by Davey Coombs
10 Things to Watch For at Houston
Friday, February 11, 2011 | 3:40 PM
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PrintThis weekend the 2011 Monster Energy AMA Supercross tour heads east into Texas for the sixth round of AMA Supercross and the opening round of the East Region Lites class. The 450 race will air on CBS on Sunday at 12:00 (ET), with the Lites airing on SPEED TV at 4:00 (ET), and you can count on the Racer X Online team to lead the way in live updates, Twitter reports, and videos. Here are 10 things to watch for in Houston.
1. Ryan's Rebound: When #1 Ryan Dungey's race came to a halt after his chain came off, it marked an unlikely end to his first month as reigning series champion. He also lost an entire race to Stewart and Villopoto. How he bounces back this week could go a long way to determining how this whole thing turns out. He also has the reinvigorated Chad Reed to worry about!
2. Practice Doesn't Make Perfect. Anyone else notice how little James Stewart actually practices on race day, only to go out and be the fastest man on the track as soon as the gate drops? It's a testament to his skill and natural ability, as well as a way to psyche out his competition somewhat. You can look for him to be fast in practice but not out there very often. That goes against most racing theory.
3. Mookie’s Debut! No doubt one of the riders closely watched this weekend no matter where he finishes is Malcolm Stewart of the ARMA/Suzuki City team. James’ younger brother has been in a big shadow for much of his career, and after a series of injuries as an amateur, he’s finally making his pro debut. The buzz is that he's been pretty good during the week, and many people will be looking at the #139 Lites rider to see if he’s got any of the things that makes James so good.
Has Barcia calmed down? We'll see come Houston.
Photo: Simon Cudby
4. Barcia Barcia Barcia! It's going to be interesting to see if GEICO Honda's Justin Barcia has calmed down a bit and can focus on just riding. Last year, the #17 came out blazing and left many other riders (and himself sometimes) on the ground. It got so bad that Honda manager Erik Kehoe had a little talk with "Bam-Bam" to assure him that he's more than fast enough to win without the aggressiveness that got him in trouble. It's a fine line for the wild child to straddle, and in his third year, let's see if he's gotten smarter—because we know he's probably gotten faster as well.
5. Lites Sleepers. There are a handful of riders who, although they’re not on a major factory-support team in 2011, have a legit shot to win Saturday night. They include Darryn Durham, Alex Martin, Nico Izzi, Les Smith, and Matt Lemoine. And don’t forget, this will be the pro debut of Brandon “B-Mayzee” Mays.
6. Wilson! Dean Wilson should have won three rounds of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship as a rookie last summer, but he gave one win away—the one in Texas—when he mistook his competition for lappers as he cruised around on the last lap. Now he gets a shot at winning his first SX main in the same state. If he's leading this time, here's betting he doesn't slow down until it's time to ride up on the podium.
7. Watch for Justin Brayton. Seriously. This guy has been nipping at the podium, winning heat races and putting together a solid year. Sadly, nobody has really noticed. If the “Big Four” slip just for a second, Justin “Realtree” Brayton is going to be there to steal his first podium.
Can Canard get a start in Houston?
Photo: Simon Cudby
8. Different Dirt. Houston marks the first race outside the states of California and Arizona, and with that change comes a change in the texture of the dirt. It's nothing radically different, but it should have a bit more traction by the time the main event comes around, and it might even rut up a bit. Look to see who does better this weekend (Davi Millsaps?) and you'll have an idea if anyone will turn it up once the series really heads east.
9. Canard's Start. The Okie from Phanokie hasn't been at the front for the last few races due to some horrible starts, and Trey Canard isn't good enough at coming through the pack to give away valuable seconds at the start. The #41 Honda rider has the speed to be right there, but he desperately needs to get the start this weekend before he starts to lose touch with the front-runners. (Bonus: Watch him closely in opening ceremonies—he may do a triple first-pump, or even a heel-clicker!)
10. The Roc. This has been hammered into the ground all week from pundits across the industry, but really, who isn’t ready to see what this German kid has to offer in the Supercross class? Ken Roczen has decided to race a 350 for the first time. And watch out to see if he tops teammates Andrew Short and Mike Alessi—can you say media firestorm?
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I think that Barcia vs. Wilson is going to be the most interesting thing to watch this weekend, and since I'm Canadian, my money is on Wilson.
Great to see the east as well as the west supercross series will have great races in 2011. My next 'live' show will be in Atlanta!
# 1 - Will Dungey step it up or just prove to all that "Luck", just like his chain coming off last week, contributed greatly to his successes last year and he is not the same caliber as Stewart and Villomoto? ....I dont see it happening....Round 6.... I dont think I have seen a defending series champions take this long to win a race...
but i hope to be proven wrong and see some good racing......The time is now for RD to prove the doubters.....
You're on... I'll take that bet!
