Photo: Hoppenworld
“On the Lamb” is a moto editorial series by MotoXAddicts editor, Dan Lamb.
The 450SX class of the 2014 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship series, has grown into the deepest talent pool the sport has ever seen, and the longevity of the #7 and the #22 are a huge part of the equation. Discount Tire Racing’s Chad Reed and Yoshimura/Suzuki’s James Stewart have both been challenging for 450SX wins for a decade—Reed’s in his 12th year and Stewart’s in his 10th—and both appear to be ready to do it again in 2014. Stewart, at 28 years old, and Reedy, at 31, both showed on Saturday night in Anaheim that they’re not just here to collect a check on their past accomplishments—they’re in it to add to them.
Heading into A1, nobody had more question marks hanging over their head than the #22. In 2013, the man who has won two 450SX Championship (2004 and 2008) and a 450 AMA Motocross Championship (2009) scored just one podium in Supercross—a 3rd in St Louis—and spent most of the outdoor season riding around in 10th. Reed was openly uncomfortable with the new 2013 Honda and was still struggling with the knee he had repaired in 2012. It was the kind of season a past Champion has just before he calls it a career and heads home to raise kids. With Reedy, who has a proven track record of putting a season like that behind him, I knew that if he was comfortable on the ’14 Kawasaki and healthy, 2013 would be irrelevant in ’14. For the record, I was one of those that thought Reed was on his way out the door after his atrocious 2010 and wrote openly about it. We all know what 2011 and 2012 looked like for the two-two, so, lesson learned.
The 2014 Anaheim 1 SX is now in the books, and a lot of those questions heading into Angel Stadium have now been answered. The Australian equaled his 2013 podium total in just one try and, more importantly, looked comfortable doing it. On lap one, we saw the old aggressive Reed that attacks instantly and puts himself in a position to win, going from 6th to 3rd in the first half of a lap.
One of Reedy’s greatest attributes throughout his career has been his ability to simply give himself a chance. There have been times where he’s been able to holeshot and run away, but what has given him his longevity and his legendary stats is his consistency and his ability to use that consistency to expose any and all mistakes by his opponents. Unfortunately, even though Reed was in a position to win on Saturday night and Stewart and Ryan Villopoto made huge mistakes, the two KTMs of Ken Roczen and Ryan Dungey got away from him. It looked to me like the veteran started riding tight from about lap 13 on, and that could simply be attributed to rust. The bottom line is, Reed showed us he’s back in 2014 and ready to once again bang bars with the best SX riders on the planet. That in itself will make ’14 better for everyone, except his adversaries.
The most incredible seasons to be a fan of SX are seasons when both Stewart and Reed are in it to win it. Do you remember the 2010 SX season? Me neither. When Reedy and Stewart went down at the 2010 Phoenix SX together, the whole season went down with them. Do you remember the 2011 SX season? Of course you do. It was at least the best season of the last twenty years and possibly the best season of all time. Now, picture 2011. Take Stewart and Reed out of the equation and picture it again. It’s a whole different ball game. Yeah, there is a ton of talent that’s capable of winning on the gate, but there’s something about Reedy and his passion that takes it to another level, and there’s no man on this planet more exciting to watch race dirt bikes than James Stewart. Love him or hate him, you can’t take your eyes off him.
At Anaheim 1 on Saturday night, we once again saw the best, and unfortunately the worst, of Stewart. After his 2013 Monster Energy Cup win, there was no doubt the former two-time champ was as driven as he’s ever been, but could he keep it on two wheels for a full twenty laps? At A1, the answer to that question was no. After rounding the first turn way outside the top ten, the #7 put his head down and looked like the old #259 on the KX125 coming through the pack. One by one, Bubba picked his was through the mid-packers and, then, the superstars of the sport like they were glued to a pole. James has always been fast, but over the last couple of years his speed has not been “fastest man on the planet” fast. At A1, though, he definitely was that. It was one of those nights where you’re simply in awe watching him. Still, after coming from way back to catch the leader Roczen, James threw it way in the whoops in his true Bubbaesque spectacular fashion.
While we’ve gotten used to seeing James crash over the years, this one hurt to watch. After the crash, James shook the cobwebs out and got to his bike, but his bars were too bent to continue. Yes, that is what James does: he wins or crashes, but for some reason this one seemed different and was slightly more painful to watch. Maybe it was how fit he looked, maybe it was how smooth and fast he rode prior to the crash, or maybe it’s just that he’s now the underdog. Whatever it was, I didn’t have that normal reaction of, “Well, there goes James again.” It was more the, “Damn it, James. Why?”
So while leaving round one at Anaheim and heading to round two this weekend in Phoenix, I am pumped on a myriad of improvements the two active legends made, but James’ crash still has me worried. The two biggest issues for the #22 and #7 in 2013 were Reedy’s comfort on his machine and James’ proclivity to hit the ground like he jumped out of a plane without a chute. Well, so far, it looks like Reed has found a bike he’s comfortable on, but James, well, he’s still James. If James only wants to win a race or two and not win a Championship, he’s fine, but if he wants to win a third 450SX Championship, he has got to fix this problem and, more importantly, if he wants to retire in one piece. Sure, it’s spectacular to watch and provides FELD with endless highlight reels, but at 28 years old and after years of abuse, the body starts abusing back. Hopefully, the first 15 laps are more of a look into the future of the #7 and lap 16 was just a brief glance at the past.
At the end of the day, the two former two-time 450SX Champions and owners of 87 premier class wins finished 3rd and 17th on the night. While the results don’t say definite Championship contenders, the way they rode points to rose-colored possibilities. With that, I am smiling and ready for the ride that 2014 and the twilight years of the Stewart-Reed era may provide. While both might not win their third 450SX Championship, they will at least make whoever does work a great deal harder for it. In the end, that’s a win-win for everyone.
See you at the races!
