Open Mic: Las Vegas
Monday, May 9, 2011 | 3:15 PM
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PrintInterviews by Steve Matthes and Aaron Hansel
Kyle Cunningham, 3rd in Lites West Main, 7th in Shootout
It went pretty good, I had good lap times today, but bad starts. Lately my starts have been pretty good. I had to work for it in the main, and that really counted for me. I rode a solid race, got up to second and made a mistake the last lap and Broc (Tickle) got by me. He rode a good race and so did Roczen. I guess I kind of came from nowhere, so I’m pretty happy with a third.
Going into the shootout, it was kind of bumpy and I got another bad start and had to work my way up to sixth I think with three laps to go. I made a little mistake and went down and ended up eighth. Not really the way I wanted to finish in the shootout, but like I said, I had a little mistake. We made progress tonight with the podium, and I have to give it up to the DNA Shred Stix Star Racing guys. My mechanic Andy works really hard for me during the week. I’m super excited going into the outdoors. We’ve got the bike ready, and my fitness is there; it’s longer motos, the man side of it.
Cunningham had his best finish of the season at Vegas.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Tonight was important to get the start, but somehow I managed to get to third in the main so it was a good night for me. It was an experience. I had some bad races, otherwise I would have been up in the points a little further where I wanted to be. But I had a good year. You know, being between those guys when they’re going after the title, you’re just trying to get around them, not ride dirty, and just ride your own race. I think I did that pretty well tonight. We’re excited about the third, and we’re looking forward to the outdoors. It’s the start of a new series, and hopefully we’ll get out there and get some red backgrounds and hopefully win the championship.
Eli Tomac, 4th in Lites West Main, 6th in Shootout
My last practice was good, my first two I didn’t feel awesome. In the main I had the holeshot going down the straight, but I came in a little hot and Roczen somehow got by me, Seely squared it up, and I kind of got shuffled down the Vegas strip. I had to go through all the Kawi guys I think. They were the easiest, actually, the cleanest. Once I got to Cunningham and Seely,
I kind of got a little balled up there and then I got by Cunningham and was actually getting by Seely, but.. Yeah, he didn’t show me much love. I guess it’s a single man’s sport.
Did the Honda teams have any type of orders or agreements going into the race?
No. I know Honda’s not very happy about it, but it’s just the way it is.
How did the track hold up?
It was classic Vegas. The worst thing was the whoops, really. They started getting a little dodgy, in the shootout especially. It was just all hard pack.
Travis Baker, 8th in Lites West Main, 9th in Shootout
It went good. I qualified I think eighth for the west coast, went out for the west coast main, and got a decent start. I got passed at first, made some passes back, and ended up eighth. In the shootout I got another decent start, passed a few guys, and ended up getting ninth. Not a bad weekend. I’m pumped, ready to get this season done and get to the outdoors.
How was the track?
The track actually was pretty good. Slippery like always for Vegas, you know it’s going to be kind of crappy. But it was fun, it’s a dirt bike track, it’s fun just to go out there and ride a dirt bike.
Tomac didn't win the championship, but he had an amazing rookie season nonetheless.
Photo: Simon Cudby
I went down in the heat race and had to race the LCQ. I just put my head down out there in the main, some people crashed out and I ended up with fourth place. The track was tough, the whoops were dry slick and hard pack. Definitely the hardest part of the track and I almost went down a few times.
Do you feel more pressure with your teammate Ivan Tedesco out?
Not really, it sucks that he got hurt. I just come out here and do my job, do the best I can do and that’s it. The season has been good, at the beginning it was rough but we made some changes to the bike as we went and it got better.
Nick Wey -Valli Yamaha – 8th place, 450 class
I made a mistake and Jake (Weimer) got me which wasn’t cool, I felt like I was riding good because I caught up to that pack with Short in it and he was riding well but I thought that he was holding me up a little bit. Then I made a big mistake and Weimer caught me and I made another one and he got me. I was pretty solid for sure but I’m bummed because I’m on the cusp of getting a top five, I’m right on the edge to getting up there but haven’t got the starts that I needed. I’m stoked on my Valli Motorsports Yamaha, MSR, TRS, Foremost Insurance, Mandingo Pickles, Rockstar Recovery drink ride- love those.
Roczen captured his first career SX Lites win at Vegas.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Ken Roczen- Red Bull KTM- 1st place- West Main Event, 3rd in Shootout
It’s unbelievable that I won man.
I holeshot the main and went down, I didn’t think I had enough time to catch (Cole) Seely but then he went down. I was able to win and it’s an amazing feeling, my first main event. In the shootout, I got a crappy start, had a mistake and was sixth. I improved in the whoops as I went on and got on the box. The track was hard because of the whoops and it wasn’t easy to ride out there.
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hole shot
that was tomacs title but peolpe are messed up should have let them battle tomac could have taken tickle out a lot of time
Abel your absolutely right. They should Have let Tickle and Tomac leave the gate about 30 seconds sooner so they wouldnt have to race anyone else. That woulda been the right thing to do huh? Its a race dude. Get over it.
Cunningham is a double douche. He and Seeley are boyfriends with Tickle. Let them all ride off into the sunset together while Tomac kicks their butts for the next 5 years!
Great article!! When are you chumps gonna get a clue??! Tomac & Tickle were screwed out of a great battle because of 2 weasels - NO they should not have "pulled over" or "left the gate behind the 2 Championship contenders"!! But it was obvious to an idiot that they were riding dirty with Tomac while they "let Broc bye"!!
