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Here's the word from Kawasaki:

June 14, 2006
James Stewart Out for Budds Creek

Irvine, Calif., ( June 14, 2006 ) – After careful consideration, it has been decided that Kawasaki Racing Team rider, James Stewart, will not be competing at the fourth round of the AMA Motocross National Championship at Budds Creek MX Park, in Budds Creek, Md., this weekend. Stewart, who put forth an epic performance last weekend by posting a fourth overall finish despite a deep bone bruise in his left knee, began feeling recurring pain and stiffness early this week. Although Stewart remains determined to race, it was decided by the team that Stewart should not race until his leg has had the appropriate amount of time to heal properly according to his physician’s recommendations.

“James has shown amazing determination and we appreciate that,â€￾ said Kawasaki Racing Team Manager, Mike Fisher. “However, we also know that if he continues to ride on an injured knee, he may likely be riding in pain all season and ultimately needs more time to recuperate.â€￾

i had hoped, as i'm sure many of you had as well, that james would continue to ride smart into the nationals as he was the last half of the sx season. it would have been an incredible season had he been able to stay healthy. ricky will win the championship without really being tested again.

on another positive note milsaps will likely continue to podium and i think by the end of the season, or earlier, will put significant pressure on Chad. so, it will be great to see a honda on the podium each week!

ken

Did you see the last wreck he had? It looked like his transmission seized up.
Have you heard anything about that?

Dave

dave...the crash was brutal! i really don't know how some of these guys walk away from those. i haven't heard exactly what's wrong with james but remember he went into that race with a concussion...so lets hope he didn't hit his head again but it's hard to believe he didn't.

on the engine, mums the word from kawasaki. but yes, something imploded. in my opinion it had to be the transmission. when the front drops you pull in the clutch and rev it to the moon in hopes to pull up the front some. that's a novice move and james certainly would have been doing that. with the clutch in if the trans was free to spin you'd think you'd see some wheel rotation...but that wheel was completely locked up. who knows though if the engine blew it would have entered the trans too..so just guessing on my part.

i hope he heals up 100% and soon....he'll be missed up front with RC.

ken

Something definitely blew up but it looks like they'll never tell.

I'm sure he'll be back but he has no chance of getting the title from rickey now.

Dave

yes...too bad that title chase is over. unless ricky suffers a similar demise he'll rack up another championship on his way out the FRONT door. can you imagine leaving a sport that with having just won BOTH of the most important championships in that sport? incredible.

hopefully, james will come back and the two of them can put on a good show for us...we need it in the outdoors.

ken

I know what you mean. Next year it's going to be all stewart since there will be no one to challenge him.
He probably won't wreck as much without the pressure and just walk away with both titles.
I don't see anyone in the near future that will challenge him.

Dave

i hear you but i have been VERY impressed with milsaps. he was running the same pace as ricky and james for over half the race. that's impressive for a rookie at one of the toughest tracks of the season. i think he's the closest we have to being able to close the gap on james.

ken

I saw that race and he did do well. I wonder if he'll keep that up all season or maybe this was just a good track for him.
You know how some riders are good on the sand if that's what there used to but I don't know if that's the case here or not.

Dave.

Judging by the heavy thick smoke that was coming out of Bubba's tailpipe BEFORE he crashed, and the locked rear tire as he was going OTB's, I am guessing seized motor...not tranny.

The smoke looked like it was coming from down near the shifter to me.
Either way it really screwed him.

Dave

I read that the bike threw the rod(damn Kawi motors). That sucks, it was great finally seeing a race for first rather than for second. It's going to be a while before we get another good season with 2 top front runners, once RC is gone, noone can catch JS.

slomotobug wrote:I read that the bike threw the rod(damn Kawi motors). That sucks, it was great finally seeing a race for first rather than for second. It's going to be a while before we get another good season with 2 top front runners, once RC is gone, noone can catch JS.

Did you watch the lites race? The whole Procircuit/Kawi team was out of the first moto with mechanical problems.

Dave

re: where the smoke came from.

I had it TIVO'd, and watched it several times in slow-motion.

Definately coming out of the tailpipe with rear wheel locked as he BEGAN to go over OTB. Much like locking the rear tire in the air to bring the front down, it locked and brought his front waaay down...

I watched Budds Creek on TIVO yesterday.

The commentator clearly said Bubba's bike had a broken crank.

I heard that too...looks like you were right.

Dave