by Andy Bowyer
One Industries Rev Up: Indy
Thursday, March 15, 2012 | 5:10 PM
Dragon is a leading mx goggle manufacturer with innovative new styles like the NFX frameless goggle with patented lens technology. To win a pair of these premium NFX goggles, go to Dragon’s Facebook or Instagram page and pick this week’s 450 AMA Supercross winner.
Tweet
Advertisement | Advertise with Us
Share
Comment
Email
PrintHello, everyone and welcome to the Rev Up. I’ll begin this week’s column with a feeling I have right now after riding my Harley Davidson. Unless you’ve been hiding under Peyton Manning’s agent’s desk, you know the weather has been one of the biggest topics of recent weeks. From tragic tornadoes to the unseasonably warm temperatures spread across these United States. I tell ya, I’ve lived in “The South” for over four years and it has never been this warm. Is it an Al Gore-esque trend or just one of those years that things trend towards the warm side? None the less, it’s been gorgeous where I reside in North Carolina, and after I finished my day’s work I skinned out with my brother, Clint, on our cruisers and we just rode. There is just nothing like being on two wheels and putting it out there in the wind. I don’t get to ride with The Wheelman very much because he simply doesn’t have free time. That said, the culmination of the incredible weather and the “live free or die” vibe of our ride put me in a mood that I haven’t felt in a long time. It’s just so great to ride. To feel the power at the end of the throttle cable as the machine pulls beneath you. But, really, it was cool to ride with my brother again like the old days.
The charge heads to Indy this weekend.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
Now to brass tacks. Indianapolis.
Home of “Iron” Mike Larocco, (who has to be one of the most underrated AMA Champions ever) Indy is also one of the most underrated cities in the country, what with her vault of racing history and cultural background. Of course there is Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the Indy 500, but she also hosts the U.S. Nationals in the NHRA series, the “Anaheim 1,” if you will, of professional drag racing. How many of you have ever stood witness to a pair of top fuel dragsters attack the strip? If you haven’t it then you haven’t seen shit. Did you know that if a Corvette hit the starting line going 200mph while the top fuel car sat still that the drag car would catch AND pass it at the end of ¼ mile? A top fuel dragster will burn 10-12 gallons of nitro methane in four seconds. One drop of nitro can blast a coffee table into a pile of toothpicks. It is 8,000 horsepower! Ho, ho.
Ah, that’s just a little cross over stuff for you guys. Doug Schumacher Racing’s Ron Capps, and most of the NHRA racers are avid supercross fans. What’s happened over the past few years is all motorsports fans have meshed together. What’s special to me and you reading this far is that they all admire supercross. I’ve kind of sprinkled this in all season, but as we arrive in Indy, the center of it all...well, here we are.
The charge is ready to carry the flag with an iron fist. Time for another Saturday night.
450
So, James went out and got one last weekend. How much difference did it make? More than you might think. Yes, it was a mudder. Yes, Ryan Villopoto went down and had a tough race, but he put forth a yoeman’s effort and didn’t lose that many points at all. But, a win, is a win, is a win. James hasn’t won a race in over a month and was going through the worst supercross series of his career. Can he come back and win the title? He sure can. Lest you forget that less than a year ago “Rambo” Ryan failed to make a main event. It can happen within the blink of an eye. In can be dumb luck, a crash, or an injury. This is a tough business.
It isn’t over.
Will Stewart keep to his winning ways in Indy?
Photo: Simon Cudby
Now, who can get in the middle of this drama? Every rider on the starting gate has the potential to post negative or positive points for the two title contenders. It’s been pretty messy to this point, but the path to the number one plate has 17 stops. That is why this is supercross. Can James Stewart bring fire back to the “greatest season ever?” The odds are against him, that is for certain. But, like I said, it could get weird in a hurry.
250
A couple of agendas with these boys. Can Justin Barcia complete the sweep? I think he can. He’s just too strong and his bike is working impeccably. Who would have fathomed that the Hondas would beat the omnipotent Pro Circuit/Monster Energy Kawasaki horses? Things are going this way on both coasts. In that regard, what is more important to Barcia? The title or the streak? Like most of the great riders of our sport, the way they become champion is with the mindset of, “win, win, win, then wear the title belt.” Justin won’t let up until he has another #1 plate. He’s a machine and I don’t think they can stop him.
