The Moment: Steel City
Monday, September 5, 2011 | 2:20 PM
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The Moment of the race? How about The Moment of the season? Hard to believe anything could shake this Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship more than Chad Reed’s big flight at Millville, but Ryan Villlopoto’s last-turn pass on Ryan Dungey in the first Steel City moto may have had just as big an impact. Had Dungey won, he’d have cut Villopoto’s points lead down to five. Instead, he left that moto down 11. And Villopoto stole back serious momentum, which he then carried into the second moto—which he dominated.
If Villopoto wins this title next weekend, folks will forever point to this pass as the moment where he sealed it.
But he can’t wrap up the title until next weekend. The historical context won’t be clear until we know who will end up with the number-one plate. And indeed, both riders talked about the move as if it was not much more than a routine pass.
The Moment of the season?
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
Said Villopoto: “When you’re in that situation, you’re always taught to guard the inside, and that’s what he did, but that obviously didn’t work out for him that time, I was able to go around the outside. I knew what a moto win here would do for the points, if he won both of them today, we’d be at the point where whoever won the last race would win the title. So it was good to get at least one moto win today, if not both.”
Said Dungey: “As the race was wearing down to the end, I knew some of my lines weren’t cutting it. I ended up finding some good lines, but that last turn, the inside was good and the outside was good. I knew with the inside you could carry some momentum and the lappers were out there, so I went for it, and it bit me.”
For now, both tried to pretend it was just another pass in just another race. But we—and they—know better than that.
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Two nice guys, one hell of a series. It ain't over 'til it's over, one DNF is all it takes. High drama at Pala, I'm glad there were two 450 series this year that came down to the last race. Still, I wish Villopoto would stop playing with them and giving them false hope and just smoke them. Maybe next year. I think he likes living dangerously, keeping the points chase tight and then snatching it out from under them at the end of the series, just like that pass in the 1st moto at Steel City.
I thought we got rid of the pop ups?
My suggestion. If your gonna have pop ups you should also include a DISLIKE button.
My guess is whatever happens the Ryan's rule's sorry for Reed but there is only a way to the #1 plate
PJ
I was there and I'm not making up excuses only stating what we saw about RD bike. It was back firing and popping all day. We never heard RV's pop all day. After the first moto was over they had a hard time starting his bike and also the last lap he came up short big time on the big up hill double that was way easy for a 450 to make. Maybe they still don't have that thing figured out after the Wick. Anyone else notice this?
RV rode great, but RD certainly had issues which cost him big. That zook is a bag of dog´s droppings compared to the Kawa, and I´m not that impressed with goose. I thought he was the man? Dungey´s bike was never on it and those lapped riders just totally screwed him.
Not your fault Ryan. Keep your head up and show us what you´re made of at the final. This one´s not over yet, trust me. There are a few spoilers in there that can do it for RD, while all the pressure is on Vilo.
Personally, I don´t give a rat´s ass who takes it. What p1sses me off though is JW stirring the opt and trying to make something outta nothing. You have to ask yourself, WHY? Who´s payin ya Weigandt?
and here come the excuses for RD...geeez people...
no one with half a brain can argue the fact that RV owned dungey on the day...hunted him down and got him the first moto...left him behind in domination during the second...
can't blame the bike, can't blame the neck brace, can't blame anything but the fact that RV is one of the best when the pressure is on...
Yea that Suzuki was really having problems. It was really apparent while he was basically pulling both holeshots in both moto's ya friggin wanna be mechanics.
25 pts dungey lost at freestone did have a effect on title chase....dungey been in chase mode all year tryin to get points back..as evenly matched as these two are hard to make em up...maybe the dnf too much to make up if championship is won by less than 25 pts makes you wonder what if...
THREE great riders! Villo, Reed, Dungey!
agree 100 percent all three are great riders
Great racing! that last turn sure was a life sucking event for Dungboy. The local San Diego crew is really fired up for this final. Only a crash or a bike failure can derail RV now. Great season!! Great racing! that last turn sure was a life sucking event for Dungboy. The local San Diego crew is really fired up for this final. Only a crash or a bike failure can derail RV now. Great season!!
