10 Things to Watch: Daytona
Friday, March 9, 2012 | 10:00 AM
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PrintBy: Aaron Hansel and Chase Stallo
Change of Scenery
This weekend the series heads to Daytona, where the track rides more like an outdoor venue than an actual supercross track. When you combine supercross obstacles with the rough, outdoor-style terrain in Daytona, it can play havoc on a rider’s setup, which in turn has the potential to lead to some interesting results. Will it be business as usual for outdoor specialist Ryan Villopoto, or will the track changeup deliver a shakeup in the results?
The Separator
In San Diego, we saw the return of a nice set of big, long, nasty whoops. The track crew opted to leave them gnarly for the main events, and as a result, the section played a major role in the results when the racing was all over. Well, in Daytona, the riders are in for yet another long set of crazy whoops; according to the track map, there’s nearly twenty of them! Expect them to reward some riders, and to wreak havoc on others.
Can Roczen and crew finally take a win away from Barcia tomorrow night in Daytona?
Photo: Simon Cudby
Now or Never
So far, preseason title contenders like Ken Roczen, Blake Wharton, Kyle Cunningham, Blake Baggett, Darryn Durham, and Malcolm Stewart have been no match for red-hot GEICO Powersports’ Justin Barcia, who with only three races down, has accumulated an eighteen point lead in what is already a short series. The pressure is especially on Baggett this weekend, who lies seventh in points. He won this race last year and desperately needs to find the El Chupacabra that dominated a bunch of outdoor motocross races last year. And Roczen has experience on the Daytona track after riding a 350 here last year. But Barcia has a new weapon for this year's Daytona event -- four-time Daytona winner Jeff Stanton is training him this year. If Barcia’s competitors want to keep their title hopes alive, one of them needs to step up this weekend in Daytona and put an end to Barcia’s winning streak.
Mother Nature
If there’s anything to be learned in racing, it’s that anything can happen at any time, and when it rains, the unpredictability factor skyrockets. Well, don your rain suits and grab your umbrellas, because according to weather.com, Daytona is expecting to receive isolated thunderstorms throughout Saturday, which could turn the track into a gigantic soup bowl. Nasty conditions have the potential to turn a season upside down for some riders, while playing into the hands of mud specialists like Kevin Windham. If the rain comes down tomorrow, expect some drama.
Two Not Four
With an impenetrable sound, an aroma that can be detected from well beyond the fences and arguably the most passionate fan-base in the sport, the two-stroke will forever live in motocross lore. Tomorrow night at Daytona the two-stroke makes its return to Supercross. Privateer Ricky Renner, younger brother of freestyle pioneer Ronnie Renner, will make his 2012 East Region Lites debut aboard a 2009 Yamaha YZ 125. Renner is teaming up with GetDirtyMX.com for a one race deal. Although he will be fighting an uphill battle, Renner is ecstatic about the chance of bringing back the beloved two-stroke. "I'm so pumped for this race. The support I have gotten especially from the guys at GetDirtyMX is just unbelievable. I just want to get out there and have some fun and put on a good show. The fans seem to be just as excited as I am so I'm gonna do my best to put the 125 in the night show,” explained Renner in a recent press release. Can Renner run the two-stroke all the way to the night show at Daytona?
Regal makes his return at Daytona aboard a Merge Racing backed Honda.
Regal Returns
After missing the first nine rounds of the 2012 Supercross season Kyle Regal will make his long-awaited return to Monster Energy Supercross at Daytona. Sidelined since Christmas with a dislocated hip and broken femur, Regal is teaming up with a familiar face. Regal shined as a privateer with Merge Racing in 2010 and the two are joining forces again. Daytona fits Regal’s outdoor style but the Texas native was quick to point out his expectations for the weekend is moderate after a 10 month SX layoff. "I'm going to the beach to have fun and see where I'm at," stated Regal.
Rocky Beginnings
J-Star JDR KTM’s Malcolm Stewart has had a turbulent beginning to the 2012 season. After a suspect pass/knockdown on Justin Bogle at the opening round in Atlanta that ended with Bogle slapping Stewart on the back of the head, and the AMA slapping down a $500 fine, Stewart lawn darted while leading his heat race in Atlanta and suffered a mechanical DNF when his bike failed to start in the LCQ. Stewart would bounce back in St. Louis with a seventh but has yet to live up to his potential. Can Stewart shake off a disappointing start to the season and secure his elusive first career podium in Daytona?
