by Andy Bowyer
One Industries Thursday Rev Up: Vegas
Thursday, May 5, 2011 | 10:50 AM
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Hello, everyone, and welcome to the Rev Up. In the beginning, the forecast was frail. So much was anew, and there were so many emotional circumstances fueling the charge into the 2011 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season.
It’s been a season for the ages. Perhaps all-time.
The man I thought was going to win the title belt, James Stewart, isn’t going to win it. The rookie that captivated the industry with his courage and speed, Trey Canard, fell victim to injury. The defending champion, and perhaps the statistical favorite to repeat, Ryan Dungey, now needs a miracle. The man a lot of us forgot about, Ryan Villopoto, now holds the world in his hands.
Villopoto controls his own destiny at Vegas.
Photo: Simon Cudby
RV Park came out swinging when the bell rang and he’s fought all season long for his chance to earn his supercross championship. That said, I can’t remember the last time a rider failed to make the main event during a championship effort and still pushed his motorcycle to the final round with a nine-point lead. A statement of how downright crazy this year has been.
All of the wins and the losses, the crashes and take outs, all come down to this shining moment in Las Vegas.
Ah, Sin City. The biggest dump in the world. The evil luminescent lubricant for all of the vices we are born with and are taught our entire lives to suppress. Las Vegas brings out the worst in every soul that dares to enter its realm. My first experiences of Vegas came from racing the World Mini Grand Prix as a youth. Back then, I loved all of the lights and the fact that Circus Circus had the biggest arcade in the world. Being set loose with a roll of quarters in the gargantuan game rooms remains my favorite memory of the rotten metropolis. Those memories are, ahem, clouded, if you will, by too many weird walks through the MGM lobby at 8:00 a.m. as I saw clean and fresh people heading to the breakfast buffet. "Don't see me," pretty much covers those moments. Remember that scene in the cornfield in Casino with Joe Pesci’s character, Nicky? That almost matches some of the mornings I’ve had in the devil’s playground.
Dungey is still alive, but will need a miracle to win his second career title.
Photo: Matt Pavelek
I have no use for the place. I see it as a symbol and a resounding reminder of how not to behave. Maybe I just took too many laps around the Hard Rock circle bar in the late ‘90s...
But, the way we do it is we finish our supercross season in Vegas. There is an elaborate banquet and a decadent party that falls in the wake of the crowning champion. The pool at “Rehab” the following morning is quite the scene. Yep, sure is.
You see, there is just one thing though, there is still a race to be ran. There are still twenty laps left on the table and nobody has won yet. If this hyper-dramatic season has taught us anything, it is that we shouldn’t expect anything. The forecast remains frail.
Chad Reed is still alive. Nine points? Man, all bullshit aside, that is a lot to make up on a rider as solid as RV. The Thunder is going to have to just go out and win, and hope that something goes wrong with Villopoto. That said, it has gone wrong before! Damn, dude didn’t even QUALIFY at Jacksonville. The theme of the 2011 Supercross series is we’re all ready for anything.
Reed is still alive, but will need help from Villopoto.
Photo: Simon Cudby
I’m just excited to see them go at it one last time this year. And why wouldn’t we all be? It’s been quite the show, folks. A chicken-skin, heart-pounding roller coaster that’s had all of us out of our minds.
Time for the final charge. Time to finish the game. It all unfolds live on SPEED on Saturday night. If you’re not at the race, I hope you’re tuning in.
Thanks for reading, see you next week.
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Not gonna say it. I hope this weekend is off the charts!!
Lets go Reeeeeed!
Dude, reading this gave me chills, I will be there all day. Wouldn't miss this one for anything.
GO RV!!! --- Hopefully Reed isnt a pussee, keeps it clean and doesn't try to take RV out...But I predict a JS7 and CR22 battle for top spot while RV hangs out in 3rd or 4th watching the drama unfold as JS7 gets his payback for ATL as Reed goes for the win and Jamed ruins his night.....for points of coarse!
Why hate on Vegas so much Andy? Take everything in moderation and have a blast!
Trend killer- You don't think a whiskey throttle T-bone, a peg grind into his back, and being schooled most races is payback enough??? You know, it will be awesome when RV seals the deal, but if somehow, some way Chad wins this thing, you better believe I'll be jumping on my couch and hollering like a monkey that just snorted a pixie stick!
im hoping Rv will take the win. ive liked him sense day one, never giving up. but if reed pulls through some way. ill still be happy because a priveteer winning the championchip is awesome no matter what. btw saturday at what time will it be airing? Live to ride, Ride to live
Man if somthing went so bad that RV did not win this it would be a shame IMO.
