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PrintOh man, what a race! Two of the top names in the sport battled it out, man-e-mano, for 20 laps, all the way down to the last turn. Pretty much all you could ask for. This battle featured Ryan Dungey and Chad Reed, and at the finish, they were separated by just one second.
At one point, Dungey was in front. They closed in on Justin Brayton, and the battle raged even harder. Reed made a pass on both, then failed to triple, and Dungey and Brayton jumped into each other in mid-air as they tried to avoid him. Mass chaos, crazy action, and Reed snuck back out with the spot. Dungey then spent the rest of the race trying to run Reed down, and surely their teams were on pins and needles watching them fight over tenths of seconds.
On the last lap, Dungey was still digging and going after Reed. He closed up right onto his rear fender but could not find a spot to make a pass. Heading into the last turn, Reed looked over his shoulder, knew he had the line covered, and cruised across the finish with a hard earned position.
That position? Fourth. Trey Canard had snuck away from this battle earlier, and James Stewart and Ryan Villopoto had checked out a long time ago.
Reed outlasted Dungey at Phoenix.
Photo: Simon Cudby
We’re only two races into a series that runs from January through May, so it’s way early to start making sweeping judgments. But Villopoto and Stewart are the ones who grabbed the race wins so far, and they’ve generally been the two fastest riders. And Canard is just scratching the surface of his potential, and isn’t going to hand over podium spots soon.
The year started with talk of the Big Four of Dungey, Stewart, Villopoto and Reed, but now Canard is moving in. Brayton has the potential to mix it up, as he did after a good start in Phoenix, and Kevin Windham usually builds steam as the year goes on.
So where do Reed and Dungey stand? The Phoenix track was dry and slippery, and both riders are not known to take excess risks. They survived and stayed up and healthy with plenty of other races left. Remember, Reed and Stewart were basically out of the series by Phoenix last year, so just surviving this one is an accomplishment.
But right now, Stewart and Villopoto are feeling fast, and a few others are feeling like they can get right into the mix. Dungey and Reed will need to up the pace soon to show they’re still on par with those front two. Otherwise we could be looking at a big two—with another big four or five behind them.
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Too bad the Speed TV coverage didn't cover more - or any? - of the Reed-Dungey battle.
Enough of this nonsense, RacerX needs to get off the pot and address the traction control issue.
What about Stewart's traction control? That is the biggest story out of this race, and we haven't gotten an answer yet.
Enough with the traction control already,,, geeeezzz... If it were an issue, i'm pretty sure other teams would be saying something about it.
Bubba is a cheater!
Was that a GYTR wheel speed sensor for traction control on James' bike? Their slogan says "available for every yamaha rider". Where do you get these? We would like to know what the story is on the device. Any word racerx?
C'mon JW where did Dungey finish last weekend? Stewart got a bad start at A1 and only came back to third, Dungey didn't get the best start this weekend and came back to fifth, if RV or Trey get a bad start this weekend we can probably expect them to come back to 3rd,4th, or 5th. I think we'll need to get a little further into the season before we can start counting out any of the top 6 or 7 guys! This is shaping up to be an awesome season!
All you guys need to read yesterdays column " The Moment" by Weege. Then read Weege's response to the "traction control" issue in the comments section.
"Race officials located traction control device on James stewart,it was located hidden in his right wrist and cleverly disguised as an wrist muscle which in turn connects to the brain.As a result officials have asked the team to be more aggressive with the throttle and cut down on your winning margins."
That is NOT traction control, It is simply a data sensor people get your facts before you make yourself look stupid! James and L&M are not cheaters you guys are simply the vocal majority and anyone who actually knows even a little knows the truth about the whole deal. Weege does clear the air in "the moment" and you could also go to pulpmx and listen to Matthes' podcast with Reed where he addresses the issue! Also for you moronic wanna-bees try listening to Matthes tonight on the show i guarantee it will come up.
the Reed-Dungey battle was exciting, I was focused on it the whole race. this article didn't quite capture the whole thing. Dungey actually got around Reed and Brayton(on the same corner) then half a lap later came up on a downed rider and had to stop and 22 and 10 got back around, Dungey passed Brayton and chased Reed for the remainder, catching but coming up short.
lol I can't believe you guys think there was a traction control system on Stewart's bike. @yamahauler101 - well said haha. I heard that Stewart's team can actually remote control his bike. They have control over his steering, suspension and throttle. It's pretty nifty.
