Open Mic: St. Louis
Sunday, April 10, 2011 | 10:45 PM
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PrintRyan Villopoto – Monster Energy Kawasaki—Third Place, SX Class
It was alright. I kind of Evel Kneiveled off the start and did a huge wheelie. Me and Stewart were side-by-side and I was just trying to edge him out. I wheelied. So I had to come from behind. The track, once all three of us started jumping that triple-triple by the finish, it seemed like we were all doing the same thing. I was trying to catch Dungey, but it was just hard to make up time. I was closer at the beginning, but then I was still behind Chad. I wasn’t able to get around Chad right away, and that’s how Dungey got that gap.
Did you see those tough blocks that Chad landed on?
Yeah I did, but I wouldn’t have hit them, I was tripling at that point so I would have went over them.
When Dungey was out ahead of you in the second half of the race, where you trying to go catch him, or where you just riding your own race?
I mean, I was wanting to catch him, but I wasn’t going to risk crashing. That would have been worse. It was only two points if we stayed there, and crashing would have been worse if I had went down.
So the points do run through your mind?
Yeah.
It’s your home race next week and the last time you raced there, you won your first career supercross. Is there any advantage at all for you there?
I’m sure there are a lot of fans who are looking forward to seeing me up there. So that’s going to be cool. As far as the dirt, someone asked me today if they’ve put new dirt in there since I last raced, and I don’t know. So I’m not sure. That’s not a big deal. But I know the dirt there is usually like an outdoor track. Once it gets all soft and rutty, it’s like an outdoor…and you know I like that.
RV has gotten the consistency back after a few tough weekends.
Fredrickson photo
Ivan Tedesco – Dodge Motorsports Hart and Huntington – Eighth Place, SX Class
I’m happy for the situation I’m in. I’ve torn my ACL so I’m just trying to get through it. I tweaked my knee on the fourth lap, and just did the best I could after that. I nailed both of my starts, the heat felt good, and the main, I did the best I could. I’ve had a lot of nagging injuries, so I haven’t been able to train as much during the week as I would like to. I’m just in survival mode right now. I hate to say it, but I really just looking forward to next year—I’ll be getting surgery after Vegas.
Tommy Hahn – Motoconcepts Yamaha – Eleventh Place, SX Class
The result doesn’t show it but I rode 10 times better than I did in Dallas. I got eleventh here, but I crashed in the first turn. My riding was good, but it just took me until the main event to get there. In the heat race, I got a good start and just kind of locked up. I rode a lot better in the main. So, I can’t be bummed on myself because I rode so much better than I did last week, so I’m making progress. And really, I’m just trying to stay healthy and be ready for the outdoors.
Seems like you’re riding better since you came back.
I think I’m riding in more control. I was going for it too much before I got hurt, and I was just wadding myself up. I think I’m riding more calm. I took the time off that I needed, I healed, and then I kept on training and just kept getting stronger. With my brother hurt, he’s been home with me and he has been pushing my quite a bit. I’ve started to take parts of his program, and that seems to be working for me, because what I was doing before wasn’t working. I rode outdoors last week a little, and I’ll continue to do some outdoors so I’ll come in ready.
While the points leaders are staying focused on the indoors, T Hahn is preparing for the outdoors.
Cudby photo
Gannon Audette—DNA Shred Stix Star Racing Yamaha—Sixth Place, Lites Class
Three weeks ago I got a seventh, then I got an eight, and now I got a sixth. It’s been getting better, I’m keeping it on two wheels, so that’s helped. So now we just have Vegas and then we have outdoors. I got off to a good holeshot in the main, I think I was about fourth. I made a few small mistakes, went back to eighth. But I rode a smart race and kept it on two wheels.
So the big difference for the last few races has just basically been keeping it on two wheels?
Yeah basically, especially those first few laps. You have to be safe. Then you have to dig down deep. I’ve been trying to work on the consistency.
How steep has the learning curve been to learn supercross in your first season?
Yeah, it’s pretty tough, coming from amateurs. But it’s cool, too. You have to be on top of your game the whole time.
Ryan Dungey – Rockstar Makita Suzuki—Second Place, SX Class
Overall it was good. Track was a lot softer than normal, so we had to make some changes in practice. We made some good changes before the heat race, and we were able to get a good start, which was key. I got the holeshot and put down good laps, and got a heat race win. And that was definitely helpful to have a good gate pick. In the main event, going into the first turn it was a real tight squeeze and I was able to get into second behind Ivan. James was able to make a pass on me and Ivan. Toughest part of the track was the triple-triple in the rhythm lane. James started doing it right out of the box, and he was putting a lot of time on me there. I told myself if I was comfortable I would do it, and thankfully everything went well. It really helped lower the lap times, and we were able to stick right there pretty close to James. We just tried to manage it, be as smooth and consistent as we could.
