Racer X ReduX: San Diego
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 | 6:05 PM
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PrintThe 2005 AMA Supercross season was supposed to be an epic one, but the hype quickly fizzled. James Stewart’s debut in the 250 class ended with a practice crash and a broken arm in Phoenix. And the Ricky Carmichael/Chad Reed rematch, last seen in 2003 when Reed dropped six-straight wins while Carmichael snared the number-one plate, wasn’t living up to expectations. Reed’s front brake locked up in the Anaheim 1 mudder, leaving him with a 16th place finish. Worse yet, at the next few races, he proved unable to match Carmichael’s pace. Coming into San Diego, Carmichael had hung up five-straight wins and already held a massive points lead.
And the San Diego event reeled off like the previous five rounds, with RC building a lead and Reed trying in vein to match him. They were both flying! Reed was riding the wheels off of his YZ250, but Carmichael was going every bit as fast, if not faster, on his RM250. Reed hung tough, staying close enough to capitalize if something went wrong. Reed needed to make up some ground, but he had two things on his side: the whoops and lapped traffic.
A lot of lapped traffic. As the duo pushed each other harder and harder, faster and faster, and they lapped further and further up the field. Finally, they started lapping really fast guys. They went past fifth-place Kevin Windham, and fourth-place David Vuillemin before closing on third-place Mike LaRocco. They were on the verge of lapping everyone!
They were also lapping slower riders two or even three times, and Carmichael got jacked enough for Reed to close in. With the white flag out, Carmichael left the door open, Reed jammed to the inside, stole the lead and jetted off to the win. They had also lapped all but one rider on the track. [Watch the full race below.]
The San Diego win didn’t launch Reed into a heroic win streak or an epic championship comeback. The next weekend, RC responded by passing him twice to take the win in Atlanta.
But the San Diego win did help Reed escape with his rep intact. At least, after that race, everyone knew he was giving it his all. In a normal year, when one rider finds another gear and reels off a bunch of wins, criticism is heaped on everyone else. They don’t want it bad enough. They don’t train hard enough. On it goes.
This was worse during the RC era, because Carmichael hung his hat on fitness and work ethic. If you couldn’t beat him, you were deemed to not be working hard enough (even though this ignored the fact that Carmichael also came equipped with plenty of natural-born speed that no amount of training could teach. You don’t dominate the 80cc classes on fitness alone).
Back in those days, a rider couldn’t say 10 words without two of them being “hard work.” Everyone just kept marching out the hard work thing, because Carmichael put his competitors in constant defense of their training.
Carmichael won the 2005 SX crown and then went on to dominate outdoors, like he always did. But Reed fought valiantly enough to avoid the “if he would only work harder” tag. Instead, we all saw the season for what it was: Reed rode awesome, but so did the other guy. The next year, Stewart got into the big bike game for real, and pushed Carmichael to another level. Reed won scarcely, but it wasn’t from lack of trying.
Reed matched Villopoto step for step in San Diego, but came up just short in the end.
Photo: Garth Milan
Saturday night’s thriller in San Diego unfolded much like the 2005 race. Villopoto held the series’ lead through the early going of the season, and held the lead in the race. But Reed had his San Diego magic going—he stayed close, using, again, the whoops and lapped traffic to make a move. It was eery: I remember well announcing the ’05 race on the old Supercross Live! Webcast as my co-host Jim Holley screamed, “Reed put RC up in the corner!” And as Reed grabbed the lead amidst traffic and big whoops this time, it was like Déjà vu—until Villopoto responded with a stunning combination of aggressive yet clean riding to get the lead back.
After that race, one guy had won and one guy had lost, but no one could claim both didn’t try as hard as they could. Villopoto is a darned machine, as cold-blooded of an on-track killer as they come. He has the ability to make everyone look lazy, except we know that even the riders he beats are trying their hardest.
I think it’s permeating the sport right now. Yeah, there are probably a few riders out there giving it less than their all, but on the whole, the top ranks seemed filled with riders pushing their limits. Lazyness? It’s not in season. We know Villopoto and Reed are pushing it, and third-place Ryan Dungey is certainly no slacker. James Stewart had another bad result, but I don’t think he’s sitting on the couch all week in Florida eating ice cream and drinking beer. Something seems to be off there, but I can’t imagine lazyness is the reason.
Villopoto captured his third win of the season in San Diego.
