by Andy Bowyer
One Industries Rev Up: Battle of Atlanta
Thursday, February 23, 2012 | 1:15 PM
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PrintLadies and gentlemen good evening
You've seen that seeing is believing
Your ears and your eyes will be bleeding
Please check to see if you're still breathing...
Hello, everyone, and welcome to the Rev Up. It’s that time of year and the diesel is puffing black smoke on all eight cylinders. What’s that noise? Put your ear to the train tracks and you can hear the crackling thunder of 70,000 strong. It isn’t the numbers that cave your chest in, rather the substance behind them that packs a punch. We got the crazies out for this one. Rabid motocross fans compose the southeast venue of the Georgia Dome, and they’re ready to eat. They’ve sat dormant while the West Coast selfishly hosted the charge and now the Beast of the East is ready for dinner. Everyone knows what time it is. The latest, and what could be the greatest, Battle of Atlanta has arrived.
Let’s stop mourning about losing Chad Reed to injury and presuming that the wind has fallen out of the sails on the 2012 Monster Energy Supercross series. Like I said last week, we have a great product. It isn’t the names that make it grand, rather the substance of the show herself. You can go to a local motocross race anywhere in the world and a knock down drag out battle can take place. It can be the 50cc class, or the Vet Plus 40. This is motocross; and it while it breaks our hearts to see so many heroes get hurt, the show goes on. We were all proud of Reed and losing him to the championship fight is horrible, but we have a gate to drop. He knows this, and all he can think about is healing and getting back behind it. So are Trey Canard, Josh Grant, Ivan Tedesco, Tommy Hahn, and Ryan Morais...and more. Our horde remains steadfast.
“If you buy the ticket, you take the ride.”
The charge heads to Atlanta this weekend and will be meet by...
Photo: Simon Cudby
So, what is so special about the Atlanta Supercross? Why have so many exhilarating races taken place there? Is it the coastal swing to the East, and the beginning of a pivotal chapter in the title fight? Yes. Yes, it is. And more. Some places on this mud ball simply quicken competitive instinct. Lambeau Field, “The Brickyard” at Indianapolis, Wrigley Field, Madison Square Garden, The Bermuda Triangle...I digress. Whatever milkshake of adrenaline embodies the Atlanta Supercross may be, it is very real, and time after time a full-blown “Donnybrook” goes down.
It creates a sound that I’ve only heard there. The power of this sold out crowd is astounding, and it isn’t their fault. Through the years they’ve had to undergo five-rider-fright-trains, hometown wins, and pick up passes. Mother Supecross created a beast with The Battle of Atlanta, and when they turn the lights down for opening ceremonies this Saturday night, you’ll feel it. I can’t wait for it. I’ll be that guy jumping up and down, rolling my neck, and looking to land a high five with anyone that will square up with me. She’s here, boys. Not sure I have ever had chicken skin on my knee caps, but when I just looked down through my glass desk, that just happened.
Oh my, the nastiness of the east side tiddler division. I’ll go ahead and chalk last weekend’s display of clean jobs up to, ahem, youthful exuberance. That said, nowhere in “the code” is it cool to intentionally jump into riders with your front wheel, or square up a 90 degree turn to blister your competitor in an effort gain position. You can stuff, block pass, and even brake check your man, but this deal is spooky enough without the dive-bomb-ankle-breakers. Professional supercross is rough, but stay true to the code. That’s part of owning the title of being a professional sport. Abide, brothers.
Enough of that, this weekend is about the love of competition and being lucky as we are to experience what’s on the way. Wow, what a big weekend. I’ve already mapped through my responsibilities in an effort to streamline my position inside the Georgia Dome Saturday night. I haven’t missed this one since attending my first one, and I have my shoulders back.
...over 70,000 rabid fans that will pack the Georgia Dome.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
There’s a lot more to it too. I’m going to cut this one short, because the Battle of Atlanta is on the board and those words alone land home. I mean, they better. I just have an additional kick in my step for the weekend because it’s time for the Daytona 500 and my brother is ready to begin a new chapter. As you read this he will be racing in the second Gatorade Duel which will set his starting position for the 500. The No. 15 5-hour ENERGY Toyota is prepped for her maiden voyage this Sunday and Clint will be denting the floor board. He’s a bad dude and I’m so very proud of him. I know you guys scoff when I write about that subject. My beloved readers and friends, please give my family a little push this Sunday morning. If the #15 is still there with 20 to go, look out. He is one of the best in the draft. Go get’em, son.
What are we going to do now? It seems like I’m already walking the pits, watching practice, preparing for the heat races, then all of the sudden the lights go down and I can’t see much after that. I can only hear the cacophony when this happens. I can close my eyes and hear the crowd blast out approval for the show. And I can’t wait to be among them.
Hold tight cause the show is not over
If you will please move in closer
Your about to be bowled over
By the wonders you're about to behold here
The Battle of Atlanta is here, ladies and gentlemen. If anyone wants to get together for a pre-race beer hit me up @hattica77 on twitter, I’m buying. Straight talk. I’m ready to run with the bulls. Who’s with me?
Thanks for reading, see you next week.
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If William Tecumseh Sherman is entered, I'm picking him.
Great write up Andy, used to live in Georgia as a kid and we hit Atlanta every year and then on to Daytona. Now I'm out in Phoenix but I still look forward to Hotlanta as well. Hope you have an awesome time!
lock your stuff up boys, more bikes and stuff stolen at this venue than all others combined.
Right on!
Yup yamaha35, as grand a stage as it is, keep your bikes close, and your wives closer. Consider yourselves warned.
