Racer X Notebook: St. Louis
Monday, April 11, 2011 | 11:30 AM
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Print- The St. Louis track featured something the riders and teams haven’t seen all year—tacky dirt! Even the tracks once known for sticky, rutted conditions, such as Atlanta and Indianapolis, have dried out over the years, so St. Louis and its trademark soil reigns as one of the last of the truly loamy supercross tracks. A few riders admitted they had to make changes to bikes, tires and even riding styles to deal with the increased traction and ruts.
- More changes came after the second seeded Lites practice session. A tricky section of the track claimed both Malcolm Stewart and Blake Baggett with crashes. The riders would jump off a small roller, wheel tap off the top of a bigger jump, and double over the next jump. But the second jump wasn’t big enough to launch riders far, and if the wheel tap wasn’t clean, a ride could come up short and crash on the third jump. After that practice, the second jump was built higher. There were no more crashes in that section.
Canard overcame a rough start in St. Louis to finish fifth.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
- James Stewart has made a habit of nailing a fast lap in the first practice session and then just cruising around in the second session to check out lines. But due to the track change, he knew a fast rider in session two could top his session one time, so he pushed it in both practices. He logged a 47.6 in session one, and a 47.7 in session two. But late in the second practice, Trey Canard stepped up with a 47.5 to nail the fastest qualifying spot. Canard was also the fastest qualifier at Indianapolis.
- Canard was riding with the momentum of two wins in three races, and that fast qualifying time. But he got a terrible start in the main event and finished the first lap in 15th, ending his chances for a podium finish early. Late in the race, he closed to the back fender of Chad Reed’s Honda in a battle for fourth, but a big mistake and near crash in a rhythm lane gave Reed the needed breathing room to hold the spot.
- Reed surely wasn’t pumped on finishing off the podium himself, and losing two more points to series leader Ryan Villopoto. A press release from Reed’s TwoTwo Motorsports/Bel-Ray Racing team explained his night: “I think it is easy to make excuses but the truth is I don’t believe I was riding at my full potential tonight,” Reed acknowledged. “It seemed like I couldn’t get any front end feel for the bike but the fact is we have developed the bike around me and when I am not at my best, I am not getting the best from the bike. I know I sound like a broken record but it isn’t the biggest issue to me, there is still a lot of racing and a week off to come. As we have seen this year, more so than ever before, things can change massively in a week.”
Reed lost valuable points to Villopoto in St. Louis.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
- Reed had made some changes to the front end of his bike before last weekend’s race in Dallas, but he had actually intended to make the changes at the beginning of the season. Unfortunately, the custom part takes eight weeks to order and create, so he had to wait. Such is life when you’re on a new team that was only created in November. However, Reed maintains that although he is a privateer (the only parts he has on his bike from factory Honda are triple clamps, and a transmission part that prevents his bike from hitting a false neutral) his bike is not at a disadvantage to the factory machines.
- Ryan Villopoto had a hard get off in the first timed practice, and his Monster Energy KX450F landed on his back. Villopoto got up slowly at first. He later said he was okay, except for the massive Dunlop tire track on his back.
Brayton gave it a shot in St. Louis, but in the end had to pull out after a few laps of practice.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
- Muscle Milk Toyota JGR’s Justin Brayton crashed hard last weekend in Dallas and hurt his back. He came to St. Louis anyway to give it a try, but pulled out after a few laps of practice. JB still came out for opening ceremonies, since the St. Louis race is the home event for the Iowa native.
- JDR KTM’s PJ Larsen is out for the rest of the supercross season with a broken wrist after a crash last week in Dallas. He had surgery on Friday and hopes to be back to race the AMA Pro Motocross opener at Hangtown in May.
- After next weekend’s Seattle SX, riders and teams get a weekend off. But it won’t feel that way, because the outdoor motocross testing season begins. Villopoto’s mechanic Mike Williamson explained the grind. He had a bare frame sitting at his work station at the Kawasaki shop. On Monday (today) he’ll do a frame up build and create an outdoor test bike. Then on Tuesday he flies to Seattle so he can rebuild RV’s supercross race bike on Wednesday, as the team has press day obligations on Thursday and Friday. They race Saturday, then Williamson flies home Sunday, with outdoor testing on the bike he built today starting next Monday.
- With five riders and teams all in the hunt for the SX Title, don’t be surprised if the focus isn’t as heavy on outdoor testing as it may normally be. Reed said he tried to ride some laps on his outdoor bike and track last week, and was, “pretty much over it. I’m trying to win this supercross championship right now.” Surely the four other riders battling for the supercross title probably feel the same way.
The Ti-Lube Kawasaki team is sporting an all-new lineup after injuries to Matt Goerke (above), and Matt Boni.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
- The Ti-Lube Kawasaki team was sporting an all-new lineup for St. Louis, since Matt Goerke broke his wrist and pelvis (ouch!) in his crash with James Stewart in Jacksonville, and Matt Boni had a compound fracture of his tib-fib (ouch!) last weekend. Bobby Kiniry and Cody Gilmore took over, and Kiniry grabbed the final transfer spot to the main in the LCQ, with Gilmore finishing right behind, leaving him out of the main by one spot. In the main, Kiniry and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Fabien Iziord got into it, with Iziord getting the worst of the deal and flying off the track. Kiniry finished 16th and Iziord 18th.
