Over Par/Under Par
Thursday, June 21, 2012 | 3:15 PM
Share
Comment
Email
PrintBreak time! Five rounds down in Lucas Oil Pro Motocross and now the riders and teams get a two weekend break to figure out what went right and what went wrong. We're going to do the same here. Steve Matthes and Jason Weigandt, who have been to every race and watched every moto, weigh in on those who have performed better, and worse, than expected through the first five rounds.
Better Than Expected (under par):
Nico Izzi—Rockstar Star-Valli Yamaha—9th in 450 points
Izzi crashed out in practice this weekend at Budds Creek, but before that, his season had been a revelation. It’s not shocking to see Izzi log fast laps here and there, as amateur super-talents like him always tantalize with speed and potential. But consistency? Staying power? Toughness? That only comes by doing the work, not just talking about it, and it’s clear Izzi is putting his money where his mouth is. Prior to Budds, he went 11-10-4-DNF-5-5-8-10. And that DNF came while running fourth in Texas late in the moto. He’s been solid, and that’s a major improvement for a guy known for burning a few fast laps during the weekend, but not holding on for the finishes. - Weigandt
Jason Anderson—Rockstar Suzuki —7th in 250 points
Anderson’s rookie season sucked. Credit to Dave Gowland and the Rockstar Suzuki guys for giving him a second chance, and credit to Anderson for doing the work and getting his head on straight. As many top prospects falter as succeed, so Anderson was heading down a slippery slope. He’s climbed back up, though, running seventh in points with 139. Last year after five rounds? He was 19th in points with just 37. In fact, Anderson is now in the running for “next guy” status behind the Big Four (Baggett, Barcia, Roczen, Tomac) and mister fifth, Musquin. That’s pretty good, and about where we thought he could be last year. - Weigandt
It's has been a career year thus far for Izzi.
Simon Cudby photo
Jessy Nelson- Lucas Oil Troy Lee Honda—12th in 250 points
When star rider Cole Seely went down at Salt Lake City with internal injuries that are going to keep him out for the year, TLD Honda manager Tyler Keefe decided to bump rising amateur star Nelson to the big team for the start of the Nationals. The plan was for Nelson to finish out amateurs and then join the team later this year. But desperate times call for desperate measures. No one really knew, without much prep time, how Nelson would fare but at the second round in Texas, Jessy led for a while and now, he’s just outside the top ten in points and adapting quite well -- all things considered. - Matthes
Broc Tickle—Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki—6th in 450 points
No, I’m not just saying this because Tickle went 2-2 at Budds Creek. But even if I were just going off of that one race, it would show legit progress because it marked Tickle’s best National Motocross finish ever. Even before Budds Creek, though, Tickle seemed closer to the front than in his mostly forgettable supercross season, including a podium in a moto at Thunder Valley. Even DNFing two motos already with mechanical problems, Tickle is sixth in 450 points. Even in an injury-riddled season, Tickle was just ninth in supercross. - Weigandt
Jake Canada—MotoConcepts—11th in 250 points
This kid got a shot as a fill-in for the MotoConcepts Yamaha team in 2011 after a top ten finish at Colorado and hasn’t looked back since. Talk about making the most of an opportunity. Canada was a solid top ten guy in the East Regional Lites class in supercross and now, outdoors, he’s backing that up with more top tens. Nothing against his machine (it’s a Honda by the way) but when you look around the guys he’s racing against, he’s doing the most with the least. MC owner Mike Genova saw Jake’s potential and signed him up during supercross to another deal for 2013 and right now, the guy with what I think is a great name is a big surprise this outdoor season. - Matthes
Worse Than Expected (over par):
Jimmy Albertson—BTOSports.com/BBMX Suzuki—16th in 450 points
I’ve been a big fan of Top Jimmy for a long time, he’s one of he nicest guys in the pits and is pretty funny. Having said that, I thought that with the most support he’s ever had this year he’d really be the break out guy of the season. Supercross was okay, he’s not the best at that stuff, but outdoors, this was where my man was going to shine! He once got top ten in the overall standings on the Valli Yamaha, the guy can ride the rough stuff, no doubt about it. But it really hasn’t happened for Jimmy this year for whatever reason. He’s working hard and trying but it hasn’t come together for the big palooka yet. On the bright side, his best finish was this past weekend at Budds Creek. But to me, he should be closer to the top ten, or in it, more times than not. - Matthes
Justin Brayton—Team Honda Muscle Milk—10th in 450 points
We saw signs of life from Brayton at Budds Creek via 5-8 finishes and fifth overall. That’s about where he should have been all along, but he sure wasn’t at the first four races. Dude only had two top tens in the first eight motos. This is a guy who battled Villopoto a few times for the lead this year in supercross! Interestingly, Brayton didn’t have much of an explanation for the rough start. No injuries, and he didn’t even make bike changes before Budds because he said the bike was fine. Maybe he’s gotten it all straightened out now and can just pretend the first few motos never happened. - Weigandt
A career year indoors for Brayton has not translated outdoors.
