by Steve Dye
450 Words: High Point Preview
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As the outdoor campaign makes its way east, the early season salvos between Chad Reed and Ryan Dungey for top-of-the-box supremacy threaten to overshadow impressive efforts of riders in their wake.
Davi Millsaps came on strong as the supercross season closed and carried his resurgence into the outdoors -- and all the way onto last week's Freestone podium. He's got three top-five moto finishes already, sits third in points, and is re-establishing himself as a genuine threat after recovering from a genuinely life-changing injury.
Millsaps sits third in points after two rounds.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Davi Millsaps came on strong as the supercross season closed and carried his resurgence into the outdoors -- and all the way onto last week's Freestone podium. He's got three top-five moto finishes already, sits third in points, and is re-establishing himself as a genuine threat after recovering from a genuinely life-changing injury.
Millsaps sits third in points after two rounds.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Dungey's new wingman Brett Metcalfe has likewise posted three top-five finishes thus far. Unfortunately, he also paired his worst finish with his best to just miss a spot on the box last week. Metty's brief run at the front of the second Freestone moto further advances his potential to finally win one of these things on the same shiny yellow bike that won so often last year.
After recovering from early-season injuries, Tommy Hahn has shown flashes of brilliance and three solid top-ten moto finishes (8-8-7 in the first three motos, irrespective of a mechanical in the fourth). Tommy Gun: Strong, with room for improvement.
Former off-road specialist Ricky Dietrich posted a ninth overall in his first race as a full-time motocrosser, and advanced to fifth overall in his second. Rising another four spots in round three is not very likely, but it's been a strong start for Dietrich. Another upstart, former 250 rider Christian Craig is similarly shaking up the ranks in the 450 class -- surprising some with a top ten first round only to improve several spots the next. Either rider could become a top-ten, or even top-five fixture.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Mike Alessi set the fastest lap of the first qualifying practice of the outdoor season, crashed spectacularly in the second session, and hasn't been seen since. Will he shake off the cobwebs and tweety birds to return at Mt. Morris?
And... wither Ryan Villopoto? Hardly. Relegated to the bottom step of the box for the first two rounds, RV has nonetheless set some of the fastest lap times of the young season while hewing the same strategy -- minimizing damage, maximizing advantage -- that took him to the supercross championship. The early outdoor battle has been between the 2009 and 2010 outdoor champs. Is the third round at Mt. Morris when the first 450 title winner of 2011 stakes his claim to a second crown?
Finally, a top player from the indoor season is absent from the outdoor fray and hoping to return soon. He could still transform this year's anticipated three-man battle for dominance into the same "anyone can win... well, any one of these guys can win, anyway!" battle we saw race after indoor race.
Yep. We're talking about Trey Canard. Get well soon kid, and get back in the mix.
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I think Dungey goes 1-1
I agree
If High points a mud race I say K-Dub wins, if its a dry race I say Dungy! Reed will def make the box but so will Metty.
GO Reedy!! there will be mud!
J-Law 1-1!
I want to see RV2 get up in the mix...he has been off the first 2 races.
1- RV, 2- Dungey, 3- Reed
What is with the phrase "flashes of brilliance" this year? It must be the new hot thing like "huckabuck" in the Supercross season. Lol I kid. But seriously its looking like things are going to be a little damp this weekend at Mt. Morris and that is going to mix up the podium for sure. I would love to see Kdub make the best of it.
Alessi #800
Dry:
RC 1
RD 2
CR 3
Mudder:
KW 1
RV 2
RD 3
I am gonna root for #800 the whole way but I am confident we are going to see the REAL Ryan Villopoto this weekend at Mt. Morris
open i didn't know rc was racing. lol.
We'll see if Pourcel will enter the race or not, there are rumors around here in Europe that he doesn't feel good on the Yamaha, some rumors say he might be back here on a Kawa CLS but I think it won't happen. Too bad for Chris, on a Kawasaki he will be fighting for podiums in the USA and in Europe.
I think it's (past) time to start wondering what's going on with the 450 Yamahas. If Pourcel (who is pretty much universally regarded as a great technical racer) can't come to grips with the bike, what gives? I'd like to hear the non-pc assesment of these bikes from the JGR guys, Milsaps & Brayton. Dietrich & Hahn seem to be doing an acceptable job of racing those bikes as well.
Times being what they are, I don't think we're going to hear any bad mouthing of anything, nobody wants to jeopordize the job.
Yamaha fans still have Cunningham & Sipes to root for.
http://www.mxlarge.com/news/5161-pourcel-and-mackenzie-heading-back-to-gp-s
See above. I break news faster than Racer X.
450 CLASS:
DRY TRACK-
1. REED
2. METCALFE
3. DUNGY
MUD TRACK -
1.DIETRICH
2.WINDHAM
3.REED
JLAW 1-1- ... HA- HA- WHAT HAPPENDED TO THIS DUDE ..YET AGAIN WE ASK THIS QUESTION- WHATA BUST !!!!!!!!!!!!