But, wouldn’t it be cool to see he and “Bad” Blake Baggett get into a dustup, possibly take each other down, then allow a guy like Malcolm Stewart, Blake Wharton, or Ken Roczen to pull in a victory? It could happen. Time, and “Bam Bam” are against them to get it done. Truly daunting task.
Can anyone stop Barcia?
Photo: Simon Cudby
Is there a theme or any momentum rolling along with the 2012 Monster Energy Supercross series? It’s been a tale of attrition to put it bluntly. Ryan Villopoto has been the lone stalwart in a class of turmoil. But the one thorn in his side is quite the prickly one. It is a very clear and present danger to his quest. Can James Stewart carry the momentum of his win into a streak? He has to carry the grudge and move forward. This season has been more than everyone else can carry. Stewart has to clutch it like a cornerstone, and let it fly.
I thought about all of it on my ride this evening. All that’s transpired so far with the boys. But, I thought about a lot more as well. This weekend I’ll be with my family in Bristol, Tennessee. But, if you are a true fan of motorsports, you can be in a lot of places at one time. Let’s all be together this weekend and love every second of it.
Thanks for reading, see you next week.
Share this article:
Did you like this article?
Check out THE DARK KNIGHT
in our Latest issue of Racer X available now.
Tyler Bowers has become a star on the Amsoil Arenacross circuit, but the often-controversial racer just hit another peak—a surprise win at the 2013 Las Vegas Supercross. Page 148.
Look for the verified symbol 
Impulse Studios
Andy is right if you have never been to a NHRA Top fuel drag race you need to go at least once.It is incredable.You need to stand beside one of those 8k hp cars and listen to it rev-up.Those things rev so fast and just shacks the earth.Then go down to the finnish line and stand there watching a car go by at 300plus MPH.It is awsome.
Stewart got a win. We know that. Before we hand him the title why don't we let the last 7 races play out.
@fred,, I have a couple friends that go to drag races every year, and they tell me the EXACT same thing. They said when you stand next to the top fueler, and they "burp" the motor, it makes your eyes water. Must see that for myself sometime..
Ms. SX makes my eyes water
Great writeup.. And the weather has been unreal. I didnt even do my normal winter prep on my dirt bikes this year because I never stored them for the winter.. The normal high temp on this day is lower 50's, but it is usually in the 40's most of the day.. It was 75 degrees today.. It has been very warm this winter.. I rode a few times in January, when its usually in the 20's and snowing..
And I live in
Southeast Indiana outside of Cincinnati about 35 miles, and I mowed grass yesterday...unreal..
I talked to several men in their late 80's this week and they all said this winter was just like 1932-33, right before the drought/ dust bowl years
supercross has always been described as motocross in a football stadium, in Indy they just hosted a superbowl in a motorsports stadium. I'm getting verclempt.
If I had a nickel for every ignorant comment on this page, right now I'd have $0.10.
Could this be a year like Stanton and Bradshaw ... Does anyone remember what went down !!
I have stood at the starting line at a NHRA event....it's something that you'll never forget!!! The top fuel and nitro funny cars is without a doubt the most raw horsepower you'll ever see(don't blink) or hear(so loud it hurts) or FEEL----the ground shakes,your body shakes and your vision blurrs trying to keep up ! But anyway----I'll be at Indy this weekend....and rooting for KW !!
Great read, Andy!
Everyone knows the weather is a precursor to the Mayan calender ending. Right?
I had to google skinned. I'm still laughing cause I am either not hip or live under a rock. Maybe both. haha.
Went to Englishtown Raceway for Kawasaki Race of Champions event. I heard this sound that was unlike anything I have experienced. It was actually a bit scary. I thought something was exploding. It turned out to be drag racing. I didn't know the place had a strip. It was my first time there and I know nothing about the sport. I will put it on the bucket list.
@ RyanD If you read these threads regularly, you could amass a small fortune. lol
It would be cool if they open the roof of Lucas Oil Stadium for this weekends race. I've never been to a "Open" air stadium sx race so now would be a awesome time with the great wheather we are having.
