by Matt Walker
The Breakdown: Las Vegas
Monday, May 14, 2012 | 11:10 AM
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PrintHey everyone! So this is the last breakdown column from Monster Energy Supercross. What started out as something cool and different turned into a weekly column. And I'm very happy to be part of it.
But first I want to start with some big news: James Stewart. If you didn't know he went to Suzuki and I'm sure everyone is sick and tired of reading another Stewart article but this touches on something different.
First off, there have been a lot of journalists talking about what they think "might" happen with James and the Nationals. Now I'm not a journalist by any means, but, I, Matt Walker, have raced against James Stewart, as well as Ryan Villopoto, Chad Reed, Ryan Dungey and all the big names. So I feel like I can give a different analysis on the situation. Now here is my opinion: James Stewart will be your newly crowned National Motocross 450 Champion! They might as well go ahead and mail him the plate! Here’s why:
Like I mentioned before, I've raced all these top guys and I can say for certain that all the top riders are great in their own way. But no one has all the "goods" like James. And he knows it. Of course he does. Look, he beat me like I stole something from him, and he was on a 125 and I was on a 250F! He did Reed the same way in ‘02. Point is, when James is happy, James is fast, and when he is fast no one can beat him. I mean I love RV to death, but he’s out, and with a healthy/happy Bubba out there, things could get serious.
Garth Milan photo
A lot of people think he will crash hard this summer, but when I raced him, the guy never crashed! Why not? Because he was happy! Even getting out powered by 250Fs, he was happy. And the dude went 24-0 a few years ago. That should speak volumes about how consistent he can be. For whatever reason he wasn't happy on the Yamaha. I personally like the YZ450. And have no issues riding it. But I'm not James Stewart and neither is anyone else and at the end of the day he had to do what's right for him.
I keep hearing about the money, and how he gave up a bunch from JGR to go racing for Suzuki. Listen, as fans, you have to understand that these guys are all WINNERS. They want to go out winning. James Stewart won’t go out without winning again. That's what he wants to be remembered as. And if a few million is what he decides he needs to do to start back winning, then I respect him more than ever and so should you!
Now let’s get to this week’s Breakdown!
This part of the track in Vegas that were breaking down is the hip jump after the finish line that leads the riders outside of the stadium. Let's start off with the new West Region Lites Champion Eli Tomac. What I want to show are the different angles and body English the riders put on their bikes to help stay low.
As you can see in typical Eli fashion, he does the most common scrub. He puts the majority of his body weight on the outside peg while he takes the inside leg off the peg. A lot of riders do it this way so their toe doesn't get caught on the lip of the jump causing them to get ripped off the bike.
Simon Cudby photos
Now Broc "Dill" Tickle emulates the common scrub as we saw above except his scrub is a little more advanced. Yes, like Tomac, his body weight is clearly all to one side. If it weren’t, the bike would wash out coming up the face. Look how pointy his elbow is—that’s good. It allows him to push down on the bars making the bike stay low. Now look at his leg. He's using more “ummph” with his scrub than Tomac, and you can tell because that leg kick tells the story. While the bike is in the air he does this kick. He puts pressure on his outside knee to help. Notice how high up his right leg is up on the seat. This scrub has intensity written all over it!
Here is Ryan Sipes. Hip jumps are designed to scrub. And when you scrub, depending on where and when, you need to have intensity. This picture doesn’t scream intensity. It says nothing, really. I like to cut my bars as I’m going off the lip, and then when I’m coming down. As I’m coming down I bring them back straight so the bike will be straight. This rider is clearly late cutting the bars. See how high the bike is from the lip? See how straight the bike is? That's how I know. Look how centered he is on the bike. All of his weight isn't to one side like Tomac and Tickle.
I want to show Barcia for the last photo. Words can't say how pleased I am with this kid. He has manned up and matured into a great rider. Okay, minus that one incident this year! But nonetheless he will be in the mix next year on the 450. And even though this photo doesn't show it, he can scrub like nobody else. The kid has skills!
That's it for the Breakdown. Thank you guys for reading each week. The Nationals are going to be awesome for The Breakdown, and I think it will be a good treat for you readers. But I want to point out that you need to be very careful scrubbing. It's a gnarly trick and I only like giving you guys pointers on it cause I actually ride and I have done it. If I didn't, I wouldn't feel comfortable teaching something that advanced.
Thanks for reading!
Matt
If you have any questions you can email me at [email protected] or hit me up on Twitter at @MattWalker122.
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You are right Matt Walker, we are sick of all the articles.
Matt, I stopped reading the article at this point:
Now here is my opinion: James Stewart will be your newly crowned National Motocross 450 Champion! They might as well go ahead and mail him the plate!