250 CLASS:
DRY TRACK
1.WILSON
2.BARCIA
3.DURHAM
MUD TRACK
1.RATTRAY
2.CUNNINGHAM
3.TOMAC
I THOUGHT ALLESI WASN'T SUPPOSE TO BE BACK TILL BUDDS CREEK?
CAN WE GET AN UPDATED LIST??
I guess the YAMAHA is a real POS ???? It was Grant Langston that won the last 450 championship on a Yamaha. JS must have his hands full and hoping Yamaha will make some steps back and bring out a compeditive bike
These two-week breaks are killing me. And it's only Wednesday! There's three more breaks from here to Pala, and one of them, from Washougal to Unadilla, is three weeks. That's going to suck. I can't remember if it was like this last year, but I guess it probably was.
Oh, and congrats to Racer X for bringing on someone who can write :)
Sucks about Pourcel, too.
@caseyg - And Manes (see above) breaks it faster than you.
Then again, the link you posted cited Steve Matthes, a Racer X journalist, as a primary source, so...
I agree. Just thought they may want to put that info in breaking news or something. If he got that info, why not share here?
JS7
I knew 377 could not hang on that yamathing.Too bad kawi. could not find a way to get him on a kx,he is a great rider and inspiration to others.considering what he has been through.
JG is coming back soon... thoughts?
geoff meyer the owner and (only?) journalist of mxlarge is a pro-GP guy and the b1@th of giuseppe luongo (youthstream), geoooffff is the investigator of the controversial Tony Cairoli interview last year before the MXoN, geoff meyer is a fµck1ng liar, sorry for my bad English
Are the two Euro riders returning to the GPs because they know that they cannot handle the USA? Well? It sure looks like it!
i hope see jlaw at highpoint... jlaw needs race again
I don't think Yamaha has the money to reinvent the wheel with this current 450 design. They've already introduced the 2012's with BNG type changes and economy-wise, I don't see them revamping the line anytime soon (250 kept the carb another year).
Also, turning the cylinder back around to weight the front end would be a P.R. nightmare. I think they're in a tough spot in that, they have a lot of R&D to do to develop the new 450 design but, no factory team to do it.
why blame yamaha? stewy was posting fastest heats and winning races in SX- or is it when things go wrong blame the bike? Ricky D is looking pretty fast and he will be faster
I think maybe all the opposing foces being put to the yz450 frame (engine pushing up and back,rear wheel pushing forward) makes conventional chassis and suspension setup a nightmare.just a theory
I don't think the whole problem with Pourcel is the Yamaha. Last week he flew by Reed like he was sitting still and rode a very strong 15 min. before giving up. There could be many reasons for him letting off but the bike for 15 min worked just fine.
Ilove the excuses made by first the Stewart lovers now Pourcels fans, blaming the bike. Stewart won 5 supercross races in what is regarded one of the most staked fields in years. Now its suddendly the bikes fault that Pourcel is tinking it up and Stewart isnt ready. What a load of bull. Pourcel isnt happy that he isnt on a top or Factory team that his ego thinks he should be on, and Stewart doesnt feel like riding the entire outdoor season because he has too much money. Pourcel has won any titles outdoors in the Nationals yet, and he isnt going to win one in the 450 class either, so he is heading to Europe where he may have a shot. Hey Pourcel, take Stewart with you!!! And the Stewtards!!
Stewart can win on any bike ..but it appears that the Yamaha is very difficult to get dialed in outdoors and riders have a hard time getting comfortable on it....Although Stewart won 5 races this year, he still didn't look comfortable....seemed to fight the bike a lot and the front end was a pogo stick...maybe that rear facing cylinder has something to do with...maybe not.....but not too many yamahas on the track if you notice....
The Yamaha may have got James Stewart on the podium but he may have done better on a different bike...Riding that yamaha outdoors may have different problems with the faster speeds and bigger jumps...If it ain't broke, don't fix it!! Why get all weird yamaha..It could be the death of the new YZ if buyers think its the bike and not the rider..
I'm glad they had two weeks off so Villopoto could get some rest & test sessions rolling. I figure he'll be a lot closer to Reed & Dungey this weekend.
As for Stewart and the Yamaha-blamers, the Yamaha is fine. Remember when RC switched to Suzuki and a lot of people thought he was doomed because it had been so long since anybody won on a Suzuki? He showed that it's all about the rider.
I was just thinking: what if the Yamaha team was sick of the felonious activities of their main 450 rider and purposely screwed up the suspension, etc. to cost him some wins? LOL! If only that were the truth. Maybe Stewart should get lost - I mean, leave Yamaha - and search for another ride. Might I suggest Bultaco, Ossa or Steen. I hear they're looking for a good 450 rider.
Reedy pointed out the obvious fact that Dungey would have won last week. So, I will predict another Dungey victory. However, my real hope is that several guys step up so that the fans get to witness a competitive season.
