Racer X Notebook: Monster Energy Cup
Tuesday, October 18, 2011 | 10:00 AM
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PrintBy Aaron Hansel and Jason Weigandt
- As expected all along, Team Suzuki was back in business for the Monster Energy Cup. Rumors went out around the time of the Motocross of Nations that the team was laying off employees and possibly folding, but sources said Yoshimura was about to swoop in, rehire everyone, and get the team back to the races. Indeed, that’s what happened, as Brett Metcalfe rode on the same machine he did earlier in the year, and Mike Webb was back as Team Manager. The only difference is that the team is operated by Yoshimura with the help of Suzuki, instead of the other way around.
- And Metcalfe rode very well, nearly winning his heat race and scoring third overall—not bad considering Metty was sidelined for most of the 2011 supercross tour because of a broken wrist he suffered in Atlanta. Metcalfe and the Suzuki team will be back at Anaheim, although we do hear it could be without Rockstar and Makita as team sponsors. What about another rider? It’s not much of a secret that Suzuki is trying to get James Stewart for 2012, but any Stewart announcement appears to be over a week away.
Metcalfe would finish third at the MEC behind Villopoto and Dungey.
Photo: Simon Cudby
- Stewart’s other potential suitor is the Joe Gibbs Racing team, which is sticking with Yamahas for 2012.
- Amateur riders are making team switches, too. Zach Bell was mounted on a Factory Connection (GEICO) Honda after years on Kawasakis, and he rode it to the first race win in the Amateur All-Star competition. And long-time Honda recruit Cooper Webb was riding a KTM in SuperMini. For more, here is yesterday's report.
- On Saturday at the Monster Energy Cup, Valli Motorsports owner Chad Lanza told us that some big news involving his team and Star Racing would be coming soon. Lanza was unable to elaborate further, but judging by the number of Star Racing personnel hanging out inside of the Valli pits all weekend, we’d guess that the two teams are working on creating some kind of collaboration for 2012. As for the original plans — Metal Mulisha to merge with Valli —we’re not sure how this will affect that plan.
Justin Hill captured the Amateur All-Star title at the Monster Energy Cup.
Photo: Simon Cudby
- For safety reasons, there are a few seats at every supercross race that are marked off, but that seat number was especially high at the Monster Energy Cup. The unusually high number of closed seats, which Monster’s Eric Johnson said was roughly 15,000, was due largely in part to the portion of track that looped up into the stands. Putting on races, especially one like the MEC, is extremely expensive, and building a section of track that cut into the bottom line couldn’t have been an easy decision. Hats off to Feld Motorsports for giving up a large number of sellable seats in order to include an obstacle that was both memorable and exciting for the fans.
- Justin Hill, the younger brother of Hart and Huntington’s Josh Hill, took home the overall win in the Amateur All-Star race with 4-1 moto finishes. The class was made up of the fastest Loretta Lynn’s riders from the A and B classes, and it’s interesting to note that only two A riders ( Austin Politelli - second, and Jessy Nelson - fifth) made it into the top five. Sure, A riders like Kyle Peters and Justin Bogle made the jump to the pro ranks after Loretta Lynn’s and were not eligible to race, but B riders Hill, Cole Thompson and Zach Bell all deserve props for holding it down and getting into the top five.
- While the original intent of the Monster Energy Cup was to hold three 10-lap sprint races, the long track led to long lap times of over 1:30, so each 10-lap main event ended up being nearly as long as a 20-lap supercross main event on a smaller track. The final race, for example, lasted 15 minutes. Add in the addition of semi qualifier races, and anyone who took the long road to the main event took a really long road—Kevin Windham rode an estimated 48 laps during the night through his heat, semi, last chance qualifier and three main events, which equates to somewhere around 80 minutes of racing. And that doesn’t even include practice!
Davalos was the top-finishing Lites rider at the MEC, finishing fourth overall.
Photo: Simon Cudby
- Martin Davalos was the top-finishing rider who normally races in the Lites class —although he was on a 450 for this event. Davalos finished fourth overall, just in front of Eli Tomac, who also normally competes on a 250 in the Lites class, but rode a 450 here.
