Photos by: Hoppenworld
Heading into the penultimate round of the 250SX Eastern Regional Supercross Championship, GEICO / Honda’s Malcolm Stewart clung to a slim, five-point lead over Star Racing / Yamaha’s Aaron Plessinger and fourteen-point lead over Plessinger’s teammate out east, Jeremy Martin. While Stewart had the red background, it was beginning to appear that the momentum was building for everyone not named Stewart.
Malcolm took over the lead with a win in Detroit, but since then, Plessinger, Martin and Rockstar Energy / Husqvarna’s Martin Davalos had done all the winning and some serious questions about how Malcolm would handle championship pressure were raised when we saw the #50 fade from first to finish third in Foxborough. But, oh, what a difference seven days makes.
On Saturday night in East Rutherford, Stewart put all the questions to rest with the most clutch performance of his career. After getting a decent start, Mookie rode around Davalos to secure the lead and checked out for his second win of 2016. While Mookie now has three wins in his 250SX career, this was by far the biggest one of them all. With his clutch performance inside Metlife Stadium, Malcolm now carries a fourteen point lead over Plessinger and a nineteen point gap over Martin heading into next weeks finale. If Plessinger wins in Vegas, Stewart needs to finish ninth to clinch and if Martin wins Stewart will need to finish fourteenth or better.
After Mookie’s clutch performance, we caught up with him in the GEICO / Honda rig to talk about the night.
Malcolm, huge win tonight at the East Rutherford SX. It doesn’t get more clutch than that. How are you feeling?
It was a great feeling. I’m happy to get this win and extend the points lead, especially going into Vegas with a fourteen point lead. It’s an amazing feeling for me. Honestly, the difference between last weekend and this weekend is, I felt like I was riding really conservative last week. I was riding behind myself; I was worried about points. I was worried about all the wrong things instead of just going out there and focusing on myself. I felt that I just let all the emotions out after last week. After I looked at the tape and the way I rode, the whole team sat down and we talked. I let all the emotions out, and ever since I let all those emotions out, I’ve felt better than ever. It’s almost like crying it out. After you cry, you feel better for some reason. That’s what happened. I told the team, and I was honest with myself. The guys were like, “Are you okay? How do you feel?” going into that weekend, and I was like, “I’m good. I’m good. I’m good”, but in reality, I really wasn’t. It was just a lot of weight off my shoulders, and basically I just told the truth, because I’ve proved to myself and I don’t need to think about the red plate; I don’t need to think about nothing. Whether I win this Championship or lose it, I know it’s been one heck of a year. I can’t take anything negative from it. It’s been an awesome season and a way better season than I had last year. It’s all positive, and I believe in myself. I knew I needed to go out there and win, and I did everything I could to do that. I told myself, “Win or lose, give it everything you got for fifteen laps”, and look where it got me.
Were you reminding yourself out loud in your helmet throughout the main event? I used to talk to myself more than most during motos. (laughs)
Yeah, I was tell myself stuff like, “You got it. You got it!” I was putting stuff in my head like, “These boys don’t have anything on you.” You have to pump yourself up. I felt like it got it done, and I’m happy. I’m more happy that I went out there and I was back to being me instead of worrying about what was behind me. You can’t race forward if you’re worried about what’s behind you. I didn’t worry about anyone behind me; I worried about me. That was the difference tonight.
People talk about champions being at their best when the pressure is at it’s most. Winning a championship at the final round takes a mentally tough athlete, but on nights like tonight, the pressure is just as great in my opinion. I think back to Ryan Villopoto’s clutch win in Salt Lake City that gave him a small cushion going into Vegas. Was winning when you had to something you wondered if you could do?
Yeah, and it just goes to show you that I can do it. I can get this done. I can win this. Winning before going into next weekend is a blessing in disguise, but it ain’t over until it’s over. I’m going to just pretend like it’s not the last race and I still have five more Supercrosses to go. I’m going to have the same program. Nothing is going to change anything. I’m still going to ride to win because winning is what pays the bills. (laughs)
What did you think of this track tonight. I didn’t race it obviously, but it seemed very different to me. It was weird to me.
/’
The track reminded me a little of a West Coast track. It reminded me of Anaheim or San Diego, kind of like that. I’m going to try to start riding on that hard dirt. I’m leaving here and going to California. I’m going to ride some West Coast dirt and get ready for Vegas.
What do you think of the format they’re running next weekend in Las Vegas? 250SX East/West all combined in one main event with your finishing points counting towards the Championship. How do you think it will play out, and have you guys sat down as a team and talked strategy?
To be honest, I haven’t even thought about it because, at the end of the day, whether it’s east or west, it don’t matter. It’s still twenty-two riders. We’re all going out there, and everyone wants to win on race day. It’s what you’re doing during the week that’s going to determine it.
I know you and your brother [James Stewart] are as close as any brothers are and closer than most. I know growing up you looked up to your brother and saw him winning championships, but did you ever think you would ever be in a position to win championships?
Of course not! At this time, though, I have to face reality—it’s happening. (laughs) It’s right here and it’s happening in 2016, so this is my reality and it’s my time.
You’ve been pulling out some dance moves for your two wins this year. I mean, if you win the Championship, we’re expecting you to bust out some Championship moves. It might be time to hire a dance coach. Anything planned?
(laughs) We’ll talk about that when we get there, okay.
(laughs) Congrats on the win tonight, and we’ll be looking for the moves next weekend.
I appreciate it. Thanks.