Photo: Garth Milan
Brett Metcalfe finished fourth on Saturday, and we know he leaves no stone unturned in the battle to be better. Heck, Josh Hansen has been a revelation on heart and grit compared to his checkered past. Davi Millsaps is a leaner, meaner machine this year. And do you think the likes of Brayton, Short, Windham, Weimer, Wey, or Chisholm are leaving anything on the table? Heck, Weimer employs the same trainer and rides for the same team as Villopoto.
Back in the Lites West ranks, we all know Eli Tomac runs a bulletproof program. His American bad-ass dad is the general (or The General), with training in Ryan Hughes’ gym and riding touchups from Buddy Antunez. One big crash in the whoops may have changed the complexion of this championship, but not because Eli didn’t want it badly enough. We all know Dean Wilson’s program works, as proven by winning a grueling outdoor championship. Cole Seely has risen through the ranks like few others. These guys are doing all they can to be the best they can.
Back in the days of 2005, the cash was flowing through the pits. Some riders tried hard and succeeded, others tried less hard and had less success, but a whole bunch of them made money, regardless. You saw a real diving line between the workers and the slackers, because the comfort of next year’s paycheck made for a soft landing from harsh results.
We wondered a few years ago what would happen as the money was drying up. Would you see more riders fighting harder for their paychecks? I think the proof is in the racing.
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In vein ==> in vain
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And that's based on only a quick skim. Am I a d**k? No, when I was racing, writers for Cycle World, Cycle News, etc. could actually *write*.
Jason Weigandt, even with errors, still way better than Erin Bates.
Cool article. That video from 05' was epic
What a great video, that was fun. Reed making passes in the whoops again. And the announcers were way better.. My youngest son came in and was watching and said "I like these announcers better" It was hilarious. Mcgrath running great at 34 years old too. Awesome. Reed and the GOAT lapping all the way to 3rd, over some very fast guys too.
Great writing Jason. Thanks for using a history lesson to help remind people that Reed gave the GOAT a run for his money in SX & MX for a number of years. Ricky may have prevailed, but Reed earned Ricky's respect as a formidable opponent.
Too bad there are many that post on this site that forget or don't realize that, claiming that Reed's championships weren't earned against worthy opponents. If Ricky respects Reed as a rider and competitor, that's good enough for me.
Jason - who has more SX wins against Ricky? Reed or Stewart?
Wow, that was a cool video. Couple of observations:
-In race helmet cam = awesome
-The 2-strokes screamed a lot more than I remembered
-With modern 4-strokes we don't ever see that many top riders messing up rhythm lanes and triples
-Those announcers put Ralph to shame. But no matter how much we complain, Ralph isn't going anywhere.
- It also makes me appreciate SPEED HD more
@codjh9
You're a douchebag. "When I was racing"? Nobody cares about when you were racing or what you read scrub.
By the way, great article Weege.
Go bak n sta with sikel wurld den eyenstine
JimM
Pala374
Thanks for the classic footage, Weege. I agree, the in-race helmet cam was cool. With GoPro today, why is something like this not possible? We have to wait days sometimes, literally, for the footage from Stewie and the rest.
Also have to point out Reed's interview at the end. "From head to toe, you can see all my sponsors." No robotic dribble like we hear today for the most part. Thanked a few people personally, and was genuine everywhere else.
Had to be frustrating, not only for Reed, but anyone else who ever raced RC. Wins were hard to come by, so it's cool to see some emotion when a guy took RC down, even for one night.
I'll admit I'm a Reed fan, and wanted to see him win Saturday night, but have nothing against the other guys at all. Villo is a monster, straight up, and like Reed said, wanted the win more.
Can't wait until next weekend.
What a great race! We thought the whoops were bad last week, those things were huge. Dirtwurx should take some advice from the old tracks, so many passing opportunity's. That rhythm lane where RC and Reed would land on the last table then off was unreal!
I miss Supercross Live! The twitter thing is so lame in comparision. At least Weege and Hollys' voices could keep up with the action! Emigs' good but he stumbles and stutters alot, sometimes the riders have gone around a corner and the sentences are still in his mouth about what they did two turns ago!.
Now that pass by Reed on RC in 2005 was a little shady. RC did leave the door wide open and Chad made sure he had no chance of coming out ahead. Yet not a word about it from RC. I just hope the racing continues clean and agressive this year, please no "rubbin is racin" crap. Rubbin is rubbin, crashin is crashin, RACING is racing.
@Misoheye - you might be on to something. Hepler is another good example of your theory.
Since baseline testing by the Asterisk Mobile Medical unit was this year, we don't know what Stewart's baseline was 4-5 years ago before all his crashes over the past several years.
