Ask Ping!
Friday, October 14, 2011 | 9:35 AM
ODI dates back to the 1980’s as the leader in grip manufacturing. Focusing primarily on the bmx and mountain bike industries through the 90’s and early 2000’s, ODI re-entered the motocross scene when they developed the patented lock-on grip system that eliminates wire and glue. Continuing to advance the way riders hold on to their bikes, ODI has worked closely with the teams they support such as Troy Lee Designs to create the product that is now being used by some of the top teams in the industry.
Tweet
Advertisement | Advertise with Us
Share
Comment
Email
Print
Hey Ping,
Having been a fan of the sport practically since I was born, I've seen a lot of #111s come and go on KTMs. Grant Langston, Jay Marmont, Juha Salminen, Jeffrey Herlings last year, and Michael Sleeter, just to name a few. Why are there so many #111s riding KTMs? I know Langston did it because he was a world champ that came over, but what about all the others? Your wisdom is very much appreciated.
Alex Visser
WSU, Pullman, WA
Rare shot of the European GOAT in a US stadium
There are a few numbers that are held for visiting riders from other countries. Obviously the top 100 numbers are earned by riders the previous season but the AMA usually holds onto 100, 101 and 111 for times when a top International rider wants to come over and compete in an AMA event. It doesn’t mean they have to use it, but often times they will. Notice that all the riders you mentioned, with the exception of Sleeter, are foreign riders. And Mike married a foreign rider’s sister, so I think they gave him some leeway when he requested the number. I always think of Greg Albertyn when I see 111, but that number has been used by many great riders, including Stefan Everts when he raced supercross here in 1992. As for 100, well, Hansen is going to have to give that up because the new rules dictate that you must take the number you’ve earned. Sorry, Hanny. And 101 is my number, so that one is off the table. That leaves 100 and 111 wide open for Russian Bob or some other Euro speedster to come take a whack at American motocross.
PING
Hey Ping,
I love your stuff. I was able to meet you at the Powder Mountain race a couple of years ago. My impression was that you're a great guy. Now to my question: How many bikes do retired pros generally get per year if any? Does Suzuki still give Carmichael a full factory bike every year? How about Jeremy McGrath and Honda? Or even let's say Jeff Emig and Kawaski? What about you? Do you get free bikes?
Thanks,
Jason
When you can still do this you get free bikes
Thanks for reading. I don’t know how it works in other motorsports, but in motocross there is some loyalty when a rider has success with a team. Ricky Carmichael still gets bikes from Suzuki, though I doubt they are full-factory machines. McGrath is still employed by Honda, so he obviously gets some bikes to ride. Emig still gets a bike from Kawasaki every year. But even guys like Grant Langston were able to get bikes for a couple years after their careers ended because they won championships for a manufacturer. Things typically run their course after a while, though, and then the bikes are budgeted for something, or someone else. I am lucky to get a bike every year, but it isn’t because of all of the titles I’ve won. As a member of the media I get to ride one of the bikes they have tagged for Racer X Illustrated. Is that a great job perk or what? It’s like a fat Christmas bonus that I get sometime between Labor Day and Halloween. So, do you think it works that way in other sports? Does Michael Schumacher get free Ferraris for life? Does Richard Petty get all the Chevy Luminas (Or whatever brand he drove) he can handle? Does Oscar Meyer send the former hot dog eating world champ free wieners for life? If anyone can shed light, please do.
PING
Dear Ping,
When will the lame trend of using someone's initials as a nickname stop? Names like Hurricane, The Bomber, Showtime… those were nicknames. RV2, JS7, BT101, not so much. Some people need to try a little harder. Any thoughts?
DH108
aka Drewmeister
O'Show, Bad Boy and the Little Professor
That nickname thing is a big pet peeve of mine. Some of the really old ones had a tendency to be a little cheesy… Kent “The Rhinestone Cowboy” Howerton comes to mind. But, as you said, most of them were really cool and personal. The Dogger, The Man, Magoo, O’Show, Chicken, Airtime, The Rock, The Jammer… those were nicknames. I’m pretty sure most people would agree that we could do a lot better these days. You know the one thing worse than using initials and a number to create a nickname? Simply adding “Meister” to you name. Come on, Drew, let’s think outside the box here. I don’t even know you and I can think of a couple better than Drewmeister. Mt. Drew. Doctor Ew. Honestly, I’d rather call you Big D than anything that involves your initials or the word meister. Let me know what you come up with.
PING
Got a question for Ping? E-mail him at [email protected].
Did you like this article?
Check out TEAM HONDA AT DAWN
in our Latest issue of Racer X available now.
Forty years ago, Team Honda arrived on the American motocross circuit with a brand new motorcycle: the game-changing Elsinore CR250. Page 170.