I know they are trying to protect riders here at the start of a hyped season, but they should have all been on KTM 150's. This 8 foot wide arenacross like track kinda bored me. On top of that all the 90 deg turns, slick surface, just took alot away from my enjoyment. I hope the tracks start opening up and offering more lines. Looked like a slot car track line choice...........one.
The holeshot is the Big Key this year more than ever and it has always been HUGE. separated by under a second a lap???Often just 10th's??? this is awesome. 5 in contention, 2 races and 2 different winners. The track designers will even play into this year! Who will win a mudder? who will win a technical (it is a relative term) track? And then there is Daytona??? Did I mention how awesome this series is unfolding?
No matter what is said, aquiring that data during practice starts or in heats could give another team an advantage. Even though it may not be directly connected to the bikes mechanics, adjustments could be made to the machine. which in essance is like a delayed form of traction control. I'll bet you one thing, one of the main reasons for measuring the data is to maximize traction! Moronic? DoubleJ is that how many you smoke before you go to bed? If they tell you the moon is cheese just keep believing!
I don't think you can call that a 20 lap "battle" between Dungey and Reed and I sense a little (deserved) sarcasm here by Weigandt ..They had a few close moments, but maybe I missed something as I was watching Stewart and RV battle for the lead?.....They had so - so starts and pretty much stayed in the same place the entire race....Reed was pulling on Dungey trying to catch K-Dub , who was gradually pulling away from both of them. Dungey caught Reed passed him and then the K-Dub & Ryan Clark collision screwed things up for both K-Dub and Dungey.....keep in mind Canard was gone in 3rd and RV2 and JS7 were about 15 seconds ahead of canard.....It is only race 2 and a lot can happen, ....but the defending champ should be "battling" for podium spots ...not 4th and 5th.....I am not counting anyone out yet, but its race #2 for all of them....and they are all going to get better...
what you didnt know the moon is cheese? I thought everyone knew that! Bottom line it is called technology those data sensors tell them exactly what the bike is doing at all times and ALL the factories have them because these riders are good but they arent mechanics so there are parts they cant explain. It is to help set them up they are not cheating but i know all you guys like to make up stories because you cant handle how good James really is! However I do believe RV will beat him strait up this season!
and BTW to address your other point, yes it does give the teams an advantage. But check this out those are FACTORY teams that is the single biggest advantage out there! Those riders have earned their way to that advantage they didnt get contracts for top 10s they are all winners to begin with, and even if they were all on box stock bikes the factory boys would still win!
Who would want to give up control of the trottle to a computer? What will you guys come up with next...fuel injection?
Grant Update: Josh Grant was laying down solid laps on his CRF450R in his heat race when he was struck hard by another rider and went down. Determined to continue, Grant rejoined the competition but had to pull out to seek medical attention for an injured leg. â
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I need to find a door to bang my head aganst over this traction control BS. Lets talk about the race and how RV and JS are at another level this season so far. Will RD get going soon or is that all he has?? How fast will TC be in a few more weeks??
Dont know what happened there......any event....Grant injured leg, had knee X-rayed at Asterick and things looked ok.....but he is getting evaluation by doctor in Californina.....Atleast its not a broken wrist like Doctor Carmichael had stated !!
I like Dungey, but from what I have witnessed so far.....as soon as he tries to turn it up and hit some fast laps to run with RV and JS...he hits the ground....he has crashed pretty good in both the A1 and PHX practice sessions....not just tip over or wheel washout's....over the bars crashes..... Canard will pick it up....he started with RD and Reed and pulled away from them....
