Open Mic: Interviews from Oakland
Monday, January 28, 2013 | 11:10 AM
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PrintBy Aaron Hansel and Steve Matthes
Davi Millsaps, Rockstar Energy Racing, 2nd in 450SX
I got off to a good start and came out third. I made the pass on [Justin] Brayton, I think on the third lap, and charged for the first half of the race and pulled away from the people behind me. I settled in there for a second and tried to ride a smart race without any mistakes and get back on the podium.
Talk about the track. Was it sketchy? Rutted? Slick? Hard?
All of the above! It was sticky, soft, hard, slick, rutted, bumpy, there was everything. It was a bit of a treacherous track, but I tend to do okay on those tracks.
Did you happen to get a glimpse of that big pile up in the second turn?
I saw something out of the corner of my eye that looked like chaos, but I was just trying to focus on what was ahead of me.
Four rounds in and you’ve still got the red plate. At this point is that empowering or is it added pressure?
It’s just the color of my graphics. Whether it’s red, black, white, it’s still just a color and you have to go out every weekend and pound it out and be consistent. You can’t put pressure on yourself knowing that you’ve got the points lead, there’s still thirteen races left. A lot can happen. – Aaron Hansel
"You can’t put pressure on yourself knowing that you’ve got the points lead, there’s still thirteen races left. A lot can happen." - Davi Millsaps
Simon Cudby photo
Cole Seely Lucas Oil/Troy Lee Designs Honda, 2nd in 250SX
The race was good. I got off to like a fourth place start and the leaders made a little bobble in the middle rhythm section and I was able to capitalize on it and move into the lead. I just took it from there and did as best as I could to hold the lead down. I know Ken [Roczen] made a big mistake there at the beginning of the race. He was riding so well today, so fast, and I just tried to ride as fast as I could for as long as I could to keep him behind me, but it didn’t work out. I’m getting more and more comfortable in the lead, and that’s all I really need. It’s only a matter of time before we put the bike on top of the box.
When you were leading were you responding to the pressure or were you just making sure you kept it on two wheels?
I’ve been trying to ride smart races. I’d rather take a second like I did than fight for the lead and go down and end up in last or something like that. So I’m trying to ride smart races and keep focused on the big picture, the championship. We’re second in points, it feels good, and I just want to ride smart races from here on out.
The track looked a little sketchy in some places. Was it?
Yeah. It changed all day throughout practice, timed qualifying and at night. It was really hard to decipher, and how the bike was going to act. We did a good job of finding a good setting for the main with tire selection and chassis setup, so I was pretty confident. It did start to deteriorate there at the end, and I made a couple mistakes because of it, but it is what it is, and I just tried to ride a smart race.
How about that rhythm section following the sand section; they made some changes in there. Did those changes make it easier to take the table-to-table option?
It did in practice but in the race they fixed the sand so you couldn’t get over the first jump anymore so it went back to the normal table-over-table rhythm. The track was kind of basic tonight, but it was still pretty challenging.
The TLD bikes have gotten a ton of holeshots this year, and even tonight, you guys didn’t get the holeshot, but everyone on the team was up front. Have you done something different with the bikes?
Since I signed on to this team I’ve progressed, and so has the team, and it’s been really cool with both of us progressing together at the same level. Now we’ve got our own in-house engine builders. They’re really smart, and our engine tech, Ryan, has done a really good job. He stepped into Matt Jory’s shoes about a month before the season started, and he’s been awesome in finding that little bit of extra horsepower here and there, and that’s really made a big difference. – Aaron Hansel
"I’ve been trying to ride smart races. I’d rather take a second like I did than fight for the lead and go down and end up in last or something like that." - Cole Seely
Simon Cudby photo
Yeah, I felt good today. I like the track here. I’ve won a race here. I was looking forward to it. And then kind of halfway through the heat race I decided to jump off the track and faceplant into the hay bale.
It looked like it could have been worse than what it was.
