by Aaron Hansel
The Moment: Or Lack Thereof
Monday, January 30, 2012 | 3:30 PM
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PrintSo far, this season has had an abundance of game changing moments that have altered the night’s results, as well as the championship outlook. Situations like a few James Stewart crashes, Justin Brayton missing the main in L.A., Cole Seely, Marvin Musquin, Tyla Rattray and Dean Wilson crashing and coughing up loads of Lites championship points to Eli Tomac, all come to mind. But in Oakland, one of the biggest incidents of the night was the moment that never happened.
When Ryan Villopoto dominated at A1, his competitors and their fans could all be heard sucking in a sharp, collective breath of concern. And for good reason, too; Villopoto had just laid waste to what is largely considered to be the deepest, most talented field in the history of the sport, and although the champ was unable to secure more wins in Phoenix and L.A., his hard-charging, come-from-behind-rides and blistering lap times were more than enough to show that his tremendous performance at the opener was no fluke.
Reed was able to outlast Villopoto en route to a second place finish.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
Fast forward to RV’s heat race in Oakland. James Stewart won the race, but it was Villopoto who stole the show when he finished mere inches behind Stewart after coming through the pack. Several laps into the main event, Villopoto once again found himself on Stewart’s tail, and the crowd leaned forward and waited in frenzied anticipation of the pass that was sure to come. And they kept waiting. Then, they waited some more. The moment that seemed inevitable never happened. In fact, Stewart motored away from Villopoto, an act that would be repeated later in the race by Chad Reed. Remember, just two weeks ago, Villopoto came all the way back from a first-lap crash to catch and pass Reed in Phoenix.
Things just got even more interesting in this series. After Villopoto blasted into the season and asserted himself with potential dominance, Reed and Stewart have responded back with wins of their own. There were no crashes, no bad starts, and no mechanical issues in Oakland. In fact, the race for the lead was about as straight up as it gets. Stay tuned, the road to the championship just picked up a few more twists and turns--and remember that as quickly as Reed and Stewart turned the tables back on Villopoto, Villopoto could turn them right back.
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HMMM I swear there is another rider in this mix of race winners. Ohh thats right that guy tied for the points lead....whats his name......ohhhhhh RYAN DUNGEY give the guy some credit in these stories already........
Well earned win by Stewart for sure.
Regardless of what others may say, I what Villopoto said in his interview had alot to do with the outcome of the race. If the track was falling apart (which it looked like it was, even on TV), he probably just turned it down a little bit, and took a solid third. I recall him actually making a few mistakes near the end as well. There's no point in pushing to hard and risking a crash that could hand over points. IMHO, a smart, "championship-in-mind" sort of ride.
Again, well earned win by Stewart. He put himself in a good position early, and held off a hard charging RV1. Definately put alot of the haters in their place with that ride. Solid ride by Reed as well.
Bring on A2!
Woops: "I THINK* what Villipoto said..."
@BONES
Dungey didn't do shit at Oakland, that's why he's left off...
The moment was something you were expecting to happen but didn't? Really? How about the moment Stewart passed Reed and checked out after having his @ss handed to him last weekend? How about a moment that actually happened.
@ two250 if you think recovering from a bad start to catch and pass the likes of Short, Windham, Millsaps ect ect is some shit ride your an idiot! Ohh I bet your a real smoke show on a motorcycle and could kick Dungeys ass huh! You idiots who think you can talk moto after watching a few rounds on tv just kill me! NOBODY WHO ACTUALLY KNOWS MOTOCROSS MAKES STATEMENTS LIKE THAT YOU GOOF! Rant over thanks for comin out....
not expecting to pass Reed ?........i dont think it was too unexpected anyway. Stewart is faster i dont think there is an argument there. Maybe suprised the moment Stewart passed Reed without ending up on is aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaasssssssss is more like it..!.....that being said all the credit goes to Stewart, nice job !
