Observations: Budds Creek
Wednesday, June 20, 2012 | 11:00 AM
Share
Comment
Email
PrintRound five of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship took place over the weekend at Budds Creek Motocross Park, which is usually a pretty good track with a pretty good crowd. The series is pretty much done in one class but the other class, well, that’s a whole other issue. Let me just be the first to jinx the motocross series by saying that so far, the temperatures this summer have been perfect. Really, they’ve been so good it’s ridiculous! Even Texas didn’t feel like you were stuck inside a Betty Crocker EZ-Bake oven for eight hours. At High Point, not a single drop of rain fell from the sky all day and this weekend at Budds, the weather was simply beautiful. Now that I’ve said that, look for a complete downpour at RedBud in a few weeks.
When I was growing up it was always America vs. Europe on the track. Thanks to our pals at Motocross Action, we learned that in the late 70s and early 80s, European riders were much better than Americans, although the tide had turned by the time I was in my formative years. I was then taught to laugh at the so-called, “World Champions,” as the boys in Valencia never hesitated to take potshots at their supercross abilities, and even their general demeanor.
Soon though, the Euros caught back up to us and some of the best that they produced could beat the best riders from the States. Riders like Jean Michel Bayle, Eric Geboers and Yves Demaria won races that were actually on American soil! Then we got to a point where the GPs were producing great talent and guys were coming over here left and right. When Frenchman Matthew Lalloz got hired at Suzuki over a good ol’American named Buddy Antunez (for God’s sake, his name was Buddy!), you knew things had gotten wacky.
The dominance of Ryan Dungey in the 450 class continued at Budds Creek.
Andrew Fredrickson photo
Now in 2012 if you go to a GP or to the MXoN, as long as you can get past the goofy looking gear and shoulder pads under the jerseys, you can see that (except for the older guard out there) you could be at Southwick as much as you could be at Lommel. The top riders in each class over there are top riders over here and the scrubbing, over-revving and aggressive nature of American motcross has made its way across the ocean somewhere in the last five years.
All of this came flooding back to me as I stood in the scoring tower at Budds Creek before the first motos. The track owner, Jonathan Beasley, loves European motocross and has hosted GPs and even a Motocross of Nations at this place. The pictures in his tower tell the history of the racetrack. I took a few minutes to peruse the autographed photos of Bayle, Donny Schmidt, Demaria and many more American and European heroes.
Now, after telling you all this, I must next tell you that because of holding the European-promoted MXoN in 2007, Budds was forced to change their start and it’s making me resent the Europeans. The Budds Creek start is everything a start shouldn’t be. It’s not fair in any shape or form. It rewards riders that can put in a hot lap in qualifying to get a good gate pick. Being a good starter (you know, part of the actual race) is worthless at Budds if you can’t get a fast qualifying time. Because the track hooks a 180-degree turn and doesn’t funnel at all into a first turn, the gates on the inside are vastly superior and get worse as you go further outside. The guys in gates 30-40 may as well get their mechanics to just throw rocks and dirt in their faces before the moto even starts in order to get used to eating roost.
A lot of times at any other National, a guy that gets the jump of a lifetime and executes a perfect start can come out in the top five, even if he’s on the outside. Not at Budds and again, this is an FIM mandated start—I’ve seen a bunch of GPs and many are like this! It’s asinine to me that you would just reward the fast qualifiers. Fix the start, please, I’m begging you. And while you’re at it, I would like the corner where Tim Ferry passed Kevin Windham for the lead in the first moto in 2003 and then took off for the moto win on the Matthes-tuned Yamaha YZ450F, to have some sort of plaque or historic mention. Thank you.
Blake Baggett used a late second moto charge to capture the overall.
Andrew Fredrickson photo
It’s no secret that many of the tracks haven’t been ripped as deep and watered as much as in the past and officials tell me that’s a conscious decision. They’re trying something different and I think High Point was as flat, dusty and hard as I’ve ever seen it. Well this weekend at Budds, it was more like the olden days of 2011 and the riders loved it. Let’s face it, getting 80 riders to agree on what kind of track prep is ideal or even that they like a track is akin to getting David Pingree to start liking Obama. Still, I think they hit on a formula that most riders liked this weekend.
Usually I start with the 450 class but like last week, I think that right now the four guys in the 250 class deserve the most attention because Ryan Dungey is just making a mockery of the 450 class right now. As I wrote last week, every time I’m leaving the track I think about how I’ve now left last week’s “guy” like bad news and have hopped on the wagon of a new guy screaming out, “He’s gonna win the title,” to anyone and everyone.
This week I’m on the Blake Baggett bandwagon, or BBB for short! The BBB is now full because the only thing Baggett was lacking (and I spoke about this last week) was his starts and opening laps. Because he rides wide lines, keeps his momentum up and rails turns like no other, Blake needs to get a decent start and stay out of traffic to establish his lines and get going. Lately, he hasn’t been able to get the starts he’s needed. Mitch Payton (you know, the owner of Pro Circuit and about 874 titles since 1991) says they changed some things up and they think they’ve fixed the issues Blake’s been having. And no, he wouldn’t tell me what it was despite me pressing like Walter Cronkite.
