James Stewart ‘free to compete’ in upcoming Motocross races despite failed drug test, FIM suspension

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While the specter of a failed drug test still looms large for James Stewart, his immediate future came a bit more into focus today when MX Sports Pro Racing, organizers of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, issued a statement confirming that he is “free to compete without restrictions” at this weekend’s race in Tennessee and until further notice.

One of the most popular riders in the history of motocross, Stewart came under heavy fire last week when it was revealed that he tested positive for a banned substance more than two months ago after the Seattle round of the AMA Supercross series. Just a few days prior to the news, Stewart had his most dominant Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship race in years, sweeping both of the day’s motos.

The banned substance was confirmed to be a type of amphetamine, which Stewart claims was legitimately prescribed to him by a doctor to treat a long-term medical condition.

As a result of the failed test, Stewart has been provisionally suspended by the FIM – one of the sanctioning bodies of the AMA Supercross series. The resulting controversy around Stewart’s future stems from the fact that the Supercross season ended more than a month ago, and all of the riders are now racing the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship – an entirely separate series governed by completely different organizations which have no affiliation with the FIM or the World Anti-Doping Agency.

MX Sports Pro Racing released the following statement today:

The provisional suspension of James Stewart by the FIM as a result of an alleged anti-doping violation on April 12, 2014, does not at this time involve MX Sports Pro Racing or the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship. At this stage in the results management process, the decision to compete at a National level remains with the athlete, FIM and WADA, as MX Sports Pro Racing is not a Signatory to the WADA Code and does not have the authority to impose a provisional suspension. Our sanctioning body, AMA Pro Racing, has indicated that it will not restrict Stewart from competing in the upcoming Tennessee National and will reevaluate its position pending the final decision of the FIM International Disciplinary Court (CDI). If this position changes we will be notified accordingly. Until then, Mr. Stewart is free to compete without restriction.

In other words, because the infraction occurred while Stewart was racing a different series, the organizers of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship – which does have a drug-testing partnership with the USADA – don’t have the option of levying sanctions against him at the moment. It’s certainly an unprecedented case which has already evoked strong emotions.

Sure to be faced with mixed reactions from the fans in attendance on Saturday, Stewart now must try to shift his focus back to the track as the riders prepare to visit Muddy Creek Raceway. The Yoshimura Suzuki rider is currently third in 450 Class points and holds the momentum after his 1-1 sweep at High Point.

Saturday’s race, the Red Bull Tennessee National, will feature live coverage of the day’s final 450 Class moto on NBC at 3PM E.T. All 450 Class and 250 Class motos will stream live online on ProMotocross.com and NBC Sports Live Extra beginning at 1PM E.T.

Vicki Golden and 805 Beer tell a unique story from an Inverted Perspective

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Vicki Golden has earned a career worthy of a thousand stories and 805 Beer tells at least one of them, as “Inverted Perspective” premiered March 30 on the company’s website and YouTube channel.

Golden did more to break the glass ceiling in SuperMotocross than she ever thought possible. She knows this because riders have never felt the need to explain any of her accomplishments with the disclaimer, “for a girl”. 

At this point in Golden’s career, she’s been the first woman to finish top 10 in AMA Arenacross Lites, the first woman to qualify in the Fast 40 in Monster Energy AMA Supercross and the first woman to compete in freestyle Moto X competition, earning a bronze medal by doing so.

Her love for moto came from childhood while she watched her dad and brother ride. By seven she was on her bike and making waves throughout Southern California. 

Golden, 30, is still madly in love with the sport and has no plans on moving away but her career is already one to talk about. 805 Beer’s film series wanted to do exactly that.

“I’m taken aback by it all,” Golden told NBC Sports about the documentary. “It’s just crazy to see your story, it’s one thing to live your life and battle everything that comes about but it’s another to just sit there and talk about it.”

805 approached Golden about the feature by asking, “Do you even realize that what you do, and your story is special?”

Golden took the question as a blank canvas to map out the highs and lows of her career and life. 

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The title “Inverted Perspective” came from a brainstorming session with Dominick Russo and it highlights Golden’s outlook on the sport of SuperMotocross and her life in general. 

“My whole life, my whole career was thinking differently and looking at things that shouldn’t be done and aren’t there, while being able to make a place for myself, where no one thought there should be a place,” Golden said.  “It’s inspiring someone to think in different ways. It sums up my life.”

Vicki Golden is not “fast for a girl”; she’s just fast. – 805 Beer

While Golden is no stranger to the spotlight, this was the first time she’s been fully involved with the storytelling and creation of a feature about herself. 

“It’s not like a full new experience,” Golden said. “Obviously, you get your standard questions about your upbringing and accomplishments, but I’ve never really put into perspective things that happened in my past with my dad and putting that to light. Also, certain other things that maybe got overlooked in previous interviews or films. I wanted to touch on these and Dom wanted to create a story. It’s just cool to see it come to light, it’s a nearly impossible thing to tell somebody’s life story in 40 minutes.”

Golden’s father was left paralyzed after an ATV accident, robbing him the opportunity to ride again. This happened a few months before the father-daughter duo was set to compete in the Loretta Lynn’s Amateur Nationals when Vicki was 12. While she might have been unable to grasp the severity at the time, it’s something she carries with her. Golden continues to ride in his honor.

Years later, an accident in 2018 nearly sidelined the then 25-year-old Vicki when a freestyle accident almost resulted in the amputation of her lower leg. 

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Golden 805 Beer
Vicki Golden has ridden a variety of disciplines in SuperMotocross, which gives her a unique perspective. – 805 Beer

“Inverted Perspective” highlights her father’s diligence in helping Vicki continue with her career and the kindness and strength he carried while fighting his own battle. 

“My dad was the entire reason that I started riding in the first place,” Golden said. “So, to honor his memory and to honor what we went through and how hard he pushed to keep our dream alive and keep everything going – in that sense then, it was really special to be able to honor him and talk about him.”

The 40-minute feature was filmed entirely in black and white, a stark contrast from the oversaturated world of motocross where the brighter the suit the easier it is for fans to find their rider and follow him in the race. By filming in monochrome Russo and Golden had the chance to focus on the race and track from a different perspective. 

“It was cool to be able to film it differently,” Golden said. “It created a challenge in the sense of what was going to be more visually impactful for the film.

“I couldn’t be here without the companies that back me but at the same time, it’s not like the logos or colors disappeared, it’s just different lights shed on different spots. It’s just a cool way to do it and to take color away and still be impactful. When you think of black and white, you think of old school, the OG way of doing things.”