Insight: Justin Barcia
Tuesday, July 24, 2012 | 11:00 AM
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PrintGEICO Honda's Justin Barcia said two things heading into Washougal. First, he was sick of getting second place. Second, he struggles on harder, slippery tracks like Washougal. Something had to give, and in this case it was Barcia's bad rep on the slick stuff, as he delivered his second win of the season. Next up, his favorite track, Southwick. Here's what he had to say after the race.
Racer X: You got out front. That first moto went your way. Great battle in the second with Blake Baggett. Your thoughts on that.
Justin Barcia: My thoughts on the first moto was, it was awesome. I had to ride really hard. I was behind Marvin [Musquin] forever and I finally got sick of the roost. Like everyone says, the roost is brutal here. It hurts so bad. Even if you have on the protector, it doesn’t really help, it just hurts. So I made that pass and Eli [Tomac] was on me most of the first moto towards the end of the race. He kept the pressure on. It was awesome. I won that one. Then second moto, great holeshot and was just riding my own race. Then [Blake] Baggett came up and passed me. I tried to pass him back and was just going for it as hard as I could and ended up losing my front end in probably the second to last lap in one of the corners. I just pushed maybe a little too hard and that was pretty much it.
After capturing the overall at Washougal, Justin Barcia has closed to within eleven points of points leader Blake Baggett.
Carl Stone photo
You took a line that was way outside on Horsepower Hill going up. I noticed in a couple cases, your bike was just wide open, revving and even popping. You were also going fast down that hill into the S-turns. Is it just that section of the track that you like? Because you were wide open going through there.
Yeah, it was awesome. Honestly, down that one back straight, I didn’t really want to shift up because it was just going way too fast, so I just revved it up pretty hard! It was good toward the end to get some engine brake going on. I didn’t really have to ride my brake too much, so it worked out perfect. That sucker was popping for sure.
Southwick is coming up and des Nations is a sand track this year. A lot of people have mentioned you for the team since you do well at Southwick. Is there kind of a pressure to do well at the next race?
Yeah, for sure. I love the sand. I’m the sand man. So, if they’re gonna pick anybody, I’m up for it. I do love Southwick a lot. Obviously, Ziggy from Factory Connection lives out there. We’ve been great friends for a long time. Southwick’s badass.
On the opposite end, you said last week that this is one of the tougher tracks for you. So you’ve got to be pumped with how this went down.
Honestly, I don’t want to say I was nervous coming in here, but I definitely wasn’t very comfortable. Last two years I’ve really struggled here. I’m the worst hard pack rider ever. But, after today, I’m happy because I rode really good. Usually in the past, I revved out a lot, I didn’t like to shift and on hard pack, that doesn’t really work. This year it was way better on that. We’ve worked a lot on our bike setup and stuff. I didn’t make any changes today, just a rear tire and it worked out perfect.
Barcia will be the early favorite when the series returns at Southwick.
Carl Stone photo
Come on dude, Las Vegas is hard pack too and you did pretty good there. You’re turning it around.
Yeah, I turned it around for sure. I grew up in New York and you get some loam and pretty good ruts. I don’t like hard pack, but I’m starting to get a lot better at it, so that’s good. My dad should have just rented a roller back home because he made that track so hard. It was not fun to ride on all week.
Talk about that second moto and just how hard you guys were going at it.
It was good. I had a really good pace going, good holeshot. Obviously, I knew Blake [Baggett] was coming. He was there for a majority of the race and he made the pass. I actually almost passed him back. I could’ve done a Bam Bam, but I was nice -- nicer -- to him. So I just chased him down and I was pretty close those last couple of laps then just pushed in one of the corners too hard and that’s what happened. I'm not upset about that, though, it just shows that I have heart and I want it and I'm willing to go for it.
You said you weren’t going to make any changes for Southwick. You were on the 450 last year. How’s that going to be coming from the 450 last year to the 250 this year?
Oh, it’ll be good. My property’s right down from Tallahassee and they have pretty good sand trails in there, so I’ll be riding that sand stuff all week. It’ll be good. You know, 450 or 250, it doesn’t matter. I really like the 450, but the 250, you can really wring that thing’s neck at Southwick. Honestly, I don’t know how those bikes stay together at Southwick because you're wide open everywhere. Seriously, Southwick’s awesome. It’s been really good to me. I got my first pro win there and it was a pretty muddy day, so that was cool. Last year we had some bike problems first moto, but I won the second one. It’s a good one. I like it a lot.
