Race Report: Monster Energy Cup
Sunday, October 21, 2012 | 4:00 AM
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PrintIt was a crazy night at the second-annual Monster Energy Cup. What last year's event lacked--crazy unpredictable racing up front--was out in spades this time, and what last year's event featured--one rider winning all three races and hence locking up $1 Million--was not happening. It was just too crazy.
How crazy? Check out our race-by-race reports to see.
Main Event 1:
JGR/Toyota Yamaha's Josh Grant grabbed the holeshot--of the real start. In the first start, the right side gates didn't even drop! So they red flagged the race and restarted. JG grabbed the start while Monster Energy Kawaskai's Ryan Villopoto and Red Bull KTM's Ryan Dungey battled for second. On the first lap, Dungey bent his shift lever on a tuff block, and RV was quickly around and into second. Later, Villopoto passed Grant for the lead.
Dungey, incredibly, reached down to his shifter in mid-air and got his bike into second gear. He rode the rest of the way in that gear, which slowed him. Justin Barcia was on the move on his Team Honda Muscle Milk bike, and he block passed Dungey to take third. Then Grant messed up a rhythm lane and Barcia moved around him into second. Barcia, Villopoto and Dungey all ducked into the Joker Lane, and Dungey lost three positions as Grant, TwoTwo Honda's Chad Reed and GEICO Honda's Eli Tomac charged past. But Dungey stayed close, and when they went for the Lane, he passed them back for third. Tomac then narrowly edged Reed for fifth.
Up front, Villopoto checked out once he had the lead. That made him 4-for-4 in MEC Main Event finishes. So far.
Villopoto took the first main event win.
Dungey bent a shifter--twice--and used this 'air shift' technique to get up into second gear.
Cudby photos
Main Event 1 Results:
1. Villopoto
2. Barcia
3. Dungey
4. Tomac
5. Reed
6. Grant
7. Alessi
8. Cunningham
9. Canada
10. Brayton
11. Chisholm
12. Weimer
13. Balbi
14. Friese
15. Swanepoel
16. J Alessi
17. Partridge
18. Howell
19. Politelli
20. Craig
21. LeMay
Main Event 2:
Even crazier stuff here--this is what this event is made for. Villopoto and Dungey battled side by side off the start, but Dungey once again had shifter problems (saying "I hit some stuff in the back and it messed some stuff up") and started dropping back. He even had to pull his "air-shift" move again! That was crazy, but just as crazy, Villopoto crashed out of the lead all by himself! This put Dungey into the lead, but he was struggling, and MotoConcepts' Mike Alessi took advantage to get around and take the lead. Then a Barcia/Reed battle caught Alessi and Dungey, leading to a four-rider duel for the top spot. Barcia pulled off an incredible double pass on Reed and Dungey to take second, and then he and Alessi engaged in an inside-outside battle for the lead. Barcia took it over finally and tried to pull away. Reed, in third, ducked into the Joker Lane early. He held onto third, and it looked like he was close enough to possibly pass Barcia and Alessi when they took the Joker. But then Reed washed the front end and went down!
Late in the race, Barcia took the Joker Lane, allowing Alessi to get him back. They battled hard for the lead again and Barcia emerged with the number-one spot. Then Alessi had to take the Joker, allowing Dungey to get around and take over second--a remarkable recovery considering he couldn't shift the bike. But Barcia's win gave him 2-1 scores heading into the final main event. Dungey, with 3-2 scores, went into the final race two points behind.
Villopoto worked his way back up to 12th after his crash, but then decided to call it a night.
Barcia played the Joker Lane right and outlasted Reed, Alessi and Dungey to take the second main event win.
The Barcia/Alessi battle in the second race was intense--they spent several laps this close.
Reed at one point looked in position to get the lead after taking the Joker Lane early. But he lost the front end and crashed before he could get the lead.
Villopoto jetted out to the early lead in the second race. Then he crashed his night away.
Cudby photos
Main Event 2 Results
1. Barcia
2. Dungey
3. Alessi
4. Tomac
5. Grant
6. Reed
7. Cunningham
8. Brayton
9. Chisholm
10. Canada
11. Craig
12. Villopoto
13. Balbi
14. Politelli
15. LeMay
16. Friese
17. Rusk
18. Weimer
19. J Alessi
20. Swanepoel
21. Howell
22. Partridge
Main Event 3:
The real Eli Tomac showed up for this main event. Dungey and Barcia came in battling for the overall lead. And they battled right off the start along with Alessi and Tomac. Dungey emerged with the lead and Barcia was second. But Alessi was right there battling until he crashed over a berm. Tomac, running third, made the right move by taking the Joker Lane early, while Dungey and Barcia pulled away. Barcia eventually moved into the number-one spot, then Tomac took second when Dungey took the Joker Lane. Late in the race, Barcia had to take the Joker, and when he did, Tomac moved past to take over the lead. He would win the race--impressive for a rider who will still race Lites in 2013. But Barcia's second was enough to win the Monster Energy Cup and $100,000. Dungey finished the race in third. But at least his shifter stayed in tact!
Barcia and Tomac made Main Event 3 look like the East/West Lites Shootout a few months ago.
Tomac went on to win the final race and take third overall. Not bad for a Lites rider!
Barcia wins $100 grand! Not bad for a (recent) Lites rider!
Main Event 3 Results
1. Tomac
2. Barcia
3. Dungey
4. Reed
5. Grant
6. Cunningham
7. Canada
8. Chisholm
9. Friese
10. Weimer
11. Rusk
12. Craig
13. LeMay
14. Politelli
15. Swanepoel
16. Balbi
17. J Alessi
18. Howell
19. M Alessi
20. Brayton
21. Villopoto
22. Partridge
In the Amateur All-Star Race, Shane McElrath won the first race, but then crashed over a berm in the second turn of the second race. Cooper Webb charged from way back to take third in the race, and that was enough to give him the overall win with 2-3 scores. Adam Cianciarulo crashed in race one and finished fifth, he bounced back to win race two.
In the Supermini Class, Austin Forkner won both races to take the overall. The second race in this class might have been the best of the whole night, with Forkner, Challen Tennant, Joey Crown and Mark Worth battling wheel-to-wheel the whole way. Tennant and Forkner were fighting for the head when Tennant missed his rear brake and went flying over a berm. He crashed and took Worth down with him. Forkner then hung on under pressure from Crown to win it.
Webb (center) takes the Amateur All-Star Challenge.
Austin Forkner wins the Supermini race.
