Open Mic: Interviews from St. Louis
Monday, March 5, 2012 | 2:30 PM
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PrintInterviews by Jason Weigandt, Jordan Roberts and Steve Matthes
Ryan Dungey, Red Bull KTM, 2nd in SX Class
Racer X: Let's see. Anything going on leading into this race, or was it all business as usual? Because there were some rumors of a shoulder injury.
Ryan Dungey: No, I think a lot of people heard that though. I did take a nasty little fall this week, but thankfully everything was okay. Definitely got banged up, but it wasn’t to the point that it limited us for riding and this and that. It was definitely a different week. We got a lot of rain down in Tallahassee and it was pretty wet and we were just riding that one day. I made a mistake. It was my fault and I’ve just got to take full credit for it. But thankfully we’re okay. Coming into tonight, I felt really good. We’ve got the bike set up really well and the dirt was awesome, so that was even better. The track layout wasn’t super-fast. It was kind of more tight. It was fast in a few areas, but tight and technical for the most part. The heat race and in the main, I think I kind of cut myself short in the starts. Just wasn’t right there and kind of got pinched off in a few areas and had to play a little bit of catch up. In the main event, it was really good though because we were able to get into second and [Ryan] Villopoto had a little bit of a lead, but we were able to close that gap. Definitely looking forward to next weekend.
Do you feel strong? The last half of the race you were closing in. You must have felt good.
Yeah, I felt great. Fitness wise, I feel awesome. I feel like in a 20-lapper, you should put it all out there on the table and that’s what I felt like I did. It was hard to pass too. That was the tough part, I think people could see. I sat behind [Justin] Brayton and [Davi] Millsaps and was able to get by Millsaps first and it took me a few more laps to get by Brayton, which is not always ideal. I made the passes happen. You kind of had to force it and then I found myself in second.
"I did take a nasty little fall this week, but thankfully everything was okay." - Ryan Dungey
Photo: Carl Stone
Justin Brayton, Honda Muscle Milk, 3rd in SX Class
Racer X: You’re riding better than you’re walking.
Justin Brayton: I know. That’s actually what K Dub said. When we pulled off the track, he said, “Man, you’re riding a lot better than you’re walking.” But it’s been a tough three weeks. It’s definitely been tough. But it’s cool to get a result like this after basically soldiering through it, sitting on the couch and lying in bed just icing my leg. So yeah, I’m definitely excited to get on the box.
How was the fitness there? Kevin wasn’t too far back and we were wondering if you’d have those last five laps in you. Did it really catch up to you that bad?
No, I think that’s where the pre-season training really came in. Basically, I did nothing for two weeks, and this past week I knew I had to do something. I had to get in the gym a little bit, do some upper body, do some swimming. I got on the spin bike a little bit and then got to ride one day. Luckily I was able to do that. If I wasn’t able to do that, I think it probably would have caught up to me. I felt good the whole 20 laps. After Dunge got me, I actually went with him then a lapper kind of got in my way. I couldn’t go triple-triple in the far section, which was kind of a bummer with a couple laps to go. But I felt like I rode good. It was a good night.
You’re still on the mend here, so what’d you think you can do this week?
We have a test plan that we’re going to go down to Chad’s [Reed] place and ride this week. I’m definitely going to try and ride a day and see what happens. I’m going to try and ride Tuesday. But the main thing is still to heal up. One little case or dab in a turn the wrong way and we’re pretty much back to square one. So, I’ve really got to watch that. But if I can go out a couple days and really focus on the starts, I feel like my fitness isn’t going to go anywhere at this point with being able to ride the spin bike and ride a day. Daytona’s going to be brutal, though. It’s going to be brutal on my leg and fitness. But I’m excited for the challenge and to get some good starts and be up there.
"In my eyes, I rode horrible. I got a pretty decent start, but finishing second was okay." - Ken Roczen
Photo: Carl Stone
Ken Roczen, Red Bull KTM, 2nd in Lites Class
Racer X: How’d the race go?
