Bench Racing Ammo: 5 Winners, 3 Points Leaders
Friday, April 1, 2011 | 10:40 AM
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All-time greatest? Best ever? On both the left brain (statistical) and right brain (emotional) sides of the ledger, this year’s Monster Energy Supercross tour can stand toe-to-toe with any AMA SX tour in history. The weekend in Toronto just made it two notches better.
When Ryan Dungey took the Toronto victory, he became the fifth different winner of the season. When Chad Reed took over the points lead in Toronto by finishing second, he became the third different points leader of the season.
Reed's lone win came in San Diego. Will it be enough?
Photo: Garth Milan
Five winners and three points leaders—when was the last time a series was this good?
The five winners mark doesn’t go back that far. In 2008, Chad Reed, James Stewart, Kevin Windham, Davi Millsaps and Josh Hill all took victories. But you could say that Reed led the points all year. Reed won round one, then Stewart took round two to tie the series. Stewart then dropped from the tour with a torn ACL, and Reed held the lead all the way to Las Vegas.
We had three points leaders back in 2006, a year remembered for the epic struggle between Ricky Carmichael, Stewart and Reed. Stewart took round one to lead the points, Carmichael snatched it away, and then Reed took the lead when both crashed out in St. Louis. But those three were the only winners that season.
The 1998 season was a wild one, with Jeremy McGrath returning to form on a Yamaha after a rough 1997 season on a Suzuki. That season boasted a phenomenal six winners—McGrath, Sebastian Tortelli, Ezra Lusk, Kevin Windham, Larry Ward and John Dowd—and three different riders did share the points lead. Tortelli led after his round one win, then McGrath and Jeff Emig were tied after round two, and McGrath held on for the rest of the season. But that means 1998 only generated three points leaders via a tie atop the standings at one point.
If you want to find the last season to generate five winners and three solo points leaders, you will have to go back to 1997. Greg Albertyn won the opener in a shocker, then Doug Henry and Emig held the points lead at different points during the season. That year also produced an unbelievable seven different winners in Albertyn, Henry, Emig, McGrath, Damon Huffman, Windham and Lusk.
Dungey's lone win came last weekend in Toronto. Will it be enough?
Photo: Matt Pavelek
So you have to go back 14 years to find a season packing this type of parity in victory lane and atop the season standings. But even then, the top five riders ended the year separated by a whopping 87 points.
There’s only one season that could probably stand up to the 2011 season for all-around parity. In 1985, an all-time-high of eight winners graced the top spot, with Johnny O’Mara, David Bailey, Mark Barnett, Bob Hannah, Ricky Johson, Jeff Ward Broc Glover and Ron Lechien winning races, and the final standings shows just 22 points separating the top five riders. And the champion, Ward, won the crown despite winning just one race.
It could happen again.
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BRING ON THE LAST 5!!!!
I don't have a favorite horse in this race because they are all thoroughbreds, but if I had to bet money on who will win the title: Reed. The 22 will play it smart and consistent. It is all about damage control these last 5 rounds.
Awesome season man!!! Can't wait for the outdoors to start...
What's great is that the points are such that not one of these riders can afford to "give up" a race win or two.....they all need wins from here on out.....damage control yes, but they all need the top spot too....this should be good!!
3 different leaders? Pretty sure its been only Villopoto and Reed. RV had the lead from A1 until last week...
Notice Kdub's name showing in a lot of those 5 winner seasons :)
I think Bubba had the points lead after the first three or four races.
money is on RV, and hoping all stays healthy
I feel the rider who attacks and dare i say it doesn't play it safe but goes for the win will have the best chance of winning this thing...
This is going to be good. i wonder how James and Ryan are dealing with this...I mean if anyone knows how to go for the W it is those two...
I remember Jeff Stanton picking Canard for the title...stroke of genius?
@Ryan...Stewart had the points lead after Phoenix...can't remember when he lost it though...they were tied technically but Stewart had the most recent win (Phoenix)...
Yeah that 85 season was a barnburner of a year. I guess Im gonna make it to the Arlington supercross BillC, It seems you go to all of the supercrosses and I enjoy your comments if you see me I will be on one or two cruches with an old Answer jersy nbr 128 on it. I retired from racing in 94 but there might be a few people left in the pits that know me.let me know if you see me!