@RV4LYF 10pm EST
Privateer.... Here we go again with that one. Look who snorting the pixie-stick now.....
Reed has way to much backing (especially now with the Honda deal) to consider him a "privateer". I'd bet over 1/2 of the guys racing in Supercross would love to have 1/2 of what Reed's getting from his sponsors.
Well put, Andy.
This is going to be awesome...3 lites mains (Go Deano) and then the big JUAN.(Go Reedy) I hope the wind doesn't blow dirt into my carne asada in the parking lot during practice. Dodger stadium wouldn't allow any tailgating. Props to Sam Boyd stadium for letting the race day go down right, and for being the best place to watch a SX race in the world! I CAN'T WAIT!
Villopoto finished 6th & 4th in his first 2 years of 450supercross. Dungey has 1st and 3rd (at least), so why do people bag on him for not blowing everyone away this year? Seems a little unrealistic to me. Dungey has broken one of Carmichael's records and tied one of McGrath's, Villopoto hasn't broken any records yet. Villopoto has a full year on him. Dungey did great IMO.
Acejas - I meant "intentional" payback ..HAHAHA!! I feel ya' James doesnt really seem to hold grudges....he let Reed by last week when he could have screwed with him a bit. ...James will most likely "school" Reed again Saturday night....
Intentional or not, I think the 'Dallas torpedo' was payback enough for Stewart.
What's with the hating on Vegas? I love Vegas!! No matter how much trouble I get in! Let's go REED!!
Andy, how did you "forget" about RV2. He was set to win this last yerar until his injury. I had him picked at the start of the season as a legit title contender. I knew he had the speed to run up front. Just wondered how he would hang mentally, its such a long season. I'm not that big a fan of Vegas myself. Its just a money sucking town, trying to get rich off of peoples misfortune.
CGR, I get what you are saying now, but when he put that teram together, he didnt have those sponsers, it was all his money. Sponsers wont come until they see results. And he has earned every sponser he has now. I think he has done well.
"Dungey has broken one of Carmichael's records" What Record would that be???
Not sure thats correct.....
@bd200
How was RV2 "set" to win it last year. He was trailing the whole year up till the crash. That is just pure speculation. plus he had to pull a "Hanny" to get in front of Dungey. He was very inconsistant last year up to his crash, so there is no way in hell anyone could say that he was going to win it.
He didnt break a record, he did something that RC never did, win both titles in his rookie year. MC won the supercross title his rookie year, but not the Nationals, and RC won the Nationals in his first full rookie year, but not Supercross. Dungey is the only guy to win both as a rookie.
I think the record Dungey broke of Carmichael's was outdoor wins in a rookie season. 10 wins to 9 if my clouded memory serves me right.
It was just my opinion, he got alot better as the year went on, he started the season with only 3 weeks on the bike and wasnt in shape, He was coming on strong and was winning pretty regular when he got injured. He pulled a dumb move on Dungey, but got up and run him down again. He was faster than Dungey at that point. I feel he was a title contender coming into this season, and it looks like I was right. How can you argue, he is winning.
@chadley75
Dungey Broke RCs record for most rookie wins and most rookie points in motocross. So that would actually be 2 records FYI
What a great year, Not only has Stewart been beaten straight up for a championship, but he has been beaten by 3 guys. How did that happen? Guess Stewart is not that great after all.
@BD200 ...I agree with you that he was a contender comming in to the season, just respectfully disagreeing that he was on track to win the title last year with his inconsistancy.
@BD200... also he did not run him down again....after the crash, he got going first. it was only like a lap or two after that when he took his big WAAHOOO over the triple.
i hope RC4 is a color commentator at Vegas. i put way more stock in his opinion.
@bd200 How is Vegas just a money sucking town, trying to get rich off of peoples misfortune?? No one is forced to go there... Are they??
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWggoO7nVh8
Here we go!! Dejavu my firends....
Yard sale anyone!!
Stewie will win the final event big time .... if he avoids the yard sales.
Stewart will no doubt win or crash at Vegas. He's got nothing to lose and nothing to gain (no nationals supposedly) and so he can be Crazy Balls!
Stewart will win going away as he should of all the previous roundsif not for some bad luck and a few cheap shots from reed, R.V. will play it safe and do what he has to do no excitement there. Get that yamaha dialed in and come out swinging next year james, hell ride around in third we know you can do that with your eyes closed and put in a charge on the last few laps.
