40 Day Countdown To AMA Motocross Opener: 2008
Wednesday, May 18, 2011 | 8:55 PM
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The 40th season for the American Motocross tour is almost here, with the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship rolling into Hangtown this Saturday morning! You can watch the races live on FUEL TV and Alli Sports, and later motos on SPEED and NBC. American Motocross has never been so completely covered as you will see in 2011! As we count down the days to the 40th Annual Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship right here, Racer X Online is all the way up to 2008.
Check out our revamped Facebook page or visit www.allisports.com to follow the series.
In 2007 Kawasaki’s James Stewart was forced to bow out with a knee injury while leading the 450 series, while Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto captured his second 250 title. Stewart’s departure allowed Yamaha’s Grant Langston to put on an incredible charge and capture the 450 championship. Well, Stewart would be forced to pull out of this season’s supercross title chase as well when that knee wasn’t healed enough. He went under the knife and it was touch-and-go for James to see if he would make the first outdoor race.
Langston would be struck down with an eye problem in the off-season that prevented him from defending his championship and it would, effectively force the champ into retirement. A big blow to the series no doubt about it as the classy Langston was now out.
The series opened at Glen Helen in Southern California and indeed there was the #7 Kawasaki of Stewart on the line. With only a few weeks of practice under his belt, Stewart crushed everyone, putting double-digit seconds on the field in a precursor to what we would see the rest of the summer. Mike Alessi had switched from KTM to Suzuki in the off-season, and he went 2-2 behind Stewart while Honda’s Davi Millsaps went 3-3.
Villopoto took all but 4 overall wins in 2008.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
In the 250 class, the very first moto of the year was won by bad boy Jason Lawrence on his Yamaha of Troy machine, but that would be about the highlight of the outdoor season for J-Law, as he soon pulled out with an injury. The Glen Helen overall was won by Pro Circuit’s Austin Stroupem, but that would be Stroupe’s highlight, as he later pulled out with an illness.
At the next round in Hangtown we saw more of the same in the 450 class as Stewart went 1-1, Alessi 2-2, and Millsaps 3-5. As much as the 450 class was the same, the 250 class saw order restored with favorite Ryan Villopoto sweeping both motos, while we saw Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey continuing to step up to the next level and Stroupe hung in there near the front.
And that, folks, is what we saw for the rest of the series, as James Stewart racked up win after win. In fact, he would go undefeated the rest of the summer and become just the second rider to sweep the entire season! Stewart was on another level this summer, amazing the crowd every weekend with his incredible skills. Alessi tried frantically to keep Stewart in sight and charged hard at the end of motos to make up the difference.
Ryan Dungey was no match for Villopoto in 08. How will this year play out?
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
It was small victories for Mike and he was clearly the second-best rider in the class until disaster struck at the halfway point of the nationals at RedBud. Mike went down on the first lap when he swapped out and almost the entire pack of riders used the 800 for traction in a very scary moment. That was it—Alessi didn’t have any really big injuries but he was done for the year.
Stewart’s magical mystery winning tour continued, with the biggest challenge to “The Streak” coming from Suzuki City privateer Cody Cooper in the slop and mud of Unadilla. In the second moto, with the rain coming down, Cooper caught Stewart (helped out by a Stewart tip-over) and pressured him hard all the way to the end. But the streak did live on.
Stewart’s teammate Tim Ferry would pick up the runner-up sword from Alessi and end the series in second, some 180 points behind James, as Stewart would wrap up the title early.
Meanwhile, in the 250 class, Villopoto had a streak going himself—after losing the opening moto to Lawrence, RV ripped off sixteen motos in a row.
Ferry had a very successful 2008, finishing runner-up to James Stewart in the 450 class.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Establishing himself behind RV was Dungey and Villopoto’s teammate Brett Metcalfe. Honda’s Trey Canard was also in there, but only Dungey could put any sort of pressure on the the two-time champion. Finally, the streak was broken at Villopoto’s home track, Washougal, when Dungey managed to hold off RV and take the second-moto win and the overall.
