Ivan Tedesco: Change is Good
Thursday, January 13, 2011 | 2:05 PM
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Some people may not realize that behind the winners, behind the riders that stand on the podium week-in and week-out, there are guys that put in a tremendous amount of work each week trying to become better racers.
When the gate dropped for the 450 main event this past Saturday, the number nine of Ivan Tedesco led the way. It was a great start to the season for a guy that’s as serious as they come, works hard and has experienced so much change in his life, that most would be hard pressed to push it all to the back of our mind and not just feel sorry for ourselves.
Tedesco surprised eveyone by grabbing the holeshot at A1.
Photo: Garth Milan / TMG
Smash cut to a few years ago, as a 250F national champion and a Lites SX champion, Tedesco got a ride with Factory Suzuki. He moved out to Tallahassee, Florida to work with then teammate Ricky Carmichael. He had some good finishes, but there were more injuries than great rides for the New Mexico native.
After that it was on to Honda factory team. At times, he was right there with everyone. Again injuries got the better of him and in 2009, he definitely was not gelling with the all-new CRF450R. By the end of that season, everyone knew that Ivan was most likely leaving the team due to budget cuts by Honda and nothing that Ivan did wrong. In fact, team manager Eric Kehoe told me that he wanted to keep Ivan, he liked Tedesco but he had two riders with existing contracts for 2010 (Davi Millsaps and Andrew Short) and they would get the two spots by default.
Tedesco is a solid rider, a good guy, a hard worker and a professional. It’s not always the easiest combo to find in today’s rock star supercross world. He may not win you a 450 title, but he’s essential to a team and doesn’t shame himself with less than 100 percent effort. He’s a rider who’s come from humble beginnings. He was never an amateur prodigy, he was never courted by the OEM’s. At his first national, he was in a van in the privateer pits.
Most forget that Tedesco is a two-time champion.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Through Tedesco’s rise through the ranks, he’s worked with some key people, like Ray Gubernick (Doc G) and MX legend Johnny O’Mara. Ivan has always subscribed to what Carmichael drilled into his head: If you surround yourself with good people, good things happen. Tedesco believed that and went about investing in his career with those two plus Frank Latham as his trusted mechanic.
So for 2010 Ivan waited for a ride to come to him.
And he waited.
And then waited some more. It was a stunning turn of events for a rider that had won titles, rode twice for America at the MXDN and had a great reputation off the track. Eventually he grabbed a spot on the new Valli Yamaha team, back to privateer life on the all-new 2010 YZ450F. It was actually a pretty good season for Ivan with a couple of podiums in supercross, until St Louis when the number nine went down hard. He would basically miss the rest of the season with lung and rib injuries from a nasty crash.
After this year, Ivan’s confidant and coach O’Mara got hired by James Stewart to be his exclusive trainer. Latham went to the KTM team to work for Andrew Short. Just like that, two people that Ivan relied on were gone. And with every rider’s pay getting cut, Doc G wasn’t able to get to every race anymore. Just like that, a wolfpack of four was down to one.
As well, Ivan decided to leave the Valli team to sign with the revamped Hart & Huntington team. You have to wonder if Ivan was motivated to get some familiar people back into his life, as the H&H signing reunited him with his old friend and first team manager Kenny Watson. He was also reunited with his wrench from the Suzuki days, Tony Berluti.
Tedesco is on the Dodge backed H&H team for 2011.
Photo: Simon Cudby
“There were definitely some positives, my speed was good at the beginning. We’ve got some work to do. I haven’t been up front for a while. I don’t think it’s a matter of fitness, I put the work in, but the mind gets in the way a bit. I have to lead races to get used to that. Everyone was happy with the deal except for me, it’s embarrassing for me and looks like I didn’t put the work in the off-season. We’ll keep working and get it better.”
Tedesco didn’t seem to indicate that he was satisfied at all with his ride. When I turned the topic to him and James Stewart getting together in the heat, he assured me that the incident was over and he had hashed it out with Stewart’s father. He didn’t want me to blow it up, but he did talk about his motivation behind the move.
