by Steve Dye
10 Things We Learned at Thunder Valley
Wednesday, June 29, 2011 | 1:30 PM
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10. RED DAWN: Whether a product of altitude or attitude, Holy Honda Holeshots. In each Lakewood 450 moto, the first four bikes into the first turn were red. Christian Craig was credited with the holeshot in the first moto, with the 14, 33, and 22 bikes sliding around alongside. In the second race, Chad Reed took the point early. With Josh Grant sidelined – more on that down the page – privateer Jimmy Albertson stepped up and tucked in behind Reed, with Kevin Windham and Craig also starting strong in the first turn. That's three teams up front for the red riders – Troy Lee Designs, TwoTwo Motorsports, Factory Honda – plus one private entry partially backed by an absent Factory Honda rider.
9. TOP JIMMY: Jimmy Albertson was making his first appearance since badly breaking his leg before ever getting out of practice at the Anaheim supercross opener. Riding out of a motor home so far back in the pits that it wasn't even in the paddock – Albertson's rig was parked way out in spectator parking – and backed up by Merge Racing and a little extra help from good friend Trey Canard, Top Jimmy made his re-debut on the American scene with good starts, solid finishes, and a bitchin' theme song-slash-nickname.
Short was back in top form at Thunder Valley.
Photo: Garth Milan
8. TOMMY-GUN: One week previous, at the Budds Creek round, Tommy Hahn looked to be back on form and going to the front. Then, an innocuous low-speed crash nonetheless managed to put the crossbar pad right into the same area he'd badly injured earlier in the season, and Tommy Gun was shot. But it was ricochet time at Thunder Valley. Hahn was firing on all cylinders after falling in the first turn, rifling through the field for 11th in the first race and returning to aim for the front with a fifth in moto two. Okay, enough gun puns... great ride for Hahn and a good result, finally, for MotoConcepts.
7. HOME STATE HEROES: Andrew Short now resides in Texas, and Eli Tomac's Colorado home is something like six hours away from Denver. But while neither is exactly a local at Freestone, each rode Thunder Valley like every bit the fan favorite they are. When Short was throwing big flat whips to the cheering crowd on the backside of the course in opening practice, you almost had to wonder if that'd be the highlight of his day. Instead, Shorty came out and hustled the heavy-breathing and short-of-stature 350 around the mile-high Lakewood course to his best finish of the year. And while it was teammate Justin Barcia with the early leads, it was Tomac standing on the 250 podium at the end of the day with a 3-3 for third overall. Much earlier, Tomac was so close to the fastest qualifying time that he was actually off the track and on the microphone being congratulated by the trackside announcer – and then Rocket Rob Buydos broke in from above that Dean Wilson had just taken away the top spot on the very last lap of the last session.
6. CONSISTENCY AIN'T CONSISTENT: A week earlier, at Budds Creek, six 450 riders in the top fifteen posted identical moto scores and another eight finished no more than two spots off between the first and second moto. At Thunder Valley, you can toss that idea. Only four riders in the entire 40-rider field posted identical scores: Chad Reed's 3-3, Kevin Windham's 4-4, Jimmy Albertson's 12-12, and Calle Aspegren's 40-40. For the rest of the field, it was a mismatched mix for overall scores, ala Andrew Short's season best 7-8 for fifth, Tommy Hahn's season best 11-5 for sixth, and Christian Craig's 6-15 for eighth.
Stewart scored his first career top-ten overall at Thunder Valley.
Photo: Garth Milan
5. MOOKIE IS TOP SUZUKI: Also posting an uneven finish, but nonetheless impressing, was one Malcolm Stewart for the ARMA Energy Suzuki City team. After flirting with top ten overall finishes in the last two rounds – with moto scores of 9-10 and 16-6, both times for 11th overall – Stewart posted his first official top ten finish in the outdoor nationals. Moreover, Stewart's 13-7 for seventh is the second time in the last three outings that he's been the top placing rider on a Suzuki in the 250 class. Meanwhile, the factory backed Rockstar squad continues to struggle with rookie Nick Paluzzi scoring 11th this week; veteran Martin Davalos going 36-9 for 17th; first-time on the team Les Smith struggling to adapt from the big bore class and scoring a disappointing 21-19 for 23rd overall; and amateur sensation Jason Anderson apparently slated to take a few weeks off altogether.