- Like a lottery winner, Ryan Villopoto was given two options for his massive cash bounty—take the big 50 percent tax cut right off the top and go home with $500,000, or take the full $1 million, paid out at $50,000 per year for 20 years. Villopoto took the $500,000 up front. [Update Oct 18: We were incorrect. Villopoto elected to take the $50,00 per year for 20 years--sorry!]
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Thats bullshit that the government can take half of Villopotos earnings without doing shit...just think about how screwed up that is for a second...its only going to get worse if the liberals and democrats keep getting their way
It really busts my balls that Kawasaki invests so much time and money in their amateur racers that they see potential in while Honda sits back doing nothing waiting to buy them in the past few years. Think about all the riders Honda has bought as they hit the pinnacle of their amateur career.........Canard, Bogle, Bell, Tomac (Suzuki bred). Any others? I don't know if it's just me but loyalty goes a long way in my eyes. Of course the young riders themselves will take the best deal via Honda and of course Honda has the money to spend because they don't invest sh*t all in their amateur program. I guess I just feel like the manufacturers need to do more for amateurs if they can afford it, not just poach/buy them like Honda after years of support from someone else.
Is this Metty's last year in contract?
That's probably why they made AC's deal 5 years...so he wouldn't get stolen away.
Metty looked pretty solid....held off Dungey until the last frickin few turns until he had that bobble.....
Got to love the taxes.....i was wondering which option RV would choose...You have to figure this has been a very lucrative year for my fellow ginger....with all win bonuses and championship bonuses from Kawasaki and other sponsors, in addition to his normal take home from the pro purse each weekend from AMA he probably wouldnt miss that $500k up front, so maybe the 20 year 50k plan wouldnt be a bad option...having 50k role in every year for 15 years after you have retired woul be pretty nice.....but a $500k single deposit is nice too I am sure...
What a year and 2012 is already shaping up to possibly be even better....
@ retardcross - I tend to agree...I grew up racing mini bikes and you would always see the Team Green guys and some Suzuki presence towards the early 90's in the amatuer ranks.....so many of our past champs have come from team green....I always hope the guys would stick to green but some switch obviously..I thought RC would have been a Kawasaki lifer.....Windham too.....Windham grew up on Kawi, then jumped on the Yamaha....when K-Dub went to Suzuki, he should have gone back to Green and I think he would have returned to his roots and maybe got some titles.....RV seems to be a green for life type of guy....but money talks......
The GOV can dump that $500,000 into the bottomless pit of reckless spending!!
.Good Call RV, Better to take the lump some and invest then 50K a year BS.
Man if oBama had his way RV would have got $100,000 and the Gov $900,000... Man I hope that POS is gone next year.
Depending upon RV's total taxable income for this year, which is probably HUGE, when he files next spring, he may get alot of that back as a refund.
Well its cool to see at least RV got Half, if he was in our country, Government would take like 60%, and the rest of it would be hi-jack just going to the exit of the stadium... hehehe
No politics, please! There are about 1,256,678 other sites where you can go down those ugly paths.
I liked having the Semis back and having a few amateur classes. Hope Feld considers things like that for the 2012 series.
don't think that is an accurate statement on the payout. feld gave him the option of $500k now or $50k for twenty years. he will pay taxes on either amount.
I don't get the money options. His options seem vague. He should of took the entire million dollars invested a portion or all of it then at the end of the year come tax time cut Obama a check. From now until tax time that million could make if invested properly him another 2 or 300,000 thousand. Then cut Obama his portion and RV is left with $700,000 instead of $500,000. But of course that is risky and he took the safest and simplist approach. Not a sermun, just a thought
normally they would have bought an insurance policy to cover the payout. premium based on lieklyhood of the payout. read somewhere they were unable to insure it. likely due to no real competition for RV (RD came in late). that left them with needing to pay the money out of their funds. just like lottery they opted to offer annuity over twenty years or half now.
and to think, those wall street protesters would like the fact that RV had to give half of it back so the government can hand it out to people who dont want to work. that money belongs to villopoto, not the government. the government STEALS peoples money.
I would have taken the 50K a year for 20 years... I guess its a gamble depending on which way tax rates go in the future. With the way that congress is making it rain these days chances are that taxes are going nowhere but up.