Baggett ran down Justin Barcia in the first moto and took a close second. In the second moto he caught Kenny Roczen from about seven seconds back and then proceeded to put an astounding eight seconds on the German with two laps remaining. His 2-1 scores gave him the overall and extended his points lead to thirteen with just over half the races left. Baggett’s got more career wins than anyone else he’s racing against, and out of the current group, he scored the highest in points last year (yeah I know Roczen didn’t race but still). He’s showing that right now, with his starts figured out, he’s going to be tough to beat.
Eli Tomac couldn't find the magic he had at High Point, but was able to salvage fourth overall.
Andrew Fredrickson photo
One thing that’s interesting is that last year both of Baggett’s teammates (Dean Wilson and Tyla Rattray) felt the need to go to Florida for a bit to ride and train. The humidity of Florida, the proximity to the races and the fact you’re out of the glare of California all contributed to those guys’ desire to do that. And this year, none of Baggett’s main competitors are in Southern California either (Eli Tomac is in Colorado, Barcia is in Florida and Roczen is with Pops at Andrew Short’s house in Texas stretching each other out with their jerseys on), but Baggett prefers to remain in California and get it done in the place that most racers can’t wait to get out of. He’s got a trip to Florida planned to hook up with his trainer Aldon Baker, but he’s totally comfortable with riding Competitive Edge, Glen Helen, Milestone and wherever else. One bonus to this is more testing time with the Pro Circuit guys and a tighter practice bike.
Roczen has made the podium at every race (none of the other three can say that) and is two laps shy of leading the most laps, but he’s also the only guy out of the big four that hasn’t won a moto this year. He’s pretty much done everything one could do, short of actually crossing the finish line first. There’s been some debate in the pits about Kenny and his lack of finishing power (that sounds like a wrestling debate, like, “Macho Man just doesn’t have the finishing power of Hogan,” or something like that), but really, I don’t think it means all that much. He’s pretty much been one of the guys and he’s had the gauntlet of things happen to him while running up front. From lappers to tipping over, the 18-year old MX2 World Champion shouldn’t be worried. He’s going to win one of these things shortly. The last thing that Ken should do is listen to the critics or get down on himself, because for his first year racing The Nationals, he’s been very, very good.
What’s the deal with Justin Barcia? Well it depends on if you’re a glass half-full or glass half-empty dude. The full people say that he’s been able to win three motos in three races and that’s pretty good. The empty people say that in the second moto he’s been unable to back it up. I say, the motocross series is made up of twenty-four races, and where you end up overall on the day only matters for bonus money and for how it looks on paper. Motos, not overalls, are what matter, and the idea is to do the best you can each race. And for that, Barcia’s been great, winning one race at each of the last three rounds. The second motos haven’t been there, but winning motos is the name of the game, and Barcia’s second in the points and has shown that he can be there.
And in the 450’s, well it was another Ryan Dungey domination show as he had a ten second lead after ten minutes, a twenty second lead after twenty minutes and yep, you guessed it, a thirty second lead after thirty minutes. As I wrote last week, when Mike Alessi is leading, like he was in the second moto and going balls-out, Dungey is back there like he’s being driven by Miss Daisy. Just calm, calculated and collected. He makes his move when there’s time and space, and then just hammers down and it’s over before you even know it. I asked privateer hero Jason Thomas, on The PulpMX Show, what it is that makes Dungey special (you know, besides the fact he twists the throttle more) and he said that Dungey’s corner speed is far superior to anyone else out there. Ryan sets up for the corner a mere nanosecond before the actual turn and then motors through it. It’s really, really ugly how bad he’s crushing these dudes.
For the second straight week Justin Barcia struggled in moto two after a moto one win.
Andrew Fredrickson photo
I’ve praised Alessi before here for doing what he’s doing on a privateer MotoConcepts bike that is probably ten pounds heavier than the ones he’s racing against. I thought that this weekend, the setup on the bike looked off when compared to those around him. As we know from talking to Mike Gosselaar and others, Alessi isn’t the greatest tester out there so maybe he has to take some of the blame for the setup, but man, his bike looked busy out there. Maybe one of the water jets was pointed in the wrong direction? I made the comment to Tony Alessi about the bad setup, and he agreed with me, saying that the rebound damping was turned all the way in, which indicates to me that there definitely was a problem in the setup. Mike still rode great and gave it his all to get third.
What about Broc Tickle? A career best 2-2 day for Tickle, the sometimes forgotten about Pro Circuit racer! He got great starts and ran away from everyone not named Ryan Dungey. Team owner Mitch Payton has been saying that Tickle has been a little timid at times coming into the first turn, and that he just needs to get a good start. Whatever it was, the last couple of races have been very good for Tickle and his 2013 prospects. Despite most pit insiders thinking that there’s no chance Pro Circuit brings the 450 program back for 2013, Payton himself tells me that there’s a chance he does. And one would think Tickle’s in line to stay there. No matter, if he keeps finishing in second each week, he’ll have his pick of rides. If I told you before the season that Tickle was going to go 2-2 at a National this season in the 450 class, would you have called the cops on me? Yeah exactly, so let’s get pumped people!
