The Notebook: Dallas
Tuesday, February 19, 2013 | 3:10 PM
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PrintBy Jason Weigandt, Chase Stallo and Aaron Hansel
- If you watched the television broadcast, you heard a few chuckles from the guys in the booth when GEICO Honda's Wil Hahn clearly pulled a takeout move on Vince Friese. If you listen closely, it almost sounds like Ricky Carmichael wants to say, "He got Friese'd!" but then thinks better of it. It's going to be interesting to see how Friese gets along with the rest of the Eastern Regional 250SX competitors for the rest of the season. He definitely showed great speed in Dallas--don't be surprised to see him well inside the top five as the year goes on.
- A quick look at the results sheet reveals a rather interesting sponsor for Jimmy Decoits - High Octane Harley-Davidson, a Harley-Davidson dealership in N. Billerica, Massachusetts. As far as we know, this is the first time a Harley-Davidson dealership has sponsored someone to race a CRF250 in supercross. Anyone got any other ideas?
- Looking for the next level? The Monster Energy Kawasaki team was spotted using tire warmers to bring their Dunlops up to temperature. With every team searching for an edge, could this become the new hot (literally) set up in the pits?
Star Racing rookie Jeremy Martin would miss the main in Dallas.
Simon Cudby photo
- Bummer for Star Yamaha rookie Jeremy Martin, who failed to make the main. He was not only fast (third overall) but looked quite smooth and consistent, belying his "first SX race ever" status. But all sorts of bad luck on the heat and LCQ starts kept him out of the running. Look for much better soon.
- Wondering who the 250SX rider is who took eleventh place in Dallas? That's #194, Jackson Richardson, of Australia. If the name sounds slightly familiar it's because Richardson competed in a limited number of 250SX races out west last year, although he only qualified at A1, where he took eighteenth. With his eleventh at the opener over the weekend, it's safe to say that Richardson is off to a much better start this year than last!
- Okay, we're just going to say it: the East 250 field isn't nearly as packed with established players as the West (notice how we side step terms like "weaker field to avoid barbs from agents and parents and sponsors). A few of the main teams have top riders out with injury, and other factory-supported outfits like Lucas Oil TLD Honda and J-Star JDR KTM don't race east. But this only spells opportunity, as 10 three-digit riders made the Dallas 250 main. If you're looking to make a name for yourself, this could be the best chance to do it. Seriously, look at the entry right above this.
- Justin Brayton keeps getting better. After a seventh last week, where he was in the podium mix for quite awhile, he rode solid again in Dallas and took a season-best fifth. Hard to compare results from one year to the next in this loaded field, but Brayton feels like he's riding better and faster than he ever has.
- Unfortunately Josh Grant is going the other direction for team JGR Toyota Yamaha, as he was unable to race again with shoulder problems. Grant is going to at least skip this weekend's race in Atlanta to try to rest the shoulder. For what it's worth, the few timed laps he did at both San Diego and Dallas in practice were still fast enough to put him into the night show--but he withdrew himself both times.
JAB Motorsports' Matt Lemoine would miss the night show after injuring his knee in practice.
Simon Cudby photo
- Time to move east: plenty of top riders, such as Davi Millsaps and Ryan Dungey, are relocating to their eastern tracks (both right along that Florida/Georgia line) this week. Dungey says his bike is so locked in that he didn't change a single thing during the day at Dallas. So, not much need for testing, he's just going to moto down in Florida for the next few weeks.
- Blake Wharton and Andrew Short, who both live in Texas, came out in opening ceremonies with jerseys to honor Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield. Kyle, a retired Navy SEAL and Littlefield, also a veteran of the armed services, were tragically killed at a Texas shooting range two weeks ago.
- JAB Motorsports had a tough day in Dallas. First they lost Gannon Audette to his second major injury in as many years in Dallas. He has a fractured pelvis and clavicle. Ouch. Then Matt Lemoine had to exit with a knee injury. Lemoine visited the doctor yesterday and should know more this week. The teams' other 250 rider, rookie Vann Martin, missed the race recovering from a broken wrist.
- Congrats to rookie privateers Mitchell Oldenburg (12th) and Jesse Wentland (20th) on making the first main events of their careers. Also, congrats to privateer Adam Gulley (15th) on making his first career main as well. We told you this is the chance to make a name here, bros.
- If you were unable to catch the race on TV, you missed the aforementioned Wentland pulling one over on the AMA when he signed up as J-Dub Wentland. Although, wouldn't that make him actually J Dub Dub? Check out the photo below.
- Kyle Peters signed with AG Motorsports this year after an injury filled rookie year with Star/Valli Yamaha a season ago. Peters looked the best he has since making his debut a year ago in Dallas, finishing a career-high fourth.
- What a debut for Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s rookie Justin Hill, who finished fifth in his pro debut after having not raced since last March. When we asked him what it was like to line up for his first race in nearly a year, he said he didn't even realize it had been that long until we told him. So, apparently, that layoff had no impact on his ride!
