Rev Up: Salt Lake City
April 29, 2010 1:46pm | by: Andy Bowyer
Hello, everyone, and welcome to the Rev Up. With all of the championships decided (more or less), there is still plenty of excitement surrounding the final two events in the 2010 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series. While Jake Wiemer can pretty much coast his way to his first professional title, the battle for runner-up and top-five honors could go down to the final lap in the premiere division.
Some may say, "Who cares who finished second?" There is some merit to that in our unforgiving sport, but, contracts, bonus programs and a racer's pride cement the fact that every position counts. How many of you predicted Kevin Windham to win a race, much less finish runner-up this season? I would imagine most pre-season pundits placed Honda Red Bull Racing's Davi Millsaps ahead of #14 at series end. That said, both riders have earned main event wins while establishing a fairly salty rivalry and will spend the final forty laps of the SX season battling for the bridesmaid spot. For the 32-year-old Windham, second is a position he knows all too well, but at this moment in his prolific career, seconnd probably looks pretty shiny. He has seventeen points on 'Saps, but the way Davi is riding, I'm picking him to win the final two races and make K-Dub earn it.
I want to throw some more words of accolade out to Kevin. Sure, most of the big names are out, but a win is a win. Look in the history books and you'll see Rick Ryan as the winner of the 1987 Daytona Supercross. Turn a few pages and you'll see Jeff Emig's first career SX win is the 1995 Las Vegas "night" race. John Dowd won his in the Charlotte mud. All of these feats are just as significant as Jeremy's seventy-two wins and it is a distinction that greats like Guy Cooper and Ryan Hughes never claimed. Was Doug Dubach a better rider than Coop and Ryno? Probably not. But, he will forever be in the history books as the winner of the 1991 San Jose SX. Through eight seasons and three decades, Kevin Windham has taken a checkered flag in AMA Supercross. My man is 32-years-old! That should be medicine for all of you washed up has been's like me to know that riding and racing doesn't end at 30. The crashes hurt more and the laps seem longer, but a win, any win, has to feel that much better. Way to show those kids, Kevin!
Moving along, time has run out on the 2010 indoor series, and the silly season has already began. Racers like Andrew Short, Justin Brayton, Tommy Hahn, and even Chad Reed have a lot to ride for in the next two weeks. It's even heavier in the Lites class. GEICO Honda's Trey Canard has a lot of gravel in his belly after Seattle and he'll be riding with vengeance. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Josh Hansen can silence his critics with a win, then you have DNA Shred Stix/Star Racing Yamaha's Broc Tickle wanting to back up his Seattle performance with a win on a "normal" track. I realize I've said "secondnd place" a half dozen times already and few racers are more sick of that position than Wil Hahn. The brother's Hahn will be racing for wins this Saturday night in the cold Utah air.
I've always said that it isn't the participants that make the show grand, but rather it is the show itself. I appreciate the world-class talent of James Stewart, Josh Grant, and Ryan Villopoto, but I'll get just as much watching Windham, Brayton, Hahn, Millsaps, and Reedy battle it out. It'll be a great race this Saturday night, I promise.
Before I go I want to remind all of you amateurs out there that time is running out on the area qualifiers for Loretta Lynn's Amateur National Motocross Championships. I raced mine last weekend at historic Lake Sugar Tree in Axton, Virginia, and had an absolute blast. Funny story: the rider that won my class told me in the pits that he had qualified for the 1991 Lake Sugar Tree national. He is 37-years-old and won the Junior +25 and Vet +35 classes. If some of you guys have been peering at your bike in your garage with a thousand-yard stare, prep that sucker and get out there! The fountain of youth lies behind the starting gate, brother. Ask Kevin Windham.
Summer is right around the corner and there is so much to be pumped up about in motocross! Did you notice that a 350cc machine is winning the MXGP class over there? Did you see teen sensation Ken Roczen take the point's lead? Both instances add some spice to the snarling monster that will be here before you can say Hangtown Motocross Classic.
Thanks for reading, see you next week.
Some may say, "Who cares who finished second?" There is some merit to that in our unforgiving sport, but, contracts, bonus programs and a racer's pride cement the fact that every position counts. How many of you predicted Kevin Windham to win a race, much less finish runner-up this season? I would imagine most pre-season pundits placed Honda Red Bull Racing's Davi Millsaps ahead of #14 at series end. That said, both riders have earned main event wins while establishing a fairly salty rivalry and will spend the final forty laps of the SX season battling for the bridesmaid spot. For the 32-year-old Windham, second is a position he knows all too well, but at this moment in his prolific career, seconnd probably looks pretty shiny. He has seventeen points on 'Saps, but the way Davi is riding, I'm picking him to win the final two races and make K-Dub earn it.
I want to throw some more words of accolade out to Kevin. Sure, most of the big names are out, but a win is a win. Look in the history books and you'll see Rick Ryan as the winner of the 1987 Daytona Supercross. Turn a few pages and you'll see Jeff Emig's first career SX win is the 1995 Las Vegas "night" race. John Dowd won his in the Charlotte mud. All of these feats are just as significant as Jeremy's seventy-two wins and it is a distinction that greats like Guy Cooper and Ryan Hughes never claimed. Was Doug Dubach a better rider than Coop and Ryno? Probably not. But, he will forever be in the history books as the winner of the 1991 San Jose SX. Through eight seasons and three decades, Kevin Windham has taken a checkered flag in AMA Supercross. My man is 32-years-old! That should be medicine for all of you washed up has been's like me to know that riding and racing doesn't end at 30. The crashes hurt more and the laps seem longer, but a win, any win, has to feel that much better. Way to show those kids, Kevin!
Moving along, time has run out on the 2010 indoor series, and the silly season has already began. Racers like Andrew Short, Justin Brayton, Tommy Hahn, and even Chad Reed have a lot to ride for in the next two weeks. It's even heavier in the Lites class. GEICO Honda's Trey Canard has a lot of gravel in his belly after Seattle and he'll be riding with vengeance. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Josh Hansen can silence his critics with a win, then you have DNA Shred Stix/Star Racing Yamaha's Broc Tickle wanting to back up his Seattle performance with a win on a "normal" track. I realize I've said "secondnd place" a half dozen times already and few racers are more sick of that position than Wil Hahn. The brother's Hahn will be racing for wins this Saturday night in the cold Utah air.
I've always said that it isn't the participants that make the show grand, but rather it is the show itself. I appreciate the world-class talent of James Stewart, Josh Grant, and Ryan Villopoto, but I'll get just as much watching Windham, Brayton, Hahn, Millsaps, and Reedy battle it out. It'll be a great race this Saturday night, I promise.
Before I go I want to remind all of you amateurs out there that time is running out on the area qualifiers for Loretta Lynn's Amateur National Motocross Championships. I raced mine last weekend at historic Lake Sugar Tree in Axton, Virginia, and had an absolute blast. Funny story: the rider that won my class told me in the pits that he had qualified for the 1991 Lake Sugar Tree national. He is 37-years-old and won the Junior +25 and Vet +35 classes. If some of you guys have been peering at your bike in your garage with a thousand-yard stare, prep that sucker and get out there! The fountain of youth lies behind the starting gate, brother. Ask Kevin Windham.
Summer is right around the corner and there is so much to be pumped up about in motocross! Did you notice that a 350cc machine is winning the MXGP class over there? Did you see teen sensation Ken Roczen take the point's lead? Both instances add some spice to the snarling monster that will be here before you can say Hangtown Motocross Classic.
Thanks for reading, see you next week.