10 Things We Learned at Southwick
Wednesday, August 31, 2011 | 3:00 PM
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PrintAuthors: DC, Jason Weigandt, and Chase Stallo
10. DOWD'S STILL GOT IT: He's 46, but he's going to be 16 again. As in AMA National number 16. Dowd needed to score 25 points this year to keep it, and after only claiming three points at Millville and zero at Unadilla, the odds seemed pretty tall. But at his home track, Dowdy once again came through, with 9-8 scores to result in exactly 25 points. Add in the three he scored at Millville and he actually had room to spare!
9. HOW TO PRONOUNCE MIKE SOTTILE'S NAME: He's the kid who burned the fastest lap in practice, laying down a 1:55 and change early in the 450 B practice, just before the skies opened up. He's a local, working out of a regular van, with his dad as his mechanic. It was a classic Southwick story! And it's said Sot-till-ee.
8. QUALIFYING IS TOUGH: We also learned how rough the track can get in the second practice (and how much that slows the pace). Valli Motorsports Yamaha's Ricky Dietrich suffered a broken rear wheel in the first practice, so he had to get a good qualifying time in the second 450 practice. He was in the top-ten fastest there, but not the top-40 on the day due to all of the fast times laid down in the first sessions. It was kind of like Andrew Short's problems last year, but because he [Dietrich] was ranked eleventh in the standings, not in the top-ten, he did not get placed in the main event. RD ended up watching the races, and then he ended up stranded at the airport. Now he's at DC's house after catching a ride on Monday from Hartford to Morgantown after his flights back to San Diego were canceled!
7. SOUTH AFRICA LOVES SAND: The relatively small country (population and rider base) landed two riders on the 250 class podium and both moto wins, courtesy of Tyla Rattray and Gareth Swanenpoel. It was a remarkable day for South African MX, and somewhere both Greg Albertyn and Grant Langston must have been smiling.
6. BOGLE IS LEGIT: A lot of rookies come out blazing in their first national and then crash back into reality at their next one. GEICO Honda's Justin Bogle, though, arguably rode even better than in his sparkling Unadilla debut, coming from an early crash to gut out an 18th in moto one, and then nearly stole a podium away from Alex Martin late in moto two.
5. CHAD REED'S CHANCES HAVE BECOME REMOTE: Chad Reed's cinderella season turned into a pumpkin. After the "crash heard round the world," Reed has struggled to get back to his pre-Millville form, and it looks like Southwick will prove to be the final nail in the coffin. After suffering a DNF in both motos, Reed is now staring down a sixty-five point deficit with only two rounds remaining.
4. HOME TRACK ADVANTAGE HELPS: Southwick has always been kind to riders from the Northeast, especially to those from the state of Massachusetts. This year proved no different as all four riders in the 450 class that hail from the 'Mass--John Dowd, Robert Marshall, Jacob Morrison, and Michael Sottile-- finished inside the top-25. Not to be left out done by their big brothers, both Jimmy DeCotis and Jake Abbott also finished inside the top-25 in the 250 class.
3. SEASON'S BEST: Just a few months ago, Alex Martin was being called, "the teammate of Darryn Durham," but lately the Minnesota native has made a name for himself. He led early in 250 moto two and hung on for third. He's now tenth in points, top privateer, and a point ahead of his teammate in the standings. Another happy team: Muscle Milk/Toyota Joe Gibbs Racing. Justin Brayton, after being plagued by early season injuries, put in his best ride of the season finishing fourth overall--including his first podium of the year in moto two. And fill-in rider Les Smith scored the elusive top-ten he had been seeking, going 8-9 for ninth overall.
2. A STREAK DIES - A STREAK SURVIVES: Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki has had a season for the record books. Coming into Southwick, the PC squadron of Blake Baggett, Tyla Rattray, and Dean Wilson had managed to win 18-out-of-18 motos. While that streak ended at Southwick, due to a feisty South African named Gareth Swanepoel, another streak still lives on. The PC team still has yet to lose an overall in 2011, and with only two rounds remaining that streak could very well carry over into 2012. By the way, the PC team has already locked up the 1-2-3 spots in the standings, so no matter the name of the rider, they're taking their fifth outdoor crown in the last seven years.
1. IT AIN'T OVER FOR THE RYANS: When Ryan Villopoto won both Unadilla motos on his 2012 Kawasaki, it looked like the bike could be the championship difference maker. But Ryan Dungey responded with a moto win at Southwick. Then when Dungey's bike quit before the second moto, it looked to be over again. But Dungey recovered. Reed may have fallen out of this title chase, but it seems pretty obvious that the Ryans are going to take this right down to the wire.
