by Davey Coombs
Racerhead #10
Friday, March 11, 2011 | 5:55 PMHonda is the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, and the undisputed leader in motorcycle technology. More motocross riders have won titles on Hondas than on any other bike. When you’re serious about winning, Honda is the machine for you.
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PrintAnother year, another Daytona. This one, however, was different. After slowly working its way toward the end of the Bike Week festivities over the years, to the point where it became arguably the biggest event of all (sorry, coleslaw wrestling fans), the Daytona Supercross by Honda was moved to the front of Bike Week this time. As a result, there was less traffic, less noise up and down the streets from the Bike Week warriors, and just fewer street bikes in general going up and down International and Bill France Blvd. But the race itself? It had a huge crowd, plenty of excitement, and a wild outcome, as you well know.
Before we dig into the nitty-gritty of Bike Week, let's look forward to tomorrow night—another live broadcast on SPEED TV, this time from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The action begins at 7:30 p.m. ET and will run through both main events. Also, stay tuned to Racer X Online and our Thor Racecenter for information and updates all afternoon and evening from Indy.
Supercross returns to Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
Here's the animated track map to get you prepped on what the riders will be seeing tomorrow night.
First, though, there's Ian Trettel. A great kid, well-liked, and with a wonderful future ahead of him, Ian crashed hard in practice on his Rockstar Energy Suzuki and landed on his head. He was knocked out immediately, and maybe worse. It's been touch-and-go since then. As of Thursday afternoon, Ian was still in a medically induced coma, but the swelling and bleeding on his brain have the doctors deeply concerned. Trettel landed headfirst on the face of a jump, which was made of heavy clay at Daytona.
Here's the thing: Trettel was coming off a broken collarbone and contemplated not wearing his Leatt Neck Brace, according to his friend and trainer John Louch. When doctors looked at him in the Halifax Emergency Room, they saw that the brace had not damaged his injured shoulder further—the plate he’d just gotten had held—but had he not been wearing it, he almost certainly would have broken his neck. The crash and the injury he sustained are bad enough; it's easy to imagine how much worse it might have been.
By the way, it's now been five years since Ernesto Fonseca suffered his career-ending neck injury in a practice crash in California, an anniversary Ernesto himself mentioned on his Twitter feed.
The entire motocross community has IT77 in their thoughts and prayers after he suffered a bad crash at Daytona.
Photo: Simon Cudby
The other big crash at Daytona was less costly to the athlete, but it may have long-term effects. James Stewart's spectacular crash while leading has been the grist for bench racers, pit pundits, fans, and fellow riders since last Saturday night. It was a terrible crash that he was lucky to walk away from, let alone ride away from and still salvage some points. The immediate finger-pointing went toward the Asterisk Mobile Unit Medics, who were literally right there when Stewart got up and tried to get back on his bike. His foot got caught on his rear fender, which was bent straight up, and he lost his balance and fell backward when he couldn't swing his foot over to the other side of the bike. He got to his feet again, with the help of the Asterisk men, who are considered officials and rightfully so—they help everyone equally and do their best to maintain a safe track and good medical care when needed.
So did Stewart get good medical care? I have to think so. No one but James and the medics have any idea what was said between them, but he obviously had his wits about him enough to get back on his bike and ride as fast as anyone for the rest of the race. He even kept doing those amazing leaps over both the Wall Jump into the Gator Pit as well as that big leap in the next rhythm section. According to the AMA's Jeff Canfield, they had five sets of eyes on his every move for the next few laps, and the black flag was in hand in case he looked the least bit woozy or unstable. He didn't, and he ended up reaching the top ten.
Here's the thing: Had the medics kept Stewart off his bike, his team, his sponsors, and James himself might have had grounds to bring a suit against the medics, the officials, and everyone involved in the race. They had to assess him in the heat of the moment, with the racing continuing around them. They felt he was able to get back on the track, and they monitored him closely from there until well after the race in the pits. They made the right call.
Stewart overcame a big crash at Daytona to keep his championship hopes alive.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Had Stewart quit, he would have been vilified. He soldiered on, and was quite fast, and he's still being vilified, as are the medics and the officials. That's the thing about James Stewart: sometimes he just can't win, whether he finishes first or twenty-first. I applaud him for gutting out the ride he did, and then getting himself checked out after the race.
Meanwhile, Ryan Villopoto just keeps plugging along. He won the Daytona Supercross for the second year in a row, only this time both Stewart and Chad Reed were out there too. RV has been impressive from Anaheim 1 on, and that's why he's in the driver's seat right now. Here are some video highlights from the race on SPEED TV.
Could Villopoto have lapped Stewart at the end? Maybe, maybe not. But I think he was better off not driving the dagger any deeper. It's like a football team throwing bombs at the end of the game even though they’re way ahead—insults like that can come back and haunt you, and RV knows that a win is only worth 25 points no matter who you lap, so job well done.
I also think Reed and Ryan Dungey rode their asses off, particularly in the second half of the race. Both had their fair share of trouble in the heat races—Dungey's bad luck with bike problems continue—and they had to scramble to get up there in the main event. But both of these guys are professionals, and they are obviously doing all the work it takes to be in a position to win. It just hasn't happened yet for Dungey.
What gives? Obviously, the competition is stronger this year, and it's hard to measure the changes in the whole Rockstar/Makita Suzuki program after losing both Roger DeCoster and key technician Ian Harrison to Red Bull KTM. They had a championship program working together last year, and now they are apart. It has to have had an effect.
Dungey has had his share of mechanical issues this year.
Photo: Simon Cudby
At any rate, back to Trettel and Stewart. Both went down hard, and one did not get up. It's all relevant to the continuing conversations about medical care for athletes like Ian and James, particularly post-concussion care. I brought up the Brain Injury Research Institute that's now working with the NFL and the NCAA. We as a sport have to get serious about this discussion, just as they are in hockey after a few brutal incidents this year, and other sports.
Our Racer X Virtual Trainer, Tim Crytser, sent me this question and link: Is there any talk in the AMA about using shock sensors on helmets to determine if a rider can continue? If the red light goes off from a crash, the rider is done.
