A report out today says that Malcolm Stewart was aiming to be on the start gate at Anaheim 1 as a privateer.
Yes. The 2017 Supercross season is just days away from kicking into life, but there is still time for one last silly season story…
There has been a lot written about Malcolm Stewart across the off-road media during the past few months. Much of it speculating on his future, including the possible link-up with older brother James.
But there’s been some interviews in there too – both written and video – that offered insight into what was going down with Mookie.
Back in November last year, in a video interview with Transworld Motocross, Malcolm said he didn’t have a team and that to race Supercross as a privateer could cost in the realm of $200,000 to $300,000 to do it properly. With that level of financial risk, he understandably didn’t appear keen on the idea.
When you’re a 250 SX champion and you make the step up to the big boys class, there will be some on-track pressure but ultimately you just want a solid foundation in your rookie 450 season. You certainly wouldn’t expect to be saddled with all the pressure that comes with being a privateer. “Usually the first goal is to do good during the first season,” he said recently in an interview with Dirt Bike Rider magazine. “My first goal is to actually just to get a motorcycle.”
In the magazine interview, Malcolm sounded a little frustrated and you get the impression he was holding back. “Waiting for answers back from teams is annoying because you don’t know exactly when you’re going to get answers back,” he said. “I’ve heard so many stories and excuses that it gets to the point where, let’s just say, it’s annoying.”
The 22-year-old told us he wasn’t going to get “driven out of the sport” and that he intended to race.
And it looks like Mookie meant it, with a report out today on Racer X that says he has been working on a Suzuki RM-Z450 with plans to run out of a Sprinter van.
But the A1 rider entry list is out and he’s not on it! Apparently, a Steve Matthes source says that it/he would not be ready for the weekend.
You can read the Dirt Bike Rider interview with Malcolm Stewart in the current issue of the magazine, out now.