Really? What kind? Hopefully sharp cheddar! That's funny DoubleJ! And trust me I know how fast James is. He could probably roll a bike off the showroom floor and still give em hell. This tech question is still a grey area to me though. I'm expecting RD to show up this weekend. These guys are so fast the starts are crucial, p.s. Whenever name calling happens on here makes me wonder if it was intended for me too. Anyhow have a good evening!
mrwhirlwind I think its more open than you say, RV and JS are a LOT faster they both ran mid 48"s most everyone else was high 49's and low 50's. That is a LOT. I don't think Reed got into the 49's he was 50's all day and he Beat RD so the boy's have some work to do if they plan to win some. RD's start was not that bad at all he went backwards the first lap and pretty much stayed there.
OK ride4ever, i mis judged, I can tell you are not a moron and do know what you are talking about, however i do as well. Think of it this way, it is undeniable that stewart and villopoto are riding at an absoulute mind boggling speed that is down right scary! Those data sensors tell the mechanics whats going on to the bike at those speeds and I believe is a great preventive into making sure a mechanical issue will not be the reason the rider gets hurt. For optimum handling so when they run that pace they know 110% the bike under them is set up for the right conditions! Just one point of view
And seriously how dumb of me to talk crap! Because, we know we can ALL agree on one thing! Sx/Mx is the absolute most incredible sport on earth that only a certain few can understand! We may not all agree on the technicalities but we all know we will certainly see a fantstic season both indoors and out! Also eventhough it isnt perfect atleast we get live races a big improvement from the past!
BillC, you're right RD's start was pretty decent. He's being a little too cautious on the first few laps. That isn't how he rode at A1 last year with james, when they battled to the end. I look for him to step it up soon. And Trey keeps improving. I would really like to see a battle from multiple guys all the way to Vegas.
DoubleJ, I couldn't agree with you more.
bubba and potto will be the only ones to win this year. canard will take 3rd in points but no wins and dungey are we really still talking about this guy?
BILLC, dont count Dungey out yet, didnt he beat Stewie at A1?? I think so. Stewie gets a start and pulls away because Dungey is caught in the pack and Stewie is "On another level" already?? Dungey didnt look real impressive to me last weekend either. But he has beaten Stewie once in two races, so lets give it a few more weeks before we knock hiom that far down..
IF bubba was cheating with illegal traction control, don't you guys think that would have been caught in post race tech?!?! do any of you even understand how this works? those bikes are gone over with a fine tooth comb after each race by the officials, and other teams can file protests. since none of that is happening, it is safe to say that they are using the sensor for aquisition only. funny, people doubted bubba, then want to tear him down when he CLEARLY won due to maturity and patients.
Good article. That battle was very interesting to me as well. It's the battle of the guys who won championships supposedly with astricks (one for Reed and four for Dungey as Reed put it). Reed fought back and proved he deserved it and now it's Dungey's turn. Not to mention Dungey is on Reeds old bike ect.
Dungey did get past Reed then got hung up on the Windham crash. and Reed holds on the rest of the way for 4th.... and that is how it goes when you aren't out front. I think it is close enough that a good setup on a given weekend will affect the results. Will Villopoto and Stewart back up? not likely but lets assume that Suzuki and Honda will pick it up..... I still think the Starts are the key. No Need to thank me for pointing out the Avatar requirement either, I was digging at you guys a bit by posting under your names but I thought my posts were tasteful including BillC, dgizzy and bd200, look back I owned up right underneath each one. I was initially victimized by some other tasteless chowderhead.
You Are One heluva nice guy!
Gee Thanks!
who are you calling Chowderhead
bd200 nice Avatar
Dungey had 9 laps to close that 2 second gap on Reed after that lapper and he couldnt! he's where he belonged last year if the real top guys didnt get hurt and so far thats being proven quite well. ktm sux
They inspect the winners bikes EVERY RACE TARDS!!!!!!!!!! Get over it..................