Can Mookie bounce back from a rocky start to the 2012 season?
Photo: Simon Cudby
Who’s Next?
Despite battling a painful leg injury Justin Brayton was able to soldier his way to his first podium of the season in St. Louis, marking the sixth different rider to grace the box in 2012—joining Villopoto, Dungey, Stewart, Reed and Weimer. With Reed out of the mix and Stewart still trying to find himself the opportunity is there for another rider to secure a spot on the box. Kevin Windham has been knocking on the door all season and has had success at Daytona. Davi Millsaps seems to be hitting his mid-season stride and can run with the best of them … when he’s on. Throw Alessi, Hansen, Metcalfe and the front-running Cole Seely into the mix and there’s potential for a seventh rider to reach the podium in 2012. Will the podium faces remain the same in Daytona or can Windham and crew brighten the box with a new look?
Challengers to the Throne
Ryan Villopoto is threatening to get away from the field with four wins in the last five races. Daytona will provide a real test for Ryan Dungey's Red Bull KTM team, with a totally different style of track to dial in on their new bike. Plus, Dungey is running with a sore shoulder after a crash just before St. Louis. On the other end, things seem to be coming together for James Stewart and his JGR/Toyota Yamaha team. Stewart endured a high-profile crash while running away with last year's race. If he can overcome Villopoto and get a W at D, it could turn his season around.
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Glad to see Kyle Regal back on the track.
", Daytona is expecting to receive isolated thunderstorms throughout Saturday, which could turn the track into a gigantic soup bowl"
. PLEASE... PLEASE NO!!! That would suck!!! I hate seeing these guys ride around in slow mo.
How is RV an outdoor specialist? That implies he isn't as good at SX. The guy just won the SX championship last year and is the fastest guy this year. I think he's just an all around specialist at this point lol.
Good article, but look up 'roll' vs 'role' - I see that WAY too often on Racer X.
As posted on Rev it up, the unexpected seems to always take place in Daytona..
Who will be the suprise ride of the day,as Daytona usually suppies us a doosie...
Can the Cushing Cannon blast the competion.... Can Mookie show us some Daytona Stewart magic...Will this track favor the German Gunner or P.Star Barcia...Can the PC boys put it together, as Mitch is not used to being this deep into he season with out a win...Can a 125 make the main....hope so ..
Can the Firecracker,s momentum be derailed by the Locomotive...Will the Gambler quit bluffing and lay down the winning hand....Can Wiemer or Brayton get into the top two...Can Windam's experiance pay off with a win in 202...Can Regal shock the world and be the next priveteer to win Daytona...
Malcolm Stewart was a pre season title contender?
How many wins and podiums does he have?
I am on the fence with Regal....The kid has some skills no doubt and the more guys on the line the merrier...... but I have heard some folks say he is kind of a PITA to deal with off the track.....hence why nobody picked him up for 2012 prior to his injury in December??? ...In 2010 he had some good rides outdoors for sure...He didnt do much in 2011 SX and from what I understand, the L&M contract issues kept he and James off the track outdoors in 2011......so who knows....lets see how he does....
When I saw the picture and the headlines, I thought it was going to be Regal on a 250 T-S. That wold have been interesting. He'd have a good chance of taking that into the main. He should do much better on a 450 though. He hasn't raced at this level for a long time. First race could be tough.
I have a 125 and it's a blast to ride, but at the pro level, a privateer 125 against 250Fs is unlikely to make the top 40.
@ throttletwister: Exactly!!!! He seems like a great kid but he has never had a podium! He is being way over hyped for political reasons and if he ever does podium then we'll never hear the end of it. If he ever wins...well...can you say "Mookie's World"...?
Hey Moto RV is an outdoor specialist. So was RC!! Just happens they figured out the supercross stuff as well.
Hope there is no rain this weekend, mud races are boring for the most part.
The biggest thing Mookie ever did was take out Bogel. Other than that he has been a flop indoors and out. They are both head cases. Bubba and Mookie
2 STROKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
yeaaa buddy.
Always happy for the Daytona round. The longer lap times and the hybrid track makes for a nice change. If it does rain it could put more life into points chase. Hopefully not a monsoon.
RV is the total package. Indoor, outdoor it don't matter. He comes across as a guy that if given the right equipment and time he could champion any discipline. Imagine him in the Baja 1000, hillclimbs,trials, roller derby, tiddlywinks,figure skating....
oops on the figure skating. haha
It is raining right now where I am in the Tampa Bay area. Quick moving storms though. As long as they put plenty of sand in the track (they always do) we should have a race, not a mudder...
