Ask Ping!
Friday, February 17, 2012 | 9:20 AM
ODI dates back to the 1980’s as the leader in grip manufacturing. Focusing primarily on the bmx and mountain bike industries through the 90’s and early 2000’s, ODI re-entered the motocross scene when they developed the patented lock-on grip system that eliminates wire and glue. Continuing to advance the way riders hold on to their bikes, ODI has worked closely with the teams they support such as Troy Lee Designs to create the product that is now being used by some of the top teams in the industry.
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PrintDear Ping,
After watching the Lites Main from San Diego I was shocked by Tomac's crash and subsequent finish after he looked so dominant in the earlier rounds. In order to see how other race fans felt about the event I began reading "The Conversation" under the various race reports. Apparently one in three knew before the race Tomac would crash and others commented on his stupidity for “racing too hard.” Initially it seemed odd to me that Tomac could start rolling whoops with four rounds left in the series, but after reading more comments it started to make more sense. Shortly after reading these posts I found myself browsing the classifieds for a used quad, thinking "Get Your Ride On" is actually kind of a catchy tune and feeling upset that I had not recorded Jersey Shore. Do you think there could be a correlation between my erratic behavior and the comments made by some of Racer X's more enlightened readers?
Justin
This is just a shame. You are suffering from a serious illness that is becoming more common since the ‘comments’ section below articles have become popular. You’ve actually become less intelligent by reading those idiotic rants. They were meant to promote conversation among fans but they have spawned a ration of armchair quarterbacks who think Eli is an idiot for riding so hard and send Canard hate mail on Twitter because he tweets Bible scriptures. I wonder how bad it’s gotten for you? Are you wearing an Affliction tee shirt? Do you have a strange urge to get a neck tattoo? Have you penned a definitive synopsis on why James Stewart is crashing so much and posted it on every message board in the moto world? If so, you are in late stages of the disease. Kenny Watson would tell you to go hang yourself. While that is 100% effective I believe that might be a slightly drastic measure. Maybe just step away from the computer for a minute and have a nap or something. And, for the love of God, put the classifieds down.
PING
Dear Ping,
I had once thought that the Europeans were the very best at putting together ugly motocross bikes but now there’s someone else who wants that title – the MotoConcepts team. I don't even know what an "MCR 450" is but I do know that it is the worst combination of black, white, yellow and red my eyes have ever been unfortunate enough to see.
And at San Diego Alessi was wearing blue and yellow gear on this color-disabled bike. Ugh. It made me sick to see him as he got lapped and held up a serious battle for the lead.
What do you think?
Thanks,
Paul Nash
Lots of different colors in there
I’m a big fan of simple, clean colors and designs. So, as you can imagine, I’m not a superfan of the MCR bikes either. I don’t know if it’s the black, red, yellow and white goulash of colors adorning the bike or the rims that don’t match and can only be described as the color of your urine after completing the Ironman triathlon in Hawaii. Still, I’m glad that MotoConcepts is racing. The owner is obviously passionate about the sport and he is creating jobs for riders who would otherwise be riding out of their trucks or following the national arenacross series. Now if he would just create a job for a quality designer who could help his color scheme out he would be set.
Personally, I think the JT gear looks good. But I’m a JT guy from way back and a big fan of nostalgia.
PING
Hi Mr. Pingree,
Ever since the ask Ping of 5/13/11, all I can think about is Ralph Sheheen saying, “That’s right, bishes”. For some reason that just makes me laugh every time I think about it. Anyways, on your last edition of ask ping someone asked about what could possibly make the SX tracks safer. I have always thought SX tracks could remain just as exciting, but become much more safe just by making some of the landers more round. I notice that a lot of jumps that are nothing more than landers are just as peaky as the launchers. Take for example the insanely stupid triple into a corner where Villopoto broke his leg last year. That injury would have never happened if the lander were not shaped like an equilateral triangle. In my opinion, the only thing a peaked lander does is guarantee an injury to any rider who comes up a little short. Why doesn’t anyone see peaked up landers as unnecessarily dangerous?
You’re the MAN Ping!
Your imaginary friend
Hey, it's the landing of a triple!
The track crew does a good job of trying to make relatively safe tracks. The fact that you are racing motorcycles around a jump-filled circuit with 19 other guys makes that an inherently difficult task. There are triples that could stand to have some extra dirt mounded up on the front side of them. I’ll agree with that. But the jump RV got hurt on wasn’t a standard triple, it was an obstacle that they didn’t expect riders to triple, and very few injuries actually happen on the basic triple jump anymore. The guys getting hurt on those are the three digit guys in the C practice. Not that their safety is less important but filling in the gap between the jumps would make the leaps seem much less impressive and that’s what fans are paying to see. They don’t care if it’s safe. They paid good money to see the guys in the bright costumes fly through the air and occasionally flip end-over-end in dramatic fashion. “Woooo hoooo, get me another hot dog and a cold drink, I don’t want to miss a good crash!”