Cudby photos
Monster Energy Cup Overall Results
1. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., Honda
2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
3. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda
4. Ryan Villopoto, Seattle, Wash., Kawasaki
5. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Honda
6. Josh Grant, Corona, Calif., Yamaha
7. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha
8. Jake Canada, Corona, Calif., Suzuki
9. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Kawasaki
10. Mike Alessi, Hillard, Fla., Suzuki
Monster Energy Cup Main Event 1 Results
1. Ryan Villopoto, Seattle, Wash., Kawasaki
2. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., Honda
3. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
4. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda
5. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Honda
6. Josh Grant, Corona, Calif., Yamaha
7. Mike Alessi, Hillard, Fla., Suzuki
8. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha
9. Jake Canada, Corona, Calif., Suzuki
10. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
Monster Energy Cup Main Event 2 Results
1. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., Honda
2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
3. Mike Alessi, Hillard, Fla., Suzuki
4. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda
5. Josh Grant, Corona, Calif., Yamaha
6. Chad Reed, Dade City, Calif., Honda
7. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha
8. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
9. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Kawasaki
10. Jake Canada, Corona, Calif., Suzuki
Monster Energy Cup Main Event 3 Results
1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda
2. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., Honda
3. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
4. Chad Reed, Dade City, Calif., Honda
5. Josh Grant, Corona, Calif., Yamaha
6. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha
7. Jake Canada, Corona, Calif., Suzuki
8. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Kawasaki
9. Vince Friese, Valrico, Fla., Suzuki
10. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki
Amateur All-Star Overall results
1. Cooper Webb, Newport, NC., Yamaha
2. Adam Cianciarulo, Port Orange, Fla., Kawasaki
3. Paul Coates, Santa Fe Springs, Calif., Yamaha
4. Shane McElrath, Corona, Calif., Honda
5. Brady Kiesel, Fort Worth, Texas, Honda
6. Nick Gaines, Ringgold, Ga., Kawasaki
7. Anthony Rodriguez, Cairo, Ga., Yamaha
8. Jordon Smith, Belmont, NC., Honda
9. Mitchell Oldenburg, Alvord, Texas, Kawasaki
10. Daniel Baker, Crittenden, Ken., Suzuki
Amateur All-Star Main Event 1 Results
1. Shane McElrath, Corona, Calif., Honda
2. Cooper Webb, Newport, NC., Yamaha
3. Jordon Smith, Belmont, NC., Honda
4. Brady Kiesel, Fort Worth, Texas, Honda
5. Adam Cianciarulo, Port Orange, Fla., Kawasaki
6. Anthony Rodriguez, Cairo, Ga., Yamaha
7. Paul Coates, Santa Fe Springs, Calif., Yamaha
8. Nick Gaines, Ringgold, GA., Kawasaki
9. Cody Gragg, Lenoir, NC., Yamaha
10. Keith Tucker, Fuquay Varina, NC., Yamaha
Amateur All-Star Main Event 2 Results
1. Adam Cianciarulo, Port Orange, Fla., Kawasaki
2. Paul Coates, Santa Fe Springs, Calif., Yamaha
3. Cooper Webb, Newport, NC, Yamaha
4. Mitchell Oldenburg, Alvord, Texas, Kawasaki
5. Daniel Baker, Crittenden, Ken., Suzuki
6. Nick Gaines, Ringgold, GA., Kawasaki
7. Kyle Swanson, San Clemente, Calif., Honda
8. Anthony Rodriguez, Cairo, Ga., Yamaha
9. Brady Kiesel, Fort Worth, Texas, Honda
10. Jayme Gardiner III, Las Vegas, Kawasaki
Super-Mini Overall Results
1. Austin Forkner, Richards, MO., Kawasaki
2. Chase Sexton, LaMoille, Ill., Yamaha
3. Kotaro Takahasi, Las Vegas, Kawasaki
4. Luke Purther, Oak Hills, Calif., KTM
5. Joey Crown, Metamora, Mich., Suzuki
6. Tommy Maxey, Bloomingdale, GA., Kawasaki
7. Challen Tennant, Willis, Texas, KTM
8. Mark Worth, Santan Valley, Ariz., Kawasaki
9. Robbie Wageman, Newhall, Calif., Yamaha
10. Brandon Hartranft, Brick, NJ., Suzuki
Super-Mini Main Event 1 Results
1. Austin Forkner, Richards, MO., Kawasaki
2. Tristan Miller, Alpine, Calif., Suzuki
3. Chase Sexton, LaMoille, Ill., Yamaha
4. Mark Worth, Santan Valley, Ariz., Kawasaki
5. Challen Tennant, Willis, Texas, KTM
6. Tommy Maxey, Bloomingdale, Ga., Kawasaki
7. Kotaro Takahasi, Las Vegas, Kawasaki
8. Jeremy Byrne, Oak Hills, Calif., Yamaha
9. Robbie Wageman, Newhall, Calif., Yamaha
10. Tanner Stack, Oak Grove, MO., Kawasaki
Super-Mini Main Event 2 Results
1. Austin Forkner, Richards, MO., Kawasaki
2. Joey Crown, Metamora, Mich., Suzuki
3. Kotaro Takahasi, Las Vegas, Kawasaki
4. Chase Sexton, LaMoille, Ill., Yamaha
5. Bret Welch, Oklahoma, City, Okla., Kawasaki
6. Brandon Hartranft, Brick, NJ., Suzuki
7. Sean Cantrell, Newbury Park, Calif., Kawasaki
8. Westen Wrozyna, Newtonville, Can., Honda
9. Robbie Wageman, Newhall, Calif., Yamaha
10. Tommy Maxey, Bloomingdale, Ga., Kawasaki
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Ryan Villopoto may have locked up his 450SX title a week early, but the 2013 Monster Energy Supercross Championship finale still had drama and excitement to spare. Page 124.
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Ryan Dungey, What if...
Wow I couldn't believe how hard everyone was charging last night.I was surprised how fast Reed was so fast after his injury.I loved the split start but it is way to dangerous.When that kid in the amateure class when cartwheeling across the other lane I could tell that was to dangerous.If more riders had been bunched up in the other lane he would of looked like a bowling ball hitting a bunch of bowling pins.If Feld ran those split starts at every race I think they might be able to take out all of the top 10 in the 2013 SX season.I'm not blameing Feld for taking out 8 of the top ten last year just saying run those split starts and it will get the other two.It looks like the 2013 SX season it going to be incredable for awhile before everyone gets hurt.I think they better make everyone ride 250s next year.
It was nice to see Erin doing the comentating last night.I sure have missed those Big ol ,I mean big smile.
Not usually a fan of split starts because one lane usually has an advantage, and it seems a waste of track space. I didnt see that last night and it does allow for two sets of guys to holeshot. They did need to build up the berm separating them and not allow them to meet until a hair further in the straight.
How fast was Tomac? He's up for a contract at the end of next year but who has room? Dude looks ready to battle for championships and more than anyone can actually speak like a normal person. He's a smart kid with good support behind him, it'll be real interesting to see where he goes.
That picture of Dungey is begging for some meme generation. "Ooh, I see a quarter!"
Well? I guess all the Stewart haters on Racer x posts can direct there b---s--t comments such as "Stewart only races when he knows he can win", and "if he can't run up front, he quits" toward your little poto!!! "I hit my head a little, and feel its best not to ride"....
V-G--A! What he meant was " I can not win the million, I can not keep this pace, especially with Barcia going faster than everyone on the track and I really do not have another win in me"....
And I'm sure he was getting paid to be there-
Just sayin......
@xxktm and Fred-
Split start was pretty cool- I agree on the dangerous part, what are the odds that Mcelrath would split through the riders like he did and not hit anyone?
I agree on building that berm up and extend it farther too..
Tomac? Dude is crazy talented.... Too bad Carmichaels in named rider couldn't be E. Tomac along side Tickle....
I was watching the live wire and forgot about the joker lane. I thought they were all crashing.
With JS out, people are hating on RV now. I guess all he has done lately is win the last two SX championships.
Much more entertaining than last years event, RC did a good job with the track. Joker lane was neat. Reed & RV unreal after injuries. Here's my 2 cents. Bam-Bam has gotten in RV's head. Gonna be a helluva SX season.
Anyone that uses the term "Just sayin" is a complete douche...
I enjoyed the whole program, the mini's were cool to watch.
Your right- mxbob- I think Stewies won a couple as well if I remember correctly.
@pizzacorner- yep- must be a poto fan.... I knew I would stir up a couple of you.... That being said- your right. " just sayin" IS a stupid little term. Must be the remnants of the whiskey and cokes I drank last night. I take that one back.
Minis were awesome... These kids have no fear man.
AC- wow, that kids a rocket, but very impressed with Webb and Mcelrath.....
One more thing, does anyone have the story of why JG 33 left the flyin freckle's team? Maybe it was $$$ from JGR? I thought Grant came back from a rash of injuries and rode smart and solid this year. We all know Grant can fly if fully healed & confident. Interesting.
