The Moment: Unadilla
Monday, August 15, 2011 | 12:30 PM
The Moment is brought to you by Factory Effex who is a world leader in graphic kits, Custom number plate back grounds, high end Factory Wheel sets and components; specializing in cutting edge decorative accessories for your motorcycles and ATV.
Tweet
Advertisement | Advertise with Us
Share
Comment
Email
Print
Following the 250 class this summer, the storylines were pretty simple. Blake Baggett was the fast but wild one, Tyla Rattray was the solid and consistent one, and Dean Wilson sat somewhere in between. The two kids, Wilson and Baggett were going to have their good and bad moments, but Rattray was the one with championship experience and championship consistency. You could count on him staying in it to win it.
So it’s a shocker, then, that a season-changing moment at Unadilla took place for Rattray. After charging back from a crash in moto one, he was trying to do the same after a bad start in moto two, but he crashed hard, bumped his head, and failed to finish the moto.
A hard crash in moto two may have cost Rattray a shot at the title.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
His teammate Baggett was right behind him and saw the crash unfold. “He actually passed me before that, and he was going just bezerk fast,” said Baggett. “I thought he was kind of out of control. I tried to jump in behind him and follow him right away, but he started gapping right away. He was going for it. And he came over that jump, he was swapping before he even got to it. I saw the whole thing, and it was dirty. I never want to see anyone do that. I definitely had that in my mind.”
Rattray was able to get up and log a few laps, but it was obvious he wasn’t going to get into the points, so he called it quits. With a weekend off, he could be back for Southwick, a track he’s had great success on in the past. But suddenly, thanks to one crash, Rattray is 43 points down to Wilson in the series standings. In this game, things can change in a moment.
Share this article:
Did you like this article?
Check out WHEN DAYLIGHT BREAKS
in our Latest issue of Racer X available now.
When the lights go off on supercross and racing hits the daylight with the launch of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, everyone gets to start over. Page 110.
Look for the verified symbol 
Impulse Studios
When Baggett calls you bezerk fast then that's pretty fast... Shame to see him drop out of contention.
What happened to Tommy Hahn? Only 3 laps in moto one and a DNS for moto two... ...anybody?
T. Hahn had recently dislocated his shoulder twice and in moto 1 he dislocated his shoulder again after he went down.
Thanks JJones... ...is Tommy out for the season then?
I am pulling for Wilson for the title over Rattray and Baggett although I like them all....Baggett a little less after some of his comments regarding Bogel...Same as Dungey, dont let the rookie ruffle your feathers man and dont whine...If that was Wilson or Rattray, would you be whining?....If your the faster more experienced guy, go around him dude!!.....I tuned in to the 2nd 250 moto late and didnt record it....I was pretty hammered after chillin' in the pool all day boozin' after the 450 motos.... I didnt realize Tyla was missing until the last 10 minutes....then I saw the scoreboard with him out....Did they have the crash on TV?....Wilson seems to be the more "calm" rider as of late....Baggett was on it that first moto, but moto 2 seemed a little ragid....Wilson looked smooth and has a nice cushion right now pending any disasters that keep him from finishing top 3 from here on out.....
Barring a mechanical or gnarly crash, Wilson has this Championship in his pocket.I like Dungy but he sounded like a b*tch in the Post Race Show regarding Barcia. It could of been real bad but wasn't. If Honda picks up Barcia next season, that will be a great team.
For sure Wilson looks good for the title. Rattray was haulin in moto 1 he damn need got BB on the last lap. He was on it for sure!! Its over now... Will he be on a 450 next year??
RD sounding like a B!**h???? He's got the number 1 plate and almost lost his title/career over barcia... barcia's a replacement rider fools. He took so many points away from Reed. If team tactics were in play barcia would have went 5-7, which is still an amazing first 450 ride... i wonder wtf he is thinking trying to take out dungey. He clearly let poto go by w/out a fight. sup with that. BILLC-------- thanks for the interview you posted the other day. good stuff. baggett sounds like a whiner, dungey sounds Pissed off cuz he str8 got almost taken out. he was in his line. barcia cut over sooo bad on him as if Dunge was deano. Put him on James stew's team...