Look for the verified symbol 
Impulse Studios
I think the nicknames like JS7 make texting and tweeting easier, not so much for a cool name.
What is Hanny's number though since he didn't earn any points counting towards the top 100? He didn't race any 450 SX or outdoor nationals, so I assume he can stick with the 100. I don't know why they just don't let them pick a number as the number system doesn't show where people placed anyways. RV wasn't second, or Dungey 5th or Reed 22nd, or Dowd 16th. Those "permanent" numbers really throw everything off.
Who cares what numbers riders use, or how they are assigned? Put the numbers in a hat and have the riders draw them, for all I care. Wonder if the Pingmeister agrees with me on that.
Hansen can run the number 100 this year but will have to run whatever number he earns next year
That's crazy. does that mean Alissie will have to give up 800 or if someone like Travis, who when you see #199 his name jumps in your head, would have to give that up?
Revealing my '80s moto-dorkness here, but I always though RJ was "Too Hip", not Bad Boy!? Never seen the pic of them with their hands on their hips ... sorta strange.
Roger DeCoster is the one that made nummber 111 so hot.As for as better nicknames today,you have got to be kidding.ElCupacaraba or what that nickname was for Baggett was is the most stupid nickename ever.
Fred,
JMB Jean Michel bayle also ran #111 when he first came to US to kick ass!
Yeah fred and robkiseyart-- I was gonna mention DeCoster and Bayle also. I remember wehen Hanna was using 100 and told DeCoster he was so bad he gets three one's. I used three one's the second time I raced cause 1,11, 17, 4, 44,and 7 had already been used and three ones was easy with the black electrical tape!!!
@Welkethats what I did for my first race was a electrical tape number 111.Hahahah! I'll still do it now when in a pinch.
Hey czmark if you are reading this I gave up on the Balsa plane and rubber band so I guess I will just have to ride it out there and then race it.
If you don't know why Alessi can run 800 or Pourcel gets 377 you need to go read the Racer X Article that explains all of this.
Hey fred we old timers still know a trick or three!
First off Richard Petty drove for what is now Daimler Chrysler. Come on Pingster, google that. I'll give you that after Dodge pulled out of NASCAR after total domination he jumped into a Chevy Monte Carlo (never won). I met the guy when I worked for MOPAR, couldn't understand a word he said. He received the nickname "The King" wow that's a lot of info from a guy that doesn't care about NASCAR.
I thought you could pick any number you wanted if you were a past champion? Hence why Travis could pick 199, Dungy 5, Reed 22, Dowd 16, etc. All past champions.
or is it...
The top twenty-seven numbers are permanent. Therefore, each season, James Stewart will remain #7, Chad Reed #22, and Nick Wey #27. Numbers 28 through 99 are earned by scoring national points in either Monster Engery AMA Supercross or Lucas Oil AMA Motocross. Numbers 100-999 are then given to riders based on their requests.
Oh and one more thing. I'm waiting for someone to run the #13 again. Anyone know where Heath Voss is? I'd like to see a list of people that ran that number and actually had good luck running it. I know Tortelli didn't have good luck running it. Ricky Johnson ran it I think back in '91.
Pingmeister is on it!
Ben Townley could run 13 and double-reverse whatever curse is following him about.
I seen Tortelli run the 13 at red butt, and was leading......then i seen him push his outta gas cr250 till he nealy died, I think I'd pass on the #13 for MX,....allthough its fine for ny other sport I wore 13 in jv football, no probs.
Ya I knew Petty raced Mopar's but did not want to get on Ping at the time? There is nothing wrong with #13 I never ran it I only broke my back on the 13th and destoyed my leg on the 13th not one was on Friday the 13th??
I still break mirrors and walk under ladders just for fun then go outta my way to walk accross the path of a black cat. I ussually go out on friday the 13th until last year when an Illegag hit me ant totaled my truck. So no I am not superstious..
PS: Do you think that ilagal from Mexico had a drivers liscens much less insurance???
HA HA, I had to chuckle at the Dremeister!
walkerjo35, you might want do a little Google work before starting in on the trash talk. Daimler sold Chrysler in 2007.
Hey Hey Ping I got a rap song for you, OOO my name is Ping, I got the bling bling, because I got the swing swing, it goes a little like this, ching ching a bling bling, my name is Ping I won my titles on a bike that goes ringa - ringa - ding ding, that's why they call me Ping. If you are out on the track, don't look back, ringa ringa ding ding, you just got passed by Ping.
Ryan "The Machine" Villopoto
Dean Wilson should be called "Kick-Ass" he looks like the kid in that movie. I wonder if Mitch would let him race in that green lycra suit
Fred , I did the same thing on my first. Than later on when I raced with anything than other than 111 I wrecked. I still run 111 25 years latter. No it was never my fault. I used to tell people I was so fast they had to give 3 number 1's.