- Privateer Levi Killbarger made his first main since Atlanta a year ago, finishing the night 14th.
- Notables that failed to make the 250 main: Jeremy Martin, AJ Catanzaro, Steven Clarke, Zack Freeberg and rookie Zack Williams.
- After missing the first five mains of the year, respectively, Ben LaMay (16th) and Kyle Partridge (18th) both made their second consecutive mains. And if you missed Partridge wheelie the whoops in his heat race, it’s called the Internet. Google it.
- Weston Peick is now back on track after a few rough races. In Dallas he scored a season-high 11th. Velocity 3 Yamaha’s Robert Kiniry also had a season-high in Dallas with a 14th.
Weston Peick put together a season-high 11th in Dallas.
Simon Cudby photo
- Justin Sipes, brother of Ryan, competed in his first race of the year in Dallas. “Pooh” as they call him, made the main in his first attempt, finishing 17th. Munn Racing’s Travis Sewell, who ironically is filling-in for his brother Shane on the team, also competed in his first race of the season, but failed to make the main.
- There’s no doubt that Dodge/RCH Racing’s Broc Tickle has failed to live up to the high expectations placed on him this year. But after some early struggles, he seems to be turning the corner. The former 250 West Region Champion scored his third top-ten of the year and the third in the last four races. He also mentions that his second-to-eleventh ride last week in San Diego was made to look worse when Andrew Short took him down late in the race, costing him a few extra positions.
Notables that failed to make the 450 main: Phil Nicoletti, Les Smith, PJ Larsen, Travis Sewell, Tevin Tapia and Matt Lemoine. Nicoletti was the heartbreaker of the bunch, as he crashed on the last lap of his heat while running in a transfer spot.
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F1 has been using tire warmers for loooong time. I've always thought, when you have a problem with a racing machine, ask yourself "what would they do in F1??"
They made such a big deal out of the whoop wheelie it was kind of ridiculous. I’m not claiming I could do it, but it wasn’t like it was the first time any has done one. It got me thinking though, why doesn’t one of the lappers who needs sponsor exposure on TV just start pulling sick whips or some stupid freestyle tricks. I would defiantly get him on TV considering the coverage the whoop manual got, at least the first time someone did it. I realize it would be dangerous for the other riders and well basically lame, but if Fro and Ralph aren’t going to mention who anyone rides for why not.
Zach Bell sponsored Sleep Train
The Monster Energy Kawasaki team was spotted using tire warmers to bring their Dunlops up to temperature...Well it is almost pavment they are racing on!!!
As hard packed the track was, maybe they were on to something to get those tires to stick. I still don't understand the thinking of such a small track. May the next venue should be a bullring. That would be good for 30 sec. laps.
I am very curious about the tire Warner's. cool idea if they have a concrete starting pad..
Battery operated? How many volts? What temperature to they operate at?
Maybe Davey could get us an article of info on it. I love that trick gadget stuff..
A little electric personal fan when its hot will do..Maybe a Martini and a massage by a Monster freak is well......Where is Joel Roberts & Adolpf Weil ! lol
rickamatuzio the SuperMoto guys and road racers use them. My Bro has a set if you want to buy them.
With the age of social media...They should adopt some of the Nascar stuff... Like Fan vote.....................Intially like in East vs West shoot out mabe revise starting line up for main gate pic or add track layout a week before over under bridge something to mix up the BORRRRR D UMMMMMM
All of the tire warmers Ive used have been in road racing, and they were 110v powered. The temp is variant depending on the tire brand. Pirelli would use a diff temp than Dunlop. And on dirt its more about bringing the tire through a heat cycle, which Im sure is a MUCH lower temp than a road racing tire, than it is about bring a 'hot' tire to the track. The purpose isn't quite the same as for road racing. But once the tire is put through a heat cycle it is more plyable and reacts differently. In road racing we would go straight from the warmers to the track and back to warmers to limit the amount of heat cycling and just keep the tire near optimal temp at all times
Milhouse, after TP pulled a few backflips at SX events, the AMA made that a Bozo no-no.
So, it is better to pull a lucky wheelie pass in the whoops than to be fined or suspended for a illegal freestlye move. The whips obviously are legal......I think it is the inverted deal that could get you in trouble.
MX145
Makes total sense, I forgot about old 199 and Deegan's ghost ride as well. I do miss a good Nac-Nac once in a while though.
Well, looks like Grant is about to tank another season, he has gone from week to week to "sitting out". I think he's done as a potential top-5 rider, and he's going to have a hard time landing a ride in 2014 (unless by some miracle Coy gave him a 2-year deal).
When was the last time Grant raced a whole season?. 6 years ago?.
. I am still laughing that he was mad that short got the ride with MC, He said he should have had that ride. Short has raced more in one year than Grant has in the last five!
I'm fairly sure that Mitchell Oldenburg (12th) and Jesse Wentland (20th) have not raced SX before, so they made on their first try (or one of their first at least). Oldenburg is originally from Minnesota (his family moved to Texas several years ago) and Wentland is also a MN native. Who would have predicted they would make the main and Jeremy Martin wouldn't. Hopefully, he got all his bad luck done with in one race.
