by Davey Coombs
450 Words: Anaheim 2
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PrintMany probably guessed that Ryan Villopoto would be the first man to win to two main events in the 2012 Monster Energy Supercross Series, especially after he flat-out dominated the first round at Anaheim. But few might have guessed that it would took a full month and a return to Angel Stadium before the defending champion would get that second win. Last night the Monster Energy Kawasaki rider finally found himself back at the front of the pack and the red plate of the points leader back on his bike with a solid win at Anaheim 2. RV out-dueled Chad Reed for the early lead and then started riding away from everyone, something he has not done since January 7. The win marked RV's third at Angel Stadium in the last four visits, making him the new super of the House That Jeremy Built.
Behind him was James Stewart. His night was one we've seen before, albeit with a much less happy ending. The JGR Yamaha rider had another bombastic night, crashing heavily while riding all by himself out front in his heat race. A collective roar/groan went up from the grandstands as #7 lawn-darted into the face of a jump after getting sprung off his bike. He DNF'd the heat and left many to wonder if he would show up for the LCQ. Of course he did, he made the final, and then he rode a seemingly cautious (for James, anyway) 20 laps to secure second. It was a strong effort considering the big crash (and a near-crash he had during practice where he almost looped out in the toughest whoops section we've seen all year).
Villopoto regained the points lead after a win in Anaheim.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Chad Reed also had a decent night, despite feeling under the weather. He and fourth-place Ryan Dungey collectively lost the red plates they shared, but the veteran has to feel good about being just three points down on the frontrunner after five rounds of racing. As for Dungey, two straight four-place finishes does not bode well for the Red Bull KTM, but with the entire KTM brass here from Austria for the next week, one can image he will be getting extra attention as he tries to get back up front.
Next week's San Diego SX—the end of the “California Supercross Season”—would be a great place for Reed or Dungey (let alone Stewart) to get their own second win of the year, but the favorite there has to be the same favorite as the one when the whole season started, and that's the champion himself, Ryan Villopoto.
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that step on/off looked scary at the speed they were carrying through there.
Am I the only one who sees these top four guys line up and finish top four.
The "racing" seems to be in the first five laps and then they settle in.
They are a second or two over the rest of the field and pull away.
We wait for 20 laps, but the race is really over in 5 laps.
Last night CR in lead, RV gets around him, then JS - race over.
There is no battling for the lead for 20 laps.
I don't think they can take that risk.
giving up a couple of points is better than losing the championship.
I sit on the end of my seat, scream at the TV for the first couple of laps and then I sit there and fast forward the Milsaps/KW battle.
Every week I rad about how great the past weekends was, sorry I don't feel that way. However, I will still watch every weekend.
I just was wondering if anyone else noticed.
This is quickly gonna turn into a 2 man battle. RV vs JS and the way things are looking if RV gets a start no one can catch him. CR & RD are just spoilers where they win if something happens to RV or JS.
Its hard to tell if Stewie injury kept him from closing in on RV or may be RV was blazin fast. And also is that blue yamaha up to where JS wants it.
Sh@t happens and sh@t will happen to everyone during the season, so I wouldn't count any one of the top four out just yet. That said, it will take misfortune for RV, for any of the others to win the title.
Ag: Yea... With all four potentially turning out 1/10th differences from 1st to 4th positions in lap times it would seem that way. So if you can't catch the guy in front of you, all you really have to do is stay ahead of the guy behind you. ...but that seems like a good strategy to me.
dgizzy: Week-by-week it may be a two-man battle. ....but if CR, RD, JB or someone else gets between RV and JS there could be a 4-way end to the war.
Yes, it is the part of the season where no one wants to lose the shot at the golden ring, tis better to keep hope alive, than to dash any chance. I think thats why RC said the championship will shake out after Daytona, by that time the pressure to step it up and take more chances hits the riders as the season then seems really short.
Poto and JS do seem to have a little more speed than Reed and Dungey, dont think that is a suprise, I do think Dungey will get better, the team works to hard not to improve, he is not that far off. Reed will be there til the end, his supercross speed has always been good and now he is smarter.
The season is far to young and the talent is far to close to write off any one of the 'Fantastic Four "
maybe lil Stewie had a plan"if I lawn dart during the heat race, maybe I won't crash in the main, plus I get extra practice laps in the LCQ". Good plan Bubbles!
pizzacorner: I guess you did not hear well. Reed said on the podium the other two were riding really well and he gave it all he had and could not catch them. As far as I'm concerned I seed Reed taking the title this season. He's riding really smart and can really give gas when it counts.
