Racer X Notebook: Phoenix
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 | 12:00 PM
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Print- The heartbreak of the night award would have to go to Rockstar Valli-Star Yamaha’s Ryan Sipes, who had been living dangerously through qualifying, and had it all catch up to him in Phoenix. Sipes won two races in 2011 (Indy and East/West Shootout) and was the fastest qualifier at Anaheim 1 last week. But crashes in Anaheim sent him to the LCQ, where he qualified to then finish fifth in the main. In Phoenix, he crashed in a rhythm in the final practice, tearing up his bike. He returned ready for his heat race but crashed trying to make a pass on Tyla Rattray, sending him to the LCQ again. And in the LCQ, he got into a battle with J-Star JDR KTM’s Matt Moss. Sipes put a hard pass on Moss for the final transfer spot, so Moss retaliated with a failed block pass attempt and took both down on the last lap. Neither made the main.
Moss and Sipes may have had the best battle of the night. But it ended with both missing the main.
Photos: Andrew Fredrickson
- The British are coming! The recipient of the final transfer spot was Englishman Adam Chatfield, who cruised past the downed Sipes and Moss to make the main. That made for two Brits in the main (along with Max Anstie, who finished ninth in the main). And Zach Osborne may be from Virginia (and ride for Puerto Rico at the Motocross of Nations) but he is riding for the British-based Monster/Bike It Yamaha team.
- Sipes’ teammate Gareth Swanepoel missed the main at Anaheim, but made it in this time to finish 17th. But the third Lites rider on the team, Nico Izzi, actually had the most drama. A big crash on a triple in practice left Izzi coughing up blood, which required a trip to the hospital. He was released just in time to make it back to the stadium for his heat race. Izzi toughed out an impressive eighth in the main event.
- Or maybe Sipes wasn’t the heartbreak of the night—after all he escaped uninjured. Tommy Hahn, meanwhile, broke his fibula (lower leg) in the main event. He expects to be out at least eight weeks, with hopes of returning before supercross concludes. And don’t forget that Tommy’s brother Wil fractured his hip the Wednesday before the race. And at Anaheim Tommy lost a tooth and Wil broke his nose. Do they really feel each other’s pain?
- BTOSports.com/Butler Brothers Jimmy Albertson had a wild night with a bad ending. Josh Grant took him down on the last lap of a heat race while they were battling for tenth. The duo got it on again in the LCQ, but this time Albertson came out ahead when they collided and Grant went down. Albertson got the last transfer spot, but then crashed in the main and hurt his shoulder.
Albertson was able to claw his way into the main event at Phoenix, but crashed and now may miss L.A.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
- DNA/Jeff Ward Racing’s Grant failed to qualify, which just adds him to what should be a big list of big-name riders that will miss mains this year.
- Yoshimura Suzuki’s Brett Metcalfe had a much better night after struggling at Anaheim 1, where he finished eleventh but was never really on pace. Team Manager Mike Webb thinks the team did too much testing at their private Suzuki track in Corona, and the strange Anaheim layout threw them off. “Metty likes to steer with the rear wheel, but the dirt at Anaheim was too tacky in spots and he couldn’t do it effectively,” said Webb. The team rode at three different SX tracks during the week before Phoenix to develop a more versatile setup, and it paid off, as Metcalfe looked much more competitive. He finished ninth in the main.
- Who is the most consistent rider early in 2012? Gotta be Dodge Motorsports/Sycuan/Hart & Huntington’s Josh Hansen, with back-to-back tenth place finishes in the SX class.
Consistency has been the motto for Hansen in 2012.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
- New rules for 2012 put red number plates on points leaders, and since Ryan Villopoto and Ryan Dungey are tied, they’ll both run red at Phoenix. Cole Seely’s red plates will return back to black at L.A., with Tyla Rattray taking over the points lead by virtue of 2-3 finishes in the first two rounds.
- Jake Weimer might be turning the most heads in the early season, as the Monster Energy Kawasaki rider followed his impressive come-from-behind fifth at A1 with a podium (second place) at Phoenix. He also won his heat race. Weimer is currently tied with Chad Reed for third in the series.
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Yeah, I'd say hanny is doing great for his first "do over" 450 year!
Dungey and RV will run the red plate in Los Angeles, Phoenix was last week...hahaha
Good to see Weimer having a good start to the season.....
Weimer could be that dark horse! It appears that he is the sleeper, just kind of gets up in there. Lets see if Jake can have a few more good rides. Watching the whole Sipes/Moss love affair taking place out on the track was wild. I believe Sipes was taken out a couple of times last year to, guy must have a target on him.