Let’s take a look at the results shall we?
250 Overall Results:
1. Blake Baggett 2-1 Kaw
2. Ken Roczen 3-2 KTM
3. Justin Barcia 1-5 Hon
4. Eli Tomac 5-3 Hon - Tomac had an okay day, he was so far back after the start of moto one that he didn’t have a chance to get into the race (like Barcia in moto two), and in the second moto, he got third.
5. Marvin Musquin 4-4 KTM - Man, what does a guy have to do to break up the big four? Marvin goes 4-4 and STILL can’t beat any of those dudes in the overall! That’s tough luck right there. In other news, despite being wooed by Pro Circuit, it looks like Marvin is going to stay with KTM for next year.
6. Jason Anderson 7-6 Suz - There’s the big four, there’s Musquin and then there’s a pack of dudes all fighting it out for “best of the rest and slightly worse than Musquin.” Right now, Anderson is winning that battle. He’s already signed with Rockstar Energy Drink Suzuki for another year.
7. Wil Hahn 6-7 Hon - After impressing everyone at High Point, Hahn didn’t get the start with the big guys and he paid for it. He was at the tail end of the front guys but couldn’t get in there with them. All you need to do if you’re anyone but the big four is start with them, go balls-out for fifteen minutes, and you’ll be way out front of everyone else. That’s the trick!
8. Jake Canada 13-8 Hon - He’s just doing what Jake Canada does; he’s solid through and through.
9. Travis Baker 12-10 Hon
10. Phil Nicoletti 14-9 Hon - Yeah! Filthy Phil gets his best finish of the year by far with a solid day, although he did go backwards in the first moto. Lest you think that Phil’s day went smooth though, oh no, in typical Filthy luck he missed his gate call for the second moto and had to start on the outside. As he was getting ready, his holeshot hook broke! It just wouldn’t be motocross without Nicoletti suffering a bit.
11. Jessy Nelson 10-13 Hon
12. Blake Wharton 9-18 Suz - Wharton’s had a couple of races now where he hasn’t done what he can do. He’ll figure it out soon and be battling for fifth and sixth. By the way, he was dead last after lap one in the second moto.
13. Gareth Swanepoel 17-12 Yam
14. Ivan Tedesco 8-36 Kaw – IT9 had a scary crash in the second moto when he was in fourth on the first lap. Tedesco’s had a few years of hard hits now.
15. Alex Martin 16-14 Hon- “Troll” was right there in both motos, but crashes hurt him. His team manager thinks that the crashes are okay because he’s pushing the limits of the next level of speed. Let’s hope Martin figures it out soon or he’s going to be even shorter from the pounding of hitting the ground.
16. Malcolm Stewart 40-11 KTM - Mookie crashed in the first turn in both motos, but that didn’t stop him in the second as he ripped through the pack to get a great eleventh place.
17. Kyle Cunningham 11-34 Yam
18. Hunter Hewitt 25-15 Suz
19. Dakota Tedder 15-24 Kaw- This Tedder kid might just be figuring it out.
20. Killy Rusk 22-16 Hon
It was a career day for Broc Tickle at Budds Creek.
Andrew Fredrickson photo
450 Overall
Results:
1. Ryan Dungey 1-1 KTM
2. Broc Tickle 2-2 Kaw
3. Mike Alessi 4-3 Suz - I can’t believe out of all the races that Mike’s raced at Budds Creek as a pro, 2012 marked the first time he’s made the podium there in either class. Weird, right?
4. Jake Weimer 3-4 Kaw - Weimer took a rock in the sternum early in the second moto and his mouth filled up with blood, which made him a little worried. No matter, he still pinned it and got Grant at the finish in a Johnny’O Daytona move, circa 1984.
5. Justin Brayton 5-8 Hon - This is a start for getting out of that early season hole for JB10. Then again, we thought Lakewood was the start for Brayton.
6. Brett Metcalfe 8-6 Suz - Metty had a tough day with his starts and was outside of the top fifteen in both motos before getting going.
7. Josh Grant 10-5 Kaw
8. Davi Millsaps 9-7 Yam
9. Andrew Short 6-10 Hon – Short did not have a good day and went from fifth to tenth in the second moto. When does that ever happen to Short? Afterwards, he wasn’t happy at all and team manager Larry Brooks was trying to figure out what happened. He gave Andrew a note that he was not to read until before he went to bed on Saturday night. What was in it? Who knows, but I don’t think Brooks was asking Short to be his valentine. Good interview with Brooks after the race about his thoughts about coming back to the motocross series HERE. Yes, I’m pimping my own work.
10. Ryan Sipes 7-11 Yam - Sipes had to race the last half of the second moto after riding by his brother who was sprawled out on the track before the finish line. Had to be tough for him.
11. Kyle Chisholm 12-12 Kaw - Chiz picked the very inside gate for the first moto, but then got a terrible start. Next moto he moved more outside and then got an even worse one. To top it off, he cracked the outer bone in his arm when he hit a track marker in the first turn in the first moto. He came from thirtieth to twelfth in the second moto.
