Racer X Notebook: Dallas
Monday, April 4, 2011 | 4:15 PM
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Print- It seemed like everyone’s post-race track analysis contained the same words: slickness and whoops. The track was very hard packed, as it always is in Dallas, although some of the Texas-based riders think that’s strange since the dirt at their training compounds is much softer. “This isn’t the Texas dirt that I know,” said Tommy Hahn. “And I only live 45 minutes from here. It seems like the exact same dirt we used to ride on at the old stadium. Maybe it is.” Ryan Villopoto’s mechanic Mike Williamson said RV even used a different tire for this track, as he found it even harder-packed than the west coast rounds seen earlier in the season.
- The whoops were really gnarly, too, and with slick dirt on top, it was easy to get wheel spin and lose momentum. For sure, most of the races seemed to come down to who got through the deep whoop section at the far end of the stadium the best.
Stewart was cheered during opening ceremonies.
Photo: Simon Cudby
- The track did offer a little relief from the hard pack with two sand sections, and one of them did offer some passing opportunities. The sand in the first turn allowed riders to hook a rut on the inside, or rail to the outside and triple the next set of jumps. Oddly, tripling proved no faster than double-singling the section, so most riders stuck with the middle or inside line.
- The track offered one big rhythm lane, but most riders were able to figure out the fast line by the end of the first timed practice—including the Lites riders. A few riders did make mistakes there, though, and it cost them dearly. Ryan Sipes was pulling away in the Lites main when he messed up the section and had to single a bunch of the jumps. This allowed Justin Barcia to catch back up to him, and Sipes didn’t have enough momentum built to blitz the whoops, allowing Barcia to get inside and take the lead. Chad Reed also messed up the rhythm lane, which allowed James Stewart to catch up and attempt the same move. And we know what happened next!
- The long season is beginning to rack up the injuries on the field. Dodge Motorsports Hart and Huntington riders Ivan Tedesco and Chris Blose are ailing, with Tedesco tearing up his knee last weekend in Toronto. It’s a significant injury that will probably require surgery, but IT is going to try to tough out the final races. Blose has a bad wrist and ankle, but much like he did last year, he’d rather not even find out the full extent of the injuries and just ride through the pain for a few more weeks. The duo soldiered on for 13th (Blose) and 15th (Tedesco) in Dallas.
Brayton had a big crash in Dallas, but appears to have avoided any major injuries.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
- It was worse for team Muscle Milk Toyota JGR, as Davi Millsaps crashed out of the start and hurt his hand, and Justin Brayton went down later and hurt his back. Brayton even had to spend most of the night getting checked out in the hospital, but both appear to have avoided major injuries. They finished 17th and 20th respectfully.
- J-Star JDR KTM’s PJ Larsen crashed in his heat race and aggravated a wrist injury he has been nursing all season. He didn’t return to the race. He’s getting it checked this week to see how bad the damage is.
- Much anticipation as to how the fans would react to James Stewart in opening ceremonies after his arrest incident last week. The crowd reaction was overwhelmingly positive, and he was cheered as loud as ever when he came out.
PJ Larsen had a rough night in Dallas.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
- Kevin Windham had a wild ride in his heat race when he ran into the back of Mike Alessi in the whoops and went down. He returned to win the LCQ, but wasn’t too worried, since he also raced in and won the LCQ in Dallas last year. In the main, he logged arguably his best ride of the year, finishing fifth and staying in touch with Villopoto and the leaders early.
- Mike Alessi pulled another Nuclear Cowboyz holeshot in the main event—that’s two in three races for the once (and perhaps once again?) holeshot king. For any doubters out there, after the race, the AMA randomly selected one bike from each brand for a mandatory tear down and inspection. Mike’s 350 checked out with stock bore and stroke.
Mike Alessi grabbed another holeshot in Dallas.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
- Kyle Regal was supposed to have a broken navicular and be out for the rest of the season, but it turns out the swelling in his wrist had resulted in a false reading on his MRI. A CT scan later showed the navicular wasn’t broken, and the radius bone—which heals very quickly in comparison—wasn’t too bad. Kyle started riding during the week and raced to 16th despite some crashes in the main. Regal lives in Texas normally, but has been staying at his teammate James Stewart’s house in Florida.
