450 Words: The Breakaway
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We came into the season thinking there was a big four (James Stewart, Ryan Villopoto, Ryan Dungey and Chad Reed) but soon amended that to a big five once Trey Canard started impressing. Well, now we may be down to a big two, as Stewart and Villopoto are really starting to separate themselves from the field after four races.
At the first round RV won going away while Stewie came from a bad start to third behind the Kawasaki Kid and Dungey. Since then the seven and the two have been battling it out. Stewie won Phoenix with RV second and in LA it was Villopoto with James in second (after passing Dungey twice). Last night, RV led early before washing out the front end (just one more in a sea of washed out front ends this year it seems) and James went on to take a commanding win. Full marks to the seven for what he did after a couple of incredibly rough practices. James even skipped the last practice and saw himself become a victim to a much faster track and his class leading second practice time was now only eighth best when the final practice was done. But that doesn’t matter much. When the chips were down for the main event, the man once known as J-Mac held a royal flush and took home the pot.
When Stewart went down in practice, Villopoto took control of qualifying. When Villopoto went down in the race, Stewart took control of the results.
Garth Milan photo
Much further back, after Villopoto crashed, it was old-school night as Chad Reed held down second. But no one was counting out Villopoto as he seemed to be on his way back to the front before crashing a second time. When the flag flew, it was an unsatisfactory fourth on the night and Ryan was left wondering “What if…” after the main. A closer look at the race sees that RV actually logged the faster lap in Oakland with James right behind him. And no one else was even in the same second as those two. But that’s nothing new, either, because in every single main event this year, the blue man and gang green have had the top two fastest times in the main event.
So we have James in the lead with a two point gap on Ryan and third place Ryan Dungey is already twelve points behind RV, fourteen to Stewart. I’m not sure what there is to separate the top two riders from each other besides some bad luck and starting position, but I do know that they are breaking away from everyone else and threatening to turn this into a two man show. It may not sound as good as the big four, but we’ve seen two-man battles provide plenty of entertainment in this sport before.
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Hey Mathes how about the privateer Mr Reed he is doing it on his own. Both stewart and RV are pushing it and hopefully they can keep riding smart the front end washouts only show they are pushining when ilt is safe.You dont have to win practice at the level these guys are at. As I have always said it is a lot easier working your way from first to last than last to first and all of the best have shown that. Lest just hope everyone stays in one peice this year!!! It is proving to be a good year and the best is yet to happen. Oh I do always like your articles.
Rabbit 128....
B.A.M. ? ?
B.A.M
Bad Ass Mofo?
where is the guy that always said "dungey rules" we miss him so much...JS7 will be the guy to beat and villo in 2011...props to trey canard..
Great racing once again. I think the sketchy track slowed up some of the guys. JS7 and RV were some of the only guys jumping that triple-triple section (Where RV lost his front end). I was hoping K-Dub would be up there.
James will be hard to beat this season. I had my doubts before this race, but he is in the right place mentally to win this series now.
Who in the hell is J-mac?
i'm with norcalkyle.gotta be.....
Twenty who?
Bubba is simply awesome. The GOAT even said he had to tip his hat to him. RV will crash hard agian, it is just a matter of time. I don't wish this on him but for him to compete with Stewie an all broke or nothing attitude must be there.He is a class act and is definitely a person for kids to call their hero. And I could not be happier for Reed. Showing the so called #1 plate guy who's boss. Making a statement for the Privateer racer.
Iam up in Canada so we only get SX once a year. I just hope all of the racers will be healthy to treat my son and I to day of pure excitment on March 26. Until then we will be watching and listening to all the races and information out there.
So thankyou America and the AMA for SX and MX.
RV will crash hard again??? Bubba has seen much harder crashes then RV so far!!! RV just laid it down....
Well, 1 down and 13 to go for bubba to back up his claim: "it won't happen again". Not wishing anything bad on the guy, but that's a statement a racer probably shouldn't make. And if he does pull that off, I just might be the biggest JS fan of all time! Assuming he was talking about the mains though. Practices were a little rough. This thing is a looooong way from over though!!
l know they have had fuel injection for a two years now, but all these tucked front tires on the turns? I'm wondering if it's the slightest electronic lag just as they're getting back on the gas?........ Ok! I'll put my pipe down! But seriously, just wondering? Anybody else see anything? They're not washing out, but tucking, weight a little inside before the bike kicks in? Just a thought. I've had it happen to me when a bike falls on it's face as soon as you gas it in a turn. p.s. always thought JS7 was one of the fastest men on the planet! Just didn't want to hear him say it!!
get ur facts straight...he never said he is going to win them all, he just said he isn't going to lay it down in a turn while leading and throw it away...but you can read into it so you can hate...go ahead...i doubt he cares...