The HELL with the superbowl. I drew a 5-8 and a 0-0 in the ten dollar pool. Then they get a dang safety in the first 6 minutes! That's like pulling the holeshot, and throwing your chain in the first turn. Just bad karma.
Sorry- i know this is a moto forum- my bad.
Dang.
I was a little surprised to see Reed look over his should at JS7 and then basically pull over. Sounds like he was running the flu so maybe for better judgment he thought it would be wise to just get through the evening and fight another day. hopefully he's not getting soft in his old age, I was looking for a good battle.
Reed was sick as a dog all week, throwing up during race day.....know one " Media" made a big deal about it or hardly even mentioned it, but little Stew has a little crash and they make it sound like it was worse than Reeds outdoor crash ? are you kidding me ???
Every chance Stewart had he held his belly and put a frown on for everyone......come on DRAMA BOY " you lost just face it.
Great ride RV !!!!!!
Since the MEDIA wont shed light on what was wrong " and Reed did tell them here you go....http://www.motoxaddicts.com/2012/02/05/anaheim-2-supercross-chad-reed-interview/
I dont know what interview the hater pizzacorner heard, but Reeds interview with Jim Holley Reed said "The two up front were stronger and faster, I couldnt keep up with them". Sounds like Reed gave them props. pizzacorner is just a whiner..
@Biker143-- I agree, the media darling is Stewie, always has been. Its pretty bad all the favortism he gewts from the media, including right here on Racer X..
I guess some ignorant fan spit on Big James. Say what you will about any rider, they are the ones that are out there racing at the highest level while you are in the stands or behind a computer. Stewart does not disrespect ANY of his fans so I don't know why certain people have to cross the line with him and drag his family into it. He might not live his "personal life" like fans may want but thats his choice, its his life and it's not his job to live his life for fans. Who knows what fans will do or say next to any rider. All I could say is that I remember my first beer..
Spitting on JS7s dad was bullsh*t! And west coasters are supposed to be so civilized. That being said...I'm thankful for another exciting, close season! Pizzacorner, please watch the post race interview next time. Also, follow CR22 on twitter he couldn't be more gratious and even called out the fans for booing JS7!
It seems that Reed and Stewart have come to terms with each other which is good. People make Stewart out to be a bad guy but I think he is one of the most fan friendly riders out there.
Chillmatic..... what are you talking about? Stewart totally disrespects his fans by his actions- not racing the outdoors, not racing "off" season events like the Monster cup etc.....
To me disrespecting his fans would be not signing autographs, not doing any dealer signings and not acknowledging them in any way. Who knows the real reason why he did not race outdoors, I'm assuming that everything was not finalized for him to race the MEC but either way, neither happened but he is racing now. That is my my view on disrespect. But does him not racing outdoors mean that fans should spit on his father? I'm sure no body spit on McGrath or Reed when they didn't.
Even when he did race the outdoors, he and his family were targeted by ignorant fans.
Our sport it OS full of great pep right now. We don't have a J-Law or anyone like that at the moment, so they pick apart riders for something to did like. One day we will get another Real bad boy and Js7 will get left along. Long live J-Law......lol sorry I couldn't help it. We may even get another Bob Hanna and he could win a race ghost ride his bike into the pits, get on TV and say the bike was a piece of s#!t and then what?
The way I see it so far this year is there are 4 dogs in the fight: 2 Labs, 1 Doberman, and 1 Pit Bull, the 2 Labs may gang up on the Pit Bull and win from time to time, and the crazy Doberman may win a few but in the end the Pit will always win the fight.
if I caught someone spitting on big james or JS I would probably go to jail. not big fans of them but I believe they are good people. I hate racizsm more than I like MX and I hope if it ever happens again us good fans will make them wish they didn't exist
Wow some ahole fan spitting on Big James or anyone is totally disrespectful. This the first I have heard of it, but that sucks. I was at A1 and there were a few people there that I would not call fans of the sport, just stupid a$$ holes that can't hold their beer (punks). Sad, but it leaves a bad taste in the mouths of fans who do enjoy racing.
Isn't this great Villopoto wins the race, stewart never even gets close enough to take any of his roost and all the talk is how great stewart is. How about giving Villopoto credit for having a great race.