I'm a huge Villopoto and Reed fan, but what a goose egg of an effort Villopoto threw up on Saturday. He was starting to get in Stewart's head and no Stewart the "last two weeks" has fended RV off, when RV has been the faster of the two riders. Now I wonder if Stewart is in RV's head. I get not going nuts when you're not in position to do so, but no excuses here. RV was in position to win and came of extremely LAME. I'm not taking anything away from Reed or Stewart. That's BS...You didn't see Stewart sitting back or Reed the previous week when he went from 8th to 1st and past and left Stewart in the process. Very disappointing rider from RV.... For Now your are Stewart's Bitc>
I'm a huge Villopoto and Reed fan, but what a goose egg of an effort Villopoto threw up on Saturday. He was starting to get in Stewart's head and no Stewart the "last two weeks" has fended RV off, when RV has been the faster of the two riders. Now I wonder if Stewart is in RV's head. I get not going nuts when you're not in position to do so, but no excuses here. RV was in position to win and came of extremely LAME. I'm not taking anything away from Reed or Stewart. That's BS...You didn't see Stewart sitting back or Reed the previous week when he went from 8th to 1st and passed and left Stewart in the process. Very disappointing ride from RV.... For Now your are Stewart's Bitc>
Report
Best Supercross Series ever, just got better on Saturday night!
again like last year....all the talk has been about RV, JS, and RD.....and CR was left out of much of the conversation in fact i seem to remember someone on this site saying Reed was being overlooked once again and here we are today talking about that old guy out there......Loveing it.....! Go Reedy you ol timer....!
JS rode a great race. He didn't cave to the pressure from RV and he even charged by CR. Feels weird now when JS doesn't wad himself, i was waiting for it but "lack of" it surprised me.
To bad JS waited till rnd 4 to start racing. Good ride, but he is still double digits behind CR, RD, and RV. Can't wait for San Diego.
if anyone can come back from being down double digits, its JS. Ouch, that hurt my fingers just typing it.
I have teh perfect nickname for Dungie!
Racer X are you ready??
Ryan "Maytag" Dungie
That's right, he is the maytag reparir man of SX. You never think about him because he never breaks or doeas anything to call attention. Just quietly goes about doing what he is supposed to do.
Nice work Maytag!
It's not just me right? Maytag actually sounds pretty good and fits.
Good rides by the top 4 guys, Stewart rode great on a very difficult track and seemed to smooth it out on a rough, rutted out track. Reed also rode solid and so did Villopoto, Reed did definitely cut in front of RV a few times and it looked to me like RV backed it down after that and settled for 3rd..Dungey got no love on the night but its all about points and looked smooth as usual..gotta love racing!! Each week a different winner and if I had to guess we wont be seeing any domination from any one rider but great racing nonetheless, Cant wait till Saturday!
@mo-tarder,
the flip of that is true as well :-)
If Dungey is "Maytag", let me name my lil red headed buddy Canard "Timex".
@ Open_Class......thanks for saying it for me, I didn't feel like starting an argument over that lol. One race win 4 rounds in is a little early to start the consistency and championship points talk. If anything the results of the past couple years support Open_Class more than the flip side.
I think we were all expecting blood in the water when RV caught CR and JS and then get pulled by them. I was expecting jake weimer and Brayton to do a little better. KW was riding well especially in his heat. I agree RD rode well he has excellent but not ferocious speed and is very consistant and is a top starter, I don't see him catching the others if he gets very far behind. Not sure why RV faded because he really excells in the rough stuff (outdoors)
I think Brayton is overrated. Every year its "this is the guy to watch for, this guy is gonna win races!" Do ya'll even realize that he has never even won a Lites race? Let me be the first to say that Brayton will be another Andrew Short; fast, but not fast enough to win.
@2damnOld,
I like it.
So we have:
Ryan "Maytag" Dungy
Trey "Timex" Canard
James "Bubba" Stewart
Now we need some nicknames for RV and CR
hey davidl...RD is not falling behind....and a rough track is not excatly what happened to the track...if you listen to the guys that rode the track...the track developed into...as RV said..mushroomed jumps and kickers...let alone the ruts. that means the same line that didnt throw you over the bars one lap....might the next lap.....caution is smart at that point.
"timex" sure beats the crap out of "ice tray". 2bad 2damnold isn't announcing the outdoors. How about Ben Townley?
4 Winners in as many weeks...
Can you imagine 13 more races with these 4 guys this close?
Can't remember the last time you really had to say,
"Any one of these 4 guys could actually win it tonight!"
And then after these guys, there's K-Dub, Short, Weimer, and a couple of others that will probably get on the podium before its over too.
Wish Canard was still out there.
D@mn this is too good!
Hope K-Dub can holeshot, check out and be the fifth winner before Vegas.
Otherwise it might just be musical chairs between #1, #5, #7 and #22.
