by Andy Bowyer
Thursday Rev-Up: Bloodsport
Thursday, September 9, 2010 | 4:21 PM
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PrintHello, everyone, and welcome to the Thursday Rev-Up. Remember in the movie Bloodsport when the fight billboard slaps up with the names Frank Dux and Chong Li? That’s where this deal is at right now. It’s time for the two alpha males to take it around one last time to decide who is the man.
Before we roll up the sleeves for that business, let’s take quick peek back to Steel City and pay homage to what was one of the greatest battles we’ve seen. The culmination of a brilliant track and two riders carrying the fire produced the ultimate motocross spectacle. All of us have this extra gear, if you will. We don’t know how to trigger it on our own, but when special circumstances smash together, we can do amazing things. Trey Canard and Christophe Pourcel both had the candles lit and they were both "immortal." That was just awesome. Golf clap.
And now on to the grand finale. You ever get really pumped up and, if only for a moment, convince yourself that you can clench your fist, shove the ground beneath you down, then rocket into the sky like Neo? Maybe that’s just me, but I’ve got the shoulders back for this dust-up.
photo: Simon Cudby
Both of the characters in this story make this championship even more special. Canard lost his father in a tragic accident while he was grooming his practice track. Trey has since become one of the premier motocross riders in the world, and there is no question that his pops has been with him every lap of the way. When he needs that little extra to hang on those last two laps, he has a little extra.
Flip the coin and you have a relative mystery man in Christophe Pourcel. We really don’t know a lot about the Frenchman. We do know he almost lost his ability to walk a few years ago, and not only has he overcome those odds, he has fought his way to the forefront of the entire sport. The #377 has also fought the fickle American fan base, who will boo the greatest riders one moment, then call them the GOAT the next.
Whoever wins or loses, both of these young men will go to bed Saturday night with multi-year, multimillion-dollar contracts. It’s not like they’re racing for their careers or to put food on the table. But they are competing for the right to be champion. There is a gap between being an enthusiast and a racer and a wide-open chasm between being a racer and a champion. Canard and Pourcel know precisely what it means. This Saturday afternoon is all about a racer’s pride. I’ve been lucky enough to see this kind of stuff from some of the most prolific names in all of motorsports.
photo: Simon Cudby
I’ve seen Carmichael walk to the line and literally defeat everyone on the gate by simply staring at them. I’ve seen my brother pull himself into his car, then drive 300 miles to a NASCAR championship. You can call it any number of things; I call it the thousand-yard stare.
You can wear the buttons off a calculator figuring out all the scenarios, but the bottom like is, Canard needs to beat Pourcel and have a man between them. Like I said, don’t cry for the loser here. Both men have proved themselves, and they will fight again, and again.
But for now, the billboard has snapped up and it’s time to party. Canard vs. Pourcel.
Thanks for reading. See you next week.
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I see the Temps are only in the low 70's for friday... Good news for CP
yep summer skipped San Deigo this year, it will be mild temps. Go Canard!
Can't wait! New track, weather looks killer, headed for Pala Saturday morning....
good luck to the both of them. its hard for me to actully decided who i would like to see pull it off. the thing about canards dad is news to me. did this happen many years ago?
Never heard the Canard/father thing either. I'm sure pops is already proud. Bring it home, Trey! Andy, as for the "fickle American fan base, who will boo the greatest riders one moment, then call them the GOAT the next," I'd say there was more than a "moment" in between. After RC got his start with the green team, a lot of people weren't happy with his jump to the "Yankees" of MX (at the time, anyway), Team Honda. Obviously, he won most of them back. Pourcel has a long way to go before he compares to Carmichael.
Trey's dad was quite a few years ago I want to say he was still on 80s but not positive.
Think his dad passing happened back in 03 or 04 while he was driving the tractor. Always saw him at the track since I lived and raced around North Texas and Oklahoma. I remember being in Novice and he was still on 80's for Team Green. Trey was raised by good people. Seeing him win that SX championship and give his pops a shout out on the podium brought tears to my eyes. I'm not afraid to admit that
Wow, I never knew about Treys father, kinda makes me push for him a little more. Even though I'd rather see the American win the championship I won't be dissapointed to see Pourcel win it, simply because while I was in the pits at Southwick and Pourcel came in from practice, took his gear off, went up to the fans and signed a few autographs....he was the ONLY, I repeat ONLY rider that I saw do that, other than John Dowd of course
Trey is such a fine individual and a he has serious skills. He's a great role model and I hope he is around for a long time. Go Trey!!
Great Rev-Up Andy! It seems to me like the cream really does rise to the top, theses 2 guys are what we ,the paying spectators and armchair critics like to call the best of the best. They never give up and are so focused that any one of them deserved the title. After a long outdoor season and tuning in to every race, both on Alli and Speed I have to say it has been a privilege to watch the best outdoor season in years .
Great story good job AB
Trey would tape a picture of his dad on the inside of his chest protector, don't know if he still does it though. Good luck to both.
Wonder what happens if either guy starts less than fourth ? Even though CP and TC are clearly the class of the field Pro Circuit has 108 and 28 and Geico has 17, 243 and 21 who should all be near the front and be extra motivated to see their guy prevail. Botom line, TC is clutch but he need 2 holies (?) and a Honda in second. This my friends is THE GREAT OUTDOORS ! JimM CarlsbadCA
Sweet rev up Andy! All good post thus far too! Both riders have a good story, and I can't choose who I'll be rooting for.....Jimbo, you said it! What an awesome way of life, this thing called Motocross is!!!! Good luck to both TC, CP and the rest of the field.