Ken Roczen: In my eyes, I rode horrible. I got a pretty decent start, but finishing second was okay. It was a good result for me. I also struggled from a cold and I just want to recover and then have a good week this week and come back strong in Daytona for sure.
So it’s something you can get over enough to get back to a normal week?
Oh yeah, for sure. I’m just bummed because the spot was good. I was right behind [Justin] Barcia. It’s just things like before, like last week running into the gate. That was a bike problem, so I had two good weekends and there’s always one weekend where you’re just not feeling it but the result was there, so I’m going to get over this cold for sure and come back strong in Daytona.
Daytona, do you have any idea what that’s really like? Like from watching videos?
Well I rode there last year on the 350. So I know how it’s going to be and I’ll get ready for that.
Blake Wharton, Rockstar Suzuki, 3rd place in the SX Lites class.
Racer X: How did your night go?
It went pretty good. I won my heat race, which was cool. In practice, I felt pretty good but not my best. I knew how to change some stuff and try to figure the track out and really attack it hard. In the main, I got just an average start and came together with some guys on the first lap. It was carnage—typical supercross. But, [I] managed to get through alright and try to make some passes on some guys and ended up getting third. So yeah, that’s good but now I just keeping going, you know, no rest. I didn’t win it so I’m not going to rest.
All of a sudden toward the end [Justin] Bogle went down. Did you realize you had the podium when you crossed the finish line?
I just had the idea that I had it. Weirdly enough you can kind of figure out where you’re at on the track.
Were you spotting them?
You see them, but I wasn’t like, ‘Oh, where’s everyone at’. I was trying to race. You can get carried away with who’s in front of you and who’s behind you. You can’t really focus on that. It just happened that I got third. We’ll just try to build from there. A heat race win and a third’s not too bad. I’d like to keep improving on that—no rest.
"I was trying to race. You can get carried away with who’s in front of you and who’s behind you. You can’t really focus on that." - Blake Wharton
Photo: Carl Stone
Cole Seely, Honda Muscle Milk, 19th in SX Class
Racer X: How’d it go?
Cole Seely: It went good. Can’t complain. Started off great, I think I started off around seventh. Then I got my way into sixth then rode there for a little while. I tried to get around Kevin [Windham] for a couple laps, but couldn’t make it happen. Then he passed Davi [Millsaps], so I was trying to get around him and then made a little mistake there right before the over/under bridge. I was going to land on the tuff blocks and go over the bars and land on the flat. That wasn’t good, so, I made the choice to ditch the bike and save myself.
Did you run down the backside of the jump?
Yeah, I landed probably about three feet short of the off and I think my knee brace went into my chest, like into my ribs. So it knocked the wind out of me and I was running down that, then I jumped off the track as fast as I could and I just kind of sat there and tried to let my breath catch up to me. Otherwise I’m okay.
You’ve gotta feel pretty good about the riding. That was a pretty fast pack you were up against in the main, you held your own, and even the heat race was pretty good.
Yeah, for the first seven or eight laps, I could see Justin [Brayton] in second and when I was going over the finish line, he was in the turn in front of me. So it was a really tight pack. I think it was Justin, Windham, Davi and Dungey in there too. So to run that pace, it feels good. I’m just getting stronger each week. I’m just going to go with that and take what I can to Daytona and Indy and back to the West.
Justin Bogle, GEICO Honda, 5th in Lites Class
Racer X: Just before the end, I was like it’s over so I’ll just look at my computer. You got third right?
Justin Bogle: [Laughs] Man, the night was going great. Second in my heat.
You were the fastest in practice.
Yeah. Practice was good. That’s the first time I’ve done that. Making progress. Baby steps. The main was going good. I was right on Roczen the whole time. Couldn’t get around him. Barcia was gone, he was riding awesome. I just went for it a little too hard the last lap. I was going for it. I wanted second place. Ended up tossing me a little bit there. Went down, got up, still had time to make a podium, but I squirreled out, freaked out. Thought it was the end of the world and tried to jump on my bike and pin it and fifth place. So, I salvaged a top five. I’ll take it.
