The Moment: The Nervous Man
Tuesday, February 5, 2013 | 2:00 PM
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Print“I was getting so nervous! My mouth was getting dry, I couldn’t swallow.”
Those are the words of a man who has seen it and done it all, and should be impervious to such nerves. They’re the words of Red Bull KTM Team Manager Roger DeCoster when I asked him what was running through his mind during Saturday night’s Last Chance Qualifier. The normally unflappable DeCoster had been….can we say, flapped?
Probably didn’t help that this year’s 450 SX campaign with Ryan Dungey has already been a little rough, with multiple LCQ appearances, bad starts and general struggles. In fact, 2013 has actually looked more like what most expected to see in 2012, when the RDs and company were trying to dial in an all-new bike. But last year, they podiumed round one, won the second race of the season and immediately took over the points lead. This year? Obstacles keep getting stacked in front of them.
That happened most literally in the LCQ on Saturday night, when a second turn pileup left a bunch of bikes directly in Dungey’s path. He hit the pile and went down, the absolute worst-case scenario in a six-lap race.
DeCoster and Dungey go from disaster to contender on one of their wildest nights ever.
Simon Cudby photo
Dungey kept his cool and rode perfect laps, putting himself into third with a lap to go, and then taking advantage of a mistake by Phil Nicoletti to close in, and then make the final pass in the whoops.
Dungey is often criticized for not showing enough emotion, but for certain he was saved by his even-keel demeanor on Saturday. He didn't freak out during the qualifying process, and he even calmly held off Davi Millsaps' pressure early in the main to get away and take the win. But even he couldn't contain the emotion, totally, after the race. When I stopped by his motorhome to get an interview, he was as super pumped as it gets—to me, he was even more pumped than he was at Unadilla last year, when he clinched the AMA 450 National Motocross Championship. And he wasn't the only one.
“It was probably as stressed as I’ve ever been,” says DeCoster of that LCQ. “It felt like we had a championship on the line or something—I was more nervous then even when I was racing, and racing for a championship myself!”
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Call from KTM HQ...."Yeah rog, what happened in the qualifier"?? Roger says "The shock blew up"...... HQ, big jumps there tonight huh"? Well actually the shock blew up on the starting line".....damn right he was nervous.
Roger was overhead saying he was sick of messing with the shock, and that Dungey would be running a full rigid frame in san diego
Wow, that's a good story. That team seems to be almost like a family or something. Good for them and would like to see Dungey up front more.
"“It was probably as stressed as I’ve ever been,” says DeCoster of that LCQ. “It felt like we had a championship on the line or something"
.Ummmmm YOU DID have a title on the line, If RD did not make the main it was pretty much lights out for the title.
BillC knows everythinkkkk....
@MustardDog - next thing we'll be seeing from KTM marketing is the new Dungey Replica, in both the hard tail and soft tail versions.
Hey BlowC, did you come up with that epiphany all on your own? You really nailed that one, major props.
Such odd comments for one of the most exciting races!!! I didn't get a chance to watch it until after midnight and had the wifey all cranky because she was trying to sleep while I was hollering!
Dungey's quote from Monday's conversation about the shock failing: " Luckily it didn’t put a damper on things like it could have in the main event." Pun intended?
Hey all you SCUMB BUMMS AND Weed Wackers out there... go to the moto tee site and pick up a shirt for 10 bucks cant beat it .. Then you can tell a friend yeah man I went to the races & and you will win over the chicks like me...
Ground Hog..... WHISTLE PIG in a shirt ...LOL !!! You will have a collectors Item for the texas round !!! LOL !!!
http://www.mototees.com/default.asp
What's wrong with the bike as to justify taking such huge risks?Could it just be RD over thinking. He said, "had to make it work" , his mechanic should put that on the bar pad. I think those are wise words for all levels of racers. Quit using the bike as an excuse. When the gate drops the bullshit stops.
Good to see Ryan get that monkey off his back, because that little $hit was demonizing him all day.
When the Dunge was completely off his bike in that first corner, I thought there was NO WAY! But he did it ... with maybe 25 seconds to spare!!
@endoman38 - He could have intended it as a pun (or would it be a play on words?). Minnesota humor can be so subtle that it's nearly undetectable.
Man I gota say I get a kick out the fact that some losers are so consumed by everything I say. Good stuff.
Bill, you're always baffled how everybody rips at you for no reason..........Really??? Your always giving underhanded compliments to Dungey and others. Do you really think we can't see through that. It's like telling a girl you're not fat, but you could stand to lose a few pounds off the caboose. Just doesn't have the same affect......