Yes I too am impressed with what Weimer has done so far. Also a big Kongradualtions (sp) I know. to Dungey and KTM. Just watched the video of Swewart and the carnage on the first few laps. Just think Villo had to work all the way through it! Feel bad for Whindham just missing the podium though. I think Reed will get it together yet also. Just think we thought last year was a battle looks like this year might be even better. Good luck to all! and may the festivities continue!!
LETS RACE!
Another rule change with the Red plate, Last year RD got to run it all year. I wish the He!! they would make up there mind. Makes the sport look like it is run by a bunch of Hicks!!
Welker I was shocked to hear K-Dub say he got tight when RV got close!! Dude you have been doing this for 20 years whats the problem?? Thats why he never won a title. he had his shot the year JS was out and Reed rode with a broken sholder and he got tight then too and lost his only shot at an SX title. Not bashing K-Dub I just can't believe it.
Jeff Wards team looks really good right now......NOT! Josh Grant is done and is basically riding around for some cash and to not get hurt again....... Really thought Chiz would be doing better after his success overseas so hopefully he gets his ars in gear.
Metcalf doing much better with a 9th? I guess so but yet another major dissapointment for the slozuki team...ooops, I mean the lone ranger slozuki team!
perhaps they should get a "solo" cup sponsorship....... "let's have a party in 9th?"
@billc, you go out there and race for 15 laps, and then with 5 laps to go start watching the defending champ catch you like your sitting still. Anyone would get tight and start racing behind them in that situation.
What about Stewart and Hansen playing Chinese handcuffs for a straightaway?
Anyone else think the JT gear (sponsor of this Notebook) looks pretty darn good? Not talkin' about the helmet, but the pant and jersey.
Wherever Snizzi goes, there is drama....he is the dram King of sx.
Weimer is the MAN!
He got rid of his ball and chain, handed it over to snizzi, and now he is riding so much better!
Dungey WHipped them all- say it like stewie from family guy- thats right.
So, I'm still wondering what's really up with Stewart. Bike, mental, physical? Anybody care to weigh in?
If I were JGR I would be taking Weimer and the head of Suzuki to lunch every chance I get.
I really feel sorry for DNA/Jeff Ward racing ending up with Grant. I think it would have been better to have not tried to compete in the SX class and either do Lites or Outdoors than field such an underwhelming rider.
MisterRoboto I think he is fine, He is riding well so I think he is fine as well as the bike. He had two falls and last week he was doing very well untill he fell and he was sick too. If he gets a better start and can saty off the ground all the speculation will stop.
BillC - good points, thanks!
@BillC : There will be absolutely no comments from your backhanded mouth about Kevin Windham, you aren't qualified to carry his lunch box so not a word from you regarding Windham would be appreciated. It's bad enough I can smell RV's balls on your breath every time you say something.
Gills has to put sleez and poor taste on a great forum run that I found interesting. Every one else was decent
Yeah this was clean til Gills chimed in.
Tickle - Yeesh, not qualified but not surprising really. There will be 3-5 guys every week that should but won't make the main.
Didn't J Grant turn down a honda ride because he said he wasnt a 2nd tier rider behind A Short or something. Not looking so good now huh grant. Hey Gills, funny stuff!
Gills I will post about anything I want and sure as he!! will not be listening to someone like you who showed the other day how LITTLE you know about Moto.. What I said is 100% true if you can't take the truth don't read my post's.
mc724 I don't think he turned it down he was mad that they took Short over him.
BillC. You have a comment for everything. You are a moto god and must of stolen Matthes job(and his twinky). Everyone should just bend over and kiss your ass. Windam was racing before RV was even born. To even finish 4th behind a 21 year old multi champion this late in the game is commendable. You might want to rinse with listeren while your at it. I think I can smell Stewys balls on your breathe now to. Go get your own thread beings you run this one. Gills for President!
sjf350 The fact that he got 4th was not what was talked about. The fact that he got tight after all these years of raceing is odd. You and Gills like to through out a lot of Gay innuendos!! Is there something you guys are subliminally trying to tell us??
BillC have you ever raced motocross or supercross.? I have at the pro level and no matter how much preperation and years doing it there are days when everthing is clicking and days when they just arn't. The body is a machine and there are a lot of veriables that play in. Even your best in the bussiness tighten up. No gay innuendo just hate it when people think they know everything