by Steve Cox
RedBud Race Report
Saturday, July 3, 2010 | 11:59 PM
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In this article…
Riders
- Broc Tickle
- Nick Wey
- Darryn Durham
- Max Anstie
- Martin Davalos
- Mike Alessi
- Chris Pourcel
- Brett Metcalfe
- Josh Grant
- Ryan Sipes
- Dan Reardon
- Nico Izzi
- Justin Barcia
- Chad Reed
- Andrew Short
- Kyle Regal
- Jarred Browne
- Eli Tomac
- Jake Weimer
- Blake Wharton
- Tyla Rattray
- Trey Canard
- Kyle Chisholm
- Dean Wilson
- Ryan Dungey
- Chris Pourcel
Races
On the last lap, with Townley still leading, and fighting off the advances of Dungey, Townley went down when he overjumped a step-up in the back of the track, landed in the ruts and cross-rutted. His bike careened right into Reed’s path, handing the lead to Dungey and holding up Reed.
Dungey took the win over Reed, Short, Townley, Metcalfe, Grant, Kyle Regal, Ryan Sipes, Nick Wey and Mike Alessi (who went down on the opening lap and charged through for an impressive 10th place).A lot of things in sports are considered to be past due, or a long time coming. These things, by definition, are things that are expected to have either happened by now, or to happen eventually. They’re expected to happen. Despite winning the Lites East Supercross Championship in his rookie season in 2008, GEICO Powersports Honda’s Trey Canard has never won an AMA National moto, much less an overall.
He was past due coming into RedBud today on Independence Day weekend in Buchanan, Michigan.
250cc
Points leader Chris Pourcel, from the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki team, led his two teammates, Tyla Rattray and Jake Weimer, off the line to start the first moto, with Canard’s teammate Justin Barcia, DNA Shred Stix/Star Racing Yamaha’s Broc Tickle, his teammate Nico Izzi, Dean Wilson, Blake Wharton and the rest of the field in tow.
Trey Canard (38) leads Dean Wilson (108) late in the second 250cc moto.
Photo: Steve Cox
Pourcel didn’t put a big gap on the rest of the field, but he held Rattray at bay while Barcia moved into third. Barcia made a few moves in attempts to pass Rattray, but to no avail, while Weimer battled it out with Tickle and Wilson. On lap 12, after having just lost fourth position to Tickle, Weimer collided with Tickle heading into an off-camber. The two fell. Later, Weimer would explain that he lost his rear brake completely. Tickle was up the quickest of the two but could only muster seventh at the finish. Weimer was 11th.
Canard, who started outside the top 10, worked his way into 10th on the first lap, then slowly began moving forward until he inherited fifth when Weimer and Tickle went down together. Then Barcia went down, crashing out of third, and Canard was soon able to pass him as well.
In moto two, Wilson grabbed the holeshot over Rattray, Max Anstie, Barcia, Canard, Wharton, Pourcel, Davalos, Weimer and Tickle. Wilson immediately began to pull away a touch, but Canard was on the move. He went by Barcia, but then Barcia crossed three lines on an off-camber and barely avoided hard contact with Canard. Canard fought off the move, but later said it motivated him. He passed Barcia back, then Rattray only a couple laps later, and then set out after Wilson.
After chasing Wilson for a few laps, Canard finally made the pass stick, but then was balked by lappers. In recovery, he slammed into Wilson hard enough to completely tear Wilson’s jersey. Still, Canard took the moto win – his first ever – and the overall with a 4-1 score over Wilson’s 3-2 and Pourcel’s 5-3.
Pourcel now leads the points by 43 over Wilson, with Rattray third and Canard close behind in fourth. Broc Tickle is fifth.
