Rapid ReaXtion: Justin Hill and Davalos to PC
Thursday, October 4, 2012 | 4:55 PM
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PrintYou'd think Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki's two available spots for 2013 would be the most coveted in the sport, but a whole lot of teams have already locked up a whole lot of talent. So in comes two surprising picks for the new year, amateur grad Justin Hill and veteran Martin Davalos. Here's what our crew thinks, be sure to leave your thoughts below.
Chase Stallo -- Brother of a VurbMoto.com dude (So he follows amateur stuff)
I really like this move … if it were for the 2014 season. Justin, the younger brother of Josh, rose to prominence in 2011—winning the 250 B Stock title at Loretta’s and following it up with a win at the Monster Energy Cup in the Amateur All-Star Class, before making his A Class debut at the Mini O’s in November. Although he was solid in his A debut—5th and 8th in MX and 2nd and 11th in SX—he was outmanned by the likes of Zach Bell, Jessy Nelson, Jeremy Martin, Dillian Epstein and others.
But herein is where I see the problem really lying. Hill tore his ACL this March at the Thor Spring National at Millcreek and missed the entire 2012 season. Meaning he wasn’t able to test himself against the likes of Martin, Bell, Epstein, Vann Martin, and Nelson. There’s no question as to Hill’s talent, but I think he would have benefited from another year in the amateur ranks.
Luckily for Hill he’s going to a great program that will groom him for the future and he won’t have the pressure to win immediately. But looking at this from Pro Circuit’s view, you have to wonder why they didn’t stash Hill in the amateur ranks for another year and bring in a young rider like Cole Thompson or Kyle Peters, or maybe a veteran like Phil Nicoletti, to pair with Hill in the future. They are going to lose Baggett, Durham and Davalos to the 450 Class within the next year or two—or maybe Davalos will try and stay in the Lites Class forever—and if Hill for one reason or another doesn’t pan out they will be searching for new talent again.
Although Pro Circuit has Adam Cianciarulo locked in, GEICO Honda just made another power move with the signing of Matt Bisceliga and Jordon Smith and Star-Valli already has Copper Webb on the books. And let’s not forget that JDR J-Star KTM is making a play in the amateur ranks as well with their recent signing of Zach’s brother, Chase.
At the end of the day it’s hard to argue with any move that Mitch Payton makes, seeing as he’s the most successful team manager in 250 Class history, but after losing out on Jason Anderson and Marvin Musquin this screams of a apprehensive move that was made a year too early.
Jason Weigandt -- Actually made a phone call to research this story, and he's proud of that.
You ever see on video games where you have a ghost rider turning in a perfect lap, and you try to match up? You can do it on Mad Skills Motocross, for example, and that's kind of what Justin Hill is doing. He ended his B class career right near the front of the pack (in '11), but missed most of this season with a torn ACL suffered in March. Meanwhile, Zach Bell and Jeremy Martin grabbed the headlines, the hype, and pro national experience. Poor Justin, meanwhile, fell off the radar.
Not with Kawasaki, though. Team Green figures that if Hill was matching up with Martin and Bell a year ago, he would have matched up well with them again in 2012 in the A class. So, he gets a shot at the best team in the business, with assumptions that he has the talent to match.
It's a curious move, really, because most will say Hill doesn't have the amateur record to justify such a great ride. However, the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki team seems able to sprinkle the magic dust, and they make riders do great things. Team Green Team Manager Ryan Holliday tells me Pro Circuit's situation was similar to one at the end of 2009, when they had one pro spot available, and two great amateurs in Blake Baggett and Dean Wilson. They went with Wilson, and he delivered. Later, they got Baggett, and he delivered, too.
This year the decision came down to Dillan Epstein and Hill, and they went with Hill. I have to say, Pro Circuit hasn't had a huge swing and miss in a long time, so based on that alone, you have to expect Team Green's faith in Justin Hill will pay off.
Steve Matthes -- From Canada, but really likes riders from New York
The news is out: Justin Hill, younger brother of Josh, has been signed to Monster Pro Circuit Kawasaki for next year. I don’t know too much about him other than he rode great at the Monster Energy Cup last year. But if he’s a fast amateur and on PC, he’s going to be very good. The team, the bikes and the situation almost dictate success. Let’s just hope he can put the injury to his knee behind him.