@BillC, or a.k.a “BlowC” as stated by @ronniebarnhardt, I can assure NOBODY is consumed with what you say. I think the consensus is you are an a-hole whom nobody likes and that you troll for attention on here. Your comments simply reflect a guy that knows very little about the sport and has even less respect for the athletes and their talents. Like @ride4ever, people rip on you for a reason.
I agree about the underhanded compliments, but I have seen BillC post some intelligent stuff as well.
I do think the statement " If RD did not make the main it was pretty much lights out for the title" was a little presumptuous. I'd like to think that Barcia still has a shot at this title.
The best possible outcome for this c'ship would be #18, #5, #1, #41, #22, #7, #51 and maybe even someone else ALL still in contention for the title at the last round. YES, that is absolutely a lot to ask, but that's the best case scenario and who doesn't want that?
My point I was going to make before I had to dogpile on BillC was:
KTM has so much going for them, if they keep Red Bull funding, I can envision them having a dominant run like Honda did in the mid / late-eighties easily. They have a big moment coming up on their next 450 hire.
.................and why does Honda run so much 450 headpipe? Sticking out as much as any two stroke EVER. It's like they WANT it in harms way.
If they need that much, how the heck does Yamaha get by with what they've got?!?!?!
Wouldnt be nerved out at all with dungey an roczen as riders on the team,most riders with the problem dungey had on the line would have went postal,probably threw the race away (imagine stewart,reed in that scenario)An roczen,for a kid not of this country,hes probably the most corfortable as ive ever seen champ to hit these shores...really solid heads on that team
As bad as BillC's spelling is, he is in the upper tier of those in moto-knowledge (or knowage) posting here. Dungey fans don't like the criticisms but for the most part BillC can be pretty objective. I think some people get their panties in a bunch because they are unable to remain objective and will attack when "their guy" is criticized (no matter how spot-on it is).
JonR145 You for one should keep it to yourslef, You do thus crap all the time, you post crap like that then you don't come back to the thread, You did it a few weeks back when you made claims about me saying RV would win 9 races and JS would win 5, Then 3 or 4 other posters said you were wrong, Then I went and found the tread you where talking about and proved you were blowing smoke out yoyr azz and guess what?? You NEVER posted again. Also you like to act like you are above others then you act like a 12 year old and call me names. I will tell you AGAIN what I have told others if you don't like me STOP reading what I post. Because I am not going anywhere so giv eit up. and I see carlsbad and B-KR seem to disagree with you anyway and there are a few others who have no problem with me either. So get over yourself and grow up!!
carlsbad, maybe lights out was a bit much but he would be 38 points down, and that would be verey hard to over come this year with a stacked field. Yes anything can happen but anyone would need a LOT of help/luck to pull that off. You would need to win a LOT of races to make up that ground with no room for error and RD's win % the last few years tells me it would be a long shot for him to pull it off....oh no i bashed RD again talking about facts!! LOL
jonR145 the more I think about your rant the more I laugh, You tell me I am a troll for attention on here. really?? Seem to me YOU are the one looking for attention, looking for people to side with you ect. I think you have issies with being an egomaniac, stuck on themself, You need to tell others how you feel about them to make yourself feel better? What makes you think I care what you think of me? are you that stuck on yourself that you really think I or anyone else cares?? again I ask WHY do you read my post?? I just don't get it. I am guessing you will not be back to this thread anyway cuz thats what you do so I probly wastesd my time here LOL.
Using then for than drives me nuts...especially from someone who writes for a living.
@BillC, please take your meds. You have serious problems.
Coming from you that's funny JonR145. hey at least you did not call me names. Your getting better.
@BillC, seriously, can’t we just get along? If you recall, about 9 months ago I defended you against the criticisms of others. The reason, you had an epiphany and said you really were a nice guy and sometimes your typed words come across as overly harsh. I assume you remember that exchange? Others were on you and I alone stood up for you.
I agree you have good things to say. However, you can be overly caustic, particularly toward Dungey (who is a leader and poster child for growing the sport). You have gone for the jugular when others have attacked RV or Stewart. As a professed MX fan and frequent poster, I think you need to take a higher road. People on here are pretty forgiving. I think if you stay on a positive track you will not have a problem with anyone, including me.
jonR145, i would love to get along, I never attack anyone on a personal level like you did in this thread and like others do all the time. If I disagree with someone I tell them why i feel they are wrong. But I do not get the same treatment. I get called all kinds of stuff. I NEVER bash/name call Anyone till they start with me.
