Malcom Looks Ahead

Conversation: Malcolm Stewart

Post: Dylan Wills

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider looks ahead to 2026 season.

It was a breakout Monster Energy Supercross season for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Malcolm Stewart this past year, highlighted by a first-career 450SX victory in Tampa and a P4 finish in the standings. Now, fresh from winning the Paris Supercross, the question turns to what’s next in 2026? In this Conversation feature from SMX Media Days, the 33-year-old Stewart looks ahead to the new year.

Image: Octopi Media.

Looking back at last season, what can you take from the momentum gained and apply it once Supercross starts in 2026?

I mean, for myself, I feel that it was a career year for me. I felt really good all year long. Of course, we almost made it to all 31 rounds, but came up a little short. Overall, getting my first win in Tampa, then fast-forward months later and being the King of Paris was awesome as well. So, just kind of building off that momentum going into 2026, I’m just very excited and happy.

How different are things for you heading into A1? Has there been many changes over the course of the pre-season?

Actually, no, not really. I had that injury going into SMX that stopped me for a little bit, and then I just started to get back on the bike and did a lot of recovery. So, to me, I think I did more off the bike to try and recover and just freshen myself up. You don’t realise how beat up you are until you have to take some time off, so it’s just good to take that time off and recover.

Prior to Paris, you kind of downplayed what you thought you could do that weekend, and then obviously you won. Did you surprise yourself with that? Did you not expect to be in that spot already at this point?

No, I didn’t. I didn’t expect it, just because I didn’t know, right? Like, you know, it’s one thing when you’re… when I first got back on the bike after that injury, I tried to ride, and then had a few days off. It’s just the kind of lingering injury that I couldn’t get over. I remember what I said – it was like the sixth time – because there were times where I actually kept trying to ride, and then we had to stop mid-day. We were just like, ‘Okay, I can’t ride anymore.’ So it was just one of those injuries that just kept going. So the mindset going in there was, ‘Let’s just see where we are, and the closer I am with those guys, the better off I’m going to be.’ I mean, of course, I just felt really good that weekend and everything lined up the way it was. But I definitely surprised myself. I just didn’t know how I was going to be, right? Because, you know, one day – you know how it is – how you feel in practice is a lot different than how you feel on race day. I was really more nervous about how great Saturday went and how I was going to feel Sunday, because that was the first time I raced since SMX. So going into Sunday, I just didn’t know how I was going to feel.

Have you learned anything from your Tampa win and then Paris, in terms of how to carry that into each week to be able to hit every Saturday?

I mean, it’s easier said than done – it feels good when you’re on the top step, but to repeat that is a mystery itself. But to go out there, when that time is on your side and you feel good, you have to take those moments. Of course, I’ve learned a lot. I haven’t really changed my motorcycle either, so I think that’s a really good thing. So we’re just going to build off the momentum that we have going into A1 and 2026. The off-season has been going really well for me, so we’ll see how we do.

Image: Octopi Media.

Working with some of the European technicians from WP Suspension in Paris, did you learn anything new just from having a fresh perspective?

Actually, more just… I look forward to seeing the same WP guy. He helped me out last year. Just having a conversation with him – I don’t know – I feel like myself. Going to Paris, it was very exciting. It’s different, you know, seeing the fans and stuff. So it’s just a vibe, right? I mean, it’s like a full-on concert over there in that stadium. So anything adjustment-wise or technology-wise that they’ve done on the bike – I wouldn’t know. I just felt good.

The headline with you for so long has been, ‘Will he get his first 450SX win?’ Now that you’ve accomplished that, where do your goals sit for 2026?

Win more races – that’s it. Now that I know what it feels like to win one, of course I want to repeat that and continue to keep going. So just win more races and see where we end up.

With one win to your name now, does that add pressure, or does it take it away? Because you could feel pressure to win more.

Nah, I feel like it took away pressure, if anything. Just to have my name on that winners list is a big accomplishment. I feel like a lot of guys come in here wanting to do it, but to actually do it is what separates us. So being on that list is a big deal, and whatever happens from here, who knows. But going into 2026, the goal is to win more races.

You mentioned the night in Tampa, and obviously, it was historic for your family. Do you think about that now, 10 months removed, in terms of cherishing the moment and being in the moment with having James in the booth?

Yeah, it comes and goes pretty quick. The first words my brother said to me were just to enjoy it. At the time, I was like, ‘Yeah, we are enjoying it.’ But you don’t really realise that until it’s gone, right? It’s like, okay, Monday – you win your race, you win your first race, everything that you’ve been searching for your entire career – and then it’s like, okay, Monday we’re back to work. You know, it’s like, okay. But what he meant by enjoy it was, for me, to take every moment and really enjoy that win, because that was a big night. So, again, I try to do everything I can to relive it – whether I have flashbacks or somebody posts something on social media or whatever. But yeah, I mean, for myself, you just try to keep moving forward and hopefully win another race or whatever the case may be. Just try to continue making more of those memories.

I feel like you’re always smiling at the races, even when things aren’t great. Do you feel like that kind of re-energized your year?

I think a big one for me was when I blew my knee out in 2023 and missed an entire season, it made me realize how much I really love racing motorcycles.

For a while, with your career, we didn’t really know where it was going. Now, to have a career season this late in your career, how does that reinvigorate your mindset and excitement to go riding?

You know what’s funny – or maybe it’s because I’m getting older – but I feel like the win was just an additive to my success in my career. I’ve been doing this for… I’m going into my 16th season racing professionally. Not very many guys have that long of a run because of injuries or whatever the case may be. So I just take a step back, and whenever I do retire – which is not any time soon – I’m going to be like, ‘Dude, that was one heck of a run.’ So I look at that as a win. Being able to continue to race professionally at this age and still be competitive is awesome. That’s a big deal. And again, that’s just about being older and appreciating things differently. I’m happy with myself in that regard.

How can you take another step in 2026 Supercross? Where is your weakness at the moment compared to your competitors?

Well, you guys know I haven’t been the best starter in my career, so hopefully we can knock that out, which we’re focusing on. We got a holeshot in Paris, so we’ve made some gains. But, you know, like I said, we’re just going to try to build off momentum.