Ask Ping!
Friday, January 18, 2013 | 9:20 AMPing,
So I can't be the only guy who noticed the friction in the booth between Shaheen Fro and RC over the question, “Why don't top supercross guys disclose their injuries in interviews.”
Shaheen was getting repetitively mouthy about why moto guys didn't talk about it when asked and Fro was about to go all Fresno Smooth on him. At one point Fro said. "Cause that’s the NFL and this is Supercross; we do it our way"
I'm all for the friction and thought it made the show even more interesting but clearly the boys in the booth weren't getting along too well in Phoenix.
I was hoping one of our ex moto heads would bring up the fact that very often in the NFL once the other team knows you have a weak point they will key on that injury and run right at you.
Or maybe when J Grant rammed Mike Alessi in the knee because he knew Mike had a bad wheel. Can we admit that one now? What’s the statute of limitations on ramming ones bike into an opponent’s weak joint?
Just saying!
Love your show.
Rapid Rod #5
The inside of James Stewart’s knee.
James finally came out and said what a lot of us had a suspicion of already… his ACL is torn. Why do riders and teams try to hide injury? I guess I understand trying to hide an injury if it is something that happens away from the races and only your team knows about it. You don’t want to let your competitors know you have a weakness. But in James’ case we all knew he hurt his knee. Why not just issue a statement after you’ve been to your doctor and tell everyone what happened? I don’t get that. Stewart says he was trying to avoid the backlash from people who would say he is just making excuses. I guess I get that. He is judged harshly by those who are not fans of his. I’m glad it’s out there and everyone can stop speculating now.
Honestly, if you know someone has a sore knee you aren’t going to line them up in a certain turn and try to slam into it. Motocross is way different from football in that aspect. In football it would be a defensive lineman’s job to try to aggravate a quarterback’s shoulder injury if they could get to him. In motocross that just doesn’t happen.
I don’t know if there is actual tension in the booth but I have heard from several different people that RC and Fro seems to butt heads. Those guys are friends. I think RC just likes to bust Jeff’s balls.
PING
Dear Ping,
So A1 came around and I found myself sitting next to motocross legend Doug Henry watching the race. It was such an awesome feeling knowing I was sitting next to one of the best in the sport and one of my biggest idols still to this day. I couldn't help but notice the look in his eye as he watched. It was as if he wanted to be out there banging bars with the rest of them. Do you or any of your fellow retired racers find yourself daydreaming about the past and wish you were still out there?
J5
Dear J5,
Well, I can’t speak for anyone but myself but I don’t miss the racing one bit. I have great memories of the good times but I also remember how gnarly it is and how much it hurts when you hit the ground. Professional racing is a young man’s game and I’m absolutely content to watch from a climate controlled suite with catering, bathrooms and live surround-sound feed from the announcer’s booth. Don’t judge me … you’d sit there too if you could.
Doug may feel differently. His racing career was cut a little short with injuries so maybe he feels cheated or maybe he just really misses the competition. Doug was always an animal that way. I do miss the big checks, two-strokes and being able to just hang out on the couch if I wanted to. Of course too many couch days had a negative effect on the rate at which the big checks came in. But that beats small checks and no couch days at all.
PING
Dear Ping,
I believe that I have a caught a very serious disease that I am going to call 'Fantard Addiction'. The symptoms of this life altering disease are that I am unable to stop myself from wasting large parts of my day reading the endless stream of bullsh!t comments and ridiculous threads that are posted on the motocross websites and forums by Fantards. I feel that I may actually be reducing my own intelligence just by reading them and was wondering if you knew of a cure for the disease?
On a side note I do think that the industry may be missing a trick as there are a few very special Fantards out there that are actually capable telling exactly what is wrong with a rider’s bike setup or technique simply from watching the races on TV! Imagine what these people could do if they were actually at the races! Team managers should be reading the forums and rushing to sign them up as Stewart, Villopoto and Dungey etc could all really do with their advice!