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Well, the dirt might not seem like the Texas dirt the local pros are used to because the dirt that is used for the track might be composed of different proportions of clay, sand and silt. Those whoops looked like they were almost solid clay. Natural conditions in the area probably have a different proportion of dirt types. Different proportions change water retention characteristics, acceleration traction, braking traction, bump shape formation, braking bumps, stutters, kickers, lips, drainage, rut formation, berm formation, dust etc.
Hey, who roosted the Monster Energy girl in the chest? She was clean a little while ago.
"Stewart was cheered during opening ceremonies".....this is a much better indicator of what the majority of fans think of Stewart and of the happenings last week. It makes it quite clear that the hating majority on this website is not representative of the real world majority!!! How disappointing it must be for many of you that he was welcomed with more cheering than boo's.....which many of you said he would receive in Dallas......i love it1!
I agree with that also, i'm aware that the guy isn't perfect (who is) but it really does show that the deceiving imbalance of negativity on here is somewhat of a fluke!!! Soldier on James Stewart!!
It doesnt mean crap of how the majority of fans feel about Stewie. Most fans at the races cheer for everyone at the opening ceremonies. No matter who they are. And why boo him?? Because he made some dumb moves?? Isnt reason enough to boo him. He has made a few "dumb" moves recently. I never booed him, and I am really sick of his antics taking guys down on the track, intentional or not. He thinks of nobody's safety on the track, and its getting real old.
James Stewart the fastest crasher on the planet?
Someone had mentioned something regarding the AMA and Reed between the Heat races and Main Event that had Reed in a tantrum running down the tunnel or some crap.....Any information on that story being anything at all?
how can the casual fan not cheer for james?- he is crammed down their throat with his tv show, and CBS basically running another 30 min show for him prior to the racing.
Lets see.....Stewart crashed in the whoops one time and Reed did two times, Canard did once, Windham did as well along with a few others.......but only JS7 crash matters because he happend to take out Greedy Reedy in the process????
got to be in it to win it and just go for it...just like Reed says....JS7 is going for it, which puts you and others on the ground at times, right Reed??
I am a bit confused about the tech inspection of Alessi's bike. Since it is a 350, wouldn't he be allowed to have a larger bore and stay within the regulations??
What good are holeshots if your in 9th place by lap 2...........
@confused, I think they said that to note that he is actually riding the 350 and not the 450 to give all the 350 doubters a heads up
Where are all the guys who said the 350 would never holeshot?? LMFAO!! also the guys who said it was board out??? LMFAO again!!
Taing who down bd200?? In the other thread you said "I never said JS took down Reed" Witch is it bd200?? he took him down or not?? He sure did not take down RV in Toronto either so what are you talking about in the last few weeks??
the percentage of fans knowing about the incident with James was low at best, only those who follow the sport daily would have known.
CBS and Speed will be renaming the telecast "The Stewart SX Series" lets reward committing a Felony with a 30 minute special on him, nice, very nice, why they never did that for JLaw is puzzling.
Actually going to root for JS this weekend - only so the points will tighten!
he will not be charged with a felony, wait and see.....keep dreaming though haters!
CBS sucks!!! All we got was highlights of the heats and more asskissing of Bubbles. There's alot of good racing going on and we gotta watch Bubbles ride by himself for 7 laps. I like Jeff Emig but he's on his knees for him... Bring back David Bailey!
You are missing the point "bd"....if it all was that bad, they would have booed his ass out of the stadium(so to speak).............these boards are imbalanced with keyboard happy haters who just cant help themselves....oh and it most certainly does "mean crap" as to how the majority of fans feel about him...it is very telling.....and the fans who go to the races are the fans that matter to just about everyone involved in putting on and sponsoring these races....like it or not folks, the guy is a draw for the sport....and that my friends is a good thing!!! As someone else said, Soldier on James Stewart!!
I'd like to kick some serious ass on this little loser punk with the racist name above......you tell me where i can find you and i will back it up you worthless waste of space!! Hope to hear from you soon!!
