MALCOLM STEWART INTERVIEW: “THAT WAS ONE OF THE BUCKET LIST THAT I WANTED TO CROSS, AND I AM THANKFUL”

One of the highlights of the 2025 Supercross series will certainly be Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Malcolm Stewart taking his first 450 Supercross win. And not only did he win; he did it at his hometown race in Tampa. Not only was it an emotional win for the 32-year-old, but it was also emotional for everyone in attendance. Since finishing third in the 2022 450 Supercross series, Stewart’s career has been marked by serious injury and missed races. But 2025 appears to be looking different, with Malcolm winning, and finishing consistently. With his confidence boosted by his Tampa win, Malcom joins an elite list of winners, and he aims for more before the season ends in Salt Lake City. We recently had the chance to catch up with the 2016 250 East Coast Supercross champion.

 

BY JIM KIMBALL

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MALCOLM, WE HAVE TO BEGIN WITH YOUR WIN AT TAMPA. ON ONE HAND, IT WAS SURPRISING BUT, ON THE FLIPSIDE, IT WAS NOT SURPRISING AT ALL  It has been awesome. That win was more of an inspiration win-that never give up attitude. Who cares how long it has taken us to do it? It has been a long journey but to me, I look at that as an achievement; it was not about crossing the finish line first. It was more like look how long you have been racing. Look how much you have been griding it to get that. That win was more than what the average rider could ever imagine. Finally, that was one of the bucket lists that I wanted to cross, and I am thankful.  

Malcolm Stewart has been riding better than ever this season. He had a mindset change prior to going into 2025 that he just wanted to stay healthy. So far his results have proved that this change is just what he needed.

DID IT HELP EASE THE DISAPPOINTMENTS FROM THE SEVERAL SERIOUS INJURIES YOU HAVE HAD THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS? Yes, of course. All the injuries, getting clipped from different teams, spending your own money as a privateer; just doing all of that, it was worth it.  Also, too, I would not change anything.  I would not go back in time and wish anything different.  Even me going into racing or anything like that. The way I grew up, I was not being serious about racing.  I would not re-write it. Winning that race, not only that with my brother being in a booth at home;  you can’t write a better script than that.  It is one of those moments that we will forever cherish as a family, and I think it is one of the wins that a lot of people will not forget.  I will never forget Andrew Short’s first win in Seattle.  It is just a little cool moment like that. It is that go-get-it attitude. Even when Justin Brayton won his first race at Daytona. You look up to guys like that and I love to see that slight underdog win.  Nobody thought Justin Brayton was ever going to get it done.  Nobody ever thought Andy Short was going to get it done and boom, he got it done.  In a way, it is bittersweet.  It is a weird way to put yourself in those same shoes but again, I am also blessed to say that I have been able to race that long.

THE FANS AND THE CROWD WERE FANTASTIC TOWADS YOU IN TAMPA. I’M NOT SURE I HAVE EVER SEEN THAT MUCH EMOTION. There were so many people that came up to me and were in tears of joy; I just could not believe it.  It was an inspirational win and just like someone sitting at your desk job or whatever that case may be. You work that eight to five, and you just want to get that next promotion but you could not figure out how to get it. Once you finally got it, you laid down in bed that night and are just feeling different. That is how I felt when I came across that checkered flag.  It was like that moment of you just having to keep digging and the time will come – and that so happened to be my time was it?  

Malcolm could win on any given night and has proven he belongs up front.

DO YOU FEEL NOW THAT YOU MOVED UP INTO THIS GROUP OF GUYS THAT CAN WIN ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT? Yes, but I also feel our sport is tough.  It can happen to anybody, and I think that is the cool thing about racing professional motorcycles. We are all fast; it is just a matter of timing and putting yourself in the right place.

 With me getting that win it was more of just a weight off my shoulders to move forward. All it takes is a little bit of confidence and you are back in the mix.  Since then, I have just tried to run off with my Tampa success and have a good strong series. We still have a lot of racing left.  We are just hitting March, so talk to me in September and see how I feel about everything.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE  WHERE YOU ARE AT WITH THE ROCKSTAR HUSQVARNA TEAM, YOUR HEALTH, AND HAVING TIME ON THE BIKE NOW, YOU ARE IN A GOOD PLACE? Yes, I do. I think for myself, just knowing you had a season-ending injury two years ago, having missed a whole year of racing for myself was a tough one.  I had ten months off a motorcycle. You just don’t snap back the way you want to. It has taken a while for me to build up but once I finally got that opportunity and I  started to get going. I needed that ball rolling, and I felt like at the beginning of the year, it was rolling pretty well.  Tampa just stamped it.  All we can do from here is just keep doing the best we can and finish off strong and already for myself, it has been one of a career years.

His win in Tampa along with multiple podium finishes have solidified the effort he has been putting in during training.

I THINK YOUR RACE WIN WILL CERTAINLY BE A HIGHLIGHT OF THE 2025 SUPERCROSS. I will never forget that moment.  You will probably never forget it.  I think anybody who has a first win that has been digging that long, it is just a special moment that nobody ever forgets.