RV is racing smart. He's got a double digit lead over JS and it's highly unlikely JS won't hand him a bunch more wadding himself up a time for two more during the season. Why risk it all for glory, ride smart, statistically JS always goes down and give free points. Nobody remembers the glory rides, it's the titles that count.
Glory counts, no doubt about it. If you don't know it ....
Anyhow, James' ride was solid and a well deserved win, but I still thought he wasn't riding like the Stewart of old. He still looked a little tight to me. Maybe it's the bike, maybe its his head, but I think there is a whole other level of speed and smoothness that he is capable of. Poto's been doing it, riding loose, confident and super fast, but who knows what happened to him in that main, maybe his setup was feeling less comfortable as the track got rougher. If he really was thinking 3rd place is good for the night, a safe championship ride, then I gotta say, that's lame. If he wins the championship, it'll be called smart, but this early in, I think you have to beat your competition whenever you can. I know this sport is all about championship titles, but I've always had more respect for the guys that just go and ride their hearts out, guess that's why I'm a Stewart fan.
championship rides this championship ride that if your in a position to go for the win do it! RC had the smartest idea just go ot and win every race possible
it is hilarious to know that RV fans are as blind as JS fans...
read all these comments, everyone has the same excuse, 'playing it safe', 'going for points'...
cant you just say he got his ass handed to him?
as blind as any clan
Why do so many of you have such a pedestrian view of what is really going on in SX?
This is about a championship! Not a race. The thought that each of these riders is supposed to try and win or crash doing it is absurd!
Wake up folks.
RV said he tried to make a few moves but his speed section put him in the wrong spot to go for the pass. He tightened a bit and just preserved his spot.
I actually believe that. He is very confident, he is the fastest guy at evry event, and he believes in himself and his ability to win more races. He made a smart, championship move.
Need more? How about all those crashes JS made last year, when he could have just settled for 3rd, 2nd, or even 1st but not by 20 seconds.
He would have been in the hunt for the title, if not the champion.
So, let go of the individual race crap and recognise that they can lose the title in a weekend, but cannot win it in a weekend.
Jeez, you idiots.
Let's have this discussion after they crown the champ, and then we can play back all the individual weekends and have the what if scenarios.
Go RV!
Would it be possible for a 4 way tie coming into vegas? It won't happen but I am curious if that is even possible.
It's a pretty serious testament to how RV is in everyone's heads (fans too) as the guy to beat when he gets a 3rd and everyone wonders why he didn't catch the leader. Or an article is about the moment (that never happened). He made getting through the pack look so easy that we just expect it now as if it wasn't a ridiculous feat. The top 4 are good, real good. Catching them isn't the same as passing them, as we've seen RV catch Stewart several times now, but not get by. For as "bad" as RV did though, he went in 4 points down and came out 2 points down.
@ Chillimatic
I don't know if it could happen but can you imagine what a brawl that would be?
We would have new 'greatest season ever'
I too think that RV is confident and perhaps that is why he settled for 3rd, but if he loses the championship by 2 points, it will not have been smart at all. I have a hard time believing he would back off if he was riding as good as he did in his heat race. He probably just wasn't feelin' it, and therefore it was the right thing to do.
If you (anyone out there) could get a guaranteed 2nd at every race, but could never win, and for the sake of argument, all of those 2nd places would guarantee a championship, would you take that offer ?
I believe that if a racer completely "let go of all the individual race crap" he would NEVER win a championship. These guys like to win. This is racing, it IS about a race, 17 of them actually.
I agree with B-KR's comment. RV is the man right now, and it is harder to pass than to catch. But RV has shown so much more speed than Reed, it's puzzling as to why he didn't get around him, didn't even seem like he tried very much.