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I cant wait for this kid to get on that 450 !! Its going to get good ! He needs to be on a 450 for the Des Nations with Dungey. That would be a smart pic.
hoping to see a good battle at the Wick, But if he gets the starts it could be over quick!!
This is a stupid response, and having pre-qualified it, here we go: Send Tomac, Baggett, and Barcia over there on their 250's and let them pull an Omara on everybody. They would try so hard to beat each other, that the rest of the nations could just pull over and watch.
@foundwood- I like that idea!
Congrad's Justin,for being the bride and not the brides maid.I just want to thanks to the top 250 guys for the great racing all out doors.
I agree if Justin does whole shoot,it could be over quick.But it is the wick anything could happen.Dowd on a 250?
When it comes to MXdN, Send Dungey and Stewart, if Stewart isn't healthy send the top 2 250 american finishers from southwick...my prediction will be Barcia & Baggett. With Barcia running MX3, He is arrogant enough to not have any stage fright light baggett did last year, plus he has raced a little in europe.
Not really a big fan of Barcia, but if Stewart isn't healthy, he is the best option #2
Well lets see if this gets kicked back, its nice to see a obscene language feautre has been added to the site, but, I don't use foul language on here and yet it chose my other word for arrogant as a one. I think arrogant is to strong of a word for my intent.
No one will beat Herlings in the sand anyway, it doesn't matter who you send.
Barcia is not that far behind Baggett and Blake has a habit of getting overly demonstrative with lappers. Barcia is steady, consistent, riding incredibly clean, and seems distracted by nothing.
Barcia may once again prove the adage “consistency wins championships.” Wilson certainly proved that adage to be true last year.
harrison72 he is one guy, so it does matter who we send.
One thing is for sure: in Lommel you don't ride the bike wide open, it's deep, really deep sand, especially in the second moto.
Herlings is unbeatable there, even for the MX1 guys, without a a crash at the start he has his two motos in his pocket, but also Roczen is not far behind him on that kind of terrain.
@harrison72,, Ummmm,, where is JS from again? News flash, there is sand here in the States.
I don't know if sending Stewart over there is such a good idea. I know he is fast, but he
does crash a lot and Lommel looks brutal. I say Dunge Baggett and Barcia
Dunge, Barcia and Alessi for the MX of Nations and i seriously dont think Herrlings will walk away from either Dunge or Barcia..... In fact, as both ride sand extremely well, I say both beat Herrlings.
If JS comes back at Southwick and dominates, and stays healthy, they should let him ride the MXoN's. BUT, I can understand what some of you are saying. JS is insanely fast in the sand..
I think it is to early to pick MXDN team just yet.Villamoto tweetted that he has be en cleared for action.Lets see if he rides the last few nationals.I don't really care which rider for 250.Baggett or Barcia.Baggett is faster but Barcia is more consistent.I don't think people realize that Baggett is very fast in the sand.
@foundwood- I sooooooo agree with that post!
That would be epic- and to sweeten it- send Dungy, Stewart and Allessi as back ups! Dungy as the articulate diplomatic rider, Stewart to destroy everyone with speed (and maybe a little bit of "Holy S--t, how did he do that?") riding, and Allessi to cross jump and cross block anyone that looks like may be a threat!
Now that's a winning combination!
I do think Alessi could holeshot and hold his own.
I am willing to bet Herlings doesnt even win one moto, I doubt he even pulls a second place.
Really suprised MA is even mentioned as a posibility for MXON when we have so many faster and more consistant riders with better reputations.
RD, RV, BB, JB, JS all easily trump MA
KW trumps him also
RD, BB, and Bam Bam!!!
Dont know why everyone is bent on sending Stewart "IF" he is healthy and not Barcia. Stewart has been very inconsistant and is not healthy, Barcia kills in the sand, and has been steady and healthy all year. Stewart hasnt commited to the outdoors since 2008, and hasnt ridden much this summer really. He just isnt dependable, and that is what you need at the Des Nations.