I definitely got lucky; my face landed right on the hay bale and I got a mouthful of the dirt. But I think it was actually good tonight to get out on the track for the LCQ. The track’s really technical here tonight and I think that it was important to get a good start. And obviously starting on the outside here was a little tricky with how tight it was. Like I said, I don’t know; I got like halfway through the whoops on the start and all I see is a whole bunch of guys piled up on top of the berm. And I was like, there’s my brownie points. I just went around the inside and just kind of weaseled myself through there, picked a couple guys off, and then kind of got to Shorty [Andrew Short] and just settled in. Little frustrated but better than last week and I did better in practice this week. There were some positives.
Last year I talked to Mitch [Payton] a lot. He went on and on about your starts, and they’re not good again this year. That seems to be the big thing for you, do you agree?
Oh yeah, for sure. All these guys, everybody’s good. Everybody who lines up on the gate is good. So we’ll just keep clicking away and everything will come together. I’ve been doing starts, not focusing on it too much because that's kind of Ricky’s advice because it seems like even when I … I kind of did that there for a while for a couple years and it never really worked out. And when I won my championship, to be honest I didn’t practice any starts. So, goal is to come here and know I belong up there. – Steve Matthes
"Little frustrated but better than last week and I did better in practice this week. There were some positives." - Broc Tickle
Simon Cudby photo
It went all right, things went a little better tonight. Last weekend I was really sick with the flu and struggled, so it was good to feel like my normal self again. But I’m just not getting out of the gate. Lap times are there, and I rode good the whole moto, but I almost went down with two to go behind [Joey] Savatgy and lost a spot to Malcolm Stewart. Overall we rode a good race and we’re going to go back to the practice track this week and try to change a few things up with the bike and probably burn up like fifty clutches until I learn how to get a start because man, I’m getting tired of coming from the back! But we’re riding good and the team is behind me 100 percent and we’re going to come out swinging at Anaheim.
Did you feel like this was one of your better performances of the year?
Yeah, I mean, we’ve had a few little mishaps. I landed on [Max] Anstie at round one and had no front brake, but at Phoenix I rode the same way; I rode good but came from the back. I had the fourth fastest time of the race, just started eighteenth. We know what we need to fix, and it’s not a speed issue. Tonight it took me a couple laps to get going, but on lap three I started making passes and working my way up. I got up there pretty quickly, but made some mistakes at the end. I accidentally pulled my last three tear-offs at the end and had sand on my goggles, but no excuses. We rode a good race. Malcolm came over to me and was laughing, he didn’t know how I saved it in the whoops. I got pretty backwards coming up to the triple, and I don’t know how I saved it either! There was someone riding with me and taking care of me, and I was lucky to save that and end up with a seventh tonight. - Aaron Hansel
"Overall we rode a good race and we’re going to go back to the practice track this week and try to change a few things up with the bike and probably burn up like fifty clutches until I learn how to get a start..." - Kyle Cunningham
Simon Cudby photo
Justin Brayton, JGR/Toyota Yamaha, 10th in 450SX
The race was not what I wanted. I started out all right, I was in second for a while then Davi got by me and I ran third almost the whole race. Then [Ryan] Dungey just came inside of me and took my front wheel out, I crashed and that was it. I ended up tenth. It was definitely not a good night, and I’m pretty frustrated. I got a good start though, so that’s one positive for the night.
On the Dungey pass, was that simply a racing incident or was he overly aggressive?
It definitely wasn’t overly aggressive at all. I was cutting down all night, and I went to cut down not knowing that he was there. He came in pretty hot and that was that. It wasn’t anything on his part, it was more probably my fault than anything. – Aaron Hansel
"It definitely wasn’t overly aggressive at all. I was cutting down all night, and I went to cut down not knowing that he was there." - Justin Brayton
Simon Cudby photo
Jimmy Albertson, MotoThump HRT Honda, 11th in 450SX
Yeah, really the word of the night is, or the phrase of the night is, that was my very first 20 lapper ever in history. Nineteen has been my thing and this year I figured I’d go for 20, and I did.
