Racer X Outstanding Performance: Blake Baggett
Monday, March 12, 2012 | 10:00 AM
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Blake Baggett finished second in the Lites Class at the Daytona Supercross by Honda. And he wasn’t happy about it.
After the finish of the race, where GEICO Honda’s Justin Barcia just edged the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider, Baggett coasted to a stop, and parked his bike. He laid his head down, visor on the bars, and started swiping at his seat. Fists clenched, he pounded on his gas tank. Then he just sat there for about a minute, frozen. Baggett wanted the win badly, and he gave it all he had to get it.
Last week, Baggett stated that he was going to start riding for the race win and nothing but the win—he was too far back in points for podiums and consistency to matter anymore. At Daytona, he carried that plan forward. Early in the race, he was catching Barcia from second place, but then fell. He was over ten seconds back, and on a sloppy course, he could have cut his losses and settled for second. But he would not settle. Over the last four laps, he dug down deep, pushed to his absolute limit, and closed back in on Barcia.
Baggett bounced back with a hard fought second in Daytona.
Photo: Simon Cudby
“Tonight was, overall, okay. But it’s a little disappointing to end up so close, but so far,” said Baggett. “I just put my head down and pretty much gave it everything I had. Once I could see him I just let it loose. He rode a solid race. I was catching him, but I came up short.”
Last week Baggett endured one of the worst races of his career, barely cracking the top ten, “I just sucked. I just got ruined by people I shouldn’t get beat by,” said Baggett
His Daytona ride was a bounce back of sorts, as Baggett proved he once again has the speed to challenge the dominant Barcia for race wins. His actions at the end—pushing to his limit instead of settling for second, and then lamenting that finish instead of celebrating for getting on the podium—shows just how badly he tried to get the W.
For that effort, we present Baggett with our Racer X Outstanding Performance Award. Congrats, Blake.
After the finish of the race, where GEICO Honda’s Justin Barcia just edged the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider, Baggett coasted to a stop, and parked his bike. He laid his head down, visor on the bars, and started swiping at his seat. Fists clenched, he pounded on his gas tank. Then he just sat there for about a minute, frozen. Baggett wanted the win badly, and he gave it all he had to get it.
Last week, Baggett stated that he was going to start riding for the race win and nothing but the win—he was too far back in points for podiums and consistency to matter anymore. At Daytona, he carried that plan forward. Early in the race, he was catching Barcia from second place, but then fell. He was over ten seconds back, and on a sloppy course, he could have cut his losses and settled for second. But he would not settle. Over the last four laps, he dug down deep, pushed to his absolute limit, and closed back in on Barcia.
Baggett bounced back with a hard fought second in Daytona.
Photo: Simon Cudby
“Tonight was, overall, okay. But it’s a little disappointing to end up so close, but so far,” said Baggett. “I just put my head down and pretty much gave it everything I had. Once I could see him I just let it loose. He rode a solid race. I was catching him, but I came up short.”
Last week Baggett endured one of the worst races of his career, barely cracking the top ten, “I just sucked. I just got ruined by people I shouldn’t get beat by,” said Baggett
His Daytona ride was a bounce back of sorts, as Baggett proved he once again has the speed to challenge the dominant Barcia for race wins. His actions at the end—pushing to his limit instead of settling for second, and then lamenting that finish instead of celebrating for getting on the podium—shows just how badly he tried to get the W.
For that effort, we present Baggett with our Racer X Outstanding Performance Award. Congrats, Blake.
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You gave 100%. Should have been 15 laps.
I have to give it up to him, BB did not quit after his tip over, it would have been real easy to just ride around, stay up and take 2nd..instead he gave it his all and tried to catch JB... Great effort given= Respect
Great ride, but Barcia still has his number. Wait till next week in Indy when things are dry again. You'll see not only Barcia ahead, but our beaming new Rookie Bogle. Sorry Pro Circuit...not your year this year...don't have the "ponies" you had in previous years, plus bad choice of rider selections for each coast. Deano should have been left to battle Barcia (poor choice of rider placement). Geico Rules the 2012 Supercross...including Tomac in the West, who will once again regain the points lead when the West returns.
I do hope the Cushing Cannon lights up the lites!!! He is my pick to win one, as a rookie. (yeah, I am an Okie) He should not feel bad for getting stuck in the mud, seen it happen to several riders over the years. It was a learning experiance for sure..Justin looks to have a bright future, here's hoping Bogle boogles a few minds with his speed in the remaining sx and then in the outdoors.....
A well deseved award for Blake! Now I dont wanna see the stuff abot haow Barcia was just cruising? There is no way to maintain your rythym in that kind of mud you have to give it your all or you will get nowhere fast. Sometime you just have to will your bike through and keep pushing with all you have.
Just looked at the pics from Daytona, fun,fun, racing in the mud. I used to like it but the cleaning up and the damage to the bike was the bad part. Ya gotta give everyone credit for doing the best thay can in those conditions.
One thing I noticed was it looked like Barcia did not have a left radiator shroud on just a bar to protect it? None of the Honda pics showed that side of the bike? Anybody that went to the races notice if I am correct or not?
"... and then lamenting that finish instead of celebrating for getting on the podium—shows just how badly he tried to get the W."
I see what you mean but at the end of the race I was bummed he wasn't more happy with his own performance. IMO he shouldn't be so hard on himself all the time. Punching his bike that performed flawlessly and throwing a temper tantrum is not "profesh". If the race was another lap it definitely could have been a different story. Good call to give it to him though. That was a hell of a charge.
jv212....i have been guilty of throwing a tantrum or two in my days...rumer has it that RC, if it did not go the way he expected...you might want to stay out of his way for a while..and we can name some others also! sometimes the will to win takes over.....and that quality sets those apart from those that settle. most racers that posses that qaulity...have many Wins on there reume....being professional as great as that may be....for sponsers and nice people.....sponsers like winners the most...i would rather have w's...and put up with a few tantrums..just sayin.
I think this award should of went to Barcia. How he saved himself from crashing was amazing. Racer X Outstanding Performance = Justin Barcia.
Damn good mud ridin.....dude was flyin. I'm a JB20 fan but the guy rode his rear off.....a little credit was due. Nice ride.
Just wondering if anyone else noticed in Barcia's heat race when it looked like he intentionaly tried to take out a lapper? If you watch it i think its near the end of the heat, he comes up on a guy looks over at him then cuts right into his line and the guy almost goes down. I'd say he just slid into his line but it really looked like he did it on purpose, not that is a big deal but wonder if anyone else noticed it.
MF, I saw that but decided to give Barcia credit for looking over to judge when he could get back into the line he prefered.
I could be wrong, though. It looked pretty hairy.