James Stewart to race in Brisbane Super X
Posted: Tuesday, 28th July, 2009 : 9:49 AM - - 308 Reads -
In a major coup for Super X and the sport of Supercross in Australia, Global Action Sports has announced that current world supercross Champion, James “Bubba” Stewart, will make the trip to Australia to take on his biggest rival and Australia’s dual world Champion, Chad Reed, at the final round of Super X in Brisbane on December 5.
The two supercross stars have only ever raced against each other in North America and will go head to head in Australia in what will be the biggest supercross race ever held outside of the North America.
23 year old Stewart from Haines City in Florida is commonly referred to as ‘the Tiger Woods of Supercross” and is already considered to be among the supercross greats.
In 2009 Stewart claimed back the American AMA Supercross Championship from Reed, in the closest series of all time with only four points overall separating the two. Stewart had previously won the championship in 2007 whilst Reed won in 2004 and 2008.
“I have a lot of respect for Chad (Reed) and our rivalry only makes us race better and is great for the sport. This year was the toughest I ever had to fight to win a championship, which made the victory even sweeter.
“When the opportunity came up to race in Super X in Australia I didn’t think twice. I have never been or raced there before and I am really looking forward to taking on Chad (Reed) in his country. It will be a great race and we will both be going for it,” said Stewart.
The Super X series finale in Brisbane will be the first time the rivals will race against each other since the final round of the AMA Championship in Las Vegas in May where Stewart reclaimed the world championship. It will also be the only time they will race before the 2010 AMA series so both riders will be chasing the confidence boost that would come from a win.
“The only place I have ever raced supercross against James (Stewart) is in North America so I can’t wait for the match up with a home crowd advantage. It is by far the biggest supercross race ever held in Australia and will be great for the fans.
“It is a testament to the series that James (Stewart) will be competing in a race. He is riding at his best at the moment and had a great season in the USA. This will be my first chance to race against him in my bid to getting back the AMA Championship next year so we will both be giving it our all,” said Reed.
Reed is also in great form and currently leading the AMA Pro Motocross Championship by an impressive 65 points with four rounds remaining. If this form continues he looks likely to be wearing the crown when he returns to Australia for the Super X series.
In 2008 Brisbane hosted the final round of Super X and attracted the biggest crowd of the series when 20,000 people descended upon QSAC. Organisers believe the matchup between Reed and Stewart will attract an even bigger crowd in 2009 and are expecting supercross fans from all over the state and country to make their way to Brisbane for the epic battle.
Michael Porra who is the Managing Director of Global Action Sports said the event will make Supercross history and will really put Super X, the Australasian Supercross Championship on the map.
“There has never been a Supercross race like this outside of the USA where the two best riders in the world who are both at the top of their game will go head to head. This is a massive coup for the sport and sends a clear signal to the world of Australia’s standing in the world of supercross.
“We will be building the biggest track of the series in Brisbane with some exciting challenges for the riders. The racing will be fast and cut-throat and fans all across the world will be watching and following” concluded Porra.
The hugely successful Triple Challenge will feature in the finals at the Brisbane round. The exciting format pits riders against each other in three short and fast races of seven laps with points gained in each race to go toward their final tally for the round. For the first time ever the 250cc class will also race the unique format in their final.
Brisbane will be well represented across the Open and 250cc class with a large number of Super X competitors based in the area such as Troy Carroll, Robbie Marshall and a number of Brisbane riders that race overseas to be announced in the coming months.
Shame its in Brisbane though.
