Racer X Notebook: Salt Lake City
Monday, May 2, 2011 | 2:00 PM
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Print- There was some big buzz going when snow started coming down on Saturday morning, but in reality this was far from a snow race. It wasn’t even a rain race or a mud race. It looked pretty cool seeing snow coming down in the pits, but by about noon, the snow stopped and the sun came out. The temperatures didn’t ratchet up much, though, making this perhaps the coldest race of the year (or at least as cold as the rainy February night in San Diego).
- The track was actually dusty in spots when practice began, as the track crew purposely under-watered in case the rain (or snow) did become a factor. It didn’t. Most riders said the track was slick, but overall, this was nothing like the crazy rain/snow/sleet race from Salt Lake City last year.
This year was nothing like the crazy snow/rain race from last year, but Salt Lake City did see some flurries early in the day.
Photo: Simon Cudby
- Besides the snow, perhaps the second-biggest buzz revolved around Moto Concepts Yamaha signing Christophe Pourcel for this summer’s Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship. Except that by Saturday morning, they had not actually signed him. Moto Concepts Team Manager David Vuillemin explained that negotiations had only started on Monday, and it’s hard to nail down all of the details in a matter of days. This includes negotiations such as Pourcel’s gear sponsor (Moto Concepts is an O’Neal team but Pourcel may sign his own gear deal), logo placement (it’s expected that Pourcel will wear a Monster Energy helmet) and other matters. However, by the end of the night, Pourcel had signed the deal—Vuillemin said things were pretty much official by the time the Lites main event was completed.
Pourcel never actually rode the Moto Concepts bike, but he did ride the Valli Motorsports Yamaha YZ450F, so he’s at least familiar with the base. Vuillemin said the bike was not and will not be an issue at all, once Pourcel rode the Valli bike, he was sold on the Yamaha.
- While most of the attention in the SX main event was focused on the battle for the race win—and the championship implications—there was an even better race going on behind that, with Kevin Windham, Justin Brayton, Tommy Hahn and Jake Weimer duking it out just behind the top five. Just two seconds separated Windham, Weimer and Hahn at the finish, with Windham grabbing sixth, and Weimer making a last-lap move on Hahn to steal seventh. For more on the battle, check out quotes from Weimer, Brayton and Hahn in our Kicker Open Mic.
Windham finished sixth, a year after winning at Salt Lake City.
Photo: Simon Cudby
- Brayton, meanwhile, was back after missing the St. Louis and Seattle races with a back injury he suffered in Dallas. Brayton has sprained vertebra in his back, so he was working himself back up to race pace. Of course he then goes out and gets one of his best starts of the season in the main event and finds himself in the thick of a battle with Reed and Villopoto off the start. He toughed out a ninth-place finish.
- Meanwhile Brayton’s Muscle Milk Toyota JGR Yamaha teammate Davi Millsaps put in one of his best rides of the season with a fifth. Millsaps has been struggling mightily this year with complications from last year’s crash at the Budds Creek National in June, where he lost part of his kidney. “Man, you don’t realize how thankful you should be if both of your kidneys work right,” said Millsaps, who admits he could barely do more than eight laps before he was completely out of energy at most of the races this year. He finally decided to have some more blood work done, and he discovered his kidney problems had caused him to become anemic. He’s eating more red meat now and has started a new training program, and says Salt Lake was one of the first times this year where he has been able to ride 20 laps without hitting the wall. Look for more on Millsaps’ condition later this week on Racer X Online.
Millsaps finished a quiet fifth at Salt Lake City.
Photo: Simon Cudby
- Exactly what bike was Chad Reed riding in Salt Lake City? It’s at least clear that Reed was running the factory Honda hydraulic clutch, and a few other assorted bolt-on parts, such as wheels and footpegs. Some rumors claimed Reed was riding a full works engine and even suspension components, but Reed is denying those claims. Reed said after the race, “I don’t think there’s a lot from Trey’s bike. His bike is sitting over there at the Honda truck right now.”
Josh Hansen’s Lites West title hopes took a big blow when he crashed trying to force a pass on Eli Tomac on the second lap of the Lites main event. After the race, Hansen apologized to both his team and Tomac’s via his twitter account, admitting it was an immature pass.
Hansen's title hopes were dashed in Salt Lake City.
Photo: Simon Cudby
- Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen represented well with a second-place in the Lites class, just five days after racing to second at the Dutch GP on Monday. And that was a sand race in the heat and humidity, about as different as you can get from a supercross in the cold on Saturday. And on top of that, Roczen ended up catching a cold during all of his travel. With the Las Vegas SX and the USGP coming up on his calendar, Roczen says he now has 15-straight weekends of racing.