I also got a call from longtime enthusiast Doug Brown from North Carolina, who wanted to pass on the suggestion of large doses of fish oil as a way to help alleviate post-concussion problems like we see with former football players. It's the same thing Dr. Julian Bailes told me about last week at the Brain Injury Research Institute here in Morgantown, West Virginia, only they now offer it as a direct product called Brain Armor (www.brain-armor.com). If you race, or play football or any other sport where concussions are possible, you really should check this out—it could help you immensely by providing you with a meaningful amount of DHA, which can help optimize cognitive and visual performance after an injury. It can also be taken for pre-action protection. It's what a lot of NFL players are using now before games and practice.
Let's switch gears now. It's always fun to bench race with Mitch Payton, the high overlord of the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki team. After the Daytona SX Mitch and Bones, driver Greg, and their two East Coast mechanics stuck around at Daytona for the Ricky Carmichael Amateur Supercross and the early sessions of RCU. Mitch was out on the infield, right next to the start, watching the action all day long. If you were a fast young rider racing on Sunday, that must have been nerve-racking to know that the most powerful team manager/owner in Lites SX and 250 Motocross was there at the edge of the track watching!
Payton also spent some quality time in the camping area, hanging out with friends like Ricky Carmichael, Fox Racing's Todd Hicks, Chris "Beeker" Onstott, Oakley's Anthony Paggio, and more from the industry, telling stories that might have seemed like lies to anyone who doesn’t know him. But for those who do know him, they were absolutely true! He was also smiling because the very impressive Blake Baggett won, marking the fourth of his riders so far this season (after just nine rounds), joining previous winners Josh Hansen, Broc Tickle, and Dean Wilson.
Pourcel somewhere down in Florida, CP377 is getting ready for the outdoors.
Photo: Bertrand Sanlaville
We chatted about everything from James Stewart's mercurial speed to the immediate future of a certain missing-in-action French rider who used to be his #377. Can't divulge much about any of those conversations—The Bench Racers’ Code—but one thing Mitch has found to be quite impressive this year is Ken Roczen, the German import for Red Bull KTM. Payton has been impressed by his speed and style, as well as his fearlessness in doing things like jumping into the 450 Class to learn supercross as quickly as possible. Payton's GP team, including Tommy Searle and Max Anstie, will be going up against Roczen in MX2 this summer, then Ken's coming back to the States to prepare for 2012. Payton sized the kid's future here like this: "He's learned enough now that he's going to be tough to beat."
And speaking of the GPs, the economy in Spain took a toll on the FIM World Motocross Championships when the terrible state of affairs in the Spanish market caused the cancellation of the Spanish GP at Bellpuig in June. Spain's housing-market crash caused problems worse than we've seen here, and there are no discretionary funds left in the Catalunyan state to funds like major sporting events. No word on whether or not an event will be added to the schedule at this time.
We have an amazing collection of old photos here, and I recently came upon a stash from the 1976 AMA Supercross tour—all from the Dallas race at what was then the almost-new Texas Stadium. There were great photos of old pros that played an active role thirty-five years later in the Daytona Amateur Supercross.
That's Monte McCoy, leading the 1976 Dallas 500cc AMA Supercross, and yes, they ran 20 minutes + 2 laps just like the scoreboard says!
First, Monte McCoy raced on Sunday and finished eleventh in the Masters +45 class. Bench racers may recall McCoy as the last man ever to win a 500cc AMA Supercross, which happened to be the aforementioned '76 Dallas SX when he was a Suzuki support rider! After that race, the 500cc class was scrapped, only to be replaced in 1985 by the 125cc class (now Lites).
And then there's John Ayers, the director of operations for MX Sports and owner of Moto Tees and Gear Racewear. But once upon a time Ayers was a very fast East Coast privateer, and for a while a factory-supported rider for Husqvarna and Maico. He was AMA National #31 in 1976 and also raced the Dallas Supercross that year, finishing in the top ten.
John Ayers is now known as an operations guy at AMA Motocross, but he used to be a very fast rider in his own right.
And finally, speaking of the old school, my good friend Tim White took a little road trip recently to the High Desert State Prison in California. He was accompanied by fellow lifelong enthusiast Bryon Farnsworth and the legendary SX announcer Larry “Supermouth” Huffman. They were there to visit the Godfather of Supercross, the notorious Mike Goodwin, promoter of the first modern supercross at the Los Angeles Coliseum, way back in July 1972.
Goodwin, of course, is spending his time behind bars after being convicted of first-degree homicide in the shotgun slayings of his former business partner Mickey Thompson and Thompson’s wife, Trudy. It happened way back in 1987, and the crime was in the national news for years. Though Goodwin was a suspect from the beginning, he was not tried until nearly two decades later—and it was a rather bizarre trial, thin on actual evidence and heavy on innuendo and eyebrow-raising eyewitnesses who had not come forward before. Needless to say, Goodwin maintains his innocence, and he explained his defense in a long conversation with his visitors. Someday, Goodwin may get another chance in court. In the meantime, if you're an aspiring screenplay writer, this is could be your movie!
Tom White, Mike Goodwin, Bryon Farnsworth and Larry Huffman
Okay, let's switch gears over to Steve Matthes....
What a race we had thirteen days ago in Atlanta, and man, it was another humdinger in Daytona! I wrote this in my Observations column but I’m telling you people, if there is a race in your area, go and buy a seat. You won’t really need the whole seat, just the edge because the 2011 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series has been everything you could expect and more. Think of it like a Hollywood movie and the cast is as follows:
The ginger-haired amateur phenom desperately trying to live up to his hype but has been overcome by injuries the last few years. There are whispers that if he doesn’t make it happen soon, he never will. That’s Ryan Villopoto, and he’s played by Seth Green, an actor who has the goofy side but can also play it serious and straight.
Villopoto has now won back to back races.
Photo: Simon Cudby
His trainer, Aldon Baker, the guy that’s split ways from the very man that Ryan is competing against and knows the Stewart camp inside and out--he knows what makes James tick--would be played by Matt Damon. Damon just has to adopt that South African accent that he did so well in Invictus.
You have the gifted one, the man with all the skills on the bike. He’s able to leap tall buildings in a single bound but his weakness is that he’s actually not Superman. He’s human, and for as many thrills as he produces, he also ends up crashing quite a bit. For all his talent, all his race wins, he only has two supercross titles and that has to burn him up inside. He’s James Stewart and is played by Jamie Foxx, who has to “young it up” for the role of the 25-year old Stewart.
Chad Reed is a veteran of the series. Everyone counted him out but on his own team. Paying the bills on a bike that started off as something you could buy, Reed has done the unthinkable: he’s won races and challenged for the lead at times. It seems the old dog can learn some new tricks. At one point out of the series, Reed’s in third, one point behind second. He’s also played by fellow Aussie Hugh Jackman.