First and Formost (a plug for my Harley insurance) It is Datona and yes anything that can hapen wil hapen ilt alway deos at Daytona. I was there for R. Ryans win in 87! I think Brayton is stil geting beter with age.I also hope the rains dont come but yet it is super/motocros at daytona.
Lets al hope for a god and safe race for all! Oh and on another note my "Mookie" fever was cured last year. I have also traced some of my typo erors to my keyboard gota get a new keyborad who would have thought that, stil have trouble with my fingers though?
Oh I forgot-
LETS RACE!
Rideing a 250 2t in the 450 class makes a little bit of sense. But a 125 has exactly half the cc's as the rest of the lites field
I would love to see the Stewart boys bounce back and both have good showings at Daytona. I think the stars of Bubba's World have eaten enough humble pie at this point. They are way better riders than their results would imply. They need to be smarter riders, not faster...
On a side note, I can't wait to see Mookie on a 450 someday. He is going to be a big, bad dude compared to his brother. It probably should happen sooner rather than later. Apparently while James was travelling he was eating all the food at the Stewart compound...
Daytona is always a good race... haven't missd it since 93'. I just pray the top 3 get a 1,2,3 start and let it rock. I was amazed last year how Stewart was flying, I had never seen someone pull out a lead, and then throw it away, so quick. Daytona can get some real nasty square edge kickers and it bit JS last year. And please rain stay away, although the 2008 race was quite fun sitting in the stands with the torrential downpour. Well, just polished up the VMax, leaving the RC51 in the garage this year, and heading out from Tampa to Daytona. Maybe you guys will see me on TV, because if RD, RV, and JS don't all get a good start I am going to go streaking across the strack to make them get a restart!
"Things seem to be coming together for James Stewart".................?????......huh?
Not from where I'm sitting.
I'm 180 out on BillC's opinion. I would love to see a mudder. While '08(?) was a little much, it is still the great equalizer!
While I can see the odds are rather long, I do hope for a KTM sweep @ Daytona........their ad hacks would be doing cartwheels. KTM has a VERY good shot at the Enduro & GNCC races and some SX glory would be icing on the cake of a steamroller tour through Florida.
Oh yeah, hey AMA / SX promoters, why don't you man up and allow 250 two-strokes on the track with the "Lites" class??? If this is a case of you serving the lobbyists (motorcycle manufacturers except Yamaha & KTM) instead of your constituancy (riders / fans / paying customers / etc) you really need to get a clue before you become as hated as the politicians you're trying to emulate.
I don't mind a mudder - we haven't had one yet this season.
"Who’s Next?" - "Villopoto, Dungey, Stewart, Reed and Weimer" and Brayton = 6. Who will be the 7th?
carlsbad, you're smoking crack.
now gimme some!
Welker, I too seem to have either poor spelling skills or poor typing skills or could be a combo of the two...lol...Part of me would like to see a mud race, takes alot of skills to ride in slop.Watching RC lap the field in Millville mud was so impressive, Daytona mud would be an interesting test of these riders.
No No Rain Rain stay away! I'm tkaing my girlfriend to her first AMA race and if it rains and jacks up her hair I'll never hear the end of it. I have been working for a long time to get her into Moto and it's starting to work, rain would set me back months.
I agree on the "title contenders " prediction.. I dont see how Malcolmn or Durham would have been picked at the beginning of the season. Durham has never really proved himself in supercross, and did Malcolmn even get a podium last year, or finish a main without crashing?? I think guys are making thses based on what his big brother accomplished, I havent seen Malcolmn do anything remotely close to make me think he is anywhere near a title contender..
@moto if you ever saw RV destroying haybales outdoors you WOULD understand. Regal on a Honda...thats a good start. I'm was hoping for more from Mookie...a bike that starts at least. Love the 125 idea but picked the wrong track...2fitys will eat that thing at Daytona. With the HP a pro circuit like 4 stroke makes and supposed "superior power and traction" let them run 250 2 strokes and even it up.
@ Vet 243
If it's raining just put her in a white t-shirt and keep reminding her how good she looks!