When James got past you at the beginning, it looked like you maybe could have gotten really aggressive and tried to slice underneath him. But you didn’t do it. Are you just looking at these races as 20 laps, and not trying to change everything in one corner or section?
Yeah, with James, once he got by, I tried to make an attempt to get back by him, but then he got around Ivan, and I knew I would have to get around Ivan quick or he was going to get a gap on me. But I just really tried to be consistent.
You said you made changes. Was the track a lot different than what you expected?
I don’t think we chased it, but I think it’s just that, every track this year, even when we thought it would be tacky, it ended up being more hard packed. This was actually the first time we were dealing with really soft dirt, and things getting rutted throughout the day. But even then we didn’t have to make huge changes, just a few clickers here and there, and those little tiny changes helped in the long run.
Five points down. Do you think about that or do you just take things race by race?
Well, obviously you do need to know about the points and be consistent, and think about the big picture. But really we’re just trying to do the best we can at each individual race, and just keep putting ourselves in a good position each week. Realistically, we know where we stand in the championship, but if you start thinking about the end result and what you want—which is the championship—you end up skipping steps along the way, and that’s not what you want. So we just try to put ourselves in the best position each race, do our best in each race, and take it from there.
Mike LaRocco—Team Manager, GEICO Powersports Honda—Justin Barcia, first Lites class, Blake Wharton fifth Lites class, Kevin Windham, Sixth SX Class
We had a good night. In the Lites class we got done what we needed to get done, which was pick up a few more points, which is good for Barcia, it will take some of the pressure off of him heading into Vegas. And Wharton, he’s had a couple podiums going but he ended up fifth. That’s okay. So overall a good night for the Lites guys.
For Kevin, I wouldn’t say he’s happy with his sixth, but he’s part of that second tier right now, so really sixth isn’t a bad place to end up.
Kevin had a pretty nasty getoff in practice. Was that a factor at all?
[Laughs] Um, just the frank and beans! If you know what I’m saying. That’s all, so otherwise he’s all right.
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RD1 FTW!
Holeshot
Dam almost! Best year since the 80s loven it!
If RD wins the title with just one victory (and 15 or 16 rounds of consistency) it's going to be mind blowing to many followers of the sport.
Ouch, K-Dub! Good run considering....
Podium by Vegas, #14. We're pullin' for ya!
RV is rather blunt, good to see he wasnt worried about landing on the blocks and he didnt worry about catching dungey because it was just points. I mean I would say the same thing too but damn, common guy.
Well...St.Louis was a bummer in the FroLives compound. Hats off to Barcia. The guy isn't as fast as my boy Wilson but he finds a way to win...injury and all. Gritty performance. Deano 250cc National Champ this year!!! Big Bikes...Reed seems to have lost the speed he found a few weeks back. C'mon Reedy, Find it!!!! See you all in VEGAS!
RV2 got held up by a desperate CR22... And that cost RV2 the possibility to challenge RD1.
RV2 is cool.. He knows that in the coming three races...
JS7, will crash.. That has been his strong point this season.. So this is bound to happen again.
He has CR22 covered.. So no worries there...
RD1... He can beat him anytime.. So all he has to do is finish in front of him, game over for the defending champ.
Only wild card i here is TC41.. But he kind of surprised me why he did not challenge CR22? TC41 is way, too nice... But he has had a great season so far! 3 wins and counting!!
RV2 will win this championship.
DidierlotsyengTC DID challende CR22, what race did you watch?? TC came from WAAAAAAAAAAAAAY back and almost passed 22 on the last lap but made a mistake and fell back a bit.
Dungey will be the Twenty-11 SX champ. Can't crack his dome...He is the only one that has a mechanical DNF. The other 4 have self inflicted bad finishes. Kinda boring, but very fast and the most consitent.
Wow, zoom804, I totally disagree with you. Its unbelievable to me that people are still saying the if in supporting their favorite riders. If Dungey had gotten a better start and IF he had not hit TC his chain would not have come off !
Of the top five Dungey has had the best luck this year. JS has definatly made his bad luck and clear mistakes, RV, TC, and CR have had more bad luck than RD clearly I have been to and watched each race multiple times. The score is what it is and it is fair as it can be set up.
The if dungeys chain is no different than the if RV would have started better and if the rider in front of him hadn't missed a gear he would have....... same with chad same with trey....come on we can't go there this is the most awesome and fair season yet... although it is hard to not say IF JS had not taken out so many riders and if ,IF
This is going to be the craziest end to a season we have ever seen in Vegas, props to #7!
Go #2!!!!!!
Can't wait till the outdoors!!
haha everyone is so confident that rv will win this championship... Isn't this the kid who has never finished a supercross season (450)?
Love RV!!! I like his Reed style comment, basically baggin' on the rider who messed up " I wouldn't of hit them I was tripling over them"...HA HA!!! GO RV!!!