Ryan Dungey is the matinee idol who some think won the title last year by default. It was a year where everyone got hurt and Dungey cruised home to a rookie-year championship. He’s eager to prove that was no fluke, but he’s been unable to win this year and is looking to avoid being the first defending champion to not win a race since Jeff Emig (he’s played by Keanu Reeves, by the way. “Ralph, I’m an FBI AGENT!!!”) in 1998. He’s a bit mysterious, a bit of a cut-out to how a person should act in the limelight-more robot than human at times and for that, we’ll need James Franco to suit up and smile more.
Reed is still in the hunt after a second place finish at Daytona.
Photo: Simon Cudby
The other challenger is just someone happy to be there. He’s an emerging star but in his first full year and with the least experience among the top four. He’s deeply religious and by all accounts lives what he preaches. He’s a great personality, a wondrous talent, and has a race win followed by some down finishes. But he’s okay, he’s happy, and his future is bright. He’s Trey Canard, and he’s played by Jesse Eisenberg, who was the lead in The Social Network.
Canard’s coach, Tim Ferry, is played by me because I’m really the only one who could possibly hope to transform his awesomeness onto the screen. I've got to lose four, maybe five pounds to make this work, but since I'm a method actor, no problem (I've been playing the part of an ex-jock who becomes a sports reporter/nuclear physicist for awhile now). See what I mean?
The drama and intrigue inside this series it one for the ages, and I’m not sure how it’s going to turn out. Judging by the Racer X Bench Racing Ammo of points leaders after Daytona, it looks good for Ryan Villopoto, though!
Last week on the Pulpmx show, Kenny Watson came back in and we had RV, Bryan from Dodge Motorsports, and John Mitcheff (team manager of Valli Yamaha) on the show. It sounds like John is as frustrated as anyone over Austin Stroupe and his inability to stay healthy enough to race week in and week out on the 450. Combine that with some poor choices off the track and John’s probably got a few less hairs on his head. Mitcheff’s committed to the kid though and wants to see this situation through because, as we’ve all seen in flashes, Stroupe’s got some serious talent.
Stroupe has had his share of struggles this year.
Photo: Simon Cudby
I asked the man known as “Throttle” if he asked Austin’s old team manager, Mitch Payton, for advice on how to handle and motivate Stroupe. Throttle just mumbled something about him not knowing and Mitch rubbing his forehead over and over.
Stay tuned on Monday nights over on Pulpmx.com for all the dirt from the weekend’s supercross races. We try to keep it light over there.
I spoke with Rockstar/Makita Suzuki team manager Mike Webb this week about his job and how everything is going. Mike’s been around a long time and knows the sport inside and out. He told me that despite the two DNFs by Ryan Dungey’s machine not being anyone’s fault, it occurred under his watch and he has to take the arrows for it. Webb mentioned that he thought a collision with Canard at A2 bent the chain guide causing Dungey’s chain to derail and this weekend in Daytona, a rock got in there and split the cases.
I thought for sure, judging by Dungey’s quick reaction to whatever ailed his bike, that it was something inside the motor, but Mike assured me it wasn’t and I’ll go with him, absent any proof otherwise. Mike said he and ace tuner Mike Gosselaar were talking about the odds of two DNFs this year and in shock about them. As we all know, the man known as Goose doesn’t make mistakes on machines!
Webb then went on to say that he thought, given all the circumstances, that Dungey’s Daytona ride was his best of the year. The fight Ryan had to show overcoming a bad start and making moves early was great to see, and they’ve been working on first-lap aggression with the defending champion. Mike was also pumped on the way his team worked together in quickly changing the motor and making it work.
Over to Ping:
You often hear people say that the series really starts to take shape once it heads back east. In the case of the 2011 series, that statement couldn’t be more accurate. Atlanta and Daytona have been really good to Villopoto, and he is now in control of this series. There are still a lot of rounds to run, and anything can happen, but RV can miss an entire race and still be right in the mix for the points lead. That’s got to be a good feeling.
James Stewart was clearly the fastest man on Saturday but suffered a dirty body slam that Jimmy “Superfly” Snooka would have been proud of. He gutted out a ninth and did a great job salvaging points, but this one hurt him in the standings. James has once again crashed himself into a corner, and he’s now facing a massive points deficit. He’ll have to go on a big winning streak to close that gap.
Of course, Chad Reed has been riding great, so he isn’t going to make things easy. And Ryan Dungey still hasn’t earned his first win of the season, so you know he is going to be hanging it out. Somehow, despite two mechanical failures and not yet seeing the winner’s circle, Dungey is still smiling and “having fun.” Regardless, the rest of the series is going to provide great racing.
I had a flashback as I watched Blake Baggett romp away to his second supercross win. You see, back in 1997 I was riding for Pro Circuit Kawasaki, I was #57, and I only had one SX win to my credit and it came at the hands of a Damon Huffman/Ryan Hughes crash in San Jose (much like Blake’s Dallas victory last year). And I pulled the holeshot in Daytona and checked out—for thirteen laps, anyway. That’s where my story differs from Blake’s. I started to fade and got passed by John Dowd and Tim Ferry, putting me third on the day. It was during the daytime back then and hotter than hell. I was also riding with a broken finger (that’s why I only ran the one hand guard) from Steve Lamson landing on me at Gainesville the weekend before. I actually wasn’t even going to race because I was having a hard time hanging on, but Mitch told me to go out and try. Glad I did. Still, I couldn’t help but picture myself doing burnouts on the speedway like Blake when he won. Good job, Blake. And congrats on win number two.
Ping or Baggett?
Photo: Paul Buckley
Blake is quietly sneaking up on the two riders the media has been focusing on, Barcia and Wilson, and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if #57 keeps winning and finds himself in the driver’s seat at the end of this series.
Panic Rev ministries have a cool event coming up this weekend. Former world and national motocross champion Greg Albertyn will be the guest speaker. Check out the flier for more details.
And Competitive Edge needs your help! This came to me this week from Joe and Kristen:
“2011 marks a new year for the State of California Off Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division to accept Grants. Since the Competitive Edge Motocross Park facility is owned by the City of Hesperia – the City and CEMX came together for a grant proposal for the State. The proposal is available to view from March 8th to April 4th for the public to add their comments – this is where you come in! This grant will enable us to continue what we have always done at our facility now and in the future. Please know that this grant supports what we all love – the sport of motocross. The state needs to see that the City of Hesperia needs this motocross facility and by your letters they will see the support from our customers.”
