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I like James Stewart. Over the past couple of years he has grown as a racer and as a champion. He’s taken on the role of ambassador for the sport, he’s a solid role model for kids entering the sport, and he’s pretty much the epitome of the clean-cut athlete.

I don’t know if he’s “better” than RC or MC, I don’t know if he’s the best there ever was, and I don’t know that such things can ever be determined to any real satisfaction. But he’s really, really good. He’s an innovator, he’s a technician, he’s extraordinarily gifted, incredibly focused and talented, and he’s a fearless competitor. The guy is nothing short of a phenomenon.

The sport needs him. We all need him to stay around a long time. Stewart is a star that can transcend the sport. He’s not quite on par with Tiger Woods, but he’s close in his presence and ability to be a good interview. That he is a black athlete with poise and class that stands in stark contrast to the thug freak shows like Dennis Rodman, Carmello Anthony, and Adam “Pacman” Jones is just a bonus.

Stewart has opened an entirely new group to the fanbase for MX/SX. He has the potential to push the sport forward in ways we haven’t seen before. Almost no one talks about Stewart’s race, but it’s an important part of why he matters so much.

Every school teacher in America knows who Tiger Woods is — even if they’ve never held a golf club in their life. Wouldn’t it be fantastic if every school teacher knew who James Stewart is? There are differences between the media exposure level of golf and MX for sure, but Stewart is the only one who can push our sport across that gap. Unlike any other racer in history, Stewart can become a broad-based cultural icon (if he accepts that role) and can carry MX with him. But to do so, he has to stay around long enough for it to happen. And that’s why he needs to lose.

If Stewart keeps walking off with runaway victories at every race he enters, many times with no significant challenger after the first 1-2 laps, he’s going to leave. And sooner rather than later. Challenge is what keeps competitors on top, it’s what keeps them motivated, it’s what makes them willing to put in the work and the training and keep the disciplined routines that winning requires.

In this Larry Brooks-authored piece in Motocross Action, Brooks says that winning never gets old. It’s an interesting piece, and worth reading. I agree with Brooks. I just believe that Stewart will go on to win somewhere else.

When the challenge goes, the competitor goes with it — on to a newer, bigger challenge that can test their mettle and give them new goals. If Stewart walks away with 10 more wins in SX this season he will be extremely happy, and he will be gracious.

I bet he will also be thinking about what he can do next. It’s clear he’s already thinking about it. I also bet he will have no shortage of offers and opportunities. Car racing (wherever it may be) is a darn site easier than MX/SX. You don’t have to spend every day in the car, doing lap after lap. You don’t have to cycle 100 miles per week. You don’t have to train at the same level all the time. Sure, you need some fitness and the bar has come up a lot in the past 10-15 years. But it’s not MX/SX and everyone knows it.

So I’m rooting for Chad Reed. I’m rooting for Ryan Villopoto to get through his freshman foibles as quickly as possible. I’m rooting for Grant and Millsaps and Ferry. I’m rooting for all of them to find what it takes to give Stewart a meaningful challenge.

It’s not easy. MX/SX is 80% man, 20% machine. The challenge for everyone else is that Stewart is 80% machine. But if you want to keep him around you better root for the other guys too. Not because you don’t like James Stewart, but because you do.