450cc
TLD/Lucas Oil Honda’s Ben Townley took the early lead in moto one after qualifying fourth – great for him – and established himself quickly as the man to beat. He led the race, fighting off the advances of points leader Ryan Dungey, defending champ Chad Reed, Josh Grant and Brett Metcalfe. Grant, who won this event last year, ran up in the group until a fall on lap six. Reed pestered Dungey, first for third, and then later for second after the two passed Short.
Ryan Dungey (5) leads Chad Reed (1) late in the first 450cc moto.
Photo: Steve Cox
On the last lap, with Townley still leading, and fighting off the advances of Dungey, Townley went down when he overjumped a step-up in the back of the track, landed in the ruts and cross-rutted. His bike careened right into Reed’s path, handing the lead to Dungey and holding up Reed.
Ryan Dungey (5) chases Ben Townley (off screen) and leads Josh Grant (33), Andrew Short (29) and Chad Reed (1).
Photo: Steve Cox
Dungey took the win over Reed, Short, Townley, Metcalfe, Grant, Kyle Regal, Ryan Sipes, Nick Wey and Mike Alessi (who went down on the opening lap and charged through for an impressive 10th place).
Dungey took his fifth national victory in a row over Reed, Townley, Short, Metcalfe, Grant, Regal, Sipes, Alessi and Wey, and Dungey now holds a 64-point lead at the halfway point in the championship chase.
WMX
In Women’s motocross, Ashley Fiolek finally found her stride and grabbed both holeshots and led both races from wire to wire over Jessica Patterson, who had won every other moto to this point in the championship. Tarah Gieger was third yet again.
Rockstar Energy RedBud National
Buchanan, Mich.?July 3, 2010
Round 6 of 12
450 Class (Moto Finish)
1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki (1-1)
2. Chad Reed, Australia, Kawasaki (2-2)
3. Ben Townley, New Zealand, Honda (4-3)
4. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda (3-5)
5. Brett Metcalfe, Australia, Honda (5-4)
6. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha (6-6)
7. Kyle Regal, Kemp, Texas, Honda (7-7)
8. Ryan Sipes, Flaherty, Texas, Yamaha (8-8)
9. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM (10-9)
10. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Kawasaki (9-12)
450 Class Championship Standings
1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 268
2. Chad Reed, Australia, Kawasaki, 204
3. Brett Metcalfe, Australia, Honda, 201
4. Ben Townley, New Zealand, Honda, 189
5. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 189
6. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha, 182
7. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM, 177
8. Kyle Regal, Kemp, Texas, Honda, 122
9. Ryan Sipes, Flaherty, Texas, Yamaha, 114
10. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Yamaha, 108
250 Class (Moto Finish)
1. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda (4-1)
2. Dean Wilson, Scotland, Kawasaki (3-2)
3. Christophe Pourcel, France, Kawasaki (1-5)
4. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda (5-3)
5. Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda (6-4)
6. Tyla Rattray, South Africa, Kawasaki (2-11)
7. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha (7-6)
8. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki (11-7)
9. Martin Davalos, Ecuador, Yamaha (10-8)
10. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda (12-9)
250 Class Championship Standings
1. Christophe Pourcel, France, Kawasaki, 260
2. Dean Wilson, Scotland, Kawasaki, 227
3. Tyla Rattray, South Africa, Kawasaki, 212
4. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda, 205
5. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha, 180
6. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda, 176
7. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda, 156
8. Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda, 145
9. Martin Davalos, Ecuador, Yamaha, 132
10. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki, 129
WMX Class (Moto Finish)
1. Ashley Fiolek, St. Augustine, Fla., Honda (1-1)
2. Jessica Patterson, Tallahassee, Fla., Yamaha (2-2)
3. Tarah Gieger, Winter Gardens, Fla., Honda (3-3)
