by Andy Bowyer
One Industries Thursday Rev Up: Control
Thursday, April 14, 2011 | 3:15 PM
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Hello, everyone, and welcome to the Rev Up. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, this is an amazing mud ball we live on. With every sunrise arrives a fresh chance to take it all on. In the big scheme of things, we are all so lucky to just have air in our lungs and have the opportunity to stand with a fist and do our best to make the most of the sun warming our blue oval for another 24 hours.
Try as we may, there is no control in anything. We can conjure up a bubble of conceived “comfort,” but the reality is that we are living in a controlled chaos. Control is an illusion.
On a smaller scale, such is the case with the much celebrated 2011 Monster Energy Supercross season.
Trey Canard suffered an injury to his femur testing for outdoors and will miss the remainder of the SX season. Tough break for the rookie.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Professional supercross racers do not live in the world that we do. They are machines of performance, perfection, and false security. They are some of the most superstitious athletes in the world of motor sports. Those guys really believe that the little things they do, such as putting their right leg in their pants before the left makes a difference. They all have their own particular ritual that helps them think that everything is going to go the way they have trained for.
They believe it to their bones.
And now, as we watch the growing highlight reel of carnage before every broadcast, it has become blatantly obvious that unlike years past, there has been no alpha male. Nobody has carried the flag in this immaculate dust up.
They have all felt pain and they have all been outside their forecast of “control.”
The 2011 season has only solidified the fact that absolutely anything can, and will, happen.
Well, folks. What is going to happen now? A mere three rounds remain to decide who will wear one of the heaviest and shiniest title belts the sport has ever seen. I can say with no ego that I have never seen one go like this.
And now the charge makes it’s way to the great Pacific Northwest to do battle inside Seattle, Washington’s Qwest Field.
The Emerald City will host the onset of the end. Everything that has a beginning has an end, including this amazing spectacle of triumph and tragedy that we as fans have had the humble fortune to absorb.
As it stands, there are four capable champions. Four.
Can the defending champion make a late season run at the title?
Photo: Simon Cudby
Stewart, RV, Reed, and defending champion, Ryan Dungey can all still claim the championship that nobody as thus far been able to capture. Trey Canard injured his femur while testing for outdoors and will miss the remainder of the SX season, which has narrowed the title contenders down to four.
The vibe and aura of Seattle only spices up this already boiling conundrum. Seattle is a beautiful city in herself. The fish market, the space needle, and all of the foggy, salty coolness of the city is one of the most soulful environments I’ve ever been lucky enough to take in.
I have to touch on a bit of a personal note. Try to hold your scoff, but today I got hit up on Facebook by a soul I didn’t think I would ever hear from. The “social network” is a fascinating, and vulnerable aspect of today, but on this day, today, it served as a whimsical punch to the jaw that has me finishing this week’s Rev Up with a manor of simple astonishment.
I love this sport so much. Motocross has been the way of the Bowyer family from the beginning. Once upon a time, circa, 1997, I had a chance to be flown to Santiago, Chile, to give my best for the upcoming Terrafirma 4 video. Well, in short, I left it all on the table and went for a gap that I didn’t make. Was it one of the best things that has ever happened to me, or the worst? Hell, my friends, I still fight it.
That said, my doctor that fixed me after my crash, Dr. Alberto Balut, hit me up for a friend request on FB this afternoon. It really made me take a few steps backwards and remember the whole deal.
Can Reed pick up his second win of the season in Seattle?
Photo: Simon Cudby
Isn’t that crazy how life works, really? At least, I think so.
Hey guys, I’m here to bring you as much passion and soul about this sport as my fingers can. I believe I’ve had the fortune of living motocross like only the lucky others have. Nobody gets the goose bumps about the charge more than I do. What's great is that everyday something new pops up about moto.
It always will.
This is American Supercross, Jack.
All of the boys have put their guts into this shit.
Who’s ready to see what the closing will bring? Who is ready to see if Villopoto can hang on, or will Dungey make a sneak attack? Will it be a rutted-out mudder and make a mess of things? Do Reedy and Stewart still have a shot at the title?
The answer is a resounding, “Yes! Yes! Yes!” All the boys are in this beautiful pickle.
Before I go, I beg a brief disclaimer:
My brother is heading to Talladega this weekend. Those who have read the One Industries Thursday Rev Up for a few years know where I’m at.
It's heavy, folks. It's all a whole bunch.
Can RV hang on?
Photo: Simon Cudby
If you don’t know, allow me to retort, I’M READY FOR THE NOISE, folks! Straight rolling my neck, shoulders back, and shadow boxing.
No control. The proverbial, “catbird’s seat” remains vacant.