So yeah, good job on that signing. But I’ve got to wonder (along with a lot of other people I talk to) what team owner Mitch Payton saw in Martin Davalos. Look, there’s no doubt that the ex-Star Yamaha, ex-Rockstar Suzuki, ex-KTM 250 rider is very talented judging by his practice times, his heat race wins and watching him ride, you can see that Davalos has serious skills. Yet year in and year out, going on eight years now, Martin hasn’t been able to win a race and only had a handful of podiums to go along with the high dollar, more than capable machinery he’s been handed out. Crashes and not being in shape enough have haunted Davalos more than a few times and I’m just not sure the stripes on the zebra can change.
Look, Payton’s smarter than me and knows what he’s doing and if there’s any team out there that can make this thing called “The Davalos Experiment” work, it would be on Pro Circuit. But I just don’t think it can or will. See Hansen, Josh, for more details on how great situations/bikes/crew/sponsors just aren’t enough to overcome someone that, for whatever reason, just can’t pull through.
Maybe I’ll eat crow on this signing and I’m certainly not too big of a guy to issue an apology if I’m wrong. But for now, I wonder what it is that Payton sees in Davalos that I, all the other teams he’s been on, other industry people and a whole bunch of fans do not.
This should be interesting.
Davey Coombs -- Bench Racing Bossman
The rules of the game have changed in recent years as everyone has taken aim at the most vaunted team in SX/MX, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki. After just a few years of success in 125cc racing back in the early '90s against actual factory teams, Mitch Payton's team began having the pick of the litter every year, and Payton himself was very smart with his choices, plucking guys like the young Ricky Carmichael or Ryan Villopoto right off of 85s, or importing world champions like Mickael Pichon, Christophe Pourcel and Tyla Rattray. And he even knew a good mid-career bargain when he saw one, grabbing guys like Grant Langston and Ivan Tedesco when they ended up on the free-agent market.
But things began to change six or seven years ago when Honda farmed their program out to Factory Connection (now GEICO Honda) and they began pegging kids at 1age 4 or 15 as amateurs, signing them to multi-year development deals, and bringing them up through the ranks gradually. Trey Canard, Justin Barcia, Blake Wharton, Eli Tomac, Justin Bogle ... And then Red Bull KTM got busy on the international market, signing MX2 world champs Marvin Musquin and Ken Roczen before Payton could get to them.
Now both GEICO Honda and Red Bull KTM are battling consistently with Payton's team, and after a fantastic 2011 season, the PC crew was decimated by attrition this time around. They lost both coasts in Supercross, Dean Wilson and Darryn Durham were out for summer, Tyla Rattray was called up to the 450 factory team, and Blake Baggett alone withstood the onslaught of the orange and red bikes to win outdoors. Baggett will be back, and so will Durham, but he needed two more 250 riders.
So Payton has gotten creative again. He locked up whiz-kid Adam Cianciarulo with a GEICO-like development deal, and we may or may not see him turn pro early next year. Then PC took a chance on the veteran Martin Davalos, who has always been fast but never a finisher. And now has picked up Justin Hill, a solid kid but not necessarily a prodigy. He's got a fast family, as well as a big brother who can tell him a lot about the pratfalls of being a professional.
Add it up -- Baggett, Durham, Davalos and Hill, with Adam C. in the pipeline -- and that's a solid team. No, it's not McGrath/Lamson/Buehl/Swink like Mitch had in 1991 when this whole thing started, but it shows that he's still in it to win, and now so are the competition.
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It's hard to second guess MItch Payton, as his track record is incomparable. Justin Hill may just be that diamond in the rough that Mitch seems to capture with his rich insight. After all, he knows how to insert them into a winning system. Matin Davalos, on the other hand, while fast, appears inconsistent and somewhat unmotivated at times. A better pick would have been Phil Nicolletti, as he had some great rides this season and was only held back by inferior equipment.
Its a very interesting case. Lets not forget Justin STRAIGHT UP BEAT jeremy martin, zach bell, joey savatgy, jace owen and a crap load of other talented 250b riders at lorettas last year. He did bad at mini os because I think he was hurt and he did get a few titles this year in march AGAINST THESE TOP AMATUERS IN A CLASS, but was sidelined due to the acl injury. Trust me the speed and talent aint the issue, its the experience. Personally seeing that Cole Thompson just dominated canadian sx on a KAWASAKI, I would go with him espcially since he didnt get to show his cards since he was hurt while on star valli and had Justin as Mitch's 2014 PC lineup. But dont worry Justin has greatness in him and HE WILL SUCCEED ON PC!