Villopoto looked like has not missed a beat. He went by Dungey and Grant to take the lead, then he simply Poto'ed out (checked out) for the win. His evening went ary early in the second moto, crashing will leading, ending his chances for the million and causing him to call it a night before the 3rd moto. When he lines up at A1 he will be the guy to beat, the champ still looks faster than the rest...
Dungey has does not know the word quit! How many riders would have stayed out there while having to sucide shift their bike? Ryan may not have won, but what a show of desire!! His speed is there too, as evidence by the fastest qt time, he will be a threat for the 2013 crown.
Reed was fast, but a little rusty, by his own admission. The time he spends down under racing should get him sharp and ready to be a threat when supercross starts for real..
Change is a coming sooner than we may think, now who doubts Barcia? Justin rides the 450 better than the lites bike, his aggressive style works on a supercross track, and now he will have even more confidence, when the season starts. A star was born last night, he will shake up the status quo of the class with speed an attitude, enter the Smiling Assassin!!
Tomac made his case to ride the big bikes. He was fast and smooth and never seemed out of control. He is like Dungey with an edge. You know Eli will be on the big bike, when it is off coast for him. I think they should let him move up and be Windhams teammate, his speed and talent warrant it!!
Track was great, different lines and room to pass, still think the split start is dangerous, but the Joker lane worked well (not for real supercross) and the Talla-vega turn was cool(good for real supercross).
The MEC lived up to its billing and closed the season out with a intense racing, which only served to wet our appetite for the start of the 2013 Supercross season. Now what will we do for the next two months...Come on January!!!
Am i the only one that saw a slight resemblance in RVs erin bates speech last night and what he said directly after his seattle crash? "every thing is fine." Barcia is going to be a serious threat this season, he looks way to comfortable already and isn't scared. BRING ON A1
The whole track should have looked like Joker Lane…..
From now on you can only shift by hand over the biggest triple……
Maybe next year they can actually kill an over-excited 14 year old mini rider on live TV…
The whole track should have looked like Joker Lane…..
From now on you can only shift by hand over the biggest triple……
Maybe next year they can actually kill an over-excited 14 year old mini rider on live TV…
Throw in Canard and JS7 (for a few rounds at least): 2013 SX is going to be awesome. I'm just sayin'.....
Emig's comments on 800's hand gestures throughout the years was classic.
Hey JS haters, do the right thing and direst a little criticism RV's way would ya?? He pulled what you all refer to as the "well if i can't win it, i'm not gonna do it" crap last night, didn't he?? Yes, he certainly did!! Don't give me that "bumped my head" nonsense either. He deserves some ribbing for pulling out of the last race like that. You would rip JS apart for that, so the redhead gets it too........prima donna!!
Josh Grant appears to have a fitness level problem. Sad for JGR.
Barcia beats Dungey.. According to these blogs a few months ago, that wasn't possible and Stanton was an idiot for saying it.. I was SUPREMELY impressed with Barcia AND Dungey. Studs.
Villopoto's 1-12-DNS does not equate to a 4th overall. But it was obvious something was wrong when he tried to pick his bike up in the 2nd moto. So, 3 of the top 4 were Hondas, which Albee picked as the worst bike in the 2013 comparison. I had thought Tomac was ready to move up....he is. But, gotta wait another year.
Do you think JB would of finished 2nd if he had the problems RD had?
@ramatuzio, as a former pro I always love your posts. Spot on, looks like your friend at Enzo called it that Honda is a good bike this year and very competitive. Do you think Barcia can win the championship? I see Amsoil is getting more invested too.
2, 1, 2 for the win by Justin Barcia! Way to go! And shifting with your hand Dunge, Freestyle motocross has a new trick to work out. I wish I had cable so I could watch the race but that picture of Dungey "Shifting" is priceless. Looks like we are prepped for another amazing supercross season!
I don't think Barcia could have done as well as Dungey for two reasons. 1. He is too short and couldn't reach down to grab the shifter.
2. I don't think he has Dungeys resolve yet.
Barcia rides the edge, I don't think he is ready for a championship but he will win races on sheer speed just like Stewart.
Dungey has something special, a charm, of patience and decision making. The dude is ice and always ends up near the front somehow. I guess it's true, speed doesn't win championships. The sharpest mind does (I.e. JMB).
Good stuff...
That was the first time in 30 years that Kawasaki ran Showa suspension because of politics.
Enzo has made great strides with those air forks for sure..
I guess my perspective is a little different than some. Hated the gimmick elements of the track - the split start, the joker lane......too cheesy. Just let them race. It also seems that most of the riders aren't in 100%. Some don't show up, some of those that do pull out or ride around at 80%. Seems like the younger guns are going for it, but the veterans not so much.
It's a crazy idea, but I'd like to see the MEC evolve into a race of champions on identically prepared 250cc 2-smokers.No factory bikes. Everybody on the same bike duking it out. Probably not realistic given the contracts these guys sign, but it would be fun to see all of these guys going at it on bikes in which no one has an equipment advantage.
FANTASTIC idea! A two stroke race in the off season!!! MEC would be perfect for that. How do we proceed??? Please... Like a dream come true for an old man like me that loves two strokes.
Thanks to Cooper Webb for showing us you can still win on a Yamaha.
Pretty sure RV had a concussion!? Correct me if I'm wrong...
@ Fred-LoL, I just knew when I was watching, that someone would bring up Erin! Thanks for not letting me down. @BD25-Man, I swear you should be writing for RacerX! Your comments surely show your writing ability.As this is a one off race-I can understand the joker lane and the split start. It is all designed to make it harder to win all three. I think that is easy to understand. But, yea, it did seem a bit risky...Maybe after the Dunge showed everone it can be done, they should have everyone shift with thier hand, in the air, once a lap. Maybe not.
I'm not sure the decision to not race the third race was all Villopoto. If you watch the whole interview again he looked pretty disqusted or mad as he walked away or something. Kawasaki probably said no third race or medical or something. He definitely hit his head though, got up ran stumbling, definitely rang his bell. I also have to say Barcia was impressive, some people are going to have all they can handle with him.
Oh my opinion I say let Dianna Dahlgren do more reporting or interviewing, she is great to look at and she spoke pretty well I thought.
I saw RV listed as fourth overall at other sites also. I guess th way to win it is to qualify and then DNS all 3 races. Can't beat 0-0-0.
Ciancirulo: overrated, at least I hope so
Claxton - where are you bro...your Boy RV on his head - don't get me wrong i indeed respect his insane speed - but earlier in the year we argued about Barcia...What do you got to say that he didn't just now - loud and clear last night. SX I AM HERE STOP ME NOW!!
Kid is a fighter, is determined, is agressive and is smart - not to mention fast. that is going to be a formidable combo come 2013.
The racing all across the board was insane The AMA series would do well to adopt this format of racing. They won't however because they suck. Please feld make this format of racing happen!
Potos hand came off handlebar- got that. He then got gut checked- got that. He then hit a big ol' soft tough block, flew wildly through the air (at least 5'), then landed on another tough block. I think we all know that when a rider just doesn't have anymore, the "go to" excuse is to tell medical "I hit my head"....
I'm not condoning riding after a head hit or injury, but he was good. Just a bruised ego.....
Pretty funny how hard Stewart crashed at Daytona, got up and still went through the pack- and Reed who logged serious frequent flyer miles at Millville last year and still got up and finished 13th/ 14th out of 40... Oh that's right, that was a championship run, not the MEC which evidently doesn't count much. I would say- a racer with desire wants to race- period. Shouldn't matter which venue it's performed in...
I am all for the 2 stroke race at MEC.... Where do I sign the petition.....