Cant wait for this weekend 1" so i can put my ending to my post back 2" to see a great battle for the125 "250" crown should be a great one. Does any one think there will be something funny that go on in the 125 race with teem tactics. Another thing you may not have known about Tray is he went out with Ashly Flock almost there inter amitchor days. HAVE A GREAT NIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"SEF154", I'm guessing Andy didn't mean moment literally. I think he meant at one moment in time fans will boo a rider then another moment in time ( perhaps the next season) they call him the GOAT. Fans did boo RC on green when he started challenging McGrath then learned to accept him because of his determination then booed him again when he went to team Honda. Now no one will or should say a bad word about him.
I really see no reason at all that the fans here should "boo" Christophe Pourcel....none!!! He is obviously a very talented and dedicated rider and should not be disrespected that way!! Looking forward to a good race between those two at Pala. Do your part TC, the rest is out of your hands!!!
"yzsean"......"inter amitchor days"?? You meant "entire amateur days" right?? That is your best one yet!!! HaHa, just messin' wit' ya' a little!!! BTW, who is Ashly Flock??
Man am i bad at spelling O well! HAVE A GREAT NIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Are they still racing the 450s this weekend? haven't heard a word about it. Go Metty! Windham, and of course Dungey! Dungey's going for another record this weekend. Not that he needs another but he may as well if he can. Good luck RD!
Whatever......your good, I couldn't figure that one out. Oh yeah who is Tray? ha
Will Chrissy call himself a p***y if he goes 2-2 and Trey goes 1-1. Just like he did to Dungey when he won?????
I remember RC getting booed for coming into the US Open dressed like a King. He got booed because everyone knows that Mcgrath is the KING of supercross. Then he got booed at Indy when everyone thought he knocked down Pastrana and cost him his first ever 250 supercross win. About 30,000 people stayed after the race to listen to the podium speeches just to boo RC when it was his turn to talk. He kinda laughed a little and said to watch it on tv tomorrow to see that he didnt knock him down, and he was right, he didnt. But I will always remember that moment. Pourcel got booed for calling Dungey a **** last year because he was mad because Dungey won the title. I would boo him for that myself, that was just him being a sore loser. And very bad sportsmanship. Dungey won that title and Pourcel is a sore loser there, he shoulda got booed for those remarks. Lets see if Pourcel gets in 2nd behind Canard and pushes hard for the win or just takes the title. If he stays in 2nd, is he a p u s s y too..
Not only did they boo RC at indy they cheered DV12 for beating RC. Fans boo'ed JMB to. I think it was Alanta was and Larry Ward called them out for it. Also, the "Thousand Yard Stare" may sound like a cool word, but it is a term to decribe a soldier who is so combat stressed they are in a form of shock. It's not a good thing. They are not super focused like RC was, they are dissociated.
Pourcel called Dungey a **** out of frustration for losing a title...big deal! When guys stand on a podium and talk like robots everyone complains about no real personality. Then a rider says something out of frustration but real emotion and he's booed for it. It's funny how the fans loved it when Hannah or RJ did it.
Pourcel uttered the **** word several days after he lost the title. He didnt say it on the podium. It was an interview later on in the week. He could have shown a little more class by then. It is nothing but sour grapes in my opinion. It was a cheap shot that Pourcel look like a sore loser. Dungey won the title fair and square, period. And Pourcel should have been a little more gracious about it. Not calling a guy a vulgar name for being smart enough and dedicated enough to work hard and win the title. Pourcel should have done the same.
"bd200" This is motocross not chess for Gods sake. So what if a rider calls someone a ****. And I never said he was on the podium when he said it. I'll change my wording from "when guy's stand on the podium" to 'when guy's get interviewed". It's what the guy felt and he said it. As fans , you and I, we only know part of what goes on behind the scenes and most of the stuff we think we know is only speculation. Imo it's rude and bad for the sport to boo a rider that dedicates his life to the sport we all love.
Where are all of the people from last year that said that CP was faster than RD and therefore deserved the title? TC has been faster this year. If CP still wins the title, will they say that TC still deserves it? Also, it seems that whenever CP gets beat, there is a problem with the bike. I'm not a CP fan and I hope TC wins.
Any professional athlete has to think about their actions. Pourcel probably got booed at Steel City for those that saw him give the finger. They might have thought it was at Canard. Fans are fickle. When RC went to Honda, people saw it as a money grab. Then when he came out in the cape and crown and sat on a throne? It was the promoters idea, and I think RC learned a lesson from that. For Pourcel, he has to be wary not to whine, or make excuses, or call people names, if he cares about his public image. Fans are fickle. It isn't always right, but it is what it is when it comes to fans and who they are going to like or dislike and for what reasons. Pourcel can call whoever he wants to names, but he better be prepared to suffer backlash from it. Again, not to say it is wrong or right but you have to always pay attention to what you are doing and who is seeing it. Ask that Michael Phelps, the golden boy olympic swimmer that got snapped in a pic with a bong to his lips. That one bong hit cost him million$$$.
"BKR", Very well written and your point is well taken. I agree with all you said. My point was not about the pro athletes actions because we both know and agree that one bad interview or statement can be detrimental (sp) to ones career. It takes a long time to guild a good reputation and about 1 min to destroy it. My point was about the fans being a little too sensative about the little things in a sport this tough and booeing a rider they know little about.