by Aaron Hansel
10 Things to Watch For: Oakland
Thursday, January 26, 2012 | 6:50 PM
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PrintTomac’s Times
Although we’ve seen three different Lites winners in as many races, the one constant has come from Eli Tomac, who has set the fastest lap in all three races. In Los Angeles, Tomac’s fast time of 53.915 was even quicker than the fastest 450 lap of 54.341, which was set by Ryan Villopoto. Look for Tomac to be laying down more scorching laps this weekend.
This may be how the rest of the field views Tomac if he gets out front early.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Factory Foe
Billy Laninovich has returned to supercross this year, and so far his results have been steadily improving. Laninovich took fourteenth at A1, twelfth in Phoenix, and tenth in L.A.. These results aren’t a complete shocker; Laninovich was once a podium threat every time he lined up, and even won a Lites main in San Francisco in 2005. What kind of results will Laninovich pull this weekend?
Stewart’s Turn?
So far, James Stewart has watched while one by one, his main competitors have all taken race wins. Villopoto won the opener, Ryan Dungey took Phoenix, and Chad Reed ran away with it in Dodger Stadium. Despite a small crash, Stewart recorded his best finish of the season last week when he crossed the line in third place. If Stewart can keep it on two wheels tomorrow night, look for him to challenge for his first win of the year.
Rookie Move
Gavin Faith made his professional AMA supercross debut last week as a replacement rider with the GEICO Honda squad, and while his eighteenth place finish probably didn’t turn any heads, it’s still worthy of mention. Even after the threat of rain cut practice down to a single session, Faith went out and made the main in his first attempt ever. Now that Faith has some experience under his belt, how will the rookie from Fort Dodge, Iowa, do in Oakland?
Can Faith improve after last weekend's scramble?
Photo: Simon Cudby
Do or Die
It can be very difficult to overcome a disastrous race, especially in a short series. After experiencing poor results last week, championship hopes for Marvin Musquin (nineteenth) and Cole Seely (fifteenth) aren’t looking very bright, and both riders are facing must win situations if they want to keep their title chases alive. Will Musquin and Seely rebound in Oakland, or will their championship flames be extinguished?
Life’s a Beach
The soil in Oakland is extremely sandy, and is unlike any of the racing surfaces we’ve seen so far this year. Sand tracks wear in differently, get rough quickly, and require a completely different type of bike setup. Sand also makes for some fierce roost, which is sure to provide vision problems for riders who run out of tearoffs.
Equal Opportunity
A quick look at this week’s Bench Racing Ammo reveals just how much talent exists in both classes. So far, six races have produced six different winners. With guys like James Stewart, Jake Weimer, Ryan Sipes, Tyla Rattray, Marvin Musquin and Zack Osborne still chasing their first win of the season, Oakland has the potential to keep the new-winner streak alive.
Musquin will be one of many vying for a first win in Oakland.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Mad Max
Max Anstie didn’t have the best showing at A1 (sixteenth), but since then, his results have improved, with a ninth in Phoenix and a sixth in Dodger Stadium. Will the British rider’s upward trend continue Saturday night?
The Replacements
With all of the injuries taking place, we’re going to start seeing a wave of new or replacement riders in the pits. Last week it was Gavin Faith with the GEICO Honda squad. This week we’ll see Matt Goerke joining the BTOSports.com/Butler Brothers MX team, Cody Mackie to fill in for Josh Grant at DNA / Jeff Ward Racing, and Bobby Kiniry aboard a Star Valli Motorsports 450.
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Nice write-up Aaron, can't wait for Saturdayyyyyy! :D
Aaron its hard to read this whole write-up when you make a mistake in your third sentence. C'mon man!!!
stewart is racing tomorrow night?
Correction......Stewart will be "crashing" this weekend. Business as usual.
Checkers or wreckers and it's been wreckers so far.
Oh no!!! I have to catch my flight tomorrow to Oakland as it seems they moved the race up a day!!! Danggit!!!
did seely lead every lap at A1? And is there a chance we'll see Tomac give a 450 a go in the east? probably not, but at his current rate who doesn't wonder how that would turn out.
Articles written by humans may contain errors, nothing to be done about that, but they're so much more fun to read than articles written by robots.
Maybe it's not his fault. Maybe they posted it a day sooner than he thought they would ass wipes.
Ok calm down dorks... It's a called a joke. Sheesh!
How come Laninovich is on a 250?
Any word on Regal?
10 Things to Watch is a Friday post, hence the liberal use of the word, "tomorrow." It ended up getting posted a day early this time. Sorry for the confusion, folks.
''So far, the winner of every Lites main event has led every single lap''
Hmmmm close but no cigar, I am pretty sure Seely worked his way into the the lead at A1?
Aaron you confused them so bad they had trouble doing day to day things.
