Racer X Redux: Lites Full of Heavies
Tuesday, April 17, 2012 | 5:15 PM
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PrintDid you check out our Sign of the Lap Times feature from earlier today? While the big story in this year’s Monster Energy Supercross Championship has been injuries to the top riders, and Ryan Villopoto’s rise to become the undisputed best in the business, the Lites class is pumping out deep competition on the regular. Sign of the Lap Times, today, provides proof. The riders who set the three fastest lap times in the race, Ken Roczen, Blake Baggett and Justin Bogle, all logged a time of 53.4. They were on the same tenth of a second, with just eight hundredths separating their best laps. That’s ridiculously close, and what’s more, neither of those three riders won the race (Darryn Durham did) or the East Lites Championship (that honor belongs to Justin Barcia).
That group also doesn’t include Blake Wharton, who won a race earlier this year but found himself down and out of contention early in the race. And, the East is, of course, just half of the SX Lites field. Throw this weekend’s West contenders back into the mix, with Dean Wilson, Eli Tomac and Cole Seely taking a shot at the championship and the likes of Marvin Musquin, Wil Hahn and Ryan Sipes sit by as spoilers, too.
After back-to-back East Region Lites titles, Barcia will make the jump to the 450 in 2013.
Simon Cudy photo
That’s a whole lotta’ talent, and when you look at the very top of those lists, I see something that flies in the face of all of the injury headlines in the 450 division. Wilson, Barcia and Tomac have never missed a points-paying AMA pro race due to injury. Yeah, they’ve been beaten up here and there. Barcia had a broken wrist last season and then later suffered from Mono, but he didn’t miss any races. Wilson broke his wrist at Pala last year and it kept him out of the Monster Energy Cup. Tomac crashed out of San Diego this year and busted his elbow, but he hasn’t missed a gate drop. Even more impressive is Roczen, who mixed in both supercross and world traveling with the GPs last year and made it through unscathed—only an arm injury this year prior to West Lites cost him some races (although he made it back in time for the East).
For the most part, these kids might be young and crazy and chock full of style, but they’ve managed to keep the big hits to a minimum. Things could change once they switch to bigger bikes and the much more taxing 17-race schedule in the big class, but it sure looks like the next generation will be deep, competitive and consistent. Could bode well for the future.
You can point to a lot of reasons for this deep crop coming through, but I believe it starts with the professional-style amateur programs that brought these riders through the ranks. Today’s rookie professional is a long, long way ahead of a rookie pro in the olds days. Bogle, Barcia and Tomac, for example, rode for the Factory Connection team as amateurs before moving to pro, ensuring a smooth transition. And they’ve worked with trainers and ridden at training facilities for awhile. Talk to anyone who broke through in the 90s, and they’ll tell you they had zero clue about training and diet when they first made the move. I’m talking zero clue, like Tim-Ferry-hopped-the-fence-and-bought-a-pizza-and-a-Mountain-Dew-between-motos-at-his-first-national level. That’s no longer the case, and that is helping take the guess work out of success. There will always be talent in the ranks, but if that talent isn’t sure what it takes, the less chance they have to succeed. The more talent that gets the right advice, the right nurturing and the right support, the less chance that someone will fall by the wayside.
Wilson still has work to do out West if he wants to claim an SX Championship.
Simon Cudby photo
Further, for all the style, whips and scrubs and leg swag that the new kids pack, we’ve heard precious little about off-track problems. Simply put, today’s Lites contenders may be having fun, but they seem to keep that fun reasonably confined to the dirt bike, and not the party scene.
Also, teams have gone back to the original formula for the Lites and 250 class: the place to develop young talent. For a brief time, teams were dropping older riders down into the small-bore classes in hopes of (cherry) picking off titles. Today, there are six quality Honda spots open (four with GEICO Honda and two with TLD), four Rockstar Suzuki riders, four Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki Lites riders, four KTM boys (between factory Red Bull and J-Star JDR) and four Rockstar Star/Valli Yamaha Lites riders. That’s 22 factory-supported rides, and not one of them is filled by a rider who has done significant time in the SX class. Occasionally the likes of John Dowd and Nathan Ramsey, who had both won SX main events, would drop into the class and fight the kids for titles. Now, it’s maximum opportunity for the maximum amount of young talent.
We’re seeing some pay off at the top. Yes, this year’s 450 SX pack has been washed out with injuries, but when you see the likes of Villopoto, Ryan Dungey and Trey Canard winning races so quickly on big bikes, and battling like they did last year, it speaks volumes to the strength of the Lites class. It seemed like we went forever with just Carmichael, Reed and Stewart at the top, without anyone else able to break through and sustain a challenge. RV, Dungey and Canard won SX races in consecutive rookie seasons. Does anyone doubt that the likes of Wilson, Barcia, Tomac, Roczen and others can and will follow in those footsteps?
