by Aaron Hansel
Morning Report: Oakland
Saturday, January 28, 2012 | 3:25 PM
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PrintThe sun is shining and the pits are buzzing here in Oakland as riders and team personnel prepare for practice. It’s pretty breezy in the pit area, but since the stadium floor is sunk well below ground level, we should be able to avoid most of the wind tonight.
The dirt is nothing like the soil that was used to construct the track one year ago. Last year, the track was very sandy, but today’s track consists of nice loamy dirt. During the track walk, Kevin Windham said that the dirt “looks really good.”
The jumps and obstacles look well sculpted as well. In fact, while this morning report was being written, Ricky Carmichael was standing on a triple, helping a tractor operator shape the face of the jump to perfection. The first turn is extra wide this week, and two turns in, there is a cool step-on, step-on, step-off section right out of a left-hander. A set of ten whoops follows. The rhythm lanes look pretty straight forward with obvious jump sequences.
Chad Reed and the whole TwoTwo Motorsports team seem to be in high spirits this morning, and during the track walk they kept things light, laughing and making jokes as they surveyed the track.
Make sure to keep it locked here on Racer X Online, and follow us on twitter, @racerxonline, for updates on the action from Oakland, all day long.
The sun is shining and the pits are buzzing here in Oakland as riders and team personnel prepare for practice. It’s pretty breezy in the pit area, but since the stadium floor is sunk well below ground level, we should be able to avoid most of the wind tonight.
The dirt is nothing like the soil that was used to construct the track one year ago. Last year, the track was very sandy, but today’s track consists of nice loamy dirt, and is quite dry. During the track walk, Kevin Windham said that the dirt “looks really good.”
The jumps and obstacles look well sculpted as well. In fact, while this morning report was being written, Ricky Carmichael was standing on a triple, helping a tractor operator shape the face of the jump to perfection. The first turn is extra wide this week, and two turns in, there is a cool step-on, step-on, step-off section right out of a left-hander. A set of ten whoops follows. The rhythm lanes look pretty straight forward with obvious jump sequences.
Chad Reed and the whole TwoTwo Motorsports team seem to be in high spirits this morning, and during the track walk they kept things light, laughing and making jokes as they surveyed the track.
Make sure to keep it locked here on Racer X Online, and follow us on twitter, @racerxonline, for updates on the action from Oakland, all day long.
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Wonder if Dungey will dig that old neck brace out of storage and wear it? After seeing Trey Canard crushed under the engine cases of Morais' bike, all of these guys should refuse to ride without neck protection. Insanity....
That kneck brace wasnt going to do anything to stop what happened to Canard. Alot of time they are going to do more harm than good because they are so restricting.
jmantattoo
your funny, neck brace is suppose to protect the C-Spine, it did what it was suppose to do with impact.
Unfortunately for Morais he accelerated into the ground face first then was hit by the bike in the back.
@jman. Yeah, and and the other stuff like that darn helmet, knee braces, gloves and goggles get in the way too. And the boots! don't get me started on the boots!
@jmantattoo check out the video: Catching Up With Cornell DeJongh of Leatt Brace on transworld he explains exactly what the leatt brace does and disproves all the false myths about the brace injurying you more!
I wear a brace but I still think it is just something to wear so you know you have done what you can. There are tons of head/neck/back injuries that occur with and without them. How effective they actually are is pretty hard to prove in a sport like motocross where just about every incident is unique.
There has been more neck and head injuries since the braces became mainstream due to the level of the sport going through the roof in recent years. If the braces were as effective as every average Joe says they are then I think we'd see less injuries and more pros wearing them. Some people say their neck brace saved their life every time they tip over since they have purchased one.
Will there be live streaming of this race anywhere?
flip flops and goggles is all ya need , @jman , what the hell are you talking!
This sport is not going through any roofs , It was more popular in 70s , more media coverage for the pros , but amateur racing is way way down compared to years ago , sorry , I dont seee things getting much better either , new bikes or 7 grand , equipment is outrageous , and tracks want an arm and leg , just to sign up , not counting gas , cost of a vehicle to haul , repairs on that new fourstroke waiting to detonate , I know what I am talking about , I have been at it since 1972 ,
Hey Preston, sounds like you should have quit in 73
I wish new bikes were 7 grand.
Safety equipment such as a neck brace, when proven to work, should be mandatory, period. Nevermind the fact that we should do everything possible, in a sport that has a 100% injury rate, to keep riders safe, there are other, commercial reasons too.
When the stars of the sport sit out it hurts the sport. Not only is the racing potentially less close, but the fact is that the more the public gets to know a rider the better it is for the sport. That's why companies pay big bucks to sponsor. It isn't just the signage of a rider that's up front, they are paying for the riders personality too.
Btw, somehow NASCAR and F1 can mandate the HANS device but the AMA can mandate a neck brace when every few years a rider in their prime is cut down by a neck/back injury?
Time for the AMA to stop pretending everything is a club race and grow a pair.
Alessi most improved rider for 2012. I cant wait to see this kid outdoors. If he is riding this good SX, he may just run upfront on a privateer bike.
9th , 16th and 10th definitely look like the makin's of another "perfect season" alright.
alessi, will never make it.
He has to many bad habits.
rg807, you're spot on! And dgizzy, that's a joke, right? Check out Metty's, Hansen's and Milsap's results so far. BTW, as of this minute, Stewart is #1 qualifier (Alessi 13th - I know, he's probably saving his strength for the night show).
WHERE R THE PRACTICE REPORTS ALREADY????
ANYBODY WORKING AT RX????