Page 52 - issue-36

MALCOLM STEWART
450 SX / TEXAS
IMAGE / LANNAN WORDS / ARMSTRONG DESIGN / WILSON
>> Malcolm Stewart aka Mookie aka Predator is just the second ever rider to win a 250 championship and not be rewarded with a 450 deal the next year. It almost seems like there is a cloud over Malcolm when it comes to factory support. It took a long time fo Mookie to get a good ride in the 250 ranks and when it finally happened he was able to get a title. So to some it made no sense when he was unable to find a ride in the 450 class. Malcolm was forced to miss the first two rounds of the 2017 season before he was able to put something together with Chris Cross- land and the Ride365 crew. Between Ride365 and Malcolm a team was established and the #47 was on the gate by round 3.
Since making his 450 debut Mookie has been able to qualify directly to the main event from all of his heat races until Arlington. In his heat race this weekend M. Stewart was running in 4th. While trying to make a move on Millsaps for 3rd, Mookie jumped a to far into the corner off of the jump on jump off section, Malcolm started to tuck the front end in the left hander before grabbing too much front brake sending him over the bars, and sending him to the Semis for the first time. The Ride365/Stewart rac- ing rider started outside of a qualifying position in the semi but was able to make quick moves on the first two laps putting him in 4th. The younger Stewart brother came around lap one of the main event well outside of the top 15. At the mid way point the #47 was able to get himself into 10th where he would finish. Now that the monkey is off the back of Malcolm you can only imagine the top tens are going to continue.
52 GRITMOTO • FEBRUARY 12, 2017