Your letters should be sent to the following emails so that they can be added to the application:
Any questions please contact Kristen at [email protected].
Here's Weege:
I really have not at all recovered from Daytona, where you don’t sleep and you don’t stop working—or if you’re one of the fortunate ones, you don’t stop riding. Bike Week is about as good as it gets for a motorcyclist, regardless of if you’re into the road or the dirt.
For me and for this company I work for here, it was wide open from the moment when we hit the ground. There was the Daytona SX to cover, the Ricky Carmichael Amateur SX on Sunday and the RC University on Monday, and all the while we had GNCC racing going on about two hours away. If someone really wants to get some riding in next spring, I challenge you to bring a bike down, race a few amateur SX classes on Sunday, take the RC school on Monday, and then race the GNCC on Tuesday. You’ll be sore, tired, blistered and happier than you’ve even been before.
What can Brown do for you?
Photo: Shan Moore
I can think of few riders who are crazy enough to try all of these things, but if anyone where to do it, I'd put my money on Mike Brown. Last week, we were making a big deal about the Pro Circuit team winning its 200th race, and got into some of the history of the team's 20-year existence. Amazingly, Brown was signed for the Pro Circuit team for 1992, and here we are 19 seasons later, and he's still a factory KTM rider, and he still likes what he's doing so much that he'll race seemingly anytime and anywhere. His main job is to race the WORCS out west, but this year he very nearly won the Florida GNCC, leading all the way until the last lap when Charlie Mullins ran him down. It was an impressive ride for both Mullins and Brown, and I think the win came down to the fact that Mullins was training to peak for this race and this series, and has a little more experience with the three-hour format. Brown was only riding for fun. Still, Mullins and his new trainer Rob Beams of MotoE must be doing something right, because we all know Brown is an animal, and running him down late in a race is an accomplishment.
Anyway, Brown was signed up for the Alligator Enduro today but chose not to ride, but he will be back for the Georgia GNCC, and I'll bet he goes fast again.
One rider who’s a real glutton for punishment is GEICO JG Off-Road Honda's Jimmy Jarrett. He raced the GNCC Tuesday, the Alligator Thursday, and will race GNCC again on Sunday. That's will be over ten hours worth of racing in a five-day span!
Bach finished third on the new American Beta.
Photo: Shan Moore
Also, huge credit to American Beta and their new factory rider, Chris Bach. Bach rode his tail off in the Florida whoops and took third overall. On a Beta! This team and brand may be onto something.
David Knight had a bike at the GNCC but chose to race the Alligator instead. (The enduro race. Not a an actual 'gator or even a John Deere Gator). Knighter was fast, but then ran into bike problems--chased back to, wait for it, wait for it--Knighter accidentally filled his gas can up with diesel fuel and poured it into his bike! KTM's may be from Europe, but they don't run on diesel!
For me, I was just pumped to be reunited with my old friends from the GNCC tour. I spent eight years as beat reporter and announcer for that series. It's all in good hands now that I'm a supercross/motocross guy full-time, thanks to people like Rodney Tomblin, Shan Moore, Jen Kenyon, and Jason Hooper, who work tirelessly to promote and serve that series. I know the feeling.
If that’s not enough, there are ways to cram in more seat time. Some of the off-road set hit the Alligator Enduro on Thursday before heading to Georgia for the second round of GNCC Racing at Aonia Pass. And the amateur moto set has a new location for the annual Spring Classic, which now takes place at Mill Creek in Alabama. And the pro supey stars are heading to Indianapolis right now for more Monster Energy Supercross. Like I wrote here a few weeks ago, the real season starts now, because everyone with a bike is finding a way to ride it.
Mullins won round one of 2011 Can-Am GNCC.
Photo: Shae Moore
For several riders in supercross—namely anyone not named Ryan Villopoto—this is the time of year they had better step it up. I recently talked to Chad Reed about doing just that, as Reed has gone from merely “it would be cool to see him back on the podium” to winning a race and contending every weekend. After a slow start, is Chad now better than ever? How does he compare himself to his last great supercross season, in 2009?
“I feel physically stronger and in a better place,” says Reed. “My fitness is great. I have a new trainer, and I haven’t had a trainer since ’06. I think the bike is great, the Honda is a great package. I’ve always raved about how awesome and how comfortable I was on the Suzuki, and that was obvious. I really felt like this Honda had the potential to be better than that, but when you start a race team in October, we’ve had to tick boxes along the win. We’ve gotten a win, we’ve fought hard, we’ve show we can go strong for twenty laps. I feel like my pace and my comfort level are coming up as we get used to the bike. I feel like I’m in a better position than I was back then. I’m two years older, I’m smarter, I’m leaner, meaner, hey I’m better looking, right? So I think we’re good.”
But he’ll need to be great this weekend if he wants to earn his way into the hunt.
By the way, check out DMXSRadio.com and their awesome interview with Chad Reed from earlier in the week. He covers all topics, from James Stewart's riding style and Larry Brooks, to his upcoming new book. Good stuff.
Okay, let's wrap it up with some miscellaneous notes:
Jason Hooper of Digitaloffroad.com wanted to share this link with us, which shows the AmPro Yamaha GNCC team at 1000 frames per second.
Husqvarna intro, with an interview with Michael Leib, in English, a few minutes in:
Even though the Daytona Supercross is over, Bike Week continues. This year the annual Daytona Classic bike auction features a number of the Primm Collection’s finest classic examples, including several early 1980s Honda CRs, as well as Jeff “Chicken” Matiasevich¹s All Japan KX/SR works bike from 1995. Also included is Steve Lamson’s circa-2003 factory Husky racer. Normally this auction is mostly street-bike-related, but there are some really cool dirt bikes up for grabs, and most of them are in brand new condition. For more info on the auction, click here.
With the help of Sprocketlist.com we've recently launched the new Racer X Classifieds, so if you're looking to buy or sell your bike / gear / etc head on over to RacerX.SprocketList.com to check it out.
Finally, and all too briefly: If any of you are in Japan or any of the affected areas following today’s devastating earthquake and its aftermath, or if you have loved ones who are there, we wish you nothing but the best.