But the riding. Encouraged with the riding?
Encouraged with the riding because I was right on Roczen the entire time. Just couldn’t get around him. I’ve just got to work on finishing the race.
"Tonight was good. I felt like I rode good. Last week I felt like I didn’t ride good." - Darryn Durham
Photo: Carl Stone
Darryn Durham, Pro Circuit Kawasaki, 4th place in the SX Lites class
Tonight was good. I felt like I rode good. Last week I felt like I didn’t ride good. I just had a bad start tonight so it didn’t work out so good. But fourth—I’m not complaining. I just want to be on the podium.
You worked your way up. You were pretty close there.
Yeah, I was close. I’m looking forward to Daytona. Hopefully I can get it on there.
Yeah, I usually do really well at Daytona so that’s where I’m going to try and get a win at.
Yeah?
That’s where I need to win if I want to make up points on Barcia.
James Stewart, JGR/Toyota Yamaha, 5th in SX Class
Great race except for that start.
Well, the start was bad, and then I crashed on the first lap, which was even worse. But it was better after that, I was able to ride and push a little bit for the first time. I was happy about that.
You and RV were the only ones.. has to be a little bit encouraging, right?
It was good, I was pumped to get into the 50s even though I was passing people. So yeah, that was good. I definitely felt I was fast at night, but all day, we sucked. We sucked during the day and even in the heat race I felt we didn’t ride that good. Main event we changed a few things, and that made it maybe five percent better and I was able to ride a little bit better.
What happened off the start? I’m no Gary Bailey, but it looked like you had a late reaction?
We were looking at the data, and something happened right off the gate. When I dumped the throttle, it didn’t go when I thought it would. And me and my boy [Jake] Weimer got into again! [Laughs] We kind of hit, but just so I can clear the record, I was not looking at him or messing with him down the front straight away. I wasn’t messing with him, I just didn’t want him to cut back inside of me so I tried for block it.
What happened in the crash? You lose the front end.
I hit [Jimmy] Albertson, we came together, hit my front brake and I went down.
Something to build on here?
I guess. Ten races in and we’re still working on stuff. But we’ve got a solid grasp on third place in the points, so I’m not a fourth place guy anymore, I’m third! [Laughs].
Daytona?
I’m looking forward to it. I feel like the last two weekends have been better, and I think once we get it right, we’ll be hard to beat. I know, I sound like a broken record. But everyone is trying hard, we get an A for effort for sure. We’re definitely making improvements, and I think being on the East Coast helps us.
"We were looking at the data, and something happened right off the gate. When I dumped the throttle, it didn’t go when I thought it would." - James Stewart
Photo: Carl Stone
Brett Metcalfe, Yoshimura Suzuki, 8th in SX Class
Racer X: Brett Metcalfe, how was it?
Brett Metcalfe: How was it? It was ok. Held down in eighth spot tonight. That’s nothing to write home about. The best thing that came from today was the way I was riding today. That was much better. Over the halfway point now. So, like I said, I’ve gotta get better results and then, to finish out the championship where I want to be which is in a top five position, I’m really going to have to buckle down and get some results.
Compare where you were last year at this time, your first year in the class, with now. Have you made big strides and learned a lot about the bike?
Today was the best day we’ve had.
Really? With the bike?
Yep.
Best day out of all the supercrosses so far?
Out of everything so far. So that’s really good. Because where we’re at right now, we need to define something to make progress, to be strong for the rest of the last half and we found that today. We’ve got something really good to build off of now and now we can just go in and do it.