The majority of fans at supercross races are just casual fans, or just looking for something to do on a Saturday night. Out of the 50k fans at the rounds, how many hard core racers/fans do you think make up the total number; very small, in my opinion. This , I believe, is why Stewart got mostly cheers, besides, everyone is so amped up to finally see the races they probably don't pay to much attention to the preceeding weeks news.
Hmmm.....Seems to me that there were a number of fortune tellers last week who predicted that Stewart's arrest would help focus him for Dallas, and that he would be on point, and that he would win in dominant fashion this weekend.
Uh, guys, your crystal balls are broken.
Not a Stewart hater, but facts are facts people. Stewie stunk the place up, even aside from "the whiskey throttle heard 'round the world". Just sayin'
Racist guys have tiny dicks! There is no room in our sport for simple-minded racist white-trash, school-drop-outs! They hate the world because they know deep-down that they live at the bottom of the human-food-chain! Just laugh at them and feel sorry that they were raised by the same white-trash un-web parents they've become too by 8th grade!
Most people that attend the races are there for the "moto circus" when it comes to town (not that there is anything wrong with that). I do not think most were even aware of Stewart's actions the days prior to the race. Only fans that follow the sport closely and passionately are concerned with the behind the scenes stories. We will never know what their reaction would have been if they knew of Stewart's arrest. It's as if it never happened. Cheering for Stewart during opening ceremonies was not overlooking his arrest by the fans; most did not know and may never find out. Great racing this year, and that is something no-one can overlook.
The question is "Have you ever been convicted of a felony?"
The way to answer that one with a no is:
If you are clearly guilty (and James has admitted to it, so he is), you need to have an attorney get it busted down to a misdemeanor.
James will throw some money and maybe community service at it and they will let him plead it down....and tada! the felony he committed and admitted too never happened :-)
"Un-wed", sorry, but I HATE ONLY RACIST PEOPLE!
Open-Class is dead-right; in fact, any good lawyer could make this "Felony" go away! And because it's JS7 (no priors, gives-back a ton, etc.), it WILL go away, as it should, no-harm, no-foul, the way I see it!
Think about the JS7 situation this way; TP199 almost killed a buddy while crashing a Vette at high-speeds, and that never hurt our TP199 love-fest, did it?
This too shall pass...
Open Class, where did you get your inside info that Stewart admitted to committing a felony?? Having the blue flashing lights in your car is a misdemeanor, traffic violation!! Nothing is going to get "bought" down to a lesser charge....the truth will come out about how this is being handled...b ut JS did not admit to a felony, obviously only to having the lights in his car.....too much grey area to make that statement man.
Alright, RacerX removed the post from the racist...well done!!
ROFLMAO can you imagine j$7 in jail with jlaw heheheheheh.. coupla of fracktards.. pretty sure Aldon wouldnt allow his "traditional" taco hell food... This guy has let fame go right to his head..cant wait till he is retired..
Sorry for my last post, i am a hating fool and dont know much about anything, i hope JS stays around for a long time, he is good for the sport!
JS7 - It is simple really. The fans love JS7 because of his go for broke riding style. Same reason we loved the Hurricane and the Bad Boy in the seventies and eighties. By the way that is Bob Hannah and Rick Johnson for "what is a 2 stroke?" crowd. JS7 needs to learn when and where to go for broke. He appears to lack the racing instinct necessary to pass a rider of similar speed. When you grow up as the fastest man on the track and your passing experience comes from passing lappers, who are much slower then your pace, then you lack the experience to make a calculated, thought out pass. Instead you just try to pin it and hope for the best. As entertaining as that is, this lack of racing skill is hurting JS7's career and the racers in his wake of destruction.
Well the dirt have given a lot of problem to the riders. But it would be more safer for the riders to not banged each other. Like bubba trying to pound twotwo... For twotwo take that as a motivation for the next round im with you man go cr twotwo..
@BillC: It's bored as in boring machine not board like surfboard, 'jus sayin:)
I guess they didn't find the nitrous chamber in the frame and how it connects to the fuel pressure regulator,lol.