- Perhaps the most action-packed moment of the night came in the SX LCQ, when Tony Gallo and Bobby Fitch ran into each other and ended up fighting on the track on the last lap. Those LCQs are intense!
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Where is the footage of the fight from the SX LCQ?!? I read about it, but the CBS coverage do not show it... ...or did they?
The one I feel the saddest for as a result of Hansen's miscue is Mitch Payton. He was kind enough to give the #100 his fiftieth chance to redeem himself. Now he looks like a complete idiot for finally realizing what everyone else has known for years: the guy is a total waste mentally. The video walk-through of the PC truck with Hansen shows an immature person who has no concept of his place in the sport. Poor decision and choice for Mitch: expected action and results for Hansen. Hate on this post all you want. Actions have spoken much louder than these words.
U loser jairtime, we be lookin fo yo punk azz!!! c,mon show yourself, and your femmy side u chicken shiiiiitt
@playridr: Don't feel sorry for Mitch because Hanny gave PC tons of airtime, and Tickle is in the lead. I think they got what they wanted out of Hanny: loads of media coverage!
The fight was great and no they did not show it on TV, they got up and starting shoving each other and they started b!tch slapping each other like they where going to feel anything, and one turned and started to try to get back on his bike the dude pushed him again and knocked him back over it was great.
I saved the official results from the electronic timer system, and it says Stewart got 12th. How is it that he somehow made up two positions after the race?
Hansen's leg kicking in the air almost wore out my pause/replay/slow mo buttons.
Oops, my mistake. He did finish 10th.
jairtime, that all u got? c.mon stoopy give us a betta rhyme!! U can do it, just sit there and ponder awhile, you'll think of somethin, please lil weasel come out and play.
Jairtime, ur a mistake, nobdy cares about ur feeble minded crap so go some where ur wanted cause it isn't here where we discuss mx
I agree “jairtime” makes very inappropriate statements. However, isn’t that the reason the real Navy Seals just killed Bin Laden? We Americans represent free speech, a Constitution, and a Bill of Rights. That means having to hear things you find offensive as a requirement of citizenship. I have a feeling “jairtime” is just jacking you around. When you respond with threats, you are just playing his game and encouraging him.
As to Hanny, dumb pass but credit for manning-up and apologizing to his team and Tomac. I give a lot of credit to a guy that admits he made a mistake and says he is sorry. I would give more credit to a face-to-face apology and a handshake but I realize we are in a world of cyber interaction.
It's definitely good Hanny apologized but still, as fast he gained fans this year, he lost them all with that stupid block attempt and the loss of the championship.
Villopoto won the moto in a battle royal
Stewart washed and endoed, wound up sucking soil
Reed's still in the thick of things, a title contender
Dungey is consistent, on his red rear fender
This has been the best year e'er in Supercross
I wonder how much Stewart's cop light ticket will coss
I bet he won't e-ver a-gain play wit dat toy
Know what I'm sayin? Fa rill doe. Beleedat, BOY!
Someone has to find the LCQ fight, I want to see it!!!
@jairtime - that is what I am talking about. You can be very witty and funny. Quit the racial stuff because it offends people, takes away your credibility, and you can make your point without it.
The SX/MX community is small (compared to the big 4 sports) but growing. We need to work together to expand the sport not fight with each other. IMHO
I think Hansen did a pretty good job of representing Pro Circuit and his sponsors this year. He has won more races than anyone else this year (West Coast) he has not quit even with his injuries. His pass attempt was weak and ill advised, but he was a desperate man going for a championship. Can't blame him for that.
@Big Hoop, yes, you can blame him for that. There are better ways to go about trying to win.
Great racing this weekend, but too bad for Hansen, He tried hard but is such a dirty rider, If you look back over many of his passes he made this season they weren't passes they were take out moves and i am glad it backfired on him again. You don't have to ride that way. often people say he is being aggressive but there is a difference between being aggressive and being dirty and most of the time he is being dirty. with 15 laps in a race it was just plain stupid to make a move like that as early as he did. Good thing that monster and his dad have such a close relationship and maybe he will get another ride next year.
so the questions now are...what #100 is going to do, hes staying with PC n monster, or they will say bye bye, hes moving UP with H&H(natural fit for em) or he can stay in the lites, n like i said if he does stays who is he gonna ride for???