Jake Canada, Team MotoConcepts, 6th place in the SX Lites class
The night went good. I qualified seventh in practice and then in the heat race [I] got a decent jump. I ended up squeezing in on the inside and coming out pretty good. I rode good in that, I felt like. I got third. That was my best heat race so far. Going into the main I got a good jump, stayed tight inside and I think I came out fifth or sixth. I made a couple passes and rode around in fourth for ten laps, I think. And then I don’t think I was breathing, or wasn’t doing something. I was getting a little nervous because I got a little tired at the end. Wharton and Durham got by me but I think it was a good weekend—a good building block for sure. I’m excited to go into next weekend.
Atlanta was pretty slippery and this track was the opposite—it had some good traction. Which one did you like better?
Well, the only reason I would say Atlanta is because I didn’t get tired. This track had some good traction and ruts, but the ruts made it a little sketchy. It’s good, I’m not totally used to it because I’ve only done West so I’m slowly getting used to it. I’ve liked all three tracks actually. They’re the best supercross tracks I’ve raced on. I’m pumped on the East.
"And then I don’t think I was breathing, or wasn’t doing something. I was getting a little nervous because I got a little tired at the end." - Jake Canada
Photo: Carl Stone
Nick Wey, Motosport.com/Ti-Lube/Foremost Kawasaki, 10th place in the SX Class
I heard you were a little sick coming into this race. Did that take a toll on you having to come from the LCQ to get to the main?
Yeah, I mean, it didn’t help for sure. Like you said, coming in under the weather and having a day of riding—and even that was pretty light. I was ninth in practice, which is definitely an improvement from where I’ve been so I was happy about that. I had a crash in my heat race and hit my head a little bit—blew my visor off. Big Nasty is working super hard on the bike and he got things tuned up to get ready for the LCQ. I ended up winning that, which is cool for my sponsors because the live TV got them some good time. Obviously I had a super bad gate pick but came through and rode pretty decent to get a tenth in the main, which is not so bad. I think we’re going to be able to do much better in the races to come. I appreciate the help from everybody and the team and Motosport.com, the Ti-Lube guys, Foremost Insurance, Rockstar, MSR, and my whole Mafia crew for having my back. I appreciate it and we’re going to do better in the weeks to come.
Alex Martin, Eleven10 Mods, 10th place in the SX Lites class
It was kind of one of those nights where you’re just happy to get through it. I have a couple things I need to improve on. I’ve been riding kind of tight and getting arm pump. I just need to keep putting in motos during the week and putting my time in and the results will come. It’s kind of nice being here though—St. Louis. It’s kind of a hometown race so I had a lot of friends and family here. That was kind of cool. It makes you ride a little harder during the main. The dirt was kind of like Millville so that helped. It kind of broke down and got kind of rutty during the main. All-in-all it was a good night. Tenth place is definitely something to build on and we have five or six races left.
I definitely think I can improve on the tenth. It just depends where everyone is. Tonight in St. Louis, it seems like nobody really crashed. All of the big guys were up there in the top ten. I had [Blake] Baggett behind me for eight or nine laps, so that just goes to show you how stacked the class is right now. If everybody stays up it’s going to be tough, but seems like you always have a couple races where something crazy happens and you can slip into the top five or even the podium. You just have to get a good start and put yourself in the right position.
"It was kind of one of those nights where you’re just happy to get through it. I have a couple things I need to improve on." - Alex Martin
Photo: Carl Stone
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Get this kid Canada on a good bike soon!
As for Roczen...wah wah wah. We don't like excuses over here...keep that little violin on the other side of the pond.
Stewarts interview was pretty good...best "we" has rode all year...
Was I a bit harsh on Kenny?
When he gets beat straight up when he is at his best then maybe I could say that right?
@dinosaurmedia.......KRoc has done NOTHING to deserve that crap dude!! His first words were "in my mind, i rode horrible".....that kid is classy and has a good attitude, let that be until he proves otherwise. Good JS interview, although i'm sure the anti crowd will wield their scalpels dissect the hell out of it!! lol
*and* dissect the hell out of it....
