450 Words: St. Louis
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There’s a dirty little secret to this year’s absolutely spectacular Monster Energy Supercross Championship—starts matter more than ever.
Yes, starts are always the biggest element in supercross, but in a year that has witnessed epic crashes, massive drama and unpredictable racing, it would seem like they don’t matter quite as much as usual. Last year, for example, the championship boiled down to two men, Ryan Dungey and Ryan Villopoto, but the duo almost never seemed to battle. One week Villopoto would get a start, take off and win while Dungey worked his way through the pack. The next week, Dungey would get the start and Villopoto would start further back. It took all the way until St. Louis for them to get off the gate in about the same spot, which is why that race hosted their first—and only—big battle all season.
Starts have been more important than ever this year.
Photo: Simon Cudby
This year, the entire field has mixed it up. Where Dungey and Villopoto rarely occupied the same piece of track last season, this year we’ve seen Reed and Stewart practically laying on top of each other twice, and Stewart and Villopoto did the same in Toronto. Crazy, wild, dramatic racing. No holeshot and checkouts here.
But the start is still key to it all. Trey Canard got out front twice in the last four races and won both times. Dungey got out front it Toronto and won it. Few times has one of the “Fab Five” contenders actually managed to make a pass on one of the others and won the race—this weekend, Stewart actually passed Dungey on lap one before grabbing the lead from Ivan Tedesco and heading to victory. Way back in Los Angeles, round three, Villopoto passed his way forward to snag a win, but even then, Stewart went down while Villopoto was pressuring him. In Oakland, Villopoto went down while leading. In Atlanta, Stewart led early, got passed, got the lead back, and then…you know what happened. In Daytona, Stewart got the lead, and you know what happened there.
In Dallas Canard got a good start and the win, while in St. Louis he got a bad start and fifth.
Photo: Simon Cudby
The list goes on. And the pressure goes up. With each of the five title contenders so locked in at this point, it would be hard to believe one of them can start outside the top five and work his way into the lead. Just look at Canard’s race over the weekend in St. Louis.
With so little room for error over the last three rounds, the starts have become even more important. There probably aren’t words to describe the nerves these riders will be dealing with when the 30-second board goes sideways at these final races. Yes, there are three races and four weeks left in this championship. But the whole year may just boil down to what happens the very second the gate drops.
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So true!!
Hole shots does not seem to help 800 KTM. Mike Alessi.
JS7, RV2 and TC41 are the only guys who can come through the pack and make passes this year....
Damn! C'mon Reed!!!!!!!
the one battle that I think would be one of the best would be Trey and js7 and with them being in 4th and 5th respectively right now, let us all make a moto sacrafice to the moto gods ( 30 minutes straight without thinking about moto) it will be tough and painfull but it is possible.
could you just imagine top 5 in points within 10 points in Vegas, Holy Muther of ALL SX Finals Batman!!!!
If you live anywhere near the north west and dont have tickets, you better gettem quick and if your not going, BE ASHAMED !!
Good point, Weege. The speed is so equal that giving up 5 positions and 5-10 seconds is almost impossible to overcome.
Couldn't agree more. Getting a good start for the next two rounds is going to be key. Both Seattle and Salt Lake have a reputation for taking a turn for the worst when it comes to rain, and a mud race in sx is all about the start. Can't wait to see what happens on Sat! NW pullin for RV!!
I'll bet this. You will see pros looking like beginners this weekend in seattle. Footpeg deep ruts and 10 different lines through the whoops and anything can happen! Why do you think larry Ward won 2 times there. It favors Guys like windham who can ride everything. The dirt moves when you hit it. It's like racing on pudding even when it's dry. Last year they put a bunch of sand on top of it so it was sand pudding...
tight tracks making it harder to pass alot slower riders.
and short races (time wise) some of the best races ended because they ran out of laps..
I know that sounds stupid, but in the 90s most of the races were over by lap 8 or 10....20+ mins
The weather report is looking better for Seattle....but i'm sure it will change again!! I suppose some would prefer a mud race, i'd rather see a dry track!!
I've been thinking about that lately. Villopoto, for example, needs to practice starts until the cows come home. Everybody in the Fab Five need to practice the hell out of some starts. The lure of good starts and the paramount importance of a holeshot can dominate a rider's mind to the point where keeping the lap times down takes a back seat, and they get a holeshot but get beat to the checkered.
One way or the other, this is such an exciting series. YEAH!
Next year will probably be a big letdown. Then again, these same guys will be there!
I think I would be practicing riding in the mud all week.
I hope not mud races kind of suck
I cant wait for Vegas! I live here and already have the tickets!!!
