James Stewart
At Anaheim last weekend Stewart Senior was allegedly spat-on in a related incident. Matthes: I think race still has something to do with it. As a Canadian living in America there is still a little bit of that in the USA.
Reality TV not quite so real… Dubbed a documentary, ‘Bubba’s World’ aired for two seasons on Fuel TV in 2010 and 2011 and while nobody can doubt the benefits of the extra exposure it carried its zany nature and perception of Stewart away from the race-track might not have done him any favours. Weigandt: I think he gets unfair criticism for the reality show; with some thinking he doesn’t race motocross because he is too busy being a TV star. I think he said that it takes something like three weeks out of his yearly schedule to do.
Matthes: That reality show was the best and worst thing for him. It worked in a good way because it exposed him to a lot of people who aren’t into motocross and he created a lot of interest in himself but the fans of the sport saw right through it, how fake it was and how it seemed he was flaunting his wealth a little bit. Hatton: That TV show is purely about entertainment. I’ve always said that if you want to see an awesome reality show then turn up to a supercross stadium as soon as they open the gates and stay around until they close because what these guys go through, mentally, physically and emotionally over the course of one day is real drama. It is never perfect or how you imagine it to be; there is nothing-fake going on.