Who do you got, Jack?
The scramble for the championship begins now. Three to go. What dreams may come? We shall see, my friends.
No Control.
Thanks for reading, see you next week.
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All I can say is, who ever wins this title will have earned it and will deserve it 100%
That is true ...So many ups, downs and WTF moments this year. All the top guys have had some whacky moments for the most part that threatened their chances...but they are still in it....Reed has probably had the easiest route thus far with no DNF's or out of the top 10 finishes....but at then end, all the points are tight...Hope RV can pull it off.....
I predict RV 432, RD 328, CR 327, JS 324, when vegas is done
Good piece AB. Much like the hyper-chamber Michael Jackson was rumored to have owned to place himself in once he died, I wish only to freeze this moment so to stroll down this chamber of memories again. Alas, time marches on much like these soldier of the two-wheel world will complete in only a few short weeks.
We will have witnessed the best championship ever and twenty years from now it will be part of the history that the next generation will look upon this day much as some do over the last 40 years that have past. Just remember when riders such as Roger DeCoster, Jeff Ward, Bob Hannah or David Bailey pass you by, they too were the desert of the day and champions of yesterday's dinner.
Ha I meant RV 342
Good write up Andy, I enjoyed this one too. Its been a great season, and it looks like it may go all the way to Vegas.
Greatest season by far, loaded with talent (premier and lites!) and the one I've probably followed more closely than any other season. This year marks the dawn of a new era where soon it'll be the top 6, 7, 8 who can win on any given night. It's a great time to be a fan.
Can't wait till sat night... Wish the last 3 were all live!!! 2 is great but all 3 would kick ass!! Come on RV nail the holeshot and get win #6!!!
Terrafirma IV.... great vid! Andy, that jump was pretty wicked. Glad you recuperated as well as you did.
Sorry to hear about TC41. That sucks.
This thing is gonna rock till the Vegas finish line. Wow! Woohoo!!!
Andy, see if this means anything to you.... ;)
Dig in the trash,
There's nothing to eat
Sores on my tongue,
Sores on my feet
Open the fridge,
There's only pickles and beer
Breakfast of champions,
Only things served in here
Nothing is something I'll get some today
Nothing is something I'm wasting away
Nothing is something my life's in decay
Nothing is something
Going to a party,
To look for my friends
I know I ain't got none,
Hell I can always pretend
Everyone will be there,
Where the girls go
I don't know where it is,
And I don't know where to go
Things I do, decisions I make
My life story's a comic book,
That explains the way I look
I hope when this championship is finally decided that we dont here any what if's!!! Someone had stated how Reedy had the easiest route but dont forget that at the beginning of the year he had his bad luck in the form of being caught up in first and second turn pile ups. No he didn't have any DNF's or DNS's but he still had his rough nights as well. I am a Dungey fan and last year everybody said "oh well he only won cause everyone else got hurt" well although that is true Dungey was still the rookie and he should have been the one making the mistakes not the other guys in the form of Stewart, Reedy, and RV2's mistake in St. Louis. And Im going to say it first that if Dungey does win the title this year everyone is going to bring up RV2's DNS. No matter who wins the title all we will here on the message boards is "they only one because RV2 didnt make a main" wether that is true or is not true that is why we race and that is why everyone has to qualify. I'm hoping for Dungey to win because I want all those who said what they said after we won last year to be silenced or I want Reed to win because everyone says how washed up he is but they all forget that he still has a little magic left. Reeds career in my opinion went downhill when all the pros switched to 2 strokes because he was definetaly better on a 2 smoker! BRING BACK THE TWO STROKES!!!
Love your writing syle Andy! Very real with alot of genuine expression.
Just checked out the Terra Firma 4 crash and DAMN you had some balls. Thats was a huge gap. Looks just like a crash I had at Glamis on a dune double, just on a much smaller scale (about 110') and ended up with a collapsed lung, shoulder surgery w rod, 3 cracked ribs and a week in the hospital. My lesson was that the risk was no longer worth the reward at my increasing age :-).
Awesome SX season!
Dont know whats wrong with my boy RV ....... but he could "play it smart" all the way to third instead of all the way to the bank. Come on Hoss ! Dungey has momentum and Reed has the experience. As for James, well, its not over till Vegas.
Dirt
I think that, when it comes to what-ifs, CR22 got one of the worst deals in Dallas. Sure, he let JS7 get close, but that shouldn't guarantee a take-out. JS7 was OUT-OF-CONTROL when he took CR22 out or, rather, used him as a stopping mechanism. CR22 was running well and very likely would have finished much better that race had Stewart not drilled him. On the other side of that coin, JS7 might have landed up in the blocked-off seats or flat on the concrete if CR22 hadn't been there to stop him. That was 100% on JS7 and I thought CR22 handled it mighty well, all things considered.
