by Davey Coombs
250 Words: Phoenix
Sunday, January 15, 2012 | 7:00 PM
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PrintYou already know who won the race, but there is so much more to it than that. The 250 Words column focuses on another story, from a different angle, because in racing, there's always more to the story than just one man standing on top of the podium.
Dean Wilson looked exactly the way many thought he would in Phoenix, only it came a week later than many expected. The reigning 250cc Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Champion was on form this time, putting in 15 solid laps to reestablish himself as a contender for the Monster Energy West Region Lites SX title. The runner-up, Red Bull KTM's Marvin Musquin, was a surprise to some—it was only his second race under the lights since moving to the U.S., but you don't win two MX2 world titles by not having both speed and tenacity.
It was an all International Lites podium in Phoenix.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
Third-place, however, was a big surprise to me. Tyla Rattray, another former world champ, continues to transform himself into a supercross rider, which is something that many imports from the GP scene find to be a fairly bruising experience (especially his fellow South Africans Greg Albertyn and Grant Langston). But now Tyla, highy-respected by his fellow riders and well-liked throughout the pits, will take the red plate from fifth-place-finisher Cole Seely as the new points leader. Rattray is the elder statesman of this region, yet he shows continual improvement, though he's still yet to win a race. That now appears to no longer be a question of “if” so much as “when.”
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Sorry, but I still have a problem with Rattray running the 250 class still. Cherry picking at its worse. He is older than the top 3 guys in the 450 class who hit the podium in Pheonix. That is sad.
the only one in the lites who has a daughter
Sad is you guys giving a good person and great racer shit for being a good racer!!!!!
@bd200..So because of his age hes cherry picking? lol If their is a rule in the rulebook that says your too old in the Lites class to race it id love to see it. Did not know you could cherry pick in the Pro class lol. Did you forget this is his only 2nd season racing SX? well im sure after next season you wont have a issue with it anymore he will probably be up in the 450 class
bd200, did you feel that way last year when Hanny almost won a coast? Hanny is almost 4 years older than Tyla, and ran 250SX for 7 years. Tyla is in his 2nd year in SX. What has he run, 9-11 SX races ever?
Choices: nobody gives ex-GP guys a 450 SX ride unless they run 250SX for at least a couple years. You know enough to know this.
Marv took 2nd in his 2nd SX. And he is French. I guess you are about to slice your wrists.
Just saying.
Don't blame the Rat blame his boss that hires world champions to ride the tiddler class for him.
YES!!, I did feel that way about Hanny and expressed it on here too. Rattray has been running in the AMA for longer than 2 years. He came over the same year as Pourcel.. I couldnt care less if Marvin is French, he is a great rider and very smooth. It seems to me Elsinore that you seem to think I am complaining because he is from South Africa, WRONG, you dont know me so dont judge me. One of my all time favorites is Frant Langston, where is he from genious?? It is Tlya's over 10 years of pro racing experience and still running the Lites class (outdoors too) that bugs me. I am not a bigot, dont try and make me out to be.. You dont know me.. I am alos a huge fan of DV12 too by the way. Where is he from???
@BD200.Last year when Barcia moved up to the 450 he started doing much better than he did in the 250 class in the outdoors.If Barcia hadn't moved up to the 450 he would of still been getting smoked in the 250 class.The 250 is a stacked class and super competitive class.
Sure it is, but that doesnt mean any rider should make a career out of it. Rattray is a 10 year veteran of motocross racing. Whether its in the US or Europe, and he is out there racing against guys with 2 or 3 years max, and alot are rookies. I just dont think any rider who has more pro racing experience than Dungey, RV or Weimer--who all podiumed at the last supercross, should still be in the 250/Lites class. He cant even ride the 250 for his Country at the Des Nations.. there is a reason for that.
But I still take issue with Elsinore saying its because I am a bigot, he couldnt be more wrong. And he is an as$ for assuming it too..
bd200, perhaps I confused you for someone else for whom Pourcel could do no right. If so, then I beg your pardon but I would submit calling names was a bit much.
Back to the issue; to purists (both of us, I would hope) the outdoors is real MX. But it is true (or so we have both read) that SX considerations drive team decisions. And the simple fact is that Rattray, regardless of his outdoor experience, is a SX newbie. At a grand total of 10-12 SX races it's hard to argue that he absolutely-positively belongs on the big bike indoors. Not unreasonable to give a guy 2 seasons in SX Lites and he DOES seem to have improved quite a bit since last year.
Would be cool if PC gave him the 450 outdoors, but that doesn't seem to be in the Kawasaki/PC plan. Which brings up the fact that any rider that wants to ride for a team (everyone) has limited influence on what class they ride. They do what the team needs. If someone thinks Rattray shouldn't be in SX-Lites (or on a 250 next summer, in which case I agree), they should gripe at Mitch Payton, not Tyla.
Truth is a world championship mx and a SX race have little in common. Some of the best MX racers in the world can't ride SX. Did you have a Problem with him when he was getting 10th? What about K-roc and Musquin? should they ride a 450? There is more $$ in the 250's. If you had your wish they would just stay overseas and not race the US. Pointing out of the 250's is the end of a career to many. Look at Tickle. He is having trouble on the 450 and he won the title last year. I am glad the rest of the world comes here to race. I can't go over seas to see them.
@Elsinore--Did I hurt your feelings calling you a name?? Then dont throw stones, because you pretty much did the same to me. Anyone with the professional racing experience he has does not belong in that class, sorry. He is very fit, and fast, and would be fine on the 450, especially outdoors. He could have gotten a ride, probably the one Short has, I would sign Rattray over Short myself. And over Tickle.. He could have, but he wants a title, and the easiest one for him is a West Coast Regional title, where he only has to beat half the competetion in that class..
And I really liked Pourcel, untill he started quitting races, no much a fan of anyone who is a quitter..
No comments about Sipes getting taken out in the LCQ? I thought maybe it was Randy Moss making such a wise decision.
bd200: "...take issue with Elsinore..... he is an as$..."
Me: "perhaps I confused you for someone else.... if so, then I beg your pardon"
bd200: "Did I hurt your feelings calling you a name??"
This is why I don't post here any more.
@Elsinore --You left out the fact that you called be a bigot in your first post--Typical..of somebody who wont take responsibility for thier actions. You started it all assuming I didnt like Rattray in the 250 class because he is a foreign born rider. dont put this on me..
I left out nothing : "Me: "perhaps I confused you for someone else.... if so, then I beg your pardon"
Good luck.
AFTER you wrote the "beg your pardon" I never called you any more names correct?? My suggestion is dont call anyone bigots or such if you dont know them. Its kind of judgemental on your part..
no americans on the podium.
in South Africa we battle to fill the start gates at a national. we go oversea's to get experiance. if we get a ride in a team, we ride the class that we get told to ride. don't knock us for trying to get to the top by competing with the best in the world.and the only place you find it, is in th US. we live for the day that we can compete in the US.
This is Amazing!!!