4. Sara Price, Canyon Lake, Calif., Kawasaki (7-4)
5. Mariana Balbi, Brazil, Yamaha (5-5)
6. Sarah Whitmore, Cheboygan, Mich., KTM (6-6)
7. Tatum Sik, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha (9-7)
8. Alexah Pearson, Rocklin, Calif., Yamaha (8-8)
9. Vicki Golden, El Cajon, Calif., Yamaha (4-15)
10. Erica Cook, Natalia, Texas, Yamaha (10-9)
WMX Class Championship Standings (After 4 of 8 Rounds)
1. Jessica Patterson, Tallahassee, Fla., Yamaha, 194
2. Ashley Fiolek, St. Augustine, Fla., Honda, 174
3. Tarah Gieger, Winter Gardens, Fla., Honda, 149
4. Vicki Golden, El Cajon, Calif., Yamaha, 121
5. Sara Price, Canyon Lake, Calif., Kawasaki, 120
6. Mariana Balbi, Brazil, Yamaha, 110
7. Sarah Whitmore, Cheboygan, Mich., KTM, 102
8. Alexah Pearson, Rocklin, Calif., Yamaha, 96
9. Tatum Sik, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha, 94
10. Erica Cook, Natalia, Texas, Yamaha, 84
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A little birdie about 5 feet 1 or 2 told me this week at RedBud that Mike 800 could not do the leap because the 350 did not have the power. When i asked if they might be riding a 450 KTM in upcoming races he said they wont to but KTM does not wont them to! Mike Finley did the leap about half the time in the 2 moto. The birdie did not seem to happy i guess they sould have taken the advise of the MAN maybe he could have stayed! DUNGEY RULES!!!!!!!!!
At least one 250F rider jumped it.
Coxy, you need to be shot for publishing that first photo (Dean Wilson & Trey Canard), you can (and do) a lot better than that.
I'm thinking that Dungey grabbed the 2nd moto holeshot. Short then passed him a few corners later.
Whether or not the 450 would help MA or not, KTM is in between a rock and a hard place on making the switch. If they switch him over to a 450, what is that saying about the brand new bike they are hoping to sell a whole lot of??? To me it would say they admit defeat of sorts....my opinion is he rides it the rest of the year, i think it is as much him as it is the bike anyway...who knows?? That first moto was one of the best i've watched in a long time...simply awesome, 4 top guys in contention for the lead for the whole damn thing, thats what it should be like!!!! Im not hating on Reed here, because his 2-2 was a great ride indeed, but why the hell does he have to whine on the podium about the track??? Why?? Everybody else rode it too man......what happened to his "the rougher the better" attitude??? Remember, this is Motocross!!!! Dungey??? What can be said??? No doubts in MY mind about him!!!
+1 Whatever on the 1st moto racing. That was great! Havent seen racing like that in a long time. My own heart rate was up! Many thanks to ALLISPORTS for allowing us to watch these races
What a great weekend. Got home about midnight last night. The track was perfect, did Reed say it was too rough?? The best race of the day was the last moto, which was the women. I know they dont show them, or even write about them, but it was great. Ashley holeshot with JP in tow. They battled within a bike length the entire moto. It was the only moto where I saw fans running from spot to spot to see the whole race. It was a good one. I will say this Alessi was at a huge disadvantage at Red Bud on the 350, he only hit Laroccos leap about 4 times all day. The hills there really hurt him. The only 250 rider I remember seeing hit the jump was Pourcel and he only did it a couple times in the 2nd moto. RV2 did it every lap on his 250 the last tear he rode it. Dungey is an animal, a excellent ride for him. He looked very smooth, Townley looked great too. To bad he went down, but Dungey was really pushing him the first moto. He put alot of pressure on him.. Met alot of guys there, icluding PING. He is a good dude, my sons a fan for life...
I did not hear Reed complaining about the track, But if he did , thats weak!! Man up and ride! I thought he did really well, 2-2 is awesome, plus there is a lot of racing left, A lot could happen. I am a Reed guy, but if he doesn't start nailing some wins, RD5 is going to run away big time. It was a great day to be RD5, huh? Another awesome win. Props to Canard and Foilek!