That may seem insensitive but I was hungry and a hot dog sounded good. Don’t judge me.
Seriously, Feld doesn’t want the stars of their show going out with injuries so they are always looking to make things safer, within reason. Now, about this unilateral triangle…
PING
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Good stuff as always, I agree about the ugly bikes, but hey, somebody must like it. Its just one guy opinion. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Not today Ping...
I guess you didnt recieve stupid enough questions to destroy with your weird sense of humor this time.
Maybe next time.
Good responses to all Ping! I enjoyed reading these while snacking off my fresh wheel of cheese. ON WISCONSIN
Perhaps the MotoConcepts guys are color blind ! That would explain it !
Great reply to Justin David...
Perhaps some of these "Arm Chair QB's" can now realize how stupid they sound turning every other post into a synopsis of JS's season thus far.
Well done.
Have people actually sent hate mail to Trey because of his religious belifs? IMO that is ridiculous but they have (unfortunately) every right to do that. The first amendment to the constitution guarantees that.
Obama is working to remdy that don't worry - 2nd , 4th, 5th 10th as well.
Just re read my post and I want to make something clear in case it is lost in translation. I feel a person has the right to say what they want. It is just unfortunate when that speech is based on hate or ignorance.
I felt someone was about to call be a liberal/socialist - so putting the fire out before it starts...
"It made me sick to see him as he got lapped and held up a serious battle for the lead.
What do you think"?
I see you didn't answer this part of the question Ping, any comments? or do you not want to be an E-Thug?
I know there's a lot of talk about making the whoops hard enough to separate the men from the boys, but it is pretty sad when a small mistake can ruin the entire night (and maybe the series). Windham, Steward, Tomac, all had trouble so it isn't just the rookies.
@dinosaurmedia- the ironic part of Canard's tweets is that you have to follow him. Unfollow and no more bible stuff- I guess that's too easy... or hard for some people.
Love your articles, Ping. Keep up the good work.
I agree with you about the clean, simple colors of bikes and gear. Some gear looks like the rider just tumbled out an Easter egg dying machine. I think my favorite is Chad Reeds setup. Classy bike, classy gear.
Now another question for you or your readers regarding Reed. Where can we buy his book "My Way". I thought it was coming out last fall but haven't been able to find it.
@ JAKE511
Could not have put it better myself.
Ping, I was wondering why you would not agree with Mr.Imaginary.I do not see how rounding the landings would hurt racing and would also help with injuries.I was in total agreement with you and Mathes about the whoops...they help separate the riders and even if they crash ..it is slow speed with little chance of injury. If I was building these tracks I would put a section of big un evenley spaced whoops , a Wall or camel back then a small set of whoops to finish the section.I was amazed that so many had problems with the whoops but then I remembered that they have not had to deal with them because the track builders had not been putting them in.
Its funny I don't spend much time thinking about color combo's on bikes or riders. Why do so many care about it? I like to watch the races and could care less if all the bikes were the same color.
Speaking of colors Ping how come you never have a Pic of yourself on a Kawasaki or a Yamaha in this segment??
I have to agree on the mcr bikes! In my opinion, those bikes are probably the ugliest professional mx bike I have ever seen. Thats just my opinion, But the only bike I have ever seen debuted that was uglier was Rick Mellons "Winner take all "bike.
@BillC... I am pretty sure that is the first ever comment I have read from you that I do not 100% disagree with you on (must be Ping's answer on the "comments" section). I could care less about the color of the bikes, just give me a good 20 lap race, and I am a happy camper.
Laughing...a certain cold drink and hotdog crowd may not notice sedately tamed landings. I hope this group is smaller than thought but 3' rollers stacked on the downside would bring em' out in force.
An official, running interference for the leaders "sending it to them" if they fail to yield...kinda like a sweep but more proactive.
About the nicest things said about my riding are related moving clear for faster...usually women B!
Ping!! - to some of these guys I would say PICK THE CLASSIFIEDS UP - especially the employment section.
And off the topic.Kinda News story--- The Dallas Morning News had an article about the supercros and Winham. What surprized me was in the article it called the Supercroser's "Athalete's" that is the first time I have saw that in a newspaper at least here. Just thought I would mention it-Now back to the regualy scheduled program-Ask Ping.
I agree, the Motoconcepts bikes look like puke. I try not to look at the bike when they slowly pass by.
