Racer X Open Mic: Jacksonville
Monday, March 21, 2011 | 8:35 AM
KICKER provides the sound from the Open Mic – since 1973 our concert-like acoustics and gritty design in mobile stereo put us on the map. KICKER Subwoofers and Amplifiers for vehicles and boats are sought worldwide, and now critically acclaimed MP3 Docks, Earbuds and Headphones are shaking up what remains.
Tweet
Advertisement | Advertise with Us
Share
Comment
Email
PrintRyan Dungey: Rockstar Makita Suzuki—Third in SX Class
Race was good. I felt really good. Overall I think the day was not too bad. Felt really comfortable on the bike, the team found a great setting. It got the heat race win which was good for gate pick. Didn’t get the best of start in the main, kind of got shuffled back a bit, maybe fourth or fifth. Those guys put some time on me, I tried to make it up as quick and as fast as I can, but I came up shy on that. I made a big mistake, that didn’t help. You would hit the knuckle, and then all of a sudden you would hit this gooey dirt, and it would catch you. It almost happened to me a couple of times, and that time it got me. Luckily I didn’t go down and we were able to finish strong. Just need to put our head down, dig deep and start winning some of these races.
If you actually got a holeshot in one of these races…
Then you gotta’ go!
Would you do a fist pump over the first triple? How happy would you be?
Yeah, in my mind I would. We need to get a start, and don’t settle after that.
Same story, new week: Dungey is still in search of a holeshot and a win.
Garth Milan Photo
Mike Alessi: Red Bull KTM—Seventh in SX Class
The magic is back! Two holeshots!
Well, I don’t know if the magic is back, but it sure was nice to get holeshots. I’ve been struggling, all season. It’s tough, everyone is fast this year, and no one is a slouch, so for me to be able to run with these guys, be up front a little bit and get a seventh, my best finish of the year, I’m really happy.
Anything change in your program for you to get those starts?
We haven’t changed anything on the bike at all, no engine changes or anything like that. I’ve been riding a 450 all week. I think the 450, that technique, I got my throttle position down. I’m just happy to do this, get good starts, run with the top guys, get my best finish. Happy for the team, my mechanic Kelly Lumigar, Roger DeCoster, everyone.
Is this your longest holeshot drought ever?
By far. By far. It’s almost a year—Hangtown was my last one, and that was May. I wasn’t happy. So getting one here was good, especially in front of my home town fans. I live 25 miles from here.
Now that it has been awhile since you grabbed a holeshot, was it strange running up front again? Did you tighten up?
In the heat race I got extremely bad arm pump. When you’re not out front for awhile, it’s so different, because you get used to banging bars with guys, getting stuffed. Up front, everything is clean and clear, you can pick your own lines. In the heat I got the holeshot and tightened up. In the main I got the holeshot, tightened up again, went backwards, then loosed up and put in a good charge to finish it out. So I need a few more of these to get used to being up front again. Then I’ll be ready for outdoors—first the GP at Glen Helen, then Hangtown.
You’re riding a 450 now?
Just practicing on one, bone stock, just riding the piss out of it. I love the 450, but we won’t start testing until after Dallas. I don’t know if I’m going to race the 350 or the 450 outdoors, it’s my choice, I get to pick whichever one I’m faster on and whichever one gives me the best chance to win. Pick A or B.
Mitch Payton: Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki: Dean Wilson (second in Lites) and Blake Baggett (DNQ Lites)
It was a good and bad night for us. Dean (Wilson) rode great and got good starts. Blake (Baggett) had bad starts. He didn’t make the main event and that was bad. I think he struggled with the track, wasn’t that good in the whoops and he blew it. In the turn before the whoops, Barcia came in and he hit him and I don’t think we should have done that right there, there was no points given out in the heat races and we should have just taken the transfer spot into the main and gone from there.
Wilson was much better, what did you change if anything for this week?
Dean was a lot better today, he was impressive right from the start and he rode the track really good. We worked on starts with him this week, I went to the Kawi track and we got together and figured it out.
What about the track?
I thought the track was alright. I don’t think a lot of riders liked the whoops but I did. They were really long and it took work to go through them fast. I know they are hard but we should have more of them because it’s better than trying to jump past a guy. That causes problems for riders and the whoops are a low speed alternative.
Kevin Windham: GEICO Powersports Honda—Fourth in SX Class
I would like to thank everyone for not making it into the main, or for crashing. (Laughs). Nah, it was one of those rides to build on. I’ve had some tough falls this year and at my age, at any age, it makes you think about what was going on out there. I moved through the pack, I hooked bars with (James) Stewart and (Ryan) Dungey going into the first turn. I’m happy with the night, it’s something to build on. The whoops kept us on our toes all night, that’s for sure.
