Malcolm Stewart is quite possibly the most talented 450SX rider on the line in 2018, but…… Photo by: Chase Yocom
“Cooksey’s Hard Truth” presented by Scott Sports is a weekly editorial written by Chris Cooksey. Chris will be diving in and out of controversial subjects and bringing you his hard truth about the racing and the riders from around the world of Supercross and Motocross.
Last week in St. Louis we witnessed glimpses of Malcolm “Mookie” Stewart’s talent. In the first timed session, he went “Stew” and was the first rider to courageously jump the massive quad in the rhythm section. That confidence helped him secure the top qualifying time in the first session. Malcolm’s talent is undeniable, which makes his work ethic frustratingly questionable. I truly believe if Malcolm worked as hard as the riders he competes against he would be a championship contender. In 2016, he won the East Coast 250cc Championship, but since then, his career has been a series of disappointments.
After claiming the East Coast Championship, Malcolm sat out of the 2016 outdoor nationals. He did this in order to prepare for the 2017 Supercross series. Unfortunately, by strategically removing himself from the public eye in a sport that is highly based on “what have you done lately,” Malcolm also removed himself from team manager’s top priority. I know this isn’t fair, but when the pits are littered with past regional champions struggling to find 450 rides, Malcolm missed an opportunity to remind them of his talent. This is not to say winning a regional Supercross championship is easy, but most of Malcolm’s 2016 competitors are still in the 250 class. It is not like anyone he defeated has since moved on to Supercross glory. After taking an extra 4 months off to prepare for his 450 debut, common sense and the hype of his return, we assumed like Rocky Balboa he would be eating lightning and crapping thunder. This has not been the case.
During the offseason prior to the 2017 season, all major teams had announced their rider lineups and Malcolm was not on any of them. Everybody was speculating as to what the Stewart’s had up their sleeve. Myself and many other journalists expected his skills would translate well in the 450 class, but Anaheim came and went with no Malcolm. Rumors circulated about him starting his own team with the backing of his brother’s gear company [Seven] and Ride365. While I totally understand Malcolm expected to be on an established team, he also knew one way or the other he would be racing. This alone should have motivated him to be physically ready.
When his team was finally ready to race, it was apparent that Malcolm had not been doing nearly enough training during his extended offseason. His athletic fit Seven gear revealed a body that more resembled a “Dad bod” than that of a professional Supercross racer. Before judging Malcolm for his “Dad bod,” I hoped it was an illusion. During his first main event of the 2017 season, though, it became evident that his “Dad bod” was no illusion and his cardio was not even close to that of his competitors. His talent and speed were there, but his fitness was not. Let’s be clear here; I am not calling him fat by normal standards. I am saying he is overweight for a professional motorcycle racer. Many of us weekend warriors and Vet racers would love to have his “Dad bod.”
During his 2017 Supercross season Malcolm showed he still has the talent to compete. With a proper training program, he would surely be a contender. Some major teams felt the same way, and after his 2017 season, Malcolm looked like the perfect reclamation project. He is a fan favorite with talent that could take him to the top. Malcolm was offered a spot on a notable factory-supported team with an estimated $200K salary for the 2018 Supercross season. Malcolm declined this offer because he would have to switch gear companies [his brother is the founder of Seven gear]. This was a red flag to other potential teams. Instead of seeing the loyalty being showed to his big brother James Stewart, they saw a guy who did not have his priorities straight. In addition, this offseason was loaded with talented 450 riders willing to ride for next to nothing as the factory supported RCH Suzuki closed their doors and flooded the 450 market.
There were implications that racism played into Malcolm not getting offers from other teams, but while racism is alive and well in 2018, I do not believe that was case. It was the lack of commitment to his career that led teams to go in other directions. 2018 is looking like Groundhog Day for the talented and likable rider. He missed the opening round of the series and even though he has found a home at JGR, he appears out of shape. Occasionally he shows flashes of his true potential but he does not have the fitness required to be competitive at the highest level.
As a guy who loves watching him and his brother ride, I feel cheated. James Stewart literally changed what we thought was possible on a motorcycle. Malcolm shows flashes that lead me to believe his genetic gifts are similar to James, but that is where the comparison ends. James had a solid work ethic; he raced head to head with Ricky Carmichael and Chad Reed in their primes. No matter how much talent someone has, you cannot expect to beat the best without work ethic too. If Malcolm wants to continue his Supercross career, he must change his lifestyle. The only piece Malcolm is missing is fitness; for those of us watching from the outside, it’s obvious. If he does not get into shape and give Supercross a real effort, he will leave us always wondering what could have been.