Cody Gilmore joined the Ti-Lube Kawasaki team in Dallas.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
- Tough break for ElevenTen Mods Honda privateer Alex Martin. He fought hard in the LCQ and was running second on the last lap until he crashed under pressure from Matt Lemoine. Lemoine grabbed the last transfer spot to the main via the crash. Lemoine was also hurting after a massive over-the-bars crash in his heat race.
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Holeshot-oh S&^T washed the front end...
if reed wins the title , he will not race outdoors , and he will retire for sure , the guy is slowing down
So it takes 8 weeks to get front end parts made for CR22s bike then this goes on to say about CR22s bike "his bike is not at a disadvantage to the factory machines"
Really. Factory Honda waits 8 weeks for parts?!
Who writes this crap?
Dungey is 5 pnts off first... Can you say anything about that??
1. Villopoto 275
2. Dungey 270
3. Reed 267
Reed makes so many excuses,, he even ADMITS he sounds like a broken record.... hahahahahah...
This message board sounds like a broken record. Since when does Reed ride for Team Honda? If you slow down and still win a championship you should retire? Feels like I'm playing poker with my brothers kids. Good column, Weege.
if it goes 1. stewart, 2. canard the next 2 races, vegas is going to be crazY!!
2011 gonna be the best outdoors. Pourcel, RV and Dungey will be going at it. I wonder if JS will race outdoors. All I know is there are being changes and that they might be going to KTM. Cant wait for CP, RV and RD. Ohh wait Canard is in there too. And where the hec is Brett Metcalfe? That guy is good outdoors. ALso Ryan sipes and Regal were killing it.
HA......good one MXMOFO!!
Reed is on a " 100% production bike" remember....just ask Ralph Shaheeen...now come on, I know that seat cover isnt stock.... HA !!
RV2 practice crash sucked, guy needs some good luck. RV2 was also sandwiched between the two Indian riders on the start of the main, then he did a high wheelie half way down the start.
The next 3 races might as will be in three different countries. It's going to be real soft dirt and deep ruts in seattle. The top 5 will not finish 1 through 5. Expect KDub and Sapps to have their best races of the year. Kdub won 2 of the last 3 years. RV won the other and Millsaps has been on the podium. Reed has never won in seattle. JS7 won 3 times 05-07. Top 5 in no order. RV, KDub, JS7, Millsaps, Dungey
Does anyone know how that tuff block got out on the track in front of Reed? was it big james?
http://www.racerxonline.com/2010/04/25/seattle-supercross-race-report This from last year. Look at the ruts!
.RV 5 win's
.JS 4 win's
.TC 3 win's
.RD 1 win
.CR 1 win
3 ta go, 20 points between 1st and 5th I have run so many scenarios in my head it hurts. I want RV to win but the closer the points get the more exciting it gets!!
I just hope there is no mud races, I would HATE to see a mud race decide this after what a great year it has been so far.
@mxjoe99 I would not put any money on K-Dub to win one. It would be cool but very unlicky IMO. Also I don't see why the top 5 wont finish 1-5. The top 5 are all at another level. Look what TC did with a very bad start!! Came from way back to get 5th and almost 4th. Unless there is a crash or a mud race I think the top 5 will finish in the top 5 the rest of the way.......... They HAVE TO!! There is way to much on the line at this point.
@ Bill C. Why do you always have 2-3 posts right in a row? Gather your thoughts.... then post.
The top five will definitely finish top 5 for the rest of the season, except when you factor in crashes. Then K-Dub could get another 4th. It's safe to say though no one else will ever see the podium. I've been hoping for Reed to title all year but it doesn't seem like his heart is in it like past years. I've changed my alliance to the defending champ but I also hope 7 wins out for redemptions sake!
So how much money will Reed be OUT of if he doesn't win 3 races?
P-Nut - A shit load allegedly
No one does it better than "Rick Melon & mxmofo"
Grab your bikes and race! You look funnier as the season progresses. Throwing anything on the guy who just love to race even if it cost him his savings...
GO RV!!!!!!
P-Nut.. Just to give you an idea how much $$ Reed will miss if he does not win 3 races or the championship... According to a french forum where they interviewed Vuillemin.. Reed made a similar deal with a insurance company, betting on himself in 09'.... The odds were against him in winning the championship outdoors.. he beat the odds and he made a whopping 3.9 million dollars..
And Reed also mentioned in a older podcast with matthes that he wins 3 races.. He will recoup all the investement he made in his team.
I reckon RV will watch his back on 2 riders.. JS and CR now... But he shud be fine.. Home town race.. He will blitz the field with ease!!
My prediction...Dungey sweeps the last 3 races and repeats as Champ. And I believe he deserves it because he's the only one that hasn't made any riding mistakes this season. Dude is SOLID.
I do hope Reed wins this thing but I really dont have a favoiite. I was a prettty good suspension specialst in my days of racing and new what I was doing with my mods and can understand what Reed is meaning on his not riding in the same style as he had his suspension set up for. When I was riding 2 or three classes a day I would have to change my suspension as the track got worse at the end of the day.