Andrew Short is sticking with his 350.
Garth Milan photo
Andrew Short: Red Bul KTM—Fifth Place, SX Class
We were struggling at the beginning of the day. I didn’t ride supercross this week and was struggling with the jumps. My starts got better for sure, it was a good night of racing for me. Taking the week off from supercross was a little weird for sure, my timing was off today. Everything was good, we learned some things I think and I’m looking forward to getting some momentum. It was a crazy night of racing for sure.
Did you like this article?
Check out CAUGHT OUTSIDE
in our Latest issue of Racer X available now.
One of the most successful—and controversial—team managers of all time, Larry Brooks is looking to return to the races. Page 146.
Look for the verified symbol 
Impulse Studios
I'm ready to see Dungey get rough and nasty.
It's official: I'm going to get the Alessi Outdoor Bandwagon warmed up. I'm driving.
*quick check of Monday morning coffee to make sure sugar and not crack was put in....
Seriously, 800 + a 450 = 2011 #1.
All aboard.
sorry but alessi will get the holeshots,but..after the first lap,hes a privateer,i dont see him doin all that great..i bet windham gets top 5 or so,nobody gives him credit anymore,lol..alessi just isnt as good as his dad would like him to be,but ya know,who is? idk,alessi had things goin his way,then the 350..then he just lost my respect..dungey i see pullin through in nationals,i hate reed so much i want him to take so many soil samples hes like (samplist of the year)..but i see him bein top 7 atleast,i have a feeling the lites will be interesting,idk..this is motocross,anything can happen and everyone will say they predicted it..but honest to god,nobosy knows what will happen,but how about the millsaps transfer over the quad on off tables,lol..he really kinna pepped up for once,wish he would comeback hard,the ultimate breakthrough..he needs to come back once more before its too late
When has the 800 ever been able to beat the 2. Answer, never (post mini's of course).
Look for RV and RD up front every race outdoors. And if JS does some, look for him up front as well. Even on a 450 the 800 is not going to be able to win the outdoor.
Dear Mr. Supercross film editor. When someone crashes (say in the first turn), why do we have to watch him pick up his bike for a minute or two? This person has crashed & is now NOT racing. Can we switch to a shot of someone who is still on their bike, racing? Why do we need so much film of people who are essentailly out of the race? I love 'hearing' the announcers talk about someone 'battling at the front' while we are watching crashers pick up their bikes or walk around in a daze. C'mon man. You do this on almost every telecast. Enough already!
Glad to hear Alessi will be possibly riding a 450 this outdoor season. Hoping last season finishes were because of the 350. He has the outdoor speed to stay with these guys. He's led races by 30 seconds. Needs to bring that same focus this year. Put a side all the trappings that come with of being a Pro racer and concentrate on nothing but racing and conditioning. Mike near the front of the pack is always exciting. I for one will be pulling for him.
Dear Mr. Supercross film Editor. Please do not listen to 21MotoRules. I think that the majority of us fans believe that crashing is a part of racing. And when one of our favorite riders go down, we are on the edge of our seat hoping that he isn't hurt, and that he gets back up and gets back in the mix. So in my never to be humble opinion... your doing a great job.
RD = Robot.
yamalink... WAKE UP!! NOT going to happen IMO. The wheels will soon be off your band waggon LOL
What happened to the provisional rule, that if you were top ten in points and did not make the main, you could bump the 20th guy out of the gate. Is that rule no longer in effect?
RD = (1) SX Championship in the books....not bad for a robot.
I seem to recall CR being a robot, on the podium consistently...how did that work for him. Oh yea...(2) SX Championships and 38 wins...nice.
Let's do that math on Dungey, less the freak chain break...Currently he is 18 pts back...when his chain popped he was running abt 5th...so it's safe to assume he would have finished 5th or 6th...= 15 or 16pts.... 18-15=3.
Consistency wins championships.
Dungey needs to get fired up!!! He is only 18 points out of the lead and he could still keep his SX title if he wants it. I think someone needs to kick him in the nads and get him angry. Even w/ RV not qualifying for Jacksonville, he is still in the drivers seat. IMO this year is RV's but Dungey needs to win and start putting it together.
Good question J-rock! Is your name a shout out to the Trailer Park Boys?
Robot ment he say the SAME thing everytime. And RV has a DNF also and RD is still 18 points out so your point means nothing.There equle now.