In the meantime, injury news took some more headlines this week when the star-crossed Ben Townley went down yet again—this time to a dislocated hip. This folks, is the sad part of everything above. Sometimes, even when you do go through the proper steps to ensure success, and you work hard and take it slowly and learn from the right people, things can still go wrong.
Just like last season where he raced the Supercross class on the East, Roczen will race the 350 at Seattle.
Simon Cudby photo
Townley did all he could to be patient. He won an MX2 title in the GPs, then logged a full MX1 campaign in Europe on a 450 before coming to the U.S. He signed up for the Lites class so he could learn supercross on the ground floor, and hitched a ride with the best 250F team in the business with Pro Circuit. He moved to Florida so he could ride and train with Ricky Carmichael, and hired Aldon Baker as a trainer. Florida/RC/PC/Aldon. Can you put yourself in a better situation?
Townley then went to Team Honda to begin his U.S. 450 career, certainly a first-rate move there, too. But at each stop, he just couldn’t stay healthy. He missed most of ’06 with injuries, logged a solid 2007, then missed just about all of 2008 and 2010 with injuries. He never rushed back too soon, and he never really kept injuring the same stuff. He didn’t ride over his head, he didn’t do anything stupid. He just got hurt.
And those are the most painful stories of all. We like to lament about the burned talent, the likes of Jason Lawrence, who weren’t willing or able to maximize what they had. It’s a shame, yes, but there’s nothing worse than a guy who does all the right things and still doesn’t get the proper reward for it. That’s why everyone respects Villopoto. He got to where he is by doing the right things, and we like to see hard work pay off.
Unfortunately, it hasn’t for Townley. But more often than not it does, and there’s a deep pack of young riders following the right model. Injuries will always be a part of this sport, but they don’t always ruin things, either.
Townley is dealing with yet another injury.
Image Simon Makker/Makkreative.com
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Here we go, the Weigandt "injury hex monkey" strikes again. Which one of Tomac, Wilson or Seeley will go down for the count in Seattle?
As much as like many of the kids coming up right now, the only one that I see having a really meaningful big bike career is dean wilson, none of the others have the ability to win championships inside and out, and traditionally the best riders are the ones that win outside, not inside. I don't care how many regional supercross championships a rider has, that isn't really a good gauge of performance relative to their peers. The one exception to the rule is reed, but he had plenty of success outside before he came to the states.
Dudes, I can't stop jinxing these guys. THERE IS NOTHING ELSE TO WRITE ABOUT EXCEPT INJURIES THIS SEASON!
@hillco112 i agree with the wilson comment but you have to remember when barcia moved to the 450 outdoors last year he was running up front for podiums and even won a race at so i wouldnt count him out
Hey Jason, if you can summon up power with your words, as many seem to think, can you mention that I have a 7-month streak of not getting a raise at work?
Jason it isn't just you...if RC Ralphie or Jeffro is talking about how your riding has progressed and your beginning to get it together when you come on the screen YOUR GOIN DOWN........its just motovoodoo....no stoppin' it....
tomac missed red bud last year
Whats happening with J-law. Last I heard about him he went to jail for assault or something? Maybe Im way out to lunch on that but what happened.
Roczen on a 350 in seatle....I'm not gonna bet my left nutt this time,but my guess is, he will beat Millsaps on that Yamagonnatossyouonyourass that JGR is runnin!
Yeah, I'm going with Wilson as the next alpha male. He looks like he needs more from that 250f at times and when he gets the 450 figured out.....
The number of ridiculous posts on this thread is astounding.
I think Honda should let Barcia ride the 450 in Seattle. I would bet money that he would be on the box at the end of the night. I feel RV2 is the only guy he couldn't hang with right now, but neither can anyone else for that matter! Let "Bam Bam" loose!!!
Jason, Awesome read!! Dont worry about the critics on here man your a great assett to our sport!!
keep it up
Ahhhhhhh.....there's going to be a massive pileup in Vegas now taking out Tomac, Barcia, Wilson, and Roczen. Weeeeeeeegee!
I have to laugh about Ferry getting a pizza and Mountain Dew between motos though. There is not knowing and then there is being completely uninterested in knowing. At 14 years old, I sent away for Jeff Spencer's Total Training and read the hell out of that thing and followed it as close as possible. Mmmmm those avocado sammiches. He even had training meals and race day meals in it. How can a Pro be that clueless about nutrition regardless of age or lack of a trainer?
how could guys go back down to the lites, dont they have that "point out" rule wouldnt they have to many points to drop back to the lites?
