by Davey Coombs
450 Words: Indianapolis
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When we pen 250 Words or 450 Words after each race, it's not necessarily about the winner—in this case Ryan Villopoto—but rather something else about the event that you may not have seen or heard at the track or while watching on live TV. That's certainly the case with this installment, because I doubt that many know what kind of day one of the members of the Muscle Milk Honda team had yesterday when the Monster Energy AMA Supercross tour visited Indianapolis.
Justin Brayton finished a career-best second-place in the main event, leading much of the way before the runaway points leader Villopoto brought the hammer down. It was a gutsy ride for the quiet man from Iowa, who is riding hurt—and riding very well. Of course Brayton got a little help in that James Stewart crashed out on the first lap of his heat race, drilled in hi-definition by Jimmy Albertson (those GoPro cameras are just downright amazing), and Jake Weimer didn't even qualify. During the main Kevin Windham would join Stewart on the out-with-injury list, which is unfortunately growing by the race....
Brayton's tough-it-out efforts in Indianapolis meant a lot to his team, which has been beset by those aforementioned injuries, first with Trey Canard and then with the Honda-mounted Chad Reed. It also meant a lot in particular to Erik Kehoe, the Muscle Milk Honda team manager, for more personal reasons. Earlier in the day, as the track walk was going on, Kehoe was in a car heading southeast from Indianapolis to Dayton, Ohio. He would spend the Indy practice sessions in a funeral home saying goodbye to the first man who gave him a job after his own racing career ended. Kehoe showed up at the Schlientz & Moore Funeral Home to pay his respects to Phil Alderton, the man behind Honda of Troy, who died under tragic circumstances last weekend. Kehoe left Brayton in very capable hands, because while Team Honda may not have a lot of top results this year due to the circumstances and competition, they do have some wise, experienced people under the red tents. So while they watched practice and collected data, Erik was two hours away watching a slide show of his old boss and friend's life play out to its unfortunate conclusion in a funeral parlor.
I didn't talk to Erik after the service but as I watched the races at home on SPEED, I couldn't help but wonder about the busy day Erik Kehoe had and the digging-deep efforts of his rider. I was happy for them both, and I would like to think that somewhere up there in the sky, so was Phil Alderton.
Photo by DC
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So are Stewart and Windham injured, as in we won't see them for a while, or just knocked out of this race? I haven't seen any kind of announcement about either rider.
WOW, WE RE PLAYED STEWARTS HELMET CAM A FEW TIMES, BAM!
Seemed to me like Abertson may have had enough time to not plow square into JS7...............
JimM
Pala374
Yep so Im sure he did that on purpose JimboMX... He though wow, this is my oppurtunity to make a name for myself. Braintrust you are! Great ride from Brayton and even Tyler Bowers made it up to 8th. Arenacross guys are showing they have some skills too. Would rather see Dungey win this title but very Happy with RV dusting everyone, especially number 7
Start of story....A full-on bada*s ALPHA DOG mofo put a beatdown on those still standing...end of story. That track looked slicker the a Texas whores teeth..
If Stewart can't go, that changes things for Dungey. He would probably still be in second, going into the NO round on 4/14. That's more than 5 weeks after the surgery.
You'd see how important finishing second in the series would be to KTM. It would be their best SX series finish by far. On the other hand, there's a lot to be said for them just focusing on the Outdoors. Everyone is tied at 0 in that series.
slick track = Honda Hills, Thornville Ohio, 2nd moto 125 C going off after midnight on Saturday nights in mid summer, mid '80's. Do I hear an "Amen" ?
My how a things can change in just a few weeks. Metcalf and Brayton winning the heats? Goerky with the 4th gate pick in the main? Alessi leads the first six laps of the main? Milsaps comes from back in the pack to podium? A leprechaun wins on Saint Patricks day? What the hell happened to the mother of all seasons?
Now if Villopoto gets hurt, and Stewart is out- we have a mad dash for the vacant title- ala 2007 outdoors.
You watch your mouth WFO_UFO!! This class can't afford any more curses this season. I just hope JS7 will be back for the outdoors. Skip the rest of the supercross series if you have to James, I just want to see you back on the gate in real racing. Supercross is to much of a show now. "High flying stars of Supercross" - Ralph
It looks like JS7 has a concussion.. Im not sure about Windham thought.