Whatever, I agree that Alessi switching would not look good for the 350 and KTM obviously would see that as a bad marketing move. I don't know how much the 450 would help as you said anyway. BUT here's a stat, Alessi holeshot 5 of the 6 motos he raced in 2009. He holeshot 8 times in 2008......the same amount as James Stewart did for the year......except Alessi got run over at Red Bud that year and was out the remaining 14 motos. That is 8 of 10 motos that year (he got run over in 2nd moto). So 13 holeshots in 16 motos is pretty ridiculous. On a 350 he has 1 out of 10.
"BKR"...Interesting stats on Alessi. It's hard to say how better starts would affect his results. If he and the bike are competitive on everything BUT the starts, then I say he would be doing better on the 450. Consider this though, and it's just an observation, but Alessi went 10-9 this weekend. Now I know he has done better than that this year in a moto here and there, but it's always been my observation that a guy riding at the tail end of the top 10 tends to finish there, regardless of his start. He either gets a crappy start and works his way up to the top 10, or he gets a great start, but gets passed by a bunch of faster guys to settle in at about 10th. I know Alessi doesn't quite fit the profile of a 10th place guy, but it's just something I thought I'd mention for the sake of debate.
I don't know how better starts would work out either. I definitely am not blaming the bike on his finishes. I think any of the top 4 guys would be doing much better if they were on the 350. If you compare last year when he won two races with this year, I see the addition of Dungey, Townley, Metcalfe, Regal.....there's 4 guys right there that are taking it to him this year that weren't even in the class last year. Pretty soon Tedesco will be back, Windham will be out there, Hahn will be back, maybe even Bubba. He's gonna be running outside the top 10 if it continues like this. The 2nd moto he dropped BACK to 9th after running as high as 6th. So, I agree it isn't just the power issue with him.
Alessi has the talent, he is not a 10th place finisher, but maybe he has over-trained? He is a shell of who he was in the past. I have a real hard time blaming KTM. They run a top notch program, Caroli is doing well on the 350, it is not the bike as much as its Mike. just my opinion, its his dad. lose that tool, and rebuild your career. Stay with daddy, apply at Home Depot.
Another Cox gem. We get probably the best moto (1) in recent memory and how much is that in the race report? Come on are you actually watching these races? Also it sure looked like RD grabbed the moto2 holeshot but then again I wasn't actually there but RD was leading the first lap before Shorty caught and made a nice pass. I guess I should be happy that I can watch the allisports.com and NBC broadcast since we can't get accurate reporting. But all Cox bashing aside what a race!! Finally we get to see some battles and 3 guys going at it down to the final lap. That was awesome! WTG CR, BT101 and RD for giving us a race to remember. I just hope we get these kind the rest of the season with the other top riders. BT101 is coming on strong and he's gonna be back on the top spot pretty some if he keeps riding like he has and get's a break here or there.
fattireguy, I know Caroli is winning on the 350, but would he be winning on the National tracks?? Red Bud is loaded with hills and elevation changes. So are other tracks, I know they have those in Europe, but the tracks there are laid out very similar and are almost cookie cutter. Mike has his problems, but he was really under-powered yesterday. He hit Laroccos leap twice, and he really had to stretch it out to hit it. that cant be very confidence building for the rider on that bike. The 250 guys hit the jump some in practice, Barcia wadded it up hard trying it, but once the races got going and the track got a little beat, they couldnt do it any more.