You morons and your stupid point of view thinking that was a traction control module. The bikes go through a pre race inspection and a post race inspection. If they thought it was an illegal part the AMA would of addressed it and penalized L & M and there would be huge news about it. You guys seriously need to pull your heads out of your rectums. Big deal he has a speed sensor on his bike. An F1 car has over 200 censors on the car and transfers over 24TB of data in one outing. Moto GP has the same thing. You people in the dark ages need to crawl out from your parents basements and get your facts straight. Lets enjoy this season of racing that is happening every weekend!
stewart does have traction control, the only reason to have wheel sensors is for traction &amp; launch control. here is the link if you want to know what he is running! http://www.getdata.it/prodotti.php?idprodotto=25&amp;idcategoria=32&amp;lang=eng
Glad to see JS7 back where he belongs! Villi looks awesome and it should be an interesting season. Just validates the fact that Dungey's #1 plate is by default. Ryan is a great rider but, he would have never snagged the #1 plate with Stewart, Villi and Reed in the mix.
Wow GP are you one of the head guys at L & M how do you know thats what he was running at Phoenix? You're a douche.
Well that is a part of the sport, a major part so i'd still say he earned that title! When Dungey comes out with a holeshot he's got a great chance of winning, you all know he rides his best out front!
i guess so! i stated facts. sorry if you dont like them. stewarts fast. but watch the tape in front of the mechanics area, tell me if stewart had traction control or not? RV still had a faster lap than him. I SAY TAKE ALL THE BS OFF & RACE. then we will see who is the fastest man is on the planet!
RV all the way!
I've read some great and not so great comments here. Let's seriously consider this. Any of the top 5-7 guys can win on any given weekend. Dungey, ok he won titles when others weren't in contention, but, he has 4 titles + 2 des nations in 2 yrs. You honestly think he's not a contender for some wins? Reed, he's a multi time champion who's beat the likes of both RC and JS7... Couldn't he be a contender for a couple wins? Villy. He rides like his ass is on fire and he's trying to get away from it. He's got some wins in him right? Stew. Boy oh boy, bar none, one of the best to ever throw a leg over a bike. He definitely has some more wins in him, discreet advantages or not? Ok, then there's Windham. He is always a spoiler. Got a win or two in him? Canard, he's waiting for a breakthrough win. Think he's got it in him? What I'm trying to say is that we have a truely epic (though I think that word has been grosely overused lately) season in front of us. This is the @$%*!!!!! Guys stop arguing in who your least favorite is and lets enjoy not knowing who is going to win the next race. Peace out!
A second and a fifth after 4 titles and two MXdN wins and the guy is done? Keep dreaming mxrider2011. Dungey has checked up in the second turn after A1 and Phoenix to stay out of trouble and road too conservatively early on. Starts are everything on poor tracks. JS and RV attested to that. Lets see where the big 5 stack up when Vegas comes around.
For those who have written RD off because RV and JS are beating him, go back one year and check who was beating who. A1 1.JS 2.RD and 5thRV Pheonix 1.RD 2.RV A11 1.RD 3.JS and 7thRV all riders were healthy at the time. RD first ride on the 450 Not even close to RV or JS first ride on the 450. After 3 rounds RD 90 pt and RV 79 pt Things changed last year and they can change agian this year.
Its pretty funny reading all this stupid comments about the rear wheel device, most of you, like it or not know that JS does NOT need any device to win races. So stop crying.
Why didn't Stroupe start in the main?
Dungey title by default, are you crazy mxrider2011? After 13 rounds last year one race before RV crashed RD 277pts RV 265. If RV hadn't crashed he MAY have beaten RD but we will never know. RD could have finished 2nd each race and still had beaten RV for the title. Of course that's a big if RV could have won each race.
when rv gets them outdoors you will see the fastest man on earth
The first one to not finish or does bad is done. It's going to be too hard to dig yourself out of the hole with all the competition this year. And you know someone will, who's first?
garjan111, unfortunately I think Kdub was the first already. Although, some think he never had a chance to begin with. But outside of that, who knows? You're right though, it will absolutely happen!
too lazy to read all these posts but does anyone else think jeff alessi took out grant on purpose for what grant did to mike outdoors? i can def see tony telling his son to go out and make sure grant doesnt race
Yes, definitely! What comes around goes around! Maybe Josh will think twice before he takes someone out next time. Not saying it was the right thing to do though!