Typical Stewart mayhem. Hope he gets back cuz this series is over in terms of 'interest' without him; I won't attend Houston's practices only the 'show' if he's out. Bam Bam is the next RV, pure agression and has grown up in a good way this year.
Problem: This sports injuries. Understand why sponsors hesitate with it as here we are mid season and everyone who makes it interesting is broken if Stewie is out, what the heck. It's a problem for the sport......BUT....that's what makes it EXCITING!!!
Tracks I agree Bam Bam has grown up a lot but still has a ways to go. What was he crying about aftyer his heat race?? WTF some one pushing him just a little and he crys abiut it??
Way to go guys...great job on congratulating JB oh his great ride or remembering what Phill has contributed to the sport...instead the same ole posts...doesn't seem to matter what the article is about it turns into the same incessant crap eventually...
What an amazing night of racing! Loved that shot of roost Roczen gave to Durham after his nac nac. I'm not sure if he was mad or if they were just having fun but they had a great battle!
CE33 - I was surprised that Roczen was not fined or otherwise punished for that little stunt. It certainly made him look like nothing less than a sore loser.
gplassm I bet what Rodger did to him was worce than any fine!! LOL
@billC - Indeed....just when I was starting to like Barcia, he started acting like a WWE Wrestler during his interview, speaking in 3rd person too...so silly.......That kid sounded like a clown..he is by far one of the most aggressive guys out there....then when someone does it back, he cries about it.....I see some interesting events in the future between Barcia and Durham.....durham is a cool kid and wont back down on or off the track...
Roczen is the german version James Stewart....Dont get me wrong, I like both guys, but Roczen seems to have the trouble that James has had in the past...high crash rate and right now, he cant handle that he is getting beat by guys who he had no trouble with last year....that crap he pulled with DD35 was a pure example of frustration.....
@ dinosaurusmedia , Hey I spelled it the best I could? Anyhoooo I had to read all of the posts and like you I was ready to say what you said ! So thanks for saying it!
Now I wanna say that Brayton is gonna get better I bet he learned a bit more from the indy race. At that level that is what it takes.Yes we shold also be wishing the best for Phil's familiy and frinends.
Yup from reading RV's interview that must have been one mean track. Then he just about called Brayton amazing? for still blitzing the whoops. I thought that was neat. Yes those slick tracks with all of a sudden tracktion can and will bite ya.
This I am saying to all of you real racers that post here, ya I can tell, ask yourself how manytimes did you go ahead and race when you should have not? I did too many times but that is why we love the toughest spoert in the world!!
LETS RACE!!!
@ BillC I learned this multiple post trick from you so if anyone complains - complain to BillC..... lol...arn't we tired of "lol".....
Sort of ironic that the Indy SX was the weekend of Phil Alderton's funeral. I knew Phil from back in the day. Was an excellent rider from southern Ohio. I attended an arenacross in the early 80's with him. After his win, he was interviewed over the stadium PA. They would ask the riders in the mini class if they liked bikes or girls better. Somehow Phil coaxed them to ask the hime the same question. His reply went something like "I like girls, but what is good about motorcycles is they don't follow your around asking questions when you are done using them". Half the crowd laughed and went wild, the other half booed him. Classic Phil.
i cant believe all these riders just let villopoto pass them. i know hes super fast and all. but wouldnt these guys be determined to beat him and not let him pass? i was there and brayton pretty much let him by, tried to get him back-couldnt and just took second. thats why sometimes this sport lets me down. really missing RD5 CR22 TC41 right now.
Welker ... Why I do it. I read the story then post, Then I read what everyone else has to say I and Respond to the ones i want.
.Don't have them complane to me I hear enough already LOL.. LOL..LOL...LOL HAHAHAHA
Same here KilloMoto... I got Ripped a few weeks back so I say OK give the kid a shot to prove he is growing up and then he pulls that crap!! I hope RV, RD, JS or Reed punt his azz right off the track someday!! LOL
AMEN on Honda Hills especially if you followed the quads or pods.Been on the line at 3.00 AM
JB in not the next RV,that rider is still on a supermini.
All these folks who keep wanting JS back because they want the series to be interesting.
Well, how interesting has it been with him so far? He hits the dirt and finishes beyond the top 5 most of the series. Not all that interesting if you ask me.
The most interesting thing he seems to do is crash and Ihave to say, the last one was interesting.
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