Racer X Open Mic: Daytona
Monday, March 7, 2011 | 1:45 PM
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PrintWhat did the riders think of Daytona? We found a few of them in the pits to get their take:
Justin Brayton: 6th Place, SX Class
It was okay. The track was gnarly, lots of square edges, I don’t know, it was tough. I didn’t have a great day. So for not having a good day, I managed to come through the pack and get sixth. For how I was feeling this week, and from my crash last weekend, this is a good way to leave Daytona. We’re coming up on some tracks I really like so it should be good.
How was this track compared to past Daytonas?
I think it was harder, but I liked it better. It was more supercrossy, with supercross obstacles and big whoops, and I like that. But it made it more demanding, too. But that’s the way Daytona is supposed to be.
PJ Larsen: 5th place, Lites class
I’ve already requested to the team that I can race west next year! I’ve put in a formal written request. No, just kidding. It’s just one of those things that everyone struggles with here, trying to figure out how to set the bike up. We were pretty far off and ended up making a pretty drastic change before the night show. We still struggled a bit with that all night, but really, how can you set a bike up for Daytona? There’s only one race like this all year. The only thing you can really do is bring in an outdoor setup and refine it from there. But it was good, I rode smart and I didn’t crash. It was a really tricky track. That was the goal, just try to keep getting better every week. Of course, I want to win. Who doesn’t? I think everyone at this level, even if you’re a guy who is just barely making mains right now, you want to win and want to get there. So we’re just trying to get better during the season, every week.
Larsen had a season's best fifth place finish at Daytona.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Tye Simmonds: 17th place, SX Class
You’re making mains consistently now. Happy with that?
Yeah, yeah, it’s going better. I’ve been sick for awhle so now I’m feeling better. I usually always get a cold during the winter, so at first I didn’t think anything of it, but leading into San Diego I started coughing up dirty phlem and stuff, I was feeling terrible. I had to spend some time on the couch. Glad to be feeling better now.
You said you’re not happy with tonight’s main. What went wrong?
Terrible start, I think I was second to last into the first turn. I was having a lot of trouble with the track, I’ve never seen anything like that. I never got rolling. But unfortunately this week I have to go to Canada to get my Visa issues sorted out, so I’m not going to have any time to ride.
So Canada can sort out Visa issues?
I hope so! My Visa experies March 8 so I gotta get up there tomorrow. If not I’m getting shipped back to Australia in a few weeks!
Andrew Short: 4th place, SX Class
The race was really good for me. I didn’t have a good gate pick with the heat race, but the first two turns made my night. I was seventh right around turn two, and I came out of it in third. The longer race helped me, too. I don’t know if I would have been able to get Millsaps if I hadn’t had that much time. I got him on lap 16. The middle part of the race I kind of lost my groove, I was just trying too hard and making too many mistakes. Then I settled down and put in some good laps late. That’s three KTMs in the top ten, and four in the main event with Simmonds.
Are you almost relieved that things are going this well, after some tough races early? You’re back in the mix battling the same guys you did last year.
Yeah. Last year I broke my ankle, and I came back trying to work my way back into it, and grabbed two podiums. This year, I feel like I’m trying everything. I’m taking chances and going balls to the wall, and I’m happy to get fourth. Just the depth of the field, and guys like Windham and Brayton where behind me. There are really good riders all around, so you have to work really hard just to get fourth.
Did you pace yourself for the track?
No. I still tried to sprint those first few laps. That’s just too important to our sport, you have to go with the lead guys early. I left it all on the track and went as hard as I could go.
Short is slowly making his way to a spot on the podium.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Ryan Dungey: 3rd place, SX Class
In the heat race we were up front, felt great, not sure what happened. Maybe a rock hit the case, I have no clue, it just dropped oil and started making sounds. I had to go to the LCQ, and I was on the outside gate for the main, so it's a little bit of a disadvantage I'm not going to make excuses, we all get dealt a hand and we have to deal with it. I tried to pull one of those miracle starts from the outside, but I couldn’t quite pull it off.
I haven’t been to Daytona too many times so I don’t have much to compare it to. It was harder than last year. We were only at minute lap times last year, I think it was more physically demanding than last year because of it.
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champion or not, fast or not, JS7 is the funnest rider to watch
I Thought RD rode GREAT, He came thru the pack better then I have seen him all year and looks good., maybe ever. He could have won with a start ....maybe.... Not sure Reed did pull away a bit. RD was right on Reed but fell back a bit. either way solid ride IMO.
Short rode strong to the finish, Milsaps looked Shot when Short went by!! LOL
I love this new column. Short good interviews without the bs redundancy filler in most longer interviews. Good job RX picking up what twmx had right. I'd rather read than watch the video of someone struggling to talk sometimes.
yes, good content, curious what more top guys thought of the track n especially the 30 minutes of tough racing. awesome!