12. Jimmy Albertson 15-13 Suz - Top Jimmy had his best race since the opening round.
13. Kyle Regal 22-9 Yam - When do we start thinking that this thing isn’t working out? Regal did come from fortieth to twenty-second in the first moto though.
14. Michael Byrne 11-19 Suz - Byrner suffered a scary crash in practice that had him hurting all day. In the second moto, he crashed and came back from dead last.
15. Matt Lemoine 16-15 Kaw
16. Billy Laninovich 13-36 Hon
17. Cole Thompson 32-14 Hon - Finally the kid from Canada gets back into where I feel like he can be every weekend. At least in the second moto, anyway.
18. Les Smith 14-32 KTM
19. Ben LaMay 19-17 Yam - That’s six motos in a row in which LaMay has scored points. In case you haven’t noticed, it’s super tough for the guys from tenth to twentieth to do that. LaMay is using consistency to his advantage.
20. Robbie Marshall 37-16 KTM - The sand specialist had a nice second moto.
There were no first moto podium speeches and no intermission this weekend because of the live TV schedule, which made the day end really early. I was very happy about this at the beginning of the day because usually we leave the track very late, and with the drive back to the hotel, it’s an eighteen-hour day. So what happened this weekend? Well the early ending of the races allowed me to hang out at the track longer to get interviews! I’m such a dork when it comes to hanging out at the races that I listened to Mitch Payton tell Michel Pichon stories for a while, then I listened to Larry Brooks tell me about how crappy The Nationals were back in the day. Then, after listening to all the silly season stuff, I got back to the hotel at, yep ten o’clock like usual.
Thanks for reading each and every week, I truly appreciate it. Email me at [email protected] and tell me what you think about everything.
Share this article:
Did you like this article?
Check out WHEN DAYLIGHT BREAKS
in our Latest issue of Racer X available now.
When the lights go off on supercross and racing hits the daylight with the launch of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, everyone gets to start over. Page 110.
Look for the verified symbol 
Impulse Studios
"is akin to getting David Pingree to start liking Obama"
.Good, Lets hope EVERYONE feels like Ping on that one!!
Dang I hate to agree with Matthes, but again he was spot on..
250:The Blazen Blake Baggett (BBB) band wagon is getting fuller with each of his come from the back rides. The kid is amazing using the lines no one else will or can. Those fearless leaps into the whoops at Freestone to the ones down Henry hill show just how hard the guy is pushing it. Yep I'm on board this week as the rest of the Fab Four will keep is close to the end but that red plate is on the green PC bike for a reason..
450: Yes the Locomotive is still on track and chuggin along towards the championship KTM hired him for. In the first moto, his average lap time was faster than any one else's best lap time..Regardless of who was or was not there that shows amazing focus....on to Broc Tickle, he put in a great ride! He has shown the desire it takes to be out front in the last couple motos. When passing, he has been aggressive, ask Brayton or Alessi, sure they will agree this kid has had a fire lit under his butt. This series may not go down to the wire, but still has some things to watch that will keep it from being boring....ahh the Great Outdoors!!!
Here, here BillC..........
As stated Brayton finished a season best.Who has an explanation of to why he did such a bad job the first 4 rounds. I'm not bashing him... just curios. Was it his leg from San Diego?
Also who has predictions for Redbud? . If Stewart isn't there I call a 1-1 for Dungey and a great 250 battle
Would be nice to keep the whining off of here. Don't like it? Ignore it.
LOL motoman287!!! LOL
Bagget coming over Henry Hill was just ri-F'ing-dic-u-lous!! I've ridden that track a thousand times in both directions and to do what he was doing, taking a super-wide outside line and scrubbing back in as he came blazing over the top, was just completely awesome. I got roller-coaster stomach just watching it on tv.
Weimer spitting blood from a rock to the heart/lungs and still sticking it out to nip Grant at the end is GNARLY HARDCORE. Any doubt about this guy's killer instinct are permanently erased, and I predict a resurgance from this guy to challenge Alessi. Gnarly. Hardcore. Committment. What a performance!
I cant believe musquins gonna stay at Ktm and not ride for PC Kawi
Hey Matthes, I'd like to know what it is exactly that you & the Racer X clan have against the MXA (maybe hi-tourqe) people. I've been around awhile and know a person or two and still can't figure out what gives besides the obvious.
Lots of people know that racer productions (the company that has the contract to sanction the nationals) and racer x are both owned by the Coombs' and that racer x is the platform for promoting the company line. People also know that Glen Helen was dropped from the national schedule in an attempt to consolidate racer x's sphere of influence in the moto promotion business.
I've said this before but, I don't hear this nonsense from the other side and wonder if you were picked on or shunned in some way that has made you biased against them for cause.
It would be great to hear a non political response and believe it. Otherwise, keep up the good work.
Hey Mathes...."a pretty good track with a pretty good crowd...and the series is pretty much done"...all in two sentences? Do you actually read your own copy? Your info is great...bout your writing skills should be better than "pretty good"..