Nice work Weege! Come to expect this from you now....deal with the pressure. Too funny to hear the Rock thank Napster....wth?
After watching that I want to dig out the old VCR tapes and watch some more.
That race was a good comparison to sat. night,except for the crash and no re-pass.
codjh9 your an idiot!
Is it just nostalgia or does the racing seem more explosive and closer on two strokes? The track seemed tighter, rougher and with more options too. I loved how RC and CR were jumping onto that table top from pretty far back.
They sounded like 125s compared to what we hear now... Windham still racing. Burner too. Nice... let's have more great races posted.
Codjh9, yeah you are a d#ck!
Obviously something is going on in the stewart camp. Everyone is tight liped but you cant hide something for too long. If JS isnt nursing injury,something is wrong with the bike and clearly in the heat race the bike was sliding all over. Dump the pirellis or the bike all together. Suzuki still has a spot open. I will be surprised if JS7 ends up his season at JGR
Great race and a reminder of what the 250 racing used to look like. Thanks for the replay. Reed must have the record for most second place finishes. Got to give the man credit for staying determined to win. RC always made adjustments and shut down anyone who got the idea they could beat him. That is why he is the GOAT.
2005-Great announcing- Great podium speeches- Great racing!
Thanks Weege for more bench-racing material to throw at my moto friends. They think I'm a moto genius but it's really you. ha! ha!
Love the RC post race interview when he says no excuses... just got beat.
why does everyone keep blaming the bike of Stewart? Set up maybe.. but don't knock the bike. All the other riders on that bike seem to make it around the track just fine. That's just a built in excuse if you ask me. The real reason for Stewart sucking is because he got complacent. He took 2 years off because he thought he was that much better than everyone else. He belived his own hype, which is the worst thing any person can do. Now he's paying for it. The competition caught him, then when they realized they could beat him, it was all over. Motocross is extremely mental. and now the people like RV and CR believe they can beat him, no more praying for a wreck or something to level playing field. Stewart can only blame himself. Not the bike, not his dad, not his sponsor, not Larry Brooks.
@dc99 yes the competition has caught up , but only a couple of guys , the rest are just riding around at the big show , I dont think saying it is all over for him , makes sense at all , did he just not win one , is it over for dungey , and all of the other back markers , maybe just Reed and RV should just race , wont that be fun ... Stewart is one of the most talented riders of all time , he is and was what most of the other riders aspire to be like , A Champion
@dc99, they are blaming the bike because they cant stand the fact that he isnt winning, and is in 4th place again like last year. It isnt the Yamaha. Stewart rode EVERY brand of bike last summer, had offers from everyone except Kawi, (he still rode a few Kawis) and signed to ride the Yamaha. He said himself that it gave him the best chance to win. That is what Stewart said. Click the link I put up on 450 WORDS and read the interview with ESPN and see for yourself. If he had problems with the Yamaha, he would have signed elsewhere. Read the interview or quit acting like you know what your talking about..
@dc99......Well said. JS isn't dealing with this reality check he's got from the competition the past couple years too well. I almost feel bad for him, getting thrown to the ground off your high horse after having natural talent carry you through most of your career is pretty humbling. While he has been in the spotlight flaunting everything he has, all the new young guns have been doing nothing but busting their balls with trainers and racing every event year round. He's been de-throned by harder working kids who are 110% committed to racing and racing only.
@ Red44.......It's no use, the information is out there, they will just never choose to believe or accept it. Million dollar talent but he can't control it.
@ Preston............Actually I'd say everyone wants to be RV right about now. Why would someone aspire to ride over their head, crash a lot and get 4th overall?
Misoheye I think your onto something. When I was coaching youth Hockey, Part of the licensing process is a 4hour class on head injury's and detecting them onsite. It was well worth it when I was actually was able to detect and sit a player and get his parents to brind him to the Doc. He sat out for 3 weeks.
Lets not forget last year at Daytona Stewart got back on the bike after that crash.
That shouldn't have happened!
Great article loved the history lesson. I remember that race I was on the edge of seat the whole second half of the race.
I don't think anyone wants to be a human lawn dart. Stewart a champion? Not anymore.
Reed said it himself on twitter. Stewart and the bike do not mesh. He called out Vuilleman in the process. I think its multiple things but mainly the tires. Pirelli has a great back round but overseas. The dirt here vs. there is way different. They will get it dialed just taking a little time. I agree to a certain extent about head injuries but Stewart’s concussions were minor. Pastrana's were all serious. It’s only a matter of time before things get dialed. I wish it wasn't such a sin for them to not talk about what they are having issues with. At least state they are developing and things are improving each week. Watching last year’s Supercross races looks like Stewart was able to push it a lot more. You can’t push it when you’re riding around on a slick surface with no grip.