Seriously RacerX, delete every post that the not-so-subtle racist Jairtime puts up would you?? Read his last post and the racist mocking at the end of it. Let the little twit express his opinion like we all do on here, but please do not leave up posts such as the one above!! Thanks!!
This was that Hansen punks last shot at a title, and he blew it. What a moron. He doesnt deserve to be called champion, and now, he wont be. Just a simple pass and he would have had the lead, and maybe the win, the title, some bonus money, respect, another ride, etc. In one fell swoop....all gone. I heard that Donnie Hansen went in this morning to change his last name. F you J.Hansen!!! Bahahahahahaha!!!
I have heard somebody horrible comments at every race I have been to with Bubba I have never heard those comments at any college football or NBA games or Pro football games goes to show this is a redneck sport and drives these clowns nuts to see Black dude to ever put a leg over a dirt bike
@khamann75, I have been to dozens of races, and I dont think I have ever heard racist comments toward anyone while I was there. I have heard people boo him, and not cheer for him. It doesnt make them a racist. But I have seen some black guys at the races, in head to toe clothing for whomever Stewie is racing for. And that is the only guy they are cheering for. Does that make them a racist?? And the comments on here calling guys who cheer for RV "Rednecks" are they racist for those comments?? I think its a racial comment, no black guy is going to call a black guy a redneck, so its a racial comment. It goes both ways.
bd200 I'm German as white as they come, has stewart been at everyone of those races, i mention his name at the local tracks and almost hear it everytime from people. I'm am a huge RV fan i"m just saying what I hear and what some dumb ass wrote earlier.
@bd200: Some of the Villo redneck fans are the worst fans I have ever seen. I saw some of the parents and tbeir kids stand up and boo Stewie and say racist things. Those fans should take their dear heads home and shut the f*ck up!
Gosh, Whatever, you sure want to try to control people and make Stewart get all of the benefits racing has to offer, while paying none of the penalties of being a jackass.
You are typical of those who overreact when somebody uses ebonic phrases. People like you are the ones who ran Vanilla Ice out of the rap game with your anti-white racism. He was a good showman, a good rapper and he didn't do anything that the other rappers didn't do, but people like you showed your colors and ran him out. You would rather leave him with nothing than to let him work and be successful.
Please explain how it's racist to say "nomesane" like everybody on MTV says these days.
Please explain how it's racist to say "beleedat" like everybody on MTV says these days.
Please explain how it's racist to say any ebonic phrases. Does any one race have a legal right to use those phrases, while other races do not? If you tell me one race can do it while another cannot, you can kiss my a$$.
while not a huge "Jairtime" fan, He does make a interesting point..... I'm not for any racist slurs, they are not called for, its very racist to condemn a person for color, sex, or religion. Its also, IMHO, like he said, racist for one race to act one way and find it offensive if another race does the same.... But Vanilla Ice??? WTF??????
There seems to be quite the polar view points with respect to JS. Interestingly everyone who does not care for him is branded racist.
That just demonstrates the narrow mindedness of a lot of folks.
I do not condone the clearly racist remarks and wish that this type of ignorance could just go away. That said, I have openly made it clear that I am not a fan of JS.
I believe he does not respect the sport or the fellow riders in it. He seems to believe he is bigger than the sport and I do not believe ANY rider is or ever should be. He has never admitted to making a bad judgment or apologized to the many people he has run into. He makes excuses for his poor judgment or just pretends it did not happen.
He complains about the grueling schedule after 2-3 years on the big bikes?? Seriously? What a disrespect to the many racers how have put 5, 7, 10+ years in doing what they love. And you can bet JS makes a lot more $$$ than any of the rest.
He does not display the king of moral fiber or character that I would put my support behind. Period!
It is to bad because he has so many other great things going. If he would have taken a page of one or two of the greats, raced hard and to the finish, thank the other competitors and credit them, own his mistakes, and ride like he knows how...who knows how how big a fan fav he could be? Maybe even get close to a KW level of fan base
But he is where he is, and he needs to own that as well.
@khamann75. I have been to every single Indy supercross Stewie has raced in. Also, every single Red Bud race Stewie has ever raced in. And just because a fan boo's Stewie he has to be a RV fan?? Really FANS, it sounds as if you are amking it up here, I do not condone any racial crap, believe me. My son had a Stewie poster on his wall for some time. He isnt a big fan anymore, its NOT because of his color, its his HUGE ego. It has turned off alot of fans, not his race. And about 99% of Stewies fans are white.. But I bet not one of RV's fans are black, they are all cheering for Stewie, is that racist??