Reed is a assclown and I call landing on that tough block KARMA!!! I am sure that tuff block is why James beat him and running into his mate in the Heat race too??? Keep you eyes on the track Reed instead of looking for James .....if the shoe fits!!! Imagine if James did that...
Good ride for JS and good to see him settle down and put it too them, only wish RV got second...but next week!!!
Dungy is really good kid and it's a shame everyone put a mental asterik next to his championships, i'd love to see him pull this one out. Then what would everyone have to say?
BillC.. I know TC41 was behind CR22.. And he made up a looooot of ground... But TC sometimes is too much of a gentleman.. Unless he's being pushed...
TC is a great rider, and I foresee a great future for the kid.. Hell.. He can still win it... But I think as a rookie season, he's doing very good!
Hey Rick Melon, before you paint Reed as a whiner anymore why don't you go read his "pull the trigger" interview where he blames nothing but himself about St. Louis and says he didn't do well even without hitting the tough block.
Consistency surely pays off that is for sure and that is part of racing....Not as impressive as winning a handful of races, being consistent and winning the title, but that is how the cookie crumbles...If at the end RD wins the title, he deserves it..He won 8 races last year while a few guys were out and only 1 so far while those guys were in.....so that says alot too....but at the end, its about points for the title....great interesting series!!
Retard - I did read the Reed article and I would love to hear the audio so we can hear is tone. Tone says alot too....He didnt bring the tuff block or himself running into someone cause he has called out others on mistakes like that. He maked it seem like he doesnt make mistakes like that....Yes, he blames himself but I am sure his tone was his typical pitty party style when he gets beat, maybe not.....he cant blame anyone but himself this time....
For the record, I was very impressed with Reed the first 4 or 5 races and really respect the team he set up...cool move in my book...I was actually beginning to root for him to do well as he seemed like a new Reed. But then he won a mud race and turned into a jack ass again overnight it seems
@ David Langford...I never used the word "if" in my take...Here is what I said..."Dungey is the only rider with a mechanical DNF"...That is a fact...My point was the other 4 top riders have had problems too, but their problems have been self inflicted, either by bad decisions or riding over their heads. Even with his mechanical DNF, Dungey will still be wearing the #1 plate in the Twenty-12 SX season. For the record, I'm not a big Dungey fan, he's kinda boring, but I respect his efforts. Canard is my fav...love that kid!!!
FroLives, I feel Barcia is every bit as fast as Wilson, but certain tracks one of the two is faster than the other. Just like all the other racers are faster on certain tracks. The St' Louis track was an easy one, not bery technical really. So alot of time couldnt be made up either. All the stuff you could do to make up time, everyone was doing pretty easily. Plus Barcia is winning the points with a brokenm wrist, he has been dealing with along time. How much faster would he be and how much more of a lead would he have if he was 100%..
Champions should win races .....consistentcy works too....but not the same for me
Dungey successfully defending his title would be an awesome story, but I'd feel bad because I never rooted for him. Just didn't think he had it. Plus his overuse of the word "we" annoys the crap outa me!! Take some self credit for f**ks sake!
@Rick Melon RD did NOT win 8 races last year, I think RV won 7 and RD won 5.
@zoom804, I think what he was saying is if RD got a better start he would not have hit TC and knocked his chain off so RD MUST take some of the blaim,The chain did not just fall off. Just like RV for not getting a better start and getting taken out in the first turn twice!! He must take some of the blaim.
@bd200, Some say Barcia is ridding better because of the broken wrist, It has calmed him down and made him better. I think the team owner even said that.
Acejas HAS AN AVTAR!!!! THANK YOU!!!!
Yup! haha. I said I would. All it takes is someone posing as you to make the change.
Thanks Bill C.... I thought it was either 5 or 8...forgot, my bad. Even more so, 5 wins last year and 1 so far this year says alot. The NASCAR style of winning a championship doesnt fly for me in MOTO...If he was really that much better than everyone and won more races, he would be in great shape this year, even with the chain issue....RV, JS and RD all lost 25pts in one night during the series.....
One thing is certain on this message board
RICK MELON is IN-LOVE WITH CHAD!!!!
Get a life dude!!!! You look like a clown to many of us!
BillC... RD won 6 races last year...
And I agree with Rick Melon.. the point system sucks... Always has been.. 25 points for 1st... 23 for 2nd...?? Wow.. 3 points difference?
It rewards more consistency over winning races...
RD will become like a Stanton was back in the days.. Stanton won his three championships while never having been the rider with the most of wins.
We all remember the 92' season... Stanton wins it with only 3 wins vs Bradshaw's 9 race wins... And in 90', he wins 4... And Bradhsaw & Bayle won both 5 races each...
Only difference between a RD and Stanton.. The later one always mentioned it.. It will take consistency to win it... And that is what made Stanton a outstanding champion!!