by Andy Bowyer
One Industries Thursday Rev Up: Oakland
Thursday, January 27, 2011 | 3:35 PM
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Hello everyone and welcome to Rev Up. As the charge makes its way to Oakland, we can all sit back comfortably and know that nothing short of the good stuff is on its way. As predicted, round three lived up to the expectations and perhaps a little further. Ah, but this is only the beginning. What we have here is a serious power struggle that will only become more voracious with each passing round. Ain’t it grand?
Sit back and appreciate this awesome culmination of talent that has met face to face...
Take Trey Canard, first up. Here sets a young man that has fought though a universe of adversity in his young life and finds himself sitting at the control of a factory Honda. Canard has the speed and the know how to get the job done, and he is simply waiting for “his time.” I believe his time is coming, and the next few rounds will see #41 get to where he believes he can be.
Canard's time is coming...is it now?
Photo: Simon Cudby
Then look at James Stewart. He is the man to beat. Say what you will, he is the one that everyone watches in practice and it is his speed and creativity that sets the benchmark. The expectations for James are almost impossible. “The fastest man on the planet” is supposed to go out and beat everyone, everytime. Well, as it stands, he hasn’t been the fastest man on the planet in 2011. That honor and chest thumping distinction belongs to an unlikely recipient thus far. But, James is right where he wants to be, and nobody has knocked his confidence or his will to live up to his billing.
Next, lets take a step backwards and see where our champion is sitting. Ryan Dungey left the 2010 season as the undisputed, reigning alpha male in all of motocross. He became the first rookie to win the supercross and outdoor titles in his maiden voyage, won the Motocross of Nations, and pretty much left the writing on the wall that he was the man. Hardly anyone in motocross doubted this as we left last year. I knew it would take a little while for him to find his groove and he is super close to getting his first win of the young season. He can taste it.
Dungey still holds the number one plate, but for how long?
Photo: Simon Cudby
Villopoto seems to be setting the pace in the Supercross class.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Sit back and appreciate this awesome culmination of talent that has met face to face...
Take Trey Canard, first up. Here sets a young man that has fought though a universe of adversity in his young life and finds himself sitting at the control of a factory Honda. Canard has the speed and the know how to get the job done, and he is simply waiting for “his time.” I believe his time is coming, and the next few rounds will see #41 get to where he believes he can be.
Canard's time is coming...is it now?
Photo: Simon Cudby
Next, lets take a step backwards and see where our champion is sitting. Ryan Dungey left the 2010 season as the undisputed, reigning alpha male in all of motocross. He became the first rookie to win the supercross and outdoor titles in his maiden voyage, won the Motocross of Nations, and pretty much left the writing on the wall that he was the man. Hardly anyone in motocross doubted this as we left last year. I knew it would take a little while for him to find his groove and he is super close to getting his first win of the young season. He can taste it.
Dungey still holds the number one plate, but for how long?
Photo: Simon Cudby
Meanwhile, there was a sleeping giant.
Ryan Villopoto is showing the motocross world that we have all underestimated him. His early rampage in the 2011 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season has everyone on the bandwagon, and rightly so. He came from the wheelchair to the penthouse by taking the season opener, and then followed it up by absolutely hounding Stewart at Phoenix before washing out. Last weekend pretty much left everyone with their lower jowls in the gutter.
Is it a surprise? It shouldn’t be. With my own two eyes, I watched RV ride the fastest I’ve ever seen anyone ride a motorcycle at the 2008 Motocross of Nations at Budd’s Creek. I was standing at the bottom of the finish line sweeper and saw him shift about four gears while standing on the pegs around a crusted outside line, and I’ll never forget it. During that moto he led the world’s best (on a 250F) by a twenty-second margin. Then he fell down and the gap closed to maybe ten bike lengths...then he pulled out another fifteen-second lead.
Villopoto seems to be setting the pace in the Supercross class.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Lest you forget in 2010, he was beating Dungey almost every race before he carted huge and blasted his leg. He was winning when he broke, and he’s winning now that he’s healed. Ryan’s leg isn’t even fully healed from what I’ve heard, nor is his wrist. But, there is no stopping the heart of the champion. The eye of the tiger gives no quarter to anyone, and as it sits, RV Park is eating his fill and leaving no tip. No mercy.
