Bench Racing Ammo: Tyla, Barcia and Metty
Thursday, August 25, 2011 | 1:30 PM
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PrintSouthwick is the most unique track on the circuit. While other tracks have slowly evolved by mixing more sand into their surface, Moto-X 338 is still the only pure sand track in the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, and, Southwick sand is unlike any other sand anywhere else.
And there are three riders who really seem to like it. Tyla Rattray, Justin Barcia and Brett Metcalfe have logged some of the best AMA Motoross races of their careers at this track, and they’d love to do it again.
Barcia and Rattray have owned the 250 class at this track for the last two years. In 2009, Barcia recorded his first (and still only) career overall MX win, netting 1-3 scores for the victory. On the same day, Rattray won his first career AMA MX moto, going 6-1 on the day for second overall.
Can Barcia get his first 450 win at Southwick?
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
Last year, they flip-flopped in the results, with Rattray taking the overall with a 2-2, and Barcia finishing second with 4-1 scores. Rattray’s win was especially big since he had to skip the birth of his first child in order to race—sticking around definitely paid off!
Rattray could really use a win this weekend, as a big crash in the second moto at Unadilla has left him over 40-points down in the championships standings. Rattray, following in the footsteps of fellow South African Grant Langston, just flies in the sand. And, we all know that Styla never gets tired. You think that might help on this track?
As for Barcia, he’s now on a 450, and after giving Ryan Dungey a great run at Unadilla, he’ll be looking to challenge the favorites again this weekend. Barcia’s wide-open style works on this track. He’s not much for throttle control, which is an issue on slippery hard-packed stuff, but not here. And Barcia literally grew up logging laps on this track, back to his 65cc days. The only question is if he’s strong enough to go the distance against the ultra-fit leaders of the 450 division for two motos on a track this rough.
Metcalfe had a moto win in the bag last year at Southwick. Can he do it again in 2011?
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
Finally, there’s Metty. Metcalfe absolutely, positively had a moto win in the bag here last year until he ran out of gas on the last lap. It’s not the only time he’s been close to victory on this track. Back in 2006, while riding for Yamaha of Troy, he lost the overall by one point to Team Honda’s Andrew Short, with a 3-2 to Short’s 4-1. He missed the 2007 race with an injury, but went 3-2 in 2008 and 4-2 in 2009. Basically, Metty is in the hunt every time he races at this track.
All three of these riders could really use a victory to salvage their season. Looks like Southwick is here at the right time.
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WHT THE WHAT!! THIS DAMN THING DOESN'T WORK AT ALL!
I'm trying to get the holeshot!! and my gate is stuck!
HOLESHOT!! FINALLY!! GO BAM BAM!!
Look out for fast Canadian sand specialist's Tyler and Jeremy Medaglia to mix it up this weekend at the wick! Hopefully they can crack the top ten in this super competitvie 250 class!!! 450 War BAM BAM!!!!!!
Tyla might not be exactly 100% yet. Barcia may find it hard to repeat his dilla' performance. Going out with no expectation and killin' it is easier than following it up with another solid ride with added pressure. I think Metty on the other hand will shine, but won't touch dunge or villa
no one will stay with the ryans. bam bam will be gassed halfway through the 1st moto and wither up like a piece of bacon. hmmm bacon.
I will be shocked if the sand specialists from Canada crack the top ten in either moto. and if Barcia does not crash he is top 5 overall
Hey, who here has their dad's 80th b-day party on Saturday and is going to miss the Southwick for the first time since 2000???? THIS GUY!!!!!!!!! GRRRRR........>.*&^%$##
TomKtm what the hell was your dad thinking being born on this day!!!! The nerve!!! he should have known!!! Oh well more room for me to walk around with out you there..LOL....Tell Dad Happy B-Day for me.
If either of the Medaglia's crack top 15 I would consider that a victory since Jeremy missed Gopher Dunes and Tyler had nothing for Poilitelli. Same goes for Faciotti, Goerke had him covered in the sand
If Rattray is anything like Langston, he will be flying. I remember Langston catching and passing Stewie at Southwick, Langston could fly there. Rattray is due, he hasnt won lately. But I am pulling for Bagget to get with it, he needs a run of wins to get a confidence level up before the Des Nations.
