNS due to blurred vision at Oakland Supercross, which was followed by absences at San Diego II and Arlington.
JS7 returned at Daytona, but suffered another crash and subsequent DNF, which forced him to miss the following rounds in Toronto, and Detroit. He returned in Santa Clara, but once again sustained a DNF due to issues with his Suzuki RM-Z450.
The bad luck continued; Stewart then was injured during a crash at Indy SX, causing him to miss that round. The Floridian attempted to race last weekend at St. Louis, but suffered back spasms and was forced out again.
With three rounds remaining, Stewart has finally given up. But it’s all for good reason; JS7 wants to heal for the 2016 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Champion, which begins Saturday May 21 with the Hangtown Motocross Classic in Sacramento, Cali.
Yoshimura Suzuki Team Manager Mike Webb says: “James has a hairline fracture in his ankle and he aggravated his back injury from his Daytona crash last week in St. Louis. Clearly, he needs time to heal up and get ready for Hangtown.”
Stewart also commented: “I want to be out there racing. My fans and sponsors are important to me, but ultimately I need to focus on getting completely healed up and be solid and ready to go the next time I roll up to the starting gate at Hangtown.”
The Yoshimura Suzuki Team totally missed a few rounds due to Stewart’s teammate Blake Baggett also being injured. But he is scheduled to race the final three rounds, which includes this Saturday’s Race at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Yoshimura Suzuki says Stewart will be on hand at next weekend’s round at Met Life Stadium to meet the fans and sign autographs as well as appear on Friday, April 29, at The Motorcycle Mall, 655 Washington Avenue, Belleville, NJ from 6-7 p.m.