Dungey won again at his home track at Millville, Minnesota, and then again at the last race at Steel City when Villopoto DNF’d moto one with a shifter problem and then fell in the second moto. RV was done in the 250 class after this day, but before he left, he collected his third 250 national championship in row. Ryan Dungey established himself as the next one and the favorite for 2009.
The team of Stewart, Ferry, and Villopoto headed to England to defend their Motocross des Nations crown once again, and although things got tense in the third moto when Stewart crashed out, the team won once again when Ferry put in a great ride to get the necessary spots Team USA needed to win yet again.
Stewart and Villopoto were both dominant in 2008 but neither would be around to defend their titles in 2009, so come back tomorrow and see who the new champions were!
Stewart was the model of perfection in 2008.
Photo: Simon Cudby
2008 AMA Motocross Championship
San Bernardino, CA James Stewart Haines City, FL Kawasaki
Sacramento, CA James Stewart Haines City, FL Kawasaki
Wortham, TX James Stewart Haines City, FL Kawasaki
Mt. Morris, PA James Stewart Haines City, FL Kawasaki
Lakewood, CO James Stewart Haines City, FL Kawasaki
Buchanan, MI James Stewart Haines City, FL Kawasaki
Mechanicsville, MD James Stewart Haines City, FL Kawasaki
New Berlin, NY James Stewart Haines City, FL Kawasaki
Washougal, WA James Stewart Haines City, FL Kawasaki
Millville, MN James Stewart Haines City, FL Kawasaki
Southwick, MA James Stewart Haines City, FL Kawasaki
Delmont, PA James Stewart Haines City, FL Kawasaki
Nico Izzi was the rookie of the year in '08.
Photo: Simon Cudby
2008 AMA Motocross Championship Point Standings
1. James Stewart Haines City, FL Kawasaki 600
2. Tim Ferry Largo, FL Kawasaki 414
3. Andrew Short Smithville, TX Honda 392
4. Michael Byrne Newnan, GA Suzuki 377
5. Cody Cooper Tallahassee, FL Suzuki 266
6. Nick Wey Dewitt, MI KTM 264
7. Josh Hill Yoncalla, OR Yamaha 234
8. Jeff Alessi Victorville, CA Honda 233
9. Sean Hamblin Murrieta, CA Yamaha 225
10. Mike Alessi Victorville, CA Suzuki 221
James Stewart graced the cover of the November issue of Racer X.
2008 AMA Motocross Lites Championship
San Bernardino, CA Austin Stroupe Corona, CA Kawasaki
Sacramento, CA Ryan Villopoto Poulsbo, WA Kawaski
Wortham, TX Ryan Villopoto Poulsbo, WA Kawaski
Mt. Morris, PA Ryan Villopoto Poulsbo, WA Kawaski
Lakewood, CO Ryan Villopoto Poulsbo, WA Kawaski
Buchanan, MI Ryan Villopoto Poulsbo, WA Kawaski
Mechanicsville, MD Ryan Villopoto Poulsbo, WA Kawaski
New Berlin, NY Ryan Villopoto Poulsbo, WA Kawaski
Washougal, WA Ryan Dungey Belle Plaine, MN Suzuki
Millville, MN Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, MN Suzuki
Southwick, MA Ryan Villopoto Poulsbo, WA Kawaski
Delmont, PA Ryan Dungey Belle Plaine, MN Suzuki
Cody Copper had a surprising outdoor campaign in '08, finishing fifth overall.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
2008 AMA Motocross Lites Championship Point Standings
1. Ryan Villopoto Poulsbo, WA Kawaski 540
2. Ryan Dungey Belle Plaine, MN Suzuki 468
3. Brett Metcalfe Lake Elsinore, CA Kawasaki 382
4. Jake Weimer Rupert, ID Honda 321
5. Nico Izzi Saint Clair, MI Suzuki 292
6. Ryan Sipes Vine Grove, KY KTM 228
7. Kyle Cunningham Fort Worth, TX Kawasaki 198
8. Kyle Chisholm Valrico, FL Kawasaki 189
9. Josh Grant Riverside, CA Honda 186
10. Trey Canard Elk City, OK Honda 173
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HOLESHOT... on a 350!!!
c
hole shot! epic stewart year~!
hole shot! epic stewart year~!