Yes I can agree with MM staying Orange, maybe he remembers them sticking by him when he was hurt the first year, Besides the End of the year will be a Party in the Patch ! As far as Red Bud 450- Dungey will run away and hide again ......Alessi will have an excuse.....and Metcafe will start creeping to the podium..250-- Barcia, Tomac KR70 and Wharton
Preston I AM VERY COOL if I do say so myself!! LOL
.I only said something political because it was in the artical, Not that I am denying it does not take much to get me going on political stuff tho!! LOL
@HandlebarDragger........your last sentence says it all. Even the blind can see what has happened for 3 1/2 years. Those who can't see have no concept of a constitution...........
It relates backto the downsizing of the MX community, in that the sponsors, and the companies with deep pockets that fund the teams, cannot plan their economic future spendings because of the inability of our countries leaders to put forth a budget, make the necessary policy moves, provide the guidance with regards to income taxes (sic). All of this is needed to improve the motocross and supercross seasons, schedules and teams in the coming years.
As a business, which all racing is, there has to be a business plan completed. A big money operation cannot function without knowing what the rules will be from a governmental perspective.
So @Preston....this conversation has merit in this forum, so do as HandlebarDragger suggested in his last sentence and do us all a favor!!!!!!!!!!!
Good read, thanks Matthes! I hope JS7 comes back so him and Dunge can battle it out at Red Bud. Should be good racing. I never used to follow the 250 class as much, but now it's the class to watch. Those guys are haulin and battling hard every weekend. It makes for awesome racing. Brap!
SeventiesRacer that true, The GOV does nothing but spend money and pass the blaim!! This loser had it all the first two years, could have moved MTN's but instead wasted all that time ramming a BS unconstitutional health care law thru!! than blaims the REPs; for everything else. The DEM controled SEN has not passed a budget in what 3 years?? Our GOV is a Total mess top to bottom.... Makes me sick!!! $16,000,000,000,000 IN DEPT and they still want to spend MORE!!!
Whoa. Wait a minute.... is this actually an article written by Matthes that doesn't discuss Booba??? I must have missed where you mentioned him because there is NO WAY Racer X would miss an opportunity to point out how fast they think Booba is and how the series is boring without him. Winning motos and championships is not boring to real MX fans. Eating dirt every series you race while riding over your head like Bobba is really whats boring!
Is Alex Martin short? I don't think Matthes has ever pointed that out.
I'm so glad I never gave up on Baggett. He is riding so well right now. MM should stay with KTM...these bikes are so well made and have a few advantages over the other bikes like the steel frame which provides better power transfer to the rear wheel for traction.
This is really the first year of the KTM 250, with MM injuries last year and only one rider there was not much R&D that could be done on the bike. Kinda like the Dungey's 450 KTM is trying to Develop 2 American championship bikes at the same time. Pretty big undertaking if you ask me.
What other team will have all their American based riders going to the MXdn this year? KTM will have all 3 of its riders going and either winning or, finishing top 3 in there class.
Villopoto update?...anyone know if he has a shot of making it for the MXON?...I saw him interviewed and he said he would be riding again in late August.
Not4show= I think it will be Dunjey..MX1...Baggett, Barcia, or Tomac for MX2...one of these guys anyway. Possibly Wiemer for MX3...if Villopoto cannot make it back intime.
RON PAUL..........
Why in the world would Marvin the Martian go to PC??? Would that not be a step backwards??? He has two World MX2 Championships with Katoom!!!!!!!!!!
I would have to assume that having a race team manager who's name is Roger DeCoster cannot be trumped. "The Man" has forgotten more about MX than most people will ever know about MX!!!!!!!!!
@BillC.....unfortunately the "sheeple" only know what the OBummer controlled media spew through the lens of the "one eyed monster". Did you know that the OBummer white house has requested "EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE" to cover for his crony DOJ henchman Holder with regards to the murder of the Border agent Brian Terry during operation Fast and Furious. Obviously there are damning documents that implicate the White House too.................just sayin'
KTM will have 5 factory guys there is you include Herlings and AC222.
My predictions if Stewart is out or RV can't make it back Barcia to race MX3 or tickle if he can keep up the mojo, I think there is just to much bad blood with Alessi clan, Baggett or Tomac for MX1 whoever is most consistent I think we are only a race or two away from Barcia imploding.
MXdN overall prediction
MX2 Roxzen, American rider, Musquin, Herlings
My mistake, I forget it was going to Lommel this year.
MX1 AC222, RD, Pourcel
MX2 Herlings, Roczen, American
MX3 JS or RV if they don't go, Paulin, Desalle, then american rider
Not4show= MX1 USA will have Dunjey for sure. The only European rider Ive seen even close to Dunjey for speed is Caroli from Italy. MX2 "if" Baggett gets to go and gets good start then he could win MX2...but Roczen is also easily capable of winning any race he's in. Tickle?...Weimer is riding way faster then Tickle. Weimer for MX3...or like you said maybe the USA puts Barcia on MX3...he has proven to be very fast on a 450 earlier.
MM is a World champ, the problem is that the PC bikes in the US are better, until KTM can deliver the power the PC and Honda bikes are putting down the Ktm will be a big under dog. At the level the top 5 250 riders are going at, the bike IS a factor. Because these are probably the only guys on the track that are using all the bike has to offer.
