Open Mic Part 1: Barcia, Stewart, Bogle and More
Monday, February 27, 2012 | 12:00 PM
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Justin Barcia, GEICO Honda, 1st in Lites Class
Racer X: You won again. What can we talk about?
Justin Barcia: We can start off with the heat race. Rode real well, got a holeshot, lost the front end. Boom! Track was real slick, but a lot of guys crashed and I came back to second. Main event, holeshot, had a pretty good lead, I think five to six seconds. But the lappers were intense, and the track was tough this weekend. It was really technical. When I came off from the main event, I was like, “Wow that was pretty intense stuff.”
What was the track like?
It was slick. My track at home is the same texture, when you put water on it, it’s pretty tacky, but when it dries out, it’s slick. When I was watching from the stands I thought the track looked sick. But when I got out there, it was deceiving. For the first time in my career, I actually switched a tire. I always use the same tire, no matter the dirt. But tonight, I actually tried a different tire. And I got two holeshots and a win. I’m starting to maybe figure some things out in my career now [Laughs].
"We can start off with the heat race. Rode real well, got a holeshot, lost the front end. Boom!" - Justin Barcia
Photo: Simon Cudby
James Stewart, JGR/Toyota Yamaha, 3rd in SX Class
Racer X: First of all, people were buzzing after practice. After a few bad races it seemed like in practice you were feeling on. How did you feel during the day?
James Stewart: I rode good throughout the day. The last practice I kind of got caught up, but I was okay. It was really good. And then in the heat race I was just starting to feel the bike out. I got a good start and took off. In the main event I was just jacked. I was in the back of the pack. I was coming up and ended up getting third. I was starting to actually close on those guys and ended up having to roll that triple over there and I lost a few seconds right there. It was over.
Do you have any idea if they saw the light or anything? Do you know anything about that?
I’m not going to say what they saw or not, but I felt like I saw it long enough. It doesn’t matter what happened. It was on for me and that was my race right there.
Is there something with the starts? Are you just getting a bad starts or is there an actual problem you need to work on?
I don’t know. I think that time I just got a bad start. I can’t really remember; there was so much going on. Once I got over it and knew I had a bad start I started focusing on trying to get into the first corner. There was a little gap on the inside and I was like, “All right, cool. I’ll come out maybe 5th, 6th.” I got plowed on the inside and I went really far back. It was a wrap from there.
A lot of people are thinking because you guys did a lot of testing in Florida that when you get to these East Coast tracks you might be better off. Do you think there’s anything to that?
I just think we’ve been working on a lot of things, even just tire setup. It’s the first year for me with Pirelli. So, there were a lot of things. For sure, I’m a lot more comfortable on the East Coast dirt. I think I had a good shot. The track was still really slippery out there. We did a lot of big changes this week and they seemed like they were better but we’ll have to continue going back and working on them.
"I’m not going to say what they saw or not, but I felt like I saw it long enough. It doesn’t matter what happened. It was on for me and that was my race right there." - James Stewart
Photo: Simon Cudby
Josh Hansen, Dodge Motorsports Hart and Huntington Kawasaki, 15th in SX Class
I hate to ask it this way, but what happened there? Did you stall?
Yeah. I came up short on that rhythm section and almost endoed my brains out. And then the bike stalled and I just couldn’t get it started for the next whole lap. I just tried, and tried, and tried and it put me a lap down. It sucked because I jumped right back up and caught [Justin] Brayton and those guys but I can’t get in the race.
And those are the same guys you were with when you stalled.
Exactly. I really think I could have maybe been a 5th place guy tonight. It is what it is. I don’t know.
Has that ever happened with the bike, ever?
I’ve been having problems starting it on the starting line up for the main events for some reason. I almost didn’t get it started tonight on the starting line. Then when I stalled my bike it was over. I was pretty bummed.
But in practice you can stall or whatever?
It’s all good for practice, but when we’re racing…
That’s when problems happen.
I’m pretty sad about it right now.