Thanks for your time
Don
Dear Don,
Frankly, I’m shocked that you can even piece together a coherent sentence after spending so much time consuming the uninformed propaganda of the Fantard brain trust. Back away from the computer, Don. Cigarettes, crack, Starbucks, reality television … all baby poop compared to the addictive properties of moto chat forums. The only sure way to kick the habit is to go outside -- I know that’s a shocking concept and your brain may have burst out of your skull upon reading that] and actually do something. Start with just getting the mail. Work up to a brisk walk and maybe, just maybe, you can eventually load up your bike and go ride it instead of just talking about it with a bunch of keyboard know-it-alls. I wish you well on your recovery. And I’ll pass along your suggestion to Mitch and Roger about getting some setup tips from the boards. Great idea.
PING
Have a question for Ping? Email him at [email protected].
Did you like this article?
Check out TEAM HONDA AT DAWN
in our Latest issue of Racer X available now.Forty years ago, Team Honda arrived on the American motocross circuit with a brand new motorcycle: the game-changing Elsinore CR250. Page 170.






That fantard comment is so true. It's always the same idiots posting the same stuff on here.
Josh Grant would and does try to line someone up someone that is hurt and hurt them more.He did it to Alessi a few years back and he tried to do it to Stewart at round one this year.So yeah some riders would do that.Its just one more place higher at the end of the year for them.
By idiots you mean BillC and Welker, by far the two biggest douchebags on this site. Does anyone disagree with me on this one??
Btw, I'm one of those idiots, I just love the sport and being able to share my Opinions with my Moto brethren is awesome.
I think we all just got burned! That was a pretty good one.
HAHA!! Fantards, with a huge sub-group called Stewtards... HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! I love it..
And before everyone goes off on Ping--he says he doesnt miss the reacing full time, I am sure he still loves to ride for the pure joy of it..
@ronniebarnhadt--that is a riot.. Billy will love that..@preston called me the biggest as$hole on here, there is no way I am as bad as Bill. LOL!!!
@Fred, I agree about Grant, I think he has a chip because he is injured alot, he feels he has missed out. So anyone having some success he seems to get rough with.. He took RV high in A1, not a dirty move but fairly aggresive from a guy who cant seem to finish a season..
Ping tends to take regular shots at the web customers of RacerX. There are some fools on here known for making disparaging comments about riders and the sport. However, most on here are good people who love the sport and have positive things to say. I would be nice to see Ping make a distinction between the two categories, lest he bite the many hands that feed.
Coming from a mental and physical midget that longs to be a Union-Goon...ha!
Ha ha, yep, fantard comments are so true - too funny. (and I'm guilty of that - I spend way too much time reading the comments out there and posting a few myself ... I'm halfway expecting one of these days to hear some energy drink girl to announce "would you like some suite tickets?", quickly followed by Chris Hansen from Dateline NBC, armed with transcripts of a few posts I'd rather like to have back) ... yes, play on words of suite vs sweet is intended ... aaah, I'll quit while I'm behind. Is it Saturday yet?
oops I almost forgot about EuroMike, by far the biggest turd of them all
I don't really think it truly dawned on me until I read this article! I do have a problem! I literaly do look forward to signing on everyday and checking out what all my Fantard friends have to say.....some are articulate and informative, some more entertaining and sarcastic and a few are complete goons, but I enjoy all posts equally and would sit down for a beer with any one of you. When it's all said and done...we're all fans and all have lot in common, a passion for the greatest sport in the world bar none!
Peace out fellow Fantards....
Hi all !!!
I hope this message finds you all well..
I'm out here {A-2} for what should play out as a great race!
I have the same images as what I see above. Some better some worst! LOL !