Massive pileup in the second turn. Where were you? How did it affect you? Did it almost collect you?
I think I used telekinetic power to knock down the people in front of me in the second turn. So I just skated around the inside and grabbed a few guys. I was planning on taking out the whole pack but…
You saw the carnage?
Yeah, I saw it. No, I just snuck to the inside. I didn’t even know what happened. Someone probably got squirrely in the whoops. I was literally going so slow in the back of the pack and just passed like 10 guys at once. It was great. They were all on the ground.
And what about your brother working for you tonight? Is this your fourth different mechanic?
Yes, this is my fourth different mechanic in four rounds and he definitely came through with the shining star tonight. I mean, 11th in the main, 20 laps… He was all fired up after the LCQ. No “good jobs,” just … the last lap, the pit board said, “win.” And I didn’t win.
He’s used to excellence I guess.
I bet you Tickle’s mechanic was looking at that thing going, "Oh my God. Please, God, finish the race. Albertson’s going for blood on the last lap in the LCQ for first."
Well, next week, A3, now you’ve just got to build on this and get in there every week now. We talked about it last year; when you miss a few you adapt to getting in it, right?
Oh, for sure. You miss a few and then that’s all you’re worried about is making it and once you get to the main you’re not prepared mentally for the main. You’re just like, 'Oh I’m here. What do I do now?' My goal was to make it here and I have nothing else. But it’s good whenever you’re getting 19ths, 18ths you’re scoring a couple points a round. And I scored a whole 10 points tonight. – Steve Matthes
"Yes, this is my fourth different mechanic in four rounds and he definitely came through with the shining star tonight. I mean, 11th in the main, 20 laps.." - Jimmy Albertson
Simon Cudby photo
I think today your practice may be the best we saw you this year. Your heat race was pretty good although you took a while to get into second. Main event though, bad deal.
Yeah, it was a bad deal. All day was good. The last two weekends actually have been really good. I got caught up with [Josh] Grant last weekend. But our progress is there. I’m actually riding better than I was the first two races, obviously. And then we come here and we’re getting better and better and then get another bad start but actually made some great passes. I was in fifth in the whoops and Reed got out of control and then he went into Grant. And then they went into me. I had nowhere to go. So I get off, I tweaked my knee again. But whatever, I’m just going to finish. I landed off the triple and looked down and my throttle cable’s broken. So that’s why I pulled off. It’s frustrating and probably the title’s out of reach out right now. I lost so many damn points it’s not even funny. And Millsaps is doing a good job just being consistent. But I’m having fun racing. It’s definitely not where I want to be at but I don’t want to quit. I think there’s more proving than what the results show. I still think we got a couple more weeks like this and now we’re kind of just out there just to do it. So it’ll be fun.
So basically I talked to people that kind of say Reed started that (crash). Maybe got a little whiskey throttle, little out of control, on the inside of the whoops. I guess that’s what happened?
Yeah, he got out of control. He almost crashed in the whoops. But he ran past his truck like he was mad at me or something. So I don’t know. Actually he swapped in the whoops. I actually thought he might have went down because he kind of cleared out for a minute. And next thing I’m over in the bowl corner and then, boom.
Knee is better though, obviously, based on how fast you went in qualifying.
Yeah, I was very quick in the first one. I was even quick in the second one. We changed the tire and it was horrible. It was fast. And normally I do good on these tracks when they’re rutted and all that stuff. So I was really excited about the main event. The heat race I lost it from the gate. But the main event I felt good. I thought the track dried out a little bit. It was better. But I think the improvement’s there. It’s the quickest we were all year.
That as frustrating as last year? Can you rank it? Which year is more frustrating?