Man, that's what would have made this year even better...Stewart and RV putting on a clinic.....
so Dungy won the second moto and the overall at Washougal , why dos'nt your list of winners for the season say that ?
fcuk is it just me or does anybody else think stewart shoulda stayed on kawasaki.. he just looks so much better on a kawi rather then a yamaha
Indeed...... Some of these guys (Reynard, Carmichael,Stewart, Windham) all grew up on the Kawasaki's, then they switch it up ...I think Windham would have some big titles under his belt if he stayed on the Kawasakis back in the day. as smooth as he is now, he was smoother on a Kawasaki..I remember watching KDUB at mammoth mountain when he was still an intermediate...HOLY SMOKES..he was railing it....Carmichael would have kept winning on the Kawasaki until the day he retired....So now Stewart.....he just doesn't look the same on that Yamaha and Honda is his best bet since Kawi has Villopoto....he would go on a tear on that thing after riding that pogo stick yamaha......look what it did for Reed..but whatever happened to the days of having one or more serious title contender on your team....Kawasaki had Ward, Kiedrowski, Chicken & LaRocco on one team back in the day......Johnson, Stanton, Bayle on Honda.....sport is a changin'.....
Tim Ferry and Andrew Short were Stewarts compotition ?? That 24-0 doesnt seem that big a deal when you look at that....... Look what happens when you go up against " Title Contenders " like this year. 4th place and soil sample city.........
hmmm....really not a big deal? doubt it...it is a huge deal...who did Carmichael go against? doesnt' matter, he destroyed everyone...as did js7 that year...
you just can't give props where they are due...just admit you hate him, it is easier than trying to discredit his amazing scooter skills...
there is another thread for you, it is under 'stewart out for hangtown'...they will love you there...
Mike Alessi was on the gas and easily the class of the field (bubba notwithstanding) until disaster struck. This year is a fresh start, the 350 is parked and (hopefully) the real Mike Alessi will appear. Holeshots aplenty!!!!
JS needs to get offfffffffff that blue POS for good, I'm a huge JS fan, and he raced that year With only a few weeks of practice under his belt, why couldn't he do the same this year and not dissapoint all his fans.....
@I-ride-red, it wasnt Stewies choice, Kawisaki went with RV, and sent Stewie packing. It was in the interview with Mike Fischer, and it looks like the right choice. And the Yamaha isnt the problem, he has been on the bike for years. He can set it up any way he wants to fit him. Some guys have won on every bike they have ridden, the color of the plastic means nothing.
I have heard from an inside source that pretty much none of the riders like riding the yamaha. I guess the chassis is the problem. I am really surpised pourcell signed with them. He would of been much better off on the GEICO Team.
Really???, you (you know who) think the bike just doesn't matter huh?? Tell that to Skippy about the Kawi he was on last year......he didn't like it and didn't look all that good on it either!! Everybody is different, some guys might do well on anything they ride, but some guys fit certain bikes better than others. And 24-0 is a big deal no matter who you are up against......going to the gate 24 times and winning 24 times is an incredible accomplishment for the simple fact of getting to the finish line all 24 times without something going wrong......nothing can be taken away from James or Ricky (twice) for getting it done. It was a big deal!!
RC would of kept winning? Hmmmm let me look RC had 2 perfect seasons outdoors. One with Honda and the other with Suzuki and wrapped up a couple more SX titles for both. So he did keep on winning after he left Kawi. Think before you type nonsense.
