by Andy Bowyer
One Industries Thursday Rev Up: Two To Go
Thursday, April 21, 2011 | 4:30 PM
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PrintHello, everyone, and welcome to the Rev Up. What a week. We missed the win at Talladega by .002 of a second last Sunday, which pretty much is what it is. Excruciating. That said, the thrill of watching those guys all power out of turn four together was astonishing. I was screaming and jumping up and down like a damn lunatic. Those moments are why I’m a race fan and if you ever share a room with me while there is a race going on, and race, you will certainly know it.
As the weekend approaches there is a four-soul conundrum heading our way, and we haven’t a clue who is going to pull this one in.
Reed survived a gnarly get-off in Seattle to capture third.
Photo: Garth Milan
The theme of 2011 is a collage of broken chains, take-outs, huge crashes, and chest-pounding racing action. As the four horsemen power down the final stretch, it’s going to be beautiful to experience. I’m going reach into my rabbit’s hat of cliches and remind that you can’t win the title at the next to the last race, but you sure can lose it. What kind of a mindset do the title contenders carry into the last two main events? Do you ride conservative and save it for Vegas or go full balls to the wall and try to get as much of a cushion as you can and save the final salvo for Sin City? Those scenarios manifest a burden that Villopoto, Dungey, Reed, and Stewart are capable of carrying. Who can shoulder the load the best?
I say James Stewart can. He’s been through, ahem, a lot this season, and with two races to go I think he has the most confidence to take care of business.
On the other hand, look at the season Ryan Dungey has had. Bike failures, mediocre early season performances, and a late season surge has him poised to repeat as champion. The heartbreak of his early woes has surely been healed by this shining moment to be able to have a shot.
Can Stewart track down RV with only two to go?
Photo: Garth Milan
Then you have one, Ryan Villopoto. The man came back from a broken leg to bust the series wide open, riding an early wave of domination that looked like would never crest. Surfers call this situation a wave, “closing out.” One minute they are pitted inside the “almond eye” alone in a blue barrel, the next the wave just fails and they’re inside the washing machine dodging reef. Can RV scratch his way into another wave and carry it all the way to the beach? He can. He’s shown he has the salt.
How about Chad Reed? When the series began he looked tight and that familiar style he’s always had was reduced to, well, less than championship form. The two-time champ gradually found the balance and by the time Atlanta came, the Thunder was crackling and shaking the walls. I still can’t believe how fast he hit the sand section at that race. The thing with Reed is he is ready to do what it takes. If Stewart gives up the inside this weekend or next, he’ll have a red fender plate up his tail pipe.
The gloves are off and the title is on the line. Take no prisoners, show no mercy. Vanquish and conquer.
The championship in the 250 Class is going to be really special too. Can Josh Hansen take the pain and take the title that is rightly his? Can Broc Tickle pull off his season of dreams? They both have a big problem with the Honda’s of Cole Seeley and Eli Tomac riding with only victory on the brain.
Tickle holds the slimmest of leads over teammate Josh Hansen with only two to go.
Photo: Garth Milan
Well, here they come, boys! Who is ready to scream and jump up and down like a loon? We are the race fans of the world, the few, the weird, and the proud. As this one explodes down the final stretch, any venue with a flat screen had better prepare. How about a little Slipknot lyric to warn the timid:
“Remember / Surrender / The Time is Now
Continue / We're in you… and we will BURN YOUR CITIES DOWN!”
That would be Gem atria. Listen to it as you read, or before the main event next Saturday night to get your mind right. The penultimate charge of the 2011 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship is here. Two to go. Forty laps of the heavy to decide who will be the man.
Thanks for reading, see you next week.
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This was excellent Bowyer, I really enjoyed this one. Especially the surfing lingo, when it is suddendly 50 degrees and raining here for 2 days. But a great read, and Stewie has the momentom for sure, and RV2 better get a freakin' start. Reed is within shouting distance of the title also. It has been awesome. I hope it is decided on the track, not with a practice injury or something, like what happened to Canard.
why must we see js7 in every pix im so sick of seeing him in the start of every article i could puke.......go rv2
Get some Pepto for your bum tum-tum tgq25, haha!
All the years I've rooted against JS I know my stomach was in knots. Even when he would crash, he'd get up and pass my favorite riders and win by seconds. I've since just stopped rooting for one guy and just enjoy the show. Love 'em or hate 'em, he's what has pushed the pace of the top class to the level we are at today.
Your beloved red head will likely take the title, and before you know it he'll be featured in many articles and photos. But he better win again or old man Reed might swoop it up!
Should be some awesome final races....... Would hate to see it coming down to someone taking another rider out to win....Is that Reeds only chance, by taking out whoever is in the best position to win the title ?...Rather than "passing" them.......Same goes for Reed I guess, he can be taken down as well....but so far this year, he is the only one that has intentionally gone to that extreme with the "do or die"..and that was what, round 7?...09 in vegas to me made Reed look like and idiot running James off the track like that.....Reed had his chance to win races all year and he did not.....so just take him out, that makes you the better rider.......thats not racing, that is a sore loser in my book.