THE BIG FIVE! Great to see the pre-season hype come true for once. All five have now won a race- Good Times...
5 races and a maximum of 15 points advantage and so right there Reed cant just take it easy because if RV wins 3 of them he passes Reed. So, how cool is it right now that no one can just be conservative, they need to win to be crowned. The other scenario is JS winning out and Reed could take 2nd's and 3rd's and win the crown. any one of these guys crash out now it is for sure over for them. Either way, I think we are in for more "treats" in these last 5 and when I'm at the Vegas finale, I hope its a dramatic nail biter to the checkers.
Sorry Weege but last year,Stewart,Dungey,Villopoto, Millsaps, and Windham all had wins
Two-Two is takin' Dallas.....I'm just sayin'.....
@the what RV won A1 and james got 3rd, James won phoenix and RV got 2nd. thats still 48-45 Villopoto after 2 rounds.
sorry 47-45, my math sucks. then RV won LA...
Fasten your seatbelts! Here comes Dallas!
RYAN.....after Anaheim 2 Stewart was leading thr points 117 to 112 over RV.
Didn't Windham win in 97 as a lites rider? Seely needs to get a win!
No! Put Barcia or Sipes on a 450, one of 'em could get it done.
canard will win it all!!!!! stewart will take out reed villopoto will toss it away again. and dungy is not as fast as canard and canard takes title by 4 pts over dungy
I love it!! It's fun to hear the various scenarios that people think, or hope, will play out these last 5 races!! Keep 'em coming!!
there 5 winners last year (Stewart, dungey, villopoto, millsaps, whindam) and 3 points leaders (Stewart, dungey, villopoto)
All I have to say is f**k Stewart he should be in jail not racing go rv
I'm sorry, i mean GO STEWART!!! I hope ya win buddy!! With a name like billy bob, i'm bound to make a stupid comment like my last one.....shoot shucky darn and galllllllll dang!!
Looks like "Whatever" punked/hacked you billy bob. He loves Stewart, uses caps all the time and buddy is often found in his posts
I want to see someone really go for after it !!! Sitting back and playing it safe is lame from a fans point of view....Sure someone could win the title that way, but whoever wins the title doesnt change anything in my life other than me saying 'YES!!! GO RV (or JS&) or " Dammit...great series though, cant wait until next year"...so I want the guy who wants it the most to go out and win it.....Win the last 3 or 4 races and finish the top 2or 3 if you dont win.....stake your claim!!!
Anyone watch "inside the moto" last night...As soon as Reed got smoked he quit.....Nice positive attitude by the way Reed (sarcasm), Im sure Kawasaki was so glad they signed Reed after that pitty party he had in front of all the fans... A insider told me Reed was throwing a hissy fit and thats when Kawasaki was like " then take a hike buddy "....Reed rode great at Hangtown and the next race or two....then stuff went down hill....Talk about "mind games" or getting in someones head...The RD5 demorilized Reed outdoors...."its over" he says to his wife and team.....nice!
This video is absolutely HILARIOUS!!! great song too!!
http://m.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCNx3BKl60E&h=bc1bc&refid=17
Hey "nobody"...although i admire your detective work and deductive skills, i don't appreciate the insinuation!! I finally got smart and put a picture with my name because i was getting "hacked" on here too.....I have several times requested that RacerX change the format on here to help stop people from doing that, i'm hoping they will. Perhaps it is you, whoever YOU (caps) are!! Nice try Sherlock!!
@Ryan, I believe Stewart won 3 of the first 5 races.
I'm hoping Reed wins the championship. I think he will win Dallas and/or St Louis. He usually does good at those tracks and is usually good in the east races.
I think Dungey will win in Seattle and I think James Stewart will one more race too.
You forgot to list Windham as a winner in 85.
ah 1992???????????? That was year where there was major parity between JMB, Stanton, and Bradshaw right up until the last round. Thats the last time a season had more than 2 riders who had a realistic shot at the title with one round to go....ok excepting 2006.....
Stewart led after Oakland (race 4) 92 pts. to 90 for RV, I'm not a Dungebot podium speech fan, but find myself pulling for him to repeat anyhow, he has the coolest head of the bunch and seems to be getting Super-Pumped at just the right time.