So if Bubbles only had a couple of weeks to get ready to sweep the outdoors what the heck is his excuse now? Scared, doesn't cope with Yamaha, what? I don't know why he just doesn't come out and race it into shape. Yeah yeah yeah he's an SX team only but he said he wants to go outdoors and the guy made $10million last year. I would think with sponsors and his own money he could make it easily happen. Reed has no excuses and put forth the effort and is going outdoors. Reed is a hell of a racer and a person and deserves the success he's having because he gets everything out of what he puts in. Quit stroking Bubbles ego oh yeah and really DC live coverage on Fuel TV??? WTF are you thinking setting that up and only the 2nd moto. Why the hell does Nascar get 4 hours+ of coverage and MX can't even get a full hour let alone 2 hours of what it would take to cover both motos. I hate the TV coverage anymore. Ralph Shaheen needs to go as well. Rant over. Bring on the outdoors!!
Yawn ... This is the season the stewtards have been talking about.
lil'Stew fights off some guy named Cody Cooper for his perfect season.
So can anybody make an argument that this was not the weakest big bike class in the 40 years history of MX?
Lessons learned. lil'Stew does not crash and does not take out other riders when he ride within his ability and lil'Stew is able to ride within his ability when he is racing against second and third rate riders. When he is confronted by top riders, lil'Stew immediately starts riding faster then he is capable and just like all other riders who ride over their heads, lil'Stew crashes a lot and takes other riders out.
So I guess the stewtards would claim that if lil'Stew rode a Yamaha during the 2008 MX session, lil'Stew would have crashed his "brains" out, taken out other riders and would have finished 4th in the overall.
Even most rabid pathological lil'Stew "hater" would give lil'Stew more credit than that and admit that even you the "inferior" Yamaha lil'Stew still would have had the "perfect" session.
Will a percieved handling deficientcy curtail development of the reverse cylinder design / technology?
Are Yamahas poor handling because of this? Are Yamahas poor handling at all?
Is JS a poor representitive of a Yamaha's potential? Will CP make the bike look good?
I'd like to see the reverse / slant / stacked / etc. engine design pursued because of the (percieved) benefits and for the sake of engine design not stagnating.......it could be a game-changer.
What if all reverse cylinder (stacked/etc) bikes will handle this way (which, as far as I know is a front light / push condition) and there will have to be a riding style change to accomodate this?
I know Welkers brand sorely misses him defending them and whoever has a bad moto on a YZ450F will have a built-in exuse.
@ @TrendKiller, weren't RC's 24-0 seasons on 2 & 4 stroke Honda's ('02 & '04)?
Another way to put the lil'Stew is the "greatest" claims into perspective, does anybody really believe the the GOAT would have finished 4th (really 5th) in SX standing in his prime? Not a chance! The fact is, it is likely true that if the GOAT was still racing he would still be in the top 5. And it is likely as you physical abilities diminished the GOAT would have become more of strategic riders, and using his head more to beat the competition.
The only way lil'Stew uses his head is to slam it to the ground hoping that everybody thinks he is the the BAM and become fearful of him and pull over when he get near them.
Are the JGR guys having these problems? Yamaha would do well to look to JGR for chassis R&D. Who else is equipped to R&D chassis at the level of JGR, if any?
Who does R&D for Yamaha YZF models now that the factory team (in U.S.) is gone? Japan?
Carlsbad... Good post there... I think the yamaha's just need time to be developped properly. The stock prod bike rides ok. Just the maintenance & prep part seems to be a pain in the ***
As for JGR... Their biggest problem is, they have riders who do not seem the type of riders to develop a bike.. However, I think if there is a team capable of helping yamaha to develop the bike.. It would be them.
And RC won the 2 perfect seasons on Honda's! 02' on a CR250 & 04' on a CRF450. But in 05', he won all overall's.. Came a couple of moto short in obtaining another perfect season.
Remember clearly.. All the RC's fans were amazed he did this on a suzuki.. What they did not know.. Suzuki, stepped up big times their game.. Not only giving their biggest pay checks and bonus's to RC... But also spending their biggest budget to date on their bikes... And those days are over at suzuki... Hence RC is now only a consultant at suzuki... And Dungey is very much underpaid.