Stewart even lost 3 points to RV which makes him 4th in points 13 back.
thats right Stewart is 4th!!!! not first behind REED and DUNGEY..........so why do they get no mention at all?
It just annoys me all the guys who idolize Stewart, he doesn't even make my top 10 motocross riders ever............supercross he is 3, motocross about 15.
It is unfortunate that there is that level of ignorance and fear still out there. I am not shy about my not liking JS or his antics. That said, I am appalled that anyone would spit on another person for any reason what so ever.
Truly unfortunate, and certainly something that would cause the Stewart's to withdraw from the fans, and public events.
On a separate note.
1. CBS coverage has been very good the last couple of events
2. Ricky and Fro embarrassed themselves gushing over Sterwart in the main. OMG! he is so fast through this, wow his speed in that, yada yada.
Then they look at his lap time and RV was .2 faster. Sheesh, fellas sometimes it is better to keep your mouth shut and the race just go, instead of flapping your gums and saying nothing OR worse being wrong.
Sometimes it is nice to just listen to the sounds of the bikes and watching them race WITHOUT the constant cometary.
Just sayn'
And yes, I am a RV fan.
He has a desire to win, a work ethic to get it done, focus to be envied, and presence (wisdom) to know when to reach for that little extra.
I am also just a fan of the way he is constantly attacking. Love RD's smooth form, Reed's great style, but man when you watch RV, he just wants to attack everything.
Also like that KW thinks RV is the best corner man he has ever seen.
Yes I agree that was total bullshit with the spitting.I am born and raised Californian and proud of it.Don't let one asshole punk ruin our image(whatever that is)of us as fans in Cali.I am only speaking for myself but as a fan/rider of this sport for 38 years( I am 45 now)that was repulsive.James said in a tweet they will find him!Hope his boys do and make him wish he didn't get up on Saturday morning.As far as the racing went I thought it was o.k.RV is an animal.Killin it.The perfect storm will come soon.You have to be a badass rider even to walk thru the tunnel and line up to race nomatter what part of the corner of the planet you are from.I give props to all these riders. I am a Reed fan for 10 years,and pulling for him and his family.Then again I am a fan of all the riders.Best sport....period.
Open class
Good observations, I was embarrassed foe the crew, not so much Sheheen but the other two. We now Ralph is biased. The whole time they were carrying on about how fast Stewart was in this section, look at his lines in that section? Mean while RV I'd slowly but surely increasing his lead? How is that possible? Must have been cutting the track. Haha
Stewartcross
In all fairness, Emig did point out that even though Stewart had a couple of risky-fast lines, RV was still pulling away and that being a testament to how fast he his overall everywhere else. There isn't much talk now about how Dungey is right there speed-wise, seeing how he moved all the way from 6th to 4th and was over 17 seconds down without any sort of fall.
Another great race! They were all right there and yes, RV straight up won. However, it would have been one heck of a battle if 1) CR wasn't sick 2) JS wasn't hurting and 3) if RD had a better start but that's the way it goes. Anyone notice skycooper's note? Good one but what I'm wondering is the name. Makes me think it was Guy Cooper. I never heard or read that Nick name on air or published but at the local races at 59th and Douglas in OK that's what they called him, Guy "Sky" Cooper. If it's you. Nice to hear your thoughts man. I was a big fan
"Every chance Stewart had he held his belly and put a frown on for everyone"....JS really does ham it up for the camera with his injuries; it's embarrassing. And he didn't break no rib or he wouldn't have been doing an interview and not even winching. Can't wait till RV gets him outdoors this summer. Gonna school him in what a real champion looks like.
I am not much of a motocross fan I guess because I fast forwarded my DVR for laps 15,16,and 17 because I am not interested in seeing 2 guys battle for sixth place over 30 seconds behind the leader. This was during the time Reed was catching up and anything could have happened. Besides I want to see RV ride because we all can roll around in 6th place when we race.
Do you ever hear the crowd yell and scream when a rider makes a move to grab 6th place? The top four riders are in a zone way above the others and there is where the camera needs to be. Be glad when Speed comes back and races are live once again.
Gonna say it agin - RV was fastest through the corners.
Enough said.
That table table was no big deal Weimer Alessi and RV were doing it on pressday.
Emig says WOW STEWARTS DOING SOMETHING NO ONE HAS DONE ALL DAY!! - he must have been out to lunch during practice and qualifying...
I don't think the crew was gushing over JS speed through the rythym sections too much. That is who the camera was on...