IF THERE IS A HEAT WIN RECORD IN SX. STEWART MUST BE LEADING ALL TIME HEAT RACE WINS IN HISTORY OF THE SPORT.
WHAT IF? There's your next article, Weege. What would the points look like if Dungey's chain hadn't come off at A2? If Villopoto wouldn't have failed to qualify at Jacksonville?. If Trey hadn't got that 13th at Daytona. If Stewie wouldn't have crashed out at Jacksonville. If Reed hadn't got 8th in Dallas... where would they each be if they didn't have that one bad race? It's been - and still is - anyone's season.
(btw, how's that shirt coming? ;o)
RV has got seattle is its a rainy slopper. He'll lap the whole field and then some. So will hanny there. I want deano to show zat little kid how to ride but he cant ever get a start while that kid barcia holeshots from the lcq. why do people still think theres gonna be some hype out of alessi. He's like the pace car. he holds everyone back at a slow speed
Ill say it again, I really hope JS and Trey can come out 1 and 2 the next 2 races, Vegas would be nutZ!
Calm down, OrganDoner. The last time conditions were muddy, Villopoto fell over. Twice. I would expect the veterans to do a little better (a bold prediction, I know). Didn't Windham lap up to 4th last year? Or was that Salt Lake?
"STEWART MUST BE LEADING ALL TIME HEAT RACE WINS IN HISTORY OF THE SPORT."
Possibly. Emig also said Stewart's led the most main event laps this year (72 before St. Louis), which kind of surprised me.
Whoops_Blitzer.. Valid point.. i am always hoping when it rains, K-Dub will seize the opportunity and win one race at least...
But RV should be fired up to do well in front of his home crowd!! And he will most probably win it.. Back in 09' he was fast!! And won the race!
I reckon Seattle will show the habitual... Stewie crashing his brains out... Reed being desperate.. And Dunge being consistent.
Only Canard is the joker card.. he can win as he seems to be on a roll!!!
heat races and leading the most of laps is simply unsignificant... Stewie is proving this again..
I really hope it does not rain at any of the last 3 races. The year has been so good I would hate to see it desided by a mud race. So much luck goes into a mudder
im from texas, fourwheel drives are the best thing that could have happened,but dirtbikes are single wheel drive for a reason,lol..mud-cross kinna ruins point runnins, gives that one "lucky" guy a shot..windham seems to be quite good at the mud races,so if one pops up..theres our biggest competitor
It's gonna be a mudder!! Which is just what the series needs! Would be really cool to see K-Dub get a win this season!
Mud is the great equalizer and a big part of motocross (and supercross), always has been. They will all be facing the same track and get put to the test, exactly what this sport is all about.
Retardcross,, this is true what you say,, but the fact remains,, it SUCKS to watch.
Mudders are cool in the sense of watching dudes ride through crazy conditions, but it sucks when you have a tight series like this cause in the mud, anything can happen......
Man, that picture of Reed in the picture gallery is interesting to look at.....one of those "caption here" moments with Stewart in the foreground and a look of disust on Reeds face....
Mudders are O.K. to watch sometimes, but it can really take or give so many points we really dont need one. But it can show a more complete rider than one who can ride a cookie cutter track fast. But it was said right in this article. The speed of these top guys is so close, you cant get down 5 seconds and make it up anymore. I said that earlier this year and caught hell for it, its said in an article and guys all jump on the band wagon.
The Speed was not this close all year bd200, The first 6 races or so RV and JS were killing it!! RV and JS both came from the teens to the front. RV came from 12th to win when RD was leading. Things are tigher now but they were not early on. RD and Reed have both goten MUCH better the second half IMO.
Mike Alessi, I think you've answered a lot of questioned about that new KTM 350 this sx and last mx season. Smartass!
can reed afford to waste a bike in a mud race?? dang privateers always screwin these races up..lmfao..he might need a big time sponsor for this one race maybe?maybe hell blow his bike up..again..daytona..hope so:)
I am sure Reed can afford to "waste" several bikes. He is Honda's top dog right now. Do you really think they would let him be without a bike? Really? Bikes are small beans at his level.
This weekends race was crazy! like midnight im up with a migrane tryin to watch this crap,lol..reed ate..shmit!!!!! haha stewart ran hard,then put it in cruise control and held on.How about K-dub?! i tell yall in every post that hes gonna come back! nice race K-dub! Tedesco,whats his deal,lol..a few different times this year,the guys been poppin up in the top 3..maybe all this ruckus is makin the guys that are behind want it a little more,maybe they were bored..lol.cant wait for the rest of the season..