Villopoto waxed and yarded Barcia the first moto when he took a dominant win over the whole field that has been racing all summer. Villopoto was leading the second heat before the crash and you phags are talking crap. Funny.
He hit his head and played it safe which was a good call.
Stewart didn't even show up. Every rider who got injured or knocked himself for a loop gave it a shot and 100%. You can never say that for James. He just doesn't show up like last year. He couldn't have ran with the top guys anyway.
Dungey got beat 3 times by 3 different riders. One even a 250 guy.
Villopoto showed he's still number one.
Reed sucked.
Alessi is improving every race.
Was at the race last night, all classes were very entertaining. RD had the speed to win it all last night, I could tell right off the bat in both races that there was something wrong, even finished a close 2nd in the second race even with his problems. I think he would have taken the overall. He was shifting in the air and he was also slowing down to shift at the top of the Talladega berm every other lap.
Barcia looks good, but I do see him on the ground this year. Fee will be extremely fast but I do think he will make too many mistakes his rookie year trying too hard. Tomac killed it in the 3rd race... Looked awesome.
One thing I really noticed being there was how settled the Hondas suspension looked compared to RD's bike. RD's bike was definitely hopping around more, braking numbs at the end of the straight and the acceleration chop in the rhythm sections. I think they have some work to do.
I really liked the joker lane in a one off event like this, being there it brought a lot of excitement. AC killed it in that second race, he has a bright future, as well as does McElrath.
The most dangerous part of the track, especially for the mini riders was coming down from the Talledega berm. They were clipping that landing really hard and I called it right after the first race after a few sketchy moments from a few riders that it was going to cause something bad.
Overall a very entertaining night, I will definitely go back!
@persona--You made a few dumb statements.. First who was the 250 guy who beat Dungey?? Dungey had bike problems in 2 of the 3 mootos, and still had a shot at the overall, he did pretty good in my opinion.. And you said Reed sucked.. He even said he wasnt at speed and was using this race to try and get there.. And he really didnt excpect to be up front.. He did fine..
@fred, you didnt mention or give any congradulations to the winner BARCIA.. Who you said like a tool that you HATE..Barcia looked great and fast and confortable.. Which doesnt look good for a few 450 guys this season.. Barcia is kind of a supercross specialist..
Poto is smart for not racing the rest of the night,for what thesake of racing ? Poto is a franchise within himself,do you remember this past sx season when poto fell & took himself out of the outdoors ? I think,know, we all do, he is an animal. Reed & poto were off for so long and they looked very good. Poto ,wants to, & I believe will, park Barcia into the crowd this season. Its going to be as Reed always says `ya gotta be in it to win it` battle of atriscion..someone correct my spelling,I alwaysskipped class to ride my dirt bike !!!!!!!
@mxbob, good call! Good math, a 0 zero can't be beat.
Rumor has it Villipoto is a little frustrated with their new setup. They are having difficultly with the airfork setup and went to Showa because of it. I bet that's possibly a reason why RV decided not to finish and risk another mishap.
It gets a little frustrating to hear Stewarts name constantly. Anyone that doesn't think Stewart still has the best one lap speed is a complete moron. Love him or hate him, he is the most gifted rider we have ever seen. If he gets his MENTAL problems worked out, everyone will have their work cut out this winter. If not, it will be another crash fest. It's useless to keep bashing him, just wait and let the results do the talking.
How about Hondas dual mufflers?! That's a cool story. With the noise problem we have, and liberal environmentalist fruit cake wackos trying to destroy our sport, I think Honda has the right idea. A quiet bike, is a winning bike because its one less thing the nut jobs can complain about. I applaud Honda.
@ cgraham46.....You're a Stewart fan clearly. By the way, RV got up and charged through the pack after his crash in the second moto, he didn't quit like your boy JS at Dallas when he threw his helmet off and walked out leaving his bike on the track when he was fine. RV looked drunk getting up to his bike on the berm and like a space cadet in the interview after. If you think it woulda been smarter to race the 3rd race with a concussion then prepare to get flamed because anyone with a clue understands that.
oh and if you're going to say "I would say- a racer with desire wants to race- period. Shouldn't matter which venue it's performed in..." you probably shouldn't be using JS as your reference, all credibility is lost at that point. He shows up the least and quits more than any top guy in recent history.
@ yamalink: I agree with both comments. Fro's comments on Alessi's hand gestures had me cracking up, then Alessi went over that berm. My Pabst Blue Ribbon came through my nose and lungs I laughed so hard.
I'd like to see Caroli and Herlings ride the 2013 MEC.
Now all the Villopoto nuthuggers show up to defend his girlie departure from the final race last night....retardcross is an obvious fantard of the redhead......keep talking buddy, he wimped out when he realized he had no shot at the million, and nobody should argue that he was "leading" when he crashed either, don't forget that Stewart is often "leading" when he crashes and you chumps still bag on his ass......so let the bagging on the redhead begin!! He crashed under pressure last night, looks like he can't handle the pressure, i'll bet he eats a lot of dirt this SX season!
All the JS fans have so much angst, anything they can do to take it back out on anyone else because their favorite is the centre of mostly negative attention these days. I don't see how RV crashed under pressure considering it was first lap, and it's far from his first holeshot. Keep talking theysaidwhat, it will probably make you look even smarter.
@cgraham46. you need to go watch a replay of his crash. He almost fell over when getting back to his bike. And it may not have looked bad to you but you were not the one going through it. RV's tip over in Seattle did not look bad last year either but obviously it was. And RV is nothing like Stewart. Stewart continuously lets his fans down. He didnt even bother to show up last night. And yeah RV and Stewart have both won 2 SX titles. But RVs titles are back to back. And he has a good chance at going back to back to back being only the 3rd pro rider ever to do so. That seems a little more important then going out and racing a 3rd moto with a possible concussion just to please the idiots who really know nothing about this sport. And RV pulled away from Barcia in moto 1. Was the only rider to get into the 1:07 lap times and this is after being off the bike for almost 6 months. Crashes happen. And sure people are trying to compare him to Stewart now but the big difference is that RV does not crash at basically every single round.
Alessi Is a goof!!!! Has no fight in him when a "real"rider is racing him.Barcia brake checks the shit out of him,and Alessi sits up in the next corner and gives it to him the easy way! Alessi,have you forgot how to race?It is ok to stuff someone,rub elbows.I know that Alessi"s way of racing with someone is looking over his shoulder and cutting from one side of the track to the other,whether it be on the ground,or in the air!Its time to go to the GP's,Alessi.
Idea #3.....what about a 2-stroke "Legends" race instead of the Super Mini's? No disrespect to the little dudes, but I'd rather see guys like Chicken, the Dogger, RJ, MC, etc. out there.....it would be fun.
RV is still the alpha dog. Looks like he was never on the couch. Quite a violent get off in round 2. Looked like he wobbled some getting back to the bike. If that was not the case, he would have not finished out of the top ten. Smart move to check the ego and forgo the third race. That is why having the right people around you facilitates the odds of winning championships.
RD might as well been on a Rokon for the first two rounds. Can't say enough about how this guy handles adversity. He is a genuine champion no matter the outcome. Crazy move in the air for me, but it must have been in his comfort zone. Glad to hear KTM praise him for the return of the KTM Supercross Challenge. Go RD!!!
JB has thrown down the gauntlet. Hats off to him for taking overall. No doubt he is gunning for the win whenever he lines up. He will be the most detested rider to the competition. In jest, I am calling him Honey Bam Bam Hannah. We will see lots of banter about his journey stemming on which came first, the chicken or the egg?
ET does not need another year on the 250s, although the 450 riders don't agree with me. 2014 could be the year of the alien. I would like to see it this year.
Did Roger throw Dungey under the bus that 2nd moto? I thought it was a team. Guarantee RD would never do that to him.