YA Andy !! Yesteryear in Carlsbad, to have a similar reference, watching the USGP, and at the same facility, sitting on the bank behind the starting line of the Drags, circa 76- 82, when the top fuel cars took off, the ground rumbled hard enough to roll our ice chest down the hill ! We sat on it after the first time !! Thunder fo sho ! Old Guy.
Agreed BlackJack...it's an endless revenue stream. lol
@Blackjack
I go to Englishtown once a year and I must say that the place is amazing. I go there for an annual car show so its not an exciting setup. But that place is a motorsports playground! They have the strip, the mx track which is pretty bada**, they occasionally have autocross, drifting and go kart races. I have yet to make it to a NHRA event but I really need to go to one soon.
Wow, he managed to bring up every annoying thing on the planet. Harleys, Al Gore, Global Warming, and James Stewart, is he trying to make us hate him. Buy a real bike, and find a windy road. It's better than therapy and not so loud it makes your neighbors hate you.
Until I 69withducks comment, this has been the most diversified, refreshing, and enjoyable posting session ever. No mention of any tards whatsoever. I wonder why Harley Davidson never made an MX bike? They would suck, but I bet they would look bada$$! Potato-Potato-Potato-PoBRAAAAAAP! A solid steel V-twin Harley motocrosser would have dominated at Daytona. Anyone tries to pass Harley Factory Racing Kevin Windham would get a push rod to the throat! Imagine huckin a 100ft triple rockin to Motley Crue on you custom installed MP3 player? Oneal premiers its new line of state of the art, lightweight, kevlar, a$$less chaps. "Introducing, the Hells Angels, Lucas Oil 2013 Supercross Season!"
@Duc996. Went and looked at a Ducatti the other day. If they made Mx bikes, their premier 450F would be $145999, and would be outperformed by any Jap bike for half the price. Are there bikes that much better, or is it just economies of scale?
Pretty weird that in the same article we read that Barcia is a sure bet to sweep a series that is only half over while RV is worried that 44 points isn't a big enough lead because anything can happen and James has won 1 races in a row. You'd think the same anything can happen notion would be in play for everyone. I remember back in '87 how Rick Ryan parlayed that Daytona mud win into a series charge that had Jeff Ward sweating bullets............
@MXPete450. Harley Davidson did make dirt bikes back in the 70's and I think Brad Lacky rode a season for them on the national circuit, what a perfect fit. Unfortunately the bikes didn't amount to much and they quickly stopped production. I remember they were orange like KTM's. Man, I'm getting old.
@MXPete I wouldn't say they are that much better. They just come with a lot of extras. From suspension to carbon fiber, braided lines, Brembo brakes. I have had many bikes, mostly Hondas, but by the time you get done putting the good stuff on them, you have spent more then the Duc.I also love the V-Twin low end, it's very much the same as a Honda RC51.
JS can win out and unless RV has a DNF or gets hurt there is no shot for him. All RV needs is 3rds and 4ths the rest of the way.
Preston.............. You really thing RV would choke like Bradshaw did?? Not going to happen!!!
MXPete450... Ducatti's and Aprilla's are better then the Jap bikes, Worth the extra $$$... depends on how much you ride I guess.
The serioes is not over, either of them. Look at Tomac. Last year RD was down almost 40 something points, and made it close. Its going to take something drastic, but there are a lot of laps left.
I have an RC51, love the VTwin. I had looked at the Ducati and Aprillia when I was buying but didn't want the reliability/maintenance issues that normally come with the Italian machines.
B-KR I was thinking the same thing, either real biased or intended to keep interest up
Who said you couldn't race motocross on a harley?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nlq561aT08
thechosenone.....cough...cough....excuse me....you might want to go find a new web site, apparently you do not understand the concept that has made RacerX so sucsessfull.
@Chilllmatic
That was terrific. Made my day. I sure Evel Kneivel would approve.
Knievel---pardon the misspell
One his quotes: Harley-Davidson is the finest company in the world.
Lackey never rode for H-D, but I'm pretty sure Rocket Rex Staten rode them, and Don K????ski.
([email protected])
My name is miss cherish i went through your profile today and became interested,Please Dear one I will be very happy if you can contact me direct with this my email ([email protected])
so that I will tell you more about myself and a picture for you to know whom I am,(Remember the distance or color does not matter but love matters a lot in life)
I hope to read from u soon,
Miss cherish
please contact me direct with this email ([email protected])