I cannot accurately predict who wins MXon this year. Too much can happen in racing to predict a winner yet. Bad start, fallen riders, lapers, breakdowns...ect.
KTM are not underpowered at all. The differences if any are miniscule. I know because I work with a lot of different bikes. KTM has a few advantages though. Better suspension.
MXON,
Dungey,
Stewart
Baggett
You have to pick the fastest riders that are not hurt. Stewart does crash a lot but I believe he has always performed well during the past MXDN's that he rode. I am a huge Villopoto fan, but to pick him after being on the side lines with an ACL wound not be the correct thing to do.
First of all I always like to read Mathes's Observations. Right or wrong good or bad they are hi opions and I respect that in a writer. 2nd of all this is an election year so yes we all are gonna have some political thought even here. At least the ones that have enough intelligence to know what is going on in the world. Since some of you dont understand the whole world is at a big crossroad.
Yes I am 90% Republican and hope we get bama out of there before he ruins this country. 3rd I am on dissability and not proud of it. I know to mmuch politics and history so I will shut up for now.
WOW that is one heck of a pic of Dungey railing that corner. As most of us know that is just about as close as you can get to dragging the bars! Ode to Handlebardragger, Ya I got some pics of me draging them with a roos off of the laver and bars. that was in 73 to 76 time frame though. As for the National tracks I say keep changing them up from the perfect loam to some rough hard pack with the potholes like we used to have. Hey even a bit a dust as long as it does not get to bad. Remember racing when I could not even see through the dust!
Anyhoooooo, just like copying Pins saying! We now have a break and so we are gonna have to talk it up till Reeeeeed Buuuuuud....... AS far as Marvin staying with KTM I sure would with Decoster at the helm I would have raced even a Hodaka, Sorry Jody Weisel, Just had to put that in. I never liked Hodaka's.
Ok lets see who I got upset now?
@CZMark Im trying Thunderbird wine today blahhhhh......
I know better than to talk politics on this forum. I'm just thankful that the country as a whole isn't as conservative as this bunch. Remarks like "OBummer controlled media" are such a joke it's not funny. Then someone mentioned "EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE," as if this is some conspiracy. Bush II did it six times; this is the first for Obama. Mutt Romney will do NOTHING to make your life better (unless you're rich). But I'm sure the "unbiased" Fox News (lol) tells you something very different. Go ahead and bash me (BillC?); I won't be back here to read it.
Red Bud - Stewart not there and Dungey goes 1-1????.....WOW!!! thats really laying it out there.....hahahaha.... Now if Stewart is in fact on the gate at Red Bud and he happens to go 1-1......What does that mean?...will it be that Dungey is playing it safe, or will it be more fuel for the fire that when Dungey wins, he doenst beat the "best"....not my opinion, but its what will be talked about I am sure...
MXON - If Stew returns and starts laying down the 1-1 finishes again, he will certainly be the right candidate along side Dungey....I beleive the leader of points, since the defending champ RV is out will determine who is #1, which will be Dungey obviously..Last year, RV ran the #3 but was clearly the fastest american on the planet at that time, but since Dungey was reigning champ, he got the nod.....either way...Dungey and Stewart would destroy the field.....for 250s, you go with the points leaderor whomever has the most overalls I guess...
All starts should be like Buds Creek with the advantage going to the top qualifiers, who gives a hoot about 30th to 40th place let them go last where they finish anyway. When the lappers get a good start all they do is muck up the race anyway and usually cause some good rider to crash or get gapped. Most of the 450 riders need to find a new profession because they are certainly not racers.
Preston...WAIT 1 min. WHERE did I say 1 WORD about your beliefs?? I think you grouped me in without anything to back it up. Reread my post, Never said ANYTHING about you...But YOU call me a Moron??
.I KNEW SEF154 would show up!!! LOL I guess it's OK to say "Mutt Romney" but not anything about obama..Hmmm Not surprised at all.
Hmmm....writing that "I was then taught to laugh..." at the Europeans by MXA and then goes on to say that they have "goofy looking gear....I guess the lessons were learned well?
Championships are more important than wins. Don't hate on Dungey because he takes advantage when others falter. IF stewart is back, and Dungey sees an opportunity to go for the win he will, or he will just hound stewart the whole time waiting for a mistake. If he takes second he knows its better than crashing and scoring no points. Big Picture racing makes champions tunnel vision creates HiLight reel crashes.
@Not4show I agree with your MXoN predictions. Spot on.
We come here for MX results and news, not anyone's political beliefs. Keep them to yourself and out of the MX forums guys. No need for it here. I want to hear peoples opinions on riders and teams and racing, not Obama and whatever else.
MX only!!!!!!!!
@Outlaw53
Although you could have a valid point that there should be better writing, I would like to point out that fans still need to be saying "Long Live RacerX!!!!!"
At least Matthes seems to have a personality in regards to his articles even though some readers appear to claim that perhaps it is a personality disorder ....