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Of course Dowd's still got it...silly to think otherwise.
Yes Dowd is a bad man! Great ride for any one that is not full time, let alone the fact he is 46. He is such an inspiration to all of us older riders, think I will go put a few laps in ....ooo wait its a 108 outside here in Oklahoma, well maybe later
I'll give Reed the Washougal Re-coup for time to get over the " crash heard around the world" as i am sure he was sore physically and mentally..but at Unadilla 3 weeks later, I think RV stepped it up a notch and so did a few other guys while Reed was his usual self....Reed has shown he gets stuck in the pack when he starts there and that is what happened at Dilla both motos....He was quickest in practice at Southwick 2nd practice - which should set the final qualifying times in my opinion.. He was getting beat in moto 1 and going backwards before the motor let go.....Reed on any given day can run up front, but milleville was only one moto and he had been smoked by RV a few times by 30+ seconds in a few motos prior to Milleville and we saw him get smoked by both Ryans at Colorado...So its not the crash, its where he should be...nobody thought Reed would be up front as much as he was and I think a little luck got him there on more than one occasion....SX you had RD, RV and JS7 all losing 25 points via DNF or DNS which put Reed in contention.....it wasnt because he was winning.....
#11 - Crazy ass day at the Wick.....and Bates needs to go !
I agree - 2nd practice shoud determine the overall qualifying....why use first practice when the track is a freeway?
So, Dowd has that #16 again.... Was the #4 retired for RC? He hasn't raced in two years and how about that #3 from Mike Brown - did he get his points this year to keep that #3.......
10 things we learned at Southwick?
1. Ryan Dungey is a bad ass
2. Ryan Dungey is a bad ass
3. Ryan Dungey is a bad ass
4. Ryan Dungey is a bad ass
5. Ryan Dungey is a bad ass
6. Ryan Dungey is a bad ass
7. Ryan Dungey is a bad ass
8. Ryan Dungey is a bad ass
9. Ryan Dungey is a bad ass
10. Ryan Dungey is a bad ass
@ Trendkiller, I think it was Hangtown where Mike Brown ran near the front? I would have to go back and check but he may have scored solid points there.
Just my opinion, but they ought to just go ahead and retire that # 4. I don't think we'll ever see another like him! 150+ wins is a TALL TALL order. The talent pool seems to be as deep as it has ever been now, so at least present day, I think it is going to be harder and harder for a 26/27 year old guy to be dominant week in and week out. I guess we will watch and see because the Ryan's are the new standard and if TC41 can heal and stay healthy he is going to log some race wins.
@ Trend Killer Mike Brown scored 14 pts at Hangtown and 17 pts at Bud Creek, looks like # 3 for 2012!
I think the #4 is avalable this year.
Les Smith has been on 3 different bikes this outdoor season and 2 different brands. Overall 9th is pretty good in my book!
yes mike brown earned enough points to be #3 again and this is the last year that Carmichael has the #4... it will be up for grabs at the start of the 2012 season.... that was based on the old rules for number delegation before they changed it to you having to score 25 in a season to retain the career number...
Dungey definitely learned good from RC, its on the bad days that you win championships, I don't like Dungey, but he earned it last saturday. Awesome ride.
Ahhh that's right....I knew Brown rolled up to the gate early in the season, just forgot where and how he finished...wasn't really important to me at the time....To me, scoring only 20 points to hold your career number is pretty lame.I mean if you only score 20 pts all year, you dont have much of a career on the MX/SX circuit....I think its cool to see Dowd out there, but is it about the plate, or going out there and finishing as best as he can?....I like the days when the number changed every year...and the low number reflected who the best guys were.....I understand the marketing aspect ala NASCAR with riders having a career number that never changes, but new numbers, new gear and new bikes were always cool to see . I do like that AMA now requires they run the #1 plate...so we meet in the middle I guess....But Trey Canard or someone who's a top dog who wants to run it should be running the #3 not some guy who only races once a year....
Are you guys KIDDING ME!? 10 things we learned at Southwick and not a single mention of the first time ever Winner, BRETT METCALFE. He passed Villopoto to take the win and you guys say nothing! Unfreakingbelievable.
Racer-X you should be ashamed. Truly amateur journalism. Shows how far your heads are up your own a**es.
Whoever takes the 250 title (Wilson) will be able to select a single-digit # if they choose. Will he take #6 or 8? Or some other #?
