450 Words: MEC Press Conference
Saturday, October 20, 2012 | 2:20 AMYamalube oils, lubricants and care products have been proven to enhance performance, lower ownership costs and lengthen the lives of Yamaha motors. Give our entire line a test drive, and we think you’ll find you’ve changed more than your oil; you’ve changed your entire experience.
Advertisement | Advertise with Us
Share
Comment
Email
PrintThey held a press conference before last year's Monster Energy Cup--but it didn't stoke the bench-racing flames. Ryan Dungey had just announced he was going to compete, but didn't make it to the presser. Chad Reed opted out of the race, James Stewart was in between teams, Trey Canard was hurt. And no major Lites riders were ready to step up. Justin Brayton, Kevin Windham, Mike Alessi and Marvin Musquin were trotted out for the presser along with new Monster Energy SX Champion Ryan Villopoto. You think Vegas had a tough time picking a winner from that group?
Big difference with this year's show. This time Dungey was there, but with less mystery and more momentum. Reed was there. Justin Barcia was there to talk about moving up with two Lites SX Titles to his credit. And Villopoto commented on the comeback trail from injury, which will add a degree of difficulty to his quest to repeat.
With Villopoto and Reed so far removed from their last races, and Barcia a significant wild card (not to mention his 2012 season teammate Eli Tomac, who was not at the press conference but could be a factor, as well as others like Kevin Windham and Mike Alessi), there's much more of a "no one knows what to expect" quality from this year's race, even if it's the second year for this event. It's so unknown, even the riders don't know where they stand.
"Last year was the continuation of a great season, but now it's more like a see where you're at kind of race," said Vilopoto.
"I'd love to sit here and say I'm going for the (Monster) Million, but I'm really just here to race," said Reed. "I haven't raced in so long. I'm just trying to get my feet wet and learn about the new bike, and I haven't ridden it on a supercross track against these guys."
Even Dungey, who should be the most sure-fire hit of the event considering he's been healthy (and winning races) for the large part of the last six months, couldn't commit to anything {as is usually the case). "I always come into races expecting to win," said Dungey. "Even last year, just having two weeks on the bike, that was the goal. Maybe that was over the top, but the approach this year is the same."
All reports say Villopoto is flying on the test track, but even he knows there's a certain sense of unknown in his first race back.
Simon Cudby photo
Barcia, never one to show intimidation, didn't mention trying to see where he could fit in. He simply said he was excited to race riders he has never raced before. And it showed when the crew rolled out for some laps, and Barcia immediately started pushing his Muscle Milk Honda 450 to the limit. Everyone else seemed to be feeling things out, but Barcia was going for it. A few laps later, Villopoto started pressing the issue, and looked plenty fast, too.
But it's pretty clear that while last year's Monster Million was Villopoto's to lose, no one is sure at all who will win in 2012. And that's the best change of all.
Share this article:
Did you like this article?
Check out THE DARK KNIGHT
in our Latest issue of Racer X available now.
Tyler Bowers has become a star on the Amsoil Arenacross circuit, but the often-controversial racer just hit another peak—a surprise win at the 2013 Las Vegas Supercross. Page 148.
Look for the verified symbol 
Impulse Studios
Get in there Barcia! Such a bummer Stewart & Wilson can't join.
Seriously i'm a Bubba fan but I am not shocked once again with the news. RV & RD good luck you guys are awesome. Barcia would love to see a break out win. My hearts with Reedy, I hope he can rejoin where he left off!
This 'should' be a great race but all you lucky people in the US and that have Speed get to watch it. Right now I am in Bangkok, Thailand scurrying around trying to find a place on the net that might stream it....any pity on me and want to help me find it online? Someone want to hold a Google+ or Skype party so I can watch it?....Hello?....haha
Stewart a clown; if he wants to start down the road to win some fans back, its starts with this race. If you were him; how do you not race a SX race with a $1,000,000 bounty??? (thats a lot of zeros) - oh thats right, your pride has run dry and you don't need the $$$.
and another thing; Tomac should have been at press day, he was the fastest rider on the track towards the end of the MX series.
Does anyone know if he is riding a 250 or 450?
You would think that RacerX would show us the 2013 riders numbers and maybe who is for sure racing the MEC tonight.Maybe tell us what the penalty for not doing the Jokers lane.
http://www.racerxonline.com/2012/10/17/me-cup-to-stream-live
http://www.MonsterEnergyCup.com/SupercrossLive
In less than 12 hours we will know a lot more about how Barcia and Tomac stack up against today's stars. Last year in the east/west showdown they were pretty even, don't see that changing. Their speed and intensity on a supercross, track will have them in the mix for a podium, if their youthful exuberance does not get them into trouble.
Barcia's aggressive style hints of Villopoto, the way he attacks the track, should bode well for Justin. Tomac seems a smidge less aggressive but a little smoother, more like Dungey with an edge.
Reed and Villopoto are back racing, Dungey's now familiar with his KTM, Windham wants to show he still got game and the two young guns, Barcia and Tomac are ready to shoot out of the gate and slay the our present day heroes....Where there can only be one winner come out of this group, as fans we will all be winners, as the racing for a million should be epic.. Good Luck to them all!!!
Sorry all Barcia fans but I'm afraid he will be the next "win or Crash" guy and will end up taking CR, RD or RV out this season. RD is too disciplined and mentally strong for him with slightly better speed over the whole track. RV is too fast and quick for him period. CR is a mix of Dungey and RV and is too much for him. No way Barcia can beat ANY of these guys consistently. And as for the future, Dungey and Canard are 22 and RV is 23. Dean Wilson, Eli Tomac, Blake Baggett, Marvin Musquin, Ken Roczen....Good luck with that "changing of the guard" thing....
Can't wait for 2013 when everyone will be back healthy...we'll see some great racing in the 450's
I say RV2 hangs the boots up in 3yrs. I do not see Trey Canard regaining his once great speed. CR22 is getting too old, I don't see him as a factor for 16 races. JS7 supports Obama based solely on his skin color.RD5 can't pass a PW50 on a 4-lane highway. Wilson will not be strong enough for the 450, and will start crashing mid-season from the grueling schedule. Barcia will take JS7 out by round 5. Windham will clog up a great bike, as his racing career has boiled down to a transfer jump during opening ceremonies and autograph lines.
@Pizzacorner
Well, you have dismissed half the field. Who the H@ll are you pulling for?
Why no vid of the press conference?? last years was funny.
Pizzacorner The 4 guys who tested the CRF450 did not say it was a great bike, it got 3 5th and 1 4th in the test. Sounds like Honda has some work to do.
.Uneasy i think by reading that he thinks RV will be the man for a wile maybe?
Lets face it RV looked better thatn I thought and so did Reedy from their laps yesterday. I have to say RD is not a factor and will not win on that KTM tonight. THis is a Bagget,Tomac and Barcia RV and Reedy show. Those will be the winners tonight.
I want to wipe my bum with pizza
Ahhhhhhhhhhh Thanks guys. Whats up with RacerX on that one??
Miso-horny. duh. Hey why was Brayton in the press conference and not Alessi? finished 2nd. Painful to watch anyway.
cummon mustard. alessi? he will go from first to about 8th or 9th tonight. He has no chance. he's a joke
brayton can at least pull a top 5. wait, he's on a yammabog
Two hours to go and no one is any closer to predicting the winner than they were two weeks ago..............
Looks like all these riders are keeping it real for now, until the gate drops at least. This one is going to be hard to call.