Going for the W: Blake Baggett
Wednesday, June 13, 2012 | 5:30 PM
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Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Blake Baggett brought tremendous speed to last year’s title fight in the 250 class, but consistency was an issue. He promises to be more consistent this year, but at High Point, his run of podiums came to an end after a series of crashes in moto two.
Well, crashes and his typical bad starts and rough opening laps.
“Moto one, I pulled the typical Blake Baggett because I am Blake Baggett, so I should probably pull a typical Blake Baggett. Otherwise it just wouldn’t make sense,” explains Baggett. “I would throw everybody off. I went backwards like five positions on the first lap. So, five positions backwards, then I finally got going. Picked off those five guys and then started picking off the rest of the guys in front of me, which there were quite a few. Ended up getting to third and just couldn’t get by Eli [Tomac].”
Baggett pulled a rare good start in moto two, but couldn’t do much with it.
High Point would mark the first time all season that Baggett has finished off the podium.
Simon Cudby photo
“Second moto, I got a good start, which was very surprising. I think I ended up fourth. I made my way into third shortly after the start or started there. I don’t know, maybe halfway, I looked back and I saw Eli and he was right there, right on us. He had caught us and, I don’t know, I just went. I went hard.
I was able to make the pass on [Justin] Barcia and actually pulled a pretty good gap on him, they said. I felt like I was going to get to the front. I could see him [Roczen], so there was definitely a possibility to get there. Instead of using the cushion on the outside, I decided to protect my insides because with those guys, not mentioning any names, you’ve got to protect yourself. So I kind of took a more inside line than normal, ended up washing the front wheel. Kind of a dummy move, but oh well. I was trying to protect my inside and I didn’t know I had a gap on them. I thought they were closer than they were. So I was protecting my inside line and crashed, they got by. After that, I got up and then just went for it. Went bonanzos, wide open.”
At that point, any thoughts about consistency went out the window. Baggett was just going to ride as fast as he could, consequences be dammed. “I was going,” he explains. “I was going to get second! Whatever it took, I was going to get there! I just caught a lapper and he was in my line. There was a line that hooked a right and went up over the single and there was a line that went straight and around it. He was in the straight line and I was behind his roost, but I could see him. He was right there. So I kind of got indecisive on where I was going to go and then last minute tried to get back to the outside and caught the inside rut that went right and then just went head over heels. I got up from that and was sore and I was just like, 'Well this really sucks.' It was a big one. But made it another lap and a half, maybe, and crashed again. Got up from that and maybe passed, I don’t know, one or two more people and then I called it a day. So that’s a recap on High Point.”
Baggett continues to lead the 250 class in points as the series heads to Budds Creek.
Simon Cudby photo
Three crashes in three laps—and the biggest came when Baggett went “bonanzos” trying to catch Barcia and Tomac. For this weekend, Baggett was going for the W, instead of the points. At least, as a saving grace, he leaves High Point with the series’ lead, which is something he didn’t have last year at this time. Oh, and one other thing that looked better than last year’s race at this track.
“I crashed, but I kept the visor going straight, which was a plus.”
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Interesting..... very interesting
I like him going for it he is the man in this class and his speed is unmatched when he puts the hammer down. Eli is the only one that can compete with him now and between those two will be the eventual champion.
Crash 1 he blames Barcia, crash 2 he blames a lapper... He is the only person riding the bike. Love watching him ride and race from behind because he kills it, but cut the excuses and win at Budds Creek.
I think the title will come down to Baggett and Tomac.
At least hes honest about it.
Baggett is going to fade just like he did last year. Barcia will own him once the rounds move to the loamier tracks (Millville, Red Bud & Southwick). Tomac already has his number....It won't be long before Roczen has him dialed in too. Little to no personalitly, just a bunch of excuses... Bagget will finish 3 or 4th in the standings when the last checkered flag drops this year... You read it here first.
Baggett is very unpredictable, you never know which Baggett is going to show up that day. I don't know what it is with him, maybe he needs better pre-race prep or something. He better figure it out soon or he'll be left in the top 3's dust, now's the time to go, he needs to get good starts & then drop the hammer like we know he can, that would make for some interesting racing with JB, ET & KR. Looking forward to Budds Creek! Braaap!
All I can say is that when Baggett is on the gas and moving through the pack he is damn exciting to watch! I think the motor where he gets good starts are much less interesting. This kid can haul, he just has to find the balance and I'm not sure he's found it yet.
Now that Weege and Matthes have pointed it out, I am noticing how much bigger Eli Tomac is this season compared to last. He might not have another outdoor season on the 250 if he gets any heavier.
Why do people NOT LIKE EXCUSES?!!
I can never figure this out!! If a racer tell you about his race he is making excuses if he doesn't he's boring. It's friggin' obvious, no matter what, its the racers fault in the end, but crap happens that screws a racer up, and if its a good interview he tells you about.
I didn't take it as excuses, he was explaining what happened and why he made the choices he did, and he explained why they were bad ones. It's part of learning. Otherwise this column would have read "I got third, then I got fifth - thanks for reading". I would like to hear what you all say when you come off the track after a moto. Also last year Tomac, Barcia, and Baggett were all 3 out of the hunt but it seems people say that its the new Tomac and Barica but Baggett hasn't changed. I hope all 3 stay in it this year and so far so good!
I don't see a new BarcIa out there in fact I see a guy who cannot stay ahead of Tomac and Baggett let alone ever pass one of them. I would suggest to Barcia not to mess around with Eli or he may end up like Dean.
Good on you Baggett! I like to read what happened to a rider that caused them to fall. Is it an excuse or is it the reason? Context clues will help you decipher it, thank your English teacher if you know what those are.
Think of it like this, my computer crashed.
Why? I was surfing donkey porn and it caught a virus. If I tell you my computer crashed because I was surfing donkey porn, my "excuse" is not saying it is the computer's "fault" but that it was me that was doing something I shouldn't have.
I thought Barcia was going to take the inside line, so I needed to protect it (reason) and I fell because "ended up washing the front wheel. Kind of a dummy move". He is telling you WHY he was going to the inside line, and what happened.
Give the man a break.
He owns up to his mistake, "Kind of a dummy move" but tells you WHY he was doing it. That is a man, manning up.
He didn't say, "Barcia caused my front end to wash out, if it wasn't for him I would have been fine".
Then on the second reason was because he was behind a lapped rider and was indecisive, and then made his own mistake.
It is the reason, he didn't say, "That lapped rider shouldn't have been on the track he was taking all the lines away if he hadn't of I would of won"... That'd be an excuse.
If you need further proof...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
Love watching Blake charge through the field. Weigant had an interesting observation about how Blake likes to rail the outside but when those lines are occupied early in the race he tends to struggle a bit. As positions are sorted and space is created he takes advantage.
However you look at it he's really exciting when he brings his "A game".
He didn't make any excuses, read it again. He blamed the first crash on himself, called it a dummy move on his part. Is he not allowed to explain why he took the inside?
Second crash, he also blamed on himself, just explained the situation that led to it.
Ya those weren't excuses, those where answers; and a damn good interview at that.
If the tracks were made knarlier like last year, we wouldn't be having this conversation. Baggett excels at tracks with lots of lines. This one line BS easy smooth tracks has brought the competition to him. I guarentee if we see tracks prepped like years past BB will be goooooone. Stamp it!