@carlsbad when SX and the outdoor nationals get smart and drop the AMA, I think we'll see a true 250cc class rather than the "lites." For those of you who think that will never happen, take note- the GNCC series dropped them, amateur MX promoter Victory Sports dropped them, and many other smaller series did as well. The AMA does nothing for off road motorcycles.. so I think we'll see this happen in the next few years.
Kind of off topice, but The SUPERCROSS 24/7 app is awesome. Has live timing now, and will get better. Lucas, great job !!
Vet243,
I feel your pain my man, haha!
Jesus Juice, white T shirt. Keep it coming. lol
LOVE the idea of a 2 Smoker but he picked a bad track to debut that 125, that thing is gonna get eaten up after about 5 laps when the real work starts as the track is deteriorating.
God forbid it's a mudbowl/swimming pool like a few years back!
did i miss the announcement on regal's off-season injury or did they keep it out of the press somehow?
Good God. At least put Renner on a 144 so he has a chance BRRRRRing! 2-smoke!
results for this years Daytona SX. One champion will win, one champion will get second and one chanmion will crash. RV1, RD5 and JS7.
@Vet243 I'm in the same situation, this will be the first pro race I've attended and I'm bringing the wife, I usually run the FL round of the GNCC but couldn't resist seeing this race instead. I hope the top ten in points all get a good start and the chips fall where they may!!! and I can't wait to hear the sound of that 125 wailing, even if it doesn't make the fast 40.
@codjh9
"Good article, but look up 'roll' vs 'role' - I see that WAY too often on Racer X."
Try using a period after vs. numb nuts.
Yes- run any 250 in the 250 class, 2-stroke, 4-sroke, diesel what ever. you know the mfgs dont want it, but it would be fun for the fans. the rule in place is way outdated now
So why doesnt Renner race a 250 two stroke in the 250f class?? I thought that they changed the rules that 250 two strokes can run with the 250fs. Ive been racing the AMA texas winter series on my 250 2 stroke against 250fs and won the overall. Maybe that rule is just for the amateur races because 250 2 stroke is a huge advantage against a 250f and if it were legal in supercross im sure people would ruun them!
I'm with tonewall with the 250 2-stroke racing against the lites bikes. Since Daytona is a one off race it would be a perfect time to put 250 2-strokes in the lites class to see how it works out. It sure would make alot of fans happy. The MEC cup would also be a great race for that. I don't think it would be an advantage but it might make it easier for privateers to compete and satisfy a lot of fans. On another note IMO I think JS7 has a great chance to win this weekend. Stewart has got to have alot of confidence for Daytona and thats something I think he has been lacking. I'm not a Stewart fan but if he can get his head straight it would make spectating a lot better. I'm so stoked for this weekend, Daytona is my favorite race of all. Can't wait!!
AMA Pros can't race a 250 TS in the 250 class, but the standard AMA amateur 250 class has allowed it for a few years. Many promoters don't follow the AMA-defined classes exactly, LL most notably.
If its wet at all, those 250fs will just torque away from the 125 that much more. I would be very impressed if he gets into the night show.
TheChosen1 - The AMA is "an American not-for-profit organization of more than 300,000 motorcyclists that organizes numerous motorcycling activities and campaigns for motorcyclists' legal rights" (Wiki). They have the Race sanctioning arm ("AMA Pro Racing"), but also are the largest motorcyclist special interest group lobbying to protect motorcyclists' interests.
@RipDown - Now that is a great idea! the white tee-shrit. Of course it all depends on what shoes she's going to wear? One time we went to ride these Can Am dune buggy deals and I swear to God she changed three times!
Renner is not going to have a lot of fun with the 125. As cool as two strokes are they are just not competitive with today´s rules.
Look at Roczen´s 125 ride in the last gp 2011. He was fighting for a top 5 and that was a hard pack track.
@ HandlebarDragger
Well done. Is your father Rolie Polie?
DUNGEY OUT! Broken collarbone. Damn. JS better step it up!!
Let that 125 rip Renner! Hope you make the show. Show Two Two what you can do on that Honda Regal, the outdoors could be calling your name.
It would be great if the AMA would let the 250 2 Strokes run with the 250 4 Strokes.
didn't know Regal was injured, somewhat hoped he was taking sx off to prep for the nationals. good he's back though, he was haulin' in 2010 on a Honda - just ask #29.
I think JS will get up front tonight quicker and maybe win. With RD gone this is a good time to give some love back to his sponsors by being upfront; should be good.
First that I have heard of the $500 fine. Was it for Bogle or Mookie?
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