Trust me, if Alessi had the balls that KTM would have put him over the leap every lap. Fattire guy,>> Alessi doesn't have the talent anymore. I knew riding the 350 would be just an excuse for mike to have another lackluster season but still make the top dollar. I guarentee Cairolli would have done the leap from the inside line. Him and Andrew short still ride like its the 90's. Every lap Metcalfe kept his bike sooo much lower, carrying so much more speed than shorty over every jump. Ferry and Windham adapted well. Dungey almost high sided into shorty just by scrubbing! Why do the TV guys follow the Lone leader when theres such a gnarly battle for second place??? That was a Dirty pass Trey put on Deano, more like a takeout. What can i say, the new breed is taking over. Good to see Reed and townley up front again. if stewey doesn't get back out there, he's gonna get schooled too
outstanding race in the first 450 moto, second moto wasnt that much fun to watch, but what a day for Mn riders. Dungey wins, Brandon Haas gets 14th in the second 450 moto, Alex Martin gets tenth in the second 250 moto. I have to say this though about the TV coverage. NBC has lost me as a viewer. I will not watch another race on NBC. I hope their strategy of showing all the other stuff besides races works out, because they had to gain 2 viewers to be ahead after losing me. I bet they only showed 10 minutes of total on track action. I know its great to be semi-live on network television, but good racing is what is gonna hook people, not a bunch of crap about the Asterik Med guys or the other behind the scenes stuff.
"jkline805"...Haas 14th is a misprint unfortunately. See YZsean for details.
do they really have an american flag pole that big on the top of a hill?
After the first moto, Reed said it was muddy outside of the main line, making it difficult to pass. He added that he hoped they'd make it better for the second moto. I know some of you are quick to jump on him, but it didn't seem all that egregious. Maybe it was hard to pass, but there was something about the track that made the racing close! The first 450 and second 250 motos were great! I wish people wouldn't always come out here looking for something to complain about. The best riders in the world (ok, those GP guys are pretty good, too) putting it out there, and we're able to see all four motos, two or three live. Enjoy!
The track was very soft witch i would have loved to race on. Thay fixed the run up to the leap for 2 moto's and many other parts of the track witch made it faster and not so rutted. Jkine805" go to the listing below this one and you will see what happened to Haas. I posted it i was there helping him. He was ripping it up i feel he would have had a great race if every think would have worked out! DUNGEY RULES!!!!!!!!!
I started watching the 450 post show about 8 this morning, at the current rate I will have seen the whole 9 minute video by @ noon tomorrow. Does everything associated with Alli suck this bad? In a way it's sad to see what people like this are doing to motocross.
Im not "jumping" on Reed, just doesnt seem like he is happy with the tracks much anymore, in SX or MX. Is it an excuse?? Is he complaining a little?? Judgement call i guess....here is exactly what he said after the 1st moto......"“The track is ridiculously muddy out there, it’s such an awesome track but today i think it’s pretty poor conditions, it’s just really muddy, as soon as you get off the race line its just deep mud. It was frustrating to sit in third and fourth and watch both Ryan and I try everything we could and to go to the outside both of us just lost momentum........ so, hopefully these guys (track crew???) do a better job and it dries up for the second one!!” I guess you could call it complaining or not, but IMO that track was awesome and Dungey wasnt just sitting in third, he was dicing back and forth for the lead....on the SAME track!! Those guys were all able to switch up lines like crazy, i personally just dont see what was worth commenting negatively about..no one else did!! No big deal i guess!!
whatever,, I'm with you on this one...I thought the track provided plenty of options and close racing at its finest....Reed has commented the same on other tracks as of late, We all would prefer perfectly groomed tracks to race on, like uh, supercross?? man up Reedy!!!!!
Anybody notice how gracious Wilson was on the podium after Canard ran him off the track? He's a good kid and will go far in this sport, but I just get the feeling when the time is right, he will repay Canard for the favor LOL. Personally I thought it was a dirty move from Trey and a dangerous move actually.
Reed said the track was really rough after the second moto - which he has stated numerous times before is his preference, so I don't take it that he was complaining. Reed isn't a fan of a really wetted down track, like a lot of the first motos are, and has commented numerous times that he hates when they do that (give him rain and mud and there's not a problem). I don't feel he's complaining he's just giving his personal opinion and being honest about it. The next guy might love the track that way, who knows? Preference differ.
