Monday Conversation With... Dean Wilson
Monday, February 28, 2011 | 11:45 AM
Alpinestars has been delivering performance of the highest level on the motocross tracks of the world for almost 50 years. Racing on Sunday and developing on Monday is a way of life at Alpinestars. Welcome to the Racer X Monday Conversation.
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Dean Wilson won two races last summer in AMA Motocross, so a lot of people tend to forget he’s still gunning for his first career Monster Energy Supercross win. Or, he was, because now the Scotts-Canadian-Californian has a victory after coming from behind to win in Atlanta on Saturday night. His win also marked the 200th all-time for his team, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki.
Racer X Online: I don’t know if a lot of people realize, this is your first supercross win.
Dean Wilson: Yeah I don’t think a lot of people realize that. That’s why I’m so stoked and so excited; this is where I wanted to be. It means so much to win my first supercross. The last race was okay, but I went into Houston not where I wanted to be. My shoulder injury was still pretty fresh, and my speed was not quite there yet. It was just a couple weeks here to get in more riding time and get better, it wasn’t much time, but I did get better. I worked hard, and now it all paid off. It’s a dream come true to get my first supercross win.
Wilson made a hard charge through the pack en route to his first SX victory.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
And they way you did it was impressive. You didn’t nail the holeshot and check out, you came from behind. How did you do it?
You know, I had to change my lines. I had some bad ones, and then I found some better ones. I was able to come through and get the win. It was awesome.
But how did you find better lines? It looked like everyone was going for the same line everywhere.
Yeah it was difficult, it was a good race, we were all close. I don’t know. I did find a good line through the whoops. I started jumping through them, and that was better. I found better lines in a couple of other places. I just tried to keep my head straight and keep looking ahead.
When you were in fifth, did you feel like you could win it? All the fast guys were in front of you.
Yeah I think I was okay. Everyone was close together so I could at least see them. I would make a mistake and lose some time, and then I would catch back up, so I knew I was faster than those guys. I just had to make good passes, and that’s what I did.
Wilson's win marked the 200th for Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
Can you even remember the passes you made?
I don’t know, man. It was all happening so fast.
There was a lapper who held up Barcia at one point and you guys all jammed in together.
Yeah! That’s’ right, the lapper! Baggett and Barcia got caught up with the lapper, and I got them, but then they both guy by me again. We just all jammed up together. It was so close. So I had to get by them again.
You made passes jumping through the whoops?
Yeah, I passed Sipes before we went into the whoops. Then I passed Baggett after the finish, in the right-hander, he went inside and I went outside. Then I passed Barcia before the finish line. I had my eyes toward Wharton, but then he fell. I got a little lucky there, but I’ll take it. It wasn’t like Villopoto, though, man. He got pretty lucky there. That 450 race was insane! I don’t know if he was thinking he would win it, but he did. It was awesome, good for him.
This is the 200th win for your team.
Yeah that’s unbelievable. For Monster Energy and Pro Circuit, they’re supporting me so strong, and the team is so good. I’m just happy to be here and to get this for them.
What’s this do for your confidence? You definitely showed some speed coming through.
Yeah it’s just good, you know? I’m where I want to be, speed wise, and I’m tied for the points lead now. So it’s good. I’m really happy right now, we just need to keep it going.
Wilson celebrates his win with teammate Blake Baggett.
Photo: Matt Pavelek
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Let me correct you Wilson. You got VERY LUCKY Wharton fell because you were not going to reel him in had he not.
And you know that, how?
Nice ride Dean! Keep doing what your doing and ignor the snakebytes of the world. Guys like you are the class of the field.
Wharton's crash was a bummer. He was flat GONE. Huge holeshot and was checking out. I thought there might be some shenanigans between him & Sipes but, he just blew by everyone (right off the start) and was leaving them behind when the dreaded front-end washout happened. Too bad for Wharton, good for Mr. Wilson. Daytona is going to be very interesting for this group.
I really like Dean it's just that when you look at the lap time vs the laps remaining - mathematically it wasnt going to happen had Wharton not fell or made a major mistake. Just like villopoto was not going to win if James and Reed didnt tangle. Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. Wilson wa both.