I hope it was a good article, but I'll never know. You're entitled to your opinion, even if as this case, it's a bad one, but you have to use some common sense with your opinions.
James Stewart will not beat Dungey title and if he does I will lick the bottom of your shoes.
Just a few short weeks ago we were saying how boring it might be with Poto out and no one to challenge Dungey...Well things have changed up a bit... I agree with Matt that James can fly when he is happy and is full of C&C, but to hand him the title ...hold on there....Dungey will be there all year ..he may not have JS "WOW" speed but he is smart and conditioned and pretty darn fast in his own way...Stewart will have to adjust to the 30+2 at race pace while in the heat...Can James win the title ...Yes...Can Ryan win the title ...Yes...Did the outdoors just get better.....Yes...Are you ready for the Great Outdoors...YES!!!
Walker: i loved watching you ride as an amateur at Ponca City...always pulled for you!
Stewart: Speed, Smile, will win some motos and overall, maybe a bunch...
Dungey: the dude manages to get faster as the race goes on and has closed gaps in the last 10 min of a moto that seem impossible...
Prognosis: RD can't let JS get too far away...JS can't let RD hang on his back fender all moto...no one can know what will happen...this is going to be good...
Prediction: neither will win the overall at hangtown...just throwing out the wildcard...
I am disapointed in Matt. When Stewart beat you so were a lot of people. I do admire your standing on Alessi's bike in 2005 though.
Stewart is fast but crash prone. I believe that when Carmichael destroyed him in the outdoors time after time something happened to Stewart's mindset. He could not believe someone was faster than him. He has not been the same since.
Lets race this series and see who is still going strong when its over. If its Stewart great, if its Dungey great, I don't care who wins (I always root for Short) as long as we have a good competitive series.
My bad........... Matt shoved Alessi off of Tedesco's bike. Sorry
Thanks for the great Breakdown tip on how to scrub a hip jump Matt.Hahahahhaha!!! I actually read the whole article.
I like how Mike talks about JS in 2004
Wake up you writing fools, it's 2012
Why not let JS prove himself again
Reed had to do it, let JS do it
Then come in here and write how you "thought" he would do this or that
Man you writing guys must have JS posters in every room at RacerX
Dammit man some of u went in hard. And by the way who was "a lot of people " that beat me in 04? That's the only year I raced bubba on a four stroke.
For the record since the majority of you guys must be new to the sport. Let me just say , I have never gotten along with Stewart when we raced , hated him , there was always a lot of tension there. I was ignorant enough to wear a rebel flag jersey at the test track. That's how bad..... But we were both young as well.
But Guys honestly simmer the FK down. This is all great for the sport. And I'm giving u my predection based on what I know and what I see.
Again. Thanks for reading the column. Still love u guys.
And J_sloan I wear size 10 and they will have Ga red clay on the bottoms. Enjoy.
I can not wait to watch Bubble wad it up this summer, it will be EPIC! I love when bubbsy races, love to watch him wad it up like a joe. He is fast, fastest man to HIT the planet and I can't wait.
Matt, you should have put that chit at the end of the colum, more people might have read it... I diddn't, so tired of hearing about bubbles it makes me want to PUKE
Scrub this
Your a very fast type-r. Dude it's just a sport. Let it go. But since u ask bubba will win the title then the des nations then u will be his biggest fan. Again. Lmfao.
Kidding about the fan thing but this is last time I chime in on this. Regardless of what happens. It's great for the sport. So don't get mad at me for what I write. ✌✊
what a slap in the face to Ryan Dungy! I hope RD reads this pile, and comes out swinging. RD went head to head with
"the most feared man on a dirt bike" (RV)
and could have been the champ if the winds of will would of blown a different way. The only guy last year to go head to head and hold his own against RV, so how can you put JS a guy who is 3 season's removed from motocross. Because he's happy? or so you think? give me a freaking break. Lets see what JS does first before we hand him over the #1 plate. I couldn't even make it past the second paragraph, this article sucks!
I am no way a RD fan, but i will be this year for the outdoors.
I think it will be a great battle to the finish with Dungey and Stewart. However, I think Dungey will win the title, not because he is my favorite rider that will be riding, but because, although JS is fast and will win moto's, Dungey is ALWAYS there and will stop at nothing to beat Stewart. Stewart for surely races with a lot of heart, but I think Dungey has has him in fitness, passion and an overall better team, no discredit to Mike Webb and his crew but RD and RD? I can only think of a few combinations better than that.