Claxton Interesting post, I have just a couple of questions : How many riders do you think belong on the line? Would you stop at the top ten fastest qualifiers or say take as many riders that were within 3 secs of the best time? How do you think that it would make the racing better? Would that not hinder the sport by cutting down the amount of sponsors? How would one get the race experience to move up and become a top racer? What is your racing background?
Did anyone else have DVR confusion with this race? Can the TV scheduling and channels get any more confusing?? And do we really need a BMX champion giving us his professional opinions and commentary? I think Fro and Jason do a pretty good job!
to ALL political aholes .@billc....take that crap to the Rush Limberger web site and give us moto guys an f'in break......or in Handlebores and his new fan seventiesracers case the Klan site. @carlsbad I actually looked at a MXA mag a while back ...it was funnier than MAD but with three times the ads and the exact same test crap that it did years and years ago..."these forks were the best we've ever tested" next month "we show you how to fix last months best forks ever tested...." lol ....i haven't bought any mag but Racer X for years and will continue to do so ...no "wrecking crew" lol ...for me thank you.@tomktm ...you're the only one that brought Havoc7 up...think about that.
Hey Mr. Mathis did you observe the guy who sang the National Anthem? Hey politcal police can nothing else be talked about? O ya a pray was said before the races and skydivers flew in too! Theres alot more to the race experience than a piston moving up and down. Nothing upsets me more than people telling others on here what can be said.
Hey tonewall. Was it not you the other day that told someone else YOU DON'T OWN this site so people can post what ever they want, it's up to RacerX to stop them? Maybe YOU should take your own advice and STFU.
.Matthes wrote a political line in his "observtions" so that mean it is a TOPIC of this thread and I will talk about it all I want.
.Also very grown up of you to call me an ahole. You really do sound like a 12 year old sometimes.
Yup here it is.
.
.tonewall wrote: 2:04am June 19, 2012
@jonr290 ...I normally think your comments are some of the best on here ...but I think anyone can say basically what they want until racerx puts a clamp on it ..its their site not yours or mine
. Sooooo whats the word for people like you??? OH yeah HYPOCRITE!!!
.You can say what you want on here UNTILL tonewall does not like it!! What a JOKE you are.
Once again BillC silences the naysayers. I would think people on here would stop trying to pick at you. You have a knack for the STFU thing. Always a comeback, and you don't seem to forget anything!!! LOL Keeps me entertained!!!
Bucky is the little motel still open in Zumbro Falls
We are starting to hear strong rumors that our local RED BUD national may be axed from the scedule in 2013. Anyone else hearing this?
Dungey will be the De nations pick by far. Always MAKES the complete
seasons, whether they are Sx or MX. Don't think we can say that about
many of the others (especially Stewart) I'd be afraid to put him in the lineup.
Baggett has the Mental Midget thing going and I'd use Barcia or Tomac
any day before him.
Typical liberals (OBummer believers) that are never able to allow "contrary" thoughts toward their favorite (politician, racer, news channel, etc, etc...) but are the first to bash someone "personally" when THEY feel threatened......
@tonewall is a perfect example, @sef154 is another just to name a few.
As @BillC stated earlier, the "political door" was opened by Steve, and we caveated his remarks with remarks of our own, just as is done with regards to racing comments on here all the time.
So, for ya'll to tell us we cannot speak about politics is typical liberal bias. You liberals need to understand that "we" (people) have the right to say whatever we want to say as long as it is not threatening in manner. You all have attacked us with the "race" card because of our views. Thats about as asinine as it gets!!!!!!
Do not mistake incompetence with a particular skin color, as all skin colors have incompetent people. It just so happens that the POTUS is lead incompetent at this time and is doing everything his socialist self can do to destroy our republic while it is so vulnerable...........
Glad you like it bucky394 !!! LOL Some people don't remember what they say I guess. Then most times when you call them out they don't post on that thread again or just ignore it...... Either way I win LMAO
.gfd971 Yes RD is almost always there but becarful useing the word Always...Remember RD missed what 5 SX races this year because he crashed. They all get hurt, Some more than others but they all do.
Smooth move Exlax, Bringing up politics in the Budds Creeks Observation colum.
You all got what you deserved.
Didnt your Grandpappy tell you to never mix politics and motocross forums?
Should have huh?
Can someone clarify, What is "the view"?
One other thing, What is "havoc 7" ?
"Typical liberals (OBummer believers) that are never able to allow "contrary" thoughts toward their favorite (politician, racer, news channel, etc, etc...) but are the first to bash someone "personally" when THEY feel threatened......"
.So true SeventiesRacer, You see it all the time, A lib like Bill mar will call woman all kinds of crap and no one says a thing but a Conservative person says one little thing and out they come screeeeeeming and marching in the street!!! Both sides do it but its way worce on the left for sure.
I believe that the best part of that entire race, is when that donkey Jamie Bestwick stopped talking. I would rather listen to Helen Keller try and commentate than have to listen to that dummy ever again.
@ tonewall, Saying you haven't bought any other mags beside Racer X is akin to telling us you only drink from one well. We know you're view is narrowed now.
