James Stewart was forced out at Oakland on Saturday – a race he won 12 months prior. Image: Simon Cudby.

Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing’s James Stewart claims that he will solider on as long as he can in the 2013 Monster Energy Supercross series, despite struggling with an ACL injury suffered at Anaheim I.

Stewart continued to show courage and unflagging determination when he was once again faced with simple, old-fashioned bad luck at round four in Oakland on Saturday night.

Despite sitting 11th in the series, Stewart maintains that he will continue racing in a bid to vie for victory in the mid-season.

“I felt fast all day and my knee was feeling better,” said Stewart of the injury he’s nursed since round one. “In the heat race I got a mid-pack start, but I worked my way into second.

“We made a couple of changes to the RM-Z450 in between the heat races and the main event and it just felt good – the track felt better and I felt better. I was actually really looking forward to racing tonight.”

In the 450 class main event however, Stewart fell victim to a turn-two crash. Overall, the pile-up claimed four riders and although Stewart attempted to get back into the fray, a stuck throttle forced the disappointed racer to call it a night.

“I got a bad start in the main but made some great passes in the first turn and whoop section,” said Stewart. “Then in that second corner, a rider got out of control and cut another guy off and they pile-drove me pretty good and I hurt my knee again.

“Eventually I got up and went to jump the triple and landed, and my throttle was stuck. It was one of those races. I have to give it up to the Yoshimura Suzuki team though and all the fans for their support.

“I’m disappointed but right now it’s all about just being here. The real reason I’m still here racing is because I love doing it. Whether I’m winning or finishing 16th every week, I’ll still be here because I love racing.”

Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing’s next event is the fifth round of the 2013 championships on Saturday, 2 February, at Angel Stadium in Anaheim.