Atlanta Practice Report
Saturday, February 23, 2013 | 5:40 PM
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PrintPractice is complete here in the Georgia Dome, and if you’re trying to figure out who is the favorite in the 450 class, good luck! We’re surprised the Monster “Beast” lap timing board didn’t break because it seemed like the top riders were shuffling the fastest times through every lap of each timed session. At different times, we saw Justin Barcia, Trey Canard, Eli Tomac, Ryan Villopoto, Davi Millsaps and James Stewart on top of the board, with the likes of Ryan Dungey, Chad Reed and Justin Brayton getting in the top five mix, as well. Nine riders had lap times within a second. You could make a logical argument that there are more riders capable of winning tonight’s main event than any supercross race in history—think about it.
Stewart ended up fastest overall. Despite his set back in last week’s main event with a mechanical problem, the #7 has definitely been getting stronger each week. He had another good week of riding leading into this one, and he was also on the track here for press day. Could things be lining up for another new winner on the season?
Let’s be honest, the start will make all the difference (and, speaking of the start, we hear Big James Stewart will not be packing James gate in the races tonight like he did last week in Dallas). The riders are so darned close that the race is essentially random—it’s impossible to predict a start, and hence it’s impossible to predict tonight’s finish.
Track is getting hard and slick here (erase any old memories of the Georgia Dome’s red clay getting soft and rutted). There are a few shiny spots that are very slippery. The whoops did break down, and a lot of riders were just jumping in and out of them. There’s also a sand turn, which, as always, is one-lined (everyone went inside in the first practice, so they built rollers on the inside for the next one, and then everyone went outside).
The separator? Could be a tricky rhythm lane that starts with a dragon’s back. The fast line is to launch off of that dragon back and over a double, and then triple-triple out of the section. But doubling off of the dragon’s back is hard to do consistently.
In the 250 class, Red Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin is making a case today by topping both sessions. Last week’s winner, Dean Wilson, now sports the red plate and swapped fast times with Musquin all day. Could tonight be the night for the Frenchman’s first win?
OVERALL BEST LAP TIMES - QUALIFYING COMBINED
MONSTER ENERGY AMA SUPERCROSS
GEORGIA DOME - ATLANTA, GA
ROUND 8 OF 17 - FEBRUARY 23, 2013
450 SX
7
James Stewart
52.121
17
Eli Tomac
Honda CRF 450
52.203
41
Trey Canard
52.234
18
David Millsaps
52.311
51
Justin Barcia
52.470
5
Ryan Dungey
52.514
1
Ryan Villopoto
52.589
22
Chad Reed
52.751
10
Justin Brayton
52.867
800
Mike Alessi
52.940
250 SX
25
Marvin Musquin
52.698
15
Dean Wilson
52.916
19
William Hahn
53.318
77
Jeremy Martin
53.441
13
Blake Wharton
54.311
42
Vince Friese
54.420
167
Zachary Bell
54.435
67
Gavin Faith
54.637
50
Kyle Peters
54.912
317
Justin Hill
55.066
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Wow ! 10 dudes within a second?? Awesome!!!
This is racing now! Also I just checked into the Nationwide Nascar info and was glad to not se that Travis was involed with that!
I think we have a good race that is gonna go on In Atlanta -Gone With the Wind the sequiel! I hope we have a good and safe race for the sake of our sport!
The depth of the SX class remind me of the mid 80's
Johnson / Villapoto
Ward / Dungey
Bailey / Milsaps
Lechein / Stewart
Glover / Reed
Hannah / Barcia
Omara / Canard
Barnett / Tomac
10 guys within a second..........Tomac on a 450 & 2nd fastest.................pot of beans / smoked ham on the stove, cornbread in the oven.................DAMMIT honey I said a CASE. Be right back.
It should be the perfect time for Stewart to get a win.. think about it.. If Stewart is up front, and RV second then Dungey and Millsaps are both behind RV, what is the reason for RV to try and push and run down Stewart?? He will hold second and get points on the 2 guys ahead of him in the points.. Now before all the Stewtards jump all over me, I am not saying that is the only reason Stewart gets a win.. He can win a race now and again.. But what if Millsaps is in 2nd behind Stewart.. As long as he keeps Dungey and RV behind him he is golden.. So Stewart needs to get a start and get up front, he will get the win..nobody needs to pass him or even try to for the title..
