Open Mic: Monster Energy Cup
Monday, October 17, 2011 | 3:45 PM
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PrintInterviews: Steve Matthes and Aaron Hansel
Jason Thomas, BTOSports.com/BBMX, DNQThe track was ok. The rocks were pretty bad out in the motocross section, but overall it was fun. Not great to race and try to pass on, but fun to ride for sure. I mean, Kevin Windham was right in front of me and wasn’t doing much out there and he’s a much better racer than me. Anyways, I thought the format was cool, the track was fun but not really raceable, but it’s cool that they tried something different.
I didn’t qualify; I’m coming off knee surgery and still getting back into it. Ivan Tedesco had surgery for the same thing three days after me and he’s just now getting back on a bike while I’ve been back riding for a few weeks now. So it’s just not there for me right now. But I’m working on it and will be 100 percent by the time we get to A1.
"I’m a glass half-full kind of guy and I thought the track was cool." - Jimmy Albertson
Photo: Simon Cudby
Jimmy Albertson, Valli Yamaha, Eighth Overall (11-10-8)
I’m a glass half-full kind of guy and I thought the track was cool. It was fun to ride and had some big jumps. As far as my night, I got better each time I went out on the track and ended up eighth overall which I was happy about. I also got a bunch of money, which is always cool!
I cased the big double in the first main event and twisted my ankle, which bothered me the other main events. I also had some good races with Kyle Chisholm, and for me, I had my best lap time on the last lap of the third main event. Sitting on the line and watching the amateur guys was cool, they seemed to be having fun. I thought they were hauling butt out there. All in all the whole event was cool.
Jake Weimer, Monster Energy Kawasaki, Ninth Overall (12-6-11)
Monster Energy Cup. One good moto. One bad moto. Or two bad motos? How did that go?
Jake Weimer: Three bad motos.
Well, the one you were doing all right. You got fifth? No, you fell on the last lap! Never mind. Yep, three bad motos.
No, I didn’t fall. Alessi cleaned me out. So that’s what happened in that one. Then in the second one, I didn’t get a real good start. I got sixth. And then in the last one, I fell in the first turn and then had another little issue in the last lap. I caught a hay bale with my foot and kinda’ stalled my bike and whatever. So none of them were really good. But the track was hard to race on and my starts weren’t great. I got a good start in my heat race. Holeshotted that one. So, it is what it is. I’m sure a lot of people are thinking this, but I think I could’ve done pretty well. I just didn’t get the starts to really give myself a chance.
What’d you think of the track?
I thought it was fun. Well, I thought the jumps were fun. Outside there was a fun jump, but all the dirt outside was just bad. It made Unadilla look loamy. So, I’m assuming they just got the dirt from the field over there. I’m serious; I think they probably did. So that kind of was a bummer. But, l mean, it was fun to ride. But just to race on, I mean, was kind of tough.
"Three bad motos." - Jake Weimer
Photo: Simon Cudby
Format. Three ten-lappers. What’d you think? How was the little break in between?
Initially when I heard three ten-lappers, I was like oh cool! But they were actually not really that short with a minute and a half lap time. But they seemed to go by pretty quick. I thought it was cool. Something different. We didn’t have much time in between. So between the second and third one, I didn’t go back to the truck.
As a mechanic, though, sitting there between races would stress me out a little bit. I’d want to check over the bike and all that?
Yeah, they didn’t really have any time to do that. They came back, put gas in it, and changed the rear tire, I think.
So you’re going to Bercy in a couple weeks? Looking forward to that?
I’m excited. I think it’ll be fun. I’ve been over and done one overseas supercross before and it was fun. So, yeah, practice track a couple more weeks, then Bercy. It should be good.
Ben Townley Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki 15th Overall (2-19-20)
It went awesome. In a nutshell, it was a great event, and the whole idea to come and do this worked out really well. It was unfortunate, the mechanical problem I had, but overall it was great. I had a good heat race, and a great first main event so it was good all around.
What caused your mechanical issue?
I hit a rock. It was really, really, rocky out in the back here, [Townley motions toward the motocross section outside of the stadium] and I landed on a rock. Like the frame would grind out on a rock, the chain guide did. We’re not sure yet, they’ll obviously have to look at it, but something happened to the chain guide that bent, or twisted it.
"It went awesome. In a nutshell, it was a great event, and the whole idea to come and do this worked out really well." - Ben Townley
Photo: Simon Cudby
Cole Seely Lucas Oil Troy Lee Honda 17th Overall (21-12-13)
It was kind of a rough night. I had a little bit of an issue in the first moto, and wasn’t able to finish. It kind of set the mood, I guess, for the rest of the night. I felt good though, and my bike felt really good, really dialed. We’ve been working with Showa and Pro Circuit, tuning the suspension, and I was really happy with it. All I can do now is look forward to Anaheim 1, and take what I learned here and bring it there.
What happened in that first race?
I got together with another rider, and his front tire hit my chain guide and bent the mount into the chain, and snapped the chain. It happened in a sketchy place, but at least I didn’t get hurt. I guess that’s pretty much the only thing that happened that was good tonight.
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One of Europe’s fastest young racers, 18-year-old Dutch Red Bull KTM rider Jeffrey Herlings talks about his life, his career ... and his occasional outbursts. Page 160.
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Sounds like Alessi was making friends all over the place Saturday..Cant beat them, then try and take them out...His crash in practice happend because he let off the throttle instead of gassin' it..