I'm not going to campaign for another mag on this website but, most people who've seen a gate drop or two know the difference between a "lifestyle / personality" mag and a "technical" mag. You seem to be a "lifestyle / personality" fan which, is fine (we need the numbers) but, please don't try to tell anyone on here that the most respected motocross-specific testers in the field are any less than that. Especially when you have admitted you don't care for technical mags.....Sheesh! Also, I would hazard to guess that they aren't missing you so much either.
When RX opened up these forums, it seems there were less trash-talkers and more purists.........or is it just me thinking that?
The purists will always overcome the trash talkers, so yes, it is my observation that the racer intelligence level is very high here. We all follow the sport we have embrased at some time / point in our lives and are very passionate about the current and future course we see it taking.
RX ILL, has become the social forum to discuss, vent, ridicule, propose, and generally enjoy talking to, and listening to like views, as well as opposing views. This is a fun time on this forum.
It is the trash-talkers / haters of all things "not theirs" that ruin this blog, but I guess that is another part of "the other side of the story". I find it is OK to disagree, but not alright to be-little those who disagree with a perspective. I admit at times I lower myself to these standards, but it seems only when the alternate viewpoint is so hateful / degrading / or stupid that I fell I have to say something........
Otherwise RX ILL does an outstanding service through their journalists to facilitate this internet site. They are also very lenient towards opposing views. (I think that the Overt, blatant, racial hatred needs to be stopped by them tho....)
You know, its nice to have an introspection every now and than in order to stay grounded. I do not want to loose the interaction that happens on this site, and it may be up to us (in any way we can) to police the very extreme view points that defy normal social decorum.
To do this only through peer pressure, and if they do not listen to the majority then just ignore their comments.....Just thinkin' out loud, I guess........
@Mr-Mx.....I like your comments and insight, and you seem to have some "inside" knowledge or connections that resonates as you speak. You blow me away with some of your comments LOL :-)
Until next time.........
FUNNY GUYS, a lot of you dudes are funny. You like to have your cake and eat it too.
Over the last year I often read " Let's keep the religous stuff offf of here "
"Leave the politics out "
BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, Just imagine if we left all the opions off, stupid or otherwise, there would not be a lot to read guys!
Point is, this whole forum is about opinions. I don't like hearing a stupid moto opinion anymore than I like a dumb Religous statements (meaning biased against) but it is part of what you get when you enter this social arena of conversation.
So chill out sit back and just try your best to say something smart no matter what the topic!
It is Hypocritical to not want to hear a political, religous, moto or otherwise opinion, if you yourself are about to say something that others or in some of your cases, nobody else agrees with.
Peace
Preston You still never answered this. Did you miss it or skip it?
.Preston...WAIT 1 min. WHERE did I say 1 WORD about your beliefs?? I think you grouped me in without anything to back it up. Reread my post, Never said ANYTHING about you...But YOU call me a Moron??
@ Preston
My coach told me to send you personally to the office ask for Coach Jerry Sandusky when arriving
@ Chosen, I have and I wonder why? I am thinking it is some image advice from somewhere. Bums me out for two reasons. First I don't mind his giving the glory to his God and like him wearing his priorities on his sleeve regardless of peoples beliefs. Second, if that is the case it could mean he is compromising a little based on someones opinion? Not necessarily a bad thing unless his beliefs have changed. I doubt that is the case and hope not, but either way Ryan is the man right now!
All ya had to do was respond. Thought it was odd that you skipped over it after calling me out on somthing I did not do is all.
. YES I am not a moron......At least for today!! LOL
@ Preston right back at you SLOAN>>>>>>>
SeventiesRacer, I agree. Those are good points and duly noted. Thanks!
We are starting to hear strong rumors that our local RED BUD national may be axed from the scedule in 2013. Anyone else hearing this? Say it aint so!
@ the_great_outdoors
aint so!
Greatest track on east side
Ya, I've noticed too about the Dungenator not thanking the man above lately.....no problems one way or the other, but find it curious.
If I had my way, I'd tie both Dungey's hands behind his back so he would not be grabbing his hat bill every few seconds......but I will say at least he knows the corrct way to wear a hat (hehehe)
I'm sure his parents are very proud to have such a respectful son.
Lemmie guess, a celebrity writer wrote this article..? a ghost writer.. ? Allessi is that you.. ?
deadmau5 thanks are you going this year?
@BD25 Yes it is still open. But since the flood they downsized to three rooms and made thier convenience store bigger. I'm thinking they are full. I can check for you, if you would like. I would be happy to hook you up with something, if you want to come. Lake City is close, lots to do there, and less traffic than staying in Rochester. Closer to the track, and when you leave, you could turn right on hwy 60 and avoid the majority of the traffic. But then you would miss havin' a cold one with me in Z F! There are many options, but if you want to come, even at the drop of a hat, I will hook you up. I'm supposed to hook up Ripdown too, but haven't heard from him in a while. So, Ripdown, if you read this, let me know what is up! Anyone else?
Bucky ..Suppose to do family thing in North Dakota week before, that is still up in the air..waiting on a couple things to fall into place before I will know for sure..but we will have the cold one in ZF regardless of where I stay....check in with ya later ...off to work,,,
BD25 If you come back here, That would be cool! Just let me know what you wanna do. There are definately tons of options.