Words cannot even describe how horrible James' practice were. He crashed on the very first lap of un-timed practice, never really looked like himself. Sat out second timed I thought he was hurt, thank god for sorby got that cleared up for me. Then onto the hot lap couldn't do anything right what so ever. Man what a ride to come back from I know RV gave him a bit of a gift but he really showed some mental fortitude last night! Very Impressive.
Matthes, you are the man! But dude I looked all day for you, NO LUCK!
Well, I never said he was going to win them all either. He said he wouldn't lay it down again. Or at least that's the way I heard it. I'm not trying to insult James, obviously he is extremely talanted. Just never really cared for anybody with an ego like his. Not hate, I just would rather see someone else win. Not to mention it gets a little boring when somebody runs away with a huge points lead.
p.s. I doubt it if he cares too! That's exactly what I"m talking about!
i cant help but say PLEASE mr bridgestone come back to AMA racing so we can have less wash outs.... the 403/404 or 603/604 combo is way better then mx 51 or mx 71 combo..i personaly have never liked ANY dunlop tyre, but alas im a nobody that can & has to buy whayever tyres I want...
Build a team in three months....check
Win a heat race......check
finish on the podium........check
Be in the title fight after a handfullof rounds......check
It aint over people!!!!
There are 17 races in this Supercross season, anyone who is picking a champion now is a fool. This race is still wide open Stewart, Villi, Dungey, Reed, Canard are all still in thos
Stew is gone win it again.
B.A.M. = Boots Are Mine
Hey mxjoe99. What I meant about RV crashing hard was a crash like in St.Louis last year. I hope not
defentily good races so far..i dont get a factory pro motocrosser and champion getting paid cant jump the triple triple section..and phoniex he could not jump onto the tabletop and off...also looking around like alessi....dungey has to ride a touch out his comfort zone to be up there.he cant wait for someone to fall go for it its your job, career ,dream.........i would like to see all of them there but every year there is usally only 2 guys always.......go back to johnson bailey emig magrath ricky an mcgrath and so on..2 guys....now its stewy an rv...if they both stay healthy and there in it to win it every race..dungey must hope for a miracle...every race if he does not win there is doubt in his mind....if stewy an rv were gone rd would be in the points lead with canard and reed...........last year this time he was tied with josh hill o boy oh boy....go stewy rv and reedy
O'hannah, you are so right. Especially when you can't judge a thing from a mudder/greaser such as Oakland. Look how Windham destroyed Dungey in the mud rounds last year. Made him look like a novice. One thing that is noticeable so far is that Dungey and Reed have not gone down during the races. So far, RV's been down twice (well 3 times-2 in Oakland!) and James has been down once. Dungey's consistent approach may not win this year, but he'll still be healthy come the outdoors. As a huge RV fan, I'm disappointed to not see him back down a bit and try to get a 2nd after the 1st fall. It might have been wise to let Bubba take the point during the race as well and try to pressure him into a fall instead. Trying to gap James on a greasy, slimy track probably wasn't the best game plan for RV.
Matthes...this article was a little closed minded to me. We arnt even a quarter of the way through the season and you are acting like this championship is finished?? Disappointing
Jaimz rode a steady, controlled race from start to finish to get the win, because that was all he needed to do to get the top spot on the podium. We've all seen the montages of the many horrendous bails theat #7 has had over his career, and I doubt he wants to be there again after the extended recovery time his broken navicular required (the RJ career ending injury). RV will go through this period too, it looks like it's unavaila ble for the greats. Joemez, I'm with you as far as your assertion that it always seems to be a 2~man battle in SX from way back when. The last time I can recall a multi~rider competition for the championship was '92 (I think), when JMB, Stanton, Bradshaw, Guy Cooper, and the Kied all contended for most of the series. Great stuff this season, though...
B.A.M = obviously stands for Bad Accessment, Mathes. He knew you were going to make a ridiculous claim about he and Villo were going to run away with the series. I believe Canard, Dungey, and now a super pumped, stoked, and ready to shred Reed will have something to say about it.
Hahaha Matthes what a joke! The big 5 now a big 2?? So ridiculous. If anyone has been around the sport enough...its you. Both RV and JS have historys of riding over their heads. What makes you think it wont happen again this year?? Reed, Dungey, Canard....they are all consistent and there week in and week out, just like Villi and Stewart. I agree with humfrey...BAD ASSESSMENT MATTHES! This season isnt even a quarter of the way done and you act like its finished or something lol.