“I got the holeshot in my heat, RV boxed me out and then that first lap James bumped me and I lost it. It was kind of a chicken shit move [on my part] but I was trying to send a message to him. I wanted to get respect from him. It was the first heat race of the year and I wanted to let him and anyone else know I wasn’t going to get bumped around. I respect the guy, he’s the fastest guy on the planet as people say but I’m no slouch either and I want some respect.”
Stewart bumped Tedesco, and Ivan retaliated by trying to take him down. I likened it to trying to kill a mosquito with a shotgun, which made Ivan laugh and sort of agree with me. The incident is over and we’ll move on to Phoenix.
Tedesco started strong at A1, but only managed a seventh place finish at the end of the day.
Photo: Simon Cudby
I watched Ivan ride a lot in the pre-season, and I wondered if I was indeed seeing more raw speed from him. I have seen him ride enough laps in my day to make an assumption, but I wondered if he lacked wild edge that others had. Watching him ride in the pre season, I thought I’d seen that edge but I wasn’t sure.
“I do think my speed has gotten better,” says Ivan. “That’s one thing I was lacking the last two or three years. This weekend-I hadn’t ridden a race like that in a while and the wheels fell off about halfway and I had to survive. I just need to get used to that speed for sure.”
He agreed with me that it’s a better class than ever before (“stacked” he says) but he’s ready to meet any challenges. He doesn’t know any other way but hard work and dedication. The one word I would use to describe Tedesco is professional. He’s professional in the way he goes about his racing career. He’s going to give you a solid effort, he’s going to work his ass off and speaking of ass, he’s also an asset to any team that is lucky enough to get him.
I wonder if the H&H team image (some of it perceived and some of it truth) is something that the semi-serious Ivan was worried about. He assured me it’s not. “No problems at all, it’s awesome. I love the team, we have great bikes and people on the team. It is different for sure, there are a lot of people hanging out in the truck. They draw a great crowd of people but when I needed to, I just went to the riders lounge to focus and do my deal.”
So next time you’re at the supercross race and some racer goes from leading to seventh, and you think he’s a slacker compared to the guys on the box, remember that there are guys like Ivan Tedesco fighting night in and night out. He’s working hard and trying to get better while also trying to represent his team and the sport on a professional level.
The sport would be much better off if we all cheered for guys like Ivan Tedesco.
No matter where they finish.
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Great write up! Nice reading articles about some things behind the scenes that the average fan cannot know from wathcing the races each weekend. Ive always been a fan of IT's since his YOT days.
Great job Ivan! All of these racers should approach it like Ivan. If that means hitting Stewart then so be it. This is racing, not qualifying, not follow the leader. If more of the racers were willing to race hard and not roll over for positions, the races would be so much more exciting.
Tedesco is an awesome dude. More people need to think like him, on the race track Stewart is just another competitor and he shouldn't be cut any more slack than the next guy when he's coming through the pack. More guys need to give Bubba a reality check like Ivan did on the weekend.
Nice write up, i think ivans got a few podiums up his sleeve this year. Go hot sauce!
Great article! Add that to the one with Mike Fisher and Mitch Payton, and I'm glad Matthes is back! Great stuff!
Great article Matthes. Here's to IT getting a holie and stayin in front the whole 20. Like the OG KDUB says, if you have the speed to lead a few laps, you got the speed to win the whole thing. I think he'll make progress every week and be there in a few.
A-1 reminded me of why I was and am an Ivan Tedesco fan. Definitely a scrapper and leaves nothing on the track when the moto is over.
I wonder If he will be rocking the new Hurley Moto Gear at the end of this year?
I think the fans do vote for people like Tedesco. Its the same reason why riders like Short, Windham, and Byrne are so popular. The fans would go nuts if one of these riders won a title.
Awesome begining for IT. That was def not a one race deal. The message attitude and willingness to scrap is pure moto, Why I didnt think he had that kinda speed or grit shows what I know. IMO this was easily your best effort Matthes. JimM CarlsbadCa
I agree with Tedesco, it was definitelly a chicken shit move on his part and stupid also, JS blocked passed him, and Tedesco came back and olmost knocked both of them down. Block passing is one thing and cracshing into one another is different. If both would have went down and not qualify, with Canard also on the last chance there is no way in hell Tedesco would have made the main event.
