10 Things to Watch for at Southwick
Friday, August 26, 2011 | 1:00 PM
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PrintAuthor: Racer X Staff
10. WHERE'S REED? It's clear we haven't seen the same Chad Reed after that massive Millville crash. But the TwoTwo has made a career out of rallying when the odds are against him. He's still in it, but can he win it? This weekend will probably answer the question, one way or another.9. IRENE: The entire east coast is bracing for a huge hurricane, and this one is not of the Bob Hannah variety. The forecast says the storm won't reach the Southwick area until Saturday night or Sunday morning, so the race is probably safe--but the forecast calls for 50 percent chance of rain, anyway. On the good side, we should see a break from the searing heat and humidity that has been present at this race the last few years.
Can Reed bounce back at Southwick?
Photo: Randy Yoho
8. CANADIAN INVASION: Run for the hills everyone, as Team Canada may not be going to the MXoN this year but they are racing at Southwick. With the CMRC series wrapping up last weekend in Walton, Ontario MX1 champion Colton Facciotti and MX2 champion Tyler Medaglia will both be making the trek down south to race Southwick and Steel City.
The Blackfoot Yamaha guys will have their race bikes and both look to impress to try and get a look from an American team for 2012. Both riders should do well so look out for the 361 in the 450's and 95 in the 250's if you're one of those fantasy league dorks. Also, national winner and Tyler's brother Jeremy Medaglia will line up for the Dragon Fuels KTM team like he did at Unadilla. He's number 281 and almost as fast as his older brother. In the honor of Ross Pederson and JSR, Americans, get ready for some pure raw, maple syrup speed. [Editor's Note: This segment was written by Matthes].
7. DeCOTIS HOLESHOT: Jimmy Decotis has always been a fast starter, and he's also a very good sand rider. With the support of GEICO Honda, look for the local kid to grab at least one start, just like he did at 'Dilla. But then watch and see how long he can hold on, because with the right track and the right attitude, he could make a surprise appearance on the box at Southwick.
6. DOWD'S MAKING A POINT: Former winner, hometown hero and Southwick legend John Dowd will be lining up to try and get the necessary amount of points to keep his AMA permanent number (#16-duh). Dowd's been out to a couple of other nationals this year scoring just inside the top twenty at Millville and failing to qualify at Unadilla. We don't know about you, but we don't want to live in a world where John Dowd doesn't qualify for nationals, even if he's 46 years old. Qualifying this weekend won't be a problem for John and he'll have to get somewhere around the top ten to score enough points to keep his number. Anyone betting against him?
Dowd is back at Southwick for yet another go around.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
5. WILSON ON A ROLL?: When Dean Wilson won both motos at Unadilla, it marked his first win of the 2011 Lucas Oil AMA Motocross tour. And yet he's the points leader? Wilson has been the model of consistency, though up until Unadilla, he seemed to lack the ability to close the deal on an overall win. That's no longer the case! His emphatic sweep of two weeks ago gives him all the momentum going into the last three races of the series. And he's been hanging with Chad Reed down in Florida getting used to the sand. Look out.
4. BARCIA IS BACK: Justin Barcia scored his first AMA 250 National win right here at Moto-X 338. Now he's on a factory Honda 450, with no pressure but a lot of momentum behind him. He also seems to have Ryan Dungey's attention. If he can pull it all together -- and not run his red bike out of gas, which is what happened to both Brett Metcalfe and Andrew Short last year -- he could contend for his first-ever 450 National win here.
3. METTY'S REVENGE: And speaking of Brett Metcalfe, he's on a Rockstar/Makita Suzuki now, but Southwick still owes him one from last year, when he ran out of gas while leading on the last lap. This place also owes him from back when he almost won a 250 National here. Either way, Southwick would have been his first-ever win here on the AMA circuit. Maybe it's finally his time.
Can Jimmy D got another holeshot at his home track?
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
2. PC BIKES IN THE SAND: Christophe Pourcel lost the points lead in the 2009 250 Championship chase when his Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki let go in the first moto. That was a high-profile problem, but he wasn't alone. Ricky Carmichael suffered a rare DNF in his career when his PC KX125 blew a head gasket at this track in 1998. And in 2006, all three team bikes--Grant Langston, Ryan Villopoto and Troy Adams--broke in moto one. Pro Circuit is not in any danger of losing this title, but, if you're Wilson, you're hoping the bike are prepared identically--as in, they all either make it to the finish, or they all don't!