Yeah, last year it was … I mean, I got a podium and I won already. So this year I haven’t even got to crack top five, which I don’t even know how that’s supposed to feel. I haven’t been like that. So I guess this year is probably more frustrating because it’s not the motorcycle; it’s me. And then going and having a great off-season and being hurt, dealing with that, and then just having everything -- like I said earlier, if I didn’t have bad luck I wouldn’t have luck. But it is what it is. I’m not going to quit. We’re here. – Steve Matthes
"So I get off, I tweaked my knee again. But whatever, I’m just going to finish. I landed off the triple and looked down and my throttle cable’s broken. So that’s why I pulled off." - James Stewart
Simon Cudby photo
Mitch Payton, Team Owner, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki
Mitch, [Martin] Davalos fourth. Tyla Rattray, another kind of off-night. Talk about it a little bit.
I don’t really know what to say. Practice was better for Tyla, heat race was better for Tyla and I thought the main event would have been good. Got a bad start, didn’t really move through the pack very well and finished I think 11th. So not very happy with that. I don’t know what to say about it, just he’s not riding very well. And I don’t think it’s cool.
I talked to Aldon [Baker], his trainer, he said they tested suspension this week and he was very happy with what you guys changed and what you figured out, so I guess it probably makes it even more disappointing.
Yeah, after the last race, we were asking him, is there anything we can do? And they thought yeah, maybe we can work on the forks or something like that. So we did that. Kind of went out a few days and really tried to get everybody out there watching and concentrating on it. Made good improvements on it for both guys, actually. They were both really happy with the bikes tonight. So that’s why I thought that if they did have that issue that tonight would be better. I’m not really pumped with the result of it all. Martin, you know, kind of left the gate not so hot, went down in the first turn pretty good and then got banged around the second turn and got into forth and just kind of I thought rode flat, plateaued. He said he was kind of tight. And not very happy with that either.
This isn’t a good West Coast season. This is as frustrated maybe as I’ve seen you in a while.
No, but it’s just like I really expected more from Tyla and I really expected Martin to have the speed to run with those guys with the right circumstances. And right now he just needs to dig down and find that speed. He’s got to do it. I know the bikes are good so I just think we got to get a little bit more. The intensity has to come up and got to hang it out.
You haven’t been this depressed since the Pingree years?
Pingree was pretty depressing, actually. Those were challenging times with David Pingree of course [Laughs]. No, but honestly they just got to straighten it out. We’re doing what we can do and they got to ride. Got to hang it out. – Steve Matthes
"Yeah, I just haven’t put the whole package together. I’m fast, I’m right there with everybody. Just stupid mistakes, me not being aggressive and being a man, kind of being a little boy.." -Travis Baker
Simon Cudby photo
Travis Baker, Valli Yamaha, 12th in 250SX
Yeah, I just haven’t put the whole package together. I’m fast, I’m right there with everybody. Just stupid mistakes, me not being aggressive and being a man, kind of being a little boy, but got to turn it around. Can’t do what I’m doing. It’s not where I belong. I know I belong up front.
And how was the main event for you tonight?
The main, it was rough. I got a decent start from the outside and kind of was around 8th I think. Battling up there, passing, getting passed back, passing again, passed back … and then just made stupid mistakes, like I said, and didn’t put the whole thing together. Ended up 12th on the night, what I don’t want. I think from 6th to me was pretty close. Everyone’s right there, but I just got to put it all together.
How’s the new team? Two years at Lucas Oil/Troy Lee Designs Honda and now Valli Yamaha this year.
I love the bike and the team is awesome. Chad Lanza’s put a good program together. And we got a little small group. My mechanic Scottie’s been doing a great job. We got another guy Robbie who helps out in doing the motor and Yamaha’s stepped in a lot. I’ve always enjoyed the Yamaha. I grew up racing a Yamaha and I feel comfortable on it. – Steve Matthes
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That crash was not Reeds fault, he got out of shape a bit. He got out of shape and grant had no where to go. The crash was just a normal racing incident, it's not like Reed or anyone else was going for a takeout.