JS7 is the single most popular rider (along with fastest and best) in the world. Look how much controversy there is that is surrounding him on this site. Every comment is about him, and half the articles he is in. JS7 is awesome!!!
BillC, NO ONE ever said the 350 would NEVER holeshot. Who would say that when Alessi pulled a holeshot in his 2nd moto out on it (Hangtown)? It would be pretty stupid to claim something that already happened never would happen. Are you still hanging onto the idea that 350cc is faster than 450cc. Is your world flat too? Let me ask you this one.....WHY IS ALESSI GOING TO RIDE THE 450 IN MX THIS YEAR IF THE 350 IS SO MUCH BETTER??????? Seems like the one guy that rode one outdoors last year got sick of getting smoked and rolling jumps like LaRocco's leap, while everyone else jumped over his head. Poor Shorty is going to learn. I fully expect to see Alessi jump back up in the results, ahead of Short many times outside on the 450. All of a sudden we are going to see 8-12 holeshots out of Mike outside again, not to mention almost automatic top 5 starts. How many times that happen in 2010 MX? Poor Shorty is going to feel the angst of not having that extra boost out on those long fast outdoor tracks. Imagine taking on RV and Dungey outdoors with 22% less cc under you. I'll continue to point this one out....if you have to point out every single start a bike gets? Not a good sign.
Alessi may be able to holeshot,but he really needs to stay out of the way of the real supercross racers..Alessi's days are numbered really,especially when he gets his butt handed to him in the outdoors. Just my opinion,thats all!!
Reed is gonna have to pull out all the stops to catch RV2. One thing Reed has going for him is Stewart, He likes taking out series points leaders!!!
@Rick Melton - Mikes KTM must have the same bore and stroke as a stock KTM 350 per AMA rules. Everybody has to run OEM specs for certain items. Bore and stroke is just one of them. Hope that straightens it out for ya brother.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4wrmATblvc
cmac, nice job. Awesome.
Did anyone notice what Ralph Shaheen said about Stewart during the broadcast. He said he was on a somewhat privateer bike. What is this guy smoking?
MooseInJax, congratulations! You win the Pandering Enabler 2011 White Guilt/Anti-White post of the day! You've successfully referred to anyone who isn't a fan of James Stewart by an anti-white epithet! You are exactly that which you hate!
motocross and supercross people are the cheapest and most whiney, complaint filled people on earth. as much as i hate football and baseball, id rather read about that and talk to those type of people than deal with you homo motocross people. you act like stewart killed someone. damn.
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I wouldn't have boo'd stewart, but I sure as H#ll wouldn't have cheered for him, there are better choices out there to idolize or even support, like anyone else out there. the James Stewart show on Sunday was ridiculous, instead of showing the heats.
I don't understand people on this forum. Why do you dislike people that make the sport exciting.
The only villain in this sport is CBS.
BKR... Lots of people said the 350 would suck and NEVER get a holeshot. I am sure u missed a few post's ove r the last year. So don't say things like this "NO ONE ever said the 350 would NEVER holeshot" because it really makes you sound like .... Well I am not going to say it. As for Short he is in the same spot in points he would be if he rode a 450 this year so I would say it is really not hurting him. Also when did I ever say the 350 was faster than a 450?? Find that and I will buy you a new 450!! LMFAO. Its really sad how pissed you get when anyone talks about the 350!! WOW...
Notice how Emig gets all giddy and gosh golly when Stewart makes a pass or cool move , Jeff is in awe , of this guy, Wonder why , Because Jeff knows he is seeing one of the Most Amazing Riders Ever , Sorry people , its true , JS7 has elevated all of the other riders to the point where they are starting to go as fast as he does , Wait until He Kicks It Up A Notch. Coming soon!
BILLC, read my thread above shitstarter, I never mentioned Reed did I. I said taking RIDERS down, good god, how come you love to start sh#t all the time. Stewie took down Hahn and RV2 also, but I never mentioned Reed. so shut up!! Yes he did take RV2 down, read all the threads on Racer X. YOU seem to be the only guy jusat about who doesnt think so, because you defend Stewie till the end. If it was Reed who got into RV2 I bet you would be saying he took him down.