My point... give big kudos to CR22 on that one whether you like him or not.
Dont know what it is abut MX that keeps us climbing off the mat. For a nano second its maybe its time but that turns into I was outa shape,or the bike setup, or they just watered the track, or I didnt commit . Shoulders , collarbones ,ribs , arms, dirt naps and too many nicks to remember. When. family asks, "when are going to quit" the look in my eyes tells then. They dont even ask anymore. They say MX is a young mans sport, I say MX keeps a man young.
Dirt
I agree that it has been an exciting year and all of that, but I don't think that the winner of this championship means all that much. The championship has come down to the wire, which is neat, but the fact of the matter is that nobody has dominated or 'earned' the title champion. Essentially, it goes to the person who has made the fewest mistakes/had the least bad luck by the time vegas rolls around. Way too many ' what if's' to call any of these riders's 'champion' over the others. However, the next few races will certainly be exciting, and as fans, there isn't much more we can ask for
Nice one Andy! I do love your enthusiasm and style. This is the best season I've can remember and at 40 yrs old I've been watching for some time. I've been revved up all week but now I'm full throttle baby. Never been a Reed fan before but I'm rooting for him now.
Kinda see what your sayin Dak446.. but the guy with most points, well he will be one hell of a champion in my eyes considering the talent out there! Gonna be strange not seeing Trey flying around this weekend.
If Villo is is able to man up and bang bars with Stewie, I think that he could win the title. If not, it could go to any of them, and that is a tough one to call.
Stewart will do it. He has all of them on tilt and he knows it.
What about Reedy? He just needs a little more MPH.
This ERA blows the McGrath ERA out of the water!!!
"There's no blood in the picture...it's no good right?"
-sethro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrRpLyp-spA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrRpLyp-spA
chubbychad.. Different era.. MC was just way, way better than the rest.. And it shows in the results.
Dungeness Crab.. Do not worry.. RV does not need to bang bars with stewie.. He's going to crash again.. And RV will be on fire this coming saturday!!
TC was the only real wildcard, but sadly he's out and this should clear the way for RV to win the title.
Reed It.. Reed is desperate.. Expect him to pull off a desperate move... Hopefully not on RV!
Thanks for the video Java. My VHS copy is pushed far back into the cabinet. Andy, that was a huge gap....and crash.....painful to watch. The best thing is that you have a talent that keeps you close to the sport. Good luck to little brother and to all the big four this weekend. Hurry back TC41.
Don't forget RD did very bad in the mud last year.
Very true BillC. but lets not forget. We have seen Stewie do very bad in the mud, Milleville, and also do well in the mud, A1 a few years ago. So Dungey may surprise, but he is Mister Cautious too, so you never know.. But RV needs to holeshot and check out, wet or dry..
For once an article praising all the riders. Not like Wege and Matthes bashing some of them. I think BillC might be Wege or Matthes.
Dont foget Bubba won the 2005 Seattle mud race.....beat RC and Reed quite easily on his 2nd race back from his broken wing.
People will say that there's already asterisks and "what ifs" to this season and now with Trey hurt, add another one.
I've always felt that there are NO ASTERISKS in racing. If the good lord wanted JS to win Daytona, it would have been done. Same for Trey's injury or Dungey's chain or Villopoto's DNF, etc, etc. This is why I feel Dungey is a deserving Champion and whoever gets it this year deserves it.
Heck yes Andy great read gave me goose bumbs lol. Yesw at 55 I like a few others here still love the sport of gladiators. Yes a grat year of supercross and what will the outdoors bring? I destoyed my body in 25 years of racing. Maybe this new hip that I get next month Will let me ride again?
In Milleville I don't know that he rode that bad, He happen to get stuck in a deep hole LOL!! But there was 3 mud races last year and RD look VERY okward in them all so I am thinking if its a Mudder he will be sweating!! But having said that anything can go wrong in the mud so Know one is safe. I would hate to see any of the top 4 lose this because of mud.
@Carlsbad TC was along shot so I don't see anyone using an asterisk on this yet. How do you see one being used? I think JS is Hurt the most by TC not being there because he needs bodys between him and the others. As for Reed, Rv and RD I can see it both ways, if you holeshot you wish TC was there but if you get a bad start your glad he is not there.
I don't know, In San diego, Dungey did great in the mud. Reed, Dungey, Stewart, RV have all had shining moments in mudders so I think it's a toss up on what's gonna happen. The key to a mudder is just to keep it up and keep it running and a start will help tremendously. Sorry, turned into Fro there for a minute...Jerry Taylor