Awesome win,...good job!
Way to go, Dean-o.
off subject, but I dont care who you are a fan of this season is producing. drama, good racing, no certain winner each week, you cant complain!!!
Wow great race and I'm stoked for Dean to get the win, but did he lose a bet or something??? What's with pulling out the Scottish accent on the podium?
No matter who wins or who doesn't... one thing is for sure... someone will post something negative. Oh for Pete sake! What a bunch of cry babies! Waaaaaaa I want my mommy.... good gravy sakes alive! What a joke. B***h mone and complain over and over and over. Hey it's racing man! When ever there's racing there's gonna be crashes and mix ups. BE THANKFUL THAT YOU HAVE A RACE TO WATCH and quit yer belly achen bacon.
Great ride, Wilson...for a second I was worried that you were afraid of battling with hard chargers when you complained about Barcia's aggressiveness. Hopefully you're up to the task of battling like a good pro always does. At the same time, I have to say good luck to Barcia. May the two of you have epic battles, along with Wharton, Baggett and the rest!
The Flying Squirrel is back to 0 -ish...That was a great ride, hopefully he will be even stronger next week. Try not to barf on the plane Deano! It sucks that Wharton went down, but still a great ride for Blake all things considered. Keep it up Dean! Bam Bam can't hit what he can't see!
Banzai!
...that should have read "back to one hundred percent-isht"
Wow...really having a hard time with the English language here.
"one hundred percent-ish" Ok...done. GO DEANO!
this kid is NOT canadian.
Team Managers-
I know your guys didn't go to college but could you please help train them not to start every answer with the word "yeah"?
Deano is 8-9 in this article.
How anyone could make a comment that Wharton had this in the bag, is beyond me. Dean was on rails, and it's 15 laps, not 5. Wharton has a tendency to either crash or fade, so I'd give Dean a very good chance of chasing him down should he not have taken a digger. Not to mention, Wilson rocketed past Barcia like he was sitting still then proceeded to pull a healthy gap. After Houston, I thought Barcia had scared this kid enough to get the edge. I was wrong...
Where are all the people that said Dean-O was making excuses about not being 100% and calling him a whiner after the first round?
Way to get it done dean. I'm bout as sick of barcia as i am of stewey. Dean came from 5th to first. Its not dean's fault Wharton washed out. Dean is the fastest, has the best personality, and pulls the bombest hoe's. Dean is living the Dream! He works hard and proves it. Nuff said
I should do some cut copy and pasting from last weeks "5 mins w/ barcia". People ridiculed me for saying barcia was a dirty rider, and that dean would prevail. They tried to make me look like a Mentally retarded keyboard racer/never been on a bike FANatic. Where you at now sucka's. Dean's gonna steal the show real quick. go dean!!!
250- Wilson flat smokes everyone like it's a short outdoor race.
450- Villopoto flat smokes Bubba and laps up to 4th like it's a short outdoor race.
oh and Jeffamy McEmig will out announce RC by a mile :0)
You are right, Stacy. Dean is not Canadian, but he lived and raced for about 6 years in Canada. So a very important part of his development was in Canada. Canadians don't claim he is Canadian but we are proud of what he has accomplished (so far) and cheer him on like one of our own.
Hey Stacy, What makes you canadian? This kid (D.W) was for the most part raised in Canada, learned to race in Canada, and has since gone to the mecca of mx so,cal. I have dealt with that kid and his family for years (not alway's pleasant) Oh sorry I think I just slipped in what you were spitting.
If you're point was about how he's Scottish not Canadian.
Sorry my bad....
Although I believe he thought he had a better chance of riding for the U.K. team rather then a ill supported canadian effort. re: mxdon or whatever they call it now.
Its sad, a guy gets his first win and the first thing that happens is some clown say"You got lucky so-and-so fell". Maybe the guy feel because he couldnt go that fast without crashing?? You dont know. But the kid passed on a tough track to pass on and rode his butt off to a good win. Congrats Dean, good job.