As nicknames go, I'd give Dungboy a firm thumbs down. Dungey and Dragons was even better than that, and that's a low bar to top.
how about Dungbeetle's or Dungen Donut's? :)
One of the best motos I've seen in a long time. Dungey rode an almost perfect moto, but RV was relentless. Both are deserving champions, but RV sure looked he wanted it the most last weekend.
Lapped riders are part of the race! Now like I said before AMA should start thinking about this matter ... Like SX stead of 20 riders cut that to 15, MX no more 40 riders maybe 30 or less ... and if you are a rider that are out of the top 10 in the point lead and can't keep a pace or average lap time you should be flagged out of the race!!! this sound like too hard but it's just an idea that AMA should consider ... And please stop making excuses about the lappers this guys kill themself just to make the big "SHOW" ...
But my comments are more clever than your comments. What about that?
Oh, I understand. I must get the "holeshot."
great race villo wanted it more..best race and fastest pace in a couple years.......less riders no way always 40 guys outdoors supercross use to be 25 and the lites were 22..what are u thinking love mx............
So does anyone know about the backfiring on these 4 strokes? You would here it all the time in the past but there was very little Saturday. Rd was doing it alot so can any one who has been to a race this year comment? I was at Mt. Morris also and don't remember all the backfiring. Halfe316........half a brain? Funny look at your name. I'm a Rd and RV fan so it doesn't matter to me, i just call it like it is and was just asking a question. Kawiking...........with a name like that I'm not surprised with that comment. Nice name calling by the way.
On the last corner dungey took the inside for last few laps on the last lap he took the exact same line. The lapper (yamaha) was on the outside and rv went between them, lappers or an excuse?
Dungeys bike was definately dancin around and poppin alot compared to Villomotos.. but... Last I knew Kawasaki and Suzuki ran down the same production line...so why doesn't the Dunge have an 012 also? Kawazuki doggin him out for jumpin ship?
I am not having any issues with pop ups. What browser are you guys using?
This, You might like: popup box has got to go. It is annoying as hell!
POP UPS. RELAOD YOUR BROWSER. Right click and reload it and the pop ups/ fly will go away. Racer x removed it but your browser is still holding on to it.
Pop ups arent a problem when you dont check out kiddie porn all the time. I cant remember ever having a pop up on Racer X. KAwi/suzi relationship ended a whlile agao. They only shared resources not production lines other than the models they shared. Suzi Kawi totally different entities.
@kawasuki its been awhile since I awarded the 'every f'ing thing you said was wrong " award but today you stand high on top the podium with the Kazakstan anthem playing and Borat proudly singing.
..............and the friggin pop is back
Guys, I'm running IE7 on windows 7 and I don't have any more pop ups. I did but they have been gone now for a couple of days. As for the race, I am for Dungey but he was making quite a few mistakes that first moto. Even in the turn that RV passed him. Had he executed that turn cleanly, he MAY have been able to hold RV off. Like someone said above, only a crash or a bike problem on RV's part is going to save RD. On the bright side (yeah whatever) they will be team mates for the MXDN.
Really people,RV can only have so many people on his nuts at one time!!Regardless,they are representing USA in the mxon!
Fuel injected 4-strokes only pop when there is an exhaust leak or they are running lean, unless you are talking about them running on the rev limiter. I can't stand the sound of those pigs!! Let the pros run 300-500cc 2strokes in this class, make it a true open class. Let the Service Honda and MPS AF conversions run!! What are you morons afraid of, losing money from the manufacturers that won't build the bikes a lot of us really want??? Why would anyone want a 450 4-stroke that only makes 55 hp and costs $1500 to rebuild when you could get a current chassis 500cc 2 stroke that makes 65hp and costs $300 to rebuild?? You freaks have all been brainwashed to want what the powers that be tell you what you want. Get a clue!! Can anyone tell me honestly that KX and CR 500's would have blown up at Southwick like the 450's did last weekend? I didn't think so.... If Suzuki still made an RM500, Dungey would be leading the championship by a wide margin - and I am an RV fan.