Which one of these heroes are you behind as we stare down round four? Man, it’s a really beautiful thing to look at as a fan. What a setting we have on our hands in Oakland. The tension is already so thick in the pits that it seems like the title is on the line and we’re only getting warmed up. This is what it’s all about. This is why we love our sport so much. This is American Supercross.
Thanks for reading, see you next week.
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Get ready to enjoy our best show yet! After two one minute highlight reels of the heat races we'll take you on a tour of Oakland California where you'll meet some of the natives, and take in some of the local wildlife. If we have time we'll show you the supercross main event hosted by the one and only Ralph Sheheen. I hope everyone is enjoying the CBS broadcasts. We put a lot of time and effort into showcasing this wonderful sport!
Im sorry CBS but I want to watch SUPERCROSS when I watch SUPERCROSS on tv, not a ghetto city. 1 minute highlight reels? Pathetic. Show more racing, we don't care about the "local wildlife".
Right on, Andy! It's awesome to look at an upcoming race and have no idea who will take the win.
Hey CBS "THE BEST SHOW YET" should be LIVE!!!!!! It's not the same watching the next day! This might b the best race yet but we won't know till saturday WTF!!
It was the 2007 mxon. I was there too and it was definately the most dominant ride I've ever seen. Villopoto was amazing that day. You could here him coming. That was also one of the best times I've ever had at a race. I think reed will come on stronger in a few weeks. But you can easily see that Bubba and RV are a step above the rest.
CBS suck it! We watch the race to watch a race. I do not care what town they are in or how nice it is. Take a note from SPEED show the races. Think about it, if you showed 21/2 hours of crap in a 4 hour NASCAR race do you think that they would love it? Give the races back to SPEED and then you can show bowling and the nice cities that they are in.
To CBS you need more coverage ,all the qualifiers
Man already no mention of REED! Come on he came from last to 7th. Talk about short term memory loss. Lay off a bit and remember he will be there too.
Why don't we ALL start writing emails to CBS.
Go to http://www.cbssports.com/help/contactus/usersspeak
and just start hammering, cause if there is 1000 people that writes in, they must start looking at it. I doubt they hear our complaints here.
HAHAHAH how do ya like that CBS. That is what you do to us ebry sunday when its not a live race!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In other words next day braodcasting SUX. All us fans get pissed on.
Ddavis
BD
Rasputin73
Mad props to you guys. twist the throttle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
if the main is boring, then they show more of the heats and lcq. If the main is a good one, like LA, then they show more of it, and less of the heats and lcq. Its been that way forever.
cbs wake up! people want to watch racing, not a bunch of behind the scene bs.More racing with less commercials is what the real fans want.
Comedy Brodcast Station---funny!!! Last to 7th is not that impressive and not much to write about.., especially for a guy like Reed.....after the top 10 the competition is usually dead in most races after the half way point....Reed, RV, RD and JS should have no problem starting last and moving to top 5 pending any injury or bike damage....Reed need to get a start and stay up front...
How about some of these great reporters spend some time analyzing the lack of live coverage of this great sport and put some articles out there that may provoke some moto jockey billionaire to step in and help the sport get some dignity in the media coverage for the future. Seems like we've gone backwards,we once had live audio feeds which was weird but since there was no live video I was willing to pay for it just to feed my addiction to the sport. There's so much that could be done and I would think there is money to be made but I'd like to know if that's really the case and getting some good research reporting might help.
Left a comment at http://www.cbssports.com/help/contactus/usersspeak
I'd have to disagree with what is said about VIllopoto? a sleeping giant? an unlikely competitor of James Stewart? You did mention in the article that Villopoto was beating Dungey almost every race last Supercross season until his horrible crash that ended it all. If Villopoto wouldn't have crashed, i think one could be confident in saying he probably would be riding with the #1 plate this year. Villopoto is proving himself to be the man to beat this year, Stewart is still trying to get it back together. Remember 2 years ago stewart would get out in front and completely check out, and no one would have a chance at him until he crashed. This year he is the one trying to catch Villopoto each race after his crashes. This is going to be one of the best Supercross seasons to ever hit the books because of the battles we're about to see between RV2 & JS7!!!