Tedesco is a great rider, and he needs to redeem himself by finishing the race up front and not crashing into other riders that at the moment are way faster than he is...
how childish, he bumped me so i had to retaliate and try to take him out. Lame rider...
your lame 12er, if your getting bumped you better bump back or you will take it all season long
I love what tedesco did all night long at anahiem. I am a stewart fan but also always have been a fan of Ivan. Riders like Stewart are so fast they sometimes bully slower riders but if racing was always about the fastest guy then give Stewart the title now. If guys like Ivan didnt fight so hard then Stewart would have run down dungey and villopoto that night. Its racing. So race. Keep fighting Ivan!
Nothing wrong with what IT did. He was clearly sending a message that he is not to be pushed around. I would have done the same. All these guys work hard to be here. I have to admit tho JS has changed a lot and he realizes he doesnt have to win. That + raw speed is scary.
Hey Ivan, next time pay Bubba back for this one! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uICX65Eq94Y 1 min 16 seconds in...
Ivan is a Bad Dude.Being a Huge and Understanding Motocross fan,It always bothered me that people wouldn't pay attention,or notice they guys off the Box. To the casual observer,If you weren't Bubba,RC,Reed,etc,noboby especially new fans..knew about you,Well I did. I dont know how many times,Ive had to explain to people, In a Supercross main or at a NATIONAL,every rider is pretty F-ing good,In Fact,they ARE,the best 20 or 40 riders in the World on that Sat.night or Sunday afternoon.JUST to qualify! The media could do better recognizing this..and big shout out to Hart&Huntington;.Carey's a Class act,Investing Back into a sport,that did so much for him..desipte the "bad economy" .. you know,the media fed Fear.So Go ahead IT9 !! Never quit!
ivan is a punk! he cant beat'em strait up so he wants to take them out with a dirty corner move. really is this being professional?
Bubba's fans are hilarious. James can ride like an idiot (fastest or not) and park people all he wants and it's just "get out of James way then because he's faster". The second someone puts a wheel in on James it's dirty, a takeout attempt, etc. And I'm not just referring to this weekend. There's no reason any rider on that track should shut off, move, or hold back for anyone.
Great Article as usual Steve. The thoughtfull and inciteful writing needs to continue and expand. Videos and pics and podcasts are all good, but the incite is what is needed more than ever int his sport. If you look at the MLB website, it never stops. No baseball is being played, but the inside moves, trades and deals are discussed and analysed to death. And the fans eat it up, which builds the popularity of the sport. That is what SX MX needs more of and Steve, weege, DC, Eric and the rest of the RX crew deliver.
I checked out that You Tube clip and I thought that jump was Broome Tioga! it looks exactly like the uphill jump from that close angle. I actually thought to myself "I was there", then saw the rest of it and realized it was hangtown where I've never been. I think I may have flashed back to a similar crash of the similat jump at broome that I think tortelli or someone else may have had back in the day. I miss Broome.
@JOEMALICH Really? there was no contact on that and 259 was a full bike length ahead at takeoff...Ivan needed to shut off or take the risk, he was pointing towards the bales so he jumped towards them...that was far from a takeout...try again
@Retardcross who did bubba park at A1(block passes and slamming are two different things, block passes occur when your front week is actually in front of someone, slamming is what Ivan did, mroe like a t-bone)? Ivan looked more like Stroupe during his 450 outing last year...like a bullet...he looked out of control, applause for trying to run the pace and being a fighter, but even he admitted he was just sending a message which means he wasn't concerned about line choice or the next straight away, it was just dirty...
To all you guys calling Ivan a punk,you would probably sh!t your pants if you were lined up next to him.I wonder if you would have the stones to say it to his face.Even a little girl can call someone names over the internet and get away with it,you must be proud of yourself.Go get 'em Ivan.
Hey halfe316, did you miss my sentence where I said I wasn't referring only to A1? My point is if anyone's on track antics are bullsh*t, its #7 and his bonehead moves. He's earned every hit he receives.
halfe316 He didn't hit him he just cut inside and ran him wide off the track over a jump. much more dangerous if you ask me! Who hasn't bubba taken out? He deserves everything he gets.