10 Things to Watch: Steel City
Friday, August 31, 2012 | 12:25 PM
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PrintBy Chase Stallo and Aaron Hansel
Long Journey Back
It’s been a long, injury filled road for 2008 Horizon Award winner PJ Larsen since returning to the States after winning the Australian supercross and motocross championships in 2010. (Click here to read The Trials and Tribulations of PJ Larsen) And after another injury plagued campaign, which has seen Larsen on the sidelines since the Toronto Supercross with a torn ACL and foot injury, Larsen and J-Star JDR KTM will part ways after the season. But Larsen is out to prove he’s still a contender in the last two rounds. Larsen has mild expectations going into Steel City after only being on the bike since the beginning of the month, as he expressed earlier this week. “Go out and do my best,” responded Larsen when asked what his expectations for this weekend were. Will Larsen be able to find his form and land inside the top-15?
Blose Returns
The last time we saw former Hart and Huntington rider Chris Blose was at Hangtown, trying to qualify for the season opener on a PulpMx-backed YZ 250. Although he failed to qualify, he did give the rabid two-stroke fans something to cheer for. The Arizona native is back this weekend on a Honda 450 with hopes of qualifying for his first National of the season. Will Blose be able to overcome the long layoff and contend for a spot inside the top 20?
PJ Larsen is back in action for the first time since Toronto.
Simon Cudby photo
On the Clock
Since transitioning to the 450 Class at Southwick after he and Eleven10 Mods went their separate ways, Phil Nicoletti has quietly put together impressive back-to-back performances. The only thing that has slowed the New Yorker down was a bike problem in the first moto at Southwick while running inside the top 10. In what will most likely be his last race of 2012—Nicoletti doesn’t have the funds to travel to the season finale at Lake Elsinore—Steel City will mark the last chance for Nicoletti to prove he’s worthy of a ride in 2013.
Homecoming Part II
Conveniently located just 55 minutes south of Steel City in the small desolate town of Uniontown, PA, Eleven10 Mods Honda will have the hometown support for the second time this season—the other being High Point, located in Mt. Morris, PA. With Beaver, PA, native Mike McDade now on the team, the fan base at Steel City will clearly be behind the local product. Let us not forget about Alex Martin, either. The Minnesota native enjoyed one his best races of the season last year at Steel City—eighth overall—and is coming off solid performances at Southwick and Unadilla. These boys know how to ride the Pennsylvanian dirt, so don’t be surprised to see them near the front of the pack at Steel City.
Where it Began
Last year highly touted amateur sensation Kyle Peters made his delayed pro debut (Peters injured his T-10 vertebra at Loretta’s prior to Unadilla) at Steel City surrounded by hype after upsetting GEICO Honda’s Justin Bogle for the 250 A title at Loretta’s. But after an injury-riddled rookie season, Peters has lost his spot in the limelight. With a lot still on the line, can the North Carolina native regain his mojo back where it all began?
Chris Blose is also making his return at Steel City.
Cob Photography photo
Overdog
While Ryan Dungey was victorious at Steel City on a 250 in 2008, a premier class win has eluded him there. In 2010 he DNF’d the first moto with a broken brake rotor, and last year he was bested by Ryan Villopoto in both motos. While betting against Dungey this weekend doesn’t seem like a winning proposition, there’s always a chance he could suffer more weird luck like he did in 2010. But unless the race gremlins make an appearance, expect Dungey to finally take the first 450 Class Steel City win of his career on Saturday.
Cunningham’s Back
It’s been a rough year for Star-Valli Rockstar Yamaha’s Kyle Cunningham. He fractured his wrist in supercross and kicked his National season off by injuring his ankle at Hangtown. He attempted to ride through the pain, but when he caught his foot in a rut and did further damage to his ankle at Budds Creek, Cunningham was forced to take some time off. Now that he’s healed up, he’ll be racing the final two rounds of the season. How will KC do at his first race back since round five?
Do or Die
When the series was set to roll into Southwick and Unadilla, two of Justin Barcia’s strongest tracks, it was expected that the GEICO Powersports Honda rider would cut a significant chunk out of Blake Baggett’s point lead. The opposite happened, and with just four motos left in the season, Baggett holds a 24-point lead over Barcia, with Eli Tomac sitting an additional four points back. Barcia is now in a situation where he’s going to need a little help from Baggett if he wants to close the points gap, and a perfect 1-1 showing this weekend is a must. Will Steel City breathe new life into GEICO’s title hopes, or will Baggett pound another nail into Barcia’s championship coffin?
Keeping it Rolling
Ken Roczen and Marvin Musquin both had breakthrough weekends at Unadilla, and both just re-signed with KTM for two more years. Roczen took his first moto win stateside, while Musquin finally secured his first, long overdue overall victory. There’s nothing more addictive and motivating than winning, but with the series headed to Steel City, a much more American-style of track, will the two Europeans be able to achieve more success this weekend?
The Snowman
Ten-time Winter X Games medalist and current Snowcross World Champion Tucker Hibbert will be making his 2012 debut in the 450 Class at Steel City. He originally hoped to race RedBud this year, but a moderately lacerated kidney and bruised pancreas suffered in a snowmobile crash forced him to postpone his return to professional motocross racing until this weekend. Hibbert’s best finishes at Steel City have come when he placed twenty-second in 2006 and 2008 on a 250. How will the snowmobile specialist do on a 450?
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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.
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Crystal Ball:
Alessi in the 450's when the giant nut that KTM now uses for a gas cap ends up arcing a blue streak to the ignition module, thus frying Dungey's man parts and forcing a future move to the WMA series. First transgender athlete to win an AMA title in both series.
