by Chase Stallo
Going for the W: First-Time Winner
Wednesday, March 14, 2012 | 3:40 PM
Bell Sports has been the preeminent designer and marketer of branded sports helmets and accessories for more than 50 years. More world champions have worn Bell Helmets than all other helmet brands combined. Bell helmets have played a vital role in protecting sportsmen and women for generations.
Tweet
Advertisement | Advertise with Us
Share
Comment
Email
Print
It began with five.
Last year’s Monster Energy Supercross season provided the most action packed racing some of us have ever witnessed—stuffed with more drama and storylines than an episode of Jersey Shore. This year looked to be on par with 2011, as the main players entered the season intact, with the exception of Trey Canard, but even he was only expected to miss a couple rounds. Little did we know that Canard’s pre-season collarbone break would be the first in a long line of injuries.
Los Angeles would provide the first blow. Disaster struck when Canard was forced to double the first triple after collecting a tuff block cover, and was landed on by Ryan Morais who was already committed to the triple. As the two lay motionless on the track, no one was thinking of the championship hunt, all thoughts were on Canard and Morais’ health. Both suffered major injuries that night, but look to be well on their way to a full recovery.
Then there were four.
A torn ACL in Dallas would end Reed's season early.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Chad Reed began the season with his usual steady riding, but quickly seemed to hit another gear. He had his own team, his own program, and a year’s experience of running a team under his belt. He went blow for blow in San Diego with Ryan Villopoto, and Dallas began the same way. Then in an instant the championship run for Reed came to an end. Reed has been a model of consistency, so to see him limping off the track in Dallas was a cause for concern. Days later it was revealed that Reed had a torn ACL, among other injuries, and that would end his 2012 season prematurely.
Then there were three.
The Ryan Dungey/KTM experiment began on a high note with Dungey serenading KTM with its first premier class win in history at Phoenix. But the exuberance was quickly smothered by bad starts and a case of the whoops in San Diego. Just when Dungey’s title hopes seemed slim, he made a statement in Atlanta, cutting RV’s points lead to 10 with a win. Rumors then began churning before St. Louis that Dungey had a hard crash at his practice track and was dealing with a collarbone injury. It didn’t show in the Show Me State, as Dungey made a late run at RV before settling for second. Then late last week KTM made it official, Dungey would miss Daytona—and more than likely 4-6 weeks—after undergoing surgery for a broken collarbone. Championship hopes vanished.
Dungey is expect to miss four to six weeks with a collarbone injury.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Then there were two.
A season that began with so much promise and depth has now witnessed the sports brightest stars dropping one after another. Barring a major catastrophe, the championship is Ryan Villopoto’s to lose. RV along with James Stewart will enter every remaining race this season as the odds on favorites to claim the top step of the throne. But while no one is happy to see the recent rush of bad news for some of the sport’s top stars, the injuries do create an opportunity for others. Breaking through for a first-time win against a healthy “Big Five” isn’t easy, but now that three of those riders are out, is it possible for someone else to rally?
The door has been opened a crack. Stewart’s inability to stay off the ground has been well documented and RV showed in Daytona that even he is not immune to trouble. Millsaps and Windham have claimed the glory of a supercross win in the past, so we will excuse them from this conversation. But there are other potential winners lurking, the likes of Justin Brayton, Brett Metcalfe, Jake Weimer, Josh Hansen, Mike Alessi, a healthy Andrew Short and perhaps newcomers like Cole Seely and Marvin Musquin.
Can Metty rise to the top and claim his first career win in 2012?
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson
Let’s be realistic, it would probably take some help from the aforementioned James Stewart and Ryan Villopoto for anyone else to bring a win home. Weimer and Brayton have been solid at points, each with podiums to their credit, but have been wildly inconsistent. The same can be said for Metcalfe, Alessi and Hansen, with no one really wanting to claim the “best of the rest” title with any consistency. Short’s season has been marred with injury and newbies Cole Seely and Marvin Musquin lack experience. But with the sidelines now full of championship contenders and eight races remaining, there could be a golden opportunity for someone new to get their first W. It just takes a few mistakes, and this year, no one is immune.
Did you like this article?
Check out ON TOUR
in our Latest issue of Racer X available now.
The Monster Energy Supercross tour is staffed by an intensely dedicated group of sponsors and support staffers. Here’s what life is like on the SX road. Page 136.
Look for the verified symbol 
Impulse Studios
You cab do it Cole Seely
'can'. I better take a cab home
ill tell u who wont win thats right mike alessi
The media still wont let it go. "Then there were 3" written after Reed goes down.. Three??? Going for a title , really?? Stewart is down over 50 points and he was in the hunt before Dungey went down?? The media just wiches he was.. RV is alone in the title chase now, as much as Racer X and the writers want him to be.. Not throwing out hate like some will think I am. I am just not in love with one guy
The column is about getting a win not winning the title.