Wilson has this Championship in his pocket?
There are 150 points at stake until the checkered flag is waived at Pala.
Seems a bit early to make that call, considering what Baggett & Rattray have been able to accomplish thus far.
If its hot at the last couple races,, I will pick Baggett.. If its cool, Wilson has a good chance. All depends on the temperature. When its hot, Baggett and Rattray haul the mail.. Wilson peters out when its hot.
definitely rooting for wilson after baggets b*tch azz comments about bogle. his personality sucks too, especially compared to wilson.
@
organdoner...JB had no choise with RV, Did you see the 2 passes?? JB could not stop that, RD did not hang it out like RV thats why he could not get by. You really thing ke was trying to "take out RD"?? Your crazy.
mxmofo I would not say that about Wilson, He has been very strong at some of the hottest races the last two years.
Well BillC,, he hasnt been "strong" compared to Rattray and Baggett when its 100 degrees.. Facts are facts... Wilson has been more consistant though..
All I whatch so far is Ali sprts on the puter and I would really llike to know what both RD and Bagget said? I went def and it was not captioned so I would like a transcrip of what was said? All Im gonna say is evryone starats at the gate and fome there on it is the fastest person wins. I have been blocked many a time ya juat have fake em out. I recall one of the local experts getting mad and saying" I am faster than you, so gett outta my way" ???? I told the guy to get over his ego and then he went and apoloziged to the guy for getting upset. The guy that got upset buy the way went to europe and raced for KTM. This was in the 70''s though. So it is the same old bull year after year.
Hey I am just glad Wilson won one he needed that. Ya if Bagget says your outta control that says somthing also. Most of the times I got mad and rode over my head I paid for it.
Ya I learned tis from Bill C lol yes Barciea wanted to do it at his home I dont blame him for giving it his all. no matter what his results will speak for his day, Naow lets see if he can do it again???
It was super hot in Texas last year when Dean had the win and gaive it up to Rattray on the last lap. I thing he can ride in the heat.
I really got to see the post show comments by Dungey. Sounds interesting. Regardless Barcia wasn't trying to take him out intentionally. It is just how he rides. Likely why Dungey was waiting for a clean pass opportunity. Realistically, a clean pass on Barcia will never present itself. Dunge just needs to use a little bit of elbow grease. He is as fast as RV on the 2012 Kawi if he made his own opportunity to run with him.
Ever get the feeling that, sometimes,, your just wasting your time ??
Right, Barcia let RV go by both times, that is clearly what happened.....Does that mean Dungey let RV by as well, 2 times???.....RV railed past Dungey so fast in moto 1 it blew Dungey's concentration and Dungey almost rode into the track side banners ....RV's pass on Barcia in moto one was set upbefore the huge jump...from a different angle it wasnt even close as RV clearly was going faster..Barcia pulled out a little lead in moto 1 and RV caught him in no time......Second moto RV simply blew past Barcia up the hill after screw u turn.....Barcia may have let Dungey by if Dungey could have got close enough for him to do so......Dungey didnt have a problem passing Barcia in moto 1....just took him 3/4 race to get close enough...
Dungey high-sided in a nasty rut and went off the track; RV didn't "blow his concentration." As for RD's "whining," he almost got taken out landing from a fairly big jump by a guy everybody and his brother b!tches about in the 250 class - a guy who, as it was said above, is a replacement rider for four rounds. No, Justin doesn't have to "pull over," but he also has no business taking such a risky move (yes, jumping across the track and into Dungey is RISKY) that endangers a guy who's been fighting for a championship all year. Every week I read "Dungey is a robot," and "Dungey shows no emotion" ... and when he does, he's a whiner. It's truly a joke listening to many of you.
