10 Things to Watch: Dallas
Friday, February 17, 2012 | 12:00 PM
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PrintBy Aaron Hansel and Chase Stallo
Main Man?
Austin Stroupe isn’t quite having the year he was hoping for. After sitting out several rounds due to a concussion suffered in Phoenix, Stroupe returned to racing in San Diego. Stroupe nearly qualified for the main out of his heat, but earned himself a trip to the LCQ (which he sat out) when he stalled in the whoops. Stroupe started training with Ryan Hughes this week; is it the change he needs to make his first main event of the year?
Premiere Week
Although we’re already six rounds into the 2012 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season, the Eastern Regional Supercross Lites riders have yet to compete. This weekend we’ll finally get to see riders like Ken Roczen, Justin Barcia, Jimmy Decotis, Kyle Cunningham, Blake Baggett, Darryn Durham, Blake Wharton, and a host of others do battle. If you aren’t excited, check your pulse.
Go Time
James Stewart got the monkey off his back with a victory in Oakland, but has since been unable to produce a follow up win. At A2, he had a nasty heat race crash that left him battered and bruised for the main, and in San Diego, he finished fifteenth after a big crash in the whoops. Stewart now trails series leader Ryan Villopoto by 32 points, and needs to start producing wins if he wants to keep his championship hopes alive.
Roczen makes his East Region Lites debut in Dallas.
Photo: KTM
Progression
After four twelfth place finishes in a row, Kyle Chisholm finally made his way into the top ten with an eighth place in San Diego. Before his injury last year, Chisholm’s speed was progressing so fast that a podium finish didn’t seem too far off. Was his breakthrough in San Diego the first step in a journey to the top five?
On the Rebound
One week after suffering a mechanical DNF, Josh Hansen charged his way to his best finish of the year in San Diego with a fifth place. With Josh Hill and Ivan Tedesco injured, Hansen is the Dodge Motorsports/Hart and Huntington team’s only realistic shot at securing a podium finish. Will Hansen keep the train rolling and build on his top five finish tomorrow night in Dallas?
Fresh Meat
It’s premiere week for the East Region and with that a new group of young talent is being ushered into the blood thirsty pro ranks. GEICO Honda’s Justin Bogle headlines the new class, but lurking in the shadows is some top former amateur talent. Privateers Justin Starling, Cole Thompson, James Justice, Zach Freeberg and Austin Politelli will all be making the jump to the pro class. Rockstar Star/Valli Yamaha’s Kyle Peters was scheduled to make his debut in the Big D as well, but injured his shoulder earlier this week and will miss the next few rounds.
Can Windham hang onto fifth in points in Dallas?
Photo: Simon Cudby
From West to East
Add two more names to the talent laden Supercross field, as West Region Lites riders Nico Izzi and Billy Laninovich will make the jump to the 450 for the East Region. Izzi and Laninovich have resurrected once thought to be stalling careers in 2012 and look to continue the trend on the right coast. Can Izzi and Laninovich pull of the improbable and grab some top tens in their Supercross class debuts?
Best of the Rest
Sure the points battle for the championship is as intense as ever. Sure Ryan Villopoto, Chad Reed, Ryan Dungey and James Stewart are out for blood in Dallas. But beyond the headlines, an intense battle for fifth in points is beginning to take shape. A mere 14 points separate 5th-10th with Kevin Windham leading the charge. But Metcalfe, Weimer, Millsaps, Brayton, Hansen are lying in wait ready to pounce. And let’s us not forget about Mike Alessi and Andrew Short who are very much still in the mix. Will Windham be able to extend his lead in The House that Jerry built, or will Metcalfe and crew rise above?
Can Dungey find an extra gear in Dallas and capture his second win of the season?
Photo: Simon Cudby
Back in the Saddle
Although he has never been known for his supercross prowess, MotoConcepts Mike Alessi has shown quite a bit of fortitude during the early stages of the season. The off-season switch back to Suzuki has given Mike more confidence in 2012, and it’s showing. Alessi has only finished outside the top ten twice through six rounds, a far cry from last year’s disastrous supercross season, where he missed some main events. Can Alessi keep the momentum going as the series heads east?
No More Mr. Nice Guy
The battle for the Supercross title is in full swing. Ryan Villopoto and Chad Reed went toe to toe in a knock down drag out battle for the W in San Diego. Ryan Dungey, as always, has been super consistent but has been off the pace the last couple rounds. While James Stewart finds himself 32 points back of Villopoto and in desperate need of a win.
The top four contenders have played nice thus far, but with each passing round becoming that much more important, how long will the trend continue? To quote Chad Reed, “Rubbin’ is racing, and really nothing is off limits…” Which begs the question; how long will the top four continue to play the “Mr. Nice Guy” role?
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What Roido and Stroupe together? What a mess!
Lets hope the big 4 race hard but show some respect too. Nothing wrong with any pass anyone has made so far. If anyone has been ribbing, its Stewart and Dungey both on weimer, but nothing real dirty.. Lets hope it stays that way..
Also, Gavin Faith will be running a Storm Lake Honda 450. If he continues improving the way he has the last few rounds we will definitely be seeing him in the mains.
Weimer is being hazed into the big boy class
I could care less who wins each week, just as long as 4 guys have a shot at fighting for it. no more injuries...pleeez
someone better stop RV from streaking...