Still pulling for VILLOMOTO... (much better than RV Park )
Best of luck to Blake "Purple Rain" Wharton.
Is "Mookie" gonna be like dookie or is he gonna be like Stewie?
There is only one ROCK in this sport, so please come up with something different for Ken.
Purple Rain..... hilarious!!!
WTF >>>> Trey Canard isn't good enough at coming through the pack to give away valuable seconds at the start<<<<< He does a better job the the Champ IMO.
Bill C --- True Statment man, well said.
bam, bam, .......bam, bam , bam.
can't wait to see #17 get greasy.
can't wait!
Dont count out the Aldon Baker trained PC mounted Blake Bagget Sipes should be a top 5-6 guy.! PJ Larsen, Swanepool , Trettle and Nicolette, should be top 10 guys .
JimM
CaarlsbadCa
dont forget about Jason Anderson, hes pretty quick
I'd like to Barcia slam 100 so hard it knock the grease off his hair.
JimM
CarlsbadCa
Wow how can they talk about possible lites winners and not even a mention of Baggett or B Wharton. Dropped the ball on that 1. I'd love to see Honda take the top 2 with Barcia & Wharton.
How can you forget about Ian Trettel! Hes gonna make a showing no doubt. Go get em IT 77!
"Look to see who does better this weekend (Davi Millsaps?) "
Could he do any worse? Really hoping Davi can uncork it and rise to his potential
Chain or no chain, Dungy wouldn't have won anything. Trey is great at coming through the pack. If he started as good as Ivan, he may have won a race by now.
I think its pretty funny how everyone talks about fastest practice times, as if practice times meant anything...Davey puts practice as the second thing to watch this weekend.....Who cares about practice
damm man trey canard isnt good enough at coming trough the pack? And they dont talk about bagget. i think racer X has to put more hard work in his theories and words, just give one holeshot to trey and i think he is gonna prove what he is like a rider. one of the only riders what usually enjoy to ride his bike.
I got a feeling Dungey is going to show up in a big way this weekend! K-Dub should do well too!
I am thinking what they really mean is it is possible to blast through for a rider like TC the 12th thru 20th rider. Then he
can pick his way thru several more with a bit more time. However, to race with the top 5, you have to leave with the top 5. That is of course unless you are James Bubba Stewart .........Fastest Man on The Planet! Bar none! I still hope CR kicks his hiney, but I don't see it happening!
This week Bubba will win, Ryan V. in second with Reed or Dungey third. Look for Trey to podium at some point, but this (barring any injuries) is how it's gonna go this year. All five riders are the class of the Supercross field with Bubba the top dog. Ryan V. is the only rider that can hang with him, but not for the whole main.
the rv2 show is about to start.......cant wait till outdoors
Don't count out Blake Baggett, He is back at ProCircut and will be a top contender for sure. There a lot of talent, should be a good race for the championship
watch out for johnny moore 140 in the lites HE IS COMING
how about "Ken Zen"
or "Malcolm in the Middle of the podium"
or "Malcolm Racer X"
or whatever happened to "Villopodium"?
This "fastest man " crap kills me. Has anybody not payed any attention to lap times?? RV2 has had the fastest lap at every race but two. Doesnt that make him the fastest man?? Its how eceryone always said Stewie was. Dont really care what Malcoln does.. Unles he podiums it means nothing, just another rider. Intresting to see what Sip[es and Bagget does, And Roczen in the big boy class. He has had problems keeping off the ground on a 250, hope he doesnt get hurt with the 450 out there. He better put on his big boy pants when he goes out.
Malcolm X (moto)
VILLOMOTO is stickin!!
WOW BD when I say someone did not do well you go crazy on me but then you come out and say anything less than a podium MEANS NOTHING!!! LMFAO!!! Hopw many Pro podiums u got?? Man you are all over the place like always. You may not like what I say but at least I am consistant.
coombs you should maybe watch a race yourself before your write this stuff.
i wana see RD go for the win! why not?
Knocking the grease off of hanny's hair............hillarious! JimboMX374, you sir have a gift. How that kid can be considered a chick magnet is beyond me, he looks more like a junkie with kooties. On paper the 250W looks deeper talent-wise but, Barcia & Wilson just might be the fastest of all the 250's. Barcia vs Wilson could be as good as the old "Beast from the East" vs "Chicken" duels.
Someone who may surprise you on his turf is Kyle Regal.
Wait and see.
as long as stewart and villopoto stay healthy, supercross or outdoors, dungy will never win another championship.dungy was able to shine last year with the main contenders sidelined and thats it. he will eventually have a meltdown.
good luck mayzee! we suportin ya from alden!
I hope kyle regal gets to keep that yammie for the outdoors. thats where his talent is.
Watch out for the #714 in the lites shawn rife!!! he rides alot like the aggressive bam bam.