I am also a Stewart fan. I long to see someone pick him up for the outdoors. It is hard, for most of the big five have their teams lined out for victory. Maybe, just maybe he could set out to do as Chad R.22 did this year for sx. I would think that he has the resources to do so. James, your fans really miss seeing you shine outdoors. I have never gotten excited watching a rider. as much as I do, even watching you on TV, has no match in any other sport. Please keep your fans involved.I think Honda or Suzuki could give him a support ride. I am extremely pleased that James is from America, I desire him to show his talent to the European hopeful.
Another way to put the lil'Stew is the "greatest" claims into perspective, does anybody really believe the the GOAT would have finished 4th (really 5th) in SX standing in his prime? Not a chance! The fact is, it is likely true that if the GOAT was still racing he would still be in the top 5. And it is likely as you physical abilities diminished the GOAT would have become more of strategic riders, and using his head more to beat the competition.
The only way lil'Stew uses his head is to slam it to the ground hoping that everybody thinks he is the the BAM and become fearful of him and pull over when he get near them.
@Pao,
Do you know that pao (泡, pào) in Chinese means: bubble, blister, swollen
puffed. Thats right, it means bubble.
If you really are such a "huge" lil'Stew fan, you should contact lil'Stew and he just may like you join his down-low posse and you can rub "elbows" with the likes of Ralph Sheheen and Eric Sorby and get yourself some of that manbooty. Itz all good if you know waz i'm saying and sheet (no pun intended). Word-up dwag!
Who's the guy holding the number 1 plate? Did he used to race motocross?
白龙.. ha,ha.. Like your post on steering up the stewtards!! Nice!!
I have to say this... RC did get beat in his prime when he started in the 250 class.. Remember being amazed on his speed!!! Yet, in his first year he was out of control.. And he crashed a lot!!!
Second year... He was nowhere near the king... And only shone in daytona that year...
Of course one can argue when did RC hit his prime? I think, i like MC's analogy... He mentioned in an interview.. A rider normally hits his prime, in the form of a window... And the best window for a rider is between age 20-25... Some can peak later, some earlier.. once you are beyond 25 yrs... Your window starts to close. Here, it all depends on the individual's stamina and desire to win.. And that's where RC was the very best.. He had the best possible trainer in the business and was surrounded by people who supported his desire to win... And.. The results speak for themselves!
But honnestly... I think everybody we compare to RC.... Especially in outdoors... He fades big times.. Not only a JS.. But even the actual riders... Those achievements by RC.. Are just incredible... No one, will ever come close to them!
If your hating on yamahas thats stupid, you know all these bikes a just as good as any other.
@bd200, the BIKE means a LOT, You can NOT cut and Mod the chassie, Why do you think back in the day that MC rode a 3 year old Honda?? Because he HATED the new one.
I know 1 rider who has no chance of the #1 plate.lol
BillC.. Correct.. MC rode the 93' chassis of the CR250 for a whopping 3 yrs... From 93' to 95'... Only the 96' chassis he deemed was good enough to replace his trustworthy 93' chassis.
Honda did not like this.. But hell... He seemed also the only rider winning for Honda!! And in 96'.. Honda was already shifting their attention to the aluminium frame... MC hated it!!!
And... Even when MC rode his 1st yr on yamaha... The engine was from a 94 model... If my memory serves me well.
Quit blaming the bike Stewpids. Erkel lays down the fastest practice times and almost always wins his heat race every week. Then he goes out and wads himself in the main and it's the bike set up. I don't think so. IT AIN'T THE BIKE IF YOU TURN THE FASTEST LAP TIMES ALMOST ALL THE TIME.
You guys talk about the difference in factory bikes and setup, like you actually have some idea about it? I'm going to take a stab in the dark and say that none of you have ever ridden a factory bike, or so much as tested a factory seat cover.
There is just to dam much time spent on this kid for only having 3 major titles Same as Chad Reed has…Why is everybody always looking for excuses for this kid not winning and crashing ????? I am so sick of hearing this garbage, this totally puts down and discredits every other rider out there.
