10 Things to Watch: St. Louis
Friday, March 2, 2012 | 12:00 PM
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PrintBy: Aaron Hansel and Chase Stallo
Held Back
Last year it was frequent crashes that held Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen back. This year, other factors are holding him back, literally. Last week, Roczen charged to a sixth place finish after starting in dead last when he got stuck in the gate in Atlanta. Roczen is coming also coming off of a broken arm, and will no doubt improve each and every week. Could St. Louis be the race in which Roczen takes his first win of the season?
Delayed Debut
Kyle Peters was originally scheduled to make his professional supercross debut in Dallas, until a separated collarbone sidelined him for a few weeks. Now, the rookie is back in action and is slated to race in St. Louis. While it’s doubtful that Peters will make a big splash in the results so soon after an injury, it’s going to be interesting to see where he fits in tomorrow night.
Bouncing Back
In Dallas, Cole Thompson took ninth place in his first supercross race ever, then failed to qualify in Atlanta just one week later. Thompson has already showed that he’s got the speed to run with the pros, now he just needs to show that he can do it consistently. Will Thompson be forced to watch the main event from the stands again tomorrow night, or will he bring the same speed he had two weeks ago?
Can Cunningham rebound from a tough beginning to 2012 with a podium in St. Louis?
Photo: Simon Cudby
Third Time’s a Charm
Kyle Cunningham has had a rough beginning to his season. He went down hard and DNF’d the Eastern Regional SX Lites opener in Dallas, and was racing with a sore wrist last week in Atlanta. Now that he’s had some time to recover, look for Cunningham to be back on the move tomorrow night in St. Louis.
King of the Arena
On the heels of his second straight Arenacross title last week in Minneapolis, Tyler Bowers will make his 2012 SX debut in St. Louis. Bowers contested the final three rounds of the Supercross class last season with his a seasons best coming at the series finale in Las Vegas. With the Arenacross class making the switch back to the 250F for the 2011-12 season, Bowers will drop down to the Lites class for the first time since riding for the now defunct Yamaha of Troy team in 2008.
Marvin Lands in St. Louis
The often criticized 350 was thought to be an afterthought in 2012 with the arrival of Ryan Dungey to factory KTM. But with the Supercross class debut of Marvin Musquin on the horizon, the 350 makes its return. Musquin is the latest in line of West Region Lites riders to make the jump to the Supercross class on the East Coast, following in the footsteps of Cole Seely, Nico Izzi, Billy Laninovich and Gavin Faith. Leaving the comfy confines of the Lites class for the dog eat dog world of the SX class will be challenging, but can Musquin find a way to dig deep and grab a spot inside the top ten?
Musquin makes his Supercross class debut this weekend in St. Louis.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Canada Streaking
Last season MotoConcepts’ Jake Canada made the top ten once in the West Region Lites class. Through two rounds in 2012, he has two top tens. After bursting onto the scene outdoors last year with a ninth at Thunder Valley, Canada was quickly snatched up by MotoConcepts, replacing the departed Christophe Pourcel, and he has yet to relinquish his spot on the team. Canada has looked strong through the first two rounds, but will he be able to keep his top ten streak alive in St. Louis?
Spirit of St. Louis
When Blake Wharton left GEICO Honda to sign with Rockstar Energy Suzuki this off-season he was expected to bring a ray of hope back to a team that was left in the dark in 2011. Through two rounds Wharton has met those expectations. Wharton led at the opening round in Dallas before colliding with Darryn Durham and eventually charging back to a fifth. Hot-lanta brought a different set of circumstances as the Texas native looked to have a podium spot locked up before costly mistakes late in the race allowed a charging Justin Bogle to secure third. But St. Louis has been kind to Wharton in the past. He picked up his first career win as a rookie in 2008 in St. Louis. Will the Spirit of St. Louis bring more luck to Wharton this weekend in the form of his first podium of 2012?
Failure to Launch
While James Stewart has battled several issues this season, his lackluster starts have been one of his biggest problems. Stewart has yet to holeshot a main even this year and has only led eleven laps, all of which were recorded in Oakland. Many believe Stewart and his new JGR Yamaha/Pirelli tires setup will be more comfortable on tackier dirt (closer to where Stewart tested at his Florida home), but he needs to start up front to show it. Will Stewart overcome his starting woes this weekend, or will he once again find himself buried in the pack when he comes into the first turn in St. Louis?
Championship Chase
When Ryan Dungey crossed the checkered flag in Phoenix erasing years of stagnation for KTM most thought it to be the tipping point for KTM and Dungey. But the following rounds provided a different storyline as Dungey struggled with starts and a case of the whoops in San Diego. Just when many thought the KTM/Dungey fairytale was over, he answered the bell in Atlanta—proving he is still very much alive in the championship race. But the whoop section in Atlanta was tame—can Dungey get it done through a tough section? Ryan Villopoto is determined to make sure that doesn't happen, as he was none-too-happy about seeing his win streak snapped in Atlanta. Look for another big showdown between the Ryans on Saturday night.
Villopoto leads the championship chase, but Dungey is hot on his tailpipe.