That's all we have room for this time around. Check back later, and thanks for reading Racerhead. See you at the races.
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Kenny Watson is the ugliest douche bag fat ass in the pits! He is the butt end of all team manager jokes and a joke in general! I will never take Hart and Huntington seriously until they get rid of that tool bag.
How come no ones talking about alessi pulling over for a blue flag stewart didn't and passed him by and ignored all the blue flags after???????????????????????????????
This is a fairly long comment, that wastes considerable bandwidth.. Please! do NOT read it, if long, well-researched, articles offend you.
"So in 99% of the fans opinions, Stewie NEVER beat RC for a title, not a real one. (dont forget, Reed was tied with Stewie in points that season after Vegas,366 points each, Stewie got the edge because of wins) "
Toronto: Honda’s Nick Wey grabbed the $1,500 Progressive Direct Holeshot Award with Suzuki’s carmichael and Reed in tow. Stewart started in 10th place. Throughout the first lap Reed and Carmichael traded positions, but the start of lap two, Carmichael hit a tuff block and crashed. Stewart moved into second place and put the charge on Reed.Reed and Stewart swapped positions several times before they came together before the finish line jump on lap 17. Stewart went off the track and upon re-entering Honda’s Travis Preston collided with Stewart, causing both of them to crash. Reed went on to pick up the win. Carmichael battled back to finish second and Stewart finished third.
Vancouver BC : Stewart led all 20 laps en route to his second-career Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP race. Carmichael was second while Reed was third.
“It was not the start I wanted,” said Carmichael. “If you want to put yourself in a better position, you can’t start the race like that. Only bad things can happen when you get a start like that.”
“It was a great race tonight, and I love racing here in Canada,” said Stewart. “My parents really helped me keep on track this week and come into the weekend really prepared. I do not feel 100% confident yet because I still have a lot of work ahead of me.”
series points after 2 rounds:
James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 50
Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Suzuki, 44
So.........stewart gains a 6 point advantage, in canada.
daytona 2006: "stewart grabbed the main event holeshot and even managed to make it through the first turn. With half the battle already won, it looked as though Number 7 had it going on. He posted the fastest lap time of the night and it was almost a full second faster than Carmichael. But, Lucky wasn't so lucky tonight as the call of his native soil was too strong to resist. Stewart enjoyed a nice reunion with the Dirt Wurx-built track on Lap 2, allowing Reed, who had been in second place, Carmichael and the entire field weave their way around him. Ricky got by Reed on the same lap and was in first for the remainder of the evening."
So........ Stewart finished 6th, and dropped 10 points to ricky, at daytona 2006
Final Amp'd Mobile World Supercross GP Season Standings
1. James Stewart, Tallahassee, Fla., Kawasaki, 380
2. Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Suzuki, 365
Even if you were to add 'Daytona 2006', to the 'World Supercross GP' series, it will only give Carmichael, 10 points more on stewart, leaving him still 5 points behind ! So..... is stewart's 2006 "world gp title" really worth any less than carmichaels ama sx title ? ? ?
Final Amp'd Mobile AMA Supercross Series Season Standings
1. Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 338
2. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 336
here an asterisk *. sorry, but even the GOAT has a few...
://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS3TOIfy85s
at 4:25 we have carmichael, cutting the track in detroit. His teammate Ivan Tedesco was penalized earlier in the day, for doing the same thing. Their was also that little 'fuel' issue, as well...
These are the facts. If you think that you know something, and you want to prove it to somebody else, the BEST way to do it, is to present a case.
No disrespect to anyone. peace.
Here is a really COOL website, which chronicles the entire 2006 supercross season:
://www.amsoil.com/supercross/2006/schedules/supercross.aspx
isn't the internet COOL !
Picone-do you have anger management issues? I thought this was a forum for discussing supercross, not verbally bashing everyone.
How about telling us what racer you like and why (without bashing everyone else).
20 minutes plus 2 laps for 450 main, and 15 minutes plus 2 for the 250 main. THAT would get me to stop screaming " COME ON, SHOW SOME RACING!" at the tv.
It was a mistake by the flagger I think. Flagger was waving flag at Alessi thinking Stewart was lapping him. Stewart would have passed him anyway.
They should substitute Poucel in for the injured Kyle Regal for the rest of the supercross season
Hey Picone.. tell us how you really feel...I have know kenny watson for years and i can tell that you don't know him. Kenny is one of the nicest guys in the pits, kenny has been the team manager for moto xxx, plano honda and now carey hart's team.. I don't think a douche would have that kind of resume, do you?
Well thanks racerhead for mention of that Big amature mx going on in Alabama this week.I'm sure if this race was Loretta Lynn's we would of be bombarded daily like a Charlie Sheen rant on tv.
That was a great Reed interview on DMXS. Others riders should take note.
trick? nice artrickle, you have wayy to much time on yer hands boy but it was allmost as good as the aftermetioned one. thanx for the 411
trick? nice artrickle, you have wayy to much time on yer hands boy but it was allmost as good as the aftermetioned one. thanx for the 411
Thanx wetto - i need to get a real life : (
Another great write up by the Racer X crew, thanks guys. Picone you suck, get the hell outta here with your bs comments. Do yourself a favor and listen to the Pulp MX show on Monday evenings, maybe that will change your opinion of the original K-Dub. Yamaha625 sucks.
now i am cut-n-pasting my own fricken articles. i really DO need to get a life.
"Stewart went off the track and upon re-entering Honda’s Travis Preston collided with Stewart, causing both of them to crash."
this writer didn't sound too angry at stewart, in regards to the incident.
i'm not angry about it either, come to think of it.
Racer x oughta give trick a chance to sub-write for the outdoors all in all you post some good stuff dude,,much better than some of the meatballs that are allowed to on here.
Picone, I am an aquantince of Kenny and don't know him really well but what I do know is he will do anything for his friends. I am tight with some of his good friends and they all say he would do anything for a friend in need and he is a "shirt off his back type guy". Before you trash someone do a little research, Kenny is dealing with Dodge.... They have some serious guidlines about how they are represented and if he didn't do a good job there is no way they would be associated with the team. He is good at what he does!
Picone is on the money. In regard to the stellar resume,how are those teams doing.
Friends don't degrate friends during an interview, "Sheak". Dodge is dealing with the owner of the team. Doubtful corporate had meetings with Kenny.