"So basically I talked to people that kind of say Reed started that (crash). Maybe got a little whiskey throttle, little out of control, on the inside of the whoops. I guess that’s what happened"
.Hmmmmmmmm don't tell the realmofo that other people think REED started the whole mess!! he will piss all over himself!! along with his budddy ronni
Wheelzz708 no one is saying Reed did anything other than made a mistake. Thats all. he caused it but not on purpose.
Admittedly, I know very little- not one of these 'Dungey needs to ditch that air fork and go 3 clicks in on compression" know-it-alls, but did anyone besides Mitch Payton not see this happening? Anyone?
Stewart cant blame anyone for losing it in the whoops.
Reed was using the Guy Cooper strategy......if you get a bad start go crazy for the next few turns and you will pass more guys than if you settle and work the pack all race. But it can go horrifically bad...... Just watch Guy in the 80's.
If anyone wants to place blame anywhere it should be on whoever designed and built the track. Hopefully they didn't ruin to many rider's seasons.
I loved the track design and all designs this year.
Whoops sections right outta the first turn....bad idea.
Mitch Payton: "The intensity has to come up and got to hang it out."
Tyla is older than Mitch himself for crying out loud, give that bike to a real rider. Mitch gives the bike to a 30yr old father that just wants to "Get Home".
Martin has got to be the most feminine rider on the track these days. The guy is border line female and I am tired of seeing that dipshit clogging up a good bike.
I dont think Stewart is "blaming" Reed or insinuating he did it on "purpose"...James is just "telling it like it is", same thing Reed said 2 years ago when the rolls were reversed. Reed got outta shape and sh*t happened...it was a domino effect..Reed surely didnt do it on purpose so people makeing hints at that are silly ..Reed makes very few big mistakes and he made a mistake on a busy track and it went down hill from there.bum deal for all involved...Barcia??..Track design is probably the only thing you can point a finger at if anything..probably not the best place to have whoops right out of turn one........
Good to see BillC still swinging on Stewarts ballsack after he says he isnt a Stewtard, he is getting worse by the day..LOL Of course those guys are going to tell Stewart it was Reeds fault, everyone who hangs with Stew hates Reed you idiot.. I never said it wasnt Reeds fault.. I said BILLC never gave Stewie the blame when he wadded up and took people down, but is quick to rag on Reed for doing it.. Reed did cause the crash, but it was a racing incident, nothing dangerous, or over his head or nothing like that. He made a mistake in a bad spot to do it in..
Ralph Sheheen is a horrible piece of garbage... With gems like, "you don't win a season with only one win", in regards to Ken Roczen... Yeah except for what if Ken was riding steady seconds all year (oh yeah dumb ass he was) and the person who was winning all year gets last (he did) and now Ken gets second the rest of the year and Eli comes back and wins every other race but lets say 1 or 2 in which he gets third... Ken Roczen then wins the championship... You see how that is Ralph DOUCHEBAG Sheheen? He can win the championship, without winning but 1 time. Hell he could win the championship by NEVER winning, if the first place rider changes every race and they are consistent!
There needs to be a lobby formed to get rid of Ralph Sheheen, get Davy Coombs, or Bailey to come back. Sheheen is a joke.
@I liketo-Right, I remember Tim Ferry doing it, he won a 125 title and never won a race..Shaheen is a tool..plain and simple..
well therealmofo who said it was anything other than a racing incident?? seems to me you are reaching pretty far to start crap about nothing.
.and you say"LOL Of course those guys are going to tell Stewart it was Reeds fault, everyone who hangs with Stew hates Reed you idiot"
.I think your reading comprehension is lacking. It was NOT JS who said others said it was Reed who started it , It was Steve Matthes ...again more proff that you are looking for something that is not there. school is out get your pail and go home.
Brayton didnt' bag on Dungey, thats some respect. Dungey was looking back right after because he sure didn't look like he meant to do it. I think the only guy Dungey likes to take out is Weimer.
REED caused the 2nd turn pile up. Not sure why he did, but it was definitely his fault.