4. MUTUAL MISFORTUNE: Few will forget Josh Grant strafing across Mike Alessi at Lakewood two years ago, with the pass putting Alessi down and out for the season with a re-injured knee. Last year Grant streaked past Ryan Dungey for a convincing first moto win only to get tied up in first turn mayhem in the following moto. This year, early arrivals at the track could see that JG was channeling that confidence as he whipped his way around the track in the opening practice session of the day, both flat-out and getting flat over on the many big Thunder Valley jumps. And then, in the second 450 A practice session, Grant went down and injured his knee. Not his bad knee, but his good knee... well, it used to be his good knee. Grant tried to gut it out in the first moto, but pulled out and didn't line up for race two. Alessi, meanwhile, started up front and charged to another solid fifth place finish in moto one... only to get tied up in a second turn tangle in race two that ended his day prematurely as well. Grant posted a 36-38 on the day and may be doubtful for RedBud and beyond. Alessi went 5-37 for 14th overall, by far his worst result since rejoining the outdoor tour. Neither rider can be very fond of Thunder Valley right about now.
3. RYANS RIGHT IN THE RUTS: While Thunder Valley's straightaways and jump faces were largely smooth and hard, the corners changed significantly throughout the day as the hot mountain sun baked the track surface. The turns were ripped deep and watered perhaps a tad much: In the opening practices, factory-caliber riders were getting hung up in the soft soil, catching footpegs and feet and often losing all forward momentum. But by the time the second motos ran, those same super-deep hooked-out ruts were like cement, and several turns resembled a broken slot car track– with the lines in and the lines out barely even meeting in the middle. Visible even through Ryan Dungey's deceptively smooth style was his ability – and willingness – to manhandle the Suzuki in those conditions. Ryan Villopoto, likewise, simply hunkered down and hung in behind Dungey, perhaps through sheer force of will. Chad Reed struggled to find the same grooves, and bounced right out of his chosen line on several occasions before finally backing it down – and apparently accepting that another third place moto finish would preserve at least a portion of his points lead.
Grant hurt his other knee at Thunder Valley.
Photo: Garth Milan
2. PAYTON'S PODIUM: Mitch Payton knows how to make horsepower from sea level to up in more rarified air: Part of the proof can be found in the Pro Circuit team's history at Lakewood, where they have yet to surrender the top step on the podium since the track joined the tour. Blake Baggett's perfect 1-1 score marks the seventh consecutive day and 14th time a PC rider has stood atop the podium. Ivan Tedesco swept the 2005 race, Ryan Villopoto swept the '06 and '08 stops and split moto wins with Ben Townley in 2007. Christophe Pourcel won both motos last year, and split the wins with Jake Weimer the year before.
1. K-DUB NOT TAKING A SUMMER VACATION?: With Josh Grant maybe back out as quick as he came back in – and it now sounding like Trey Canard may be out until Washougal or beyond – it looks likely that Kevin Windham's wakeboard boat will stay high and dry for a few more weeks. Windham was early to the first turn in both motos, and rode the strongest, smoothest, and most consistent of anyone behind the top three. Windham actually finished very close to Chad Reed in the second moto. Hey, how could he pass up riding at RedBud?
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Gotta wonder if Karma is catchig up wiyh Josh Grant ? ( After that take-out move last year)
Pretty good story, but its obvious Matthes is still in love with Malcolm Stewie. But it looked to me as if they overwatered the corners too. I guess they wanted to get some ruts made before the track dried out too much and the corners became slick. Good race though, cant wait for REEED BUUUD!!!
