As the supercross season reaches the midpoint, we look forward to the Outdoor Nationals beginning in a couple of months here in Southern California (at Glen Helen). James “Bubba” Stewart is the defending 125 Outdoor National Motocross champion, but he has at least one new competitor he should worry about. That competitor is Ryan Hughes, who will campaign a factory KTM 125.
Hughes is now an old veteran, and he is a guy who has had more than his share of bad luck during his career — watching at least one national championship slip out of his grasp in 1995. Hughes, however, hauls ass, and he now has all the maturity to counter that earlier tendency toward bad luck. Moreover, Hughes’ recent “tune-ups”, including winning the WORCs race at Glen Helen a week ago, and the four-stroke national race in Arizona earlier today, indicate that he is fully fit and on the gas.
It will be interesting to find out just how fast Ryan Hughes is — when he faces the world-class competition assembled for this year’s 125 Outdoor Nationals. Plenty of fans will view him as a sentimental favorite.
James Stewart looks invincible, however, and Hughes, like the rest of the competition may not have the raw speed to hang with Stewart.