Really everyone needs to understand yes RV killed A1 but yet again we are only in the 4th race there are 13 more races to go. Honestly if you think when Reed,and Bubba were racing with RC people thought o man Stewart is going to kill it but look what happens? Ricky won outlast Reed and Bubba and how RC said win Daytona then you will see who is going to pull off that Champion #1 plate. Just wait all the top 4 riders and feeling eachother out and when you see it you will know who will be the top guy an as Fro and Rob even said that Ryan's Grandpa said " Ryan has that spark of determination when he was on the Lites, he is stronger and is confident then ever." Even Ryno said RV has that riding style to go even faster that what happen to RC 3 perfect seasons meaning 2 that were 24-0 and 1 that was 23-1 but never lost the overall and look at this if you go back to when RC came to the supercross class with MC he wasn't the fastest guy he got top 5's even top 10's an even got a bad hit by Greg Albertyn in the whoops,but booked down and came out to become the G.O.A.T. now look at RV had two bad years in the Supercross and Motocross class but look he got back to the way he was fast lean and ready to show that the kid from WA and from the biggest underdog in lorretta's to now never count out RV really if you don't know what I am talking about find the article of RV and Alessi in the coming into the ranks an then see how he came from nothing to now. I am 24 years but really i been watching racing since i could and even went back and saw old videos of when my dad's use to watch racing even they went to the first ever A1 but really i hate when people think that if one rider wins and that the reigning champ doesn't it's all over no really just wait and see what a champion does.
RV is human like everyone else. He gets his days, but look at how he's motored through the back of the back and you'll know that he will come back swinging and giving everyone a lesson or two about just how fast he really is.
Well said Open _Class........it's a championship and the 4th race in, sitting two points off the top is not so bad. His results haven't been there like everyone expected after A1 but he is consistently the "quickest" on the track for speed and his passing abilities have been unmatched by the others so far. On another note, I'm still impressed by Reed's performances the past two weekends, he's still got it, no excuses.
"remember that as quickly as Reed and Stewart turned the tables back on Villopoto, Villopoto could turn them right back"
Remember that all you stew-licks shooting off at the mouth on these comment boards..... His recent win could only be a fluke for all you know.
couldn't the same be said for RV...he also only has one win?
I watched the 450 main a second time and just focused on RV. He looked just as fast as he did at the Monster cup and A1. He was hauling a$$. I think the other guys have steped up thier game and also figured out thier bikes, especialy the tire combinations. Dungey was on the top 4 pace but the start killed him. A lot of people were ready to give RV the tittle a few weeks ago but I think he just had his bike dialed in earlier than the others.
i too watched that race a second time last night......but i saw when RV was just behind Stewart and Reed he was over jumping alot of the jumps....it really didn't efffect him as far as him losing time but he did seem to be a little out of sync, and that was probably cause its just a little tougher to concentrate when batteling with guys that are almost the same speed as RV was.....
I think RV's riding speaks for itself and the recent poll on this site shows it, I believe he is still favoured among the masses. Anyone who has been paying attention knows he is on his A game but the results just haven't come together and aren't there as expected. I'm trying as hard as I can to not make it sound like an excuse because it is what it is and the results are the results. His performances in every situation (except this last round) have been above the others in my opinion. He needs to put it together before he gets himself in hot water though. And before people go off the handle on me, each of them has won one race and had their night and we can't hand it to anyone yet.
i agree with that Retardcross....RV is "the" fastest out there right now. But its so tough to get consistent good starts. Aslong as he is not getting those first place starts....i think he is going to keep having his issues....i know he has come through the pack in previous races but having to come through all those riders is eventually going to bite him in the aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaassssss!
Actually,
having to come through the pack will bite everyone else in the aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaasssssss!
RV has shown that he can go from last to podium.
whe the rest have the bad starts or get bit on lap one, it will be their abililty to move through the pack that will tell the tale.
I love where RV is at as he has proven speed, proven ability to move through the pack, is fit, and confident. He also has mental toughness as he had to deliver down the stretch last year....and did.
Let's see what happens when the rest are tested?
Well said Open-class! both of your last two post. I don't think most who post have ever chased points. Its good to win, but when your racing for a champion ship 3rd is better than wrecking. Like you said RV gets it. JS not so much. not sure what you meant yesterday when you responded flip side ? to my post above? no argument here just curious.
If there is one rider i do not want to see on the box its JS.
Yes i am a hater! i have my reasons.
But i have to respect his abilities.
@ mo-tarder.........I think he meant that JS is just as likely to string together wins to make up points as he is to have the usual win a moto here and there and crash in the rest.