"Yeah. I came up short on that rhythm section and almost endoed my brains out. And then the bike stalled and I just couldn’t get it started for the next whole lap." - Josh Hansen
Photo: Simon Cudby
I’m hurting. It’s been a rough two weeks for sure. I’m really fortunate that I can even race and let alone get a top five or soldier on to a decent finish. But it’s been a frustrating day and a couple weeks, like I said, just not being able to ride like I know I can. The pain has been pretty bad. But I think I made a ton of progress this past week into this week in Atlanta, with injuries. Haven’t been able to ride a motorcycle for two weeks or train at all. It’s time to get back on the bike this week and try to at least ride a day and be a little better in St. Louis.
"I’m hurting. It’s been a rough two weeks for sure." - Justin Brayton
Photo: Simon Cudby
Justin Bogle, GEICO Honda, 3rd in Lites Class
Racer X: Were you a little less nervous this time, compared to last week?
Justin Bogle: I was definitely less nervous. I still rode tight, but making progress. I qualified in practice, I think, third and then won a heat, then got my first podium. So, good night I’d say.
That’s progress. But still a little tight?
Yeah, but I’m not complaining. I’m happy with that. Bam-bam got the win. I got up there in third, so keeping it in the family up on the podium so that’s good.
Now, do you feel like you have a lot more compared to when you ride during the week to when you ride here? We’re not seeing the during the week yet?
No, not fully, but hopefully it will come out soon. It’s not like I’m saying that I’ve got 15 seconds a lap on it, but I feel once I get a little more comfortable and calmed down a little bit it will be a little better. But like I said, I’m not complaining. I had a good night.
"Yeah, but I’m not complaining. I’m happy with that. Bam-bam got the win. I got up there in third, so keeping it in the family up on the podium so that’s good." - Justin Bogle
Photo: Simon Cudby
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Brayton is a tough mofo. I hope to see him on the podium once he is back 100%.
I dunno. On TV, as VIllopoto was going up the face of the takeoff for the triple, you could see the yellow light blinking and the yellow flag waving. Now I don't know how long it took to see the crash, turn on the light, and start waving the flag but it would seem there's some room for questioning his decision to jump.
And (on the same TV) it appeared he threaded about a three-foot hole between the downed rider/bike and the edge of the track on the landing. It would seem we could have very easily had two injured riders.....
@ mxdgnr8.............RV didn't have to question jumping the triple because it was on yellow, which allows passing and jumping. It was boneheaded that the red lights and red cross flag weren't up immediately to stop the guys from jumping considering where the downed rider was located. It should have been a red light the whole time. The issue with the yellow is that they see it all the time on jumps as a warning for an incident further down track. In this situation it was dangerous to not pull the red right away, it could have been really ugly.
I have a hard time believing that Villopoto didn't see the warning light. He was in the heat of battle, so I give him the benefit of the doubt.
Double standard!!!I wonder what everyone else would be saying if it was Stewart who didn't see the light!!
Give me a break!! If the light was on it was on!!
And yes I agree it should go straight to red cause it could of gotten real ugly!!
Cheers!!!!
Wow, hey everyone lets grab our pitchforks and torches and go get that light ignoring bastard!! He saw the light and it was YELLOW so he went for it. What more do you asshats want? Feld cleared him so get over it.
Stewart was catching them both , 7 more laps , he would have had it , he was robbed
I liked Stewarts podium interview.....He got slammed into by Weimer in the start I guess...so James says " i guess that was payback for LA......i got him back though"..... funny.....James will get it back together...too late for a SX title, but hopefully he can get back where he belongs on top and top 3 every week
Oh and lets get this going.....Bogle's nickname is going to be " O'Bogle".....Yes, like Obama....he looks like a college era Barrack Obama, minus the joint of coarse.....are those O'Bogels real chompers I wonder??????...dude rails for sure...but what a "odd duck" as my father would say.....