Yeh bit harsh on Roczen. I think they all got some excuse when they get beat!
I figured someone would get thier panties in a bunch...Whatever wis first place - finally.
Just kidding man!! I was just being a bit harsh. But at the same time if other riders had...nevermind you get the drift.
JS I am not a 4th place guy anymore. Seems to be taking the season well. If he get a start he will be tough!!
@BillC,, Yes he will be tough,,, but the series is now between RD and RV.. JS is just to far behind, unless something happens to BOTH of them..
The only thing I can say about your comment dinosaurmedia is if you're going to play the excuse game don't call Roczen out then say good interview JS right after when had an excuse also lol.
No question mxmofo1 he is over 50 points out. Win's should come a little easer for him now Cuz RV will not fight him nor will RD. But he will need to start better then 15th LOL If he gets between RV and RD the points between RV and RD can change fast though!! so the guy in 3rd may have to fight JS Hmmmmmm this could be good.
James wasnt smiling or laughing a few weeks back....now he is, atleast he is having fun to some extent.......Still working on things 10 races into the season isnt going to help you win titles.....as I said before, he needs to start testing for outdoors now so they have things dialed by round 3 hahahaaa.... All joking aside, I think James is changing his attitude like Reed did....why....because he has to in order to stay in the game...it worked for Reed....will it work for james???
I'll have to agree with whatever for once, Kroc doesn't deserve it. Give him a little time to prove himself. James won't win the championship but at least maybe have a win or two in him. Maybe by having fun he can lossen up a bit and relax. I kinda feel bad for him knowing he has more in him, but can't seem to find it. I also thought after last year he would have put all his demons that haunt him to rest.
@czmark,, I think his "demon" is his Yamaha,, but that may have been his choice to ride that. Don't now fore sure, but I have heard from some pretty good sources that he might have had to pay Yamaha millions if he were to ride some other brand. Oh well.... Lets just hope he will line up for the Nationals this year..
@mxmofo- I guess there was some word between James and his team last week. i was hoping we would heard a little more. As for breaking his contract, that is an awful lot of money. Maybe thats why he is smiling, not broke yet. I wonder out of the 5 brands, what would fit his style. It would be a bummer for any racer to only go so far because of the bike you were stuck on. James has 2 yeara left on his contract and that would be 2 more years of hell. Hope he can stomach that. Your are right on hopefully he will make the Nationals.
stewart wins a lot of his heat races, does he ride a kawi,honda or suzuki in the heats? and then he gets the yamaha for the main? he is getting better but please good lord stop blaming the bike he is not the same he was in 07 nobody knows why but im telling you guys ITS NOT THE YAMAHA
He better make the nationals considering that one of his major sponsor is sponsoring it. My fingers will be crossed until May.
What options did James have? Yosh Suzuki or JGR? Suzuki's crew has been depleted after Decoster left and took all his good guys with him. It seems like James had minimal options. You need good technology behind you if you want to win at this level. JGR seems like they have unlimited resources and techs, unfortunately it's probably against their Yamaha contract to do any large ergonomic adjustments that suit James style, size and ability.
RD5 is getting stronger and he's pushing it, when was the last time you heard of him hitting the deck hard? In Dungey we trust.
Ryan Dungey has the potential to be the best rider in the sport in the coming years. He has all the ingredients: Talented, fast, smooth, intelligent on the track, and he puts in the hard work. Last season was a toss up between RV and Dungey with RV riding the better SX series and Dungey riding the better outdoor series (one DNF away from the title). So far, in 2012, RV has the edge speedwise and of course is the more aggressive rider. But each week, I see improvements in Dungey: Last week he won in a convincing manner, pulling his fastest lap on the last lap. This week, he picks up the pace in the second half of the race and catches up to Villopoto. Ryan says he is feeling better and better on that bike, and the better he feels, the closer he gets to RV.
