Open Mic: High Point
Tuesday, June 14, 2011 | 11:50 AM
KICKER provides the sound from the Open Mic – since 1973 our concert-like acoustics and gritty design in mobile stereo put us on the map. KICKER Subwoofers and Amplifiers for vehicles and boats are sought worldwide, and now critically acclaimed MP3 Docks, Earbuds and Headphones are shaking up what remains.
Tweet
Advertisement | Advertise with Us
Share
Comment
Email
PrintInterviews by Aaron Hansel and Steve Matthes
Ryan Dungey, Rockstar Makita Suzuki, 2-3 for 2nd overall in 450 Class
Second moto, I lost my front end once, and then like three or four corners later, I did it again. I was like “Man, I can’t be doing that.” I made my way back up to third and went 2-3. All in all it was a good day.
Chad Reed, TwoTwo Motorsports Bel-Ray Racing, 5-1 for 3rd overall in 450 Class
Yeah the mud and the rain always adds some excitement. I just tried to get a good start, but my starts were absolutely horrible today. I don’t know what it was, but my technique was terrible. I just didn’t feel focused on the line.
Tyla Rattray, Monster Energy Kawasaki, 3-2 for 2nd Overall in 250 Class
It was tough, but obviously our moto was a lot drier from that second 450 moto. I was happy with my riding, by Blake was riding awesome, he had a tip over and was able to get around me to take the win. I pretty much didn’t have anyting for him today. I also got pretty messed up wth the lapped riders, they were waving the blue flags but they didn’t seem to move over. I lost quite a bit of time to Blake, but yeah, to finish second, I’m happy with that.
Eli Tomac, GEICO Honda, 6-3, 3rd Overall
On the gate, my reaction time was about the speed of a turtle or something. My reaction time was terrible in both motos. But that’s no excuse, because in the first moto, I was only one spot behind Baggett, and he went up there and won the thing. So, yeah, I just need to get better. The second moto, it was wet and slimy, and I’m usually pretty good in those conditions, so I got up to third and put together a podium finish.
Jake Weimer, Monster Energy Kawasaki 7-11 for 9th overall in 450 class
I think my first moto was pretty good, I started like 3rd or 4th and then I think (Ryan) Dungey hit neutral or something in one of the first turns and Windham and I plowed into the back of him. This allowed a couple of guys to get through. I think I was riding pretty good from there and moving forward and caught Windham late in the race. I made a mistake on the face of a jump when I spun, I went sideways, clipped a bale and went down. It could have been way worse for me, I barely fell down. So I ended up seventh which was okay but could’ve been way better.
Second moto it started raining pretty good and I made the wrong choice in tire selection. Then I fell in the second turn and I think I came around in 36th or something like that. I kept on trucking and thought I rode pretty good to get 11th. I should have had 10th but I let (Brett) Metcalfe pass me with like a straightaway to go because I thought he was Dungey. The officials were freaking out on me with the flags. My fault though, I thought I rode good in the moto, it was my best riding since the nationals started. I was really racing out there and moving forward.
Darryn Durham, 4-14 for 9th overall in 250 Class
The first moto was great. I got a good start and moved into the lead and was riding really well. Then I kind of tensed up, I saw the Pro Circuit guys coming (laughs). I started making a few mistakes, and I got a rock in my brake pedal with a couple laps to go. That was kind of a bummer, I missed out on the podium. In the second moto I missed my gate pick, and went down in the second turn. I rebounded okay, but I was bummed out and didn’t ride my best. But I’m looking forward to Budd’s Creek!
With this being your home race, were the fans helping you out?
Yeah! It’s cool, the fans were going nuts. All my friends and family were here, and I could hear them the whole way around the track. It kept me going.
Did the track get pretty nasty after the rain came through?
It wasn’t that muddy, it was just really slippery. I didn’t think it was too bad, I was happy with the track today. It was pretty one-lined after the rain. The start really played a big part, and I didn’t get one.
Roger Decoster, Red Bull KTM Team Manager
With Mike, considering what we went through the last couple of weeks, I think he did pretty good. He got docked a position in the first moto because he hit the gate on the start. I don’t really think that was really his fault, there was a guy next to him that flinched a little bit and he went, and he ended up hitting the gate and they docked him one position. But even 4-4 for a comeback is pretty good I think. Short was struggling today. I’m not sure what was wrong with him, he did not feel right, and he did not get the speed he needed.
Travis Baker, Lucas Oil Troy Lee Designs Honda, 15-9 for 12th overall in 250 Class
It went all right today. I’ve never actually been here, it’s an awesome track, I liked it. I qualified I think fifteenth, not the greatest, but I had some fun trying to figure out the track. In the first moto, I had an all right start, passed a few people and ended up fifteenth. In the second moto I a little bit better of a start, turned some solid laps, stayed consistent, and ended up ninth. I got twelfth overall, and I’m excited to keep improving every week. The track got really slippery. From videos that I’ve watched of this place, it always looks like the second moto gets pretty slippery.
