Ask Ping!
Friday, April 20, 2012 | 9:20 AM
ODI dates back to the 1980’s as the leader in grip manufacturing. Focusing primarily on the bmx and mountain bike industries through the 90’s and early 2000’s, ODI re-entered the motocross scene when they developed the patented lock-on grip system that eliminates wire and glue. Continuing to advance the way riders hold on to their bikes, ODI has worked closely with the teams they support such as Troy Lee Designs to create the product that is now being used by some of the top teams in the industry.
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Mr. Pinger,
All of this domination by RV lately has got me wondering: were there any riders in our sport that you can recall who rode for the same brand for the entire length of their career? RV has been sponsored by Kawasaki since he was on 85’s (possible before?) and is obviously still riding for them. You don’t really here too much talk about him switching brands any time in the near future either, unlike many other riders.
Would he be the first ‘top tier’ rider (That you can think of) that has ridden for the same brand from their mini days up until retirement (racking up championships along the way)?
PS. I had a helluva time finding your email address.
Nick
Wardy ran this number... a lot.
Villopoto is definitely having a great run with Kawasaki, though I could have sworn he rode Yamahas as an amateur. His loyalty reminds me of another redheaded rider who was short on legs but long on talent. He won titles in every single class of competition there was, a record that even Villopoto can’t break. His career spanned more than a decade and he rode Kawasaki from day one until he retired from motocross and supercross racing. Jeff Ward is that guy. The only other rider that comes to mind is Damon Bradshaw with Yamaha, though his championship came in the 125 class. If there are any others I’m sure the civilized folks down in the comments section will bring us up to speed.
PING
Hey David,
I live in South Carolina and I keep hearing some strange Moto language at the track. These hillbilly rednecks down here keep saying things like "Maayen, I'za bout 4th on the holeshot!” And I'm thinking to myself, listen, Einstein, there's no such thing as 4th or 5th on the holeshot! You either GET the holeshot, or you don't. These are the same guys bragging to me "My bike's got a pire band in every gear.” So I laugh and say, Yeah I hate the ones with a "Pire band" in just some of the gears. My question is, is this proper Moto talk? Maybe I'm the hillbilly redneck that doesn't know what he's talking about. I've just never heard Dungey or Reed say they were 3rd or 4th on the holeshot.
Thanks,
Clint from South Carolina
Clint,
This is a very common issue in the motocross world. Even seasoned announcers will botch this one from time to time and we folks with the proper number of chromosomes can only shake our heads in disgust. Getting a “holeshot” means getting to and/or through the first turn first. It is earned with cat-like reflexes, nerves of steel and often times a budget so large it would raise even Donald Trump’s eyebrows. Sadly, horsepower is expensive these days and if you’ve got the cheddar to drop at your local hop-up shop you stand a good chance of pulling a few of the aforementioned “holies.”
If you aren’t the first one around the first turn, let’s say you rounded the corner in second, then you got a good start. But you didn’t get “second on the holeshot.” There is a big difference and hopefully everyone can get on the same page here. Regarding the “Pire bands” and an accent that sounds a lot like Cal Naughton Jr. from Talladega Nights, I can’t help you. You live in South Carolina and that’s the way they speak in them there parts. I suggest you join them if you can’t beat them and get “Magic Man” on the back of your pants.
PING
Dear Ping,
I read your Ask Ping article weekly. I find it such a departure from the normal “Nice” stuff that everyone says with regards to everything motocross. Motocross is a tough sport where you have to be aggressive to succeed. So why do all these riders devolve into their best “Nice Guy/Gal” routine when talking about the race? I would suggest that after each interview the reporter says: “That was great, now give us your Ask Ping version of what happened.” I know which version of the interview that I would like to see.
Scott in SD
Scott,
Thank you very much for reading, Scott. I couldn’t pull all this together without the amazing staff here at Racer X. It’s a big team effort and I’m super-pumped to work with these guys. I’ll tell ya, my Troy Lee Designs protective equipment has kept me safe and able to type on my keyboard on a weekly basis and I wouldn’t even be able to see the keyboard if it weren’t for the awesome job my Dragon goggles were doing. My Dunlop tires were hooking up grr… er, well, I guess I don’t need tires to type. But if I did, you can bet I would mount my fingers up with little MX51’s and be roosting letters right off my laptop!