Daytona should be interesting. I expect Dungey to take another win, his first at Daytona. The speed is there, but it will really depend on his bike set-up. Daytona is a much different track that the other SX tracks so I guess the tale of the tape will be between the track and RD's bike set-up.
WOW, I'm kind of feeling sorry for JS7, he really seems to think the only reason he's not winning is the bike.
james you got the speed no doubt, you could probabbly ride around in secod gear and be on the podium if not for bad luck and bad starts, millsapps needs to ride a wide line when your in front of him, jake wiener needs to go back to the lites class, he looks like david spades twin brother bone head, hope you race outdoors a kill it id rather have a outdoor title than a supercross title anyday, mcgrath may be the king of supercross big shit but you and RC are the king of outdoors, i know your going to win daytona its like outdoors, get in RVs head and hell fall apart and anything can happen, DNF, injury anything just need some luck bud, and way to keep it WFO and plugging away even with all the haters out there.
Any thoughts on how Dungey's bike will fair in the outdoors? I think we'll see closer battles between him and RV then rather than now.
@mxmofo--not starting anything, just stating a fact. STEWART WAS NOT BOUND BY A CONTRACT TO YAMAHA ONCE LARRY BROOKS WAS GONE.. That is a fact.. There was enen a link on here were Stewart said in an interview that he rode every bike and chose the Yamaha and JGR because in his words "It gives me the best chance to win" So dude please, get off of that.. Stewart had a contract with L&M, NOT Yamaha, once L&M was dissolved, he was free to sign anywhere.. Just like now, if JGR switches brnads to Honda, then Stewart is on a Honda. Stewart could have rode any bike he wanted except Kawi, (unless he started a new team and bought some) He chose that Yamaha..It came from Stewarts mouth.. The interview is on ESPN' s websire. Somebody linked it on here once..
And one thing about Roczen, this IS NOT his rookie year in supercross. Its his second season.. And look what Barcia did in his second season last year, kicked butt.. I think Roczen is fast, just not as fast as Barcia in supercross.. He may run with him outdoors who knows. But there will be alot of others besides Barcia to deal with outdoors too..
Can not wait for Daytona, should be real great racing between RV & RD the rougher the better for those two. My man KW does not like the sand or Daytona, but who knows maybe he can make it real interesting! I am not a JS fan but I do like his ability's, I do think that wrist is his biggest problem and not racing for a while is taken its toll on him, also so much crashing over the years he is making bone head mistakes.I really think that you will see him on a Suzuki come the outdoors, I do not think he was stupid when he did his contract with JGR, knowing the Yamaha was not suiting him, I feel he left a option in there. Good luck everyone this weekend!
WOW, "KM306".......since you seem to know something we don't, why don't you fill us in?? Do tell us oh great one...know-it-all of SX...please tell us what you know!! D o o s h!!
My thong has a stain....Roczen siad he sucked tonight, we all been there.....right.?
J_Slone you say RD pick up the pace in the 2nd half and ran down RV.... NOT true and the lap times prove it. http://results.amasupercross.com/data/2012/09/sxm1ind.pdf
.The facts are RD's 2nd half was slower then his first half. Also RV had 6 laps that were faster than RD's best, RV had 3 or 4 laps in the 50:'s wile RD best was a 51:55 This all points to the fact that RV was MUCH better this night.
.Cores if RD did not take 11 laps to pass two guys it could have been more fun to watch.
@ Red44 it doesn't matter what you tell JS fans and what facts you have to back it up. It's the bike's fault and he'd be winning if he was on another brand (which he could have chosen pre-season). He's just not "above the competition" anymore, and never really was in my own personal opinion. His natural talent alone can't win in this field anymore.
@Red44 and @Retardcross ,, Not saying it's ALL the bike's fault, but there is definately some issues there. Its well known.. Just telling you what I have heard from some good sources,, that's all. So just chill out..