See dont any of you notice why the "MCR 450" has the uglyest graffics? Because it makes them get noticed. See it made it on here so therefore the MotoConcept guys thinks thier graphics guy is a genious?
@ dinasourmedia I agrree with what you are saying only I dont have enough respect to call him nothing but bama
For God and Country,
and the Constuition of the USA
and the right to bear arm's- the 2nd amendment.
And now pizzacorner proves that he is still the uninformed idiot he is. And has way too much hate in his life. What a sad sad life he has in his perents basemant..
I believe what I write next is PC correct , doesn't offend anyone , makes every super-sensitive commenter happy and contains only completely boring (you know who you are ) comments with absolutely no emotions or originality or heaven forbid that nasty name calling. here goes..........
comment on the whoops last week. If youve never ridin on a stadium course, w/ a gnarley set of whoops, dont judge. They look real easy from the stands or on tv, but once ya take your 1st lap thru them ya soon find out how deep and fkn impossible they are! lol, I'll never forget pontiac whoops 1st and only ride inside no thank you.
Why comment at all, just leave the the page blank! Nah, that wouldn't be any fun, besides how would get our daily entertainment. Alessi only rides an ugly bike because he is in dire need for attention.
@Red44- I agree!
@pizziacorner yer an idiot...........yo czmark ;)
@farscape40 ...take any factory 450 get a good run at the corner ,exit and pin the the throttle in 3rd or 4th if you like and run those slow not to dangerous to crash in whoops ....when you wake up tell me how it was.....
BillC,
While I may not spend much time thinking about the color scemes that do not work, I REALLY like the the factory Kawi and have to say the HH Kawi's look gooooood.
You really do not have an opinion on how the bikes look? Really? I think you do :-)
The color black, should be banned from ALL A.M.A. events, except team hodaka.?
@misoheye ... I agree leave Politics , and Religion out , And how about getting up a petition ,to get rid of that song that Bret Michaels forces us to listen to before each race .. Makes it look like we are getting ready for some Monster Trucks ... Yamaha is working on a new motor location , for the yzf450 GYROSCOPE , man did they mess up ,!
Last thought to pizziacorner,...If ya disrespect someone in their own house, expect to get your mouth slapped,....we'll see.......
@ joemotocross589 Yes you are correct The only time I did was at the 88 GNC race the day after in the over 30 class and they were tough. I tried to blitz them and that was a big boo boo! I also think we got a whole 3 or 4 laps of practice.
Now I could tell you about the first double jump we had in76. they were made to slow us down then about 7 of us started jumping them. Promoter could not belive we did it?
@Welker- I remember my first double jump, up hill at Saddleback. It destroyed my rear hub on my old YZ.
@joemotocross589- very well said!
@Preston-where do I sign? I agree, the song is lame.
Is a unilateral triangle related to an equilateral triangle? Or was the some underground reference to the trilateral commission?
Js7 may be riding 2013 yzf450 with a new frame for the nationals , just heard that today ... good source!
The Facotry Kawis doo look pretty sweet. But I must say, the KTM Dungey is riding is awful seet as well. I love the looks of that ride.
@BillC,Ping was on a Yamaha in last weeks picture.You are right though he is ussually on a Honda and lately a Suzuki,it probably comes down to what is free.Can't blame him.
Open_Class... I do but Not strong enough to right a letter about it of even post on here. This I think might be the first time I ever had. Sure I have my fav but if I don't like another one I just move on I don't write about it. But now that you asked I do Like the Kaw's and the KTM's. and well I guess there are a lot that look good just never thought about it a lot.
Preston the motor relocating kits for the 450 YZF was good info.Makes the 2013 frame believeable.
VISTAJIM I missed it last week thanks Now we need a Ping Kaw shot and a KTM then put him on a Husky!!...a TM the list goes on
BillC,What about the Tornado? He never rides it anymore.I guess since it was a works bike he had to give it back.
Hey Dave, i actually think it is interesting to hear opinions about Stewarts crashing escapades. It makes for entertaining reading, much like your column. In fact, your former Pro Circuit teammate #141 and I have 1$ bets everyweekend while we are golfing as to what JS is going to do next and why. So I would be curious as to hearing your opinion why JS is struggling so much. Aside the fact that my golf partner is annoying me since he jumped ship on the 08 Honda, and has some kind of strange man-crush on the 2012 Kawi...I would up the ante to 2$ that Enzo could solve at least half of JS`s problems. Great columns from you as always...
I just read the other comments and I agree with you guys that Alessi has an ugly bike/gear color combo! I think Justin Brayton had the sweetest setup a few weeks ago with yellow and red. RV has cool colors.. and I loved Canards purple gear last year. Sometimes simpler is better