Now the Ask Ping version:
Look, Scott, thanks for the nice words but please understand that kissing my ass with a bunch of compliments won’t get your letter published any faster. I mean, I know it did in this particular instance but I’m just saying that on a normal basis it has little relevance on whether or not a question gets answered. As for the post-race interviews it’s a double-edged sword. You want to thank or mention the sponsors who have helped you along the way but you don’t want your podium shtick to be the verbal equivalent of a bottle of extra-strength NyQuil that puts even the most enthusiastic fan to sleep. It’s like as soon as these guys see a microphone they lose all ability to have a normal, intelligent conversation with another human being. Just talk to the person asking you questions, okay? And if you want to see how a real pro does it just watch Kevin Windham. KW is so smooth in his interviews he sneaks sponsors into his answer without you even knowing it. I’ll bet when Kevin was watching movies with his girlfriend in high school he could unclasp her bra without her knowing it. Boom, first base just like that. And, finally, remember that if you spent half as much time thinking about tuning in your interview skills as you did tuning in Tokyo you would be a regular Jeremy McGrath on the mic.
PING
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I got third on the holeshot
Damon Bradshaw rode Hondas (Manchester/Factory Connection) at the end of his career. He won High Point on a Honda...
I think Doug Dubach has ridden Yamahas his entire life, but I'm not sure if you put him on the 'top tier' of riders. He did win a SX and a zillion Vet championships.
Villopoto needs to work on his speeches, he gets plenty of practice, but he still kills me when he says. "I just can't thank..." He never put the enough on the end, so it just sound like he is unable to thank his sponsors for his total domination.
4th on the holeshot! Yeah buddy!
Post-MX, I do believe Wardy was a Honda guy in supermoto.
Hey ping great articles as always. Unfortunately you are mistaken on Jeff ward. Think back bro. He started on Hondas with keep. Remember. As a factory rider yes. Kawi all the way.
6th Holeshot baby!
I remember Jeff Ward in the old XR 75 brochures and adds.
I know thats really Old School, but Honda was his 1st sponsor
Not sure if Travis Pastrana counts, but he's always been on Suzuki.
For some reason I think Wardy raced a Yam or Suz in his first year pro 1978, then got the Kaw contract. Maybe somone can verify that?
I like Villopoto despite his repeated efforts to repel me with his mic schtick. At least Dungey can muster a smile while going through the motions.
Tune in Tokyo = awesome. Well done, Ping.
Wow - I think it would be incredibly hard to find a pro with a long career (5+ years) that was on only one brand throughout his career. Between team politics, personality clashes, injuries, and the duration of contracts, the stars would really have to align to keep anyone on the same brand for their entire career.
Pastrana does come to mind as he raced for Suzuki during his "amateur" career before moving up to the pro ranks.
As for Wardy, he was Honda's lead dog on the XR75 and even had one of the 100cc "mini-Elsinore" before moving to the pro ranks. No room at Honda in '78 so he went with what was arguably the best 125 at the time in the Suzuki. After the single season on the Suzuki he was on a Kawasaki through the remainder of his pro career. Given how long he was a pro, it is easy to view him as a single team guy.
Ward's AMA Hall of Fame bio - http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.aspx?racerid=291
"Ward joined the professional motocross ranks in 1978 riding an FMF-backed Suzuki in the 125 class. He earned five top-10 finishes and finished his rookie season ranked a very credible seventh in the series."
I didn't know K-dub went to high school.
Now I'a a gonna do my best BillC impersination with following post (hehates that I say that. Anyhoooo I am gonna mention "brocoli" as in "Let Broc by" that was on the pit board. fo those of you that dont know moto history ya need to lok it up. As far as I know Glover was on Yamaha but I think he rode out of Donnie Elmers shop for a bit. I am not sure just let me know if my swining arm ais to long?
As for the Moto language it goes to all part of the country. Ya beck in the day if you was from "Cali" you was the man? I still remember taking out this hot shot from "Cali" hey that is where he said he was fram. Dist 37nbr 1????? Anyhooooo that was fun.After out ram fest the first moto he thought I was a bad guy for aiming at his front tire in this 180 hairpin corner? it was like taking candy from a baby. No I woud never do thet, just a saying , Now if Villo said how easy he won and said that he would be in deep dodo......
I dont hink they could print or show my podium speech? Ya know racing is not a ballet dance er excuse me I need to get by if I dont I dont get my money. Duh the trophies are nice but any of you peope eve try to cook one to eat? I like money! gotta pay the bills. Hey I planeted that guy pretty good then I am glad he did not get hurt.
My podium speach. Ya! we gopt rain and all to day my fingers hurt. Plowed into too many snow fences................
Pretty sure that unclasping the brassiere involves 2nd base, or at least it did when I was a boob obsessed youngster.
http://www.classicmotocrossimages.com/photo_album3.2.html
here is a pic of ward on a suzuki. and I WAS THERE. yea
RV Has gotten a LOT better with his interviews... So has Dungey. I guess a lot of that just comes with practice, some training/insight, and yes, a high school education! I really do think that's another topic for another forum though :)
and if we're keepin' track... I'm way back on that holeshot. Damn wheelies on the gate!