MxSxPlanet.com
Actually Was 2007 the year that RV won the MXON in Budds Creek.
Left a comment at http://www.cbssports.com/help/contactus/usersspeak
LIVE T.V. is where it's at!!!!!! RV is the MAN!
The CBS broadcast does suck no doubt about it. The only thing good I can say about it is that I know a lot of people who don't have cable or satellite(they are in the dark ages I know) but they finally got to see how great our sport is for atleast the main. Pretty good race too created some fans I know forsure!
We have all underestimated RV!!! Not me I said this would happen last year.
RV lead at the MXD by over 1 min in the first moto. It was SICK ,he was on it that day Like I have never seen.
Everyone is saying how RV is the man to beat. He is fast no doubt. However I would be worried about Canard because he is getting more and more comfortable each and every week. I'd also be worried about Reedy because if you go back and watch the main event on you tube you'll see after the first lap he was around 17 seconds back and at the end of the race he was only 23 seconds back. So over 20 laps he only lost 6 seconds while working through the pack. Hats off to him because that was probably the second best ride of the night behind Villipotos ride. Dungey is getting more and more comfortable and is starting to up the pace. Last year RV started out slow and got stronger. What if Dungey, Reed, or Canard do the same? Just because RV is pretty much dominating now it doesn't mean he will be dominating 3 or 4 rounds from now! Think about it. Cbs your coverage isn't good at all, in fact its terrible. Just show me one hour of pure racing nothing else. No commercials! Also everyone BRING BACK THE 2 SMOKERS!!!
I agree with Sam. Go to
http://www.cbssports.com/help/contactus/usersspeak
and let CBS know in a professional manner that we want to watch Villopoto, Stewart, Canard, and Dungey in all the racing action and not all the other crap/filler instead.
you people do realize that the posting by CBS was just somebody making fun of them right?
RV has proven he's got the speed I hope he proves he has the patience and focus for the long haul..
I cant speak for everyone but i'd like to hope they knew that! haha. BillC forsure man, don't you remember the offseason it was like everyone forgot about RV I'm definetly not suprised. I remember when he was on yz85s you could tell that kid was gonna be somthin! Yeah, I post a lot about Stewart but I am definetly a HUGE RV supporter!
morons I was kinda scared to think they didn't.
Yeah the real CBS doesnt even look at this website. If they did they would be real moto fans and know what the hell to broadcast. They suck!!!! Even there preseason special was lame! And all of the panel picked wrong too! I got $5 on Bubba this week. Any takers?
RV is the man! I remember watching him and Hill racing 85s (RV rode kx85) at Washougal and those 2 would crush all the local pros while riding 85s!
Yeah he rode kawis after 02! I was there the first day he had he kawasakis after the U.S open in 02 remember how the top guys from the 12-13 class from lorettas got to race the U.S open? Man those were the days.
But also remember back then Alessi used to smoke them all except for Millsaps! Man what happend?
Ya it used to be sweet having the top dudes in the 80 class race the US open. Alessi was dominate on a 85, beating RV a majority of the time. Strange how things can turn around. There used to be local rider here named Landon Currier and he was insane on a 50 lol He would go so ridiculously fast clearing all the jumps and throwing style into it. I believe he won lorettas but I havent really heard anything about him since. We all thought he was gonna be the next big thing. Never know how thing will work out. Im sure nobody thought Dungey would turn out this good when he was an amateur, except Decoster.
Agree totally Bowyer. Anyone who underestimated RV either hasnt seen him rage outdoors or based his potential this year on his SX results prior to the two injuries. No knock at all against 7, 41, 1, and 22 If anyone has the pedigree , belief , motivation and chutzpah to prevail this year its Viillopoto.To all the guys b******* about CBS coverage, you are preaching to the choir. Email CBS and its local affiliate Hoping that Speed does the coverage for the real racing come May is not enough.
