Page 22 - MPG14

MALCOLM STEWART
Malcolm Stewart has been the most sensible, consistent, and mature rider of the 250 East
Championship so far this year. That’s a statement that could have never been applied to Mookie in
the earlier years of his career. He always had the same sort of loose cannon speed of his brother, but there always seemed to be a race where he would throw it away by making a move that left you sitting at home with your head in your hands. He’s definitely toned down that side of his riding style and has come into this season more determined than ever before. He looks to be in the best physical shape of his professional career, he’s on one of the best 250 teams of recent years with Geico Honda, and he still carries around the same energetic mood as he always has. At times, he has looked like the fastest rider in the field, but circumstances out
of his control have limited him to only one race victory so far this year. Toronto was host to the most chaotic main event of the year. Stewart was involved in a first turn crash that seemed to include half the field and he came out of the carnage dead last. In one of the most impressive rides of his career, with his jersey ripped all the way across his back from the crash, he carved his way through the field to finish 6th place - his worst finish of the year (all while stopping in the pits.) It’s that kind of consistency that has given him the championship lead going into St. Louis and he’s going to have to continue to display that smart, sensible riding if he wants to hold on to the points lead. Star Racing Yamaha’s Aaron Plessinger is on a motivational high coming off of his first win in Indianapolis and Mookie will be looking to snatch the momentum back by beating the sophomore rider in St. Louis this weekend.
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GRITMOTO • APRIL.18.16
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