I know I am going to take heat for this next admission, but as much as I thought MEC was a great stage for all riders to display their stuff to the world, I have to say that I believe the Super-Minis were pushed a little beyond their capacity with some of the obstacles designed for the BIg Bikes to safely accommodate. I was cringing in advance of the havoc that occurred when 2 or 3 of those little guys came up short at the same time and landed on the face of the next jump they were trying to clear.
RC4 even admitted he did not have those minis in mind when he designed those obstacles. I just don't feel it makes good sense to have the little guys jeopardizing their safety (and potential futures) on tracks designed for professionals when it comes to (man-made) Supercross tracks for full size 450cc bikes. I just hope those little guys didn't get serious injuries last night.
Hey, I am not even a parent, and I was cringing about the inevitable mass pile-up on the faces of those Mountain Ranges they were trying to leap over.
OK, so let the Wuuse comments come my way....
LOL at anyone trying to pull the give RV some of the crap Stewart gets, because he called it quits on moto 3. Maybe if the this was about the 50th time we've seen it from RV....and he sat out 3 years of MX.....and he was always blaming the bike......and if he was asking out of contracts....... but I do wish he wasn't treating this like the whole SX title was riding on it. He was pushing way too hard for a first race out. Reed played it way smarter.
I have to say last year's event was good, but this year's went way over to the circus is in town side of things. I was cringing on every start, it was dumb knowing guys still had to pull into the "joker" lane while racing each other, and the whole track seemed way more SX-ey than last year. Watching the minis cartwheeling every where was pretty horrible, almost made me feel guilty for watching such a display. It was especially exciting watching half the gate not fall first race out. All that effort ot have a split start? Next year we'll have the figure 8 intersection of death. Actually shocked this was an RC design.
Dungey came out okay, but I was also cringing every time he reached down to his shifter. It was way too close a call over that triple and no one needs to be getting hurt at this event, which we could have come out of this one with both RV and Dungey sidelined for pushing so hard.
That's the pot calling the kettle black, retardcross!! He crashed under pressure, period!! If not, then why did he?? Be careful how you respond, because whatever you say can then be applied to JS to explain why he crashes when in the lead......choose your words wisely and don't be a hypocrite!! Oh, and all the "negative attention" you refer to James getting these days is mostly coming from a small but very obnoxiously noisy group of critics like you......doesn't carry much weight!!
@theysaidwhat.
I dont think RV was feeling any pressure when he fell.Just the thought of destroying the feild again!
Yea,Barcia is fast,Dungey is fast,but RV is a fighter,with brains and unreal speed.Love his mixture of SX/MX style.Full on Attack mode!
....RV has to start somewhere B-KR........but it's nice to see that you still hang off his sack and still condemn JS and his fans at every opportunity! Carry on air-bag!!!
Oh, one other thing. When is the last time you saw anybody have two successive motos with shift (lever) issues. Could it possibly have been internal to the transmission and not (just) a external shift lever issue. Is there a regulation that would keep the teams from changing (or working on) trannys between motos, similar to F1.
Dungey seems to have out of the ordinary mechanical issues that challenge his race strategy and patience over the last few years, no matter what color he chooses to put between his legs.
"Just Say'in, Just Say'in, Just Say'in..."
Interesting to see KTM going old with that suicide shifter. Give Dungey time, I am sure he will figure it out. It was a very interesting night of racing and Bam Bam is going to give these guys fits going into the 2013 season.
@realmofo you effin Ahole,I'm the one who said I hated Barcia but that I thought he would be THE MAN at the MEC yesterday.I see you haven't let up on the tard pills there stupid.Guess what Barcia was the man.I think it will be a little different when the real SX season starts.
.........and GO DUNGEY!! He's gonna be trouble for everyone in 2013!!
I bet RV not racing race 3 was out of his hands. All these guys are required to do Baseline concussion testing now, and he probably was questionable after his high speed crash.
As far as the excuse the superminis can't race this track because its not safe...........Just like the 250 amatuers right????
you had more big bike guys get hurt than you did Minis. 1st lap pack racing bobble was cause of the carnage that took out a couple riders on the double.
MEC was pretty good to watch, Its kinda funny, even though I'm a Dungey Fan, I thought he road better in motos 1 and 2 then he did 3. He looked like he was riding tight in moto 3. Might have been something wrong with the bike after tranny being hammered stuck in 2nd gear first two races. But if there was something wrong with the bike, it was his fault for the damage.
@CZ Mark did you go to the race and did you see Erin.
I also think the KTM had internal problems.Cant beleive you would bend a shifter 2 heats in a row!
CR looked great out there. Not quite sure if he could be considered the gray dog yet, but he is gaining more fan respect with each lap completed. Not easy for an outsider.
JG: Holy holeshot Batman. Make JGR and Yamaha proud.
MA: I was thinking what your vanity plate would say on that truck. Maybe next year. Here is a riddle: What do MA and the joker lane have in common. Answer: They both add seconds to your lap time. Hey industry, its time to forget the past and give this guy some tools. Those who are doing it now I thank you. Go Mikey!!!
Oh, and anyone who wants to crown Stewart as the "most gifted" or "most talented" rider ever in lieu of being able to refer to him as the best ever, you need to keep in mind a guy named Ron Lechien. Now that guy was a top rider capable of winning against some of the all-time legends, and he was at times in a drunken or drug induced haze, let alone not practicing or training. Talk about talented or gifted, Stewart puts about 100 times more effort away from the races than Lechien did. So, Stewart really isn't even close to being the "most gifted" because if he put in the effort Lechien did he'd be lucky to run top 5 right now and probably would not have more than 1 125 MX title. Interesting that the "most gifted" crown is argued when it comes to those who actually have the most titles to their credit. Some might throw Bayle in there too, but again he put a lot of effort into his craft. Lechien might have been the all-time best with a minimal amount of effort.
caseypons?????? you serious??? have you ever worked on a motorcycle? Do you know what it takes to actually work on a transmission?
Just in case you don't know, on a motorcycle the transmission is enclosed in the engine cases, so to work on the transmision(besides the clutch) you have to pull the engine assy. and split the cases.
Theysaidwhat?- Notice I said RV was pushing too hard. Criticism, no? Also note I said Reed rode smart, compliment, no? Also, note that I said Dungey was worrying me with the whole shifter scenario in mid-air, but commended his tenacity. I just love when the Stewtards need to make comment on guys that actually show up and race in order to lessen the damage their guy does to his own reputation. Hey, if it makes you feel better about it all, call me an RV nuthugger. Whatever gets you through the day!
Also there is no rule to not work on Transmissions especially at the MEC, there just isn't time to swap the motor. takes about 30 minutes.
MX
At SX races they all change clutches, at MX nationals top teams swap motors
Cunningham had a good night considering the year he has had....anyone know if he was on a 250 or 450?
Good to see Yamaha represented in the top ten.
@ caseypons I was thinking like you on the tranny. Good insight on the mini class for someone childless.
Did anyone figure out why RV didn't slow down? his body position looked good, it just seemed like he just didn't hit the brakes. Maybe a little seat bounce and missed hitting the brakes like Alessi and Tennant?
@fred- no I didn't make it, so I had to watch the twins in action on the tube! lol
To all the Die hard Honda fans,
Get over the tests of the 2013 CRF450, most riders picked the STOCK available at your local Honda Dealers as last or close to last, even Yamaha was chosen higher by some test riders. I the end most test riders said all the bikes were GREAT and someone has to lose. If you like Honda spend more money and fix the problems End of story.
What Barcia, and Tomac ride are light years better than the production bike.
One things for sure KTM has caught the Japanese Manufacturer's asleep, sure they are in wake up mode now.