This article didnt mention at all Matt Boni's crash... He had one of the worst crashes I've seen this year and compound fractured both bones in his lower leg. I heard he had rods put in... Thats both riders for TILUBE in a few weeks that are out. (Goerke was wadded up by Stewart in Jacksonville). Maybe Weege didnt notice Boni laying in the middle of the rythem section for half the race. Also MotoConcepts team is back to racing after a 3(or4?) week hiatus. I think thats worth mentioning too.
bd200 wake up, LOTS of peole said JS DID NOT TAKE OUT RV, You must read every other post or something!! I can't believe you sometimes!!!
Also please stop say what you think I would be saying, I can speak for myself just fine.
motodad, let us know how Crow tastes after the first national of the year. B-KR & BillC, We've seen the 350 expeiment in MX and SX. KTM has made MAJOR strides in making it competitive (in U.S.) since last MX season. I am pleased Mike Alessi will ride the 450 in MX and with any sanity at all, so will Andrew Short. A rider like Barcia, that revs a bike up tight, would be an excellent candidate for the 350 (Although, Honda will likely keep him locked up contractually, for some time). I think increasing bore size (on the 350) would throw the balance factor out of whack (as you probably know, some motor configurations don't happily accept bore increases without MAJOR revisions) and losing the rev for (only) a couple of cc's isn't the direction they want to take......or not.
To tiny tim: sorry, but Ricky Carmichael is the racer that has set the standard for speed and hyper aggressive riding, not James Stewart. The difference is Ricky perfected the art of riding at the absolute edge of control while minimizing the crashes whereas, Stewart certainly does ride out of control most of the time but, the crashes come often and frequently involve other riders
sorry motocynic , but RC said years ago that James made him step up his game , facts man facts !!!!
tiny tim, RC NEVER LOST A TITLE DEFENSE & WON A CHAMPIONSHIP EVERY YEAR OF HIS PRO CAREER. While "fastest man on the planet" sounds nice, you can't cash that check at a bank. I'll take "15 time AMA Champion" over a made-up title every time, sorry. While RC is/was not my favorite, he was a worthy champion. What has your Messiah done lately? Besides getting arrested and shaming his sponsors of course! Wait, I know.......Crashing, endangering others, finishing off the podium and LOSING championships. Facts man, facts!
You can speak for your two-faced self sure. Just like you were speaking for me saying I said Stewie took Reed down. When I didnt. But Stewie DID take Reed down, not intentionally but he did, it was Stewies fault that they crashed, slammed right into him. Cant deny that one.
apparently between heats chad has uttered the n word to james and sparked a huge problem
@Carlsbad. Man, you are killing me.
"What has your Messiah done lately?"
LMFAO!
Why must you always name call bd200?? You seem to be the only child on here who name calls all the time. Grow up please.
Also funny bd200 how you call me two faced, How many times have you told me I said something but could NOT prove it because I never said it?? You have done it to others too.
Dear Davey Coombs:
A weekly article titled "Carlsbad Speaks" wherein he gives us his take on the comments posted, and recent racing events. That would be funny!
I could not prove it?? How old are you six? You sound like an elementary kid, PROVE IT. You know what you said, shut up. Why is it I say the same things a dozens of other and I am the only one you take issue with?? You have never answered that question. But answer MY question , were did I say Stewie Took OUT Reed ?? Where did I say that, dont deflect the question, you never answered it, when did I say that??
It is a fact that once James Stewart came on the scene Ricky Carmichael had to step up his game, but he did so successfully. The reality is that Carmichael was the first rider to race at the the very edge of control consistently. Ricky was racing that way before Stewart was even on the scene. And that's a fact.
James Stewart hurts people. RD,RV,CR, and TC are better overall riders.
Like I said before bd200 if you can't prove I said something it might be time to stop blabbing?? Also I have told you before but I will tell you agin because you seem to need to be told things 10X's before it sinks in. The reason i respond to your post's the most is because most of the guys on here are made up names and are not here that often and one post wonders. Besides you do the SAME thing, You tell me I am the only one who feels that way when there may be 5 other posts saying the same thing. I at least read every post but you must just look for mine.