Why is it that everyone with any knowledge about supercross racing (Weigandt, Matthes, The GOAT, Factory Honda!) can see that it was dirty riding but some of you can't!.... I can only assume that your 14 years old & this is your first year as a race fan
Great Glover referance. Tomac will win the war when it's all said and done. Mitch will most likely clean-house for next year
Hey Bob, I don't remember Weege, Matthes, The Goat, or Factory Honda calling it dirty riding... on TV it looked like those dudes were riding hard with Tickle and Tomac. Seems like you are hearing what you want, not the facts
Bob,
I watch it over and over and there was not favoritism. You are just looking at it through some biased eyes.
Hell, Cunningham lost his hand of the bars and he and tickle almost went into the dirt hard!
Great race!
I agree with Jimmy and Bob! My opinion, racing is not about teaming up and letting your buddy win a championship. I wonder who got paid? Watch and replay, it was clear as day the setup in that race!!!!!!!
What no JS? lol hmm i wonder why... JS please just go away.
Cunningham needed a podium period! The guy had the fastest qualifier. he pulled in the leaders and made a pass. The guy was flying and deserves credit for his speed. If he and seely were in the way they should have been parked! If the title is on the line and you need to make a pass you make it! Got news! If your racing for me and you pull over and give up a podium spot YOUR FIRED! Seely looked like he faded back into the group and when you catch someone that quick you need to get by. Even if you have to block pass and put them to the turf! If honda had motives for Seely it should had been discussed before the gate dropped. Should KROC have pulled over if they caught him? Hell no...
mxjoe99, got news for you! If you're on the same brand bike (Seely) as the title contender (Tomac) at the last race of the season, you get out of the way or YOU'RE FIRED!
I agree with Jimmy. Tomac will spend the next several seasons spanking these guys all over the track!
You don't put out the effort and money that these manufacturers do to just let somones ego like Seely's get in the way of a championship. I like this Seely kid, but if I was Honda, his a^s would be on a different brand Monday morning. Tomac showed many times he could pull away from Tickle, but Seely put an end to it. I have to admit that I like both Tickle and Tomac, so I am happy for Tickle, but torqued about Seely's riding. I'll get over it...lol. What a race! What a year we just witnessed.
Champions beat all contenders.
Cunningham was racing for his next contract. You are only as good as your last race, after all. Seely and Cunningham are legitimate contenders. What if this had been the 3rd race of the series? Should they have pulled over for Tomac and Tickle then?
Champions beat all contenders.
Mxjoe - Spot on!
MXR124 - are you daft? These are separate teams fighting for funding from sponsors. They are competitors and the brand courtesy is not what it was when there was only 1 factory team per brand. You might expect the same team to help each other out, but not cross teams.
That was a CLEAN west title run and Eli should have got aggressive with the people in front of him, not expect they would give up a podium spot for him.
GREAT F'ing RACE!!
I was hoping for Eli to win, but......Anyway, the racing was great, and for it to go the way it did keeps us fans coming back for more !!
Ok... Im bummed for Tomac, I feel he deserved this title but agree that he will get another shot at it before Tickle. There was a lap where ELI could of taken the line away from Seely before the triple, ELI ended up doubling and Seely still hit the triple... That was the moment I believe. I think Eli expected Seely to sorta give way to him but it didnt happen. Everyones got their own opinion but, Hey If I got paid by Honda and there was a title contender on my fender on the same brand I probably wouldnt have messed with him... But hey, maybe he has another deal lined up and doesn't give a sh## about honda... who knows?? It is what it is.. lets move onto outdoors where ET "should" get a bit of revenge :)
DC-- youre right. Tomac missed that triple 2 laps in a row. My son was screaming at the T.V. over that. Saying he cant win with that line, hit the triple. Eli needed to see that, its easy to see from the couch-haha.. Lets go outside.
I don't agree with this notion that riders need to get out of the way of title contenders. I don't think Seely or Cunningham did anything wrong or dirty. Yes they defended their positions which allowed Tickle to catch and pass Tomac. But it is called a racing. To me a title has to be earned and that means beating the people you need to beat. As unfortunate as it is Tomac didn't manage to do that at Vegas.
If I was a team owner and I heard my riding talking about or saw my rider "letting" someone pass during a race (unless they were being lapped or had a problem) I would fire that rider. I simply hate that when I hear riders say I'm not going to get in the way of the championship.....If that is the case they shouldn't be out there. Title shot or not Seely and Cunningham had every right to fight for 2nd & 3rd place. As title contender it was Tomac's job to be in front of those two. He didn't do it and that is why he lost the title.
its funny honda always was famous for get the title no matter what, they hated bayle because he wouldnt help stanton, he said if he is good enough he will win if not he will lose, then he got behind bradshaw and tried pushing him to get him past staton at the la collisium final, that was some crazy s@@@ going on then, but honda did expect bayle to help stanton no doubt, dont know if its true but i was told if bradshaw won the title his contract locked him with no increase in pay or vise-vers if not he was free to the hightest bidder, dont know just know it was a rumor seeing that all he need was i think is a top 5 to clinch and he could of done that going backwards i dont ever see bradsahw throwing a race no matter what
Ask yourself this? What would Hannah do? If he was....
1 Cunningham. Race for the best spot after all you need a job next year!
2. Seely If honda wanted him to pull over they should have had a honda boss get a pit board with$$$ signs on it. He was struggling the last few laps and trying to hold a spot. Would hannah pull over?
3. Tickle.. Attack the track and the other riders like the c.ship depended on it. He even ran into cunningham on the last lap to make the pass.
4. Tomac.. Take Seely's line make the tripple or park him in a corner to get by. Same to Cunningham and Tickle if it's for the ship. #2 wont cut it and this was a LCQ for a ship. nobody needs to move over. You need to find a way! Thats what winners do...