1. #1 and #2 BATTLE FOR #1 and #3: No matter who wins this championship, both #1 Ryan Dungey and #2 Ryan Villopoto will represent Team USA at the 2011 Red Bull Motocross of Nations in France next month. But which one will wear Team USA's #1 plate, and which will be #3? And excellent case can be made for either of them, and it would be great if Team Manager Roger DeCoster could wait until this series is settled, but he can't -- jerseys and graphics have to be printed soon in order to get them all shipped to France. So look for the two Ryans to give it a little something extra as they try to make their respective cases for #1, both in American Motocross and for the MXoN.
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I think REEDY is done. He needed to win at Dilla to keep any hopes alive.
Mudder @ the ' Wick ' , anything goes ! . Wish I could be there. Go Barcia ! Represent Dist. 34
GET ON THE PODIUM DOWD!!! KEEP THAT NUMBER ALIVE!!!
win or loose Reed is still the man. Reed fan 2002-and counting
Watch for Barcia this weekend to pull another holeshot. Im calling in moto 2 and 3rd in moto 1 behind dungey and alessi. Barcia WILL be hard to beat/ pass at the "WICK" he is extremely fast in the sand it this track suites his style better than any other in the series. Check out WOZWICK's Helmet cam from southwick last year of barcia at southwick. I'm calling a Second overall for the day 3-1
Good for you ryan why don't get on your knees and see if he will give you a tee bag, go RV!!!!!
If this turns out to be a mudder its anyones game. Maybe that will help Chad get his confidence back.
if its a mudder, dowds top10 easy.
I think Dungey should be the MX1 rider if they can't wait until the end to see who wins the MX. He won everything last year including MX1 and in his sophmore season this year he's proved that he's as good as any. Dungey would have won SX if his Chain didn't break and Dungey would be leading in MX points if bike didn't run out of gas. Shoulda coulda woulda, but still his issues weren't related to him being spotty on performance like RV, CR, JS and everyone else. This guy is Money as far as consistency goes and should be MX1 if they can't wait to see who wins the championship!
It should not be a mudder. Looks fine from what I hear. Come on RV take it to em.
YEA DOWD!!!!!!
Dungey MX1 Ya can't say he would have won if, If his chain did not come off RV may have rode harder if the points were closer right?? So that is a moot point IMO. RV Won The SX title and leads outdoors so I say he shoild be #1, He has won way more moto's than RD also. I bet They make the #1 pick after Southwick and if RV has the points lead he will be #1.
they didn't mention but i thought Jeff Herlings was slated to race the wick. ????? Hope reed gets his head back into it, that crash was a career ender for sure, he's a soldier. I really dont know who's faster in the sand between the two ryans, maybe dunge because he's so on point at millville. Deano' lookin to be fast as lightning on reeds sand tracks, hopefully he can do good, w/o bike problems. I'd rather be on a pc bike than anything else. like to see some new faces up front. Martin davalos, darryn durham, Jimmy D, Junkyard dowd, paluzzi, morais, bogle. if herlings shows, he'll have something for rattray. Cant wait
Talked with RV last Sunday afternoon and he told me that Dungey was picked to ride the MX1 class.
Win or lose Reeds still a beast.
@organdoner.. Matthes interviewed Everts a couple of weeks back, and he confirmed, Herlings will NOT race @ southwick.
Kid's still young, why rush him?
A lot of BS regarding who's going to have the #1 plate at the MxDN... Just ride and win for your country... Stanton, RJ and others did not give a sh**?
Baggett and Barcia all the way! BTW, Where is Hunter Hewitt?
@ Dungey MX1
you are right.....Dungey would be Champ of both series again.....IF HE COULD PASS SOMEONE WHO IS AS FAST AS HIM!!!!!! If he plans on beating RV he'd best man up real soon!
Go John Dowd!!!!!!!!!!! Would love to see him make it to the box for the overall!!
ME too but think top 10 is going to be hard for JD unless he really nails some starts.
If Stewart crashes or Canard or Dungey or anyone else for that matter....big crash or small.....has there ever been this much " since the crash" sympathy for a rider.....especially when that rider got right back up, no broken bones, no serious injury got back in the race and finished...... Yes, it was a good crash....a scary crash.....many crashes are scary....But c'mon already.... We have seen both RV and Dungey walk away from Reed this year outdoors.....more times than Reed had "murdered" the field .....Dungey was all over Reed at Millville and screwed the pooch trying to pass him....Reed was riding great for the first half lap....passed RV in the sandy whoops and ate shit two turns later from pushing too much...Cant go back in time, but who knows if Reed would have kept that lead over RV and eventually RD....Could it be that RV and RD are better than Reed when it comes down to it.....RV has spanked Reed a few times this year and he and RD both did it at Colorado....before the crash..... Reed is fast...Reed is a great rider....But RV is better and faster....dont use the crash excuse....they all crash....if your scared...get off the track....