Even Reed tweeted about the bike not being so good.. Look at RV when he got on the 2012 Kaw. He's been pretty much untouchable since then. You guys just hear what you want to hear.. There is a reason why RD left Suzuki, and there is a reason you only see about 2 or 3 Yams in the 450 class.. Should I go on ??? I would guess that JS chose the Yam because he sees a future with JGR, and we all have been hearing rumors of a re-designed Yam 450 in 2013.. @Red44, what is JS suppose to say ? "Ahh, the Yam doesn't give me the best chance to win, but I'll ride it anyway." That probably wouldnt go over to well, now would it ?? Like I have said before, JS seems to have more issues than just the bike...
Yeah slone, us RV fans know how lucky he has been to win five races with RD being so superior but we do appreciate the wonderful gifts. Now here is some advise directly from me to you, if your man wants the pot of gold first he must catch the leprechaun!
Ryan Dungey , has the Potential to become Kevin Windam ,
Good points guys, J_Slone LOVES to keep talking about 1 DNF away from the Nat title last year.... But he NEVER looks at the fact that with 8 moto's to go RD was 1 point behind RV but it was RV who won 6 of the last 8 moto's....
We hear what we like to hear and you guys can't accept JS isn't the best guy anymore no matter what bike he is on, agreed?
Yes slone, did you forget about that last turn pass RV made on RD in the outdoors at the checkers? You think your man could have made that pass? That is how championships are won with tenacity and talent.
@ Preston. Dungey has already won two 450 titles. How many has KW won again?
@BillC Did you even bother to read the laptime results? In the last ten laps, Dungey was faster in 8 of them. That tells me that Dungey did ride a faster second half of the race than Villopoto did.
As for the Nats in 2011, you are correct that Dungey was 1 point behind and did not capitalize on that. However, that does not change the fact that Dungey lost 25 points because of a DNF, and a probable 5-8 points because his bike would not start at Southwick. Just add the Texas DNF and Dungey has the title. Even RV admitted that had it not been for Dungey's DNF he would have been the one that came up short. And speaking of passing...at Millville and Washougal, Dungey came from behind to hunt down and pass RV.
JS has created everything he has going on all by himself. Between himself, the bike, the resources, and the obscene money he's probably making over the other top guys, he has NO EXCUSE to not have a solid program in place being one of the "veterans" of the class. The bottom line is he isn't performing, and the bike is only a fraction of that reason if it is at all. Like everyone has seen, it works great in practice and the heats. I didn't realize bikes failed under psychological pressure when all the big players are on the gate at the same time. The biggest problem is between his ears. I dont know how anyone can deny/be surprised by that when he's crashed under pressure his entire career and is currently facing more competition than ever.
He solidified his decline when he fired Aldon Baker (too much work?), was too cool making TV shows to race outdoors while everyone stayed sharp and strived to get better, and when he chose money over a good bike (if that truly is the issue). I have a hard time feeling sorry for him, maybe I'd feel for him if he was the humble, young, smiling kid again that gave racing everything he had. That's not who he is anymore so who cares.
By the way, I'm all for a good argument, if anyone can point out anything I just said that is incorrect I'm all ears. I don't even know why I bother to be honest lol, people seem to think he can't be beat and when he is being beaten there is a constant search for reasons/excuses why he isn't the best anymore. The guy has more bargaining power than anyone thanks to the media and should be able to get himself set up however he pleases. The others are just better now. It is what it is, before Reed went out he was the 4th place guy again. Accept it and move on.
@Retardcross ,,, I never said the bike problems were the reason he's not winning, did I ??? I said its one reason, not all....
J_Sloan... You said RD pick up the pace... HE did NOT, Yes RV slowed and he gained on him BUT RD did not pick up the pace, His last 10 laps were slower than his first 10. he stayed about the same, a little slower actuly but RV slowed a lot. So to answer your ?? YesI did look at the lap times...did you?