@biker143: reed was essentially unhurt after the millville crash (his mind might not have been) - JS was layed out....Reeds crash may have looked worse but anyone on here that actually races could tell you that JS crash was way worse and it is pretty gnarlyy that he shook it off to race to 2nd place.
Ah the joys of being UNBIASED - so liberating
Yes it's very obvious that Pizzacorner did not see or hear what REED said...he admitted they where faster and he had NOTHING FOR THEM......so to answer your idiotic question he DID "just say he got beat" as you put it?
CBS has really gotton better, it was nice to see the 250's on speed right after. I can't wait for live speed next week. Really what they showed of the racing was good we saw a variaty of riders in battles, if I was to complain about anything it woud be commercials during the main event
I did notice that JS got a lot of comments that seemed to be glorified, because a lot of riders in both classes were doing the section like he was. He did ride very well after his getoff.
Really the interveiws were fine if anyone was bragging it was JS and really saying I thought I had a win in me is how you want all the riders to feel and believe. He doesn't have a broken rib, maybe bruised or "stressed" but no human can ride like that with a broken rib.
@not4show Stewart is one of 2 people who got a perfect season outdoors. He's definately one of the alltime bests.
Broken rib or not, JS rode a strong race after that crash in the heat race. Shows he does have some toughness in him. Not specificly a JS fan either just all around MX fan.
pizzacorner your a complete douchbag!
The matter what you think of Stewart, crashing hard like that hurts. Just because he doesn't have a bone sticking out doesn't mean he's pretending it hurts. These guys are all tough. Some just choose to share more health info than others.
Dinosaurmedia: Everyone here who races can say stewie's crash was worse? are you kidding me? Anyone who has raced dirtbikes has had the crash he did this weekend. It's rough yeah but that wreck doesn't affect your riding the rest of the night. Reed's crash however, the guy hit his head so heard he was puking and he very well could have been killed. Mentally that is a far more devastating wreck than what stewart had. James is known for his crazy wrecks and this one didn't rank anywhere near the top ten. His riding obviously didn't suffer because even when he doesn't wreck he is still a little slower than RV which is where he was in cali.
DUNGEY WILL RULE ALL!
@Etoney37...Sorry man...That was what I was trying to say that crash got his head.
My point really was that the focus was on james crash in H1 and how he managed the rest of the night to de well.
Some guy gets on here and calls him out saying Reeds crash was way more gnarly.
WTF does that have to do with the article or point.
And I get that he was slower than RV dude. i have said it on here a million times that I am NOT a FANBOY of any of these riders. I just hate the biased BS dude.
That is all.
I am sure most reasonable people on here could agree that no one can really compare to the crashes JS has had - and came back from.
After 5 races I think this season has shown me pretty much what I expected in the 450s. The top 4 are really a notch above the rest, though a healthy(!) Canard would make it 5.
1) RV - with the exception of Oakland he has been the fastest guy on the track every race. His starts have hurt him, and I still think he is just a little prone to perhaps throwing it away. But of the big 4 he has the best combo of speed and consistency and unless he completely misses scoring in a round I think he is the odds-on favorite to take the crown.
2) JS - he came out of the blocks slowly but the past 2 weeks have shown the JS of years gone by, blazing speed interrupted by huge mistakes and spectacular crashes. He is Villopoto-fast but more likely to toss it away, and like last year he will win 5 or 6 mains, 15 heat races but not the championship.
3) CR - consistent as always. He never seems fast in qualifying or in the heats but steps it up in the main. He has an amazing ability to battle hard and yet remain consistent while doing so. His out and out speed is not equal to JS or RV but he is much less likely to throw away a race completely with a big crash and that might win him the championship.
4) RD - to be honest, I was surprised when he won PHX. I like Dungey a lot, works hard, stays quiet, rides super consistent. But just like last year, his ability to make quick, aggressive passes is his Achilles heel. Unless he pulls a great start, he is going to be the guy methodically moving up and settling into 4th or 5th. Not sure what he can do to improve his passing ability without compromising his exceptional consistency.
Finally, CBS really improved a lot from LA to Oakland and then to A2. But I'll take live SPEED any Saturday, thanks!
is it me or does it seem like its stewart this stewart that, i cant take it anymore. the guy is a p. o. s. with his excuses and when he wins [not often] he rubs it in oh i was just riding around, what disgrace to the sport go figure. go away