Injuries suck! How great would it be to have grant,canard,alessi,etc at full strength? Give stewart a heart and get him out there and the outdoors would kick ass. Oh well, go RV!
I don't belive Reed EVER "took the point" in Moto 1, He could not get past Craig the RV passed them both for the lead.
I hate to say it but I said I bet Grant does not make it 3 races before he gets hurt again.
injuries suck, indeed. Watched a guy get loaded onto a helicopter yesterday at my local track. Our sport can be cruel sometimes.
@bd200 .... Matthes: DID NOT right this!!! LOL so quick to bash u did not even look to see who did... Now thats funny!!
Albertson DID NOT BREAK HIS LEG AT A1. He destroyed his knee.
Effing hacks around here who write stories need to get the facts straight.
Martini, I took a photo sequence of Alessi trying to stuff Grant over the first turn berm in the last amateur race of their careers at the World Mini, so this "karma" you're talking about goes way back to their amateur days. Alessi lost it, went over the berm himself and crashed, and Grant went on to win the race. Even that karma had its roots in much earlier races.
I wonder if Windham would actually pass Reed or would the team tactics come into play, especially if Reed is going backwards like he has the past few weeks in moto 1...another 3rd or 4th place moto finish and RV will have that Red Plate Reed sleeps with at night ....At High Point I beleive, Windham pretty much let Reed go buy in Moto 1.. Windham caught Reed again this week but maybe he backed off so Reed could keep that 3rd...?
Cyborgs don't need as much Oxygen as regular humans.
What's with the hole reinforcer on the man's sunglasses? ;-)
BILLC______ grant had no business riding anyways. He was Just at the four month mark after knee surgery. I've blown out my knee and i couldn't stand on it for 6 months, let alone run top five. You guys keep talking Karma for grant. How come alessi hasn't broken his neck yet???? Alessi, James, barcia, shorty----- dirtiest riders out there. How about tommy hahn. good ride tommy. good ride durham
Grant is in a tough spot facing a long uphill battle, physically & mentally.
It's probably a given that he's bound for a privateer team next season.
Some guys get the breaks while some guys just get broke.
The highs and lows of professional Motocross.
@OrganDoner It was not that knee he hurt but thats up to him not us anyway as to when he comes back, RC came back in less than 5 moths from ACL also sooooo. These guys have the BEST DR's also and can come back a lot faster then us normal guys.
You can bet Mookie is getting a fast built PC Suzuki, maybe they factory team should talk to Mitch. Impressive for the replacement rider to get 11th. Paluzzi wasn't even their pick for the team. Cmon Davalos step it up !!! You got the speed, stop getting involved in the first turn pile ups...Is Morais coming back anytime soon?
Grant just thinks he is Mr. Badass. Tooooo Cooool! I cant stand this guy and WTF is he on a factory ride anyways? He wins less often than Millsaps yet Honda gives that ride to Grant. Grant is injured and off the bike far more than he is on the bike. Even the stupid Metal Mulisha gear he wears looks stupid. The Mulisha is freestyle anyways. I hope Josh gets the boot from Honda so they can pick up another rider that at least has a chance at sucess.
ok, rant over, carry on...
There goes "BD" (big dipshit) 200 taking every opportunity to bash the Stewart name. This time it is quiet, good natured Malcom!! Way to go "DB200" (douchebag 200).....you can't even get the name of the guy who wrote the story right. It just proves that you are pre-wired to assume the worst when it comes to anything "stewart"!! Congrats to Malcom on his first top ten finish!! STFU "bd"!!
Are you kidding team tactics! If Kub can put his bike on the box, he will. As for Reed roliing backwards, we'll see. I don't think he is done yet. Reed also said just getting on the podium for last weekend is good enough. He doesn't favor Thunder Valley much and the track doesn't favor him either. Since the start of the year at
A-1 it seems Reed has only been improving. I myself don't care who wins the Championship, just want to see some good racing up front.
