Racer X ReduX: Southwick
Wednesday, August 31, 2011 | 5:00 PM
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PrintWe always knew Southwick was extreme. But what I didn’t realize was how it also favors the extremes. If you’re a man of philosophy, you’d say this track giveth and it taketh away. If you’re a man of science, you’d say for each action, there is an equal an opposite reaction. This track never picks the middle ground. It produces the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. It breaks bikes, breaks hearts and builds legends. It’s Southwick, not Middle-of-the-Roadwick, that’s for sure.
For example, the riders who did well here this year were from very close or very far away. It was New England heroes and international stars, without much left for anyone in between. The internationals swept the 250 ranks with two South Africans (Tyla Rattray and Gareth Swanepoel) and Scottish lad Dean Wilson. An Australian (Brett Metcalfe) won the 450 Class. Wilson admits he’s not a sand specialist, so his podium is simply a byproduct of his usual consistency regardless of the terrain. But Rattray, Metcalfe, and Swanepoel will readily admit this is their best track of the year, and they’ll trot out the, “I grew up on sand” mantra as proof. Growing up in Australia or South Africa makes you feel at home in Massachusetts!
Barica likes Southwick, and proved it with a moto two win.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
And of course the guys who actually are at home feel at home here. And I get paid to write amazing stuff like this? Justin Barcia was raised in New York (but born in New Jersey, and don’t you forget that) and has been cutting laps on this track since his 65cc days. This is his best track on the twelve-race Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, and it showed. We may be experiencing a valley after the late-1990s peak of the New England motocross glory days—when John Dowd and Doug Henry could win a national anywhere and were locks for wins at Southwick—other local fast guys still step up. And that group still includes Dowd, 46 years old but still able to get results through absolute relentlessness. Dowd is not going to blow people away with speed, but he just keeps grinding. Throw in some terrible weather and he’s only going to do better. His ride was unreal.
And at one point during that crazy second moto, Dowd wasn’t the only local in the hunt. Massachusetts boys Jacob Morrison and Robbie Marshall were also in the top-ten with Dowd, making for a bizarre three-rider freight train that probably looked like any of the other 137 rounds of NESC motocross during the year. From what I hear, Morrison and Marshall are not exactly best buds, so that was a real race within the race there. Morrison and Marshall eventually crashed out, I think, but the speed was impressive—same for Mike Sotille, the fastest qualifier.
But here is how this track plays to the extremes: The legends are there—Marshall and Morrison running up front this year, or the old days of Pat Bahhhhton or Scott Carter or JoJo Keller, Tony Larusso, whoever. This is a track where a local dude can come off the couch or a 9-to-5 job and lead the best in the world. But it’s also the most physically demanding track on the circuit. When you’re asking a local to win, you’re asking him to run the pace for 30 plus 2 on the roughest track of the year, and the guy probably doesn’t even do 30-minute motos at any other time!
Southwick was not kind to Reed, who finished with two DNF's.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
The weather here goes two ways. Really hot and humid, or really wet and muddy. There are times when European riders come here to flex their sand-riding muscles and end up fried in the heat. There are other times when it rains really hard. Southwick doesn’t get the rep of a mudder like High Point does, because the sand absorbs the wet and makes it seem better than it is. But I’m sure when you’re getting stung in the eyes by wet sand, well, things actually look worse than they really are.
And how about the bikes? Is it just me or is the reliability getting worse here? Back in the day, it seemed like everyone rode Southwick hard, and occasionally someone blew up. Nowadays blowups are common, and the riders are actually starting to be careful with their bikes. Metcalfe explained how he tried to stay away from the clutch, because he knew that slipping it makes things hotter. Maybe it cost him some speed, but I’m sure he was happy with his decision when Barcia, who passed him while going crazy early in the first moto, didn’t even finish that moto. Metcalfe’s jubilation was linked to everyone else’s devastation—something he was on the opposite end of last year.