Donnie Hansen was an American motocross hero with national championship and mx des nation championship's under his belt. Josh Hansen is not only an embarassment to the accomplishments of his father, he is in the same genre as Jason Lawrence- some talent, but a complete waste of time. His BS "bad boy" attitude has completely ruined his career. He'll move up to the 450 class next year {where he should have been for years,] get smoked, get injured, and be out of professional racing by 2013.
Well said, Open Class. jonR290 as well.
Nice 'Ebonics speak' jairtime...
Probably still wear your baseball cap backwards too.
Isn't there a 'RACER-X Jr. for Kids' blog you can go play on?
You're amusing to maybe 3 people at best.
... and it's a white rear fender.
KG, I'm sure you have spent a lot of time looking at rear fenders.
Not many "ignorant rednecks" have mastered the ebonic arts at the level I have achieved. I wear many hats, but none sideways. Although I'm no wigger, I could probably be a professor of ghettospeak at Tuskeegee. One would think that might garner a certain level of street cred with the Stewart-sucking set, but at times it appears that waxing ebonic requires pre-approved membership in some sort of reverse good ol' boys club, of which you, KG, appear to be a member in good standing.
Although I know it's a white rear fender, I'd like to say thanks for noticing. I stand corrected.
As I lapped guys like you..., yes.
Congratulations on the achievement of your tenure. Mom must be proud.
Careful there though; sounds like you just might tear up your shoulder any minute from patting yourself on the back so much.
But seriously now..., 'Street-cred'? The 1990's have been over for a while pal and nobody half my age watches MTV. Who/why are you trying so hard to impress & be noticed?
Friends with some 'club' & 'rvrs.-club' types..., at least the ones who aren't full of themselves and are not the constant attention seekers in the room.
Those types are nothing but loud @ss-holes who are just trying too hard and can't quite grasp how they are perceived by others, if you know what I mean.
A Pragmatic approach works for me vs. any sort of club membership B.S. you seem to want to cling to and assign to others...
Respect Stewart's speed & overall skill; just don't care for much else about the guy. I think he may have peaked. Maybe a new horse will help him in '12.
My money's been on RV2 since A1, 2010.
KG- "CBS has offered & payed the most and re-extended their contract with the powers that be.. " you said the magic words, Payed The Most. So... what if HBO or some other "premium" channel, paid even more for it than CBS, and the greedy powers that be went along with it? Now we will all have to upgrade our cable packages, at a higher monthly cost, just to watch the races? So that somebody at FELD can make more $$. It sounds to me like we have been sold out. If it weren't for US, there would be no supercross. And no there would be no FELD.
Unfortunately, this is all about money, at the fans expense.
Sorry- the other article wouldn't let me post- it must be shut down.
I'm just being silly, KG. No offense. I'll try to lighten up.
@jairtime; boy you must love to instigate! be careful how you respond to other posters, you may meet one in person one day. i enjoy the banter back and forth but some people take this to heart. as far as the racist stuff goes, every single person on this planet is a racist whether they admit it to themselves or not. the issue is how it affects the way they treat people different from them. i like js but i hate the crap that comes with him. he reminds me of jean-michel bayle.
This may be hard for some of you , But I swear ,if we just never respond to his Racist remarks , He will lose his power , and soon will be only talking to his other racist fans , He is really the only one spewing this crap on a regular basis , and he knows he is getting to some of you .. And maybe you can put a call into Racer x and complain , they have his e mail and may just shut him down , its been done before .. THE TRICK HERE IS To IGNORE HIM , And then he will have no platform . he will one day say the wrong thing to the the right person, its coming !
I hate, yes hate watching JS7 race! It has nothing to do with his race or color. When he first hit the pros I was the one in our group of friends who get together every week to watch that said "watch this kid, he is incredible". He still is incredible. He does things on his bike at times that no one else has ever thought of. He thinks things that others can't comprehend or see out there but that is where it stops. He also has no common sense and makes stupid decisions that seriously injure and could end careers of the others on track with him. He is too dangerous and the AMA needs to do something about it before he injures some one beyond recovery.
I am still amazed by his speed and his ability but he is too stupid to be out there running the way that he does. He lost me as a fan long ago and it has nothing to do with his race or color...it is all attitude and common sense.
Dangerous , are you kidding the whole sport is dangerous , you sound stupid .Hey james slow down before you get hurt , This sport has been riddled with injuries since its inception , long before James arrived ...Call the ama call the police ... What a tool !!!!