Rev-Up: The Neverending Story
Hello, everyone, and welcome to the Rev Up. Where, oh where to start? Right now my compass is spinning faster than Captain Jack Sparrow’s and I could take off at a sprint in any direction and write the Rev Up. I guess I’ll just spray as much as I can and hope something hits.
The title of this week’s column came to me as I sat back and listened to the goings on in the office, looked at the schedule and saw it was the annual Kawasaki Race of Champions at Englishtown, and the fact that I’ve got Talladega boldly staring me in the face. Then next week we have the Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open of Supercross and then the Branson amateur event. It just never stops, ladies and gentlemen. And, man, isn’t it cool? I love it.
The world of motorsports truly is a never-ending story. Supermoto, freestyle, huge amateur nationals, Women’s pro nationals, growing off-road series, mini bike nationals, endurocrosses…its all crazy, man. At the very least it’s job security for us two-wheeled scribes. And there is absolutely no off-season anymore—at least not like there used to be. As you read, the boys have already parted with their ’07 steeds and are all learning the cherry new stuff. Especially cats like Ivan Tedesco, Ben Townley, and the Alessi boys. (In fact, check out Jeff Alessi on his new Honda in this super-cool Simon Cudby film.)
In addition, AMA Congress is meeting this week to line everything out for Loretta Lynn’s 2008. Also, Racer X Brand manager Mike Farber has been here at work at 7:30 a.m. all week making sure the 2008 Racer X, “dee-zhirtz are zweet.” It just never stops coming and you have to have the juice if you don’t want to eat dust. Well, I have the juice. I’m grateful that things have manifested into a never-ending story. Let’s get Revved Up about all the cool stuff going on this weekend.
Englishtown is just an awesome race and it’s been around for a long time. Hell, I think Barry Carsten’s first race in the pro class there was on an air-cooled machine with drum brakes! Back before Yamahas were blue—and even before they were white, and maybe even yellow!
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“The immaculate motocross face plant.” That sticks out the most, and they always had that gargantuan mound of dirt that was some kind of triple step-up (and you’re welcome for the old-school RC pancake shots, shot by DC back when he was still a roving Cycle News’ reporter).
There will be some fast guys up there this time around. PJ Larsen is going up, and I would imagine Phillip Nicoletti on his new Kawasaki as well. James and Timmy will be there running a demo ride on the new KXs with the trick black rims. And you can bet your ass Barry Carsten will push up to the line.
Where’s Ryan Villopoto, former KROC minicycle champion-turned-2-time AMA Lites MX Champion, turned MXoN world-beater? Hunting big game in Africa.
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I hope you guys have been enjoying this “off-season” because I guess I missed it. I’ve already turned the page to 2008 and am trying to be as ready as I can when the gate drops. You know, let that clutch out to where it just begins to catch and hold the front brake. Ya gotta watch that pin, not the gate, and be ready to unleash hell when it twitches. I’m already thinking about Anaheim. Tedesco and Townley on Red Bull Hondas? James Stewart defending the title belt with #1? Canard, Izzi, Stroupe, Keylon and Hahn riding supercross? Alessi and Vuilllemin on factory RM-Z450s!. Man, it is going to be good.
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Where am I going with this? Just trying to make a point that if you put your mind to it you can make things as wonderful as you wish. Stay involved in the story and expand your spectrum of interest. There is so much out there if you only look around a little while. Do that and you will soon be enjoying a never ending story of your own. Or, just stay tuned to the sport of motocross because it’s an amazing story that never, ever, stops.
Jason Hooper knows—that’s why he’s got a velvet painting of two white unicorns dancing around a giant rose…. .
Thanks for reading, see you next week.