And then we have the most extreme of the extremes. Metcalfe lucked out of a win last year, but this year took advantage of everyone else’s bad luck to win. He rode smart, he managed the day, and he knew exactly what he needed to do. On paper, it looks like an amazing day for Suzuki, with a first and a third. But in reality, it must have felt like one of their worst days ever, with the team scrambling to get Dungey’s bike going. And for Dungey, it was good for one moto and bad in another. Points wise, his result was a heartbreaker, because he literally pulled away from Barcia in moto two, proving he had the stuff to go 1-1. But yet, if he wins this title, his ride will be remembered forever as a legend.
Metcalfe got his redemption at Southwick.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
He’s not the only one with ups and downs to the day. Barcia had a bad and a good. Justin Bogle came from way back to 18th, but then nearly scored a podium in moto two. His teammate Eli Tomac told me he was feeling confident after riding in some sand dunes in New Mexico leading into the race. He had worked on his starts with Jeremy McGrath, and logged the fastest time in qualifying. It looked like things were going to turn around for Tomac, but instead, he got probably his worst starts of the year (worse than the terrible ones he’s had so far) and had a really bad day.
The worst was reserved for Chad Reed, though. Yeah, his last few races have only been so-so. It looked like it was going to be another one of those days this time. But Southwick wouldn’t let it end with nearly an middle of the road result. It ended both of his motos early, and removed him from championship contention as well.
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holeshot
Don't want to sound like a hater ( cuz I like reed) But he was done before his bike died. He was in 5th and going no where so he would have been over 30 points out anyway and is not riding well sence the crash. Hope he is back for SX at full force but this my be his last year out side IMO.
Yeah, I would say Reed outside is no more. He is good when in his happy place. When he has to get down and dirty and gut it out for a few weeks he seems to wilt. I found it strange that many times this year, if he started out front he could stay there. If he started in 3rd-5th he was staying there and in most cases getting dropped by 40+ seconds. I guess his swan song was the one moto he actually dropped Dungey, but doing it once nets you 3rd in the Championship!
So long Reed, thanks for the memories, ashame he may forever be associated with " The Crash "
rough day for reedy- the thumpers rip but seems all brands have more and more mechanical problems. 2 stroker would of been a good choice there imo- or a not so tweaked out thumper.
Man I feel sorry for the privateers their bikes get wasted on days like this....
@ dono
yea man i hear ya, when the factory guys` bikes blow up its like yea this sucks but not a big deal. when a privateer`s bike goes its like, ok my seasons over
I HATE when people say "IMO." Honestly, IMO, it is the more annoying than the "holeshot" posts
BillC, I'm talking to you. IMO, your the most annoying person on this website
Indeed Red54 - Reed got dropped more than he delivered the dropping for sure...I don't think the crash is too blame..But I also I think RV and RD have stepped it up since Washougal and he simply can not run that pace......RV on quite a few occasions dropped both RD and the 22 really quick, but could never do it twice in one day...bad starts, crash, bike, health whatever the case he couldn't put it together.....Southwick we saw RD out front and RV turn it up and catch him.....second moto...well, it is what it is, a sandy wet butt crack that somebody had to win...but things will go back to normal at Steel City....What I did like this weekend, was just like at the Dilla, RV was able to pass Barcia with ease, in moto 1 when he was actually racing....heck he actually passed Barcia and Alessi in the same 25 yards....RD had a good "do or die" ride in moto 2, but I still think RV has the edge over everyone and moto 2 at southwick isnt a sign of anything other than...WE MADE IT THROUGH THE DAY!!!
One of those New England riders mentioned doesn't get to ride 338 as much as the others because he keeps getting banned from the local race orgs.
he is banned from my house to
Listen to all you whiney experts saying Reed is done. Oh how just 4 weeks can turn your whimsical perceptions. This is the same 'bad dude' who has legitimately smoked both Ryan's head to head this year. Granted, not all the time, but it has happened on enough occasions to be acknowledged.
How many times has Reed been "done" before this latest round of " he's done"?!
A dozen? Probably more. Write him off at your own peril.
It would be a fair bet to place that Reed will be "back" - and a lot of you keyboard sandcrabs will be scurrying to once again go hide under your rocks......