1) DungeAvator will be taking the win at Red Bud. 2) Metal Mulisha is way past GAY
@ Rick Melon, "That Red Plate that Reed sleeps with at night!!!!" Thats a good one, probably tells Ellie to scoot over.
I think Grant tweeted that he is going to Red Bud>
To all you karma lovers, karma does not exist. The karma belief is for people that get shit on all the time. I guess you should think about your life then.
Grant has another yr left on his contract, just needs a break man...
@BILLC, crap, I thought Matthes was to blame. Oh well, I'm sure Matthes did something to deserve to be bashed for, hahaha!!
I wonder if Grant really twisted his knee or is just hurting from the accident he had on Friday. A number of people told me how they watched Josh and perhaps John Ayers I believe(driver) drive off one of those drop off's on the track and wad up. Josh reportedly crawled out of the wreckage holding his shoulder and went straight for the Aterisk's medical unit.
Sure looked like when he pulled off the track on TV that he was favoring a shoulder instead of a knee since he kept taking it off the handlebars and all.
@ bill c story says reed took point in 2nd moto... dont bag dudes who only see what they wanna read
@get over it, give it up. If you had any sack, which you dont, you wouldnt even care what anyone post. So the guy wasnt sure who wrote the article, so freakin what. You are posting just to start a fight. Grow a pair and go on with your sorry life.
2 seasons ago it was literally just a matter of time before Alessi's broken knee cap became sooo tweaked that he had to go home. The feudalism between him and Grant is non-ending. Mayhap they were opposing samurai in another life and nowadays are able to continue the struggle ala Japanese factory mx battles and such. They went from the tai pan forest to Ponca city.
It makes ya'wonder, huh?
I don't know who wrote it, but yep, some people get all the breaks and others just get broken. Nice
nice reply bd200 posting as "what a chickenshit"!! dork!!
Hey Whatever, just use your real name when you attack BD200 on all the forums. Everybody knows its you.
I think Malcolm is a cool kid but would his finishes be mentined if he wasn't a Stewart? No freaking way.
You've gotta admit, when someone is slothering that much man-love on "Mookie", you have to assume it's Matthes.
What? you've never made a mistake?
There are no perfect people.......oh wait, there was one but, we killed him.
By mistake??
Mookie's ripping !! What if your big Bro was Bubba Stew? I think he's doing pretty well..He's had it kinda easy,not Having to make money at this..but with all the grief he takes from Big James on that TV show..B's World.. It seems he has some Talent and maybe riding himself into shape a better ride or a Future in this Sport,,Bet,He does better in SX after riding this summer..This IS Motocross..
Will RacerX please get some better writers?
Hey Crab! Mellow out. This article was not that bad. And Red Bud is this weekend. So cheer up!
@ Reed It ... OK. I will take back my comment abut the bad writing. But DUNGEY was "Top Suzuki" and DUNGEY will be "Top Suzuki" again ... not Stewart's brother.
@ the crab and reedit .... You two are forgetting one thing. VILLO HAULS!!!
Watch what will most likely happen when the gate drops this weekend.
dungenous crab he obviously meant in the 250 class did anyone see grant on tv so much emotion really shows how brutal this sport is physically and mentally on another note how effing sick is the nationals dont want them to end
dungenous crab he obviously meant in the 250 class did anyone see grant on tv so much emotion really shows how brutal this sport is physically and mentally on another note how effing sick is the nationals dont want them to end
we were right by the finish line-in moto1 Dungey was hitting the inside rut so hard that the whole berm would move, very cool to see. eventually he'd bounce out of it and create a new exit line, even further inside. by far the fastest rider through that turn. it's good to see him getting more aggressive. in moto 2, he didn't hit it even once.
Alessi comment to the JGR boys from 2010 regarding Grant - The Universe is going to get you! Karma?