I've met Kenny many times and he was always acting like he is better than everyone. On the Pulpmx show he constantly puts people down and tries to act like he is such a bad ass. It's pretty clear the reason he puts people down is cause he is so ugly and has self esteem issues! Please Kenny keep that shirt on your back cause no one wants to see it off!
FYI. Moto 153 is right. Take it easy on the adjectives Picone. "BUBBA 2011 CHAMP"
ugh. I think I've read novels in less time. Good stuff though just my kids were startin to get outa hand and I was stressin out to finish it. Trettel GWS, Fonseca, hope your doing well man. I'm gonna be poppin fish oil every time I ride now. Mathes, good casting, but 40 year old men can't play supercross stars. how bout this? lil bow wow for stewart, James franco for reed (since their about same in age), Haley joel Osmand for Trey, zac efron for dungey, and Emile Hirsch for Villopoto. Oscar!
I saw pourcel coming out of a bathroom at sandiego stadium with his posse. I was so shocked I couldn't summon up any brain power to say anything to him. Or maybe I kept my mouth shut out of respect? I don't know.
A lawsuit filed against the medics? For being conerned about someones health/life versus a motorcycle title? James wouldnt do his team much good if he was killed or paralyzed after ringing his bell. Sorry DC, but I disagree with you. Maybe if someone had stepped in for Pastrana, he would still be racing. And Goodwin behind bars is where he belongs. I'm convinced that he had a hand in the murders. What a coincidence that both MT and his wife were killed after a falling out with Goodwin, and which Goodwin had to pay the Thompsons big money? Not. And best wishes and good luck to Ian Trettel. Good thing that he was wearing that Leatt, and here's hoping that he has a full recovery.
Picone I agree with you, Kenny Watson is a ASSHOLE! I called in to the PulpMX Show to talk to Villipoto and the guy (Watson) was a total dick to me. Find another line of work jerk off.
RacerX needs to start taking out the trash with some of these comments.
I wouldn't be surprised if C.E.Altman of Pace Motorsports was the one behind the Mickey Thompson thing. He had a lot to gain, and he got it - control of the AMA Supercross series. With Goodwin and Thompson out, there was no more competition.
That said, Mike Goodwin verbalized some threats before the Thompsons were killed, so that makes him look bad.
Why is everyone ignoring the elephant in the room with this Larry Brooks thing? Nobody is buying the LIES about him being at Wally World with the family. Why don't the industry "journalist" have the sack to get to the bottom of this. Inquiring minds want to know!
hey trick you idiot rc did'nt race the canadian rounds in 2006, he beatjs7, js7 never beat rc you idiot. and rc beat js7 by 30 seconds in outdoors constantly you js7 fans are idiots and it's getting old
I didn't even think of Altman. That's a possibility, but I still lean towards Goodwin. I didn't know the Thompsons personally, but a couple of my family members did, and they had nothing but good things to say about them. I think that Larry Brooks is having some serious issues, more than just "needing to spend time with his family" and I am sure that it will come out very soon.
One thing James has to his advantage is that he can gain more than 3 points per race this year. Unlike 2009 where he could only pick up 3 points per race, there are 4 or 5 guys capable of beating RV if he makes a mistake or gets a bad start. Of course, it goes that way for James too.
Picone,
Those were some pretty harsh words about Watson. I've known Kenny since I was 10 years old(33 now) and he's always been the nicest guy in the world to me. It's the same old thing in this industry, he has a role to play and he does it well. I'm happy to see him doing well and I wish him nothing but the best. I know the real Kenny Watson and I will support him always.
hey wayne you idiot js7 did'nt race the canadian rounds in 2008, he beatrc, rc never beat js7 you idiot. and rc beat rc by 40 seconds in indoors constantly you rc fans are idiots and it's getting old
Trick.
How did stewart have a 6 point lead over carmichael in canada if stewart went 1-3 and carmichael went 2-2.
i did not calculate it. that is from a magazine. decide yourself.
First off DC I think you are way off base about the Asterisk crew checking out JS . He was clearly not stable. Hell he couldn't stand on his own without help. If you call them checking him out by JS pushing them away as being ok you are way wrong. I bet he collapsed after the race. By the way smart guy, the first few laps after the crash he was doing nothing on the track except trying to figure out where he was. I know first hand that taking a crash like that you subconsciosly get up and go through motions without knowing what your doing. He WAS NOT in good form or not checked out properly when asterisk medics let him take off. So if you say JS could have sued do the riders who could have been hurt by him and the bad decision of asterisk have the same right to sue? Better yet if it were a no name rider who had that fall don't you think the medic team would not of let someone who was obviously dazed push them away and do whatever they wanted? Don't try and bullshit people by acting like asterisk medic team did such a great job in their 30 seconds of evaluation. We all have seen the tape and know that is not true. Normally they do a good job, that night they let themselves be pushed away and told what to do by a rider. End of story.
@trick
I was there that night in toronto! James went down (again) then pulled back onto the track infront of Preston!!
They sure as shit didnt come together! "Travis Preston collided with Stewart" Bull shit!!
Yes james is very fast BUT i dont understand how people can like a guy like him, he dosnt give two shits about anyone and rides like it!
I could go on and on about different times that james has show it but have the time.
Sorry dont like the guy and Hate that peolpe love him as much as he loves himself!
hey did you shoot a u tube alex, id love to watch that one again ! or any others if you have them.
From what i hear, stewart has been landing on other peoples backs, for quite some time now. It's a fact. There must be some GREAT you tubes out there. Shoot, if i hated a rider that much, i would have their crimes plastered all over the internet, for all to see,just to spite them with my venomous hatred.
(...............................and wayne, could you please say that again in english? )
Picone, how is your racing career coming these days? Last time I saw you, you put together a impressive string of unnoticable finishes at Loretta's! Still dominating Dade City?
Headed to Indy this morning, cant wait for the race, hope its close. No runaways.
Mr. Lynch, thanks for the note, I respect your opinion. I just don't agree with it. Stewart was never "out" and what you perceived as woozy behavior, trained paramedics saw differently. If if took Stewart a lap to get settle on a bent bike, so be it. But I do not think they could keep a man from riding based simply on how hard he appeared to crash. That's the thing about banging your head: it's hard to tell from the outside whether someone is hurt or not. Had he ridden poorly, he would have been black-flagged. He did not, so they let him stay out there. I respect their opinion as trained medics.