Mitch Payton signed both Tyla and Davalos, now he is stuck with them.
Where is the update on Barcia and Tomac after their crashes? I'm sure Tomac is getting concusion testing and his knee checked out, but whats the deal with Barcia?
The concept of having "the announcer" giving the play-by-play harkens back to the time of am radio broadcasting to the fans of baseball and horse-racing.
It is no longer needed. This antiqueted, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, old timey approach to covering our sport has no place in 2013.
"this year is probably more frustrating because it’s not the motorcycle; it’s me." - James Stewart
I don't think it was the motorcycle's fault last year OR this year but I do hope James gets back on his game some day. Focus and stay focused.
Reed fans everywhere point the finger to Grant. How embarrasing.
I canT believe how much complaining goes on here. You guys should pull your heads out of your as###s. The way you people talk and whine, you would never be welcome out in the desert riding with the guys I ride with now or in the past !
Ricky always said you make your own luck and in some cases you do but as good as Stewart is and as bad of starts as he has been getting I think if it were me I would burn up a few clutches this week and turn myself into a holeshot king. You can't be involved in a pile up if you aren't near it, although I have seen the leader taken out by the second place guy a few times but being first off the start can most certainly help.
@motobk Now people may complain about the fact that you pointed out how much they complain. Would that be meta-complaining?
I really expected more from Tyla .......And I don’t think it’s cool.........And not very happy with that either.
I really expected Martin to have the speed to run with those guys ....... I know the bikes are good .
Ouch !
This is on you Mitch. These guys are doing what thev've done.......hope they werent two year contracts.
JimM
Pala374
After A-1 RV2/1 had 5 points. In 3 races he has out gained:
DM18, 12 points
TC41, 16
RD5, 24
CR22, 25
JB51, 45
JS7, 47
At Phoenix he passed most of the 'fast 6' like they were parked on his way from about 10th to second in less than that many laps (don't know for sure but think he may have slid down at one point also).
With 13 races remaining, everyone else better hope that A-1 was't his bad day for the year.
Oh Mitch btw........
Check your cupboards
JimM
Pala374
after rewatching that crash a few times...it looks like if Grant wasnt there, Reed would have probably launched off the track off that berm...I think Grant actually slowed up the whiskey throtle reed rocket that was bouncing in the whoops....Looks like Reed started to lose it - bounced into Alessi - then was on a runaway bucking bronco until Grant hooked up with him sending them both into the collison course we now know as the " Oakland Turn 2 Electric Bugaloo"..... bum deal....thats racing boys
Not the biggest Reed fan, but dude rarely makes mistakes like that and I was kind of suprised. ....did he give it too much since he saw RV out front??.....did he just pin it and hope for the best?? Millville11' - RV was right there and Reed was pushing it and we saw what happened......Dallas he was chasing RV, was pushing it and made the mistake that ended his year....Oakland RV was stretching a lead once the gate dropped , no joke watch him jump the whoops out of turn two.... So I wonder if it was just mistake due to pressure on Reeds part....
JimboMX374--I'm thinking Mitch is having some real buyers remorse right now.
Since honda and yamaha had all the top guys coming out this year, he didn't have alot of choice left on who he gave the money to this year.
Baggett isn't great at SX, WIlson isn't either but he's the best SX guy in the stable, I think the Davalos pickup was crazy, Rattray needs off the lil bikes and onto the big bikes,
Rattray is relatively inexperienced in SX. By my count he's done the 2011 West and 4 races in 2012 West before this season. I'm not saying he will be a good SX rider, I'm just saying his is still inexperienced. Plus he's relatively old (28) and coming off an injury where he broke his neck in SX.
Davalos is Davalos. Meszmerizing speed overrrun with perplexing inconsistency.
Alright guys help me out here.......Reed was on the right and caused the fiasco there, but who got Barcia, he was on the far Left and by himself. I was at Oakland so it was a blur after Reed starting ping ponging.