I say this in a very light-hearted way, but it is now OFFICIAL....some of the RV fans on here are just as annoying, over the top, and down right bias as some of the Stewart fans are. I've been called everything on here the past few years for sure, and i can admit that i have been guilty of some of it (though i'm much improved i think) That is why i feel completely comfortable saying that the RV faithful are showing some of that same character!! It just SEEMS like so much less because to be honest, fewer people call them out about it as they do the Stew-fans!! Read between the lines here and you see the same subtle excuse making and justification statements being applied to RV!! I'll get railed for making this statement, but i don't give a crap because "it's all good"......RV dominates and it gets shoved down throats, he has a few bad weeks and it's all about the wisdom of backing it down and riding for a title, if he had won 3 of the 4 it would be about the fact that he is unstoppable and is pushing for the wins and everyone would tout his animal like approach.........and all of this would be said if it were James too. Everybody changes their story and priorities every week depending on their faves results, some more than others and yes, some not at all.... Just being honest....it's just funny....there is a little hypocrite in all of us i guess. Oh, and "Stew-licks" is a new one i hadn't heard yet!! How about "Villions" (Villopoto minions) or "Stewiacs" (stewart maniacs) .... Ok, friends....have at me!! HAHA
i cannot buy that RV backed it down on a guy that he was a full second faster than during practice (CR) because he is "thinking of the big picture" !.........RV is not wired like that and you know it....he simply ran out of gas...he battled with JS for a good couple of laps then had to go to battle again with Reed........where he almost passed him on the triple only to take a bad line in a berm section a few laps later and he started to slowly let Reed slip away........maybe at that point he decided to mail it in but he gave it all he had when he was trying to pass those two guys ......
@ Verge
you are onto something there..and the Reed Stewart fued was sure to pick up their pace.
as well - please dont crap on me guys, just an ovsevation but Stewart made it look way to easy?
Maybe after Reed (slightly) took RV's line away before the triple RV backed er down (to be fair if you have a wheel ahead it is your line)
thanks Retardcross for clearing that up fur me!
RV made a charge for JS but couldn't get by the first try. IMO he didn't make another push to get into a two way battle and let the leader pull a gap, so he backed off and waited to get bunched up 1-3. Only problem JS went by CR quickly and clean. RV tried to get by CR but couldn't do it in his comfort zone. And from there well RV said the track went away. ? IF RV could of passed CR with in his limits he would of he tried too! RV and CR were tied the only person RV need to beat was CR not JS first place wasn't a concern for RV only if it presents its self you want to be in the position to get it but when your racing for points / champion ship only passing CR mattered. Did he settle for 3rd behind CR? Yes only cause he had no choice, why push it pass his comfort zone with 12 races left for just couple points! RV lost the battle but still keeps it in the game to win the war! I might be playing both sides the fence here? with out trying!
As for running out of gas, from what i see fitness wise RV i dough fitness was the issue. Not trying to argue with you sleestak, i just think RV fitness was not the issue. CR has been known to be really hard to pass, and a little dirty when it comes time to pass back. not that RV was playing it safe, he just couldn't pass him the way he wanted. He settled.
@whatever
I feel you may be right - that is simple humanity man - Stick up for your Family, team favorite athlete...
Shoot how hamy times have you seen a mother make excuses for a brat kid...always some other factor other than whatt it is...
and BTW not a fan of any one of this dudes...the last guy i really rooted for was henry - i'm not that old tho!!
@ whatever....
I totally agree, if you don't like whom ever? it doesn't mean your guy is God!
These guys are all so talented and i am soooooooooooooo glade its no longer a one man show! like it used to be for sooooooo many years..... hate em or not, its a great time to be a moto fan!
ok damn...hate when i agree....ok that makes alot of sense that he didnt really need to get into a war and push his limits since he was already attempted to pass a few times. I dont think RV is out of shape he's proven he can go 20. But its a different story after you have gone all out to try and get by two different guys and getting roost and taking different lines to stay out of the roost but anyway i can see your point...but i just dont think RV is wired like that, but i might not be giving him enough credit for riding smart ........!
Good call on HENRY !......he's one of a kind, and the sport would be lucky to get another Doug Henry....always has nice things to say about other riders and is super fan friendly.........!
@ sleekstak - I hear you! your right too, i have to admit. It couldn't of made things easy to try and make a pass and not have it work out! after 12 laps of that, i can see how it can take alot of the wind out of your sails no matter who you are.
RV and JS speed wise IMO are equal, when it comes time to be smart RV is superior. To bad JS can't learn this, maybe he is getting now! He rode smart last week and he was fast.
Dungey was smooth and fast enough that with a Top 4 start, I think he would have won or at least gave them a ride. Like Phoenix, if Dungey got the holeshot he would have won this night. I'm glad we have another winner and potential title winner. Hopefully a 4 way battle through all 17...