by Andy Bowyer
One Industries Thursday Rev Up: The Fall Brawl
Thursday, October 13, 2011 | 11:00 AM
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Hello, everyone, and welcome to the Rev Up. As we reach the turning of the season, a beast approaches. Suffice to say we abuse the term, “What off-season?” There is no off-season in professional sports. There are only events on the calendar that decorate and determine champions. To be the man, you have to beat the man and that means that you wake up every morning pissing excellence and carry a steadfast disposition against your enemy. There can be no mercy, and 350 of the days in the year better be pure work. You can use the other fifteen to party your balls off. That’s fair.
When MLB players are in their off-season, they spend time hitting the ball and working on fundamentals. Nearly every day. When the NFL concludes and the lights go down in the stadiums, the lights stay on in the gym. (And the hatred in the AFC West grows.)
Villopoto is the favorite heading into the weekend.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
They are still picking up beers cans at Pala while the quest for the three 2012 Monster Energy Supercross title belts has already begun. The boys never stop riding and training. The SX test tracks of SoCal have been throwing dust for a solid month, and as we have yet to reach the cross flags of October, they’re going to go ahead and race for one million dollars. That is a damn crap load of cheddar, Jackson.
How will this dust-up settle? One thing is certain; the effort behind this is the greatest we have witnessed in the weird history of “off-season” supercross races. From the Rodil Cup, through all of the versions of the U.S. Opens, to McGrath’s ill-fated swing, these fiascos can be hit and miss. That said, there have been some big hits. The opening U.S. Open events when Fox Racing produced them remain the coolest races ever. From the shark tanks in the V.I.P. room, to the dancing girls, to, hell, even Ice-T showed up—they were original, awe-inspiring, and cool. You can’t buy cool.
Moving forward, the Monster Energy Cup comes to us this Saturday night from fabulous Las Vegas. Ho, ho. I mean, I personally loathe Las Vegas in its entirety, but the city remains the greatest platform in sports. Nothing compares to a professional boxing match in Vegas, and from the NASCAR awards banquet to the Pro Rodeo World Finals, to the, ahem AVN porn awards, nothing is as big and brash as a show in Sin City. It makes sense and matters that the biggest money race in motocross history should arrive where so many are buried in the desert. Sorry, saw Casino on cable the other night....
After some consideration, I believe this race has the juice to become something special. Let me clarify that a cool million dollars in on the line. That is a bold statement. And Ryan Villopoto has a very real chance of winning it. The promoters have padded themselves against this scenario, what with the three ten-lap sprint races, and I’ve read people say that “anyone can go fast for ten laps,” which is only true if “anyone” is named Ryan Villopoto. Reedy, Stewey, and RD5 aren’t riding...or are they? Money is only money, but I’ve met some vastly rich people in my travels and all of them would take a solid swing a $999,999 in cash.
Can Hansen pick up a win in Las Vegas?
Photo: Simon Cudby
Ah, but all of the bling, hype, and statistics you’ve already read on www.racerxonline.com don’t cloud the fact that this could get nasty. No matter what happens, there will be no suspensions, probation, or points deductions going down. You can walk into this one with the shoulders back, take no prisoners, and try to hold on for the ride of your life to the tune of $100,000 per main event win. A guy can pull an “Emig Steel City 1996” on the start, take RV to the tuff blox, then throw on the full blown, “Rowdy” Rodder Piper charge and make it happen in ten laps. Can you imagine the interview if Josh Hansen wins one of these? He could very easily.
Look at the track. She is sans SX “hoops,” high-speed, and oddly technical. What else would manifest from a McGrath/Carmichael collaboration? I think it’ll develop lines and roughen up, yet inevitably favor the fastest riders. Let’s be reasonable here. Do you think Hansen, Tomac, Brayton, or Windham can hold off Villopoto for ten laps? Think about it a little bit longer. Can any of them do it three times in a row? Before you form your opinion, look at how some of this event's predecessors went down. The Bercy Supercross favored French guys like Jacky Vimond, Jean-Michel Bayle, and David “Le Cobra” Vuillemin to win. The Fox Racing-sponsored U.S. Open races were meant for McGrath and Carmichael to win. In this nomenclature, it has been very even in the odds category.
The Monster Energy Cups faces similar instances on a much larger scale. Did I mention somebody could win a million dollars riding a dirt bike this Saturday night? This reality alone is something for all of us to be proud of. How about a resounding golf clap for Monster Energy for being such a lightning rod for what we love to do. Sponsors make the world go around. In everything. We are so fortunate that the “lifestyle in a can” has been such a positive catalyst for the world of moto.
Can Tomac play spoiler?
Photo: Simon Cudby
For better or worse (obviously the better), we are going to get to watch this inaugural event on live television this weekend. On SPEED. This one has all of the markings to be nasty. Through all of the FMX, amateurs, and mini riders, and the paper chase for the Monster Million, we can only smile in knowing there is no off-season.