Not sure if the provisional rule is still in effect or not, but I'm pretty sure it was based on the points standings from the previous year.
21MotoRules,
I agree that when the race has passed the first turn crash, we shouldn't look at the aftermath until late in the race when the racing is less intense. These less intense moments happen every week so it's unlikely that the opportunity won’t arise. The announcers are there to fill us in with the commentary if a star rider is down. There is hardly a reason to omit the racers who have grabbed the holeshot and are racing bar-to-bar. To me, the bar-to-bar action is the best. If RV, or someone, is 15 seconds ahead and we’ve been watching them for a few laps, then it’s time to venture further back so we can watch some racing.
This week had some very bad camera choices, with the featured rider poorly positioned in the frame and often the picture being zoomed in on something unimportant. These issues haven't been the case all year so it definitely stood out this week. But, the broadcasts are by no means subpar.
@BillC....you're probably right. But I and many others bash on the Alessi Team more often than not. It's almost my good deed for the Month of Moto Mayhem (say in Ralph's high pitch voice).
Great job 800 ! You hanging in through all this ....................... wow ! Your fans go through alot of bs too Mike. Get yourself and us a top 5 . Swing back dude.
Dirt
provisional rule is Gone!!
Is it just me or is Barbie impossible to hear when they go to her incredibly intelligent race reporting during the race? What genius crew produces these races? This wasn't even live. How do you not know how to control the audio when putting this show together let alone miss key moments during a race?
Alessi finally gets the holeshot on the shortest and most f'ed up start straight of the season and he is now a contender for the MX title. I for one don't "Believe the hype".
Was JACKSONVILLE THE LAST RIGHT-HAND-FIRST-TURN we'll ever see in SX?
Knew there would be carnage...
Good for Alessi & Short to get some hole-ies...
...more training, a 450, or 'both' to get on the box?
Was Stewart just holding his back because he got slammed so hard there,
or does he have an injury we haven't heard about yet?
Damn, Villopoto took a pretty mean hit too.
Who's hurt (out) Boni? Broken pelvis...? Painful...!
Damn, these guys are tougher than athletes in any other sport,
no matter what anyone says.
K-Dub , 4th: YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Dungey needs to go i,Robot & take over... Now or never.
RV could have cost himself the championship for not qualifieing for the main, he's lucky JS had his problems, he could have qualified in the heat race if he would have got on the bike instead of worrying about the guy that took him out, he was obviously fine to continue racing, I'm sure he could have made 9th, you never know whats going to happen in the LCQ, look at Baggett. This will make the last 6 races more interesting!
If RV thought he could get to 9th he would have been out there. It looked like he saw something on the bike that made him decide that he could not salvage 9th. He also looked to be in a fair amount of pain.
Hey, lets watch RV/JS7/etc. sit on a hay bale for a minute or so while the race (that has just started) is unfolding. I could do that all night, Comedian.
Bad News: This season has been my worst nightmare so far...The Wizard (RD 1) has yet to win a race, The Flying Squirrel (DW 15) is losing to Barcia, and RV and JS are clearly faster than everyone else! I HATE IT!
Good news: Dungey can still win it if he goes off like last year. With good starts Deano can win out and steal the title in Vegas. Vegas will be AWESOME and I will be there.
Glad to see 800 back up front. Nationals will be SICK!!! I'm not on the 800 bandwagon with Yamalink, but i'll have a few beers with him on the tailgate.
Go 1, 15, 66, 29, 22, 21, 800!!!
My TV set showed dual picture frames, so you could see both, didn't yours ?
I for one, am VERY interested in what is going on with a rider, who is currently' top two' in points, as much as I am to see 800 leading a race. Both good to watch.
TJ... Do not worry.. RV2, just had an unfortunate night.. he will be back winning in Toronto.
He did not pursue has he was shaken up and hell.. Some unknown rider took him out.. And u are leading the championship.. Good he vented his anger & frustration on Boni.
As for the LCQ.. Brayton was n his way... Anyway.. He will win this championship.
Reed is no match.. Dunge... Argh.... And Canard.. he's too far down in points.. Stewie.. Will crash again.
The last Alessi holeshot was a year ago but the last time he passed someone??? two years! Everytime you see him he is getting passed
Once again, we have learned 3 things this season so far
1- JS or RV will win every race unless they both crash
2- RD will not win a single race all year, even if JS and RV crash.
3- Its been one awesome season
I just hope that JSraces the nationals, He's the only one that can run with Rv outdoors..
Please Yamaha, step up and hire JS for the entire nationals....The fans need it.