Baggett rides smart to a third place finish. Barcia holies both motos but Tomac runs him down for the win. Tomac wins the bet and gets to braid Barcia's mustache into a corn-row tied into his nose hair which pulls his top lip up revealing a tatoo above his gumline that reads: "Pro Circuit Rules."
Hope #200 McDade has a good couple of Motos. Class Act.
I'm tired of hearing "Class Act". Why don't you write your own script?
I want to see who will prevail between Short, Tickle, and Weimer. Weimer had it going on early in the series, Tickle has been on a roll as of late, while Short has been up and down thru out the year...time for one of them to step it up and finish the year strong and round out the championship podium..
I want to see Brayton ride like he capable of, he needs to finish these last two races strong and go out with a bang not a wimper...
I want to see Alessi continue to hound Dungey. A strong finish this year will bolster his confidence for next year, when all the big dogs back on the line outdoors. He will need it then, as his modified Suzuki will be at an even bigger disadvantage against more factory bikes..
I want to see Barcia lay it all on the line, as it time for Justin Stache to show why he was supposed to win the title...
I want to see Blazing Blake return, last couple races he has played it smart on tracks that did not favor him, this week, show us those unique lines and crazy speed....
I want to see Tomac's determination, when he sets his mind to it, he is the best rider on the track...
I want to see The Euro Duo ride like the Americans, full tilt from the drop of the gate..
I want to see Bogle and Wharton pick it up and push the Frantic Five until they all become the Sensational Seven...
Simply put, what I want to see, is more great racing, as with only two races left, I want to get enough of a fix to last til next year...
Class Act!
I don't think ther'es enough evidence yet that Tomac is better or faster than BB. That's what I really want to see: an ET/BB battle in the closing laps of a moto, with Tomac taking the win. No one has been able to hold off Baggett once he makes his charge, right? It would be the ultimate confidence boosta.
It could've happened at Southwick. I haven't been that upset about someone falling since Canard overshot that corner while passing Pourcel at Pala '10.
@ BD25
Yes you want to see alot...........Good luck !!! Maybe better odds on winning the Okie Lottery ! LOL ..... Or Joel Smetts oming over for dinner with you and the family.....................
Steel City Results
250 class
1.Tomac
2. Baggett
3. Musquin
4. Barcia
450 class
1. Dungey
2. Wiemer
3.Alessi
4. Short
I'm a McDade (#200) fan also. The best to him in the next two races.
Let's hope T. Hibbert has traded in his snow gear for MX gear #heatintolerance-Good Luck!
Hurricane Issac.. yes, I am a greedy ole cus who wants to see it all..lol..I will never win the lottery as I am too cheap to play...Joel Smets or Gerrit Wolsink probably won't show up, but that is ok cause Guy Cooper has been over and had steak and tators for supper..
it seems as if at times barcia is holding back or playing it safe, Is it possible that he is only half concerned about getting the 250mx title and half concerned about starting his 450 carrer in one piece?
I want to write about moto so ill put down a 1000 word comment so everyone @ RXI will see I know my stuff then DC will call and its on. Top comment monkey here I come.
colewallwork..Good one sir, if you are referring to me...I do apologize, as sometimes I do get a bit long winded..Just be thankful you don't have listen to me in person when I go on about moto....Whew...As for DC calling me up to the bigs, it would be a dream come true, don't think that would happen, as he already has a staff that knows their stuff!! Thanks for the compliment though...
Actually have a meeting next week with Producers @ Warner Brothers...
Good luck MotoXscript!!! May be your dreams will come true!!!
Thanks BD25. So far there's not been a Racing Movie about Motocross that could stand alongside other great sports movies I draw inspiration from like: Rocky, Hoosiers, Field of Dreams, Seabiscuit, Rudy... to name a few.
Personally, I think there are enough fans in this country as well as around the world that would go see/rent/buy the DVD of such a film honoring the determination and grit needed to compete in the sport of Motocross to justify the kind of budget it will take to create such a property. Now I just need to convince some Studio people of that fact too.
Not giving up...
MotoXscript...The thing about the movies you mentioned is they drew from out side the sport, the main characters stood on their own and had us rooting for them...It would be great to see MX as a back drop to something inspirational such as those ...Good Luck ..and NEVER give up
BD25... You hit the nail on the head with the word 'backdrop'. I think it especially rings true in each of the five films I mentioned. Any movie worth its salt does 'use' the given sport in that manner. It wraps around the characters and gives them a place of existence.
In this case, motocross will be the arena for a very character driven story. I'm reasonably certain no one wants to see an 'outdoor' version of Supercross: the Movie'!
Much like those five previously mentioned films about men we all rooted for despite the odds stacked against them, my film is about a man who has already endured, but must continue to perceiver in the face of tragedy and heartbreak.
He is at a time in his life when practically everyone else He knows and trusts is telling him it's impossible, He should quit now, the odds are just too great, that He should give up... But He can't. He will not.
He is the common man inside each of us. And I believe there is a little bit of each of us inside him. A talented rider no doubt, sure, but a guy who possesses more heart than talent alone. It's been a long road... getting here. But you won't be able to look away once he's arrived.
You'll wanna' have a beer and bench race with this guy. Hell, maybe introduce him to your sister. But more than anything else know this: He will be on that starting gate. His name will become familiar to you and many others. And in the end, you will know Him and cheer for him... for he is, 'The Privateer'.
A bit like the character's journey in the script, It's a relentless pursuit through endless roadblocks of the word, NO. No matter. I just go around, over, or through them and find the next hopeful opportunity that awaits. Thanks for the good wishes.
The Dennis Quaid film, 'The Rookie' (based on a true story) is another inspiring example of a worthwhile film that, pretty quickly, has you rooting for the Hero who simply should not win, what with the odds being stacked so high against him.