Time for the Fall Brawl, folks. It’s going to be big. And Ryan Villopoto is going to win. All of it. Call me a liar.
Thanks for reading, see you next week.
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If RV1 is 2 for 2 come Main #3, Monster is gunna have to pay Lil Hanny 200K to put him in the top of the bleachers off the corner in the stands section. The only question I have for this event is: What will Poto spend his money on?
I just hope nothing really stupid happens! I'm looking forward to a great SX season come January and a healthy RV will play a big part in that.
Put on a good show boys but keep it respectful.......I don't rally care who's there or not.....this is gonna be cool !!!!!
RV would definitely be the favorite but these things rarely turn out as you would expect them too. Seems like everyone is being a little presumptious to crown RV the winner already. I would love to see him win it all but there is a reason they run the races and not just give out awards to the favorite.
Ah yes. The time of the year Hansen crawls out from underneath his rock. Anyone know what class hes racing in this year? Not that I really care. Mostly curious if he was going to finally jump up a class and try his race antics on the big boys or if he would stay back to finally try and capture that #1 plate thats elluded him for 30 years.
So is hansen ridding a lites bike or big bike? and hes he ridding for PC or i heard hart and hunnington? anybody know?
sorry clapped out, started my paragraph at work left and came back. didnt notice you had posted that lol.
I'm betting Monster isn't too happy with the absence of Dungey, Stewart, and Reed. ALL of those guys being there is what would lessen the chance of one guy winning all three. RV could most certainly do it, but i still think someone else is gonna sneak one win in!!
Hansen already has moved up and "scrapped with some big boys", 2007 I believe it was.
well i heard today that some big named decided to sign up for it. i wonder who.
maybe brayton and townly can get in there and mix it up.
Even though there will be no CR22, RD5, or JS7, there will still be alot of fast and talented riders at the gate. As for one rider winning a 3 motos, hmmmm? Bam Bam is quick and a great sprinter. Lil Hanny could cound win one too. Maybe this could be a shot for 800 to grab one or BT101. RV1 is going to have to work on holeshot stratagies to pull off 3 wins. Being a hybrid track with only 10 laps, this should get interesting. Hopefully this will all work out and also bring out the fan base so maybe they can continue on for 2012.
Andy said...."Reedy, Stewey, and RD5 aren’t riding...or are they?" "Motox5" said he heard news of a "big name" sign up!! So, if it's true, who does everybody think is the most likely of those 3 to have signed on to race?? For me it's a toss up between Reed and Dungey!! Oh, the suspense!!
Go back to the main page...it's Dungey! Now that's a racer! He just wants to get in there and mix it up and see where they're at.....
Thanks Ripdown! Good call on Ryan, as they said it will give them a chance to guage where they are at and try different settings! They race is on Speed, correct?
Well Whatever, it turns out it was the Dunge, good move by him and his team, this will be good.
sweet thanks ripdown. yeah i heard this morning but they hadnt released it yet. that is def awesome!
"Super-pumped". This will be a "good step forward" as they "make progress on the bike".
Hopefully, all his mantras will be heard during podium interviews and not Bates ambush-in-the-pits incidents.
Love to RV take it but I gotta believe that KW can pull a victory in at least one moto. He love Vegas.
sweeet i didnt know know if KW was a for sure in vegas. thanks a lot open class
Hasen in on a PC 450, and will race the supercross season under H&H on a 450. Glad to see Dungey is in! Also Tickle and Townley will be on PC 450's,
A few days ago RD left the door open just enough to slip a tear off through, in his video interview regarding his (probability) of making this race. I am pleasantly surprised to see him squeeze through that small space onto the rider entry list. He is most certainly a formidable contender and a definite obstacle in the path for RV to just run away with all the loot for his lovely brides new wardrobe entry.
All kidding aside, this recent sighting of RD has offered Monstrous (if I may) credibility to this inaugural event. Enough to see JS of CR arrive fashionably late for the ball??? This is Las Vegas after-all. The plot thickens...
sweet! thanks br411
Man I can't wait, I will be up till 2am watching this!!!
The GOAT was on Despains nascar show and said if he won two and was gettin beat in the third ,someone was goin in the cheap seats ...that said,.please PLEASE let RV put Hansen in the parking lot...that or 14 on the red. With that much $$$ and hype on the line , you know some really bad choices will be made... hope everyone comes out ok and makes the bigshow in Jan.
I'm interested to see if Villopoto will run the number 1, if he does that will be cool.
penguin...... I wondered the same.....I guess techinically his #1 plate would go into effect in 2012 SX and MX...so should Dungey still run the #1 plate since its 2011.....but its not an AMA SX or MX....so i would say the use their career number and there is no #1 ...until next year perhaps?