I cant belive guys are STILL CRYING about RV jumping the triple.@Jame and TEEPS, if the lights were yellow, which is what everyone is saying, he is ALLOWED TO JUMP THE TRIPLE!!My god quit crying and just enjoy a great race we had. Must be a few of those ONE-RIDER RACE FANS we have out there.
@ Preston.......Are you sure? RV caught RD and didn't get by him, what makes you think JS was going to get by the both of them? He got the short end of the stick for sure and it was some crappy timing for him but I wouldn't go as far to say that it took a win from him by any means.
At least Stewart has stayed off the ground for 2 races- that is some progress. I think he'll get a win soon enough- I predict Daytona...
Stewart may have had a chance if he wouldn't have quit with 3 laps to go. He gave up. Champions race until the checkers. My guess is that he was rubber armed after fighting to catch up and actually did the smart thing and took the podium spot.
Never thought i'd see it.......
I like Stewarts impression of Brett Micheals in the opening ceremony. ha ha
Are we still discussing "Light Gate"? I thought the jury was already in on that one and found Ryan innocent of all charges.
Stewart may have had arm-pump from doing the opening ceremonies in a "Prince from 20 years ago" costume. That looked pretty funny actually. The whole opening ceremonies haven't changed much since the 80s, so why not use things that are a few decades old.
Josh Hansen - "I’m pretty sad about it right now."
Not sure why, but this struck me as funny.
RV had a yellow but when he jumped it he got really close to hitting that guy and they probably switched it because of that.
Why is Hansen's bike not starting? Every EFI KX450 usually starts on the first or second kick.His EFI settings must be jacked up.
If you guys think they should penalize RV for maybe jumping on the red lights (I know I will get a lot of hate for this but okay) then maybe you would consider them penalizing JS because he has taken out multiple riders such as JT$ in Houston a year ago. Obviously a lot of the situations were just racing things but I bet some of it could be prevented. Anyway good rides for the top 3 they were all amazing, and I was surprised that RV didn't get RD so extra props to RD.
Preparing for the hate....
^^^^Just to clarify, that is my example of how you guys are discussing something that as of now, doesn't really matter......it's been decided by the AMA that RV won't get penalized
redrider24
you really think he "gave up?" Funny how when RV settled in and stop pushing in oakland, he never "gave up" but he didn't want to risk being taken out by Reed and Stewart which I personally think is BS. Stewart seemed to settle in and not risk a solid 3rd place finish. I doubt it's a fitness issue considering that he put his fastest lap in on lap 15 and stayed on pace until the last 3 where the lap times showed he settled in and slowed it down.
I know that you mentioned that and said it was smart of him to do so, it's just funny how when he does what RV did a few weeks ago, he's giving up.
Chilli I would agree except for this quote inreference to the race after the first turn?
” I got plowed on the inside and I went really far back. It was a wrap from there"
Sounds to me like he conceded his fate with 20 laps to go???
And also Chillmatic, it's a little more believable when the guy in control of the series says he backed it down to be safe. When you're at a deficit like JS right now you can't afford to back it down, and based on his career it's a little less believable that JS was using his head.
JS7 has been at this his entire life , He has matured over the years to know that he is pretty much out of the championship , but he sure does want to win , you guys know they make more money for a win . He still thinks he is the best , and good for us he does , if not , it would be a villo runaway , But I do think he knows how to back it down a notch to stay on two wheels , He has fan appeal , and sells tickets , Haters and lovers are all good for the show , I believe we will see him up front , the rest of the year , including the Nationals, JGR was the best thing that ever happened for him , They are grooming him for the future , He will soon be a household name , and his fans will follow over to four wheels .
I would think that when he had to roll the triple is when he considered it "a wrap" and the final nail in the coffin as he stated in his interviews. If he quit on the first turn and charged like he did to 3rd, thats very impressive but, I do not believe he gave up in the first turn. I wouldn't have said RV was in control of the points series at round 4 either, and he's only 10 points ahead. With his uncharacteristic mistakes that he made in ATL, anything can happen in the coming rounds.