Simon Cudby photo
Kyle Regal—JGR Yamaha—18th in 450 points
Regal’s definitely bounced around a lot with different bikes and teams but when he landed on the JGR team for the summer, I thought it was going to be a real sleeper move. Instead, it’s been like he’s literally asleep through five rounds. Regal’s ridden the Yamaha YZ450F before and liked it, he’s a hard worker, he’s podiumed Nationals before on a privateer Honda, the JGR guys are top notch so what is the deal here? He’s got more motos with no points (6) than ones with points (4). This is not the Kyle Regal we’ve seen each summer. Maybe he needs a Honda with Jim Lewis setting it up or something, not sure. I do know that in talking to Kyle, he says that there will be a new Kyle Regal at RedBud in two weeks. Let’s hope so! - Matthes
Kyle Chisholm—DNA/Jeff Ward Racing Kawasaki—13th in 450 points
Chizz is a great guy, and I thought this would be a “go to the next level” year for him. He was really finding some speed early in 2011 before some injuries, and, he’d now be back on Kawasakis, the brand he grew up on. He also won the Paris-Bercy Supercross in the Fall. It was all coming together! But, we haven’t seen results. Not one. Chizz has been in the top ten in just two motos so far and sits 13th in points. Part of the problem is that Chizz has had some nagging injuries all year, but continues to ride through them (with diminished results) where some other riders would sit. But still, at no point indoors or out, have we seen the flashes of brilliance I expected from time to time. And now time is running out. - Weigandt
Malcolm Stewart—J-Star JDR KTM —16th in 250 points
Last year on the Arma Suzuki team, Malcolm “Mookie” Stewart was a real surprise. The younger brother of James, Mookie didn’t always take racing as serious as James and not much was known about his prospects. But then he came out and showed that he has some serious skill. He also ended up crashing a few more times than anyone would’ve liked. Still, the Mookie Fever was rampant in the pits and when Stewart got the JDR KTM ride for this year, a lot was expected of him. Probably too big for a 250F, Stewart hasn’t had the outdoor (or indoor, for that matter) season that he or his team wanted. There’s been some highlights like his last to 11th ride this past weekend of his sixth overall at Lakewood but all too often, it’s been crashes and zero points on the board for Stewart. Consistency is tough to do in the 250 class but Malcolm is better than this, our fever tells us so. - Matthes
Injuries have played a part in Chisholm's disappointing year thus far.
Simon Cudby photo
Did you like this article?
Check out HIGH/LOW
in our Latest issue of Racer X available now.
Each of the five major manufacturers had its ups and downs during the 2013 Monster Energy Supercross campaign. Page 118.
Look for the verified symbol 
Impulse Studios
I feel bad for Malcolm Stewart in a way. He can never fill Booba's shoes but he certainly rides like him - pin it and wad it up. The only thing is, Booba has a fantastic amature championship record and a few pro championships but it's enough to make him some money and get unknowledable fans on his side. With Mookie he will always be known as Booba's brother and a way overrated rider to begin with. I really hope he quits before he races in the 450 class because he will either kill someone or kill himself which would put a huge black eye on our sport.