Great racing all round Bam Bam, Tomac, Dungey all brought there A game! And that little Kid Austin Forkner has a very bright future, can't believe the big jumps those little dudes were making look easy! Man can't wait for A-1.
Nice try B-KR......and it doesn't affect my day at all, just calling it as i happen to see it mista'!!! It's all just personal opinion, it's just that you appear to be blind about your own negative bias towards a certain individual, that will never change though!!
Just thinking...........all bikes should have a cassette style transmissions, just remove the clutch assembly and pull out the transmission,no motor removal or splitting cases would take minimal time, the technology is there and it's been on production bikes before.
@CZMark I got a good look at the twins.Someone had this little flim posted.It was some kind of Human motorcyle art.Erin Bates was one of the models used in that little exibit.They had here nude and painted up with body paint.It was prett cool.It looked a little better that Tons of fun painted up in body flour.
fred- I thought about painting up tons of fun once, but home depot didn't have enough paint. I am not sure but I think tons of fun had triplets! lol
@ Not 4 Show: To answer your question, yes I have worked on all the bikes I have owned. Have I done it often enough to do it blindfolded, probably like you, Hell No!
Yes, I know you need to split the cases to work on the tranny, so a motor replacement would be an option, but as you stated time constraints would be a factor, and (not) a regulation issue.
If you were to clock me replacing a motor on a bike you would need a calendar and not a stop watch. That said; I would not be surprised that in ideal conditions and the right expertise motors have been replaced between motos. But, it would (not) be me getting it done.
Thanks for the education...
Nice win for JB..outa quiet the please and thank you as i pass crowd for awhile....@casey...i agree with the track being a bit much for minis (even though it was nice to see a yamaha in the mix) and the "twin" start is just asking for serious injurys...the Joker (including the un-timed whoops and sand) needs to stay...offers a little strategy to the game. 2stroke 125 showdown instead of minis would be great..... Tomac needs to just stay on a 450 ,dude was wailin...........Dungey....some of the ballsiest stuff i've ever seen fiddle fu*king with the shifter in the air.......If the Suzuki had that problem it would be called unreliable for the next 3 years......maybe somebody hit him on that stupid start,Roger kinda looked like a deer in the headlights trying to slide Dungey under that bus....lol....they ALL break ain't no biggie...the dude and bike still look mega fast...@not4show actually the whole shift mechanism besides shift forks is in the clutch case...and I believe motor swaps are legal. @theysaidwhat....yeah RV is a puss and doesn't have a chance......now thats some funny stuff...and yes Havoc would be crucified for the same mistake unfortunately . Great night of racing in all....and now we wait......
Barcia made me a fan last night. In his interview before the third moto when he said his plan was to hole shot and check out was perfect! Most guys in that position would be thinking play it safe and do what it takes to get the overall. He was blowing tuff blocks off the track and didn't look to be afraid of nothing. For me, the MEC was one of the best races of the year! The supermini 2nd moto was insane!! I'm a huge RV fan and when he pulled out of moto 3 it made him look just like JS7, if I can't get paid more by racing then I pack up my toys and go home. Maybe the AMA should look into that. Fans pay to see their favorite riders and as soon as these guys can't win anymore cash they pack it up and leave the fans hanging. Everything about MEC was great and I will be there next year for sure!
I thought it was a great night of racing. With a couple of exceptions, the track was excellent with plenty of passing opportunities. Also glad they filtered out the huge rocks.
The split start: On the plus side it was exciting to watch and paired perfectly with the long wide straight down the center of the stadium. On the down side, having the riders coming directly at each other into a 90 degree turn with little buffer in between was too risky. It is incredibly lucky that incident in the 2nd Amateur moto didn't result in some serious injuries. If used a gain it needs a Y convergence instead of a T.
Super Minis on SX track: It was a great race, fun to watch, and I'm sure fun for the kids. But a couple of the doubles/triples were too dangerous. I watched all the practices on streaming as well. The crushing landings on the face of jumps were bad enough. It is just luck that we didn't end up with at least one catastrophic wreck with a rider coming down on another going up -- like LA in SX earlier this year.
- Barciaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa !!! the next sx king is here
- Barcia/Tomac, a new era begin
- I told you, Villo or Barcia for 1st, Dungey 3th, Tomac 4th, Reed 5th, without Villo crash I would be right at 100%
- Sad for Villo, he has all tools for the million
- Holy Eli kills at the last moto
- Villo, Barcia, Tomac, the dream team, Go USA !
- Villo or Barcia for the 2013 AMA SX title
- Nice to see Josh Grant at this level for his comeback race for JGR
- Sad for Windham and Wharton #13
- the Joker lane is funny, we see it at the third race
- FOX should sign Barcia now
and hey Bam Bam haters, you should change sports, Barcia is here for years! Haha!
Barcia! Barcia! Barcia! Magoo O' Barcia !
Dang! I finally found a replay of Villopoto's crash. I'm really glad he's OK. He hit the tuffblock with the back of his head and anyone who follows fighting can attest to how aesily a strike to the back of the head can knock someone loopy or even out-cold.
I can't believe I forgot to congratulate Tomac earlier for his win in the 3rd race earlier. He will be deadly when he moves up to the 450's.
Voillopoto, Dungey, Reed, Bubba, Canard, Wilson, BamBam, Weimer, Windham, and so many more. Supercross has never had the depth it will have for 2013. My favorite sport just keeps getting better and better.
"theysaidwhat wrote:
about 1 hour ago
That's the pot calling the kettle black, retardcross!! He crashed under pressure, period!! If not, then why did he?? Be careful how you respond, because whatever you say can then be applied to JS to explain why he crashes when in the lead......choose your words wisely and don't be a hypocrite!! Oh, and all the "negative attention" you refer to James getting these days is mostly coming from a small but very obnoxiously noisy group of critics like you......doesn't carry much weight!!"
You are beyond help, not every crash is because of pressure toolbag. You think maybe he crashed because he got out of shape in the chop entering that turn? Because that's exactly what happened, plain and simple. Do you think that's his first holeshot and he got scared and threw it away? By the way, it's no secret that JS' biggest weak point is his head, and that if you simply follow him and match pace there's a good chance he's going down. This has been repeated throughout his career more times than people can count and hasn't changed since the RC days. That is called caving under pressure, and this is common knowledge to people who know motocross (not you). By the way, if you followed the races you would have heard many times how RV is probably the best guy out there as far as dealing with pressure is concerned. That's not my personal opinion, it's been said many times by lots of people.
@Fred--Barcia was the man in the MEC, and you hate life for it.. You hate a 18 year old kid you dont even know because you are an idiot tool.. Face it, you are a complete and total idiot.. It has been proven on these threads more than once.. Pretty much every time you comment..
@Manes--Why would you hope that Adam Cianciaurilo is over-rated?? Is it because he is American?? Why would you care??
Hello Race Fans!!!!
Do not mistakenly think it is over for 2012 ....
1. SUPERCROSS GENOVA 3 NOVEMBRE 2012
2. SUPERCROSS BERCY 9, 10 & 11 NOVEMBRE 2012
I expect Cairoli and Herlings to be there. Ha!
Maybe Roczen and Musquin though?
What's the go with the points system?? 1-12-22 from RV doesn't beat 5-6-4 by CR last time i checked...
It's funny to see how people are hating on RV and saying he will suck in '13, when we have another 2 months+ for them to prep. By then, watch out, since RV and RD are both renowned for their fearless approach to training.
Stewart will win some races, since he seems fairly confident in the zook, but I just can't see him winning the title over RV, RD, CR, Dean Wilson or Justin Barcia..... too many people to beat.
Reed.... well, he is just that guy you can't count out!
Trey Canard will launch some more sick scrubs....
and RV will win the title again! :)
Lol people comparing RV pulling out last night, with JS7 never racing. Is just stupid. RV showed up...... Anyway, people grasping at straws.