Weimer is funny.. "No I didnt fall, Alessi cleaned me out." and " so I'm assuming they took the dirt from a field over there...Im serious I think they did "....Classic!! The track was "fun" to ride and jump on it seems, but not so much for racing.....
Still no Dungey or Alessi interview???.... I want to (A) See what Alessi can fathum for a reason to ride like a prick all nite trying to take dudes out and (B) Hear Dungey go off on Alessi....He moved over on Dungey and Metcalf going through the rythym section and obvioulsy tangles with Weimer..
You know any press is good press. I'm glad Alessi rode like a dick, whats he got to lose? I hope a team picks him up. He's got heart. I also have a theory on why he's being so aggressive besides the fact he is motivated to do well. Here it is: He's got a little bulk on him now so if any rider gets in his face he can go all "Ryno" on 'em. "What's your problem bro?!"
comeon the racing blew because the dirt sucks! ricky&mc; know better.they have raced the best tracks in the world! we all know soft dirt multi line corners, soft rough straights, hard faces on the jumps make for the best racing not the shiz they were on.
@rcmx - Yeah any press is good press, but looking like and ass is looking like and ass too.....Here is my theory... Alessi is such a wussy, he wont man up and tell his dad to back off or go home...so he takes all his frustration out on the track and ends up crashing...then when he cant hang, he plays rode block like we have seen many times this year and tries to take dudes out.......it not his riding skills that have ruined his oppurtunity....its his dad..if you ever watch that inside the moto show, his dad treats him like a little kid ....still.......like he is racing 60's or something.....I was rootin' for MA800 to do good since he is a privateer...but his games he was playing in vegas???? now we watch it self destruct....Alessi is fast in practice but cant do anyting once he jumps the gate
@TrendKiller - Decent theory. Nothing like all your family issues being played out on national TV! The Dad thing is a tough one...he obviously cares and it's hard to keep his emotions in check. I found myself screaming at my kid this weekend...first time I've ever done that...and I look around and people are starting at me...I was like, "WTF is my problem!" I checked myself right then and there. Funny thing is my son never heard me anyway! lol
I don't know why the media even asks the riders how the track is anymore. They never seem to like it, the dirt always sucks and it's always one lined. Sick of hearing their excusses. Maybe it's not the track that is tuff to pass on, maybe the riders are actually good and they are hard to pass. To me it looked like the track had plenty of passing places.
Alessi there waiting for you in Europe.... You can't win here on a Factory bike so don't think its going to happen on your own bike. Go do the GP's so your not in the way of the fast guys in the USA LOL...
Damn! Towley must not have gotten the real story from his good buddy Alien_Mike. The Americans sabotaged his bike! It's a freakin conspiracy! Right Mike??
Bill C - No doubt! The only other time i yelled at the TV was when RV actually took the lead on race 3 , the rest of the time it was " ALESSI GET OUT OF THE WAY!!! ...Did you see Alessi's mechanic....He was Ralph Shaheens date to the Dirty Boot Gentlemens Club....Alessi could possibly do well across the pond....
walkerjo35,
dude what race were you watching? The only corner that truly had two grooves was the left turn after the sand straightaway coming back into the stadium where RV blew past alessi in main 3. It was block pass and hope to get away, the course was really narrow, more like a home track, If they didn't run the outside section laptimes would have been 45 seconds.
I'm with TrendKiller. I was wanting to see Mike do well also (since I ride a Suzuki and I THOUGHT he had grown up some) but WTF was that last moto about? Jeez.
WalkerJo35 - Yeah I agree with you that Im also sick of riders always saying the track is one-lined...Look at Villopotos pass on Alessi in the last main, he made it happen where you wouldn't think it could happen and it was clean as well. The great riders will always find a quick pass if needed and the not so great riders will always have a hard time...thats just the way it is I guess.
Did anyone else read the interview that Bagget did in MXA, where he says he hates the nickname "El Chpacabra"??? And I caught grief for saying it was a dumb nickname..
Something is not right with Alessi, He put in a lot of time with KTM , than her comes Dungey , and took it all away , He needs therapy, dude seems depressed
walkerjo35,you have obviously never raced slick hard pack at night. i grew up racing so cal blue groove ascot,corona night races aswell as some pro sx. when you throw water on that blue groove,or at night when moister coms up,its like ice. no traction in no traction out. its nerve wracking ,dangerous,and tough to have confidence on .rc&mc; should know better. the lay out was good the dirt sucked.
I tend to agree on Alessi, and I am older than his dad, so maybe I have some perspective. I really believe he is willing to blow all he has earned, just to get to the point where he doesn't owe has dad for sacrificing so much for him. Its a strange theory, but maybe. I do think he would be very competitive in Europe, I think in the USA he is a known comodity, top 10 and unfinished seasons. Wish I could ride that good just once though, sure would be fun.
alessi should talk less and just worry about riding
I never have believed "the hype"...lol...yeah right......I do believe the Hodaka would suit his road block, then run into em riding style, much moreso than the Suzi. He's gonna have to get a real job soon I expect....gl with that Mike.
I say Europe because over there someone would pay him wile here no one wants him. Not saying he will win over there, Just could get a job easer.
Most of the "outdoor" track reminded me of a gravel pit I used to practice at a lot. That jump-down-into-the-turn thing looked pretty fun.
Every year KTM motocross bike s seem to have head shake or some "weird" or " "twitchy" handling. Their Japanese rivals have had aluminum frames for 5-15 years. Hmm, you'd think all their engineers, who are way smarter than I am, might have put those two facts together.