BTW Bower, there is no race this weekend...."That would be Gem atria. Listen to it as you read, or before the main event this Saturday night to get your mind right."
but we get the point.....
Metal Moto Head
That race in Vegas: Nothing proved his inferiority more than trying to solve it with force. The “I can’t beat ‘em so I’ll smash ‘em” type of attitude is for the heathens. His inadequacy surfaced again in ATL. Then he got bent out of shape b/c RV bumped him. Sounds like he’s crying again, like when the Yamaha team made him wear blue gear (pulpmx racer commentary story from T.Ferry) and he got all fussy.
What are all of you talking about? If Stewie is on his game, he will win. It will be the same if Stewie races the outdoors. The real issue is whether or not someone is going to be able to "man up" and ride at Stewie's level of speed.
GBS - well put.. One thing I have noticed over the years is...Yes, Stewart has had run in's with Reed, but he has also had run in's, crashes or other issues with other riders as well and they are not intentional., just part of racing...But Reed has only had issues or "history" as Emig calls it with Stewart and only seems to make these aggressive "i'll just take you out" moves on Stewart....Atl this year...Phx last year...He didnt try that on RV or RD this year...or Canard before he handed Reed the win in San Diego.....racing is racing...intent is intent....09 Vegas was intent to injure another rider in my book..only way to hit a rider on a straight away is if they fall in front of you......Stewart was letting him by and he tried to knock him off the track......not racing....not cool
spoiler alert genius, there is no supercross race this weekend. i would say dont quit your day job, but.........
Reed is a pissy little jerk!! All of the above about his whining and his temper tantrums is true!! He comes out this season riding like crap, and makes it sound like he is just happy to have his own team and blah blah blah, and starts to talk about how he wants to ride with Stew and bury the hatchet so to speak. Then he hits Atlanta and is riding well enough to take the win, but James goes by him and the love affair was all over....Again!! He was seeing dollar signs, and points, and pride, and career wins and he just couldn't handle the simple fact that he was 2 laps away from winning it and JS passed him for the umpteenth million time....so he got dirty!! So sick of his whining, two faced, tummy aching BS.....just stay down under would ya?? ANYONE BUT REED........ANYONE, BUT REED!!!!!!!!!! Hell, GO JS...GO RV....GO RD!!!!!
to the people who think js7 will walk a way with the outdoors will be sadly mistaken
way to stay positive tgq25!
That was a great writeup, thanks Andy! I tend to agree that JS is on fire right now and it's going to take a lot to stop him. Of course there is the chance that.........
JS-1
CR-2
KW-3
RD-4
RV-5
for Salt lake! If fate has them all tied in points before the last race, Vegas will be booming.
Tailpipe? What's a tailpipe? Back when it was two strokes, it was a silencer. If you took the silencer off, the back end of the pipe, a.k.a. expansion chamber, was called a stinger. But a tailpipe? Do racers call it a tailpipe now?
You might as well say, "Scootercyclists floored their motorbikes and did pop-a-wheelies on their choppers until their tailpipes were dragging on the moguls."
face the facts! They are all fast,and it is anybodys race. I like them all,but no way is one person gonna run with it. It is up in the air right now. We all know the outdoors is the real test,so with that said. It has beena good sx season,but not even close to what is coming! IMO So lets go boys,stay healthy cause the season may be ending,but another is around the corner..Oh and GO DUNGEY!!#1
I love the fact that Reed plays so ruff on Stewy!! James history for taking people out speaks for itself. When it happens to him, some of you guys cry fowl!! And bash Reed for doing whatever it takes to win, even a move like ATL. Oh well, this is a great finale we have here, sit back and enjoy!!!! GO REED!!!!!!
Hey Boyer how did you decide the lights title "rightfully" belongs to Hanson? I thought it belonged to the racer that wins it.
Tailpipe?
As previously stated, in regards to the final two events, the only question could be: Who will finish second? And if Stewie races the outdoors, it is a real possibility that there will be more of the same. Review 2008 before you post your attempts at counter-arguments.
It's there for the taking and CR22 is the man to take it !!!
Great article Andy! It gave me goosbumps again. Your creative writing clases paid off well! This article made me remember about times when my self and the other guy going for the overall in the 2nd moto sideby side the last strait before the finish with a one line turn before the checkered flag, both of us goes for the one line and we both crash. It is 25 feet to the flag I push my bike across the finish while the othwer guy is trying to start his bike LOL that was good. that is what this series may end up with?
I agree with Stantdm, why is the 250 title "rightfully" Hanny's?
Hanson won't win the 250's...too much fast competition out there.
JS7 won't win the SX title...can't control his right hand enough with the remaining pressure in his head...he'll be on the ground at least once in the 40 laps and it will cost him.
BTW, JS7 will get his clock cleaned in real MX if he races the outdoors. I think RD and RV will raise the outdoor level beyond his ability to stay on the bike.