...that it takes some effort to find out if he was using traction control. Depending on how the black box is programmed, pulling the data and analyzing the code to see what is being done with the feedback from the sensor takes some frigging time. And how hard will the AMA try? Will they just ask for the program files from Yamaha, or will they pull it off the box themselves? Do they hire third party software engineers to examine the code? I'm pretty sure the AMA doesn't have a software team on standby. Did Weege pull the code? Is he a software engineer? The fact that they tried to hide the sensor combined with James' response is fishy, regardless of how much some of you like him. I like him too, but I don't turn the cheek to cheating allegations, this is the reason why I'll never like the Patriots and their coach.
it was prolly hid from other manufactures. advatages are important. and the carbon cover over it was for protection of the sensor and to keep it out of the eyes of other teams. use ur head... if u where in there position. its still competition not only riders but teams and manufactures. its a wheel speed senson and speed reported live that the machanic turned the data logger on during the 30 second board. they wanna know if there suspension and tire and motor settings are working. EXCEPT THE FACT JS IS THE FASTEST MAN ALIVE>>>STILL. QUIT HATTING!
James blew the question off for one reason is helping them find the next level in dialing in a bike. you think he is going blab out all the detail on live tv for every team and manufacture to hear and follow. seriously think about he. they found a good thing possibly and there keeping it to themselves.
He didn't blow it off, he both acknowledged it and denied it. He denied it by saying it was a piece of dirt and acknowledged it by saying that it didn't work well (since he fell in the heat).
Hey theone, go to school & learn how to spell you boner. The fact remains that Stewart came back to race & EVERYBODY jumped on his d**k like white on rice! He looked guilty as hell, obviously hiding something. What that truly is we will probably never know.
what? is correct, that makes Stewart a liar too. From where I was sitting it didn't look very professional & I'm not the only one that seen that either.
dyingbreed71 please us proper english. I don't know where you went to school or if you even did. However "Seen" is not a word, I laugh everytime Carmichael says "seen" makes the guy sound as ignorant as he looks.
BD200, Come on now!!! RD's lap times are WAY off what RV and JS are running, JS came from well outside the top 10 up to 3rd at A1, RD went from 3rd or 4th to 7th then up to 5th at round 2 and was 1.5sec of the pace so please don't try and tell me he is at the same level as JS and RV right now, RV fell and still beat RD by 15 sec or more I think. Not saying RD is done but he better pick it up soon or it will be.
You guys don't know anything. When the rear wheel starts spinning too much the power will automatically be transferred to the front wheel. Seriously, there is no doubt they were trying to hide it and there is no doubt it is being used for traction control. They aren't doing this just to see how many revolutions his rear wheel makes during a race. It is most definitely the beginning of or already is some sort of traction control system.
BillC, you don't have to like Dungey which it is apparently clear that you don't. His lap times at A1 were almost identical to RV's though. Remember how much faster James was than RV at A1 in lap time? Who was fastest in laptime in Phoenix? All riders have tracks they are good at and those not so good. Phoenix was extremely slick, so it is tough to guage how lap times there will translate to lap times on a sticky track. I don't know if James does or doesn't use traction control, or if others aren't either. But for people to act like that is the most ridiculous thing ever? Some are acting like there is no such thing as traction control. It definitely exists and has been an issue in many forms of motorsports for some time now.
My favorite part of the race coverage is when they spend a ridiculous amount of time showing a downed rider trying to re-start his bike. Or when Roczen crashed in his qualifier, I think we missed two laps of racing because they're focused on him. Come on, guys, there's racing going on out there! Especially when the crash is on the first lap, and there's an insane battle going on at the front of the pack.
I think JS7 is using a TC device and it is simple to do. the wheel sensor retards the timing when it senses abrupt wheel spin. My Honda Pilot has it.
The traction control warning light was blinking in my daughters Saturn Vue. The problem--a faulty wheel speed sensor.
How about the blank stare, scrambling for words Stewart had when Barbie asked him about it on the podium. Piece of dirt--good one. This will eventually be on production bikes.
B-KR I like Dung, Whats not to like?? Don't take my coment that way at all. I just find it funny that all the RD Fans are not on here saying anything now when last year they were going nuts. So its just to get them going a bit thats half the fun. Either way you have to admit he looks a little off.... NO??