You could put Brayton, Metcalf, Wiemer, Seely, Musquin, Alessi, Millsaps and Windhams name in a helmet shake them up, pull a name and have the same chance of guessing who has a shot at a win as RV and JS have the speed to track them all down...my guess is, if some one wins other than 2-7 he will be on a Honda...Go K-DUB !!!
In the lites...the rookie Captain891, the Cushing Cannon, needs to go off like he did at Pala and show them the fastway around the track....GO BOGLE!!!
@therealmofo: The article is about getting a race wins, NOT the title chase. Here is an except about the title chase "Barring a major catastrophe, the championship is Ryan Villopoto’s to lose." Hope this clears things up a bit.
Really??? to even mention Alessi's name as a possible threat to win is as realistic as saying Shrek had a good shot at winning! Alessi would be extremely lucky to land on the podium, let alone win.
I would say that if Seely ripped a holeshot and both Stewie or RV went down, he has a good shot at a win. Same could be said for Brayton, KW and Weimer but it is higly unlikely.
Glad you didnt put Hansens name in therir as the guy is a clown with a terrible attitude....... but wait a good representative of a Tatoo Company as most dudes' with tatoos on their hands and neck are clowns as well.
My bad.... you DID put Hansens name in the article!!!!...... step away from the crack pipe and abck to reality as the onyl way he will win if he cuts the track and doesnt get caught doing it!
The list is short (RV/JS) unless thay both have very bad luck. Saps is running good so he is #3 at this point i think, K-Dub.... Ya never know when he might be feeling it and gat a good start and pull off a win. The 800.... Not so much.
yeah would like to see some of the other riders get in there for a win. That would be good for them and the sport in general, however I must agree with the above posts. After all of his shenanagins, don't want 800 up there and just don't think he has it in him anymore. For me he is just out there to see what he can stir up next. But no one really seems to care...
mbmoto only clown I could think of is you! You must be from the midwest...
But wait... Haven't any of you guys heard? The #800 is taking supercross seriously this year! Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha.
@therealmofo....Damn ...Chase had to straighten your butt out .....LOL... brush up on your Moto. talk dude , you make yourself look silly ! come back next year ...your comments are way off ...And now the people at racer x are letting you know ..
There will be no "first time winner" this year. millsucks wont win. kdub wont win unless its a mudder. alessi cant win. wiemer cant win. hansen wont win. metcalfe likes 10th place. brayton likes to let villopoto and stewart go past him, and not do anything. theres only 5 people that can win. (Reed/Stewart/Dungey/Villopoto/Canard). Stop being blind- JS7 and RV1 are gonna need to DNF for someone new to win.
@Preston--coming from a guy who said on another thread that if Stewart wins another race he moves Mcgrath to 3rd on the supercross wins list, you shouldnt be shooting off your mouth.. Since MC has 72 wins and Stewart is still in the 40's YOU sould like a fool. So look in the mirror next time there Stewtard before you spout off your suckhole..
And since Stewart had to wait until two of the top 3 were out and it was a mudder.. I still dont agree with his article.. He hasnt shown yet he is a real threat for winning until 2 guys go down, or the track is garbage like the Oakland track, or a Daytona mudder... He is still just a media darling..
@therealmofo 89 ama wins , not counting lites , puts him tied with MC for second in career wins ... one more ama pro race win will break the tie , and I dont think Mc is linining up too soon ! ... again you are way off with your stats brother ... But I am finished with you , because it is hard to have a adult conversation with a person that is in such denial , Move on
@Preston--You said "supercross" wins dude.. So brush up on your "Moto" talk Preston.. You jump on a guy for a slight mistake or anything.. When you get a taste of your own medicine, you run away..
@Preston--"Indy notes Package" YOU Said "supercross wins list" And you jumped on me saying I needed to get my "MOTO" taslk straightened out... Sounds like you need to look in the mirror big boy!!! Cant take a little taste of your own medicine..
therealmofo JS won round 4 with EVERYONE there.
Dont start argueing over crap stuff guys--@Prerston, you jumped in there with the insults, so you kinda asked for it..
@BillC, he mentioned Stewie won Oakland..
I am sorry @therealmofo.... lets be friends !!!! /
Yes but he did say this "And since Stewart had to wait until two of the top 3 were out and it was a mudder.. I still dont agree with his article.. He hasnt shown yet he is a real threat for winning until 2 guys go down"
. then trys to cover it by adding "or the track is garbage like the Oakland track"
.Either way not fair
@BillC, "Not fair" WAAAAAA!!!!
If anyone is crying it sounds like you therealmofo.
BillC, How did I cry about anything there whiner boy!! YOu sound like a typical spoiled little boy, WAAA, no fair!!! hahaha!! Your as big a tard as Preston
And I didnt try to cover anything. Stewie hasnt won on a good fast track, period. Oakland track was going away, and Daytona was a washout..