Most consectutive winS in 450 sx (10).
@just sayin, Stewart has 5 wins this year, I would hardly call that not very great. Who else has 5 wins other than the points leader? Stewart had a bad year..He's human. I'd like to see you get 5 wins in a field of competitors like we've had this year.
SORRY THE OUTDOORS NOT SX.
DJ is correct, my bad.
@ WFO_UFO few people have said much negative about Dungey from what I can see. What most people have said is what I feel, he won the championship last year against a VERY depleted field. What he has proved this year is that he is fast, and he is consistant. But two things. One, that is boring as hell to watch. I want to see a racer hang it out when that is what is needed. Stewie does that, Poto does it, Trey does it, and this year Reed has done it at least some.
@ Bad Billy. Poto had more wins and was pulling away from Dungey in points last year when he broke his leg in STL. He was NOT behind.
JS7 is just going to eat more dirt this week. He will be trying so hard to prove that he is the fastest since he won't win the title that he will simply ride over his head and be crawling for the tuf blocks.
I think there will be alot of drama with CR22 grabbing the lead and RV trying to come from behind for the championship points....don't know why but I've had that feeling all year....and never count out Windham as a spoiler.
It is going to be possibly the greatest SX in history!
Dungey was leading the championship last year when Villopoto broke his leg, 277-265.
If RV had continued on to win St. Louis (with Dungey second), RD would still be leading 299-290.
If RV then won Seattle, Salt Lake City, and Vegas, and Dungey got second in each, they'd've been tied in points in the end and Villopoto would've won the title.
RV was on a roll, and Dungey SUCKED at Seattle and Salt Lake (with no pressure), so he very well could have bested him without needing a tie-breaker. Too bad we'll never know.
I would not count on this being the best SX in history. But I guess we can hope.
Also, should I, as a Stewart fan, hope for him to ride over his head and crash in Vegas? Would this prove that it wasn't other, "better" riders that beat him, but Stewart himself?
If not, then go Stewart!
Edit:
Would this prove that it wasn't other, "better" riders that beat him [in 2011], but Stewart himself?
Hmm. I could have sworn Poto was leading Dungey in points. If not my mistake then. But he was clearly on a roll, and then crashing out sealed Dungey not racing against the best, but instead "the rest". I stand on my other points. RD simply isn't a hang it out there and go for the win rider, and as a fan and as a racer myself I can't respect him the same as I do the ones in front of him.
Here's a stat thanks to the Monster Energy notes package, Supercross laps led Stewart 118, Villopoto 80. So keep on hating folks but Stewart took himself out of this season, the only rider to "straight up" beat him was himself. Just Keepinitreal folks!!
Andy, WTF,I usually enjoy your column, but the ignorance in you just came out! Thanks for the Obamaesuqe critic of Vegas. I'm a local here, and like my friends, we take great care of our families, ride motocross and support the sport and each other. We don't gamble or partake in the evil you apparently know too well. Everything in moderation is cool, I guess if you have no self restraint then stay away, many millions of people have a great time here. I spent 20 years in the Marines and have been to many worse Shitholes than this town, most that would turn your Redneck stomach, Keep your ignorant opinion to yourself.
Oh, never mind. He doesn't have to crash to prove that it's his own fault he lost the championship and not that of pressure--the video Insuranceman posted above proves it.
That was a shootout race--far less pressure, one would think--and there goes Stewart over the bars. (I don't think my jaw has ever dropped like that, by the way. He was really flying when he hit. Fun!)
"just sayin".....dude, give it up. Go find something else to hate on ass hole!!
If anybody deserves this championship considering points it's Ryan Dungy. He's the only one thats where he is on points due to mechanical failure (chain). That sucks DNF because of bike malfunction. If he would have got an average Dungy finish he would be in control now. I know it's a what if but think about it.
yall are crazy ive seen stewy since he was on eighties he the fastest ride theres ever been ive around racing since 1982 just hada bad year yall quit hatin good luck to everyone else and yes he will be doing outdoors i promise go bubba
I believe Stew is not the fastest rider. He is willing to go where no one else wants to go even though they can. Why, do I really need to explain. Poto backed it down after the first couple races look where he's at. Dungy is also where he is because he doesn't ride over his head. Yea there is times you need to turn it up but not EVERY RACE!
I believe there is a handful of guys just as fast as Stew it all comes down to who's using their head each week and not their sack.