Tonewall good point, Fro was mid-sentence about how well Millspas has been getting along with the Yammie when WHAM! Not so much.
B-Kr......... "yes Ralph and how about " Mookie " boy he been really ridi--aaaaaaahhhhhhh geezus did you see that god his bikes still flippin....back to you erin ,try and get to him while hes catchin his breath" good stuff........ 1/2 hr later "boy Jeff the way Milsaps is flying it looks like the've finally got the Yama..aaaaaahahahhh oh geez ..wow is that his spleen..holy cow ...oh no , Erin can you get to Davey while hes still blue ,Erin has really been doin a great job shes finally getti--aaaahhhhh---oh god she tripped over the spleen and is down...back to you RC......
@tonewall - thanks, I needed a good laugh.
Weege - you've got it backwards.
"THERE IS NOTHING ELSE TO WRITE ABOUT EXCEPT INJURIES THIS SEASON because, dudes, I can't stop jinxing these guys!"
Sorry, couldn't resist.
Townley and Canard are two of the hardest working guys out there but they are also bar none the most unlucky and injury prone dudes to ever throw a leg over a 450. And they both ride Hondas...hmmmm?
@braaap114, yes J-Law went to jail for a while on assault charges but he is out now and races the occasional GNCC race. In fact, he just won the last one he raced in. The article is on Racer-X somewhere. Don't expect to see him in the Nationals though. He is no longer fast enough to hang with the current crop of 450 guys.
Who cares that the 450 to 250 injury ratio is 4 to 1.........the stadiums are packed !
JimM
Pala374
the only one that I see having a "really meaningful" big bike career is dean wilson.
What...................?
JimM
Pala374
Hey ROCZEN may actually give KTM their first 350 win on the big bike class.
If you cannot understand why there are so many injuries, you should attempt to go extremely fast on a dirt bike. Afterwards, your questions will be answered ... and you will need to do some laundry.
Tonewall on a roll, funny stuff dude!
I think riders from the early eighties had to train because they were running 45 minute motos and Supercross was an afterthought with MX being the main championships. That changed and riders didnt need the same muscle in the 90s. I'm very happy to see the kids treating themselves like elite athletes again.
I do think the 450's are hurting riders indoors. Its no different than going from a 125 to a 250 back in the day. You could get away with a lot more on a lighter less powerful bike without getting hurt. Think of how many careers were ended in the lites classes. I cant think of any.
Every professional motosport in the world has had to make changes when sponsors lost too many riders/drivers and grids began getting depleted. Its very hard to sell potential sponsors on spending huge dollars when they dont know if it'll last for only a few weeks instead of a full season. It makes no financial sense.
Oh, and dont forget the great job Eleven/10 Mods is doing in the Lites class too! They are developing some great talent!
Why did it post as riversideyamaha, I posted as xxktm.? I dont even know who or what that is. hmmm.
I enjoyed the article and got my laughs with the comments.
@ Handlebardragger, Yes when Barnett was 15 was the first time I remembeer racing against him. He was on a Honda and blew past me in a rough section his but about 4 inches above the seat so he did not have much honda hop room. I thought to myself Who is this kid, I think I was 18 or 19 at the time. He won ev erything that day also.
@gdizzey, Allessi won a moto on the his 350 at Hangtown. Reed won the overall though.
@ hillco112, the only one to have a maningful career is wilson? I love to watch Wilson and agree that he will be good on a big bike. For you to count out Seely, Barcia, Roczen and Tomac is ridiculous.
Speed, success and even complete domination of the Lites class does not automatically mean you are going to duplicate that effort with the big boys...... Tedescoe, Huffman, Windham,Reynard, Lusk are just a few guys that showed promise in the lites/125s class....but were never able to duplicate their performance and capture any titles in the 250/450 class....
His Weegeness can't stop people from getting injured, nor does posting commentary "jinx" anybody. Putting someone on the cover though.................
There ought to be a great 450 field in about two years. Barcia will have the rookie season in the bag, Tomac, Roczen, Musquin & others will have moved up and (hope, hope, hope) the economy will have improved by then, giving a much needed shot in the arm to the industry and finance-needy teams. Another "perfect storm" of talent barrels headlong towards the injury spectre............
@ KilloMoto, the flip-side of that coin is the guys that never had the pedigree to get a top-tier 250F ride that come alive on a 450.