JM
What's with this stupid Outbrain pop up nonsense on the bottom left of the Racer X articles? How do I make it go away?
How could you say Dungey pulled away from Barcia? He was a lap down! What incentive did Barcia have to pass him? He had a 30 sec lead. In the !st moto he was catching RV2 and Dungey when the bike blew up... 17 was never my fav rider but, he has proved himself the last two races. After 17's DNF he was way pissed. I don't think anyone could have caught him no matter what!!!
Hard to tell from the broadcast how close Barcia was to catching Dungey. I think Fro made some comment about Barcia catching up. But Wegee states in this article that Dungey was pulling away?? From the average lap times, they were running almost the same pace. I'd be surprised if Barcia even knew that Dungey was up ahead (or would even care).
On the 4 stroke topic, these engines are so highly strung, its gonna be tough to keep them in one piece. It seems reasonable that they could invest a bit more in the 2 stroke and easily get the power they wanted using electronics. Are we really worried about 2 stroke motocross bikes producing an environmental calamity?? Get real !!
@IMO... People will complain about anything!! I started putting IMO in my post because some people would complain that you sound like eveything you say is fact... So I put IMO now the other side is crying... so IMO you can piss off!! and get an avtar, if you are going to call someone out at least have the BALLS to sign up for real so we know who you are. chickin shit!!
Great article Weege. My pick to win the 450 title NOW is Dungey. He'll show those team Kawasaki punks who has a faster motorcycle! Sucks for Reed though. :/
Is it just me or is the reliability getting worse here? YES, They are 4 strokes and have many more moving parts and more heat!!!! They blow up and cost much more to race than the good old 2 strokes. The 4 strokes have made it much harder for some kids to race.
Sorry Motonut, Reed is done, engrave it on the Trophy " Reed is done outdoors " You can lite me up on here when he proves me different. I won't run and hide, I'll face the music, but I feel it in my gut. He has had more heartbreak and been second or third fastest outdoors his whole career. One title to show for and the younger competition is only getting better thus making it harder everytime he suits up!
Yes the reliability is even gonna get worse with the 4 popers out there. $ strokes are an art form and ya gotta have a flow bench to see if you made it better or worse. 2 stokes the math will work and a flow bench can help. Ya gotta understand Venturi's law of fluid and air dynamics, that is whay I want the carbs back. Then with both 2 and 4 stokes you have to make the pipes work with the demensions of the bike. There is no such thing as perfection only compromise.
I believe before the "crash heard around the world" that Reeds point lead was shrinking and had he not crashed the Ryans would have passed him in points anyway...Reed is still riding the same...he just isnt riding the same as RV and Dungey.... He had his chance to stay on top....he had his chance to come back and he didnt do it....now the lady luck has turned on Reed and he is out.....that same lady luck that took RD and RV out of a SX race allowing Reed to make up 25 points on them....The same lady luck that took RD out at Texas and allowed Reed to take the points lead in the first place......RV struggled in the first half of the MX and he has come alive for the 2nd....doing what he needs to do....its not over yet and lady luck can still ruin someones day...or year I should say....just seems that after the broken leg, the knee the year before....this is RV's time to say ...Yes, I am the man!
I am in agreement with IMO.... about how annoying IMO is, but calling holeshot for the first post has got to be the most lame and immature thing that goes on at this website.
Hey BillC... do you have a job?
@Red54M....
Haha! I'll take you up on that.
Equally, I wouldn't be a man if I didn't allow you the same opportunity - so if you end up being right I'll expect the same treatment.
Either way it'll be an interesting outcome at this point in CR22's career. I just feel that he has a bit of fight left in him yet.
Welker, you are a tool. Stop acting like you are an engineer or that you know what is going on inside of a water bottle, let alone a 4 (or 2, for that matter) stroke engine and leave the engineering to us big boys. Do you honestly think that you know an inkling of what even the dumbest engineer at Honda or Kawasaki knows? We need carbs back? You are clueless and should go back to the idiotic website you copy and pasted that response from and fill it full of thoughtless comments.