Barcia was on the groind longest and no one seems to know anything.
@Not4show RD5 went to his left to avoid JS7, Who was going left to avoid CR22 and took out Barcia's front tire. Someone said JB51 mostly had the wind knocked from him. In short RD5's rear wheel and JB51's front wheel tangled.
I heard from a guy who saw a guy who said he heard from a guy that he saw at 31 flavors last night that Barcia was run over by someone...or a bike landed on him.....
Maybe Mitch only had money to get or keep the riders he has now. I bet he lost bookoo dinero when Geico and TLD started doing in house motors.
i watched it in slow mo and it looked like barcia was going to go by dungy and dungy moved over on him causing him to crash..this is all speculation!! i could be totally wrong.
It will be interesting to hear Reed's take on this and his thoughts on what happened. Will he be straight up or will there be a slight of hand?
barcia was praying for a red flag asking for a restart..that was the worst performance ever bam bam,,next time just lay there and dont move at all...make EM call a red flag.
Stewart got cought up in a first lap racing incident. Sure Reed got out of Controll and Grant had no ware to go and a pile up happened. Every one has gotten out of Controll in the whoops at sometime. You can't blame Grant for driving Reed into Stewart! You try and stop in those whoops! This was a first lap racing incident period.
It is interesting to hear all the opinions about who started the carnage on Saturday night. It sure would be nice to get more input from other riders who saw it happen to cut down on all the BS on these boards.
There were 2 brief video segments each with less than ideal viewing angles, one medium range shot from straight ahead and the other at long range from behind. Yes, you can slow-fwd the segments, but the resolution is bad for each and riders were bunched pretty tightly. It may very well be Reed getting squirrely on his own, or maybe he had some help starting the sequence, but I'm not convinced you can tell definitively from the evidence available, unless you are not a Reed fan, then you want to believe he caused it whether or not it is true. Maybe there was a second shooter on the grassy knoll.
Now, back to the regularly scheduled whining already in progress...
Barcia is giving a new meaning to Bam Bam.
Yea, I have a problem with Mitch Payton remarks.. He rips on Martin and Tyla--like they should suddendly be the best supercross riders in the 350 class because they are on his bikes.. These guys have been on top bikes before, and they are at about the same spot they always have been.. I dont care what shop supplies the bike, they are not going to be supercross champs.. Its on you Mitch, for signing the wrong guys..
And the big crash was a racing incident, end of story.. Why its a big issue I dont know.. I guess because it involved Reed and Stewie.. Stewie wasnt going to podium anyway, and Reed hasnt been a threat to win, so whats the big issue really.. RV is going to run away with the races unless he throws it away himself..
who cares who fault it was it can happen its supercross it just sucks that it happened where it did and took out everyone stewarts not blaming him he just saying what happened. When i was at the race in my city last year two little boys like 10 and 8 where telling me how stewart was a bad rider that he took out everyone like on purpose i dont see how people think this im sure it was there dads opinion it did seem like alot of people in the stadium didnt like him though just adds to the drama
big Reed Fan, and it was his fault. is what it is. sux bubbles got a dnf. but he will be back next week. so will Reed.
Wow! We're in a year that Pro Circuit has NO chance at the title. Who would have guessed that!?!?
Speaking of Pro Circuit, first GEICO, now TLD's bikes improve when they drop PC from their engine programs. I guess Mike Brown wasn't talking out his rear when he made claims of this sort years ago.
So, now that everyone has decent motors, I guess we can forget about PC being in any title chases from now on.......
Is it just me or does this make Payton look ridiculous?
@carsblad - I think DW15 might have something in response to your statement in 3 weeks when we go East.
I'm not a Barcia fan, but I don't like seeing guys get hurt. I was thinking he hurt his wrist again. I saw dungey make the jump left, but I was paying more attention to the rest of the carnage, from where I was at, when Barcia hit the deck he completely dissappeared.