@yamaha35, @someguy - is there a subtle reference you are making which you would like to share with the rest of the readers?
Sure wish I could be there, Atlanta always provides the fireworks!!!!
James Stewart "The Gambler" needs to ante up this weekend, go all in for the win, stop bluffin and start stuffin, draw a bead on the checker flag and be I one to make it drop..time to put your money on the black 7 and let it ride...
The ginger haired Fircracker is ready to go off, Villopoto is the hottest rider in the field, he is ready to explode off the line and pop the championship dreams of the other conternders...
The Locomotive rolls into Atlanta, Dungey needs to put the KTM on rails and pick up some momentum as he steadily steams towards the 2012 championship title..
Oh, possibly, did we give off a vibe?
The Atlanta thieves are salivating and planning their attack as we speak.Not saying everone in Atlanta is a thief, (lots of good people there with nice southern hospitality) thieves are everywhere,but it happens EVERY year there.If you are taking bikes down there take all precautions possible.They go to all the local hotels and will steal your whole rig if they can't get the bikes out.Maybe have someone stay up all night and watch your truck.
I saw a DVD recently with some Atlanta races from the early-80s. It was crazy muddy in some of those. You had guys getting stuck on the finish line jump. It looked more like indoor Last Man Standing than a MX race. At Daytona the one muddy year recently, there was really deep standing water, but these ATL races was just two-feet-thick, slick at the bottom, gain 5 pounds of clay per lap, mud.
Not exactly Indoor or it wouldn't be muddy. My bad.
@VISTAJIM - Good point. The timing is good for traveling thieves. Mardi Gras just ended, so they can make the relatively short drive from NO up to Atlanta just in time for the Supercross.
@all, agreed.
"The Tubes, Don't Fall In Love" MTV videos in the '80's. (I think) Good Luck to Clint, I'm a 'Little E' fan but I never hold my breath these days. Back to ATLANTA, The house is gonna ROCK! Dungey/Barcia (& Little E) would make my week end!
Yes, agree about Atalnta, its kind of a sh!thole town really. Lots of bikes and even entire trailers stolen there. Cant wait to see the racing though. Good dirt, and a huge and loud crowd makes it one of the most fun races to watch every year.
Just seen a pic of the track. It looks to me that they have taken the triple out after the 2nd turn.. Good news...
That sucks if they did that, this isnt tiddlywinks, What will they replace it with, nothing..
@therealmofo,, wow, that was a ignorant comment. looks like the have jumps there, like a little bigger than whoops.. I dont know anout you, but I like to see these guys race the whole year.. Triples are boring anyway.. They do them with their eyes closed... Wht take a chance of havibg riders get seriously hurt,,, oh wait,, thats already happened this year...
If Dungy and JS7 don't step it up this weekend it is going to be a snooze fest.Atlanta has had some of the best races in the history of SX.
Now you resort back to name calling because somebody liked a triple jump?? What a childish person you are.. Just because somebody disagrees with you doesnt make them ignorant or wrong. Grow up would you..
@fred, I agree but there is a few others whocan get up there also. Maybe Weimer, that would be good. Stewert has the ability, just it seems like whether he feels like it or not. Maybe he was under the weather last week. Who knows. Maybe if he gets a good start in the main will light a fire under him, who knows..
@Red44,, I didnt call him ignorant,, I called his COMMENT ignorant.. Comprendo ?? Now you on the other hand, may be a different story...
.. but I see you called me "childish," when you dont even have anything to do with this conversation. hmmmmm,, and I'm childish...
chick fight!
@TheChosen1,,, Excellent... Highly unlikely he will respond to that...
friends, Atl is not a sht town! There are lots of bikes stolen there every year....true....lock em' up. However, Atlanta hosted the Olympics, has many institutes of higher learning and the biggest aquarium on the east coast...maybe the u.s. It also has bad ass museums and they got rid of Michael Vick.....give em' a break!
friends, Atl is not a sht town! There are lots of bikes stolen there every year....true....lock em' up. However, Atlanta hosted the Olympics, has many institutes of higher learning and the biggest aquarium on the east coast...maybe the u.s. It also has bad ass museums and they got rid of Michael Vick.....give em' a break!
heheheh.. 'put your money on the black 7"
Shocking just shocking all this name calling and bickering can't we just all be boring (you know who you are ) and get along......I'm outraged and mookie should be fined for it......to train for the ATL i live in the bathroom with the shower on hot full blast and listen to "stankonia " by Outkast over and over.....then i go out and check on my truck and bike every five minutes. I actually like the Outkast part...... @checkedout ...hehheheh your the only one laughing.
Didn't know that Clint was your brother. Andy. That's cool, thanks for sharing. Not a huge Nascar fan, but little things like that and Jimmy Johnson coming from a moto background, RC and Bubba's possble future's there, someday I might tune in with a little more interest.
@TheChosen--At least you admit you called me a "stupid American" That is why the name calling started there..
mxmofo-YOU are just a guy who comes on here and 90% of the time dont contribute anything except name calling. A writer liked the triple and right away you name call because he liked something you didnt. THAT IS CHILDISH.. And yes I responded, sorry I dont have all day to stare at a computer or respond to YOU every time. You arent that important. actually, you arent important at all.
If JS is going to get rolling it has to be this week, east coast time.
.Tonewall.... the first part...Thats funny.
I'm just hoping Villipoto gets through injury free personally. Mmore competition certainly makes for better entertainment, but, my guy is winning atm anyhow so it's all good lol.
Outkast is the only hiphop worth listening to IMO. Almost redeems Atlanta. Almost