Mitch has taken a few guys from the slumps so to speak to the top of the podium...Hansen is one of them....The shot at PC may be the missing link Davalos has needed....and if he has a great year, Mitch looks even better....I think he will do very well....its kind of a last chance for the dude to make do with his talent he has shown.....
where did Rattray end up ?
Davalos is like a mini-Brayton ... he gets all the great rides in the world and never really does anything with them... but they just keep coming anyways.
Good for him I guess. I hope he can finally do something special.
I'm with Mathes on this one. I always like seeing the youngs guys who have worked so hard to go pro get a good ride so Hill is nice to see but Davalos? How this guy hasn't pointed out of the 250 class is the biggest mystery in MX. If you wanted a veteran who can win but has been suffering from equipment I would have picked Ryan Sipes. I just watched a rerun of the '12 LA SX race last night, Davalos won the first heat but crashed in the main and faded. I guess we'll see if that gets better on PC.
Hope the little freckle face puss can keep it up on 2 wheels better than his older pimple puuuss brother.............
SpottedMarley you mean more like Stewwy all good rides and doesnt race
I agree with spottedmarley
Davalos walks into great rides time and time again- then does not produce. I agree with the other postings- Nicoletti would have been a great choice Mitch! Justin? I like this decision. He's faster than big bro was at that level- he will get results. All the 250 riders better step up huge the next 8 months- cause there is an extremely fast Carmichael replica about to go pro for the outdoors that is going to humble many a rider in the 250 class...... AC IS the next villi/carmichael! Hands down.... Way to go Mitch!
Side note- anyone know where Tickle, Tomac or looser Hansen is going next year?
Side note- anyone know where Tickle, Tomac or looser Hansen is going next year?
@ cgraham46 Not sure but Hansen all he tweets about are these posh hotels and eating at swank eateries so he has all the excuses on not being prepared or in shape...............Get to work you lilttle munchken Hansen..............Your old man should have kicked your ass years ago........
Tickle has gone to H&H has he not?
Sick, Stoked for lil Hill. Hope Big Hill gets a decent ride. He back with H&H? Any word there?
Justin Hill looks just like his brother. Poor kid.
Chase Stallo wrote: "he won’t have the pressure to win immediately".
Chase, everybody else is talking about Pro Circuit, who are you talking about?
PC is one of, if not THE most competitive enviroments in all of MX. I'm having a very hard time believing the words "won't have pressure" and "Pro Circuit" are in the same conversation. I guess times really are changing.
Although......................being a redhead on a PC Kawi has worked out a couple times before.............just sayin'.
So how freakin' old is Davalos anyway?? Is he going to be another career 250 rider too??
Ohhh do I hope Martin Davalos screws Payton like he has every owner before him. I will be rooting for the failure of Martin Devalos.
Surely did not see the Davalos deal coming either! Think either Jason Anderson,or possibly,Jake Canada would have been better picks all around!They both can be turned into winners in SX possibly, and both will do better outdoors than Davalos.
Man I love the comments section. It's so much like listening to sports talk radio and hearing JoeD from Brooklyn questioning what Tom Coughlin called in the Giants game on Sunday.
People dare question Mitch Payton? I would agree with most and would not have signed Davalos, but I also am not going to sit here and act like I know more than Mitch....because I most definitely would be acting. Just in the past few years.....Baggett, Tickle, Weimer......these were not THE guys to have yet Mitch signed them and they all have won him titles. Reminds me of people questioning Decoster when he put so much into Dungey when there were plenty of guys showing better results at the time. True story.
"Ryan Dungey????!!!! Jason Lawrence would be a much better choice! DeCoster must be high." -JoeMotocross January 2006 (2006-Dungey 28th overall 250 outdoors/Lawrence 14th)
If Davalos does anything this year, Mitch moves somewhere beyond genius status. Davalos mucho pressure, Hill not so much.
Davalos.....are you kidding me,there are other riders that have earned a PC ride!!!! Mitch needs to have a Dr. run some tests & and see if it`s just brain fade...fatuge? Sorry Mitch knows more about MX than me,but.........Whiskey Foxtrot Tango
"When you ride a PC bike, you know you can win."