Whaatever, I'm with you on the Reed comment. Complaining? maybe, venting? probably. Snivelling? alittle. Everybody rode the same same track. If he would have come out and beat RD in the second moto, then there was some merrit to his complaints. He still had a great day. Pinned, I am NOT a Alessi fan, but he STILL has mad talent on a bike, something is wrong, do not count the kid out as far as being a top 5 guy, he just needs to fix what ever is bothering him.
I think Reed likes a faster type of track. The tracks where being smoothed alot more last season and we know how that worked for him. Pinned927, Alessi has no confidence in that 350 to take on that jump on a consistant basis. Its easy to sit on the sidelines and say he has no balls. Its a different story when you are the one putting your ass on the line to hit a jump like that one. Early in the day the 250 guys where hitting it too, but as the track got rougher, they didnt hit it either. And you cant take the inside to hit it, you have to rail the outside at the bottom to gain enough speed to clear it. Obviously you have never been there to see it live, or you just have no clue. You just dont lose talent in one season. And Canard has always been a rough rider, everybody forget him running RV2 into the finnish line tower in supercross?? I am glad he got the win though. It was 4th of July weekend, its one time when I want all Americans to get the overalls.
I'm glad Townley is getting the job done. I was one of the many who doubted he could be tough enough. Happy to say I was wrong. Canard's first win in the Outdoors is almost unbelievable what with his SX success. It will be interesting to see what the alessi clan does post Outdoors regarding bike and displacement.
What would the riders of the '70s and '80s say about these accusations of "dirty riding" by Canard? For all the line choices, it didn't look like it was easy to pass. Canard definitely caught Wilson, it was getting late in the moto, and he knew he needed to get by. Mission accomplished. Wilson went around LaRocco's Leap and filed in right behind Canard, but wasn't fast enough to attempt another pass. TC38 did what he had to do. I think the difficulties Trey has had reflect the depth of this field and the difference between 250s (everyone pinning it!) and 450s (always "a little extra" to make a move -- if you can handle it). You see it in MotoGP, where ever since they went from 990s down to 800s, passing has decreased significantly. The 990s (and 500 two-stokes) provided that extra power that allowed for more passing opportunities.
Congratulations to Canard and BT-101, he is catching up the front runners already. The issue seems to be his fitness but once he gets stronger he will win some races. Canard got some rough passing move on Wilson but that's part of racing and Wilson understood it that way and I am glad that these guys are mature enough to get it the way it is. (Altough, I am suure there will be a payback sometime soon) Anyway thanks for some awesome racing in both classes.
Alessi is doing his best but maybe he is still figuring out the way to improve. Don't just count him out of the top ten. He's still young and also a very good rider, expect some more from him this season. I really hope Bubba comes back to ride outdoors this season and whoops the whole field, or at least put a good show, it does not matter I just want to see him scrubbing every single time the way he knows. An just for the record I am not a Bubba fan but I have to admit it, he really rides awesome, that's it.
sef154, I dont know what anybody else is saying, but I never said Canard was "dirty". I said he was a rough rider. The move wasnt dirty, and I really think Wilson went around the Leap as to not lose so much time, he could have stayed on the track. Wilson didnt seem to have a problem with it on the podium, so no blood no foul.
BD200" Your right it was just great racing but the podium speech and what he really thought are two different things. I was taking to a Honda Big wig about KW coming back next week and what a great idea i thou it was. We started taking about who might be on the team next year. And he said the only rider for sure right now was CANARD! They really hope SHORT can have some great races this year they don't wont to lose him would like to have him again next year but if not will do what ever they can to help him out! DUNGEY RULES!!!!!!!!!
I never said you called it dirty, bd200. However, at least one person said they "thought it was a dirty move from Trey and a dangerous move actually." Just voicing my disagreement with that sentiment. Did I name you? Why so sensitive?