My prediction: Dungey goes 1,1.
BillC -
I believe JD has 3 points 30 he needs better than a 10-10 to retain the #16, yes?. At another track that might be wishful thinking but at Southwick I think that is possible. Can't wait to find out!
sorry - should have been
"I believe JD has 3 points so he needs better than a 10-10 to retain the #16, yes?"
Villo = 1,1
Good comments all! LEst hope we get a good race ya I like the mud but at the "Wick" it is sand and water a bike destryer. I think something will happen to the points though if it goes to a rainfest. I hope it is not a rainfest if so I hope the bikes make it the riders cant baby em and win. Ya no disrespect to anybody her but I have a long standing battle with the Kawies from my early days. Lets see if the 2012 Cowie can last. Hey I know they can change engines, is one 30mnt plus 20 laps to much to ask for? that is for you Mitch. ya I respect you also.
oh yeah go Dowd we old farts are rooting for you! I still hope for a Reed,Bagget, Fioleck win LETS RACE!!!!
PS: I gottta check the entry list did James Stewart ent or is that just a typo @ Rick Melon???????????????
Nope did not see nbr 7 there? Is there some new I dont know?
Prediction: J-law goes 1-1
Dungenous Crab, you are dreaming. Barcia 1-2 Villo 2-1
He has 4 points and needs 21 more so a 10-11 would do it. Tall order for sure. He did not do to well in moto 1 last year and moto 2 DNF cuse of a first turn crash and pulled wire. I hope like hell he can do it but it will not be easy. He for sure needs starts whitch he did not get last year. I will see him in the AM.
RD1 for the # 1 plate (MX1). He is the defending champ. Enough said, no disputing this fact........
@Rick Melon - Give Reed a break. He doesn't deserve your sympathy if you don't want to give it to him, but you don't need to drag him around. Every year he'll be a little slower and the competition a little faster, so the idea that he was so close to 2 titles this year--so late in his career--has got to sting his fans a bit.
(That wasn't any ordinary crash, either. He had a LONG time to think about the impact on that one, so it could take him a LONG time to get over it.)
"....if your scared...get off the track."
Everyone but RD and RV should probably get of the track then.
Oh, and my final issue in a 3-year subscription of Transworld Motocross came the other day. Subscribed for ten bucks (!) back in August '08.
I'll stick with online content from here, but I'll say this much: those mofos really figured out how to make a great looking cover in the past year or so : )
Oh Canada... Our Home and Native Land.......... well, that's cool that we can gauge our champs to your best. Hoping for top 10s! Would be great if they do.
@Ripdown,
Ever watched Millville, or Wahougal?
Whoops_Blitzer...Only RV should stay on the track, RD is scared to hang it out and make a pass right?? LOl
Where is Hunter Hewitt?
Hewitt is here in Austin Tx waiting for supercross and praying for rain like the rest of us.... he was riding at adv the other night...
anyone else hate BillC, anyone!!! Come on, we all no your in love with RV, we all get it, get over it, or just stop talking. My favorite is RD but that doesnt mean im going to say that hes going to win everytime and bla bla bla. There all so close it really comes down to the start.
Such a predicament we have with our predictions and hopes, yes?
RD won MXdN last year. We give him the 1 plate and put him up w/Cairroli et al.
RD doesn't get the start and we lose because he is not so aggressive in the passing situation. Villopoto goes all dp on the MX3 class and laps everyone.
What then? Blame and guilt could traumatize the nation - all in the wake of Irene.
Better call Saul.
Since the weather man can't decide if Irene is going to be a category 1 or 2. Let me make a prediction on the the race results for the 1 and 2.
1 goes 2, 2
2 goes 1, 1... See it's all just a numbers game.
I clearly have nothing else going on tonight... GO VILLO!!!!!
RV will win the last six motos. The MX1 is the more competitive class and we're sending the guy second in the points? The government must be involved.
@green rider... It didn't come down to the start at dilla cos Dungey had a better start than RV! And I still don't understand what there is to argue about going into the Nations! RV = Points leader! RD = 2nd!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nuff said!!!!!!!!!!!!
atx, why isn't he riding outdoors this summer?
This race could be the defining moment for all the class leaders. John Dowd is my hero, the "Junk Yard Dog" is the toughest guy in motocross taking his age in consideration! Good luck John.