It was scary when they were showing Stewie crash in prtactice. first thing I thought is that he was out. I want all to stay healthy for the whole season. Its funny hearing guys say RV will crash and knock himself out of the season. He has only done that once in his career. His other reason was to fix an old knee injury he hurt in practice when he stuck his foot in a rut. Stewie has crashed himself out more than anyone on the track. He looked great in the heat race and main, as RV never looked comfortable on the track. He struggled constantely. Reed was great, glad to see him come up. Stewie can stay smooth, and both of the top two can stay up for a whole main, we will see some of the best racing in years.
ride4ever,,, riders always say statements like that.. Give it a rest, will ya ???
After 4 rounds Reed is 22 points off of first and 20 off from 2nd with his highest finish a 3rd... Id say that as it sits right now he really is not in title contention to lose that many points in 4 rounds.
**** i ment highest 2nd, hasnt even put himself in a position to win a race yet
RV's Kawi doesn't turn! It never has, he has to go into the turn with so much speed and it just washes on him. Stewart was on it and so was Reed I will give them that. But 2 big crashes in practice is not what I like to see, it's only a matter of time before he get's hurt doing that.
J,,, His Kaw doesnt turn ?? I think you need to watch the LA SX.. He was railing those corners.. The difference is,, Oakland had ruts ..........
Dave250: I disagree with that I have always felt that dunlops are WAAAY better especially their front tires. If you look at villopotos wash out he turned it in too hard and his front wheel came out of the rut and just folded. I think his and James' last week were purly rider misteak and they would probably admit that. No harm no foul
I think we need a "TOOK A DIGGER" award for the most crashes all year. practice, heats and mains included. Every ones been lucky so far. The two leaders of the series have been on the ground a lot! Stewart has completed the Ricky Bobby school of "If your not first your last" and will now settle for a second or third. RV is able to pass at will on everybody but JS. He did get road blocked by Reed and Dungey after the first crash. Dungey was even looking back over all the jumps at him. Don't count out 22 41 or 1... none of them have been on the ground in a main yet. will this series be decided by the guy with the most wins? Later in the year things will get more heated and we will see some take outs! Add 1 dnf to 7 or 2 and they are in the mix in points.
JS and RV are begining to seperate themselves...still a ways to go before you can say they have. Until you gap the field by 25 points its a little early to make that statement. Dunge was the only guy to run sub 50 second laps for the whole race. He hasn't been the fastest guy on the track but that is not always what wins in the end, like it or not. Just say'n.
@mxmofo-which statement are we talking about? "The it wont happen again", or " I'm the fastest man to ever throw a leg over a motorcycle"? Either way, I can't recall any riders, especially at his level saying anything as arrogant. If you can recall some instances I would be all ears. I'm just in disbeleif that all the intelligent people around him don't discourage him from using so many narcissistic public utterances. In other words......... Talking $H!++! Still, 1 down and 13 to go! I know he's young, but obviously the whole entourage is down with his antics, so I'm just waiting for him to eat his words. Sorry mxmofo, but no matter how big and bad you may be, there is always someone bigger and badder!
James is the fastest supercross rider in the last 20 or more years, probobly the fastest ever. Give me one guy who could log a faster lap. If it's true why not say it. I don't even root for him but it's true.
james is the fastest yes,but you cant compare due to mcgrath and rc having less technology..they were the fastest too..you cant really compare due to the difference but if you could bring all the top riders of all time to full health again and the same technology then we could have the results of fastest of alltime..but hey you gotta love the legends and kdub is a legend,we need to give the guy props..hes a family man makin a livin,keepin up with the young guys..talk about fan favorite
ride4ever,, the comment " it won't happen again " is just a figure of speech.. Like I said, its not a big deal, and quit trying to make something out of nothing..
FoyBoy517,, Thats exactly why RC can't be called the GOAT.
KLP, fast is fast but, I'd rather see a list of the biggest points accumulators over the past 35 years. I think that would put into proper respective the title of "the best in SX / MX / whatever". F.M.O.T.P is a title that is only good for the day. All the other guys have AMA titles to prove they were faster all year. Consider that. If James Stewart is so great, why is he not on track to demolish ALL standing records???? Moto history is full of mercurial talents but, until someone beats the status quo, they will never be better than, only comparable to.
MC is the king of SX! RC best outdoors ever! Look it up! These guys hung it out for wins with very few crashes. JS7 had more crashes in the first 3 years then MC and RC combined in their whole careers...
flp u cant even believe a comment about lap times is at all relevent to being the fastest ever sure james is like lightning fast 90% of the time but lap times mean nothing except for the race that they are recorded in ... over the years the bikes tracks and techniques have changed SO much that even the old school guys like david bailey are lost for words at what is possible now....