You know it sucks...Its seems like Reed always falls in the second place shadow of someone else! First it was RC, then Stewart came along, kinda bumped him back to 3rd, then RC retired, Reed was back up to second place shadow. Now RV is in, Stewart has kinda fallen off the wagon, and Reed still sits in second!
Wow- Tortelli just missed hitting Carmichael in those whoops- That could have been real ugly. Reed was sure hauling butt.
@Red44... ? i was basically saying the same thing you're saying.. That it is not the bike and if he hated that bike so bad he never would have gone back on one. So i didn't get the last part of your post about not knowing what i'm talking about. If i misunderstood that part i apologize. And i never said it was over for him, i'm not stupid, i know he hsa amazing talent. he always has. maybe that's the problem. He's always rode away rode away from everyone and anytime someone did match his speed he either crashes or gets hurt. That's part of the problem with never being tested, you don't know how to react when you are matched in talent. I haven't closed the book on him by any means. But he needs to fix his S*** quick, because RV isn't slowing down anytime soon.
Why are guys harshing on codjh9??? God forbid we expect professional writers to know English and how to spell. The dumification of America!
would that "dumbification"? or do we drop the "b" for some reason? Just wondering.
dc99 LMAO!!!
@retardcross .... I said they all aspire to be like JS a champion , which he is ... did the season end , and I missed it , You guys are acting like its all over .... Lots more racing left , and anything can and will happen ....ask canard ....
Funny, I dont see RV or Dungey or any other competitors (that race) tweeting about JS7 and his bike issues or lack there of....I doubt they even waste their time on the subject except out on the track when they need too...but not Reed....he has to be involved with everything that is JS7....he even needs to let people know when the JGR folks are having issues during bike inspection....I dont get his actions sometimes....does he have to be involved with everything?
dc99 - good catch - that's just one reason I'm not a professional journalist.
Of course, "would that "dumbification"? " is not exactly what we would call a sentence here in the Western Hemisphere.
KilloMoto: The answer is yes, he HAS to be involved in everything.
Oh, P.S.: Dungey is going to start crushing them all!!!
Is it me or was the tracks back in 03-04-05- way better than today? in my opinion anyways.
Secondly why do the majority of posts have to develop int a "its over for Stewart", "whats wrong with Stewart" he said she said you fans suck these fans suck etc.
This story was drawing Comparisons to Reed v Rc and Reed v RV and look where it went.
Christ it gets old. Get over your egos people. You guys aren't even racing on the big stsge and probably have little to no real involvement so most things said here in regards to the above is pure speculation. Just sit down and enjoy the ride, which to me at this point in the season isn't quite as good as last but still making out too be a good year.
I really miss Canard being out there.
Please feel free to bash as you do best.
@dc99--Sorry man, I should have split my paragraph, that part wasnt geared toward you, the guys who wont read and study all the info are the ones who that was geared towards..
@Dino--The tracks seemed better, but those tracks wouldnt work out so well today because the big 450's would jump over about every obstacle on the tracks them. They get soi much traction and develope so much power so quickly they have had to try and change the tracks to make some of the stuff more challenging. It looks cool to see the old vids. but the modern 450's would turn almost every rythm section from them into quads, and make short work of them..
Great article Jason! I'm not a hater nor do I pull for Reed but I've said (and posted) many times that CR22 gave RC4 a battle every year and that was due, for the most part, to being better in the whoops than the GOAT. I LOVED RC4 and it still hurts to admit it but it was simply a fact. If you've followed the sport (unless you just started in the last 3 or 4 years) this should be no surprise. I think Reed may be the best ever in the whoops. I know that will make JS7 fans mad but Reed does it without almost killing himself every few weeks. RV should learn from RC by racing Reed hard and stay clean!!-just ask JS7 what it's like to make Reed an enemy... RC4 truly did and still does respect CR but man when it came to outdoors, Ricky was in his own world and Reed was back with the pack.
Great race, I really enjoyed watching it . I was also real impressed with the show of sportmanship at the end. Reed waited for RC to finish so they could congradulate each other on a good race. I've been a little disapointed with RV after a win, he just shoots straight of the track. Guess thats just the way he does it.
Fun flashback, that track allowed for passing!