Dont you people understand the difference now is he has Competition that has stepped up and can ride just as fast as he is and there is more than one rider that can do it.. It is as simple as that. Just look at the facts, this year was stacked with great talent that we havent seen in Years EVERYBODY was HEALTHY for the first time in years and only one top rider got hurt in the end ( TC )
Stewart as usual thought he was the best guy and discredited the other riders abilities and he was wrong !! And you seen what happened through out the year, Stewart rode over his head in desperation panic mode and would look to start blaming anything he could think of, also did the fans and media.
The fact is, his bike is fine. He had no trouble winning the 09 title against Chad Reed note ( When he had ONE GUY to contend with )
Lets go back to the Kawi days too. When he raced Carmichael outdoors he was crashing all the time injuring himself quite often, Now…. different bike ( the one you people say he needs to go back to ) but what key element did he have also then ????? ( Competition in the form of the GOAT )
Now we have a different bike but the same ingredient COMPETITION !!! = Stewart riding over his head and crashing all the time….
Carmichael retires and all of a sudden Stewart is crash free…………………
1: Its not the bike
2: Its not off track drama
3: Its not distractions
4: Its not lack of training
ANSWER = IT’S THE COPETITION………. END OF STORY
I am not a hater, I think he is a great rider but just not as great as the media makes him out to be…….
@YZF125----I couldn't agree more.
RC has said many times his CR 250 wasn't all that great. He had a bike disadvantage in 02 and still went undefeated.
In 08 Stewart had a great bike. A good team was there to keep him in check, and get the bike set up right. He was in good physical shape by mid-season. He didn't have any off the track distractions - no TV show. He was motivated coming off injury and there was much less competition in 08 than now. He made 24-0 look easy
HE'S GOT NONE OF THAT GOING FOR HIM NOW AND THAT'S WHY HE'LL NEVER WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP AGAIN!!!!
Js7 has serious talent, not a fan of the guy, takes more than just speed to impress me. If he would step up to the challenge of the yamaie, and make it work for him the way he wants, and the only way is to race it make changes and race it again something you can't really do in a practice mentality . help yamaha make it yours. Or just walk away and find another bike, but choosing to not race is a decision not good for no one, fans , manufacturer, sponsors, and mostly js. We all know if he felt he could dominate he would be there sponsored or not. We know he is fast we know he has tremendous talent and now we know he is not the champ he thinks he is. The most overpaid mx rider on the planet, what a shame especially since there are a lot of great riders these days, and all we want to do is talk about a guy who chose not to be part of the greatest mx season in a long time. Suck it up sally! Racers race, win or lose they race! Js your not a racer in my book.
With js sitting home sucking his nub, I can only hope to hear less about him and more about guys who are going to give us a great show this season.
Shorty in my opinion is going to finally get that 350 on the box more than once this year and I hope he can beat 800 to the line more often than not, what a challenging ride that would be. Go get him short. I respect your decision to help ktm develop that machine, I predict it is going to pay off big time for Andrew.
There is no excuse for the highest paid rider/team owner to not be ready for the nationals. Access to any part, the best personel. And still not ready.
Not having a team manager is James' problem. James needs to drop the tv show and move to a factory team to be "guided" back into a championship mindset and direction.
Bike setup was outrageously bad on the yamaha. No suspension balance at all, forks that didnt move, shock that packed down.
Its not the bikes fault.
Do you really think Honda would take on JS as a rider. Remember MC leaving because of the Honda people wanted to control his every move? If its the bike JS could switch it up with another brand other than Yamaha.
I don't think JS can win like he has before. He has been broke down by the other compitition and they know they can beat him now. Before everyone backed down and settled for 2nd or less.
Look for JS later in the year, I think he will try to get another shot at the MXDN team. If he comes out and is healthy and some other riders are hurt it might work out.
