The Moment: Off-Season Moves
Friday, October 7, 2011 | 2:00 PM
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During the racing season, our column The Moment focuses on key parts within each race that have a big impact on the results—and results, of course, have a big impact on a racer’s career.
But right now, several riders are waiting on a different type of moment, and it will have a big impact on their career, too. Soon, all of the upper-echelon 450 riders (those who won races this year) will be locked up with 2012 rides. That includes Ryan Villopoto (staying with Kawasaki), Ryan Dungey (now with KTM), Chad Reed (he owns his own team and it’s safe to say he’s resigning himself. And he’s staying with Honda), Trey Canard (back with Honda) and Brett Metcalfe (staying with Suzuki). We also now know Justin Brayton is with Honda now, Andrew Short is joining the new Jeremy McGrath/Larry Brooks Honda team (McBrooks Racing!) and Jake Weimer is back with Kawasaki.
Now the industry waits on James Stewart. Will he go yellow? Will he stay on blue? Maybe race Yamahas with Joe Gibbs Racing? Race alongside Metty at Suzuki? These options are in play.
Alessi will be on a Suzuki at the Monster Energy Cup, beyond that everything is still up in the air.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
Three other top 450 riders are waiting on Stewart’s move. Davi Millsaps, Josh Grant and Mike Alessi have all won races in the big class before. A few years back, they were each at the top of the list of race and championship contenders. But they haven’t delivered on their potential yet. The last two years have been especially unkind to them. Alessi never found his old outdoor pace on his KTMs, and has just one moto win in the last 24 months. Grant has been beaten down by injuries, racing only a handful of times during that span. Millsaps did get a supercross win in 2010, but his 2011 season was mostly a rebuild after a big injury, and he ended the year on the sidelines with knee troubles.
The window in this sport is small. Another wave of talent will be reaching the 450 class soon, such as Justin Barcia, who will be a hot prospect for 2013. Not to mention Dean Wilson, who is in position to command a great 450 ride whenever he wants to move up.
Will Millsaps return to JGR next year?
Photo: Simon Cudby
We’ve heard Alessi has bought a Suzuki and will race one at the Monster Energy Cup, with hopes of impressing. Millsaps is waiting, and so is Grant. Where will they end up? JGR may have some openings if Stewart goes elsewhere. Suzuki could need someone if Stewart goes to JGR. The McBrooks team is expected to have a teammate for Short. And Short leaving KTM may open up a spot alongside Dungey. But these are not guarantees—money is tight these days and KTM and Suzuki, for example, could chose to run solo efforts in the 450 class.
As for Alessi, Millsaps and Grant, all once fierce competitors on the track, they’re now all fighting over the same positions, again.
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I think a move to Suzuki for Stewart would be a great move. Be cool to see him on yellow. Add a stronger team and atmosphere around him and he could be back up to form. Hope Reed continues to recieve factory support with the team, and adding Goose is nothing but positive. Going to be a good 2012.
Im anxious to here about Stewart, and Alessi too. I like Mikes work ethic a lot. I wonder if he might do better making a Dean Wilson type move and learning to have a little fun instead of throwing tractor tires around all day and cycling 200 miles a day. Also Reed has said that Goose will NOT be his mechanic. So that leaves a huge team mate question for him
Goose will be the Team Manager Reed said. I hope we hear about JS soon then lots of news will break.
Thanks again Weege. I'm sure the dominos will fall once Stewart signs and I'll be eager to read about it!
If Goose is going to manage does that mean Osterman is out? That would seem odd to me
i think js7 is will be yellow or red maybe????anybody knows???
stew is gonna put his black ass on that rmz 450 4sure.
"stew is gonna put his black ass on that rmz 450 4sure. "
ha. I hope so. A new bike would be best, but a YZ on another team is probably better than what he's doing now. Homie needs a change.
Weege - Now did you pull that "McBrooks" from me??.....Awesome!!!
Is that the official name?
I wonder if Stewart is still planning on racing next weekend?? I know some of you don't care, but this is really coming down to the wire!! Hey redmanx, What about Pourcel's white ass...have you heard anything about where he is going??
Goose is the " Crew Chief" per Mr. Reed....not Team Manager....Do any other teams have a dedicated "Crew Chief"....sounds like a new title to me.....Basically the "manager of the mechanics"
Goose is a good guy...I remember back in the day, one of the little Gosselar's (Chris little brother) rode his 80'cc right into the back of my CR250 when I was taking off during a team race out at ol' LACR ...lil' dude got stuck in my wheel and it took a moment to stop....Chris wanted to fight me for whatever reason...and his dad (Goose) was totally cool and pushed Chris away as it was an accident obviously.....and I would have destroyed Chris....ahhh the good ol' days...
Whatever... Don't you Start. HAHAHA I said it before..JS7 should dust off one of those Kawasaki's sitting in the garage..maybe that 2003 KX125 and race the cup on that.....I am betting we wont see JS7 with the "deal" not official unfortunately ..but who knows.....
Goose in as manager? Wasn't Osterman Team Manager of the Year?
Trend Killer wrote: "Weege - Now did you pull that "McBrooks" from me??"
Unlikely.
"Is that the official name?"
Unlikely.
I also think it's unlikely that Stewart will race the cup, but we'll see. I guess Barcia's out, too. What an amazing event this could have been.
I think Pourcel's is staying "over there" next year.
I figured Grant would go with the new Metal Malisha team that Deegan was hyping at Pala. Unless even Deegan is unsure of the recent Grant fragility
Short is racing for MC Larry!
RC and MC should take a couple of laps at the ME cup
of the three riders,grant,millie,alessi.alessi is the only guy i wouild hire.millie,sorry but you have proved over time to be a slacker,go privater and prove your self again.there is talent still there.grant start working harder! now alessi has talant,speed desire and work ethic. now get rid of that blood sucking know nothing,idiot father.pay him to go away!
Less tried it without dad a while back and had his worst year yet.
i want to see alessi back on a suzuki for next 3 years.
"BillC wrote: Goose will be the Team Manager Reed said. I hope we hear about JS soon then lots of news will break."
BillC has bad info and/or a reading comprehension problem. Goose is the Crew Chief, and yes some teams do have that position -- If the bent is more technical, it can be looked at as a Master Mechanic kind of position. If it is more operational, it involves more logistic types of activities. I seriously doubt that Chad Reed would fire Dave O. after the year they all just had, including Dave pitching in to help the Australian team podium in the MXoN . . .
hey,RFTS,its gonna take a clean break of more than a year away from that no nothing,manipulative,self absorbed,never won a race himself father of his to let mike mature into an actual man.thinking for himself making decisions for himself,seeking advice from people who have done it! to listen to that moron always talk about "we" had the fastest lap time."we" are prepared."we had a good race." "we didnt do anything, you fu$king idiot,mike is the one riding the bike its all up to him not "we",fat boy!. A proper coach makes it all about the rider all the time. fat boys job is to make plane resrv. wash practice bikes,prep practice tracks,drive bus. let an actual trainer,train and ride w/mike let team managers give advice/guidence to mike let mike make his own moves based on said advice. only than will you see mike reach his full potential.I would love to see it!
I think Stewart will sign this week, you know he wants to go for the million
Anyone who picks up the likes of JS7 is creating a PR nightmare...for THEMSELVES! What I'd like to do is create Team Moron...consisting of JS7, POOR-Cel and J-Law. Those on the the team who don't beat the crap outta' one another can fascinate each other with the lies and deception...they have entertained the fans and sponsor with for so long!