Going for the W: 250 East
Thursday, March 17, 2011 | 10:40 AM
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Four winners in four races—and its just starting to get crazy. This year’s Lites East tour is presenting a whole new scenario for the riders at the front of the pack. Justin Barcia, Blake Baggett, Ryan Sipes and Dean Wilson have won amateur titles before, and they know what it’s like to go to the line in races where they’re expected to win. That’s pressure—but it’s not the same as living under this Lites East Championship microscope for two months.
Last year, three of these contenders, Baggett, Barcia and Wilson, were merely rookies to supercross. Of course they wanted to win races, and through the season of supercross and motocross, they all did visit victory lane. But titles? Experienced hands like Christophe Pourcel, Austin Stroupe and Trey Canard battled for those.
Baggett lead early in Indy, but crashed over the finish line jump handing the win to Sipes.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
Now the rookies have become sophomores, and Pourcel, Stroupe and Canard are gone. But racing for a title usually doesn’t come easy the first time. Ryan Dungey famously struggled with it during his sophomore SX season in 2008. The next year, Dungey was ready, and while Jake Weimer gave him a run, Weimer would have to wait until the next season to get his crown. This year, out west, it appears that Broc Tickle is having problems wrestling for his first number one. Ever since his teammate and West points leader Josh Hansen broke his hand, Tickle went from 2-2-4-1 finishes to 4-3 rides in the last two rounds. Good, but if he had followed his Oakland win with at least one more, he’d be in control of the series.
So that leaves us with the kids in the East. Barcia is able to ignore the pressure since he’s riding with a bum wrist and has a built-in excuse. It’s the same manner we’ve seen other riders in before—he’s hurt, he has nothing to lose, he takes the pressure off. So he’s the points leader, but he’s certainly not dominating by any stretch.
Barica is still fighting off a wrist injury.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
It’s been different for Wilson and Baggett, though. Each of the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki riders followed their first wins of the season—which seemed to indicate momentum and confidence—with crashes at the next race. In Wilson’s case, he’s had two terrible rounds, with two big Daytona crashes and an eighth, then more trouble in Indy and a sixth. Just like that, Dean has gone from tied for the series lead to 16 points back, with three riders in front of him.
Baggett led in Indy, but Sipes closed on him, and Baggett crashed under pressure. He recovered for third, but gave up major momentum to Sipes.
And Sipes may be the one to carry it, where Barcia, Wilson and Baggett have not. Surely Sipes main goal for this season was to finally get a win. He’s done that now. It’s all icing on the cake from here on out. Whereas losing the championship will be devastating for the riders who are supposed to get it, it’s nothing but a fun ride for Sipes, who has been up and down the career ladder over the last six years. Of course, relying on a rider who waited six years to get one win to go out and make up 12 points in four races is a tall order.
Wilson needs a win. Now.
Photo: Matt Pavelek
For Wilson, though, this could prove to be the one that got away. His ride for the win in Atlanta was the most impressive of any this year—he passed Sipes, Baggett and Barcia to do it. Then later, it became known that his rival Barcia was riding with a broken wrist. At that point, it seemed like Wilson’s title to lose. And he may have lost it.
So now we enter a crossroads for one of the most talented riders in the field. If he wants any part of a championship, he needs to get a win this weekend and reestablish himself and his confidence. Word is that his team has already told him he needs to pick it up.
Luckily for him, we all know the ability is there. Let’s see if he can show it this weekend.
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Good Morning! Nothing like Racerx to wake you up! Personally I think Barcia will still win this thing. Sipes was catching Bagget last week, but Barcia was catching Sipes. He was the fastest of the night on a track that was exhausting the best of them. His wrist isn't troubling him one bit. Barcia's only scoring 2nd's right now but that consistancy is a good thing when everyone else is all over the place.
@dave, that's pretty messed what you said about Mitch. He has done a lot for the sport. Karma is all I have to say.
(sorry - my friend dave has tourettes)
to Dave I hafta feel sorry for anybody no mater what that could make such post. Micth has done more for this sport because he loves it and so do I. that is all before I get more pissed............................................
Dave: your lack of punctuation and sentence structure speak volumes about your intelligence. So, from those of us with a full set of chromosomes, please allow me to say "shut the f*ck up". Thank you.
WOW, Dave you must be a very special guy. Everyone knows that Mitch is one of the most succesful teams and business owners in the industry, he has a boat load of titles to prove it. There is no doubt that people that act like (tough guys) on the web are cowards and you managed to take it a step futher and go after a guy in a wheel chair. My guess is that this is the first and only title you will ever get, Internet Coward, good job tough guy!
Hey whatdya know, dave was deleted. Hey maybe if more @sshats post like that, racerx will make us log in!! Keep it up Jerks!
you guys dont know diddily..i know the guy,i worked for him and everyone gave him the finger behind his back..a FACT.
No, Dave, we get that Mitch can be tough. Matthes, Ping and Weege were just saying that Deano got chewed out Mitch style, circa 1995. He is especially tough to people that aren't working hard. Somehow you project that through the few words you've used in this comments section. Your defense of Barcia by saying that Mitch unfairly paints pot smoking, professional motocross riders tells us all we need to know about you. It's no surprise that you no longer work for him. And, yes, I am sure your buddies that also got sacked for slacking also flipped Mitch off. Good for you all. I am sure your new bosses at Arby's are way cooler. Mitch has kept most of his key personnel (say, like Bones) and many around him respect him greatly. So, I think we know "diddily" (it's diddly, dipsh*t).
hey guys, i just think this is the same history of all the time. pro circuit vs factory connection why you just dont enjoy the batle of this teams. anyways geico hondas are pro circuit bikes i know everybody is tired to see pro circuit like the best guys but right now every teams are batling and thats awesome. mitch is a just a man who loves motocross and we love motocross. just please racer X and fans stop please. why we dont enjoy our sport and have fun. i know everybody has a favorite rider just motocross is motocross the best guy win and thats it. MOTOCROSS IS MY MAN
@dumber dave..where you from... the uk? didnt the patriots kick your butts outta here a couple hundred years ago? buncha commie wimps...people gave mitch the finger cuz has was a rude jerk who screams and yells all the time.for no reason.you werent there, i was..so shut your crooked teeth piehole.btw im managing arbys now so if you need a coupon for a beef sangy or a job i probably can "hook you up "as we say in the states.and since you have crooked teeth you wont be required to smile at the customers..lol