JimM
CarlsbadCa
CBS = Crudely Broadcasting Supercross. I don't want to be too big of a whinebag though, because a little at a time we are inching our way toward all live broadcasts. I just don't know how long I can stomach the way they're presenting our sport. They really need to show the heats along with the mains. I compare that to showing only the last quarter of a football game, or the last 10 laps of nascar. I know they would like to build a bigger fan base, but instead of using a lame comparison of a monster truck, how about showing some of the rich history of motocross. Where they are really missing out on is, the MXoN. I don't understand why they don't bill it as the olympics of motorsports. Tell me what American doesn't like to see the USA show it's dominance to the world? Let's face it the average person has never ridden a dirtbike and has no idea how much skill it takes to ride like the pros do. Let's hope somehow they can find a way to open more eyes on the most incredible syncronization between man and machine. SPEED should get the holeshot and be the first to exclusively show all SX/MX live. Maybe then the sport could gain more popularity. CBS has horrible timing too, they stopped live coverage one race too early! LA was awesome and they missed it! Unbeleivable!!!!!!!!!! Sorry about the novel, but I just wish with all the bad and uninteresting programs on tv that they could show our sport the way it deserves: LIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah it really is crazy what happens man, it's so funny you talk about Currier, I was just flipping through an old Racer X and saw him in a motorex ad. Where is he? I remember he came down to Nor-Cal and really put it to us on 60s and 80s just demolished us. But was a really cool kid, and his dad trying to get everyone to use those demarini bars or whatever they were! Good times.
Havent heard much discussion about Team Suzukis management change this off season ? Which $ motivtaed decision has been a biiger mistake so far this season, Suzuki dropping Decoster or Honda hiring Grant ?
JimM
CarlsbadCa
Also the first time I ever saw Dungey do very well was world mini 05 him Hill and Albertson battled it out all week. Hill was dominate but I'm pretty sure Dungey beat him strait up in the Run off in the school boy class. Albertson was the 450 stud at the time and they were in the Intermediate class and Lawrence was in the pro class on his suzuki destroying everyone!
Those Demarini bars sucked so bad! He talked my dad into buying some back in the day and they were like 100 bucks a pop and i would bend them from sliding out in a turn. Definitely a waste of money. Then I got Renthal twinwall bars and when I crashed the handlebars were fine but I bent my triple clamps. I guess it was just a no win situation
Chad Reed is OVER, DONE, USED-UP. Seriously people his "glory" days are over and its kinda pathetic the way you Reed-tards keep clutching at straws trying to find some gleamer of hope. 20th to 7th, really? I remember when Carmichael once crashed in the first turn and worked his way all the way back to 2nd. Reed is the ONLY rider i never liked, hope he retires at the end of the year. I'm so tired of his BS excuses and exagerrated injures.
Hahaha yeah dude you definetly know what I'm sayin! I never got them because I was super sensitive to bars I could ONLY use renthals.
Smee113: Man I know what you're sayin, I used to hate Reed I mean with a passion because of what the guys from smith told me about him. But I became a fan after seeing him at Hangtown last year he rode the wheels off that Kawi! But i don't think he's quite done he could sneak a win but he's not on RV or JS level at all!
Why don't you be thankful for what we have now? Not too long ago we use to have to wait a week or two for the race to air.. Before that mx and sx races only aired in the middle of the night. CBS does suck, but it is way better than what use to have.. SO SHUT THE HELL UP.. Maybe if people ***** they might take it away since our sport doesn't bring in huge outside sponsors. If you notice the commercials are mainly moto companies not Coke or Pepsi.Also CBS broadcast is mainly geared to bring in and interest newbies..
CBS is wack its never live on cbs cus they suck. The real FANS want live racing not all this behind the scens bull shit show more racing and for the love of god show some live shit. Take some notes from SpeedTv they are way way BETTER.
Everybody email them so they mabe will do something about it.
Left a comment at http://www.cbssports.com/help/contactus/usersspeak
this is what i send CBS i think everyone should send them something so they can see how us real fans feel.
