Justin Barcia Update
Thursday, January 24, 2013 | 3:15 PM
Share
Comment
Email
PrintWhen we last saw Honda Muscle Milk's Justin Barcia, he was off to the side of the track at Anaheim with, well, a smashed face. He cased a triple really badly, and that was the end of his night.
Barcia's in Oakland right now for Supercross Press Day, and he called us with an update.
"I'm all good," he said. "Had to do a few concussion tests and things like that, but everything checked out okay. I just have a cut with some stitches near my eye, and some cuts near my nose, but I'm definitely 100 percent. I didn't ride this week, but I actually feel good because it's been a long time since I have had a few days off. And we'll ride today for press day so that will be good."
Did Barcia break his nose? "I didn't even bother getting X-rays, it's probably broken but it doesn't matter," he said. "I did the same thing last year at Millville and was able to ride with it."
When Barcia was approaching the triple that he cased, his bike was heard revving to the moon, so some theorized he had accidentally jammed it into first gear and didn't have the speed to clear the jump. "No, I actually just got a ton of wheelspin," he said. "I was trying to go to the inside and make a pass, and it just spun, and I didn't have enough speed to make the jump. I'm okay, though, I'll be fine this weekend."
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.
Look for the verified symbol 
Impulse Studios
Sounds like the young man is still learning some throttle control on that big 450.. I was wondering when some of that inexperience on the big bike would get him.. The veteran guys were talking about the throttle control that was needed on some of the slick West Coast tracks.. And there is another learning experience for Barcia...I bet it doesnt happen twice,, that had to hurt..LOL!!
@bd200,, hahaha, I think Barcia has "throttle control." That happens to everyone some time or another..
Tough kid, going to ride through a "probably" broken nose, I have had a couple of those and besides being hard to breathe, jarring it hurts pretty good...Good Luck Bam Bam no more Boo Boo's
I'm not sure "cased" is accurate in this instance -- more like he "faced" a triple. Case is when a rider lands on the crown of a jump or a whoop and the ground contacts the frame, right?
Also, if you watch Millsaps' GoPro (about 1:30 mark), you can watch Barcia block-pass Weimer. His explanation sounds about right as you can see he didn't have as much run on the jump, and got squirrelly to boot. Must've had a real "Oh $hit" moment when he realized he wasn't going to make it.
He is lucky that he didn't bounce sideways and get creamed by Weimer or Millsaps.
hate that moment when you hit a jump and you know right away that it wasn't enough, and you're going to case it. You stare right at the spot your going to hit. Its one of those "oh $hit" moments. Sometimes you let out a painful grunt before you even hit.
Thankfully his braced wrist made it out in 1 piece. That drop of nowhere can be an ankle breaker, too.
@b787tech ,, Don't forget about Tomac..
Glad to hear Justin will be ok and able to race this weekend. It would be good to see him and RV go toe to toe to the end.
Yep me too CZ, glad that wasn't as bad as it coulda been. GL Justin! *Ride that sob*!
Barcia has always been heavy handed with the throttle, but he seemed a little tamer and controlled on the 450 up until the last race; I'm guessing that in the heat of the moment he subconsciously slipped back into old habits and it bit him. First season mistakes, everyone has them.
He came up short on that triple twice-the second one was brutal. Glad he'll be there this weekend. He has been impressive so far in his rookie season. Grip it and rip it Justin!!
Re-watching the entire night for Barcia, he was not having his best night.
Not getting down the guy at all, as everybody has their nights. And I think he was most fortunate to get outta that place as in (one piece) as he did.
In hind-site, in my opinion, If you were a fly on the wall of the closed door transport or some other out of the, (public eye) location, I think he would have had to say the planets were not aligned in Anaheim last Saturday for Justin Barcia...
I am just glad to hear he's 100% (in his words).
"I didn't even bother getting X-rays, it's probably broken but it doesn't matter,"
That's what I'm talking about. !!!!!
JimM
Pala374
@ LastbikeRM250, "faced it" is right. That was a heavy hit. I shattered my lower right ankle and have a plate and 7 screws in it from that exact hit. Did not crash, just did not have my foot evenly on the peg at impact. I pushed the bike out in front of me a little to get more room to absorb the blow.
I did not get my right foot all the way back on the platform, just the toe portion so at impact my toe stayed high, my heel dropped down and I crush fractured lower tib/fib. I helt the pop then the heat, two turns later pulled off track, went back to the truck and could barely get off of my bike.
Justin is lucky with that hit he did not brake a wrist, ankle, something!
Winning right out of the gate could be a good news bad news for a hoss like JB. Few hits like that will make a guy feel mortal real quick.
JimM
Pala374
He's doin it JB style....http://youtu.be/0LFHFeJ0XaI .....sock it to em JB....off night...tuff enough to jump back on that pony an git after it jb style......Go RV 51 ,41...............T-mac g o n e...............
And there's the Ellipsis-happy one with the disjointed thoughts. Snore...zzz...yawn
BD200, That is the most ridiculous comment ever. Barcia just won in the most stacked 450 class a week and a half ago on a slippery track that everyone was washing out on (villo & canard). Think he has a little throttle control.
Hey Barcia punk, you keep interviewing like this and you may win me over as a loyal fan. Screw the xray, just get me back on the bike...thanks for not being a wuss.
Am I the only person that shifts up before I panic rev? Lesson learned with the 250fs
pmsl......dont you just love them "oh shit" moments......give it a hand full of throttle and just hope its enough 2 drive you out the landing!!!....
bam was lucky not 2 bust a wrist!!!
Welcome to the big boy class kid.
I'm glad you are sucking it up and racing this weekend.
No more bam bam for you or it will bite you in the ass.
Never doubted Barcia would sit out. He definitely has the "Piss and Vinegar" needed to succeed!
Love this kids story. Think back to those early honda commercials when he's talking about the horsepower, now here he is winning in the 'bigs' class. There's something bluecollar about him that is really compelling. This boy ain't no reality TV star, HE IS REALITY :)
Go get 'em Barcia!!!
I was just thinking before last weeks race, all the top guys have crashed hard, got injured, and came back, but not Barcia. Almost seems like a right of passage to be a man in the 450 class.
Right of passage. Nothing sux more than knowing you didn't get all of it and staring straight down at the place you're gonna hit. lol I thought I was the only one who did that. Closing your eyes doesn't work either. Actually, he did very well considering what it could have been. Made me cringe.