I was very impressed with RV's speed. whilst everyones best laps were around 1:08 he was staying in the 1:07 range for a number of laps moto1. If he stays healthy for the year next year, its going to be tough.
Reed..... Well what can you say. I have never counted Reed out and am amazed each year when he is written off. But I must say. being his first real major major injury and at this stage in his career, I was worried. I think he showed enough last night to prove he will be a major player again this year. Just needs to get more fit and iron out them kinks.
Barcia/Tomac - I was listening on Pulp and Matthes and Kenny were talking about Stanton saying the top 3 in Lites could move up to a 450 and be winning. They said he was crazy. I too thought he was being unrealistic. However these guys are for real. Not only that, they have really stepped up in being consistent.
Dungey - "oh he is going to be 5th all year blah blah". People are stupid. he is going to be tough as anyone.
Lastly, other suprises - Josh Grant and Canada. Both exceeded expectations.
Great Racing Is Back! Supercross, USA, Vegas, Villo, Barcia, Tomac, US racers, great fans, beautifull girls, Honda, Kawasaki, SpeedTV etc
geneva AX and bercy AX are for retarded, poor zozos sx fans!
even Cianciarullo would kick cairoli and herlings @ss in supercross, this two lommel beach can complete 5 laps in sx without fatal errors! amateurs!
if cairoli and herlings were at the monster cup, not only they would not have the speed to be into the top-10 but their also be in hospital right now, and their glories from lommel will be in a trash can now!
As Bob sang, Lommel Race is for rats!
"Oh, what a rat race! TC is awful, JH a b@stard, KD a hooligan, Oh, what a rat ray-e-yace!"
Haha!
And I'm not American, but just a fan of the greatest country of all time !
@ pinkfld42.........Interesting, let's hear an example of RV fans saying everyone other than him can't handle pressure? Don't seem to recall that rationale you speak of, you "grasping at straws" maybe?
Not much being said about Bagget the current 250 outdoor champ breaking his arm just a few short months before anahiem- not even a vid clip of the big crash.
Tomac belongs on a 450 already- he looks like Millsaps did on the 250- maybe Eli 'too tall' Tomac, Oh wait thats been used.
Very surprized that Villopoto pulled out after the crash- you think he would want to leave on a more positive note. I dont know why they have him listed as fourth o/a- If he had raced and won the third moto he would have ended up in fourth. MXA has him listed as tenth.
Oh and nice ride Bam Bam- I think you will do just fine. Anyone else notice that he doesn't crash much- and hasn't been hurt since turning pro?
Yeah there was that broken hand thing- but he still won the title anyways didn't he?
I loved watching the 2-stroke 85's on the track- those kids were flat haulin.
Cianciarulo looks like a midget next to tomac- and there both riding the same size bike now. Weird. All in all it was more entertaining than I expected it to be- and it was good to see the underrated Erin Bates again. Long live moto- peace to all.
Retardcross, I remember last years SX season a few RV super fans on here claiming that every crash was because they were riding over their heads trying to keep up with RV. Reeds crash was one, JS a few times of course, and also RD.
Crashing happens. With dirt lines change from lap to lap, all of these guys are pushing it. Crashing is part of the sport, and anyone who rides knows that. But there are some on here who post with such bias its pathetic.
Retardcross, I remember last years SX season a few RV super fans on here claiming that every crash was because they were riding over their heads trying to keep up with RV. Reeds crash was one, JS a few times of course, and also RD.
Crashing happens. With dirt lines change from lap to lap, all of these guys are pushing it. Crashing is part of the sport, and anyone who rides knows that. But there are some on here who post with such bias its pathetic.
My 10 observations from MEC:
1) Bam Bam did what I thought he was capable of, win! And his riding looked mature and controlled. He has really progressed in SX since 2011. I think he is every bit the equal of where Canard was for his rookie SX season and I expect Barcia to win 2 rounds minimum.
2) RV had superb speed. I'm comfortable in saying that he is right now the fastest SX rider on the planet. His combo of fitness, technique and speed is pretty hard to beat, and I would say the only one who can beat him over 18 rounds is himself by crashing out.
3) Reed rode well for a guy who was off the bike with multiple injuries. He's a warrior and he will be a factor in 2013. He knows it now, and that makes him even more dangerous.
4) Dungey showed what he always shows - tenacity. Even with a bent shifter the guy is competitive. His consistency and speed means that he will be in the hunt for the SX title but it will take some bad luck by the competition for him to win the overall. And in saying this note I am a Dungey fan.
5) Eli Tomac looked great in the final moto, and I suspect he rode well in the first two but we did not see him much because he had lousy starts. This is really an area where ET needs to improve, his starts are by far and away his biggest weakness. He's a big kid, Larocco should consider having hime race 450s for outdoors....Windham's bike doesn't get much use in the summer.
6) Grant looked flashy but lacked the substance. But he still looked better on the Yamaha that at any point on the Kawasaki. And Brayton was a non-factor. Considering guys like JS7, Wilson and Milsaps were not in attendance at MEC I see a lot of 8-12th places for JGR in 2013.
7) Cianciarulo looked to be the real deal. He holeshot and checked out pretty easily in moto 2, and if not for his crash in moto 1 he would have won with a 2-1. I still think these am kids get way too much press, coddling and sponsorship though and I hope Cianciarulo can stay grounded.
8) Did anyone notice at the end of the broadcast on Speed when Shaheen said something to the effect of "Join us Jan 5 for A1 with the top riders in the world Villopoto, Reed, Dungey, Canard and Barcia". No mention of Stewart, how far the might have fallen. When you're life become as sideshow no one takes your seriously anymore!
9) I'm not really sure how much any of this MEC stuff matters. Some guys are on new bikes, some guys are lacking racing for many months, others are probably a bit burnt and need some time off. It is good at building hype for 2013.
10) Speed should sack Bates and hire Diana Dahlgren. She is 1000x more easy on my eyes and she is handy on the mic to boot!
For all you people saying RV is a p*ssy for pulling out let me ask you this, were you in the Monster Energy Kawasaki truck and you heard him say ''I can't win, let's not race''?
That's what I thought, however, I wasn't in there either so I wouldn't know but time and time again have we seen RV get up and charge (which he still did last night) when more was on line. He said he hit his head, I've heard stories where people hit their head and two weeks later they died from not getting the proper treatment. Only RV and his team know why he didn't race the last moto, but if there is one thing RV isn't, it's a p*ssy.
@h&c not bad....#5 Toma-hawc lol was wailin....FLAT a*s gettin it.........#7 so did some other not so promo'ed other guys.... Webb will be his nemesis/Reed/Havoc style etc...and looks great.....and so do a few others....... #10 why sack anyone.....? leave those 4 alone Hire Metzger or Hannah for some color commentary...lol......@tim moto ...your last sentence makes perfect sense to me.......
rv2 hit his head hard. i knew he wasnt coming back when he crashed. how about the commentators and camera mans being so obsessed with ac92. I think mcelrath deserved his fame in the first race and they spent the whole race watching adam run alone in 3rd or 4th place.
if you watch rv get back on the bike after his crash he was dazed, wouldnt be surprized if the med staff didnt make the call he wasnt riding the last round. also check out his interview, doubt he knew where he was at the moment.
I havent read any I mean ANY of these post especially this one...........Your answer to all your speculations are off base with out reading any of this.Hyperbole !
I was at the race and in the pits yes even the Kaw pits you know that guy RV yes the the one and only! He didnt race the last yes because of the crash and yes he did get knocked a little funny but more important than that was what is not being to. He hurt his bad leg a lttle also to what extent its not know yet..........Just informing you all of the rest of the story....................Good bye all..........