Hello CBS I'm a big motocross an supercross FAN!!! Why dont you guys show some live racing we always have to wait tel the next day to see it or watch it on the net not cool guys. We want to see more racing like lcq an the main event not a shit load of commercials an behind the scens bs. Take some notes from SPEEDTV cus it seems like they have done there homework an got it right.
I for one didn't underestimate RV this Guy is sick and as long as he stays up it's gonna get even better!! I said at the start of the season Poto was gonna rail it!! As far as CBS give all the races back to SPEED where it belongs unless you start doing live races!!
TC is the first guy since RC to live up to the title "Factory Honda." He's got the fight, the talent and gets better every week. It's good to see they finally picked a guy who might be able to live up to the Honda legacy of MC, RC, DB, RJ and O'Show.
But Villopoto.... that guy's a straight up animal. RV is the Terminator. James will have his hands full with this one, and it's going to take a whole different style to beat him than it took to beat Reed a couple years back. God I love 2011!!!
What a bunch of negative comments. Every time I read this column, it sounds like a complaint department. Why do you keep coming back if it's that bad?
I got a case of Blue Ribbon Longnecks and a pair of mommy's panties to the 1st lights rider that takes out Hansen.
If you guys want to watch the mains uninterrupted go here http://www.youtube.com/user/motomonstervideos
BILLC. Agree, I dont know what anyone expected of RV. BOWYER, are you nuts. An unlikely source for RV being the fastest?? He was putting it to Dungey last year once he got into shape. He has done it every year he is healthy. Its not a big surprise to me or a few other here. A few of us said he would be the one to race with Stewie, he is not only racing with him, he is beating him too. But very good article, always loved Rev-Up. And CBS needs to do something about their coverage, more racing , less B.S.
I love MX/SX but I also have a realistic perspective of where the sport stands in the "bigger world." You guys ***** and moan about seeing every single race no later than the next day. That's a riot. Some even suggest going back to ESPN! Do you have a memory? The week-old broadcast was just as likely as not to be preempted by an NHL post-game show. One genius suggested they play fewer commercials. Hello? SX gets a relatively small audience ... so let's make less money on it by playing fewer commercials. Yup. That's how it works. (Insert sarcasm here.) As for live coverage ... SX live during primetime on Saturday night on CBS? Again, hello? SX WANTS to be on CBS because they know they can attract new viewers. We'll watch no matter what, many of "us" *****ing and moaning the whole time. It must suck to have such a great need to *****. For the record, I'd love to see the coverage improve, but it's pretty much better than ever, overall, and I'm glad to be able to watch my favorite sport every week.
3 words................villopoto,baker,nutrition.
you are what you eat.
cbs honestly believes that supercross is a mix between nascar and the x-games. they have no f*cking clue.
kooks.
2DamnOld2Race. Very Good ! Throw in some Brylcreem with that case of Blue Ribbon and mommys panties and 'lil' moron would probably take himself out !
JimM
CarlsbadCa
Stacy , Catch 2 at the TGO and you would add these three " effen bad ass"
I bet "CBS" was right about the broadcast even if its a fake.
It gets started
2 minutes of "The Pit Party" with Ralph Shaheen.
15 seconds of high"lites" reel.
4 minutes of interviews with an Oakland Raiders football player and Brett Michaels and how he heroically tried to race when he was younger before he did crack.
30 second high"lites" reel of the main event.
5 minute interview with James Stewart, noone else.
Dungey is not the first rookie to win the MX title in the big boy class: RC was in 2000. And do we really need to speculate if Dungey will not be wearing the #1 plate for long? Really? It's comments like these that throw riders under the bus prematurely, and Bowyer is just adding to that ridiculousness. And "F" Stewart, he's junky and his show sucks...
#2 has lost what? 10 ...15 pounds?
lookin tight.
and baker will have him eatin the real good stuff. no brownies thats for sure.