TomKTM, kudos for you putting youyr Dad first, family takes precedence over anything. You can still DVR the race and watch it, I know its not the same but at least you can see it. But I know how you feel, I missed Red Bud a couple years ago because my son broke his arm the day before, and we hadnt gotten his cast yet. Its not the same on TV.
LOL @ DHMX667 clearly you were not at gopher dunes because Goerke had maybe a one second lead over Faciotti in moto 2! Poilitelli started in the top 5 both moto's and Tyler Medaglia came from last both moto's to still finish on the box, if T dags started even in the top 15 he would have waxed Austin both moto's!! Take a look at your home boy Durham, he had NOTHING for Tyler at Walton!!! A little FYI these Canadian boys have plenty of talent, im not going to argue that the American lads aernt faster BUT were no joke either.... Keep your eyes open for CT in your near future!!
I was at Gopher, and I saw Tyler get beat by an amateur rider and Faciotti get beat by a mile in moto 1 and by more then a second in moto 2, not bashing because the way the track was i would have struggled but to say top 10 in unrealistic when the Medaglia's were getting beat by a 15 year old Dean Wilson who has only gotten faster.
southwick SAND? is unlike any other SAND?
What the HELL are you talking ??????????
It isn`t SAND. You might think it`s Sand but guess what, it isn`t.
It`s like the ongoing arguement, of you telling us, The American Riders are the fastest in the World....... haha.
You are DREAMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I said "hopefully" you dumbass........ Dont be a hater! Dean-O is Canadian and he will win the title and I like that!! Maybe you and I can have a little moto at the dunes to settle this crap LOL...... Bring on Southwick!!!!
We can certainly agree on Deano taking the championship, and they should bring the Americans up here to race Gopher instead of Southwick, I remember talking to John Dowd when he raced up here and he said Southwick has nothing on Gopher!
Southwick is a freeway compared to Gopher Dunes, several American riders have all made that claim since the Dunes came on the national scene!! Damn right we should bring the AMA national to Gopher that would be sick!!!!
@Troy
American riders overall are the fastest and have been the fastest for quite some time now. Care to prove me wrong?
I'd like to see some version of the points gap between the top three being closed again.
I know we all have our favorites & they all are good enough to claim the title but, a last moto, winner-take-all scenario works best for me.
OR Alessi goes 1-1......................it could happen..................
It's the Gingers weekend....GO RV!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UokUC1-GcNA
Watching trackside ... then going home and watching it DVR'd is the way to go! Hope Dowdy can get at least a 10-10 and hold onto that #16. Hell, he's only two years removed from the podium there! Go Johnny Dowd! Go Dungey!
Any Maritimers on here? If so do you guys think that Irene is going to make this race even more interesting?
if all goes well for the medaglia bros they should be around the 10-15 range which is nothing to sneeze at. that 250f class is fast. tyler was 15th last year on a practice bike in the second moto at wick and in my opinion last years class was faster than this years 250 class. As far as gopher dunes goes tyler was by far the fastest. I dont know what race you watched DHMX but coming from dead last to 2-3 scores on that track is pretty good. Props to politelli he rode a great race but i think tyler could have handled him.
As far as facciotti goes, if he gets good starts im confident he can run top 10 at both the wick and steel city. He was running near the front at steel city a few years ago until he took a nasty digger. If he rides dow there like back home im thinking somewhere between 8-12.
The main thing for our boys is going to be mental and not getting psyched out because its an ama national and the caliber of riders has increased.
If you really wanna see real sand then google gopher dunes. makes southwick look like hardpack.
@Partyboy
Dean Wilson isn`t American? LEADING 250
Chad Reed a Privateer and also non American was leading the 450 for 7 Rounds.
But I`m Confidant, Non American`s will win all the classes at The Des Nations so we will see after that.
@All you dreamers, especially YOU TROY, you are a hater and are obviously jealous, but dont get you hopes up, an American will win the Des Nations, and I guess you will disappear
@Bones, Deam Wilson IS NOT CANADIAN, Dean himself says "I am Scottish", so get over it dude.
Troy is an idiot. Like THAT needed to be said.
I've eaten pounds of that dirt over the years racing at Southwick and i can attest that it is in fact sand. Doesn't taste that bad either!