Oh, I don't know. Just always seems you have a critique of Dungey, even last year when he was winning everything in MX. I just see starts being huge, especially when so many fast guys exist. Watch what happens if he gets a holeshot, or of Canard gets the start. Something else everyone was saying is that Stewart would be gone if he holeshot after A1. He got the holeshot, but RV caught him, crashed, and still was only 6 seconds or so back. About the same gap when RV had the lead at A1. Things ar so tight this year that week to week we are going to see big changes in results. Like a Dungey 2nd, then a Dungey 5th. RD was 1 second behind 4th and 3 seconds behind 3rd. With the issue of getting into the lapper, he was 4th at that time and who knows if he couldn't have caught Canard. The thing is there are a ton of fast guys and only so many spots at the top. A 5th is not terrible when title is the concern. Now if he was in 7th 37 seconds behind, that would be an issue.
Like him or not, there is no denying Dungey is good for the sport. He is cross-marketing the sport by articles in USA Today, Sports Illustrated, etc. If you go to the live races in person, it is amazing the number of young kids with Dungey shirts. If the youth don't stay involved, the sport dies. Look at Windham. The guy has never won a title on a 450 and yet remains one of the most popular and well paid guys. Marketing is important.
B-KR, JS went from outside the top 10 to get 3rd, RD went from 3rd or 4th to 7th then finished 5th. That is a BIG dif, JS passed all the guys and made up time on RV and RD at A1 on his way to 3rd, RD just rode with them. There is Know way RV or JS would have finished 5th if they started how RD did IMO. Also I don't just have a critique of Dungey, Remember I critique them all. I got slammed for saying K-Dub wont win and lots of stuff about other ridders as well, Milsaps, IT, Short so YOU are way off base saiyng I am picking on RD. I pick on anyone who I think is not doing as well as they should. You where one who said RD is the new man well all I am saiyng is he sure has not showed it yet.
PS. If and when RD beats them I will give him props unless they all fall and he wins.
Hoping to avoid the name-calling that seems to follow correcting someone here, I will point out that several people have claimed the Tech Inspection before or after a race would detect it. Well, there is a specific history in motor-racing that demonstrates this to be absolutely untrue. Sensors, TC, and ECU logic have been hot issues in pavement racing (2 and 4 wheel) for about 2 decades now. It is impossible to police as the critical component, ECU logic, is invisible. Even under examination.... some years ago a F1 team hid it in a diagnostic routine accessible only by a bizarre combination of steeringwheel button pushes that would do an X-Box cheat code proud. F1's solution? Generic, mostly hard-coded ECU's that everyone has to use. My point is this: F1 has a zillion times the financial and technical resources than AMA tech, and they could not "find" TC even though everyone knew it was common. I have no idea if Bubba's bike had TC, but the long and established history of the subject demonstrates that an AMA inspection is nearly irrelevant. Outlawing wheel sensors just may do it, though. On pavement there are work-arounds of or supplementation to wheel sensors in the form of GPS (MotoGP and WSB) and/or solidstate inertia sensors (airbags have made these cheap, refined, and the size of a pea). The nature of MX/SX would seem to make these poor substitutes for a wheel-speed sensor. Outlawing wheelspeed sensors would go a long way to discourage TC outside of calculating wheelspin via rate of rev-climb given that you are in X gear. But at least that has a good chance of making it to production and can also serve as launch control.
The ZX-10 streetbike has a rear wheel sensor that is used to prevent damage to the motor when the rear wheel spins violently. It will retard the timing to prevent any detonation in the motor. Its NOT traction controll... or at least thats what Kawi says... Maybe Yamaha is using the same defence?
ElsigoreRacer makes a good point on this issue. The issue is really unfair competition. It is patently unfair that the top teams can afford high tech items that put privateers and other teams at a disadvantage before the gate drops. The AMA should make everyone race a consumer bike, with very limited upgrades like pipes. We might get a chance to see just how talented some guys are when racing equal powered machines.
ElsinoreRacer, sorry, we are not always perfect typists.