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As for the DNF you can't say it would have changed things, You don't know. If RD did not run out of gas he may have crashed next lap and got hurt...Right?? Ya don't know. As for RD running down RV a few times you seem to forget RV was sick and had no testing time and no years of testinmg to fall back on like RD had with his proven out door bike. but if you rememeber as the year went on RV got stronger every week and by mid season RD could not touch him.
.I know what your saying about DNF's but Hey one could say RD lucked in to some titles then too right?? 250 outdoors when CP DNFed at Southwick... 2010 SX when Reed and JS got hurt... Outdoors 2010 no former champs on the line... See?
.RD is VERY much like K-Dub,.... does not ride outside is zone.
Also you can't just add the 25 points and say he would have won it,I could easly say RV could have won a few more moto's if he needed to but he did not need to soooooooo. see it just does not work.
Sorry, BillC, even RV admitted that if it wasn't for the DNF, Dungey would have won the title. Also, by Millville and Washougal, RV was *not* sick and they were well into the season at the mid-way point. Then you have the first moto at Southwick...saying RV was untouchable after the mid-way point is false and it guided by your overly-biased attitude.
As for last week, Dungey caught RV because he was riding faster than RV. Given a few more laps, RV may have had more than he could handle. I actually think Duungey is far more impressive this season than RV. What I mean by that is that Dungey is on a new team with a untested and newly developed bike. Yet he is right there, only a fraction off of RV's pace. RV has a bike and team that is fully developed and tested. That is RV's advantage at the moment. Reverse the situation and put RV on the KTM and you may have a lot different results. Next year, Dungey will be even faster, and he's keeping up with RV as it is.
So it's OK for you to use the newly developed bike excuse for RD but outdoors last year RV was in the same spot..On a bike with no testing at the factory level.
. Pretty sure your a bit more biased than I Cuz I gave you a buch of examples above and you did not even say a word.
.Also RV was being humbal saying that maybe?? There is no questin RD is very fast outdoors but again I go back to the 1 point down with 8 moto's to go and what happen??
.You never touched on this one either. Cores if RD did not take 11 laps to pass two guys he could have been closer. It really blows my mind that you think he is every bit as good as RV when there is so much evidence to the contrary. You keep saying I am biased but I am not, just saying what i see.. Its funny how last week when people talked about how RV ran down RD you did not want to hear it but this week when there is no question that RV slowed down all you keep saying is how Dungey caught RV because he was riding faster than RV. Given a few more laps, RV may have had more than he could handle. Well if he did not waste 10 laps looking at milsaps butt maybe he would have. Funny how RV goes by them guys pretty easy but RD can't even though he is just as good as RV right?
This one is funny too. "Yet he is right there, only a fraction off of RV's pace"
. RV's best 50:536
.RD's best 51:550
.Thats OVER 1 sec.... hardly a "fraction" RV had 3 laps UNDER 51:00 and 5 laps that were better then RD's best...so I think the gap is a bit mor than a fraction.
@ J_Sloan...........I like RD and RV, but RD is not as fast and was only catching RV last weekend because RV choked up and nursed it to the end playing it safe. RD was not "reeling" him in by any means, RV was backing it down because he could. That is the benefit of checking it out and being able to manage the race. The previous weekend, RD gets the credit for hanging on until the end.
@dinosaurmedia; Canada is on a very good bike! MotoConcepts has two holeshots on the west (Friese), and is in the top 15. AND, Jake is 6th, and on his way up!
All the Stewtards still blame the bike, and now say there arent any in the 450 class except Millsaps and Stewart.. Look at the stats, there were more Yamaha 450's in the top 10 than there were Suzukis.. I dont think its the bike itself. I think once a brand drops thier factory teams, they lose in popularity with the privateers, because no factory guys race them.. Not that the bike isnt good.. More Yamahas than Suzukis out there..
Heck there was only 4 Honda in the top 20, there was 3 Yamahas, does the Honda suck too?? So tired of the excuses you Tards make for Stewart, its really sad too..
@ therealmofo............Yep, Yamahas, Hondas and Suzukis all suck.