Anyone that has either seen this image and can understand it, this is not a good site at all. I feel for the guy and his plight for wanting to compete. I'm sorry for all us fans that will not see him {JS7} Compete at his full potential! Most would not be racing this weekend. I don’t know how he will do it, but it will be with some true discomfort - pain to some real potential further damage. I guess we as a society of Mx enthusiast expect our fold to continue with out regard for there outcome. I wish this wasn’t the case. I hope he can survive the series but to me this doesn't look very promising!
On another note this is a very tough time for me personally, not to get into details but some that may have a glimpse into my life would know what I’m talking about. We put a lot of hard work, sacrifice into what we do, and sometimes for fame, fortune, and just win at any cost; we sometimes cross lines that we know are not right. Ultimately we pay a heavy price for our decision making. Not only do we lye to ourselves, hurt the ones that we love, and dash the hope that others have in that process. We are just wrong!
I for one never crossed that line, so for that I can hold my head high !!
My father who was in the MX Industry - business for over 40 yrs, told me when I was real little maybe 7 yrs old. Just getting my feet wet around the factory riders, and other industry types, thinking when I was a little older I always wanted to do what my heroes did, race motocross. I did eventually! I also went on to do well in other sports after racing . He said never Idolize anything or anyone. Only admire what they do from a distance, you can look up to them, but never put anyone on a pedestal! There is always more than meets the eye. It’s not always what it may seem! It’s up to you to create your own road to success and know one else. Do it with hard work, passion, desire, and of all Honesty!
Message for
BD25
** VistaJim **
MXBOB
JimboMX374
WELKER
All other friends-posters not mentioned you know who you are.
Peace to all !
I would personally not let my competitors know I was injured or how bad with the thought that racing is very mental and if they think they may have an advantage they will try that much harder. The same thing applies to the racer that can see the rider 2 secs in front of him is much more motivated to catch and pas than the rider that is 8 secs behind and can't see the guy at all. Also it gives you extra umph when you see the guys in front make a mistake. It's very mental and that is why I would never tell how bad or if I was hurt.
I think 98% of the racers out there would never hit a guy on purpose on a injured leg, BUT there are guys like Eric Sorby, Josh Hanson, Jeff and Mike Alessi, Vince Freise and a few others that have and I believe would. So I think it is also worth not disclosing injuries so that the few rotten turds that would, didn't know.
ronniebarnhardt wrote: By idiots you mean BillC and Welker, by far the two biggest douchebags on this site. Does anyone disagree with me on this one??
Oddly, I read this comment before I scrolled down to the follow up where ronniebirdbrain claims I outscore the two afore mentioned posters, and I thought to myself, Ronnie, why are you selling yourself short. You are without question the biggest douchbag on this site. BillC and Welker are amateurs compared to you fella.
Ping! There is another thing you miss too bro...rhymes with wussy...
I tend to let anyone within earshot know about my injuries, real or fake. I always have a built in excuse no matter where i finish. and if I happen to win, it was under extreme pain and hero like actions. In fact, I have developed quite a limp over the years that really stems from nothing.
Yes mustarddog - our hero must overcome adversity to even be considerd as such....
Well said Ripdown, People like ronniebarnhardt who feel the need to put others down to make themselves feel better are sad people who must have no life. if he was as smart and great as he trys to sound why does he read my post's? if there was someone on here who I hated I would skip there post's but he just can't stop himself.
I took a photo sequence from the inside of the first turn at the World Mini at Alessi's and Grant's last amateur race. Alessi came from the inside, Grant on the outside of the gate. Alessi went out of his way to stuff Grant over the berm, to the extent that Alessi himself went over the berm. Grant braked hard and rode the lip of the berm to survive and went on to win the race. Alessi couldn't start his Honda 450 until the pack was long gone, so he rode it into the pits.
My point is this: the battle between Alessi and Grant has been raging since the amateurs, so I would hope that you don't judge Grant so harshly. It's not like he's just a bad guy who took out an innocent bystander.