As far as Mitch Payton goes, you don't say those things to the public. You keep that stuff in house as a owner, manager, rider......It makes anyone talking that smack less professional and trustworthy.
But TLD and Geico do seem to have alot more Motor these days compared with 2 years ago..........hmmmm
I guess Payton really doesn't care, he is just skating by for 2012, and has all his hopes pinned on Adam C. starting after 2012 LL.
After having been exposed to the amateur MX scene for the last few months my son has been racing it is my understanding that cheating runs rampant. There are supposedly a lot of 60 kits running in the 51 class and 70 kits in the 65 class, and so on.
How often are engines torn down and inspected in the pro ranks? Any chance TLD is running a big bore kit? As long as PC and the other tuners have been working on 250Fs it seems odd that suddenly TLD has hired the ultimate engine guru.
I think Mitch should sign Savatgy while he can and let one of his also rans go.
Just for the record from someone who is a fan of the sport but no particular rider, Reed started the pileup, and Dungey took out Barcia.
you guys quit your bickering and watch this video,,,,it's what KTM is really all about
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xfpU0yIpG4
PS.....I think some dudes immediately went into desperation mode when they seen RV pull the holeshot!
I love it, I seem to recall stewart going nuts thru a whoop section and actually taking Reed out, if I remember correctly Chad went compley over the berm and onto the stadium floor.
Too bad it happened but still funny, wonder if James plans on outdoors, he has to fix that knee at some point
can mitch payton really think he can put any racer on his awsome bikes and expect them to win? martin davalos was never an agressive guy and to run with eli tomac, no way,,,not ever guna happen....mabey the south african dude is a disgruntled employee...
did pro circut really do the competitions motors in past years? mabey he did his motors a little better to give his guys the advantage! now the teams have motors as good as pro circuts.....and pro circut has lost the advantage...plus they don't have the big name riders..if mitch payton had eli tomac then he could expect to win...
did pro circut really do the competitions motors in past years? mabey he did his motors a little better to give his guys the advantage! now the teams have motors as good as pro circuts.....and pro circut has lost the advantage...plus they don't have the big name riders..if mitch payton had eli tomac then he could expect to win...
"I think Mitch should sign Savatgy while he can and let one of his also rans go."
Yes.
And call in Josh Hansen :-D (pointed out?)
I don't see anything wrong with what Payton said. What do you want him to say ?? I am happy all is well?? He said the truth, The guys are not doing well and need to pick it up.
@BILLC--I understand that part, but what I am trying to say is these guys have been on great equipment before and couldnt do it.. So why would Payton expect any different now?? Because it his bikes?? His bikes are excellent, but arent the Holy Grail anymore.. He needs to find and sign some young talent like he used too.. These guys are older and arent going to get faster as they age..
Payton is supposedly not a very good guy to be employed by. He builds killer bikes, but you can't expect every rider you hire to provide championships just because they are on your bike. If you buy title contenders then yes the bar is high, but as far as I'm concerned he doesn't have title contenders competing at the moment. The days of him having the only superior 250F's and riders are over so his expectations need to change as well.
Payton still has a shot on the East coast with Wilson but I fear Deano might just be a little too bike for the 250 now? May be like Tomac and over-power/over ride the bike and get into trouble.
I wish Mitch would have looked at some up and coming riders that don't have support and could make it with right help, instead of picking old guys that have been in the 250 class for years and are on their way out due to age.
Davalos shows good speed, but he's a "ticking time bomb" when it comes to crashing. You don't know when it will happen, but you know it's coming!
Riders like "Austin Politelli" who passed Rattray in the main, coming from 16 on the 1st lap should be considered for a premier team such as Pro Curcuit. This kids got great potential and needs to be considered by the top teams. HRT is helping Austin this year, but he needs a team like Pro Curcuit to reach his optimum goal of being a podium contender.
Why is no one placing blame on Millsaps? He got out of shape just like Reed and they both came together sending Reed back right (into Grant). Davi was just lucky Grant wasn't on his side of the whoops.