What I meant was, RC would have won the same amount of titles if he stayed at Kawasaki..didnt matter what RC rode, he had talent, desire and the heart of a lion......I was hoping he would stick it out another year and ride a yamaha and win SX and MX titles on all 4 big brands just cause he could...that would have been cool.....Reed has raced all 4 brands and has titles on Yam and Suzuki only....I dont think Reed will win any more titles, especially outdoors.....it should be the RV show this year.....
these articles have been great. some of the comments though have made me doubt my own memory at times so i have been going back and watching as much as possible on the internet (youtube, etc..). man, a lot of those battles with RC, CR and JS were intense. i have watched many rough but clean passes from them all. i highly recommend everyone to go back and watch some of this stuff. it reminded me just how good all three of these guys were at the time.
@ LawnDart, in the 10/10 issue of TWMX (page 104), RC, questioned what his "best bikes" were, he states: "in 2002, my Honda outdoor bike was awesome, and so was my 2004 four-stroke Honda. That bike was unbelievable".
I'm not trying to "bust" you here, I just don't agree with the "bike problems" statement. Going up against Windham on a clearly more powerful thumper has got to be testament to either his skills, the bike or both. I think it was both (what percentage, I have NO idea).
For the '02 season, I seem to remember he had a strange setup with the bars in his lap and a low-rider rear end.
Carlsbad------Interesting because he never had any problems saying the Suzuki 250 was a big step up. And how the CRF450 was much more competitive than the their 250. Maybe he ment he didn't like it for SX???
Didierlotsyeng, I think Yamaha is making a big mistake in not picking a team to invest their R&D program in. Long-term, they will fall behind in the development race and suffer negative public-perception even worse than now. If the direction of the future of moto is outside teams (a la NASCAR), JGR has got to be the premeire team.
Too bad about Suzuki but, that's how it goes when you can't pay your bills. It's really too bad because there's no doubt they have one of, if not THE best, bike on the track at this time (maybe of all-time). Maybe they'll go back to the "shotgun" approach they tried in the late '80's early '90's and hire a bunch of fast youngsters (that will work for cheap).
@ LawnDart, you'll get no argument from me. I'm one of those people that wonder why we went away from steel frames in the first place. Almost universally, every manufacturer had handling issues upon their change to aluminum frames. Those 2005 & up RM-250's were / are great handling bikes to me, razor-sharp compared to their KX & YZ competition. That bike with a 350-400cc two-stroke motor would give the competition fits right now, and go ANYWHERE on a SX track.
is *itch boy racing outdoors, or is he afraid to let everyone watch villopoto stomp him agian while his agina bleeds out.?
The Team Structure - RD has won 7 of the last nine SX and MX CShips
The Competition (young guns) -The days of the Tyson effect for James ended with Dungeys repass at A1
The Riding Style - See the Competition - 2 laps at sprint speed to get or close a gap is one thing - 15 laps is Russian roulette
The Crashes / Injuries / Confidence - See the Competition - Ridng Style
The Time Off - See the Competition - The Riding Style- The Crashes and now he misses more races
The Yamaha - Hahn - Millsaps - Boni - Chisolm have all had major injuries
The Shelf Life - Check the ages of all the CShip caliber riders
Dirt
@English14 @yz125 thank you for keeping it real.
Carlsbad - you are 100% spot-on with that last post!!!
I think a realistic perspective to keep in mind is: Chad Reed took empty hands and made a team from the ground-up and finished second in arguably the most competitive SX season ever.
James Stewart (& co.) took a (multiple) championship winning team and imploded on their way to finishishing fouth in the same series.
The infrastructure @ L&M was obviously already there and came unglued (which, begs the question, why?)
Reed, Dave O. & co. did a superlative job with what they had in the amount of time they had (which, begs the question, how?)
A "two tribes" piece on the mechanics / techs of JSE & 2-2 m/s would be interesting (although probably not very revealing).
@ bd200,, How on God's gGreen Earth can you say the bike means nothing ?? I'm not saying the Yamaha is the reason for JS's lack of wins, but the fact remains that he has not looked good on them like he did on the Kaws.. BillC gave a good example, and remember I think it was 1997 when MC rode Suzukis ?? He won ONE SX that year in Minneapolis, then never rode them again.. I could give you a million examples...