DC
MX Sports
Guys, CE Altman simply worked for PACE Management, and later PACE/SRO. He was a manager, not the owner. He would be an unlikely candidate to off the Thompsonsm in my opinion. It is one of the great mysteries of our time, and even though Goodwin is in jail, I still don't think we've gotten to the bottom of this.
DC
MX Sports
Fred, our bad, we should have mentioned the new race (or at least new track) in Alabama and the Spring Classic. We just had a lot going on this week, and they are only starting the finals today, I believe. We will get some updates going. In the meantime, check out www.vurbmoto.com for all the action and updates.
DC
Thanks, DC. I was talking about it with Altman and said I thought Goodwin must have been behind it. He said something along the lines of I wouldn't be so sure about that. He said Thompson's nephew had gotten into a bad drug deal and some guys took him up in an airplane, I think between the California coast and Catalina Island, cut his head off and threw him into the ocean. Altman said Thompson spent a lot of money trying to track down those responsible for his nephew's murder, and was getting close at the time of Mickey Thompson and Trudy's murder.
I don't know, something about the way he said it made me think "smokescreen." Then I thought about how Thompson was making moves on Supercross that was threatening PACE. It would have been awfully convenient timing if someone behind PACE got it done, because in the end, PACE wound up owning Supercross and other sports with no competition.
Regarding Reed and 09 and Suzuki. He was nasty fast and comfortable on the yellow bike at any speed, corner, jump. He's doing very well on the "Honder" but there's no denying #22 on the RMZ was almost like watching the race in fast forward.
Are you guys kidding , People get up all the time and take a while to get sorted out on the track after a big wreck. How about RCriding around with his visor hanging in his face , etc etc etc . Why not black flag every racer who falls down , oh my he must be a danger , The whole freaking sport is dangerous. Morons ! . James comeback ride has to be the most incredible ride in a long time . Would you all feel the same if it happened to RV , not !. I have been involved in this sport pretty much my whole life , and I am a flagman at some of the Nationals, The Medics made a good call, Period. James being the only Black man , in a White dominated sport , Faces odds every day , I have heard the comments at the track ,Mt Morris , Budds ,etc.And am quite ashamed at how a portion off the MX community is acting , and also on this forum. Pathetic at the least. But I am sure the HATERS carry that kind of behavior into other aspects of ther lives , Grow up people , But some of you never will ,
Jairtime,
That's the same story that my dad used to tell me about what happened to Mickey; that he had a son or a nephew that had gotten into the wrong business and was pushed out of a plane over the ocean. There were a lot of conspiracies been spun around the whole deal, from drug lords to of course his old business partner. He and Goodwin hated each other by that point, and were in plenty of legal battles, but it just seems a little hard to believe that Goodwin would go that far. All that said, he ended up on a boat full of gold, out of the law's reach, floating around Belize off the coast of Latin America for some time immediately after the crime. Was he scared? Was he guilty? Who knows. Like I said, it's a movie waiting to be written.
DC
DC, Let me play the what if game..... Where would we be today, as a sport, if "it" didn't happen? Trying to be sensitive to the fact that two people lost their lives, and Goodwin did also, but with prison not death. But where would this sport be today??
DC - thanks for explaining that the AMA officials were watching James closely with a black flag ready to go. Helpful, but still addressing symptoms of the problem, not dealing with the problem itself. Our community does not seem to be taking concussions seriously where it matters. On the track on race day. Time to get the helmet manufacturers together with trauma physicians and brain researchers to develop a protocol to deal with this situation. I could care less about a lawsuit from James Stewart's camp about being pulled from a race and losing a championship, I'm more concerned about a lawsuit where someone is injured by a rider suffering from a concussion, especially if that person is not another racer. That lawsuit could shut down an entire sport. We don't need another Jim West.
Ping, you're an idiot, comparing yourself to Bagget? Get over yourself!
Aldon Baker is a total dooooocheeeee. Just wait and seeeeee, Villo will not be able to maintain that wicked diet/fitness level for more than 3 years. Everyone gets rid of Baker because it is insane. Villo looks like a cadaver now.
Stroupe a loop is a total headcase. Always has been. Too much blazin going on there.
Football players spend there entire careers banging there heads into each other, and the ground , Maybe we should outlaw that sport, or how about boxing , or wrestling or ultimate fighting , or skateboarding , or driving a car , or surfing etc etc , lets all live in a bubble , for crying out loud , you wont hit your head collecting stamps try that ,
Hey DC, thanks a lot for the reply. I agree, that will be one amazing movie if it's done right. I hope that the whole true story is revealed someday, so a lot of people can get closure. It's amazing that three epic lives were destroyed over it. Both Goodwin and Thompson really changed the world. Our world. Regardless of their egos, ambition, greed or guilt, I think we all owe both of them a debt of gratitude for taking motocross and motorsports to another level.
I've heard things that aren't repeatable here regarding this situation and I can say this: Mike Goodwin was convicted on circumstantial evidence. When you're litigating for one's LIFE, that's just not enough, right or wrong. Bigtireguy has a great point, where would we be with some healthy competition for the rights to SX promotion / sanctioning??? There's more to that case than meets the eye and there's more interest in it going away than EVER being brought to light which, in the long run is a sad state of affairs for our legal system / political machine. Also proves there is a price on anything / everything, lives included.
Boy, for a guy people saying shouldnt have been let to finish a race, Stewie sure rode awful well. If he was hurt half as bad as some guys here make it out to be, he wouldnt have ridden so well the rest of the race. He was a little beat up guys, but he was not woozy. Or he couldnt have rode so well the rest of the way..
Fact: mike goodwin was framed. sure as shit. haven't any you ever said that you were "gonna kill 'somebody'' in you're lifetime? i know that I have, and yet, i have never actually gone and hired 2 guys, to ride up at 630 in the morning, on 10 speeds, and off him as he is walking out the front door to his car. From what i read, there was no evidence whatsoever, just his well known contempt for mickey, and a witness who heard him say "im gonna kill him". sorry but our judicial system is clearly flawed. amanda knox got a fairer trial over in italy, imo. scary.
if it werent for mike goodwin, you guys wouldn't even be watching a supercross rasce this weekend. think about it.
oh yeah and scott peterson's wife 'lacey' was very close friends with the neighbor lady, who lived 2 doors down. that lady was burglarized, the same day that lacey dissapeared. it has been suggested that, she may have accidentally walked in on a robbery in progress, when trying to visit with her friend. scott petersons alibi was widely known, immediatley after her dissappearance, which would give the real killer something to work with (dump the body in the bay).
oh wait, but there were those 'half empty bags of cement' in his garage, so your right, he must have done it. no question about it .