I hate to be the one to bring this up, but Regal seemed to fine with little prep time on other brands, but now he needs "time to adjust" to his Yamaha.
I'm definatley impressed with Jessy Nelson. He had no time to get ready and was thrown in the deep end. He had an up and down amature career but he is doing great as a pro. He's not affraid to stick it in there!
@MX Bob...agree 100%. That particular Yamaha has the jinx to it. JS goes to Zooki and rides like the James of old, now Regal tries to ride the Yamaha and it spits him off as well...........
Maybe, just maybe there is something about this bike???!!!!!
@motodog1977.......what has Roczen done to you that makes you talk so bad about his racing greatness??? Are you so much faster and smarter than him that you can bash him as you are doing???
Tell me your name and national number and I will root for you at Red Bud.
"tomktm" you give the forum a black eye with your "unknowledable" spelling and opinions. The Stewart brothers are exciting to watch. I can't wait to see Mookie on a 450 , it will fit him better. The back of the pack in the 450's is less aggressive than the 250's so he would probably do better. Why do you Goobers hate them there Stewart boys so bad.
WHAT?! Booba Fett is racing motto now??
and @motodog1977 is back with his hate for Roczen...
REMEMBER HE HAS AN AMATEUR CLUB DAY TITLE FROM '77'
Gehe Kenny, du bist genial und machen fantastische Rennen in den Staaten
I am going to have to agree with SeventiesRacer. Between the industry and media hyping up Roczen like he was God's gift to motocross. I don't remember him wearing a t-shirt that said "Believe the Hype"! So Kenny has huge expectations to outperfom everyone else? The kid is doing just fine and putting himself just where he needs to be. As for Mookie, we all know it is not easy to live in your brothers shadow. There again I belive the indusrty and media made a big issue of him being Jame's brother and with a huge amount of expectations.
"REMEMBER HE HAS AN AMATEUR CLUB DAY TITLE FROM '77' ha ha and that was on a clapped out Hodaka! lol
Don't know why people bring Roczen into this discussion, hes not under performing but he ant over performing ether (there for no need to be in this list) he is leading motos and logging fast laps he just hasnt quite got a win yet enough said. Im sure if any one was as close to winning as him, they would have an excuse or two to say on the podium. And anyway Roczen probly has more of a life than Bagget Barcia Tomac. I bet hes had a drink before gone to parties etc etc done what normal Teens do as well as be a world champ. If the American racers did that they would probly go off the rails and leave the sport. So big ups to Roczen he has the x factor.
@ Jean-René-Helmut de la Rapapopoulos / Heinz Guderian
My dad always told me never to trust a man with 2 first names!!!!
German and Greek let me guess the wife likes it Greek style
You must be confused on your Geneology where is Mrs. Rapapopoulos
female version is Papadopoulou Meaning Greek chick with a tightest sphincter ...
Penis weasel
Hopefully some riders will read to the end of the comments on this controversial article and see this:
United States in for above normal temperatures throughout July, August, September.
http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/long_range/lead01/off01_temp.gif
Other than Washougal, most races from here on out will be 5-15 degrees above normal.
Just in time for you all to prepare. Especially you, Roczen. (Hee, hee.)
Here we go with the YZ450F again!
Milsaps is uber-awesome for putting that bike up on the box like he did but, there's a lot of racers needing "adjustment time" on that heap.
we're in a day & age that a big corp. like Yamaha can't just pony up and say "We made a mistake" because the liability of that statement would open them up to every lawsuit coming down the pike.
JGR, take some 2012 WR450's and convert them for moto so Yamaha can ease out of the mess that has become the YZ 450F.
How many talented racers will have to politely decline or flat-out avoid you until you see the light? This has become a lot like the KTM PDS vs linkage controversey in that it doesn't matter the facts anymore, public perception demands it.