Did you guys catch the pre race mammary interviews? I could swear they sounded just like Dungey and Villipoto. Villipoto was haulin sat. night. The race was a yawner but watchin rv2 ride so fast on that track was fun. Looked like he has traction control full time.
I enjoyed all of you rcomments, been ofline since Sunday morning. A lot of new news. The motosport industry had taken a big hit with the sad new of loss of life. I am glad for RV he won winning is everything! I used to go to the line with the idea of win,crash or break. then I finnaly understood it is the racing that I love so much. That did not work after awhile then I just wanted to win again, ooppps. I have had a few of those. Now I am just looking foward to A1! By the way Racer-X waiting on my new print version cause there is nothing like sitting in my easy chair reading Racer-X.
@ a few of the people I like to comment on or with a gee wilikers, I hope you all liked my story about racing the MEC on my Harley FXLR? I have actually rode a motocross track on it. Had to get pushed when I got belly hung. Training is going good from my hip replacement and breaking both feet, ouch. Did a mile and a 1/4 this am that includes the 100ft hillclimb and back down in 50 mnts on crutches so I am traing hope to ride soon. TC all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ya @czmark ya remember the Barnum front tires that came on them? I used to use them till I could not get anymore and yes I just finished a bottle of MD 20/20..
To all a merry Christmas and a Happy AONE. !!!
PS: I dont care what you ride I only care that you ride!
@Welker- Christmas must have came early this year. Still bummed you didn't race the cup on your harley. Keep training dude, before you know it, you won't need those sticks anymore. Yeah it;s gonna be a long time till A1, but I will be there.
Ahhhhhhhhhhh
sjf350 then RV would have to pay Cap gains tax on the other 300K LOL Theres another 50K for oBama LOL
cxd56 them Butt holes would not be happy with half!! They would want to split it even between them all even though RV earned it he gets the same cut they do!!
Another interesting note was the lack of Yam 450s' in the pro races.. I think I only seen one..
Glad to see Dungey going good on the KTM although he needs to find at least 2 seconds a lap if he wants to be completive cone A1. I hope he can do it.
The reason the MEC had that crappy rocky dirt on the outside portion of the track is a hop that someone like RV2 might have a flat and mess up his chance at the mill.Think about it, Dungey didn't sign up till the last minute.Why else would they have good dirt on the inside and super rocky dirt on another part of the track.
You guys are so right. Pro racers should not have to pay taxes. Leave that to the common people and don´t bother the 20 year old millionaires.
@fred I think the reason for a blend of soil was because it was supposed to be a hybrid of MX and SX. If you kept the track the same everywhere you'd basically have a big supercross. I'm not really sure how you'd have rocks that would just give RV a flat....
RC commented on the rocky stuff ...." you need to be good in all conditions...its part motocross and part supercross"....Although it wasnt favored by most the riders, it was still part of the track and you needed to deal with it...its a hybrid...Dungey got roosted knarly once by Alessi out there in back....he took some good rocks and I bet he has some marks to show......
@smpdawg REALLY,kept taking those tard pills.
pauly I don't think anyone is saying that, The point is its pretty sad that HALF goes to the GOV..... and all they do is spend $2 for every $1 they get.
Fred looes rocks that small don't cause to many flats, The big ons stuck in the dirt do but little ones rolling under your tire.. Not so much.
Really , I feel like I'm watching Fox News....truth is he would have paid the same amount four years ago under Bush...the thing that is BS is that it is considered income from winnings and considering he is a professional racer he should be able to file under regular income and get a much lower tax rate. I mean its not like he got lucky and picked the right numbers, he actually had to work his ass off to win all three
@ Bad_Billy_Robinson,, Your right, he would of had to pay the same under Bush, but the point is, Obama just takes the money and flushes it down the toilet. Then he adds another $500K that he DOESN'T have, and flushes that down right along with it.. What is it, $4.4 trillion he has spent so far ??
With all due respect, the point is that this is RacerX not Fox news and we all get enough this political BS through all the other outlets in our lives and it sure is nice to be able to read about one of my biggest passions without hearing about politics;-)
I agree
Bad_Billy_Robinson... Bush...Obama....either way it's WAY to much to the GOV. Funny how you automatically assume we are Fox news people or Bush fans. But I guess we can guess who you favor....