I am sure RacerX will post something today...but some sad news out of the JGR camp.....Stews practice bike mechanic was killed yesterday in what seems to be a horrible accident as he was assiting someone broken down on the side of the rode....Mark " Tex " Adams....RIP!!
Gavin Faith will deff do better this weekend. I bet top 10 for sure!!! Go Gavin!
damn is that for real Killomoto thats too bad....thanks for passing along
chromob - Seely started around 6th and passed Wilson, Ratray, Hahn and a few others in about 5 or 6 laps.
If ET is up there in the points I don't think they would risk him getting hurt on the 450, but you never know.
Gee Arron, yeah I was thinking this was Saturday also? My friend usually leaves to go to his lake ranch Sat morning and when he was here yesterday he said he and his ole lady were going this morning. That only added to my cofusion/ So here I was thinking it was race day? Then I got the paper and saw it was only friday?
Now that is so bad about "Tex" and trying to be a good samaratin. The person was probably on the cell phone or texting which needs to stop.
Also I like it that the race is in Oakland "Angel" territory I have met up with a few riding out westand some of them like to go to the supercross. We had some fun together. AS ling as you are real and know how to ride it is ok.Tey were from the San Berno Chapter.
No such thing as Safer Racing , Or Safe Racing , its an oxymoron
What are gonna do with the 450's Misoheye? Start a Mudbog during halftime?
@misoheye some of us like 450's . I like 250 2 or 4 but , I like a 450 alot more its a different beast. How about this law of luck ,you don't control how you hit (normally) and you don't control what part of the bike (lite or heavy ,spinning or static lol) crunches you to the ground. There is no wifflebat in motorcycle racing and those Pro's ain't EVER goin back to 250's.
Anyone have any predictions for the Oakland main?? I say Stewie is due for a win. Its not like him to go this long without one. But RV1 is due for another one also. He has had them in the bag for 2 weeks, and a restart and his own screw-up cost him last week. The 450 class is up in the air. 250-- it looks like Tomac again to me. I picked him last year and some blowhards told me he wouldnt even get a win, and darn nearly pulled it off if not for some buddies helping out in Vegas. So Tomac is mine for the 250's. The 450's Stewie or RV1, (Yes, I'm going out on a limb for that on huh!!LOL)
Man what do you think the early guys on the BSAs Triumphs and Rickmans had to deal with , the new 4 smokers are like a wifle ball bat compared to the old ones , and what about the 500 twostrokes , those things were brutal, Been involved in this sport my whole life , It is safer than it has ever been , The tracks are the problem in most supercross races , they are not safe , not enough room for all those bikes ,
I think the tracks so far this year have been great for Bar to Bar action. As far as safety, lets all just use our best judgement. No one knows the track like the riders! If the riders (meaning more than one) feel sketchy in a certain section or have some concerns they should confront Feld and the track builder at the riders meeting and unanamously decide to alter the specific jump, section, etc... if Feld will listen. In my opinion, a blind jump or triple should never be placed any where near the first or second turn. I was and still am disturbed by the Morias, Canard incident and I wish them both a speedy recovery. My prayers are with Ryan, Trey and their families and friends; also the Adams family, RIP "Tex", You now have the best seat in the house for all the races buddy!!! and Deserving of it from what i hear!!!
still concerned about the yamahop !
going in to the first turn , jockying for posistion , most of the guys that are not out front , are not situated on the bike yet , get rid of the triples that come up to soon , let them spread out a little
stewie .... oakland main
Amen Preston, Amen!!!!!!! We are on the same page!
more haets , and narrow the field to twelve rider indoors , wont happen , but can you imagine the racing we would see ,
Who the hell is Cody Mackie?
RyanD.....how funny .......dont know if you ever saw motocross files with Bob Hanna....but you sounded very similiar to him when he said "WHO'S BRAD LACKEY".........great watch....anyway almost thought you where using your quote in relation to Hurricanes...?
Whats with people always on the two stroke four stroke thing? If a rider wants to ride a two stroke I'm pretty sure they will just ride a two stroke, but they don't... Two strokes pretty good for a vet class or something but come on ask a pro! They love the thumpers!!
The two stroke four stroke thing will allways be a debate , as long as YAMAHA , and KTM continue to make them , and ther are enough riders that remember them , Pros race them , because they have no choice , but we amateurs do , and sales have been slipping , try to find a twostroke on the floor , they are sold out , and if a dealer has one its top dollar , but you can find a big ol fatty sittin there from last year , begging to be bought , or even two and three years ago , Gurantee they will start to make a comeback for us regular racers , sorry I am not a PRO , just a vet B rider with a modest income , But thes four BOMBS are killing the sport , BTW they are fun to ride , I have a 450 hon . but my YZ 125 is like a feather , way fun to ride , and can be modified rebuilt matained , for way less than a 450 , just chasing around cheap plastic trophys