I know J-law had a bad day but where did he finish overall?
These pop ups really suck.
Please take them out
Don - That was classic!! As far as the pop-ups & fly-in's, I haven't seen them since Saturday on the latest version of Firefox & Chrome, maybe you folks need to upgrade?
To dude talkin about 500cc factory two strokes winning every race...Go to glamis..get on your banshee and do big wheelies brahh...You probably drive a mustang GT brah...H.P. doesn't mean a thing unless you get her to the ground..No paddle tires and smooth sand in AMA motocross brah..LOL..The lites class riders lap times are too close to the 450's .. Traction mapping, suspension, and chassis tweaking is why villo is doing better on the 2012 over the 2011 Kawi's.... not by adding octane booster to the tank .LMAO..Suspension adjustments and good midweek workouts lower lap times not horsepower. GOING TO PALA BABY...Go Ryan(Please don't go orange next year)Dungey!!! No DNF's and he would of won both titles..
Thats funny, I was there for both qualifiers and both motos and RD's bike looked like it was pulling RV's on the uphills it never "POPed" or backfired once and RD was haulin fast enough to leave the 3rd place rider 1 min and 22 sec in the dust in the first moto and almost a minute in the second. RD got the second moto holeshot and first moto was third. Is there really someone out there saying his bike wasn't running right? I wish I could get mine that fast !!
I will say that RD was really riding the best I've ever seen him ride and was getting out of his comfort zone, they both were pushing it to the edge the whole race and it was the best of the year, probably the best since some of the JS RC battles. The last corner was a shrewd setup on RV's part, RD took his line the last 3 laps so RV took RD's old line and passed him with it. The key I believe was the speed RV was going into the corners with was noticably faster than RD's at that part of the track.
Glad both of them are going to MXoN for us and hopefully BB can improve his results and starts and stay on 2 wheels.
Did anyone notice that RD caught and passed RV in the first two or three corners and was insantly laying down hot laps? traditionally he has started slower and had trouble passing the faster riders, and normally comes on stronger all moto and finishes very strong at the end. RV has been doing the oppisite the first 2/3rds of the season starting and passing fast and fading late. the first moto was role reversal and the second was RV domination.
Okay, I have "Proof". I have launch control and somehow do not get the first post on here. Whats up with that?
On more technical note, ( I cheer for both Ryans and all the classy riders), someone posted that they heard Dungey's bike backfiring. Although I wasn't there, this can be a result of the igniton timing. One could remap the ignition for slippery conditions. I think most of these bikes with fuel injection are capable of this. Some bikes may sound different than others.
By watching on tv,it looked like Dungey was riding a little tight and Vilo was more loose. I was surprised Dungey and Vilo in the first moto were not doing the double coming into the left hand corner.Vilo did in the second moto as were most of the tiddler bikes.
It's so easy to wonder these things when only a few riders on the planet can ride that fast.
Question: what if Dungey wasn't racing this summer.........would Vilo have an asterisk on his potential title? It's great when we have at least two or three riders who can haul like they do.
C'MON RACER-X! The pop up sucks! You are ruining a cool website, please re-think it.
I'm with MXLord327. To hell with four strokes and the motocross-ruining minions of the devil behind the scenes who forced four strokes on us.
Remember all the series-ruining episodes of four strokes that wouldn't start, when riders went from the lead to 37th place because they couldn't start their stinkin' four strokes? Remember the titles that were lost? Remember that a rider DIED trying to start his stinkin' four stroke? When will people wake up and realize that four strokes not only throw people over the bars off of jumps, they won't start after you lowside or crash in any way, they'll cost you a series, they'll cost you your life, they cost too much to rebuild, if you see a used one for sale they need a $1,500 top end job, they sound like a wet flutterblast fart from hell, they're too damned heavy, they're a step backward, they have too many moving parts, and remember that before Ricky Carmichael changed to a four stroke, he had the only 250cc two stroke on the track and won 24 out of 24 motos against 450cc four strokes.