I think it's nice of him to keep his mouth shut all these years and just deal with it on the track. After all, entering a motocross race is a license to kill, and accidents happen, right? If a rider is a bully, there is a chance that the victim will pay him back. When Alessi stuffed Grant at the World Mini, payback was in order, but surely this had been going on for a long time before that day. God only knows who drew first blood.
Riders like Villo and Dungey treat everybody with respect out there, so they don't have paybacks coming to them. Riding rough is great, but sometimes two guys act like gangs, where each side feels they are coming up short and that they need to even the score, so it goes on and on.
Awesome my first email to Ping and it got posted on the website and now thanks to him I have just had my first go on some crack and that is some good sh!t! I am on the road to recovery!
I always am glad to get your comments fellow posters, thanks for the Good,Bad and Ugly posters.
Yes I still dream about racing and I do miss it.. No I dont think they knew what concusions were even back in the 90's? I have had a few such as the time they told me I crashed and started going backward on the track and the guy,that knew me helped me get going the right direction. Did not even remember the race? But thay said I still got 3rd?
I would never ram someone to hurt them but have ramed to pass just because they were slowing me down. At least I would tell them after the race I did not mean to hit them that hard and sorry about it.
BTW it is such an honor to be in the same level as BilC because he was posting here before I was! Also could not do so well without Fred's Tard pills!
It is really great to post and read 90% of the posts on here- you guys are great !! The few that throw up all the trash are really ignored by me and their coments don't matter to me anyway.
If I ever make it back down to the CA tracks and am honored to have pingpongdouche on the same track I'll make sure to put him on the ground as he laps me. What a p.o.s
@BillC...I dont hate anyone. Hate is a very strong word and I certainly couldnt hate you when Ive never even met you. Im 40 years old and live in my parents basement and believe it or not, wacking off to porn gets old so my only other form of entertainment is being a dick on this site. Please forgive me, im sorry.
Here at the RacerX Moto barbershop , suspension can be tuned merely by adjusting the horizontal hold on the TVconsole/record player/monitor..a riders skill improved by simply restarting the modem......and like the cranky barber Ping is ..he dislikes most of the customers but still takes there money..nicking a few heads from time to time.....Havoc7 is still playing the Prince like 'hold your breath in anticipation' press game...its old , tired , and sorry but there are now some others getting top billing...and just like Prince ..I like what he does .I just can't stand how he do it... Go RV , 51 ,41......T-mac g o n e.......Now get off my lawn .....
Wow
ronniebarnhardt I had you peged and now that you told us a little about yourself I see I was right.
And we start with you Preston....?!
I'm not a fantard!!! I repeat.... I'm not! I don't post on these web sites!
I'm in denial. LOL
THIS JUST IN!!! if you no longer race or never have raced you have no opinion?
Guess if you've never been in politics or President of a country you have no political opinion. I've never murdered anyone so I guess I have no opinion on that either ? Thanks Preston for setting the standard on Meaningful opinions.
@tonewall....Just a little off the top and sides please.I hope RV didn't find that cowbell, yet. Does adjusting the contrast change the powerband?
Writing to Mister Know-It-All to b!tch about the comments of others, is just another form of tattling on your brother or sister to your parents. Or, ratting out a classmate to the teacher or principal. Only, you probably are over the age of 18, likely over 21, and probably pushing 40... So that makes you a gigantic, sloppy puzzy that never grew up, either.
Lame!
racer x should do a race invitational once a year. Invite everyone who posts on hear to a big race
I would win it going away...just my opinion of course...:)
Seriously though...I just might.
I would pull one of my usual holeshots on my 1983 YZ 490 and cruise to victory.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JekK7fI73P8
Nice launch @ronnie, man that bike looks just plain fun to ride. Probably could hang with any bike today on the start. My first race bike (and still my all-time favorite) was an '85 CR125; love the bikes from that era.