You are a tough critic BillC you are comparing results from 2 different tracks. Stewart got to 3rd at A1 but didn't have a momentum stop like the Windham crash and it wasn't on ice like phoenix. Now James is fast and Villipotto is leading the series 2 races in. Dungey sits tied for 3rd with another fast kid Canard then we have the top Privateer Reed who did show some brilliance at the first 2 races.Crashes count as penalties for going too fast at the wrong place at the wrong time. In the top 5 we have 4 different manufacturers that are adding technology every week for an advantage. They do this because it is sooooo close. The Holeshot is the big equalizer right now. Can a wheel sensor and programable EFI make a better start? I'm guessing it all adds up. For the first time I am doubting the 350 's ability to compete fairly. I cant help but wonder what Pourcell would look like on it with his fluid cornering speed.
mrwhirlwind u say "JS didn't have a momentum stop like the Windham crash" I say RV had a momentum stop and still gapped 3rd by a LOT. ???
PS. Last year when anyone tried to make an excuse for someone who got beat by RD we would hear thats racing, You need to pick better lines like RD. But when someone falls in front of RD you blaim that for his poor showing?? hogwash. LOL
No excuses results speak for themselves, I am saying I want to see the next race for the next result because it appears to be up in the air (amongst 5 riders) and not a runaway series.... after 2 races. Crashing is the dark underside of this sport but it affects the results. RV is on fire for sure...he is leading the series too. The days of a first turn disaster and blitzing the field for the win are over. I am not saying that the holeshot wins the race but it sure don't hurt.
SMR27---I only wish...! An "F1" class that allowed all sorts of one-off stuff would enable R&D, while having a "stock" class that is forced to run bone-stock stuff except for firmer springs and valving, different sprockets, "off-the-shelf" rubber, and "creature comfort" stuff...THEN we would see who is "ready to race"---or not. I know when MXA ran that article on factory bikes vs stock last year, it was downright embarassing for everyone, but esp. the jap stuff...the freakin' Suzuki was basically stock in nothing but its fenders and kill switch. Even I was embarassed. Tho once the promoters figure out the unwashed masses' desire to see multiple, 3-lap "grudge-matches", the factories won't even be needed anymore. It won't matter how fast the riders are, or how old the bikes are, just as long as there is lots and lots of contact. And the flaggers will be chicks in bikinis. LoL
doublej,just because we all don't know everything like you,doesn't mean we're moronic,or stupid,it just means you're one of those know-it-all A-holes.pi$$ off jerk !
Nickledude,you hit the nail on the head !
BiilC, if they fall and Dungey wins then he still wins. If they fall, maybe they were riding over their heads?? I dont think he is THAT far off. He was at Pheonix, but maybe that track didnt fit his style, who knows?? But he isnt done by no means.. Is he as fast as Stewie and RV2, no way, but he may get there. Look at what RV id last year after the first 3 or 4 races>>
RV was out of shape at the first rounds last year, I don't see RD being out of shape so something is up I think. Either thats all he's got or he is not 100% from a crash we don't know about maybe? Even at round 1 he got 2nd but IMO only because of the good start. I just hope for his sake he get into it soon of the pressure will build and people will really get on him as a weak champ.
Again, this could have all been easily avoided had Stewart not looked like a deer in headlights when asked about traction control. All he has to say is "That is definitely not traction control," and everything would have died down. Instead, he bumbled his way through that like he's trying to hide something. I don't believe it was any form of traction control but the JGR guys sure seemed to believe.
you heard james say himself the traction control was a joke,im sick of every post sayin somethin bad about dungey and RV is "the man"..billc..your a tard,rv isnt a god and dungeys not either,get your head out of your butt and enjoy motocross,its not a democracy you nut..its talent,a little luck,and alot of support...stick up for rv and shoot down the top riders in the world cus your an idiot,but its gettin you nowhere..you just sound stupid,kdub=fan favorite,dungey=kid with heart still learnin.stewart=superfast gettin smart.canard=hes a toddler learnin still(that goons like no other) get out of the posts if your not gonna drop rv for one comment!