@ motojoe710 Thanks for the website I added it to my racing stuff folder! Another great site. The best is still "The Vault" that Racer X is working on. Sometime I will change my avitar to show the trikest 1973/4 125 YZ ever. It is the silver tanked one with the straps. all I have left of it is the tank and the maybe factory cylinder or jug as we call them now in my moto speak world.
@SeriousJoe - What kind of comment was that?
Glover did indeed spend his whole AMA career on a Yamaha; however, he ended his career with a brief stint in Europe on KTM.
Pastrana's MX career wasn't incredibly long; however, he's stuck with Suzuki through some supermoto, a GNCC race, and a multitude of X-Game medals.
I'm giving it to Ward since no Pro has ridden the same brand forever, including Amateurs. I thought Travis for a second, but remember seeing a picture of him on a PW50. How's about we just stick to the Pros?
Ping,
I know that we, the collectively unwashed, uneducated, and uncouth losers that have diarrhea of the keyboard all too often really have earned the right to be grouped by you into a class less than quad riders. We deserve that and more. But just like emulation is the most sincere form of flattery, consider yourself high and exalted by the people that are incapable of deftly mixing in humor, wit, or even focus in with their digital bile, but post their atrophied brain effluent anyway. You are the gold standard!
WDCHTHTYDIIC
For ya'll on the left side of the map, younger and just waiting to fall off: WEDONTCAREHOWTHEHELLYOUDOITINCALIFORNIA
@Maico25 Ya you are correct, that is what I used to say. Now the only Maico I raced was the 125 rotaryvalve but then of course it broke on me? Wow that thing was fast and stable though. Gave it back to the shop that let me race it.
oops!!!! "THEY" DOITINCALIFORNIA
@Welker
First one I had was a 1975 400MX. Transmission was flawed and always tearing up shifter forks, but the rest of my maico's were bullet proof. Still have a 79 450 magnum II in pristine condition, lots of power and steady as a train (Bing carb. overloads if not careful). Went to KTM's in the mid-80s.
Had a guy at a two day walk up to me and keep saying ,"gut an chan awl" took me a couple trys to get it... I think RV's getting quite good at interviews...mostly because he does one EVERY single week. @maico25 if you don't care how we did it in california why did you do it 2 years later....? RV will "break" the competition again and Wilson will return to form......good nite now.....
How about Keith 'bones' Bowen on a Yamaha.
Bowen finished up on KTM in Europe.
Also, pretty sure Broccoli started on an 125 Elsinore as a pro.
RV raced a Yamaha in '02, with help from Brothers' Honda/Yamaha in Bremerton, WA. As I recall, he spanked Alessi at Loretta's on that Yamaha - that's what really got him noticed... you know when quietly beat the kid of the loudest dad. The next year he was on Team Green and getting help from Pro Circuit.
Nobody rode one brand from beginning to end of their professional "moto" careers.
Ahhh, the never ending "East vs West" debate......how 'bout it gets settled at Vegas in a couple of weeks???
how about Bayle. I actually don't know or really care but it should keep this lame ass clip goin awhile.....didn't he ride a taco44 before he turned pro......
I had a HRC 100cc Elsinore. Actually; HRC wasn't called HRC yet. Was called RSC (Racing Service Center) then. Anyway, the shop I was racing for gave it to me and wanted me to race it. Problem was where the stock jug was stamped "123cc" the factory 100cc jug had a blank stamp. Not cool. People thought I was cheating the 1st couple weeks. Then CycleNews had an article about Wardy and his 100cc Honda.
Wardy's must have been a lot faster than mine. Was a LOT slower (motorwise) than the 125. Of course the chassis was a mile better than all the other 100s and it was nearly unbeatable after the start (except for the Pentons and all you had to do was hang close and they would start missing shifts). Everyone complained and after about 6-8 weeks District 11 banned them.
Except for the Wardy/100cc connection, the above is irrelevant to the discussion. I apologize and promise to punish myself.
@elsinoreracer....a shotgun blast to the nads will be sufficient.....you channeling harry carey or what.....http://youtu.be/Yf2LgpIX6tY
Hey Man. Actually love California, go every chance I get. I just love the sparring between tha areas, especially when there was an East and West publication of Cycle News.
I did not know they even made "extra strength" NyQuil......I'm headed to Rite-Aide!!!
Great article Ping!
I agree, these days a lot of guys just dont thank their sponsors or anything!
@KTMrider12 - lol I was beginning to wonder if anyone else noticed that. The "I just can't thank - " thing drives me nuts...and the other one guys do is "I just gotta thank the whole - " and just start rambling off sponsors and never add the "team" to it.
@motojoe710 - nice work! I never knew wardy rode a Suzuki.
@B-KR - well, considering only a select few manufacturers make 50's pretty much everybody started on a PW (or Cobra more recently)...so I'd say you can't really factor the peewee's in.