If it is the yamaha then why are Millsap and Ricky D doing well on the bike... We think it comes down to commitment to running the outdoors and wanting to win. JS7 has now desire to ride the outdoors after what happened in SX. He was fast at times and if he can put down the fastest lap for 3-5 laps in SX and still couldn't win the title then how do you expect him to run two 30 Min. plus two lap motos and win??? JS7has relized that when you don't win then well.....give up! I mean for me I shattered my leg and came back and won, and for me I had problems with the bike and still only lost by......well who is counting I won both last year. And as for me i started my own team, got some good company's back to the sport and almost won the title, now I'm hauling ass with the points lead. I tried helping the kid but he just does not get it. I sure hope the fastest man alive gets off the couch and golf course and gets his team going, but then again Regal you can come see what a real team does anytime or you can look at all his fancy cars....
WOW that was hilarious, well done my man well done! The RD comment was great...
It seems to me that people who can ride Yamaha and Hondas well are less comfortable on a kawi and suzuki. And people who ride Kawi's and Suzuki's well are less comfortable on Hondas and Yamahas. It seems like stewart needs to get off yamahas as much as Chad Reed needed to get off Kawisaki's last year. Ricky D is the only one that throws this theory after off coming off kawi's last year and is riding the wheels off his YAM.
Really that makes no sense Reed rode well on yamaha, suzuki, and Honda....and Tedesco rode well on kawi and honda.... Oh and RC rode well on kawi, honda, and Suzuki. And Townley rode well on the kawi and Honda. I think I have made my point..... By the the way the post by the big 3 was great!!!!
Pourcel "not handle racing in the US"???? Thinking Pourcel isn't/wasn't in shape/healed this year, more than YZF450 issues. But couldn't "handle" racing in the USA?? He's been the fastest (and winning-est) guy on a 250 for the last two years. And raced a life total of like 17 SX races and won two titles. Uhmmm, what??
Does anyone know where in the hell WHATEVER is that guy was/is the biggest JS7 fan and I bet him 100$ Reed would beat him in points for SX. Come out come out where ever you are........punk B!t(h
B-Rad, he's on vacation with JS7 in the Bahama's.
jairtime.. Do not forget that DeCoster had been at Suzuki since end '95.. And he was already making great efforts to get their bikes up to par with the other manufacturers...
And lest not forget, suzuki based their two stroke bikes on.. A Honda bike... They just perfected it.
And... RC is a good tester as well, and unlike many other riders, he has a great ability to develop a bike.. hence the fact that Suzuki decided to keep RC as a consultant and let DeCoster go.
Plus, Suzuki decided against their policy to pump in the big $$ to get a talented rider as the GOAt on board.
Result is, the 2 stroke suzuki is one if not the best two stroke ever...
As for the 4 stroke.. Same story.. DeCoster & RC developed the bike.. And it is one of the best bikes out there.. whether it be factory or stock prod.
Just a shame suzuki has fallen in it's old habits, where they monitor the cost..
As for yamaha... The 450 is just a piece of &^&%&&... Am stoked Milsaps is riding his heart out (He's one heck of a talented rider)).. But I think, he's more pumped to keep a decent ride with more than decent $$, and making the best out of what the bike has to offer.
B-Rad.. Maybe whatever is busy working? And if JS is not riding.. Nothing much to write about? Focus on the riders who ARE riding.. Makes life a lot more easier
Haha....remember when some dude named Hananh wa kikin donkey on a bike he called a "piece of sh*t"....kawboy up boys....some of todays riders are pu**ys!
Oops....hannah.....spelling error.....Bob Hannah
Some guys named Millsaps and Dietrich can somehow ride a Yamaha. Why can't two of the best riders in the world ride them? Sissies!
If its a mudder i am pulling for Windom for sure!!! and Ratray for the lites class..If Mt Morris is dry Dungey is do for a 450 win!! an i say Baget if he stays on two wheels!!! the lites have so many more riders who knows? Wilson is do thats for sure!!
I do think there is a problem with the Yamahas design but, I don't think they should stop the design process because eventually it could pay off, just not for the poor bastards riding it now.
Didierlotsyeng is very astute, those Suzukis are/were razor sharp and great bikes, I just never got along with their build quality.......seemed "tinny" compared to Hondas & KTMs. A season of piston wear vs 20-25hrs of piston wear is not even close.
One would think that if JS had so much to offer, he could give Yamaha good testing input and suggestions to improve the bike. Whether it be laziness, a lackadaisical attitude, an egocentric camera-hog mindset, poor choices in priorities, an overactive Gibsmedat gland or an almost horizontally sloping glabelloalveolar line and resulting minification of Stewart's frontal lobe, he's not giving back to Team Yamaha. His contribution to the Yamaha factory has been limited to testing the scratch resistance of the bike, and making the factory step up plastic production to replace damaged parts.
Pourcel won't be racing Saturday, this is what it reported by a very up to date Italian MX site. It says there were problems with the team which wanted him in Cali to test the bike while Chris wanted them to ship a bike to Florida for him to test. I think it's really over and I am not surprised, Pourcel and Vuillemin have never gotten along, I don't understand why Pourcel didn't sign with GEICO Honda, he made a huge mistake and he now wasted another year. What a waste of talent!