We learned that a lot of people were injured while jumping off the Chad Reed bandwagon. We saw a role reversal where RV rode conservative and RD let it hang. We saw the baddest 46 year old to ever ride a motorcycle (well maybe Dubach). We saw a string of mechanical failures from some of the elite teams. We saw a media meltdown that left Weege and Fro in the dark. It was very intertaining!
@MXMOTO: We have had a Monday Conversation with Brett Metcalfe, mentioned his win in Racer X Notebook, Observations and Racer X ReduX. We are trying to mention other stories instead of rehashing the same stuff over and over.
#11 Honda doesn't seem to be as reliable as they used to be. #12 Dungy has about the worst luck I have ever seen.
We learned Honda cost Chad Reed a championship
MEN LOVE DUNGEY #1
Ryan Dungy lost the supercross championship because his Suzuki decided to through it's chain (only top rider to have any mechanical problem in supercross this year). He probably lost the outdoor championship this year because his bike boiled gas which forced DNF,-25 points. I know thats racing but if he looses did the better man really win or did the better bike win?
@ Jimmy the Tool ... Although your spelling needs work, you do seem to bring forward a very thought provoking question Tool. Did the better BIKE win?
Some buddy told me that Rodger the old Dodger (fan) was up to what is known in the underground as "sabotage action" in a top secret plan to get the Dunge to switch to KTMM.
I believe the #4 will be available next year or the year after that.Before the 25 point rule I think all you had to do was score a point.I seem to remember the ama retiring Ricky's #4 for five years (for good reason) when he retired.#6 and #8 are the only ones available,Canard could have chosen one but wanted #41 instead.Who would want to be the next #4 ?
"only 20 points to hold your career number is pretty lame.I mean if you only score 20 pts all year, you dont have much of a career on the MX/SX circuit" uhhh, do you realize how hard it is to even earn ONE point at a pro national?
Dungey's bike failed because he was hit in the rear sprocket.
Dungey does have pretty bad luck this year but last year he only had 1 bad moto (not including Hangtown) and he had already wrapped up the title. I'm not going to say he deserves to have the luck he has had because someone who works that hard and has that good of a attitude doesn't deserve all those problems, this goes for Trey Canard aswell.
@Chase Stallo - Ok, fair enough, I can now see that you have covered it in other articles. But dude!! So was plenty of other things you covered in this one.
After 8 years slogging it out amongst some heart breaking moments and the underdog has to pass RV to deservingly win his fist ever AMA event (in the 450's no less) is surely noteable to also make it on here.
Here is what I learned...... Brett Metcalfe is one Tough Hombre! And is the epitomy of Outdoor Motocross.
Ahh whatever - opinions, they're like a****holes - everyone has one........
@Trendkiller,......Its 25 points, NOT 20 points. It is said in this article, It is said on alot of the "responses" and its a given to most informed motoheads that its 25 pts.!!!
@
khamann75, Reed was done before the Honda Died, He was going to be over 30 points out even if the bike did not die. not makeing that up unless the #1 and #2 both bave big issues so don't blaim the bike.
Even with time to edit the botards did a absolutely TERRIBLE job with the second 450 moto. Really hard to believe something so amatuer can make it onto TV. Do you guys have a conference call on Mondays so you can get your ass* chewed out?
The Yamaha in the Les Smith pic above looks like a big fat piece of crap hog. Amazing we are back racing 4-stroke MX bikes and putting up windmills everywhere. Liberals suck and I hate them all with no exceptions.
It might be good therapy for Reed to go to somebody's FMX foam pit and practice jumping into it, and jumping off the bike, until it's routine and he overcomes his fear. Familiarity breeds contempt.
How do i make that stupid "you might like" banner at the bottom GO AWAY?! theres already too many pop-up ads on this site, i can barely see the actual content...
I love reading all your comments, Good stuff! First off RV is my boy. That said Dungey is a bad ass tenacious rider, His 2nd moto charge was so stinkin solid ! His charge to catch up to last place then picking off riders and never looking out of control doing it made me a dungey fan for sure. Same way i felt when Rhino pushed his dead bike across the finish line. These are real men of motocross. AMERICANS ! They finish no matter whats thrown at them.
MXDN Proud to have you representing us. SMOKE EM!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah now do I only have the pop up I was dealing with the alpinestars add which I will say I used Geane boots when I last races. High point boots and for a while I would only wear Esprit boots Dont like alpine stuff....