Malcolm Stewart has carved out a career entirely on his own terms. Often viewed through the lens of being James Stewart’s younger brother, Malcolm has long since stepped out of that shadow to establish himself as one of the most respected and recognisable figures in American Supercross. Now deep into his Factory Husqvarna chapter and coming off one of the strongest seasons of his career, he remains as open, grounded and refreshingly honest as ever.
Whether discussing the pressures of family legacy, the realities of a near year-round racing calendar, or his surprising desire to be a fisherman rather than a motocross star, Stewart offers a candid look at the journey that has shaped him. From team changes and injuries to his mindset on longevity and the sport’s evolution, nothing is off the table.
Marco Kamper caught up with Stewart during his latest overseas appearance to talk career, family, racing culture and what keeps him motivated after 15 professional seasons.
I’ve always wondered throughout your career that it might be difficult to follow in the footsteps of James. How do you feel about that?
Stewart: No, I mean for me growing up I didn’t really care about racing. Obviously, I was always a big super fan of my brother. I know some people compared me to James but in my mind I never looked at it like that. I just wanted to become a fisherman, that’s all I cared about.
I believe when James retired, you were still in the 250 class, I don’t think you guys raced that much together so when you look at Jett and Hunter… You look at Hunter in particular, he might be always sort of the second guy, how do you look at that comparing you and James?
Stewart: It’s kind of tough because when you put it in that concept, me and James are seven years apart so I can never share the same moments as him. If anything, when I did finally get on the racetrack with him, I was so young and he was already kind of doing what he was doing. It was more just about me being happy.
Probably the only time you and James properly battled was the Red Bull Straight Rhythm at the first event…
Stewart: That was about the only time, other than that it was pretty short and sweet.
The American season now is over 31 rounds I believe; I just want to know because even with that you’re still going to overseas racing so when do you think enough is enough? Because I think it must be tough to be basically fit and ready to go 11 months of the year.
Stewart: That’s a very hard question to answer because I feel like for us as athletes that year round we kind of have to stay fit regardless. So, if anything, doing these races kind of helps with it – the only downfall is injuries so it’s a risk. But I don’t know, it’s a catch 22. Usually when we look forward to Paris It’s before the SuperMotocross, they didn’t have that, so Paris always stayed where it was so for me at the end of the day it’s just about being smart and that’s what it’s all about, being smart.
So, do you feel like the risk in racing Is bigger than in training on the test track?
Stewart: Yes and no because I feel like when we’re over here that we don’t really have anything to prove. A lot of the racers, we all talk to each other and it’s more casual. We’re here for a show, right? They kind of pay us to come over here so it’s kind of a more chill vibe and we always say see you back in the States when we go racing there.
I talked to Benoit Paturel and his wife last week and they said you made a big impression to them because you were really kind to them. In the 10 years of racing MXGP they never felt anything like that and I kind of feel that’s because there’s more money to share in the United States. I would like to know your opinion about that?
Stewart: I mean, I can’t really speak too crazy about the GP’s because I don’t race it. I don’t know what those guys make, I don’t really follow the sport to be honest with you. I do feel like there’s a lot of Europeans that are coming over to the States and they make great money. I want them to come and I encourage them to come to the States. I feel like they make a big career for themselves and the change of pace. Dylan Ferrandis, the Lawrence brothers, Ken Roczen and Max Anstie all came over. I look at those guys as high calibre riders that came from the GP’s and came over here. For me, I encourage it and I want this to be one big happy family.
2026 is going to be your fifth year with Factory Husqvarna, I was looking into this, and I think you started at Arma Suzuki, J-Star KTM, Troy Lee Honda, Geico Honda, Ride65 Suzuki, Yoshimura Suzuki, MCP Honda and then started racing a Yamaha… There’s a lot of changes in between and I want to know what it was like to be changing teams all the time? I want to know if staying with the same team makes it easier because the bike is the same as last year etc…
Stewart: I mean, we’re always making changes, but I think for me, it’s more just being blessed to be on the team. I’ve done my job but you’ve always got to think that somebody is coming for your spot So, the past teams I’ve been on, I’ve been tossed around and I also won a championship but never got hired and that’s never been done before. I feel like for me I climbed myself out of a gnarly rabbit hole and I’m just blessed to continue to keep racing.
Looking at this season I mean, it’s safe to say It’s one of your best seasons so far I mean, your first 450 win in Tampa, that must have been a big one… I’d just like to know in short, what went through your mind at that moment and how do you look back at it?
Stewart: I look at that win as a cherry on top but not everything that changed me. The bigger win for me was racing 15 seasons professionally. Obviously winning a race at Tampa at home, in front of your brother and your whole family, that’s a script that you can never write but at the end of the day I feel like, again, the bigger win was being able to continue to keep racing at my peak of my career for 15 consecutive years. I think I look at that as a bigger win, I’ve had no substantial injuries, no issues with money or anything which has burned me, so I look at that as a bigger win. The win in Tampa was just part of the career.
You started in 2011 and looking at guys like RV, Ricky Carmichael and McGrath… They all quit before hitting 30. I mean, you’re still doing it, Anderson is still doing it, Roczen is still doing it, Eli is still doing it… From your perspective, what do you think is the difference that more riders are riding longer into their 30’s now?
Stewart: I just think that we’re all familiar with our bodies now. That’s just a development and you see that in ball sports and everything. I look at icons like LeBron James and Tom Brady who just retired in the last two years. I look at those guys, I just think everybody’s more familiar with their bodies now.
You started in 2011, racing wise, how do you think racing has changed from when you started compared to now?
Stewart: I mean, it’s changed tremendously but I think the motorcycle has changed In development, right? There wasn’t that many training facilities but now they’re everywhere. There wasn’t that many trainers but now there is – there’s more Aldon Baker out there. Anytime you have got development with the motorcycles then you have got to think that we’re all going to progress.
There seems to be a big fanbase in America and you’ve created a big fanbase of your own, did you think about that at any stage? If you look at someone like Aaron Plessinger who decided he was going to wear a cowboy hat and he was going to be the country boy…
Stewart: Not for me. I was just being myself. I am just a guy that rides dirt bikes that loves fishing, it’s pretty simple.
Do you follow any of the racing in MXGP?
Stewart: I don’t, I’m being honest. The only guys I can really name of the top of my head are Jeffrey Herlings, Antonio Cairoli and I know Glenn Coldenhoff because of the 259 and Romain Febvre. I met him and a lot of these guys I meet when I come over here to race. Other than that, I don’t follow it, but I wish those guys the best and now we have Jorge Prado over here but that’s pretty much it.