The manufacturers just want to sell more parts, the aftermarket companies just want to sell more pipes, mufflers and other parts, hop-up shops just want to make more money trying to make these turds go faster, and everything costs five times as much as a two stroke. The above three entities make more money, and who is the loser? The consumer.
The reason we run 4-strokes is because they are better machines for the track. you guys can run 2 strokers all you want but those dont cut it anymore for the pros.
@etoney37: @ strokes don't cut it for the pros because your dumbass fails to realize the ama and fim both allowed an unfair displacement advantage for the 4 strokes therefore the 2 stroke couldn't compete, period...........
Take away this bullsh!t rule and the 2 stroke would not have lost its competitiveness.
In the N.H.R.A. some classes run a alcohol blower car against naturally aspirated nitro cars and if one type starts to get an advantage over the other, they tweak the rules to keep both cars competitive.
The ama and fim did what they did to cater to the manufacturers, but the consumer has the last laugh, as the sport has been in a free fall at the amatuer level ever since, so they are slowly killing the industry of their own GREED!!!
That was an awesome moto and a I really thought Villo ran out of chances to make a pass. I almost wish there was one more lap because you know Dungey would have come back on him HARD. Very cool.
Now think about how Villo started this series... with the Supercross title hangover. The lack of prep because of the single minded focus of the indoors. I think he gets better every year and I think he learned a thing or two in both series, how to finish and how to transition. He was in so much more control this year, no injuries.
I also thought thank God Dungey and Villo have each other, EIGHT seconds a LAP faster than anyone else! Sick fast! And we are all better for it. I see Dungey riding his new KTM night and day and be ready and even faster next year. I cant wait!
David...........trust me it was doing it, all of us were talking about it. Maybe it wasn't were you was standing or maybe you need to clean you ears out. So if you don't know the answer as to why they pop don't comment. Since you seen everything did you see RD not even double that big uphill? No flag, no riders in his way. Strange.
If you want to see a straight up comparison between a 4 and 2 stroke, check out the new MXA. They have the KTM 250 SX and 250 SXF matched up. See for yourself how a 4 stroke really matches up to a smoker.
I was between the two big uphills and the downhill with the hard right offcamber heading over to the big double into the left corner, straight across from the finish, in the first moto in the second I was at the start left hand sweeper for the start, and watched the rest of the race by the finish, in neither race did I hear popping even on decel, I also spent some time with the Goose(ryans mechanic) between motos and no mantion of it came up. They did change tires and a few clicks on suspension. My hearing is fine. So is the rest of our pit crew.
I have raced 450's since 04 and the only time it has poped on me is when running out of gas or damaged exhaust, I imagine a map that was lean would do that. I was part of a pit crew for a 250 privateer and changed out to a pro circut ignition that really made it respond better but we really haven't had any issues with backfiring.
My response was in thinking you were making excuses for RD losing because his bike wasn't running right, when his bike was clearly running perfect. I feel for Mike Gosler this year because of the issues hes had but he is one of the best and consider this, 1.) chain derailment- caused by impact with TC. 2.) engine case cracked- rock hit it or impact off the start. 3.) fuel boiling- they had tank and fuel lines wrapped with heat shield, same race fuel they had been using and same tank vent, also cooled the fuel before race- what else can you do besides go to a lesser fuel ??? 4.) how could you blame a mechanic for electronics failing ?? They did a awsome job of replacing all of them in time to get him into the race at all.
PS. I saw RD double the big uphill every lap in the first moto and the only time he didn't in the second was when he went down 3rd lap at the bottom allowing Reed to pass him, he then cleared it every time after that. I did see him case the step up last lap of the 1st moto.
