Blockbuster!
By TMX Archives on 12th Apr 05
Ah, sweet validation. Ah, sweet validation. After writing so many columns about the potential takeover of American motocross by James 'Bubba' Stewart the Floridian finally nailed his first 250 class win in Dallas on April 2.It was a start-to-finish affair for Stewart who shot to the inside and held off a charging Ricky Carmichael for the Main Event holeshot. From that moment on it was only a question of whether he was fit enough to hold on for a full 20 laps at race speed. Well, he was and he did.We've heard plenty of stories about Stewart lately. The whole world knows that he likes expensive toys - he's already got a Ferrari and a Lamborghini - and he counts as friends and admirers people like Michael Jordan and Tom Cruise.Now certainly, in this age of massively overpaid athletes, that should come as no surprise. If I pulled in that kind of scratch, I'd acquire as many expensive tastes as possible too. Hell, I've already got them. But let's take a moment to put a couple things in perspective.Sure, Bubba's rich. In fact, he's probably pretty much set for life. But think back to your late teens. You were awkward, unsure of yourself and still not fully formed as a person. You were simultaneously drawn to and completely bewildered by the opposite sex (and you probably still are).Your fragile young brain was a breeding ground for confusion and angst and horrible little poems that collected in the inside pockets of your denim jacket, only to be forgotten and, surely, found by mum when she did the laundry. Oh, what she must have thought... But I digress.Now imagine you're back in those days but instead of selling your plasma for beer money you've become a top-level motocrosser. Before you're even in your twenties you're pulling down money that most people only dream about (at last estimation for Stewart, between $3 and $5 million a year), simply because you're good at riding your motorcycle. You're so good, in fact, that your new buddy Tom Cruise is co-producing a Hollywood movie about your life. And all this before you've won a single race at the sport's premier level.When you finally do make it to that level - the 250 class - you begin your season with a bizarre mud race that 'doesn't really count' by the advanced standards of today's fans (and media, for that matter). Your real test comes the next weekend.Unfortunately, at that race you crash in practice, break your arm and are forced to miss the better part of the season. That leaves you with nothing but time to sit, heal and think. What do you think about? A lot of things.You think about money - not in the 'holy crap, I have a lot of money!' sense but the 'I'm making a lot of money so I'd better not ***k this up' sense. You think about early fame (aka hype) and the expectations that come with it. You think about Tom Cruise and a whole lot of people who make a whole lot more money that you do and the fact that a major motion picture has stopped production to wait for your teenaged behind to get healthy again.And then, at some point, it actually sinks in that you're writing the screenplay of that movie as you go. If you come back and are victorious, you've got a film that's as uplifting as Rocky and Winners Take All rolled into one. But if you blow it you'll give Leaving Las Vegas a run for its depressing-ass money.Stewart's script isn't complete yet of course but on that night in April he took a step closer to the Rocky end of the equation. He knocked out the local tough guy but he's still not entirely clear of that shopping cart full of booze.If cautionary tales are your thing, look no further than the starting gate of that 250 Main Event in Dallas. That's precisely where you would not find the #199 Suzuki of Travis Pastrana who yet again injured himself during yet another comeback attempt. This time around he actually qualified for the Main but a crash in his qualifier left him shaken and he was losing blood from a large cut on his leg.Pastrana and Stewart have similar stories - both grew up in the sport, had astounding success on the amateur level and won championships in their early 125cc careers. But the similarities end there.While Stewart was able to win in Dallas, Pastrana is still searching for 250cc success. His constant problems with crashing and injuries show no sign of letting up. While Bubba is one or two wins away from becoming a legend, Travis is one or two crashes away from early retirement and a lifetime of replacement surgery. In fact, another concussion or two and we could be looking at a tragedy.Supercross has truly become an all-or-nothing sport. The skill levels and track designs force riders to push their abilities to their absolute limits in order to win. If you're lucky, you become successful, rich and famous beyond your wildest dreams. If not, you're a footnote in the record books, someone people think about and say, 'hey, what ever happened to...?'Nobody can say for sure which direction Stewart's career will take. I will tell you this, though - I can't wait to see that movie.