I like good clean racing and if you are not capable of winning without dumping someone and creating injuries then you need a need vocation at fry daddys.
Sometimes it is best to keep the pie hole shut and let your racing do the talking.
Mike Alessi and Andrew Short in the MIX?? Shorty has looked pretty good but sounds like he may skip this weekend and well Mike not looking so great.
I think Warton will podium at the first round. He's a good starter, has been here before, should be confident, and is on a great bike. I'm looking forward to what he'll do. Bam will win it, Roczen will be fast, unfortunately without the fitness due to injury.Hansen may be able to pull off a season in the top ten this year. I am really surprised, I was thinking the start of the season would make or break it for him. Now that he's made it east, with some of his competition hurting,(brayton) some out, (grant) and with decent finishes with him, he's in pretty good shape. The east tracks should favor Hansen, he is technical, and has practically won a title on that coast.
Can't wait for the East Lites to debut! Roc vs Barcia should be great to watch. Especially since Roc is like a J. Stewart and either fly's or crashes, and "Bam Bam" Barcia says it all. The Fox reps will be on edge all series. I wonder how M. Stewart will do in his second year?
After the SX Main on Sat night, I predict the Reed-love-affair begins to dwindle. He'll do something stupid like last year in ATL, but this time it will be against a "beloved" fan favorite. The true Reed returns this week! haha
I don't think there was anything wrong with how Poto raced Reed last weekend, but now Reed has made it obvious that Ryan needs to watch his back. Ryan prob already knew that anyways. Reed has already run Ryan high coming out of the first corner, and in another instance cut over on him across a triple, if anyone should be pissed its Ryan..
Yes the new east class will be good as nobody really knows what to expect?Ya I think most of us wold put our money on Roczen or Barceia. The first round is usually telling but the 2nd round things settle.
The 450's are now do or loose for them as said above they call it the top 4 well it is about time for someone to break that barrier.
Bummed wont make the supercross this year went the last two at least its not gonna be on Pacific time and I will make it to tthe end.
Lets Race!
My money is one BB or JB. I just don't see the KTM beating those guys in SX..
Everybody has forgotten about my main man Darryn durham! Yeah boi show them whats up DD!
Cant wait for the Lites East myself. The East Coast looks stacked but we will see. Bagget needs to step up for supercross. Roczen got a win in Las Vegas last year MXMOFO, so you never know, the kid is very talented. We will see if Barcias wrist injury from last year actually helped slow him down enough from crashing. He had to back it down and I think it may have helped him..He really kicked butt in supercross last season with the sore wrist..
Just look at the difference of the past top amatuer standouts between Canard and Stroupe since the started their pro career....... one tries his hardest, wins a couple of championships, is blazing fast and proceeds to get waxed in the process of doing his best with numerous broken bones..... Stroupe on the other hand may still be blazing (except only in the green color) and cant seem to pull his head out of his ass... kind of a bummer as I picked him as the dark horse early in the season to podium and maybe even win and I was totally wrong.... again kind of a bummer as he was handed the pro circuit Kawi and didnt seem toi put forth the effort- My next pick- Bogle for the podium in his first SX
@mbmoto--Couldnt agree more. Not sure what is up with Stroupe. Really liked watching him ride. Saw him get a big win in Indy one time too.. He was really fast but got derailed by injuries. Sad really, he is fast..
@mbmoto: exactly why Stroupe and Roido aren't a good combo! ha ha too much greeen!
Roczen and Barcia squaring off.......for 2nd. Go Baggett! Will be interesting to see how things pan out. Very very few were calling forTomac to be the fastest out West and very very few are mentioning Baggett. Look out!
You wanna here something really scary?
Baggett is better in supercross then outdoor!
Reed all the way!!!!!!
I bet Chad takes RV out. RV needs to check out and not give him a chance
@dgizzy, No Way, if Reed has to go for a win, he might run one in tight. But I DO NOT think he will just "take him out".
@bd200,,, hahhahaha,, like Reed has never done that before... C'mon man .....
If he doesn't already have one, Mike Alessi should be riding 30 minute motos on a special-built supercross track with complete, wall-to-wall Whoop sections between all corners with no jumps anywhere.
I think Reed and RV have a slightly different relationship than the one Reed had with Stewie then. The ATL. move by Reed was during the same season as the Jasksonville moves, things arent that heated between Reed and RV-----Yet!!
I don't think The New Sheriff is as interested in having a nice relationship as winning and push come to shove they will all do both. When did motorcycle racing become so pussified that its a crime to bump and run. Lappers...most of those "lappers " would CRUSH your local hero and have qualified for a national and have every right to be out there. If racing for position they don't have to do anything , if they are not and get the blue flag they need to maintain their line but slow enough (it won't take much lol) and let the leaders by. They are part of the obstacles at that point and everyone has to deal with it. It sucks when they effect the outcome and should be penalized if not obeying the flag. Go RV there can be only 1 , and Go JB 2.0 ...250's ought to be a riot tonight Go Mookie...
Bam Bam gonna knock some heads tonight; he still views it as a contact sport.
JS gonna take dirt samples so he'll have a complete 2012 collection from all stadiums
RV going to execute flawlessly for 20 laps if he gets a start, and if not he'll come thru the pack and school anyone who gets in his way, Chad included.
RD going to continue to fade into oblivion but finish the evening healthy.
What eles needs be said?