Photo: Simon Cudby
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No Way! - HOLESHOT!
BTW - Dungey is going to crush them!
darn it heinz
ur rite about rd5
i thought i had a hole shot!
KTM has put the money into this series.
JS is overdue.
RV can crush all of it.
I am slow on the keyboard.
its cuz your stoned
I think we will see a crazy run up front between JS and RV. Seems like JS has gone from constantly overrated to underated, The man can still ride and well !!
GO RV!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey jgbvr, thanks for fixing the problem. lol
all my money is on Cole S- local bro.
the 11th thing to watch for...JSloans disappearing act if RV wins!! LOL
"case of the whoops" - LOL!
12th thing to watch for, weekly update on how JS should come out swinging this weekend. All joking aside, he's gotta win one soon.
Stewart gives us all so much more to talk about when he's NOT winning I almost hope he doesn't.. once he starts winning all the time it can get pretty boring, not that I think it's possible for him to dominate anymore, but if RV got hurt I think the possibility would coalesce.
Sorry for the big word.
Just think, if it werent for both the Ryans, Stewart would have 5 wins this season.
And if it weren't for my age and complete lack of b-ball skills, I'd be a Laker. What's the point?
JS is done, until he finds his "HEART". TV star or not, he said it himself, the Stewarts didn't have much when he was growing up. It was much simpler then, but he just RACED and left everything on the track.
"If you ain't First, You're Last" Reese Bobby - Taladega Nights
@ Snooze............He isn't the only rider who made it big from humble roots, even though the media likes to play it that way.
I have nothing to say but, Hi everyone!!!
BillC Play nice LOL
Look what you started!
LOL George!! Sorry.
. as for JS's lack of heart... I don't buy it. You don't go that fast if you don't care, Also he does not look tired after the race so he is in shape too.
I have officially started my drinking for tomorrows race
I would say that JS is letting the frustration get the better of him rather than it being lack of heart. It's gotta be tough from going to winning a lot, to struggling to win in the matter of one season.
@ MustardDog...I'm settin the fourfiddy up in front of the flatscreen and havin the wife take a pic to send to fro....What kind of brew should I toast in the pic?
@BillC, the only disappearing act that you'll see is Dungey disappearing from RV and off to his second win in a row.
@666.....40oz of Colt .45. If there is any left over you could power ur fishin boat wth it.
James seems kind of "over" supercroos and his results show it; he looks average. Money and TV ruined him. It happens a lot.
RV is "all about" supercross and his results show it; think he'll wad it up at the pace he's running sooner or later
RD is a safe rider; think he'll have a longish career and pick up a title here and there.
The only thing I agree on is that tonight will be a very exciting race. With so much talent it looks like who wants to win the most is getting it done. lets face the truth all these guys have tons of talent and it boils down to being a mind game for them. JS has proven this over and over agian. RV is on fire and can not be stopped if he is 100% on his game. I want to see RD win tonight to make RV work for the overall.
The Gambler is going to show up and remind us all that he still has it, but when will James have the "CC's" to do that?? Something tells me to keep an eye on the 7 in St Louis.. The Locomotive picked up some "CC's" that helped him build a little bit of momentum, can he continue to pick up steam?? The Firecracker has been kinda quiet, will be play it safe in dome that ended his 10 season or will he explode to another dominant win?? Each week some one new has suprised us with tip 5 ride, who will it be this week?? Will the "Bionic Blondes" get to finally race each other straight up in the lites class?? Will the Timex Texan continue to get bounced around or will St Louis shine on Watermelon Wharton again for a win?? Can the Cushing Cannon move up a step or two on the podium?? Will the boys from PC settle down or run hot and cold ?? Will RC and Emig tell us the "keys to the race will be the Start or the Whoops?? I will be watching to see..thanks Speed!!!
Remember people this is St. Louis we are talking about. 10 things to watch: 1.Your bikes 2. Your trailer 3. Your tools 4. Your fuel 5. Your gear 6. Your wallet 7. Your back 8. Your girl 9. Your Van/truck 10. Hell they would steal your tattoos if they could. Look and see who's sh*** Stuff has been stolen in tomorrows "Breaking News". I have no friggin idea why they keep returning to this venue.
BillC, Stewart has slowed down, I know you LOVE RV, everyone knows, but just look how he gets up and runs through the pack. Before he could crash 3 times and still make it through cus he would just pinn it. Hes not the same.
Cruz that was damn funny!
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My name is miss cherish i went through your profile today and became interested,Please Dear one I will be very happy if you can contact me direct with this my email ([email protected])
so that I will tell you more about myself and a picture for you to know whom I am,(Remember the distance or color does not matter but love matters a lot in life)
I hope to read from u soon,
Miss cherish
please contact me direct with this email ([email protected])
([email protected])
My name is miss cherish i went through your profile today and became interested,Please Dear one I will be very happy if you can contact me direct with this my email ([email protected])
so that I will tell you more about myself and a picture for you to know whom I am,(Remember the distance or color does not matter but love matters a lot in life)
I hope to read from u soon,
Miss cherish
please contact me direct with this email ([email protected])