by Jason Thomas
The Breakdown: Pressure at the Opener
Monday, January 7, 2013 | 3:20 PM
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Every year you hear about “the hype” coming into Anaheim 1. I’m not talking about "Believe the Hype" like Mike Alessi in 2004, either. I am talking about the buildup, speculation, commentary, wonder and expectations resulting from three months of an idle calendar. It’s unavoidable to join into the fray and honestly it’s fun to bench race with my friends regardless if they are racers, media or just common fans. While hype may add to the excitement, it also adds another wild card, with extra pressure to perform. For most, it’s harmless fun. For a few racers this weekend, I believe it was a contributing factor in a rough start to the series.
Everyone handles pressure differently. It makes riders do funny things that often are out of character. I feel that some of the mistakes on Saturday were directly attributed to trying too hard under the pressure and hype of A1. Starting with the timed qualifying practices, I was blown away with the speed and risks the riders were taking. There were a few big crashes and even more near misses. Everyone is so fired up and wanting to make that initial impression that caution goes by the wayside. Of course many will say that you have to ride with reckless abandon if you want to do well, but I feel that it is more about calculated risk. Timed practice is a small piece of the puzzle and means zero when they hand out the points, yet some guys are willing to risk the whole season on it. Unfortunately, we lost a few guys in practice this weekend: Josh Hill and James Stewart. Certainly I am not saying that this was 100 percent because they were trying too hard, but having been out there, there is a lot of pressure to come out swinging.
The season opener provides extreme pressure for the riders.
Simon Cudby photo
The qualifying races seemed to be fairly mild but the main events were a complete disaster for some. There were so many uncharacteristic mistakes that I was losing count. From Villopoto’s unexplainable meltdown, to Dungey’s uncommon tip over, to Barcia missing a gear and crashing over a routine double, I feel that all of these are directly correlated to season-opening jitters and just flatly being over anxious. In my opinion, the guys with the most pressure and expectations were the ones that suffered, while the top two guys seemed to come in under the radar and their riding reflected it. No one expected Canard and Millsaps to lead the whole race, and that’s probably the best gift they could receive coming into the season. Light shoulders and something to prove are a great combo for success.
So now the question is, after rough starts for the stars of the sport, does that add pressure or release it? I am interested to see how everyone responds. This week will see a lot of introspection with the riders and teams. What went right? What went wrong? I know for a fact that everyone is glad that the circus of Anaheim 1 is over. For the riders who had a bad weekend, it's redemption time. Phoenix can’t get here quick enough for most. For the few who excelled, does the pressure now fall to them? With so much turbulence on Saturday night, I know a few riders looking to hit the reset button with a lot less pressure and hype to deal with the next time around. The drama will unfold once again on Saturday and personally, I can’t wait!
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Hey J.T.,
Did you just break some news about James Stewart's injury putting him out indefinitely?
And Josh Hill?
Your doing a great job JT at your new job as a contributor to RacerX.
Thanks for the great write ups
I see thru my crystal ball in Phoenix
1. RV-1
2. Dungey
3. Reed
Yes, now that RV appears to be a longshot at the title, I think the pressure is non existent and we will see an unbelievably fast RV at leat over the next few rounds until or if he gets back into the title hunt.
RV a longshot? LOL. It's a 16 race season and every top rider will have a finish close to that or worse. RV is still the favorite for the title.
Yes, good job JT, from racer to writer in one big- you make it look easy- step!
I guess RV saw Eli holeshot the 250sx main from the far inside, so he thought it would work for him, instead it was the down fall of his evening. It almost bit Eli too, as off the gate, Tomac and Osburne came together, almost took out Zach and something flew off of the 338's bike, I think it was the front disc guard..Just goes to show, racing is a matter of inches and split seconds...
Not sure I understand what you mean about us losing James Stewart this weekend. He raced both his heat race and the main, finishing 8th.
JT$ is the best thing to happen in MX media in quite a while!
RV will come out stomping at PHX, but Millsaps hangs onto the points lead with a clutch 3rd place.
mgwest949 Read the Unsung Hero story just before this one, it explains, JS hurt his knee last lap of practice, he raced but was in a lot of pain. JS will have MRI done this week probably done today. His season rest on those results...
I'd still like to see a PR that RV is not hurt.The silence is similar to last year when he hurt his knee. Even though I have a feeling that RV won't make it through the whole series, and it will be RD and TC at the end, I hope that notion is completely wrong (the RV being hurt part anyway). The series needs its champion on the track.
What is up with JT$ - I mean this guy can do no wrong. Goes from a medicore pro (who always got recognition) to a writer for Race X amongst other things. Either he has tremendously deep pockets (probably) or he is a great marketing guru. Too funny!
I dont see RV as a longshot for the title at all.. He can make those points up with 5 wins and he can get 5 wins....
MxBob-
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/254953/
Did you know Joe Brown? I was hoping you could put a thing on your website about him, he was a pioneer for motocross in minnesota. Very very sad.. I think I cried halfway thru the supercross race, he was everyones friend in MN. He clipped a rear wheel and went head first into a double and his bike got him.
You can contact me if you need to
Does anyone know the scoop on Dean Wilson? I though he was going to ride a PC450? Did I miss something somewhere?
Deano is giving 250 E one last title shot
@Red54m - yeah you missed where it was noted that DW re-signed with PC to run 250SX and 450 nationals. He's running 250 East SX to better his chances of earning the 1E plate.
JT$ the peoples champ, is gonna get writers' cramp.
@rickamatuzio I'm not sure how to send a message through here, if it can be done.