I don't think Alessi has lost anything from last year (other than a Suzuki 450). I just think a bunch of new guys came into the class and a bunch of other guys got faster, while he just stayed where he was. I wonder about the KTM though. Yeah Cairoli is doing fine, but guys were winning World Championships on KTMs in the 70's and 80's in the 250/450 and 500 classes, too. That doesn't mean Heinz Kinigadner would have come over and whooped Jeff Ward at Red Bud in 1985. Freaking Smets won a few years back on a Husaberg. I know KTM is closing the gap, but maybe not just quite yet? By the way I am a KTM guy so don't think I have it in for them. I still question the 350 for Pro competition though. The margin for error is just too small. Not able to do Larocco's leap in the 450 class is pretty much giving everyone else a couple seconds every lap guaranteed.
like "09" 2010 has a weak field , Reed still isnt carring the speed he had when he was racing RC & bubba..
First moto was GREAT!!! WOW... to bad for BT, one little slip, Also bummer for Reed. If BT floped the other way he wins but the cards fell for RD that time. Anyone one of them could have had it. Well the Fact that BT is this fast and strong already tells me that RV would be killing it out there. Oh well I guess JS will be back soooooon. This should get even better. The 250's was great too.
BKR you must be kidding!! You don't think Aiessi is off?? You blame the bike.. Come on dude!!! You think the other guys picked up 20-30sec just like that?? No way IMO. Mike is off. He was close to JS who was right there with RC so he is waaaaaaaaaay off. Look at BT he is still not back 100% and he is now giveing RD more than he could handle in the first moto(sans one slip with 1/2 lap to go). RC, JS (the real one) or RV would be gone IMO. Reed is (was) a weak champ IMO. Not taking anything away from RD he is doing what he needs to but I still question if he is that fast.
I think one big reason Alessi is struggling is his team, or lack of one. He is now pretty much being brought through the Nationals by his Dad. Last year he wan on what is the best team out there. That team did it for RC, then again for Reed, and now Dungey. They probably would have done it for Alessi if he didnt get injured. And look where he is now. His program simply isnt working for him. Its pretty obvious.
"BillC"....Interesting logic. Based on how Townley is riding a 450 now, compared to how he rode a 250 three years ago, tells you that RV would be killing Dungey?...OKAY? Well, based on that logic, I remember back when they were both in lites, Chad Reed actually caught and Passed Stewart to win the first moto at Millville. Well, since Reed beat Stewart and now Dungey is beating Reed, there's no way Stewart could beat Dungey.....LMAO!!!!
BillC, who gained 20-30 seconds on him? Dungey? (rode 250 last year) Townley? (out last year) Metcalf? (250 last year) Regal?(rookie??) Sipes?(250 last year) Cunningham?(250 last year) Hahn has gained on a lot of people. Either guys weren't even in the class last year or they stepped it up. I'm not blaming the bike but more that I'm saying Alessi was never that great. This year he is facing more competition than he ever has and without his best friend Mr. Holeshot he can't do anything. He is down on power which has cost him Mr. Holeshot, but otherwise he is just finding his place in the pack. In 2008 where was Reed, where was Dungey, Metcalf, Townley, Regal, Hahn, Grant...? None of them were racing Mike, but they are now and it isn't working out for him. Lewsid1, that logic does work out great. J-Law beat Dungey that year for a 250 SX crown, so clearly if he was out there he'd be beating Dungey outdoors.
I'm glad you brought up Stewart in 2008, because I thought he was killing the pack much worse than he did. His victory margins were similar to Dungey's wins. Actually a few times there, Dungey has bigger margins than Stewart had....against better competition. And if you think Alessi has dropped so much, why wouldn't the first place you look be the bike? That is the only change he's made from 2008-2009 so......why is that not a logical factor? After seeing the margins in 2008, I wonder what Stewart would do against Dungey in 2010 (that's the year we're in here).
is it just me or does Ping look like a chubby Lt. Dangle from Reno 911? LOL!!!