" the color of the plastic means nothing. " Now thats funny bd200..
YZF125.......100% accurate IMHO. It ain't all the crap everyone else is talking about, its the COMPETITION!
ITS NOT THE BIKE> like someone has already said, JS was getting fastest lap times all over the place. he just plain rode over his head this season- and paid the piper
24-24 on what ? flat tracks? against who? RC, Villo, RD, CR, CP, TC? NO
@mxmofo, I will say it again. A bunch of other posters said the same thing as I did about the bike NOT being the problem, and I am the only one you cut down for it. Like I said, YOU dont do anything on here except try to start arguements, you are an as#.
Stewie crashed like crazy on the Kawi too when he had compretition to race against. Are was you not a fan then?? He constantly crashed his brains out chasing RC, how hard is that to remember?? He is still the exact same, just more fast guys out there now.MXMOFO If you would read other post, I am NOT the only one who says this.
And MC lost the supercross title by a slim margine at the last race because of a flat tire and a dnf in the LAST race. MC said himself in his book that the biggest problem he had with Suzuki was lack of funding from Suzuki, they wouldnt put the money into it. Nothing like he was used to at Honda, MC said himself the bike was fine.
bd200,,, If you dont think riders prefer some bikes over other bikes,,, you truly are a moron ....
Leave it to MXMOFO to start an arguement and attack a guy for his opinion again. It that all you do MOFO, besides having a childish nickname?? Do you ever maje intelligent comments or anything, or do you just search around for a reason to start an arguement?? You trully need some help. Grow up. And you never said why you had a problem with just bd200 maing those comments. At least 3 or 4 other posters said the samething, only you disagrred. Maybe he is right?/ To me, those bikes are nothing like the ones you buy, Stewart had been on that bike for years, and has won on the bike, now he lost and its the bikes fault. Hmmm?
@MXMOFO is a jackass,,, and you actually can tell ME that I have a "childish nickmane." Dude, your are an idiot.. At least I'm not a PANZY and can use the name I have been using since I've been posting on here, and not hide like you do ... I know you are an IDIOT, so I will clue you in on a little fact,,, Yamaha TOTALLY CHANGED THEIR 450 IN 2010, YOU IDIOT !!!... You are the definition of a MORON...
We all know its you bd200,,, you panzy !!!
HA HA!! Love it, It sounds like MOFO has made some friends. MOFO are you making an "excuse" for Stewie?? NO WAT!! You wouldnt do that would you?? How long has Stewie been on the Yamaha anyway?? How many titiles has he won on it. Now he loses and its suddenly the bikes fault?? Really?? Sounds like MOFO is making an excuse to me. WOW. What a hypocrite you are after blasting me saying I was doing that for Reed.(Which I never did) Now you do it.
And you dont know me if you think I would post under another name. If I wanted to call you something I would moron. there see..
And I have been posting on here for at least 2 or 3 years, and the same unsername the whole time. Now get to class and do your homework.
Funny how you responded to that so QUICK. Idiot !!!
@ bd200,,, since we all know you can't read,, I will post what I said yesterday,,,
" I'm not saying the Yamaha is the reason for JS's lack of wins, but the fact remains that he has not looked good on them like he did on the Kaws.. "
I'm serious, you are an idiot.. you just prove it over and over again...
It looks like to me the mxmofo is a huge Stewart fan and will argue any fact that means Stewart just got beat. He doesnt look as good because there are guys just as fast as he is thats why. He is blowing them all away. He sure looked nice and comfortable in St. Louis on that Yamaha. So I dont think the bike has anything to do with it. Her had several months to get it set up right.
And something else I have noticed is when anyone disagrees with mxmofo, why do you have to name call. Are you just a immature teenager or just an angry man who has issues. Just because you dont agree with what somebody says, they are an idiot, or a moron, or whatever juvenile statement you make. It is usually a sign of someone who is low on thier own self-esteem they try to make someone else look bad to pump themselves up. But it just makes you look like a fool.
@Go Devil, well said. End of story.
stewart=lost cause and hope