CR500AF, have you ever heard of an incident, like the one you describe, taking place during the 50 year history of this sport? I never have, has anyone else? Those were not the circumstances at all, surrounding jim west's death. It was an issue at a bad hospital, not the crash itself, which killed him.
stewarts was ok, he proved it afterwards.
I think he was totally innocent. Jmpo.
I read that thompsons sister, was pushing real hard, trying to fry goodwin for it. Kinda like the Goldmans and OJ. innocent people go to jail every day, and guilty people are walking the streets.
Howardhepone.....the NFL, boxing and MMA are all on top of this head injury deal.....big-time. How many times has a boxer or MMA fighter been declared a TKO even as he protests that he wants to continue? Enough guys have died in fights now that were left to continue just a little too long. Want to see The fastest man on the planet talking like Muhammad Ali in 20 years? In the NFL, you are out of the game at any sign of going lights out. Then you have to undergo tests all week to make sure you are able to play the next week. Google Aaron Rodgers, Packers' SuperBowl winning QB. He missed several games this year due to concussions.
CRF500, I hear you, but remember this: Jim West did not die from a head injury when he crashed at Saddleback, but rather internal chest injuries. They didn't realize how bad it was and bled out, as I understand it (I was very young then and not actually there). I just watched the Stewart crash for the 20th time and I really don't think he even hit his head hard, but I do think he knocked the wind out of himself. And you guys have the same take as I do: Punch-drunk guys don't ride that well, and he was back up to speed quickly. Stop him from going out against his wishes and you have inserted yourself into the championship, which is something officials and medics never want to do -- unless it's obvious that they have to.
As for Goodwin, he was on his way out by that point. He had made some terrible business calls and Thompson had become a force, as was PACE (Allen Becker), who was promoting SX races beginning in '73, I believe. Mike got us over the first mountain, but I really believe it's what happened after the Las Vegas '95 "Lights Out" race that changed the sport most dramatically for the better. That's when Gary Becker and Charlie Mancuso really started investing in the production and the presentation, and then it really took off.
Just my two cents and bench racing....
DC
Trick, did you just defend Scott Petersen as being anywhere NEAR potentially innocent???? That wooshing sound just now was any credibility you had flying out the window at light speed. Drugs are bad......umkay? ......and what are you saying about the Goldman's and OJ?
In regard to Stewart not being dazed or woozy, haven't we all seen a guy's knees buckle or even him be knocked down and woozy in some form of professional fighting only to come back and be able to fight, and sometimes even win? Because Stewart was able to continue after some time to clear the cobwebs, does not point to any lack of a hit to the head. There can be debated the severity of the hit to his head, but I can't believe anyone thinks that he wasn't woozy at all. If that amateur video is the angle used, you can see that he pretty much went headfirst into the ground even if with a glancing blow. Slightly harder and no one would have to decide if he should continue or not, he wouldn't have been able to. Don't forget, this guy has been knocked out more times than possibly the rest of the top 10 combined in his life. Each one comes easier than the last now. Also something to consider when dealing with hits to the head.
BK-R, that last part about multiple concussions and then next ones coming easier is a very good point. He has had some doozies -- pretty much everyone out there has.
DC
Ali fought well past his prime, like leaonard and hearns. Thats why he got messed up. i agree that boxing refs sometime stop a fight way too soon, and the crowd usually gets real mad. After richard steele's handling of taylor/chavez, the refs were afraid to intervene too early. then we had mercer/morrison, where he almost killed the guy, before the ref jumped in. The ref probably would not have let hearns continue, against iran barkley, if it was not such a huge loss awaiting hearns, should he lose. I think that we have to trust the person in charge of the situation, and if they make the wrong decision, they will be held accountable for it.
@BKR
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Peterson
drugs? i am glad you are not a judge, or jury member.
BKR , Then most of the top ten riders should sit out tonights race , we dont even know about crashes at there practice tracks , Again stamp collecting is less dangerous
Trick and DC - If either of you read this, my point about Jim West was not that Jim died from a head injury, but from an injury that was severe and was unrecognized at the time (Trick, to your point). A bit apples and oranges, but the concussions have the possibility to cause injuries that range from immediate to delayed to very delayed - some not so bad and some fatal. We need to get our arms around this as a sport, specially as the speeds are getting higher and higher as the riders, like Bubba, learn new techniques and the bikes get more and more refined. We have to move from a conversation about concussions and bad outcomes to protocols to prevent or mitigate bad outcomes that are carried out track side by the Asterisk medics, or we could end up with a Jim West-like outcome. Yes, I'm agitating in elsewhere, outside the moto-community to directly address this issue.
pro riders have been crashing hard for decades.. name one that was ever held back, as he tried to re-enter a race. if a rider was too messed up to ride, he wouldn't even try,it would be a suicide on a sx track, with triples and what not. I fully trust the medical personnel at hand. no one has dide yet in mx because of a bad decision by a trackside medic that i know of.
Trick - thx for responding. So, are you saying we should do nothing? Whatever happens, happens?
While it is true, that they are going faster, jumping higher, crashing harder (in bubba's case anyway!) isn't the protective equipment also better these days ?
my only point is that, so far, nothing like that has happened. I personally believe, that it is up to the rider, to decide whether he is ok to ride or not. Obviously, i dont want anybody to get hurt out there. Remember when stewart was on a 250 in 2005 outdoors ? did he not pull off the track, and head back to the pits, because he said that he was feeling lightheaded, and felt it was too risky to continue ? I think that removing the hazardous obstacles, from the infield of supercross races, would be a big step for rider safety. supercross tracks didn't used to have boats and cars out there, and scaffolding, scoring towers and metal poles. Remember that time that ricky just missed that big boat? It would also allow the sx track to be wider, which would make it safer (and easier to pass on). It's kind of like the sport of boxing, or getting pulled over by a cop. They ask you the questions, but they don't really care what your answer is, it is how you respond that matters. i read that the asterisk crew, was talking to stewart at daytona, and he was responding well. he also got up and walked towards his bike, so he was not disoriented. Every rider knows that they could end up like bailey, chandler or fonzie, when they blast off that gate. Maybe you are a doctor, and know more than i do, but that is how i see it, anyways..
thanks for the good conversation, and good luck.