Davalos will win at least 2 races this year...stamp it. He knows this his last shot at any chance, and now he has the best bike on the starting line, with the best coach/ manager in the biz. If he doesnt win at least 1 race, his career will be over...stamp that!
I dont think he will win two races.He should be able to win one though,for sure! He is usually a good starter,so he should be able to get one win in. If he does get two,good for him,or any rider that does that.
Davalos will ride the best he ever has this year but it still won't be enough. The 250 class is getting more stacked every year like it never has been before, and even with the most killer bike on the planet he'll have a tough time beating geico, ktm, or anybody else on a PC bike that's not showing up to the sx track straight off the school bus. I woulda took Osbourne over Davalos all day long.
Davalos is finally ripe and Payton sees it. This could be Davalos' one and only year of good results. I hope he enjoys it.
This is totally f***ed up. I was totally surprised that Broc Tickle is not on this team after his great outdoor National season! I understand that PC is a Lites-only team, but still -- Mitch should've re-signed Tickle as a 450cc rider. On a positive note, I'm glad to see that Martin Davalos has been given a chance at PC -- this should prove to be a good disciplinary team for Martin -- just to get his Lites career back on track; he hasn't been on a podium since '08, and Martin definitely has what it takes. Good for Martin; Justin Hill should be interesting to watch. Maybe he's picked up a few things from brother Josh.
Phil Nicoletti has earned it more than Davalos ever will.....but Davalos gets a PC ride? Mitch...Phil is younger, stronger and faster and has a no quit attitude.
@Kawi567 Jeremy, Zach, Justin and the others have traded wins and STRIAGHT UP BEAT each other time and again through thier amateur careers. Not takin' anything away from any of them, as they are all fast boys. But now that they are pros', they will have to let there performances do thier talking. Time will tell what the future holds for these rising stars. Getting a ride from Mitch is huge. So good luck to Justin, and all the others. It is a tough game they are in. Can't wait to watch it unfold.
All whips and scrubs video! Let me know what you think! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rfm6TH3J02Q
Excited for Hill to get a PC ride and yes I'm sure he deserves it. However when it comes down to Larocco vs Payton, I'm sorry to say that Larocco has kicked Mitch's A.. since he's taken over as team manager with adding talent to the teams (Z. Bell, Bogle, Osbourne, Bescalia and now Jordan Smith) GEICO Honda will dominate again next year. Pro Circuit no longer has the dominant bike over GEICO any longer since GEICO is no longer running Pro Circuit engines. GEICO will win indoor and outdoors next year. Tomac will win what he should have won this year next year. Who's going to beat Tomac in SX? Please... Osbourne or Bogle will win the West and Tomac will win the East. Stamp it...Tomac SX/MX Champ 2013
Davalos is a good rider especially sx. Lets not forget tho that Mitch was really after Mookie and Musquin. How those guys didnt go green I dont know but certainly if you watched MXOn you know the orange domination is already here. I think KTM will get another 450 rider and in the next few yrs its gonna be orange everywhere, SX,MX GP and everything bikes.
Martin had definately proven himself. He has multiple podiums and yes he did win toronto SX in 08 on a Muscle milk KTM. Justin Hill is the most under rated amatuer there is, probably from his knee injury. PC signed Tickle and i thought that was a bad move for mitch, but look what he did. Hansen was a joke to everybody and team. he got with mitch and look what he did. I just wish that PC would have gotten Jason Anderson or Marvin Musquin. If davalos can finish the race with the pace he starts with (or rides a heat race with), he's no doubt a winner. I'm really hoping Durham can clean up one coast and have baggett, Hill, and Davalos all over the podium. Wish they could get a 5th rider like rattray or superman pourcel
Hill's gotta be on cloud nine with this ride, so should davalos. Hope they get Anderson next year. Any word on where Austin Stroupe is going???
Mitch must've seen something in the young Hill, BUT CMON, Davalos has been
stealing paychecks from every team in the USA......Pack it in already. I'm tired
of fast for a lap or 2 and then down you go. Take you stolen cash and head back home to help your family with farming or whatever you do.
Organdonar.............Let it go already with Stroupe. He's always hurt or on the pipe and can't train. Nobody wants him for a reason.
@ OrganDoner Why dont you donate your tool to austin,he's working at DK in Charlotte N.Carolina.........Here is his phone number JACKO
760-651-BATE
(760-651-2283)