Not being told ! sorry typing is a little off
Thanks "pnkfld42"...that was a perfect response to a hypocritical, "i make my own rules", biased RV fan (retardcross)!! It's amazing that he has the ability to "know" why each individual rider crashes, it's like magic!! He says i'm beyond help.....HA....go look in the mirror dude!!
Word is RV didnt like the joker lane to begin with. Just like JS7, once RV crashed he had no reason to continnue to risk it only for a 10th of what he won last yr. MEC should make the prize more interesting Say for overall winner=500k
2nd 250k 3rd 150. 4th place Toyota Tundra and fith a scion or something. Now thats good incentive to go racing. Oh and by the way 20K for each guy that gets holeshot. This will make it interesting for guys that know they cant win but maybe get the holeshot like Grant. If they are gonna add on 2 starts and Joker line, then add on prizes too. Now thats the MONSTER MILLION RACE.
RED BULL should make their own race in November
Any word on what happened to Roczen? I thought he was entered, but heard nothing anywhere, not even on his website.
Dulluth.. thanks for the insight..it looked like he had trouble getting back to his bike...then confused on what he wanted to do...so the injury to the leg sounds right, plus ringing his bell ...then the explanation sounded like they left some stuff out..Hope you and MRrMx had better luck and didn't have to hitch hike home
Roczen and Musquin had surgery to repair last years injuries and did not race
Do people think RV2 is so rich he would pass up 50k? If Rv won the last race he would of got 2nd overall. I am not sure the amount for 2nd. But it was nothing to sneeze about.
it's funny that RV gets total respect for doing the SAME EXACT THING that Stewart does, but Stewart gets buried and wish off the earth. I remember a certain event where RV quit when he crashed ont he start of a heat race, sat on a tuff block complaining and took himself out of the main because he chose to go to the LCQ one turn into a race.
if you're going to throw stones, stop being biased.
Chill I remember that race, he did not qualify cause he pulled off rather than charging in the heat race thinking he would get in thru the LCQ only to crash again and didn't qualify for the main...I bet he learned a big lesson that night.... I am glad they have the base line test now, as No rider should go out on the track with a head injury, to dangerous for every one on the track...this is just a sport and not life or death...
I am amazed with the comments on here comparing Villopoto with Stewart. People should know by now that Ryan does not roll like that and will fight to the finish. The kid is tough, but if he is hurt, do you blame him for not riding the last race?
Great races by RV & CR considering the time they have had off the bike. These guys will be the top 2 riders for 2013 and lets hope they stay healthy and it goes down to the wire in Vegas!
Groundy 056, 50k doesnt even cover his bike. he could pass it up.
@Green-59 - surely your not saying he went for the Million alone. Anything else was spare change and he wasn't interested? By theory if he got 2nd in the 2nd moto, was he going to pack up and go home because the prize money below a perfect night was no good?
@Chilllmatic - the comparison is not even in the same league. I am a Reed fan, not a JS7 or RV2. Poto missed 6 months and showed up. AC rode with a broken finger. JS7 did not show because he had 6 weeks off the bike prior to being on the bike a month.
Let's stop mentioning JS7. He is a 'has-been' and in 20years time will be remembered as a 'what-if'. JS a extraordinary talant but what if..........
@VooDoo
Yes. Genova and Bercy ... but do not attempt to inform this tard fest.
Do not despair, at least one us got your joke about Cairoli and Herlings.
Posting on this site like writing on a bathroom wall ....
Dungey was just doing the throwback" shifting style of say a 1991 KTM, every try to shift 1 wfo??? wont.
Dungey was just doing the throwback" shifting style of say a 1991 KTM, every try to shift 1 wfo??? wont.
@ theysaidwhat........still proving JS fans are the dumbest in the sport. You're right, RV couldn't handle the pressure of his first pro holeshot this weekend after wiping the floors in the first moto, there must have been so much pressure on that first lap for him. There's no way he just simply crashed in braking bumps at the end of a high speed straight, right? The fact you can't differentiate between a repeated pattern of throwing races away over a career when someone is matching pace (JS) and a simple crash on the first lap by a rider reknowned for dealing with pressure well (RV) shows how little you know. This isn't about being a fan of anyone, it's about logic and history, do some research.
How on earth can anyone bash RV for pulling out? It was great racing all around, My biggest concern was someone getting injured prior to SX season.
RV was clearly dazed when he got up after his yard sale.
The top six or seven guys were animals out there and were hauling A#@.
Heres to a healthy 2013 for everyone!
Osteo...Your comment made me curious on a couple things: You mention us not getting the joke...Herling and Cairoli not racing it, do they ever ..why is that..is it because Genova and Bercy are not really supercross races, they are simply glorified areana cross races. Is that why most of the top talent does not race them? Do Euros riders and fans not like supercross? Why is there not a supercross series over there, you have lots of larger venues for soccer that would make excellent facility's to hold races. Seems like a lot of money could be made, if they could pull in 1/2 the attendance from the outdoors...
Dungey's bike looked the best I've ever seen it look. He just seemed to be struggling mentally throughout. Worrying with that shifter in the first 2 motos would throw you off your game a little I guess. He had a good night considering all that plus the fact that these short sprint type races are not where he is best. Dungey will be good in 2013. Barcia will be awesome at times but crash a lot I think. Reed will be good. RV will be good IF he can settle for a second or third when he needs to and not let bam bam screw with him. Stewart will show up, look fast in qualifying, crash trying to keep the pace, blame it on the bike, say he hurt his pinky and call it quits within the first 6 races. Canard will be a factor after a few races IF he doesn't ride over his head-and that is a big if. ET has some 450 championships in the future ......
HAHAHAHAHAHA Mr. Retardcross.......you think that reply sets the record straight do ya?? Do my research?? HAHAHAHAHAHA, i love guys like you that think your views, and your opinions on something is somehow the gospel!!! You need to open your eyes up a little and know when you are getting "played with"........i have just been returning the same smack you chumps put out all of the time. Of course there is no way to say what exactly caused RV to go down.....pretty sure only he knows that answer!! Thanks for taking the bait, i'll let you off the hook now!!:):) HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
Or just back out of a losing argument.........
By the way, it's actually pretty easy to see what caused that crash, he got out of shape and his hand came off the bar, wasn't too hard to see. Not every crash has a series of events or bad judgement leading up to the end result. He got out of shape in those bumps and a second later was on the deck, we've all done it, everyone does it.
Some really great comments on this Race Report. I want to thank the posters that attend the event and report back.
After last years runaway, I think this year redeemed itself nicely. RC has delivered on the track design. I'm sure it will continue to evolve and improve for the future. (think safety). Thank you RC.
Of course the heroes are the ones that lined up from Austin Forkner to JB and all those in between. Big ole thumbs up for all the excitement and dedication on display for us fans. I extend my gratitude.
Definition of eternity: Days between MEC and A1.
There you go again......calling "getting played", ME backing out of a losing argument!! What you say goes, huh?? Too funny and too much fun!!
Reading the mindless thoughts of fanboys and haters sure is fun. Is this Racer X or Tiger Beat? Some of you sound like a bunch of teenage girls arguing the merits of Justin Beiber versus One Direction.
With the exception of RV crashing out everything went as I expected. I was impressed by RD's aggression, but I think he was outdone by RV, JB, and ultimately ET. When you add JS, Canard, and a better prepared Reed, we're in store for quite a show come A1. There will be at least 6 riders with a legitimate chance at winning. Alot of the guys that saw the podium in 2012 won't get a chance next year. Looking too far ahead is always risky, but when ET and BB join the 450 class I think we'll be looking at the deepest field in history.
BD25, eurozozos goes to their supercross only for watch US racers, US=Magic, euro=boring