Bring on the Great Outdoors!
ok i went to far. I take back the "article suck's" part of my post. Just cause i couldn't read it doesn't make it any less entertaining, or to discredit someone else's insight. My bad!
Good thing JS race's dirt bikes, cause what else would we get to talk about if he didn't exist?
LMAO!!!!!! Come on Scrub this. We all like to hear about little stewie. Gives everyone one the outlet we need to bash on someone.
People predicting the winner of a race or series that hasn't (yet) happened........................priceless.
Matt the list of who beat you in 2004 included, at one race or another, Grant. Millsaps, Tedesco. Ramsey, Brown, and Hepler besides the all conquering Stewart. That is a lot of guys. You finished fourth in that series as I recall.
I ain't new to this sport, been watching since DeCoster was the man.
@ Matt Walker
Totally Agree, some of these peeps don't know the pace this guy(js7) can run. Hes the fastest man in the world right now when hes comfortable, happy, and by that i mean on the Suzuki.
I must agree 2012 MX Nationals Champ!
@scrubnuts....well you are consistent moving from site to site spewing the same old civil war fightin' hilariously behind the times sh*t. Your stuff is so bad and repetitious I know what is says before I even read it. Yee haw you cornpone lightnin drinkin self glossing moron. Do you and @handlebore mule-pool to the klan meetin' gether'. I really doubt if politeness stopped you from repeating slurs you use on a daily basis,just the fear of getting booted and then you'd have NOWHERE to spew your endless corn cob pipe suckin' non motorcycle racing JIVE. though I'm sure your book learnin on slavery is just you actin' all uppity and such. Calling the Zook "the bike that Ryan Dungey developed "shows how much moto learnin' you got. You have no idea how development takes place and it shows ...stick to cutting eye holes in sheets ,somethin yer quali-fied fer.Matt welcome to the jair/scrubnuts hour of endless meth and lightnin driven spew.
Don't listen to em Matt. Right you are! Alot of posters on here who do not know what they are talking about. You hit the nail on the head. Stew is going to make some people eat their words. Dunge is a bad dude, but he is going to have nothing for Stew. I just hope Sloan is a man of his word, cause like you said, It's a done deal!
I'm a man of my word...heck I already lost and payed up $100.00 because RV won the 2011 SX title.
I say RD gets this one by 17 points if JS goes uninjured
Matt has it right. this is not gonna be the same stewart from the last 5 years. way to many haters can't see past there hate.
facts: stewart riding for no pay. chose the bike from 4 brands that he tested and has no fake ties to the bike (lucrative contract money). he looks good. its obvious. he's no where close to "washed up age" (see Chad Reed). that bike won 2009 and 2010 and almost 2011 by about 1/2 gallon of gas.
good article matt, and don't listen to the haters.
p.s. i'm not a stewart fan. never was.
.For the people who dont know matt he is a great guy and will tell you what he thinks.Thats what i have always liked him. i consider him a friend and love him like a little brother!!!
does anyone remember that chad reed was the fastest rider all the way up until his millville crash which he passed rv2 right before his crash. he had a 28 point lead up until that moto. Reed should of won the title i think. he probably would won the sx title and would of been the favorite to win the mx title again this year.
@ dboivin179 Not haters, just people pointing out the ridiculousness of Matt's claim that the title has already been won when he says, "They might as well go ahead and mail him the plate!"
I think that DeCoster and company will have a thing or two to say about that. While James is getting all the media attention and doing scrubs for the camera, Dungey is doing laps. Stewart fans need to face the fact that the competition has caught up to James in terms of speed. A new bike isn't suddenly going to make him 5 seconds a lap faster so he can blow the competition away. People are hyped up over James right now, but it's getting absurd at this point when people are handing him the title before the series begins.
@yamaha573 I don't remember Reed being th fastest rider up until Millville, I do remember him and Dungey being about even though.
A bold prediction indeed.
I agree that we will see an improved JS7. But, I also agree with the thought that James needs to prove himself again, and I think that is a good thing for him and us.
I'm sorry Matt, but if you think Stewart will win easily you've had to many concussions. Ryan Dungey is on his level and will be very tough to beat.
Wow, what a smack in the face to Dungey.
"no one has all the goods like James"
Really? Are you kidding me? All the goods? Yeah Matt, i'am sure RV,RD,CR would trade anything to have Stewarts situation right now. lol
Good ol' mx journalism, "Breaking News !!!!! A rider was caught smiling and being happy, we're going to hand the title over to him now because that means he can't be beaten in a series he hasn't raced in years." No guys, it's legit, a guy basing his opinions off of his glory days says so.
matt walker has always been known as an idiot.
racerx is obviously getting desperate having this fool write articals.