Dungey Bagget and Barcia, easy pick, Stewart just cant be depended upon to be healthy...
Please send JS7. Pleeeeeeze. Pretty pleeeeeze. We (any of the EU states, who have to enter individually, unlike the UNITED states who are allowed to pick their best players irrespective of which state they come from) want a chance to lift the trophy this year. It´s a stupid format to begin with, and we don´t take it that seriously as we are so disadvantaged by the system, but if you send Jamzzzz we will have a much better shot at it. Besides, we want to see him hit the planet too. Why should you be the only ones to enjoy that hillarious sight?
@mxmofo1 it's a different type of sand fella. No doubt US riders are the fastest in the world, but Herlings is unstoppable in the sandbox. If you haven't seen him, youtube him. Anyway lets not be keyboard warriors and just look forward to some great racing! come on Searle!!!!!
chit for brains euromike is here!! Tell us why Roczen and MM are not kill it here big mouth!!! Thats all we heard from you last year "wait till next year Roczen will win everything" LOL you are such a TOOL and anyone who thinks it's funny to see someone crash is an A-HOLE!!! also please stop crying about the MXD, Its been thjat way fro EVER and no one cares what you says.
@BillC (I have a feeling I know what the C stands for, LOL)
My my, we are a nasty little lad, aren´t we billyboy? I never said I enjoy watching just ANYONE crashing. JS7 is tje only exception. I simply love watching that particular retard eating dirt. I find it fücking hillarious.
With regards Roczen, are you suggesting he´s been a disappointment this season. Only once off the podium and regularly challenging for the win. OK, so far it´s elluded him, but when one considers it´s his first season in a new series with different conditions on tracks he´s never seen before, not even a moron like you could knock his performances.
Oh, and just because the MXON has always been run this way hardly means it should continue to be an unfair contest. In the beginning, when Europe was the dominating continent, we allowed you guys to pool your best talent in order to give you a shot at winning. Things have changed and you guys have caught up. It´s no longer a fair contest. So, remove your head from that dirty brown orafice at the base of your spine and take a reality check. Or maybe you are afraid that if it´s played on a level playing field you will get your a$$es handed to you?
First off I satnd by what I said "you are such a TOOL and anyone who thinks it's funny to see someone crash is an A-HOLE!!!""
. As for Roczen I like the kid and think he is doing fine, just can't seal the deal. YOU are the TOOL who said he would come over here and dominate and NOW you are making excuses!! "but when one considers it´s his first season in a new series with different conditions on tracks he´s never seen before" Not what you said last year!!! Why can't you just admit Europe's best can't win like you thought?? and not make excues??
.As for the MXD why can't you get it thru your thick head that this is ONE country VS other countrys?? The USA is ONE country. More excuces why you can't win is all it is.
Billyboy, there are more people living in New York city than Belgium. How does that make it fair for little Belgium to take on the whole of the united states?
In golf the format (presidents cup) is USA V Europe V the rest of the world. That is what this should be about. America´s top 13, Europes top 13 and the rest of the worlds top 13. Also, the Ryder cup is also America V Europe, a fair contest.
Oh, and I stand by what I say. I love watching JS7 eat dirt. My idea of entertainment is, a bag of popcorn, and watching Jamezzz doing his crashing routine. Damn, I just love it. It´s better than watching desparate housewives. Look, I know you´ve got a hard on for crasher, but then, that´s your problem.
@Euromike--You arent very smart are you?? You said in one post the US can pick from everywhere??? No matter what "state" they arfe from?? WHAT?? An individual state IS NOT a country you fool. The USA is ONE country.. Euroipe is NOT one country you dork.. You are so jealous it isnt even funny, its sad.. I love how you jumped opn the Roczen bandwagon after Musquin got on here and told you to go away, it was great. As for Roczen, we like him, he is a good kid.. He came to the states to race against the best in the world after kicking as$ in the GP's.. And you cant back peddle, you said he would kill in his first year, YOU said he would dominate and take over.. YOU said he would break all of RC's records. And he isnt, and you hate life..
Good luck getting the start Herlings. Also, he had the car accident this week. Wonder how he will do at the next rounds? Barcia for MX3!