@ BillC,, and I also agree with that..
@mxmofo1...........LOL
You know what's funny........it's Bush that drove you guys into the ground, not Obama. If you think he can turn that mess Bush created around instantly you're in need of a reality check. The sh*t storm started as soon as Bush took the reigns from Clinton. Quoting Bloomberg "President Bill Clinton left office in 2001 with a federal budget surplus of $127 billion. President George Bush ran a deficit of $319 billion in 2005." I think you guys need to re-evaluate who you hate and blame for the state of the USA the past few years. Just sayin lol.......
@ Retardcross,, I think you need to "re-evaluate" what Bush had to deal with,, like 9-11-01.. Rember that ? Also, what is the deficit now ? With absolutely no results, I might add. All you have to do is take a look at Obama's poll numbers.. I think you have been brainwashed by the 80% liberal media.
@Retardcross,, would you like a $16 cupcake ??? hahahah
@mxmofo1, Are you saying that Bush's ineffectual handling of 911 is the reason for today's current tax code? Sorry people, you're just not paying attention, or you're all in the higher tax brackets and would love to have another upper class friendly president. I have never seen so many blue collar hard working people be so biased towards the left when it's the right that's been screwing you over.
@ Gills, No, thats not what I am saying at all.. Hard to say the " right " has been screwing us over when the " left " was in total command for the first two years.. I guess I dont want to work hard for my money and see it go to poeple that sit on the couch all day, do you ?
Look at Europe ? Thats what Obama is doing here, and it sure as the hell isnt working in Europe.. Facts are facts...
Welker, that's Barum, not Barnum. You should have known.
@BillC. why do you just blame Obama?? When did Obama raise taxes?? Why dont you blame ALL the idiots in Washington, including those Republicans you seem to love so much?? My taxes havent gone up since Obama has been in.. And they sure as heck didnt go down when Bush was there.. Did you complain about Bush on here when he was in destroying our economy and invading countries, Hypocrite
jairtime wrote: "get back to the heart and soul of motocross"
I bet the majority of the spectators have never walked a lane of SX whoops or stand in the middle of a triple.
Want to create more die hard fans?, Give the fans a chance to walk on the SX tracks. Then the average "city Joe" will have a much higher respect for the riders and the sport.
I know this is quite difficult logistically but i think Feld should really stay out of the paved roads to respect what motocross is.
jairtime wrote: Obama will hand it over to lazy, good-for-nothing, drug-addled, welfare-sucking losers who would never train or practice for ANYTHING.
Good for you jairtime.
First off where did I say anything about Bush doing things right?? I think pretty much everyone in DC is doing a piss poor job!!! But I have to LOL when people talk about how much Bush spent.... Obama has spent 6X's that and we can NOT do it. We are going to go bankrupt!!! deficit spending in 07 onder Bush 160 billion, in 2011 onder oBama 1.3 TRILLION!!! the entitlement society that obama wants has been proven to FAIL everytime it has been tried. He will not cut spending, they just want to spend more how can you not see that as a HUGE problem?? We need to CUT spending EVERYWHERE.
.Red44 u call me a Hypocrite...You are a fool if you belive that!! I have said MANY times on this site they ALL SUCK!!! It is however funny that YOU blaim Bush for all this still even thoug oBama said in 08 he would fix it bla bla bla nad it is way worce and we are WAY more in in the whole!! I blaim Barny Frank and Chris Dodd for the biggest issue. Bush I balim for not pushing the issue. Bush told them the the banks and Freddy and fanny where hedding for trouble but them 2 a-holes said everything is fine!!!
.For the blind ones who still think Clinton was so great...Why did we do so well when he win in there???? Because congress pushed him to balance the budget. He did not want to but was smart enough to move toi the middle and do the right thing now the bliond few think he was great. and if Clinton would have done something about Osoma when he was on a silver platter Bush would never have had to deal with 9-11. Clinton was to bussy getting BJ's to worry about that.