I like Barcia and understand he was trying to hang on to his spot, but he was a d#@% trying to keep Dungey behind by consistantly and cutting off the race line. The lap times showed that, He was definately easier on Poto. I was at the race, anybody that says Dungey wasn't hauling around that track obviously only watched the race on TV, his corner speed was sick. It looked like his suspension setup wasn't as good as Poto and Barcia on the rough sections of the track, the bike was kicking all over and he was trying his hardest to make up for it in the corners. Dungey came into the turn just before the Srew You mad fast, the crowd at the section went nuts every time he hit the corner. It was sick the speed he carried into the turn.
it was good to see dungey get really mad - finally
i was there also and barcia held dungey off until the last lap - they were very close the whole moto - barcia moved over on that jump to avoid a lapper - all part of racing - it was not a dickhead move on his part - i doubt that he wanted to crash hard like that - think about it
Barcia's on a factory 450 in front of his home fans, he wasnt trying to hurt Dungey. Was he trying to stay in front of him? Hell yeah! Thats what he gets paid for! He reminds me of Hannah. Hannah was constantly pulling himself back on his bike with legs flailing in every direction. Taking strange lines because thats where he and his wide open bike ended up.
On the other hand, that kid gets holeshots nearly everytime out and as yet, he aint faster than RV or RD, so that means if he does get in their way on a regular basis, he will be picking himself up even more than he has been in the lites class. Dont be surprised if he wins a moto at Southwick though!
If Dungey lost his title, it's not because of Barcia. It's clearly because someone is better than him. He could have done what RV did by passing Barcia early in the moto. RV was on fire that day and if Dungey find it hard to clear Barcia early, RV would still beat Dungey straight up.
OK Racer X, perfect opportunity to write up "the list' on top "replacement rider" performances.
Hey kids, news flash! Some of the best rides EVER have come from the so-called replacement riders (or fill-ins or part-timers, debate amongst yourselves).
A "replacement ride" is like a tryout, you'd better impress or your career path might have a trajectory adjustment.
Barcia's ride was one of three things: 1) to an RV fan = no consequence (title implications aside) 2) to a RD fan = a big deal 3) to a Reed fan = an awesome waste of a factory Honda.
Man! What about that lame NBC coverage, trying to force feed us the four wheel crap during the race! Couldn't they show that ahead of time! Thank God for DVR's!
Folks as I said on the other thread I was literally 30 feet away from that Barcia/Dungey incident, and there is no way Barcia was trying to take out Dungey on purpose... That's about the most ridiculous thing I've read anywhere.
Barcia took an angled line into that jump because there was a lapper in his way... he probably had no idea that Dungey drew such a sweet line or was that close until he was already on the face of the jump... and at that point it's too late to change your line.
I don't blame Dungey for whining a bit, it was a close call and his comments were probably taken to heart by Barcia. You do have to ride a little smarter when so much is at stake. Barcia is a young kid, he'll learn not to take those chances. After all, lest we forget, he's the one that ended up on the ground and nearly ruined what was a fabulous 450cc debut. He'll learn he does not have to ride over his head with all that horsepower under him. As it was he looked the best I've ever seen him ride and IMO should stay on the 450cc machine from here on out.
Dungey is a super smart rider, he saw that lapper, he saw the pass, but he no doubt did not expect Barcia to take the line he did. And who would? Barcia is very creative in his own right and simply does things on the track most guys won't try. Dungey is not used to racing against him and that's the issue with replacement riders in general.
Too bad for Rattray... but really Wilson was the story of the 250cc class that day... no one was catching him. Rattray will need a bit of luck to win it now but I would not count out Baggett either, he has the talent to make up that point gap..
Dungey should have punted Barcia off the track.
In that corner before the jump with my kids hollaring for Barcia, he didn't see Dung beside him until it was too late. He rode his a$$ off and looked great on that 450. Dungy waited 30mins plus 1.5 laps to make a serious move and was surpised the kid didn't back down when his line was blocked by a lapper.
I like the Hannah reference, except Barcia is a polite kid where Hannah talked a lot of trash to get in his competitions head.
Can't wait fo the Wick as Dilla was awesome.
Snowman - That's exactly how I saw as well. I can't believe all the morons on here saying Barcia tried to take Dungey out, or that he let Villopoto by. Barcia has never let anyone by on purpose!!