Bench Racing Ammo: The Best Stories of 2011
Thursday, December 29, 2011 | 4:00 PM
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PrintAs pumped as we are for 2012, we’re sad to see 2011 go. This was one of the most competitive seasons of all-time, and the stories will live in bench racing lore for a long time. But what was the best story of the year? We asked you in our online poll on Monday. Here are the results, along with some analysis.
Tickle wins SX Lites West in dramatic fashion: 13 votes - 0.4%
This one may have been overshadowed by a star-packed night in Vegas that featured the East and West finals, but off all the races on that evening, this one featured the most drama and action. It didn’t grab a ton of votes, but Tickle got the trophy that counted.
Fiolek wins third WMX title 36 votes - 1%
The Fiolek/Patterson battles always headline the WMX Series, and that happened again this year. Patterson fought to get her title back last year, but Fiolek showed up ready in 2011. Patterson had speed, but too many mistakes, while Fiolek continued her consistent consistency (can we call it that?) and rolled to her third title in four pro seasons.
Ken Roczen wins Las Vegas SX, then FIM World Championship 57 votes - 1.5%
Did you know? In the first SX practice of the year, at the conclusion of the first timed lap, the rider who put his name on the top of the lap board was Ken Roczen. And that was his first-ever timed lap at a supercross! Crashes and a learning curve slowed his results at first, but he won the finale in Vegas. During all of that, he was setting up a successful championship drive back home in Europe.
Roczen had a magical season in both the U.S. and Europe.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Dean Wilson holding off his teammates for the AMA 250 Motocross Championship 81 votes - 2.2%
At one point, the AMA Pro Motocross 250 Championship was as close as we had ever seen between three riders. But then Dean Wilson just took off down the stretch, winning three of final four races to seal the deal.
James Stewart signs with JGR 98 votes - 2.6%
Lots of rumors pointed to JS7 linking to Suzuki, but instead he stayed on Yamahas and joined the JGR effort. This will for sure be a bigger story once they go racing together in 2012.
Team USA's seventh consecutive win at the MXoN 112 votes - 3%
A big deal, but the fact that it garnered so few votes showed how many exciting things were happening in the title chases here in the U.S. This was an exciting one, but not the best of the best.
Justin Barcia's jump to the 450 class 122 votes - 3.3%
Barcia won the Lites East title despite racing with a broken wrist for most of the way. But he grabbed more headlines with his superb riding on a 450, where he was challenging Ryan Villopoto and Ryan Dungey at times.
Ryan Dungey signs with KTM 242 votes - 6.5%
Like Stewart to JGR, this one will gather more votes in 2012.
Dungey signing with KTM will likely garner more attention as the season progress'.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Ryan Villopoto wins $1 million at the Monster Energy Cup 295 votes - 7.9%
Had we just lumped all of RV’s accomplishments together, he may have won the voting.
Five-way battle for SX Championship 491 votes - 13.2%
The greatest season ever? Could probably make a good case for that. We’re hoping 2012 is just half as good, because even that would be pretty amazing.
Ryan Dungey's remarkable comeback at Southwick 542 votes - 14.6%
The largest vote getter for one single race--the only two stories that topped it in your voting were season-long storylines.
Villopoto takes hard-fought AMA SX and MX crowns 620 votes - 16.7%
RV is awesome, but line up any rider against the likes of Dungey, Reed, Stewart and the rest and ask him to sweep both major championships is a tough, tough task. He did it, and we shall never hear the phrase “against diminished competition” with this one.
Reed's successful start with TwoTwo Motorsports 1002 votes - 27%
Easily your pick as the best story of the year. This was an against-the-world effort that nearly came out on top in the standings, and made Reed a huge winner with the fans. After TwoTwo Motorsports, no one else has an excuse.
Reed and TwoTwo Motorsports took home the top spot.
Photo: The Medium Group
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You should have had one of the choices be - James Stewart's season collapses. I bet that would have received 0% votes because no one was surprised by it!
I still think RV coming back from his injury and having some turmoil during both SX and MX only to overcome it all and win both titles, in addition to MXoN and MEC should top this list...hand down.
I respect the Two Two story as well, just not #1 in my book....MC's team owner/rider adventure was considered a disaster of sorts in 97' (didn't he still get 2nd in SX too? )...so that is what Two Two was being compared too going into 2011.....MC had very little time on the bike and had lots of difficulty making the switch in 2 weeks time compared to Reeds seat time on the Honda prior to forming Two Two...I still respect the team owner thing, but with Two Two I think the "plan" was already there, it just came down to " alright, who is footing the bill" and Reed was the guy, which again i respect 100%....He knew he was going Honda, He had been riding one (even raced in Aus) so the "rider and bike" were in good status and once the gate drops, that's all that matters......People expected 22 to have the issues MC did on and off and that didn't happen...the team was put together pretty quick, but they had a few hands making things happen it it obviously went more smooth than MC's
u kidding me how many people counted reed out last year? and he didnt have factory support in the start of the season the honda techs didnt even help him when he villopoto and stewart all went down in the first turn no one believed and no factory helped until he started challenging and he obviously wasnt prepared since u could see how he was struggling to get his set up right in the begining....his career didnt help him get factory support what factory team stepped up when he announced he was starting a team? mcgrath himself said it wouldnt work and ur telling me its not the story of the year? hahahah
@pizzacorner, do you ever have anything good to say ever?? You must have a really $hitty life, because you are always full of gloom and doom. I thiunk what CR22 has done is great, I didnt vote for it to be No. 1 but he has accomplished something great. It takes more than just money to do what he did, I mean getting factory support, Honda didnt just start throwing factory parts at him, that part he earned by building a great team and then being successful on the track. Its a he!! of an accomplishment in my opinion..
The think the best story of 2011 was the last 5 seconds of the first 450 moto at Steel City.
@pizzacorner, what do you mean mcgrath started a team to late in his career he won three supercross title's with his own team and just missed a fourth with the suzuki of troy in 97, who are you, better study up! ooooooh!
In the conversation, (amusing as usual) You all are stating the way it should be in your opinions, when the numbers are based on majority votes, hence, the majority of readers dont agree with you..
Yup. Poto fo' sho'. This year's victories after last year's injuries---incredible.
Reed's story sure ain't bad, though. And Stewart staying with Yamaha is a pretty big story, I guess. A big, stupid story.
@pizzacorner if you dont want direct responses then dont post rubbish! Reed spent millions yes but he sacked up and made the risk pay off, and it was a risk even with his talent so I suggest you go back to your minimum wage existence and pretend you know more about something else. I didn't vote it as my #1 story personally either but lots of readers did. It was a brilliant accomplishment. You have zero credibility and you are the only person on here to post twice. I wish people would not disrespect anyone they couldn't beat on the track,
Rant is over... nice wrap to 2011 folks bring on 2012!
mrwhirlwind....i couldn't agree more....what is a pizzacorner anyway? aren't pizzas round unless you cut a slice? so...let me get this right ...he is..merely a slice of pizza?