@BillC wow we think a lot alike. I hate to get all political here, as someone said this isn't the place for it. But since it has been started, I tell ya this has been goin' on long before the Bush era and Clinton too. Some oldtimers in my area would tell you that the govmnt, have been out of control for over half this century. We just go in deeper and deeper. Reps blame Dems and visa versa. Love my country, pay my taxes. Not smart enough to know how to fix it but it doesn't take very many brains to see what we have doesn't work. We need something else. Soon. Voting for the "lesser of two evils" only allows it to continue. A vote to the reps. or the dems. would be a vote saying you are happy with the way things are. Just sayin'
LOL Bucky, the simple answer to start fixing things is #1, Don't spend more than you take in!!!
. EX: in my state way back it ran with just a sales tax and things were fine for YEARS, till they spent MORE... THEN they added the lottery in the 70's....then they spent MORE and after awile that was not enough so they adeded an Income Tax!!...Then guess what THEY SPENT EVEN MORE so soon that was not enough so they added Casinos and we get TON'S of money from that so they spent MORE now this past summer they RASED TAXES AGAIN!!! because they still don't have enough money. ....Yet some people here in the state and on this web site don't see a problem!!! Dem of Rep I don't care just stop PISSING MY money away!!
Bill- when u r right-u r right Don't spend more than you take in. Pretty simple. (deer hits are really good right now so I can spend a little extra LOL even have a county squad car in with a $4500 dollar hit-yeah the cops hit 'em too!)
The sad thing is some people think your a bad person because you don't want your taxes rased. They say your greedie or don't care about people but IMO there the ones who don't care because there not looking at what is happening. The gov is like a gas tank with a 2 inch hole in the side, Insted of fixing the leak they just want a 3 inch hose to keep it full. Ignore the problem and play class warfar...How sad is it??
Correct. I wouldn't mind paying more taxes if the funds were used properly. But that doesn't seem to happen. Not at all. Where will it all end? Somethin's gotta give.
I make good money but only because I work lots of HR's so why should I be punished for working hard to better myself?? I have people who work for me who will NOT work OT... why should I have to GIVE them my money if thay don't want to work?? Its really sad how many people just look at what you have and not how you got it...or that they could have the same things IF they would work more or work harder.
I hear ya for sure. My main employee, of 16 years works all the OT he can get. Has a new house and a new TNT, ATV, nice truck, girlfriend with HUGE ti-oops don't need to add that! But have another guy that is the opposite and he complains that he has nothing. He can work like a dog and do good but then he lapses and pulls the no-show. Mostly keep him on cuz he just had a kid. thought that would change things but not so much. So far anyway. Sometimes I'm just too nice a guy I guess. Off to work-Bucky
@ BillC............I don't know how the finger got pointed at you, I was speaking in general at the beginning because of the amount of ignorant racist nonsense I've heard spoken fairly openly while down south riding. A seemingly nice elderly guy I met at the RV park we parked at for a few days was eye opening for me, I had no idea Obama was a terrorist implant sent to topple the USA. I just thought he was another lying lawyer politician lol. I think it's safe to say that most of us on here aren't religious kooks though. I agree with just about everything you said BillC, regardless of party fix the f*cking problem!!! And mxmofo.....I'm farrrrr from a lib although I do have some compassion for others. Not everyone gets the golden ticket or "succeeds" in life, the notion everyone has a fair chance or opportunity nowadays is total BS.
@BillC: Do you really believe that? Is it that simple? Are they all just lazy people who don´t want work, money, health support, send their kids to college and so on?
Open your eyes man, the 50´s are long gone.
@ Retardcross,, I also have compassion for others,,, but ONLY for the ones who really need it.. Heck, I know a few poeple who are totally able to work, they just don't,, because "unemployment" pays to good.
pauly it is that easy for SOME, I never said everyone. I was talking about a few guys that work for me that will NOT put in the hr's of the extra effort to get ahead when its there for the taking. There are a LOT of people like that. And yes there are some who have just had bad luck.
. The Bottom line is if The GOV would take there foot off the wind pipe off Bis there would be more job's.
.PS I was not around in the 50's LOL
@Retardcross..Its nice to know you agree with what I said.
Thanks
Blah Blah Blah--lets talk moto!!
come on BD200, You never minded before... You still happy with obama?
Allright guys, here's the RV2 of the Economic world.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWsx1X8PV_A