.Look what happen in the Yamaha wake up thread. I think it was Pitbull, askes me a question (and thats fine) but he does not stop there he go onto slam me over what he THINKS I meant after asking me what i meant. Look what you said here, Others did not see it the way you did but it did not stop you from going off did it? what is the point of it?? Everyone is on here to give there opion, people read way to much into what others say and get all pissed, wile others read the same post and think it's fine. so no sence going off about everything. i think some people don't like me and look for anyway to twist what i say into something other than it is.
.Beer for you!!
@BillC, I think we worked this out. What got me going was when BD25 or BD200 (not sure) mentioned paying for his son’s college and both he and his son were attacked. That got me going, hit home for me, and sent me into attack mode. Prior to my gig in an office as an over-paid professional, I worked as bouncer in college for 4 years. I hated bullies and seeing others pick on the weak and those that had done nothing just to be a-holes or because someone was drunk. I cracked many a fist on the head of a person that needed a fist to the head and I liked it.
I agree, people come after you. I think it is partially the Dungey thing. You need to understand Dungey has a connection with people based on his aw-shucks MN nice kid behavior and what people think is good for the sport, no matter where he finishes (somewhat like Canard). If you say something bad people will react. How you handle that issue is up to you but I would encourage caution.
I think we have set aside our differences and I apologize for anything derogatory I said. My attack mode kicked in and I trust we can move forward with a clean slate.
Jon that's AWESOME!! Thanks
. We are more alike than you think!! I always stuck up for kids in School, Not that i am some tough guy but I don't like people getting picked on either.When I feel I am right I will stand up for it, and when I get attacked I fight back, I never look for trouble but will not back down if attacked. I think most on here are the same, Hell if you race MX you can't be a chickinchit right??
.I remember the BD200 thread also, I never attacked BD200 or his son, All I did was point out that first he said he is paying for school then later changed his story and said his son is. Then people said I took the side of the guy who did attack BD200 and I never did, I said he was wrong to say what he did but that was not good enough. I am a stickler for the facts and accuracy,. one of my few faults LOL. Witch is why i get into it with guys over RD, In my mind RV is better and the facts prove it, It has nothing to do with liking RD, I love the guy, i really do. I even went out of my way in Toronto to congratulate him on his win in 2011, His only win that year when things did not go so well for the 2010 champ. I really do like the kid, What is not to like?? It's just when someone says he is as good or better than RV I just don't see the proof to back that up. maybe it's the way I "grade" them?? I don't know. But to me RV has more SX win's, More SX titles, and can come thru the pack like very few so he is better. He has passed RD but in the last 3 years RD has not passed him in SX. Does this mean I think RD sucks and is an a-hole?? NO WAY but some take it that way. I am a VERY competitive person, I have always told it how it is, try not to sugar coat things and my Bro and all my good friends are the same. People that sugar coat things are fake to me. I never intentionally hurt someone, I will say nothing rather than that. But at the same time I am not going to blow smoke up someones butt. I know my friends respect that, They know if they ask my opinion I am not going to lie to them. If their wifee is right I will tell them, not like some who will side with them just because..
.Thanks for the apology. it takes a real man to say sorry, I to am sorry for the crap I said because you are mostly a good and level headed guy on here but just like you I went into attack mode.
. Looking forward to the rest of the season chatting. I promise I will try to tone it down, let me know if you think I cross the line, i will respect your opinion. Also watch the other guys!! LOL
@BillC, well said. I have 3 brothers and we are in 2 yr gaps down the line. I quickly learned there was no peace until both sides threw down. However, it has always amazed me how when two people go at it and then resolve the issue, how quickly things can be forgotten.
This is a unique and awesome sport. If we hardcore fans and riders can't manage to get along, there is no hope in the world. Glad we could get this resolved.
I think I'm gonna cry...
Although I could care less if DeCoster is nervous, I was standing up, yelling at the top of my lungs for Dungey to make it to 2nd in the LCQ, and was yelling for him in the main, what a great comeback ride, and a nice change of luck after a series where he's been getting smoked like a joint. I mean, when you are put out to pasture and relegated to riding for KTM, what are the chances of winning? Practically nil. ;-)
My girlfriend even said, "I'm glad you're not into football!" You KNOW I was yelling for Dungey when a woman says that! I hate football, basketball and Harleys, dems, effeminate men, and usurpers who were born in the general area of the world near Mombasa.
MOTOXWANNABE...let it out, it's ok. LOL