By Justin Schuoler, Staff Writer
While the focus maintained strongly on the championship contenders in both 450 and 250 divisions, Malcolm Stewart coursed the tight track at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City to earn his first career podium in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450 class.
“Did that feel good!” said a pumped Stewart after a long sought podium.
Stewart finished third in a non-points paying race with the 2019 Monster Energy Cup, but Saturday’s effort gave him the first official podium of his 450SX career. The Monster Energy Star Yamaha rider had high hopes going into the penultimate round.
“I had good results in Salt Lake City last year,” he shared on social media before qualifying. “I’m looking forward to racing there again and ending the season on a high note!”
The 2016 250 Supercross East Champion had a solid weekend, where he qualified third by finishing second in Heat 2 with a faster lap time than Chase Sexton.
“We’ve been searching all year for that podium and it finally happened,” Stewart exclaimed after the race. “I’m excited to go back to SLC again for one last chance!”
It’s also not the first time the Florida native has had a strong showing. He already has three top-five finishes and nine top-10’s before Round 16. While two of the last three races were outside of the top-10, Stewart found his early season mojo to take home his first hardware of the 450 Supercross class.
“Thank you fans for sticking behind me this entire time!”
Stewart currently sits seventh in points, just six points behind 2018 450SX champion Jason Anderson. The last round of the season is next Saturday, May 1 at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.
Photo by Feld Entertainment Inc.
