James Stewart released from contract with JGR

Updated: May 6, 2012, 7:23 PM ET

On Sunday afternoon, May 6, less than 24 hours after the Monster Energy AMA Supercross finale in Las Vegas, Joe Gibbs Racing Motocross have "mutually agreed to release [James] Stewart from his contract for all racing and media relations responsibilities that were assumed by him at the beginning of the 2012 racing season," according to a brief 58-word press release issued by JGRMX.

Stewart, whose only public comments over the past six weeks have been made via Twitter, said on May 6, "Now that the SX series is done, I will have a busy next few days coming up. Can't wait! Talk to you guys soon! Change means that what was before wasn't perfect. People want things to be better."

The relationship, which was officially announced on October 25, 2011 yielded two Monster Energy Supercross victories and seventh overall in the 2012 championship.

Rumors of the split began to surface in mid-April. Stewart missed five of the last six supercross races due to a concussion and broken hand suffered in Indianapolis (March 17). The static between Stewart and JGRMX went public on April 21 when JGRMX Team Manager, Jeremy Albrecht interviewed with Cycle News, and told veteran journalist Kit Palmer in response to 'why isn't James Stewart happy', "I think it's confidence, he's thinking it's something with set-up or whatever. But we go testing, and he picks the set ups that we race with, it's not like we build it and say ride it. When all these rumors started, nothing seemed that bad."

Albrecht also said that Stewart had not told the team whether or not he wanted to compete in the 2012 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship. On April 27, Stewart released the following message via Twitter: "I look forward to seeing my fans at Hangtown behind the starting gate. More news to come soon."

On April 30, JGRMX team owner, Coy Gibbs released the following message to the media in response to Albrecht's Cycle News interview: "The opinions expressed regarding James Stewart during the Cycle News interview with Jeremy Albrecht on the 21st of April and subsequent article by Kit Palmer do not reflect my or Joe Gibbs Racing's thoughts with respect to James."

News from Stewart is expected soon. The 2012 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship begins May 19 in Sacramento, Calif.

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James Stewart released from contract with JGR

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