Joe's name and face are familiar to me, but I can't quite put them together. Was he involved with running the races at Brookston when it first opened? Or maybe the SX races in Superior? I'm thinking I either talked to him when I wrote about a race or saw him at the D23 sanction meetings.
I don't see anything about this on the Armca site. They don't seem to report these things like I think they should.
Just thinking of all the crap JS would of taken if he would 've ridden like RV did.....
Anyway hope RV is OK, he looked hurt after that crash....
I can't believe that just first race jitters got to RV. He's freakin' RV. How can he go from one coolest cats to one of the riders RC thinks need to race AX? Remember the MEC? Somethings up.Maybe he heard that Lance Armstrong is getting ready to come clean and he's worried.
@therealmofo At the worst scenario for RV which is DM taking second each race and RV taking first it will take 7 races for RV catch up and pass him.
DM 25 points
RV -5 points
= 20 points
7 times 3 is 21.
DM will not take 2nd and RV will not be first that many times - stamp it! Too many good riders and good starters.
@Shepster--No comment from you on RV please, you dont understand what makes us white guys tick , save your post for "people of color, racist!!
Mxbob, is there an email link on your website? I didn't see one.
ME-so-high! On Friday I would have done the "told ya so" that Stanton would have rattled RV and beat him. However, today I'm very humble and I will tell you to relax... RV had quasar speed an was obviously the best rider. He will inherent the points lead mid season.. He is impressive.
@rick..Finally got it ,huh. That's just some of the stuff that I think about. It was so weird to see RV so frazzled.
Even before the crashes my 8-year-old son with 4 months of racing experience (huge RV fan) asked why he picked the inside gate. Even he recognized it's too easy to get shut out there.
Unfortunately RV hasn't proven to be such a cool cat when he gets a bad start. His lack of patience caused his knee injury last year, and obviously the crashed Saturday night. I don't want him to lose his edge, but he needs to know it's okay to back off once in awhile.
@ Rusty & Moto, thanks for clue-ing me in guys! Moto on!
Where is Nicco Izzi?
Good read. Thanks JT.
I think Izzi is doing 250 ESX and 450 outdoors.
What, me worry?
Alfred E. Newman
I CLEARLY dont see RV running away with this one. Dungey is the man. Dungey makes podium regardless whats going on and he is the man for sure. RV2 is fast but in supercross fast doesnt get it done consistent does and right now DUNGEY,REED and maybe CANARD have that but not RV2 or JS7. Those two guys go for it balls out and its win or lose for them. You know If ONLY JS7 would slow it just a notch, he would probably stay up and would have won few titles. They gotta do what RC was. You DONT have to win all the races just pick a few and settle for what you get. Now if JS7 hasnt gotten that all this yrs of racing I dont know if he ever will.
HEC maybe if last yrs runner up MIllsaps stays healthy he might end up getting the title. Its very possible that a guy w few wins or no wins might end up with the title this yr. If i had to bet it would be on Dungey hands down. The guy is always there even w bad luck
@xoxo.... mediocre pro?? He's raced Professional and made a living at it for over 15 years... better than mediocre. Anyone that can make a living in this sport is doing ok in my book. What have you done besides talk smack?
Also, I used to race at all of the tracks here in FL before he turned pro... and no he nor his family had deep pockets. It called having a good career and personality, and never closing any doors in the industry, something that you would obviously have trouble doing.
Dgizzy...didn't RV win the last 2 seasons....he must have an idea of how it works....its one race...and he got his bad night out of the way early..lol...right now I would say NO ONE is the man "for sure"........including the man who struggles to pass. This season when its starts to get hot and heavy...you best be ready to cut it loose cause theres more than one or two guys willing to do just that to win...to many guys this time to settle for position and win it....
A top rider has to push it. Name a main guy who doesn't. Add that this season's field is stacked and what do you get? Excellent racing!
@ dgizzy
Pretty sure the only reason RD made the podium was because JB threw it away with a couple laps to go.....the ever consistent RD also took a soil sample.
He's gonna need to be a little more than just consistent if he's going to win this title!
At some point this winter he's going to have to make a meaningful pass.....we will see how bad he wants it in the coming weeks.
@ Tonewall...you are correct. Some of these guys forget that the inconsistent, crashaholic RV has won everything there is to win in the last few years.....guess he was just lucky?
I would say the pressure has been turned way up for Villipoto, not so much for Reed, Dungey, and even Stewart. Those guys scored double digit points on what could be described as off nights. RV is going to want a win in Phoenix but he will also be thinking he cant afford another seriously bad night.
So how does he accomplish that? By turning it down a notch? That wont work. Was he having problems with feel or grip with his front end? Will he be questioning his bikes set up? My guess is he wins, but he's not going to be fun to be around until he does. If he crashes again it'll be four races in a row. He cant be sleeping good.
^^^^^
The answer is simple.....he needs a top 5 - 10 start.
@dgizzy--another racist on here, dont comment on the white riders dgizzy, you dont understand what makes us white guys tick..
Thanks for the insights JT!
@rickamatuzio - I took off all email addresses from my site a few years ago. I was getting spam from everyone web-bot in the world. I only update the Hall of Fame part of site, and usually once a year, so I don't think too many people go to it anymore. I was going to press Armca to put something on theirs. A lot more people would see it that way.
@ Calsbad How many people on this website even remember that? Did you vote for Alfred E Newman also??
What no sympathy for what Stewart has to do also? He has to win it out too! This is a no Quarter season! Then I guess he cant ride anybetter than thhat RV feller? I think we need to give them both a chance! It was only the first race it is far from over! Even though I am woking on it I think I can bring back Team Surf and clean stuff up! How many know what I am talking about?
PS: Hanna and Mikkola sill can rule!
Great write-up JT$!