And none of my post even mention" Racist Preston" and he starts with me, and he says I have a problem.. hahahaha!! I love it.. Preston is such an idiot.. one of those One-rider fans that jump all over someone if they dont like "their" rider.. In Prestons case if you happen to not be a Stewtard it means you are a white redneck racist... As he has mentioned.. What a tool..
@Preston I am in my 40's and have ridden and raced most of my life.. I quit racing much a few years ago and just ride for fun since my kids have been busy playing sports and doing some racing themselves, if its really any of your business...
@Preston--your pal and defender on here "MXMOFO" has said himself he has never raced and doesnt ride, so when he comments and agrees with you like he always does, make sure you tell him he isnt allowed to have an opinion..
@ ronniebarnhardt Well I guess we should have or might have raced each other? I had a very trick White 1983 YZ490 that I could holeshot at almost anytime! Yes I did win a race once just like you! I never liked Yelow so I made my 83YZ white. I did pretty good on it. You did not show the finish though? Hanging on to that thing for 8 or 10 laps was kinda hard even with the mods I made to it!
According to the words of Mike Webb, Stewarts Boss? he said one time you have never lived if you have never raced an open class 2 stroke bike! I am sure my 85 YZ 490 could holeshot a 450 4 banger!
@ramair350...I have an 85 CR 125 sitting out back behind my shop...needs a complete rebuild but its all there...i had two motos this year when they dropped our vintage class with the 30+ class and I holeshot both motos against the new fuel injected 450s so yeah they are still fast even against todays bikes
PS: to All, I dont think I have ever posted an insult to anyone on this site. I think Pheonix did take a comment wrong that was not meant to him and I made that clear.
As Mr MX said----Peace All, he is a good man also, so are a lot of ya old timers like me!
@Welker...i doubt we ever raced each other as that video was from this year but yeah there is nothing better than racing a big open class air cooled two stroke
@ronnie, nice, glad to hear those old 2 smokes can show their younger brothers a thing or two on the starts. Well, if my wife ever leaves me and I don't have anyone to remind me that I'm a danger to myself and others on a bike, I might have to embark on a CR125 restoration project!
You guys are ALL idiots.
yes we are
I'm not an idiot I'm a idot.Hahahaha
@ronniebarnhardt Hahaha Now that was a Holeshot.I pull a holeshot like that once on my '84 POS YZ490.I remember looking over to see if they were going to restart it.
Doug Henry - extremity games - Baja Acres, Millington Michigan.
Dude rips it still...
@Ping; I agree with you about Jeff and Ricky. That little banter session witnessed in the booth at Phoenix, in my opinion, seemed almost scripted, as Ralph opened the discussion. Ralph can't be so out of touch with competitive sports, and primal instincts to (not) know that disclosure of any weakness to prey, man or beast, can prove literally fatal. Ralph just wanted to increase tension to hype the viewer audience with a little premeditated dialogue between all three of them.
Because, we here all know there is not enough sensationalism in SX as it stands without some WWE antics between color commentators.
That said, I realize, by your emergency medical training, that you know getting injured is an unfortunate evil by-product of this sport, and I would love to believe most riders in the sport of Motocross, have never cheapened their personal integrity by exploiting an opponents weakness by pre-meditated intentions. Just the same, have you met Little Hannie. Sorry, bad joke!
The most inspiring Fantard brain trust comment comes from mr mx. He states "I see the same images as above. Some better some worse".
Seeing that "same image" that mr mx is referring to, (that image of a hot girl standing next to a bike just beside the words "MR-MX" at the start of his post), I couldn't help but to immediately expect some of the "better" images to be posted. Considering the awesomeness in what I see in that small quarter inch by quarter inch picture as displayed on my iPhone, heck, even the "worse" images hold promise! Please don't tease us mr mx by telling us you have more of these images and then fail to share them! Please, for the purpose of bringing validity to the addiction we all suffer, please i beg of you, post those images.
I'd rather be a fantard than a fanterd.......