250 Words: The Unfamiliar
Monday, February 11, 2013 | 1:10 PM
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PrintYou already know who won the races. Now enjoy 250 Words for an extra take on a story you might have missed.
The San Diego Supercross went as planned for most of the fans in the seats as GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac won, Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen finished second and up and coming star Jason Anderson of the Rockstar Energy Racing team was third. You can shuffle the order any way you want but those three were expected to be up front and are 1st, 2nd and 4th in points. Some things are just the way they’re supposed to be.
But in fourth place sat an unfamiliar name on a Honda or more specifically, an HRT Honda. Austin Politelli’s career-best finish comes just as the 250SX West series is winding down and that’s too bad, the kid is onto some big things. Last season, his rookie year, Politelli had a last minute deal with C4MX go sideways, leaving him as a full-privateer in the 250SX East Region. A few missed main events and one top ten got him sixteenth in the series points.
Politelli finished a career-high fourth in San Diego.
Simon Cudby photo
Coming into this year, with a ride on the HRT Honda team locked in, Austin has shown speed from the start—although the growing pains are still there, as he didn’t qualify at Anaheim 2. The last three weeks though he’s gone 8-8 and now 4th. A bigger kid, he’s out there racing with the big names and at the same time, hoping that his indoor rides net him something for Lucas Oil Pro Motocross because as of right now, the tentative plan is for Politelli to head back to Canada and race the MX2 series (which he did in 2011, scoring a national win and finishing third in the series).
Our own Jason Thomas has told anyone and everyone that he believes Politelli is a real talent and it appears that JT$ was ahead of the curve on this one. Keep an eye on #76 when the west series picks back up in Seattle, he’s got a bright future.
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Good job to Austin for 4th in the main, the "MOST UNDER-RATED RIDER" this year!!!!
Come on Speed, you barely mentioned him all night after having his best finish of his career. I know Politelli is hard to pronounce for ex-mxers turned sports commentators, but at least you got to try and talk about this kids 1st top 5 finish.
Let me say it for them, "POLITELLI", "POLITELLI", "POLITELLI", "POLITELLI", "POLITELLI" !!! It's pronounced "Pole Leh Tell E" just in case Ralph Shaaaa Heeen needs to work on it this week.
I've known Austin since he was 4 years old and this kid has worked his ass off to be were he's at today. It's just a shame that he doesn't have more support than now. With all the hard work Austins put in his whole life and the acheivements he's met, he deserves more. If this kid had better support (Factory Team Ride) he would make his boss look good!
Hey Mitch, Take a look at Politelli, 4th place tonight. 2nd year in Supercross, young @ 18 yrs old, works hard to reach his goals, trains his ass off, doesn't party & hungry to make a name for himself.
Payton should think about investing in the future instead of the past. Just saying!!!!!
Good article Matthes. Nice to read some 'ink' about a rookie (?) showing some veterans how it's done.
But 322 words ('Inside' nod to Mark Barnett, bike #322 in 1977, when The Bomber was showing flashes of future brilliance) ?
Slick Matthes..., very slick.
bit disappointed he is racing Canada this summer, but if thats what it takes then so be it.
I think if he gets a ride here, he will stay.
How many teams are supercross only? Seems like quite a few riders will be stranded after SX is over. Is the KTM Satelite team JSTAR done after SX as well?
Hope they find a sponsor. Good job nonetheless Austin!!!
Good job Matthes. Keep propping the not so mentioned.
Got to agree. Mitch needs to drop the dead weight of Rattray and Davalos and pick this kid up.
Drop Davalos, really? He was on it, had the second fastest lap of the night, in traffic.
I don't think Mitch got where he is listening to internet scholars...
PC can't wait to go east man no Roczen no tomac ... Wilson and Durham should be up front ... Look for Hahn to be the spoiler and Musquin to be a solid 3rd every night ...
not alot here but politelli..what about the points chase and the fact that tomac got held up by a lapper and almost got passed by a hard charging roczen at the checkers ? roczen and tomac both did what they needed to do but no mention of the fact that ktm is a cinch to take its 1st sx title if kenny can ride smart and keep it on 2 wheels when the series shifts back to the west. nothin about davalos heat win and throwing it away yet again in the main..such a shame cuz the guy clearly has the speed to win a main event. overall great racing in the 250s
I wasn't trying slam Mitch, just trying to put a bug in his ear if he even reads these blogs. Payton knows what he's doing, but everyone can make the wrong choice every now and then. I'm saying that there are other good choices of younger riders that have room to grow, rather choosing ones that have had the chance for many seasons and can't seem to get it done. Davalos has been at it in the 250 class since 2006 and Rattray since 2009, but both haven't gotten it done. Politelli has shown major improvement since this season began and just think what he could do with a team like Pro Curcuit or any other top notch team behind him. He could only get better! Another good point about Austin is the fact that he gets it done without riding over his head and is consistant without crashing.