Overall he rode awesome, better than anyone out their except his MXoN teamate RV
What a race!! RV followed the Dunge (spounge) around the track lap after lap and applying the pressure..Cat-n-mouse as they call it....On a one lined track, RD made more mistakes in that first moto trying to keep that pace than I think I have ever seen him make....It looked to me RD was pushing it and was out of his comfort zone....Second moto, well that is what RV will do to you....Unadilla, first moto at Southwick and both motos at Steel City RV has been the agressor and the guy on the move...
@Lanford - RD didnt really "catch and pass" RV in moto.....more or less RV got pushed way wide by Barcia allowing RD to pass both of them.....It was a good move on RD's part to back off in the first turn and he squared the turn off as he watched bam bam go into RV.......Speaking of Bam Bam...he dropped off the pace really quick.
Pala will be another RV and RD show....they will be gone from the start and either RV will take off, or he'll just follow RD around the track and collect his title......
Great racing this year!!!
OK my two cents on the 4-2 stroke debate. In mx and SX I believe 4 strokes rule, its the power delivery and curve, less peak hp but usable hp over a much broader rpm range. In croscountry two strokes are at least equal. I hate the cost of 4 strokes and miss the two strokes, I had a 87 cr250 I loved, and a 78 yz400.
I think 2 strokes will stay around and feel the japs should be making both. I have to say I love my 450
@ MXLord327
Unfortunately you make way too much sense!! Even still I'd like to nominate you for President of the AMA.....
I give big props to RD, Knowing RV was almost 3 sec faster in quilifing and having him all over him for 30 min he had to be think RV was playing with him maybe? wondering when he would make a pass?? Or did he know they bother were flat out hauling the mail?. I do think RD was outside his comfort zone also, he made a lot of "UN" RD like mistakes because he was pushing so hard. I really felt a little bad for him when RV made the pass, It had to be crushing!!! I was screaming at the TV HOLY CHIT!!! SICK!!! What a MOTO!!!! Either way it has been a great season. All RV needs is a 3/4 and its his then the boys go STOMP the world and call it a season. I just hope they all make it the next few weeks safe.
I haz no pop ups. Go stewart! Oh wait...
Dungleberry........really I dig both riders styles, haven`t seen a intence race like that since A2, MCs last win...reminds me of the O`Mara-Ward days, pretty cool.
David Langford....i know nothing about Steel City except T.V. coverage....What I can say with confidence is that Dungey's bike was popping at Red Bud...I noticed it clearly when standing at the first turn before the mechanics area...I also noticed...even though it was television and not live...that Villomoto's bike was handling three fold better than Dungey's....maybe the Dunge was over riding in a desperate attempt to match Villomoto's pace...however...as even Villopoto will admit...He was struggling with the 2011...and the 2012 allows him to carve...Dungey had very sketchy traction at best...Congrats to Villopoto and Kawasaki for a job well done
RD's bike poped at Southwick a few times as well.
David...........fair enough, you seem like a knowledgeable person so thanks for the reply. The corner we was standing at was by the KTM hospitality tent and every and I mean every time he came around it poped alot while leaving the corner. The big uphill jump was a couple turns before the finish at the far end of the track.
joe mez I'm thinking 30 for the Motocross a 15 for the Supercross!!! That answer your question? By the way I'm not a Dungey fans!!! period ...
How do you get rid of these pop-ups? What's funny, is they are racerx's other articles that might interest me. Who The F*ck thought this was a clever idea?? Fire this dude asap.
Wow! Villo hasn't raced outdoors in 2 years and was way behind in testing. should we blame the bike for not winning sooner? If he would have changed to the 2012 in 2009 he would have had 3 more #1's and dungey would be wearing the #5 that he will be wearing next year.... Let's put them both on KTM's next year and watch them fight for a top 5! What's the difference between the GP's and AMA motocross? KTM's are capable of pulling starts and winning at the GP's.