Great job(s) Anderson & Izzi!.......WTH Brayton?
@tomktm, I find your comment "it's enough to make him some money and get some unknowledgeable fans on his side" to be pretty funny. As a 52 year old fan, with a 16 year racing career, I have been involved with the sport as both a racer and fan since 1974. During that time, I have seen every major motocross star race including Roger DeCoster, Brad Lackey, Marty Smith, Bob Hannah, Jeff Ward, David Bailey, Jeff Stanton, Doug Henry, Rick Johnson, Jeff Emig, Jeremy McGrath, Ricky Carmichael, Chad Reed and James Stewart. I am not what anyone would consider an "unknowledgeable fan". In spite of this, I am a fan of James Stewart because of his talent on a motorcycle. I have seen the best riders in the world up close and in person for the last 38 years and James' talent ranks up there in the top 10. Perhaps you don't care for James because of his personality, ego, mistakes on or off the track, or maybe it's just a racial thing. But only someone who is intellectually dishonest would claim that he isn't a very talented rider. I can only remember a few riders in the history of the sport who have polarized people like James has. Most people either love him or hate him. Riders like Bob Hannah or Ricky Carmichael (back when he first started beating Jeremy McGrath) caused a lot of people to be inside or outside their tents, but I don't ever remember a rider being vilified the way Stewart has, which leads me to believe that for many people it's a racial issue. This thought gains traction from the actions of some people like the fans at Milleville in 2008 that yelled "n#@@er" at James every lap he went by, right in front of his mother. Or the jerk that spit on James' dad at Anaheim this year. The bottom line for me is this - say what you want about James Stewart, love him or hate him, but if you are honest, just don't say he's not talented or, if someone is a fan, that they are not "knowledgeable".
I am currently designing a full coverage helmet which incorporates a liquid filled liner, using the same blue liquid as a cold pack (like you would throw into your beer cooler). Simply place the helmet(s) into the freezer on saturday night, and you are good to go for sundays racing. Please be advised that headaches are considered normal for practice and the first moto. But for that hot second moto, you will be the source of envy from your competitors, gauranteed! A Patent i$ pending $o don't even think of it. Ka-Ching!
@tomktm....what has James and Mookie done to you for you to hate on them, with all the passion you put into your above post???
I personally feel that James has made some poor decisions in the past few years, but I do not judge him as a human being for this past behavior. I actually think that he is trying to put most of this behind him and move forward. We should support him as much as possible.
Sometimes we make mistakes based on those we have around us. I think that is what happened to james, but he has since changed some of these people.
Mookie is a fast rider, but sometimes (like his brother) he finds patches of ground that is high in gravity and this gravity brings him down. I know I fell alot when I was trying to go faster than my abilities, have you as well???
The Stewart brothers have a place in MX just as all other racers do. Appreciate them for their obvious talents, and feel for them when they produce mere mortal traits........There is only one judge of human behavior.........
@mgwest949 . I could not agree more. Well put.
@ mgwest949- well said, been around the sport since the early 1970's.
TomKTM is a douchebag! Really, when was the last time a rider got out of control and killed someone in a Supercross or Motocross national? You are a complete idiot.
I'm pretty sure the incident you speak of did not happen at Millville. Do you have a link to an article about it?
@MX Bob,, I'm pretty sure that incident happened at Red Bud, not Millville. I think in 2005, when JS "took out" KW in that corner.. I was at that race,, and I couldn't believe what I heard from all the red-necks. UNBELIEVABLE...
The unfortunate incident with the slurs thrown at Bubba, in his Mom's presence, was actually at Southwick. Not to say this didn't happen at other tracks. The racial thing is dead, the yahoo's have got to just grow up.
I have to add that I had my CR500 out yesterday for the 1 st time in ..... I can't say. Rode up to 13.5 ft. on a beautiful Colorado day and the blisters on my hands are the sweetest pain I've felt in a long time. Over 2 weeks till next National, you should ALL be riding your asses off Boys.
@McMoto, I stand corrected. You are right, it was Southwick.