JGR could have paid Weston Peick half or even a quarter of the money they paid Grant and would be getting better results. Who the f&%k makes decisions for some of these teams? No disrespect to any of the riders cause they are all very talented but come on, a team like RCH couldnt put their minds together and come up with something better than they are putting out there now?
The tire Warner's do make sense on these slick tracks. What are the rules regarding some spiked tires? The way it has been going, maybe that will be the way to go.
How does Peick not have a better ride? No one's even given the guy a chance, except Star Valli when they put him in as a fill-in rider last year. Any rider that can consistently make mains deserve a decent ride, IMO. Also, I'm officially giving up on Grant. I thought his results have been pretty good the last couple of years, disregarding injuries of course, but looking back, even when he's not hurt his results aren't good enough to justify the rides he's been getting. I think he'll be able to pull a decent ride next year (just a gut feeling), but unless his results improve I can't see him ever holding a factory supported ride past 2014.
Tire warmers in motocross don't offer quite the advantage they do in road racing, since tire temps are quite low on dirt bikes. The tire warmers were used to keep the air pressure consistent. They were racing in a climate controlled dome while the pits were outside and the temperature was in the 40's. Nothing else was mentioned about Stewart's clutch, but supposedly some big wigs from Suzuki were in the press box and they were extremely unhappy.
@smee113 ..... I could be wrong and mixing Peick up with someone else, but I think I've read multiple times that dealing with him and his father is a handful or something. Alessi Syndrome.
We used tire warmers in the 80's at the nationals on our riders bikes a few times. Typically on cement starting gates (Southwick...)....or when cold. I think all the other teams thought we were nuts. Also had them on our ice racing quads (worked quite well in the non-studded classes especially).
On another note: I heard last week JGR had access to the Toyota test facility skid pad, and were practicing starts etc (of course after first watering down the test surface)...seems to have helped Brayton....lol
Coincidence? If your name is spelled J-O-S-H chances are that your career will be "up and down" to put it mildly.
Great, the two religious guys support the most prolific sniper/murderer in the history of the US! Makes me wonder what their gloriful god would say about someone who killed so many strangers from so far away....compared to what he would say about the guy who killed an aquaintance who has a known history of bragging about killing so many said strangers. Just saying!
Maybe the Racer X pit crew could find out what's with JGR's engines. Looks like they are running an exhaust on the left hand side of the bike, not straight out the back like stock. Did they go to a more conventional motor setup ?
@Retardcross - Yeah thanks, I just read a forum on Vital MX talking about how he flipped off his sponsors a couple weeks ago. It's easy for fans outside the industry (such as myself) to forget that there's things besides race results that go into consideration when picking riders.
I'm sorry, but I can't get my head around the tire warmers- in my opinion there would be no advantage- zero. I really hope we don't see them spread through the pits, I think that would be embarrassing.
motoxdoc, If you are talking about Chris Kyle you are a inconsiderate piece of sh##. Chris was a great and humble seal that was shot tree times and lived through ten uids, saw his buddy get shot in the face in his service for our country. His work saved thousands of lives and was great at fighting against the perverted religious bast##rds that killed three thousand of us unprovoked on 9-11. He has over 150 confirmed kills and I wish it was 2500 of the religiouse pricks that like to kill anyone who doesn't accept their religion.
If you are referring to him his sh#t is ten times the man you ever will be
Chris NEVER bragged about his excellent work for us when I was with him and he is NOT known for bragging at all. He only did ten years and could have done twenty more for us but he quit because he loved his wife and children more than his job. He simply wanted to be a good man and husband served his country well and was helping a mentally damaged man when he died. I can only imagine his GOD saying well done !!!
Motoxdoc I hope I never meet you and I hope you NEVER post on here again.
Have you laid down your life hundreds of times for your country,
Its sad when you run across scumbags
@rjstreets - JGR asked FMF to fab a header that runs out the back, around the cylinder clockwise, and then out the right side, looking for more bottom end I believe. Rumors that this will be the factory setup on the '14's, we'll see. They first appeared at the MEC last October. Can't imagine how many springs it takes to hold that together.
@Axelmoto, if that is your opinion then it is clearly based on nothing scientific at all, and is wrong. Heat cycling is critical for tire performance on a road race bike, why would you arbitrarily think it does nothing on a dirt bike? These guys are going insanely fast compared to even most hot stuff local pro's. The lack of knowledge, and worse, blatentlt saying something can't help or bike set up can't be that hard comments around here amaze me
@Im42mx
You are right- its just my opinion and I would be happy to be wrong on this. I think it would be great if Racerx did as test on this. Cold tyres vs warmed and see if it comes out as a pattern of noticeable difference (improvement) in lap times. Until this happens I think a lot of people will question the validity of it for Motox. Would anyone else like to see some science around this debate? I sure would! :-)