Gee BillC you're comin' round! I agree it was a great ride when you consider that after he was pushed off the track at the start he was in 15th not 10th. He eventually caught reed and was on his wheel until he made a mistake and went off the track. He lost 2 seconds and never got it back but he and Reedy both were catching RV who of course did not have to ride any harder to take the win.
Definitely agree, this column is a great read after each race. I look forward to this more than the interviews at this point. Keep expanding it DC, I like to hear what these guys think right after the race. Boy, would have been nice to hear from Stewart after this race. That get off was crazy!
Is it just me, or does RD look extremely agitated during the podium interviews lately? He just seems to be spewing out this regurgitated podium speech, and won't say what's on his mind. He is clearly upset about something, but he won't talk. One thing speed needs to do is push Erin Bates to dig deeper on the post race interviews...its basically one question then the whole list of sponsors. Bland..
dunge looked really good at daytona, the best i think i have seen him all year. Too bad for the mech. dnf.... but he did a great job in the main event, after getting pushed wide in the first turn....not a dunge fan, but he did a great job and got on the box...i am impressed..
raddad not comin around, I like RD just did not jump on the waggon last year because my Gut told me he could not run with RV, or JS. He seems to be getting stronger the last few weeks so I hope we see him in the fight soon. It better be soon or it might be over for the Champ.
RD started from the back an made his way up to 3 i think he started at 18 an stewart was on fire an talk about luck is RV two weekends in a row he won because of stewart falling
Love this column, glad they talk to different guys every week too.
BillC – I think for all the banter RV and RD are very, very similar riders. Both very nice guys with a positive image. Both ride fast but never out of control. Both patient and willing to take 5th if that is what the night delivers. Both very clean riders. Both were being taunted by J-Law in prior years, physically and verbally. Both have won Lites outdoor and Supercross titles. Both very smooth riding styles. This season, RV is getting the breaks and luck RD got last year. Like RD, RV is not invincible – remember when Canard beat him for a Supercross title a couple years ago? As for this year, the title belongs to RV.
RD came across the line on lap 1 in 13th place after his near last start and off track excursion. Then he passed another handful of guys on lap 2, when they were all packed together and falling down, or "grenading" as Reed says...good ride for RD, that is how the defending champ should ride. He lost time on Reed when he almost high sided into the bleachers.....RD had some of the "JS7" moments too....and almost crashed a few times during the race....same with Reed...he almost went over the bars as well.....RV seemed to have the most solid ride of the night....no craziness that I saw.
The broadcast barely showed RV
Solid ride for RD. I was really surprised he wasn't able to overtake CR. Maybe he was just getting a little tired with all the effort he put. At the KTM camp too bad for Roczen who also didn't get a good start. He had the pace tonight to go fight with Short.
I wish Daytona was like vegas with both lites classes besides that it was great!!!!! Manly men prevailed . bummer about #7 he was FLYIN'. I think ALOT of riders came very close to wadding it up.
Good idea tonewall with both lites classes....also, why no interviews after the heat races and no lites heats or LCQ action....lots of dead air on SPEED this week.
Good interviews and good comments from all I have nothing to add just hope the races keep getting better and hope Stwerat's luck gets better. I am a fan of all just like the races and miss being able to race! Good luck to all!
You guys (Racer X) should have interviewed Mike Alessi and asked him why he basically stopped and let Stewart pass him. I watched Speed Center on the Speed Channel and they had a arrow pointing to Alessi letting him by. WTF Mike? Yeah, most likely Bubba would have passed you anyway, but at least put up a fight and race hard to the checkers. I wonder if Roger saw that shit. Unbelievable!
Haven't been much of an Alessi fan but it was class that we haven't seen this year by lappers that caused him to pull over for Stewie. He was getting the blue flag and saw the #7 and thought he was in the lead and didn't want to be the idiot that most lappers are these days.
I have to say that SPEED does a pathetic job of covering the greatest racing sport on earth. Last week (and every week) NO MATTER WHAT IS HAPPENING on the track they ALWAYS CUT TO THE WINNER. Boring. We had to wait until Daytona to see the amazing last corner heroics by Ryan Dungy (the champ) passing Reed and Stewie in the same corner for 2nd!!! He may not win the championship this year but RD is a true champion! SPEED please show us the race - no matter what position it is for.
Stewarts riding over his head plan and simple! You can talk all you want about it but he's over his head. He needs to rethink his whole program, he ran off Aldon and now Larry Brooks. He's riding like it is do or die, and if he doesn't win, his whole life is going down. Mellow out! Let somebody else lead some laps and then try and pass them at the end! Just a thought!
Is someone messing with RD's bike when nobody's looking?
What was up with the Monster Energy girls? Did they find religion or was it that cold?
pxh911......I was wondering the same thing, they better smarten up though!
GOOOOO SHORTY!!