Did it get tackier as the second moto progressed after the rain?
It stayed pretty slick. Once the wetness started going away, it was dry and it stayed slippery.
Did you like this article?
Check out LONE STAR RISING
in our Latest issue of Racer X available now.
The James Stewart Freestone AMA Spring Classic in Texas has quickly earned a place on the list of must-attend springtime amateur events. Page 182.
Look for the verified symbol 
Impulse Studios
holeshot!!!!!
Nice to hear from Decoster!!! Look out. KTM is on the way to world domination....
...yep. Imagine that; buy a bike and it already has real chain & sprockets, nickel pipe, etc on it, and often class-leading power to boot. Not to mention factory-looking fit and finish that u only see on extremely NON-stock jap bikes. Not even on my beloved honda.
Actually, whenever I park my KTM next to the CRF, the Honda blushes and looks away.
A competition-only bike that is actually "ready-to-race" when u plunk down your hard-earned 8k: What a concept---jay-pan, u listening, or will u wake up to see that mx will soon be all orange, too??
Sad but have to agree, the jap bikes (any brand) sure look cheap compared to stock KTMs, or other euro bikes for that matter.
KTM! out of my price range, but they do sure look trick. KTM did it right, setting those bikes with all the aftermarket parts that you would have ended buying anyways. You may pay more for these bikes, but you save alot of time setting them up. These things do make Jap bikes look plain. I'm not comlpaining still like my CRF. Look how long it took before the Big 4 even started putting Renthal bars on their bikes.
Wait a minute! I take all that back. I like it when the Japanese used steel bars, steel frames and wheels, 3 inches of travel, no reed valve, steel fenders, and state of art ignition systems (points and a condenser). Oh ya that was my 71 Yamaha 125 MX. Now thats a race bike! lol
czmark, they arent out of your price range once you get ride of the junk on the Jap bikes and replace it with good stuff. The Jap bikes are starting to get better, with better bars and such. But things like thier footpegs, they are junk, wouldnt use them things for a paperweight. Sprokets are junk, clutches are junk, so are most of the factory bolts. KTM's are very expensive, but so is any dirtbike now, so might as well buy the one that comes with the best parts.
@bd200, I'm still laughing, but thanks for the advice When I look at the early days of motocross, thats what we raced. I did notice a slight change in my modern day CRF. lol
If Reed wasnt messing around taking his chest protector off right before Moto 1, he may have been able to focus more on the start and that rock might not have done as much damage....A 3rd or 4th place start in moto 2 isnt too bad in my book.....so does that mean Reed cant win unless he starts up front?? Sure looked that way in moto 1.....RV came from 20+ places at Freestone and still got 3rd....Reed had a top 10 start and was battling for 5th the entire race ...dont blame the starts....
KTM350SXF EDSEL
CZ,....you're really not going anyplace until ya have to set the point gap every 17 minutes of riding :P...... HEY man 3 inches of "good travel" might work good in the slop :) heheh I was a nobody so I get to say what I want in here hehe.
damn on second read ya did mention the points!, LMFAO I still think Dungey woulda done better at freestone on a Hodaka..........
My favorite response thread EVER!!! Darn right KTM's are better, too easy on that one. Think KTM's are too expensive? Amortize the cost of owning / operating a j-brand vs a KTM over the course of a year and see how much you DIDN'T save on your rice rocket. I was waiting for the D.I. 350-450cc two-stroke but, I'm selling off the old iron & getting a 2012 250XC w/ 300cc kit (just wondering how far can the stock stroke take increased bore until losing volumetric efficiency).
DeCoster, really??? "he did not get the speed he needed". Way to make me think you're slipping into dimentia!!! Park the 350 already, 'nuff said.....also, while I'm picking on you, "But even 4-4 for a comeback is pretty good I think". You totally understated #800's return. I think RD was expecting MA to be leading the championship chase at this point and taking wins and making his change to Orange a triumphant one heralded by champagne & podium photo ops. Give him time, oh wise one.........
@joemotocross589, thats what is great about an open forum. But I did fail to mention one of the highlights of the Yammi was it had 2 spark plugs. If you fouled one plug you could pull the cap and put it on the other plug. Ah yes! Forward thinking!!!!!!! ha ha. Next up, life racing motocross on a Bultaco 250 pursang. When I look back, it never really got better. Dungey might have done well on a Hodaka, just done fall over or the motor might load up. Remember no reed valve, so all fuel fills up in the cylinder. His tank might having been empty but his crank case would have been filled .
LMFAO!!!! I never really had a hodaka I always laughed when I heard "super combat wombat",...but I did start on a sears 2 1/2 horse, then a chibby (by rockford) 50cc then the yamaha gt 80 w/ baffle out for race mode lol, those were the days ehhh.....:)my bro had a yz 360 with the fancy 2 plug head though. We even won a scramble on a TM400 cyclone by golly!! lmao, then things started getting a lil more serious with the RM series. Ive even been snapped in the head by a rubberband too! LOL, makes my day man :)