Unlucky Stewart’s season is over
Young Bears’ star Jordan Stewart has reluctantly called time on his season, so will no longer return to the Bears’ side this year. The 22-year-old Australian sustained multiple injuries as a result of a horror crash whilst racing for Redcar at Birmingham in June and has been out of action since.
Stewart had hoped to return to the saddle last week, in the Bears’ home clash with Newcastle. However, practice sessions at the Media Prima Arena and in Glasgow the previous week did not go to plan, highlighting the need for more recovery time. With the season now at the halfway mark, the young Aussie has admitted defeat and has decided to return home to Australia.
Stewart admitted, “It’s been a very hard decision to make, and I’ve had lots of sleepless nights thinking about my situation. I’ve tried everything that I possibly could to get myself fit – I’ve had regular physiotherapy to speed up my recovery, but it wasn’t to be. I’m still only 22 and have a long career ahead of me, so I need to think about the future and also what’s best for the team, rather than come back too early and risking further injury.”
Stewart continued, “I had 2 practice sessions last week, but my shoulder felt weak and painful when riding, as well as experiencing pain in my knee. I didn’t feel safe or confident on the bike, so I’ve decided I shouldn’t be racing yet as I don’t want to put myself or others at risk.”
The news will come as a disappointment to the club’s supporters, who have eagerly been awaiting the return of the talented youngster that has made huge strides since arriving on these shores in 2018. Co-promoter Jitendra Duffill commented, “I feel gutted for Jordan – we are all devastated by this. Both he and I worked so hard to get him here this year, as there were several complications surrounding his Visa, all resulting from Covid. He sacrificed so much to come over this year and had it all cruelly taken away after just a few meetings. It seems so unfair. However, that’s Speedway at times – fortunately he is young and still has a long career ahead of him.”
Duffill continued, “This has been a hard decision for Jordan to make, but I believe it’s the right one for him at this time. I’ve seen too many riders return from injury too soon and it never ends well. I know that Jordan feels he is letting people down, but that of course is nonsense. None of this was his fault and he has gone above and beyond to try and get back to racing. He’s a genuine lad and he is always thinking about others, which is a credit to both him and his family. Jordan will be back next year fully fit and stronger than ever – this is just a minor setback in the long term.”
The Bears’ promotion are now looking to sign a replacement for Stewart but insist that they will not rush. Duffill explained, “We are in a great position in the league right now, so it is essential that we get this right. We have a busy August coming up, which will be vital to our hopes of success this year. Riders are thin on the ground at the moment, but we are looking at all the options available to us and anyone coming in will have to improve our chances of making the play-offs.”
Stewart flies home to Mildura on Saturday, but has a message for Bear’s fans, “I just want to send a huge thanks to everybody who has supported me this year. The fans have been so generous with donations as always, which has helped massively. I hope to come back stronger next year and wish the team good luck for the rest of the season!”