CBS = Cannot Broadcast Supercross .... I love that one! Funny ... and true!
sef154- I agree with you on the coverage. Its the best its ever been, and I dont know how people are complaining about having to watch it the next day. It sucked back in the day when you had to wait a week to see it and espn would have whatever show before it cut into the motocross time. Damn bass fishing seemed to overlap into motocross. That to me always felt like a low blow. Not seeing the race due to bass fishing going over its time. The only complaint I would have is the stupid non motocross stuff they show instead of the heat races. There wasnt any commercials during the main event and that was really cool. Im used to going to commercials with one guy leading the race and coming back from commercials and someone else was winning and they wouldnt even have a replay for the pass. All in all motocross is definitely progressing and I'm happy for that.
sef154: Man the more I see posts from you I learn that you are one hell of a smart person! Seriously, I feel more than rediculous for ever arguing with you. The coverage really is better than it ever has been and we are lucky for that. Weigandt even said that the ratings are almost triple on CBS so they are doing something right and gaining new viewers which is the point. It could get better but like you said does anyone have a memory? IT HAS and will continue. We really are just so lucky to even have it on the same weekend and more live races then ever this season.
Some people would bi*** if you hung them with a new rope. The shows are way better than they used to be. and there has always been 50 per cent commercials, except now they show the main with no interupption, so all the commercials are crammed into the first half of the show. what are you gonna do?
RV2----Fastest ANIMAL on the planet.
Trick you are right; I enjoyed watching the main interruption free. I would watch the commercials if CBS put them in with the heat races. As for me I will not be tuning in until 12:30.
I love how DZ says back in the day you had to wait a week. I remember back in the day when you had to wait 2 months!!!! And I'm sure that some old timer on here is going to say "back in the day, we didnt have TV", lol
I'm a northwest guy and watch RV and JH coming up. Obvious they would make it. Also been watching Landon Currier for years. He got hurt a couple years ago ut is fine now and riding suzuki's. Expect to see him come out in the next year or two.
I gotta say watching Landon on the 50's was damn cool.
I'll take the 5$ bet and go with RV. I am also going to call it right now and say RV wins the outdoor championship this year.
Yes CBS sucks.....but hell at least we are getting something. And it beats the swamp buggy coverage :-)
Come back soon Weimer (be a spoiler)
I could put up with all the commercials if they just made the broadcast 1 1/2 or 2 hours long and showed all the heats. 1 hour cannot show enough racing....
cbs sucks d*%k
I'm bettin' on Stewart this weekend, he wants another win!
Monster, I'm that OT that remembers Huffman screeching about Tripes and Falta at Spuerbowl I...live broadcast? Cycle News was about the limit.
Good job, Andy. I understand CBS is trying to appeal to a broader audience but, you don't show "human interest" during football, you show football!! There is allways some exciting racing going on in a surpercross race, even if it's not for the lead. THE IS ALWAYS SOME EXCITING RACING GOING ON IN A SUPERCROSS RACE. The producers/directors/cameramen/etc. need to get on the same page and manage this competently or find someone who can. There are people in the TV/film industry who are into MX/SX I've seen them @ DITD several times. If it's an issue of the union placing incompetents then damnit! let's fix it!! This is THE ORIGINAL EXTREME SPORT, it doesn't need a "fresh look" or "tweaking" or any other B.S. other than showing the racing. Trust me, MX/SX has stood on it's own merits since day one, it still will......venting completed.
I AGREE WITH ANDY BOWYER HERE...
"Is it a surprise? It shouldn’t be. With my own two eyes, I watched RV ride the fastest I’ve ever seen anyone ride a motorcycle at the 2008 Motocross of Nations at Budd’s Creek. I was standing at the bottom of the finish line sweeper and saw him shift about four gears while standing on the pegs around a crusted outside line, and I’ll never forget it. During that moto he led the world’s best (on a 250F) by a twenty-second margin. Then he fell down and the gap closed to maybe ten bike lengths...then he pulled out another fifteen-second lead."
THIS IS REASON WHY RV IS A BAD ASS...
Thanks for the update open class. Good to hear Landon is riding again, I'm pretty sure he'll do very well. But way to go out on a limb and say villopoto will win the outdoors! haha I think anyone thinking they could beat him outdoors has another thing commin! lol