How many times has Chad Reed come into Vegas with the Championship at stake? Like 4? That is an awesome accomplishment. Imagine without the 22 - some of those years would have been nowhere near as exciting. Over almost a decade he's been head to head with the best in the business - the GOAT (on more than one occasion!) , KDUB, the "former" FMOTP, (on more than one occasion) and now with the new "Kids". I have to give it up to him - The dude is one tough hombre!!!!
I do feel like the others could go as fast as Stewart if they wanted...but only to a point. Stewart's been riding this way a long, looong time, and he only has it working for him--what, 60% of the time?
If others tried to push it as often as Stewart does, I'm afraid they would no longer be with us. You probably have to start riding that way pretty young--otherwise that 60% success rate will quickly drop to 30. Windham will back me on this.
Just be thankful your "smarter" riders learned to ride the "proper" speed, and leave the man be.
in a sub dued sorta whimpering voice....."makeup?".......
@jimmy then I guess RD does not deserve his Outdoor title because CP had a mechanical failure (motor) thats why RD won that title right??
If RD rode the edge a little bit he might have won this. He left a LOT of points on the table this year IMO, Night he was VERY fast but took way to long to make a pass or never even made the pass after pushing someone for 18 laps!! RD needs to cross the line once in a wile IMO. K-Dub never did and never won a title.
BillC.....Just wondering what RD did to you? For 2 years you've been ripping on him. It get old. Get a life man. Good god.
BILLC, its just my opinion. I dont like Vegas much, very overrated. And there is a reason its called sin city. That is what it is proud of. My wife works for a casino,t not in Vegas, I see how they operate on a day to day basis. Inside and out. They are out to drain every cent from everyone they can. And NO, Pourcel having a mechanical DNF is not how Dungey won the title over him. Dungey won the title by geting the most points. Just like Canard did last season. Dungey needs to be more aggresive, or get a mean streak when he is riding, but he didnt get any gifts from anyone. But he hasnt pushed himself past his comfort zone for sure, he needs to hit that edge. He is fast, but he has the ability to be faster if he would just go past that comfort zone.
I'm not hating on any one, just have gotten tired of all the no one has beaten Stewart straight up and now they have by three. That is right Stewart has been beaten straight up by three count them RV, CR, and RD that is three guys have beaten Stewart straight up. Maybe I am hating a little bit on the arrogant Stewart fans that think that their poop don't stink and that Stewart is the best thing in Supercross. Well he is not the best thing in motocross, he is simply another guy in the mix that makes the racing interesting a fun to watch. But I have to say it again Stewart was beaten straight up in the 2011 Supercross season.
BillC, I know, thats racing.
@you bet why do you call it rippin on RD?? Lots of other guys say the same thing dude. it is what it is maybe you just can't handle it.
@bd200 my point is you don't have to go to a casino so why blaim them for taking someone money?? People need to run there life, If you don't have money you can live without don't go to a casino right?? As for the RD/CP title I was makeing a point to jimmy who was blaiming RD's dnf this year for him being 12 points out. But I am glad to see That you see my point that RD needs to push more, I have been saying that for a long time.
My brain tells me Js7 is the 2011 supercross champ. dont care what the books say , He Won This Year.. made the sport more popular , and by far more interesting ... with out him in the mix ....boring just like last year...He can hold his head high ... He will be remembered as one of the greats , He changed the sport ,for all of us ...Thanks James
My only point for Dungey was that it is only his second year on big bikes. Like a racer-x writer has already said, what if dungey finished 5th last year, and now third this year, we would all be saying that he did pretty good for his second year (against the full field-including a HEALTHY James Stewart) Thats all I'm saying. I agree on the hanging it out part- doesn't always work- but way more fun to watch.
I agree that Stewart was beaten straight up this season- ya gotta be in it to win it- and he has been on the ground more than ever lately- Doesn't seem as focused as years past. But as Mike Tyson said after his first loss, far greater fighters than I have lost before. Muhammed Ali lost 5 times and is still regarded as the best ever in most polls. Rocky Marciano's best ranking was 5th and he never lost a fight.
Stewart needs the nationals to redeem himself, I hope he is out there this time.
Wonder what the nationals will be like this year? I bet it will be alot like the supercross season (Nobody running away with it). I hope Stewart doesn't back out and Reed joins the game. To bad we lost Canard!!!!!!!!
@leave a reply note,
The AMA needs to step in and suspend JS7 until he starts to ride with some common sense. He rides dangerously and makes poor decisions on the bike. Haven't you watched anything this year?
The others just rode better...if not JS7 would have the points lead, it's simple as that.