I don't know whats more amazing, Alessi being in the .52 club or Stewart winning yet another practice.
Man, wish I was there..raced at Fulton Co. Stadium in the 80's...Tomac was the fastest at MEC I thought...As JW said its all about the start...
I prey for the spectators at Daytona Nationwise event...Pastrana was patient and reworded with a top ten...He was put in a test box several times in the middle during the event. He could have choked and caused several pile ups. Great for him, as He stayed cool and drove like a us MX riders would have wanted him to making the MX community proud....
THE START IS STARTING TO BECOME LAME! START RAMMING GUYS IN THE VERY FIRST CORNER! ALL U CLOWNS!!!!!! OR (RONNIE MAC) IS LINEING UP^ 2 SHOW U HOW ITS DONE #69STYLE
@ 2dam old 2race--- you gave me my LOL for the day.... Thanks!!!!
So what do you all think the fastest lap times will be in the main? 50 sec? 49 sec? 48 sec? Lower?
@ LarryWitmer --Thanks for checing it out also , I was worried that if Travis was involved it would be bad for our Sport.
The start is all in the mind and we have at least 10 guys that thnk they can do it! The important thing is to know when it wont work. I hope we get a safe start! That will be a rare one though.
Time to eat ...................BBL..............
LETS RACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
therealmofo just over analyzed the crap out of a scenario which would likely not happen. RV has never been the person to settle for position. Ever. And Stewart straight up passed him last week and RV didnt have an answer in a heat race. RV lets it hang out.
Looks like 2dam old2race will be lighting up the the candles tonight, along with everything else.
WTH happened at Daytona today? They let Davalos & Bell run NASCAR? Surely not. (7 beers, I'm on a roll).
Ten guys within a sec shows me another one line track. Holeshot means everything. I'll record this and watch it whenever. Thanks for making us into Nascar.Rider skill is second to luck. Been in this sport for over 30 yrs and this has to be the worse year in track design ever. Keep it up and watch tv's and money turning off. We'll be back to cycle news a week later to find out what happened. Am I the only person that is bored by this!! Hope MA pulls the holeshot and holds every up til the last 2 turns then we have a free for all. Bikes flying into the stands carnage everywhere. Kiniry wins!! LOL
@ CZmark...............no lighted candles after Pabst Blue Ribbon & a pot of beans. Be another Russian meteor scene. Not good. Maybe thats why mommy went to play bingo tonight............ah whatever, I'd left her years ago if she didnt have removable dentures.
2DamOld2Race- very funny! I will admit the ham,beans cornbread, and cold beer does sound good. So enjoy!
Davi Carmillsaps (or McMillsaps) still look great in heat 1!
Looks like Mrs.2dam old 2race is gonna get the old CoveredWagon tonight.
fred- is that want you do with tons of fun? Must be one big covered wagon.
CZ Mark the only way that you'll know if thats happens or not is if you see me with an afro.Hahahaha!!!!!
@therealmofo, your analysis is total BS, as you seen last week JS passed RV in the heat race, don't kid yourself for a second the RV didn't want to pass JS, he needs the pts. period, he's 22 pts behind, if he could have passed Stewart he would have but he couldn't, Stewart was on his game, I am not one bit surprised that Stewart won this race, I expected him to win, he probably would have won last week if not for the bike failure, it won't be his last win this year. The top 3 riders in the series made the podium tonight!
Too all the Stewtards who finally come out when Stewart does well--LOOKS LIKE I WAS DEAD ON RIGHT---PERFECT !!! .. I called it and you guys hate life!!!!! LOL!!!!
Of course I did say "that is NOT the only reason Stewart gets a win" but the Stewtards read what they want, and anyone who doesnt kiss Stewarts as$ is a hater, but thats how the Stewtards are...
@therealmofo I'm going to start kicking the one-line trolls that aren't contributing to the conversation. @tricky and you both have some valid points even though you disagree. Either way, the season just got a lot better!