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by Davey Coombs
450 Words: Anaheim 2
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PrintLast Saturday night I got the rare privilege of watching a supercross race with two genuine heroes in the sport, both former 125 SX champions. Ivan Tedesco is between rides right now, and Kevin Windham of course announced his retirement during opening ceremonies, then headed upstairs to take it all in. They stood atop a small ledge outside the windows of the Knothole Club, right above the field where they both used to do battle. What they saw was a tour de force by defending champion Ryan Villopoto, who simply dominated the 450 proceedings. They also saw an early test of the mettle of both points leader Davi Millsaps and the Phoenix winner Justin Barcia, as both had to race what may have been the most competitive LCQ of all time.
The night would end badly for Barcia, of course, with a badly bloodied nose, while Millsaps would miss the podium for the first time. Even so, he continues to hold the red plate for another week.
So what impressed Windham and Tedesco the most? Over the course of about four laps in the last half of the main, they watched Villopoto closely as he absolutely blitzed the track on his Monster Energy Kawasaki. Both were seeing him from a perspective they've rarely had over the course of his rise to supercross prominence, and both shook their heads in awe at a few of the downright perfect trips he took up and down rhythm sections. To paraphrase K-Dub, “I’m glad I'm not out there chasing that guy.”
K-Dub (far) and Tedesco (near) take in the action at Anaheim.
DC photo
And finally they saw the man who has been the most consistently fast rider in these first three rounds, Muscle Milk Honda's Trey Canard. With every race, he seems to get a little faster, and while he doesn't have the points lead—Millsaps has been almost as fast—#41 is building momentum with each race. And this time he didn't falter on the last lap like he did in the first two rounds.
The takeaway from the first race of the new life of Kevin Windham was simple and honest: He couldn't believe how fast the kids were going, and he seemed quite happy with his decision to roll his bike back away from the starting gate. Because while he could certainly still ride at that level if he put his mind to it, his heart just wasn't in it anymore, and he could look back proudly on what he did. That old guard I mentioned last week just lost one of its pillars.
Oh, and I also think Ivan Tedesco was hoping K-Dub would offer him his bike!
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Hansen is selling popcorn and candy at the next race.
Kflorida,, That right there just made me LMFAO
I have seen before that Reed and K-Dub are buddies, I even saw Reed at Windhams "party in the pasteur" Maybe he can sign him to his team in the testing department..
@kflorida--Hansen is busy asking "Would you like fries with that?"
@kflorida - lol
A-2
Barcia: Bam Bam made a big boo boo
Canard: Still fast, still safe, Thank God!
Dungey: Will the Real RD5, please stand up..
Millsaps: Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!
Reed: Still in it to win it!!
Stewart: Bum knee Bum night
Villopoto: I'm Back!!
@BD25- Classic! I couldnt have said it better myself...(A-2)
But the Hansen comment was supposed to be "would you like an apple pie with that?"
The fries are the responsibility of Jason Lawrence
I was thinking the same thing when Mc Grath called it quits that i will never get to see them ride again and it is always different when you either know the rider or have met and talked to them a few times. I used to talk to Mc Grath in the airports after the nationals all the time and he was a great guy, I only spoke to Windham a couple times when he was just a kid and even then he was different, very smooth but never a loud mouth just an all around nice guy like Mc Grath. And just like Mc Grath I will miss seeing Windham ride.
damn right the Champ is back.
Great article but I don't understand the word "dominate" to describe RV. If it would have been wire to wire with a win of 10-15 seconds in front of 2nd place then I can see using the word "dominate." It is nice to see that after 3 races most are coming to terms with TC being the real thing.
Not sure what is going on with RD. I would like to see him get a good start inside the top 3. I must say though I was impressed with Weimer this weekend.
@ K-Dub thanks for all the years and great races.
RV is FAST, barring injury; I don't see anyone taking this championship away from him.
CR22 – Is still fast, but not hang it all out on the line fast. Older, more responsibilities, much respect
RD5 – Mr. Conservative doesn’t appear to be 100% comfortable. He had a pretty hard get off a couple of weeks ago, maybe something more (injury) than meets the eye?
JS7 – VERY tentative, definitely more mental than knee, has the real gut wrenching fight left the dog? I wish him the best of luck.
DM18 – Revived or just happy to get off the Yami. Always been one of my favorites, great kid, keep up the hard work. Top 3 at the end of the year.
JB51 – I hope everything is good after this weekend, looked pretty bad, anyone try to breathe through a broken nose? Not fun.
TC41 – A little more fitness, will be able to push RV for wins
Last week there was an article of torch passing. Not this year, RV is the man to beat.
Funny thing was this past Monday morning, I woke up, there was a fat lady transmitted from my android phone that said “Come on JB51 or TC41, you’re our only hope” to keep RV in check.
Man, I feel for Hot Sauce. I don't know about podiums with the stacked field out there, but I certainly think he would make all the mains, represent the sponsors well, and still mix it up at the front with some good starts. Always been a big Tedesco fan and of course Windham, both who used to scream around the Lake Whitney Cycle Ranch. I even have some 1992 video my brother shot showing my results on a score sheet (at the bottom of the page of course), and in the background you can hear an announcer yelling at the top of his lungs how "Windham is all over the leader, Windham takes the lead, Windham is gone!" And Tedesco was the most impressive 2-smoke 125 rider that I have ever seen at LWCR. He would pin his CR125 (Mitch Payton machine if I remember correctly) and rip through the powerband going around this giant sweeper, without letting off the throttle for even a blip. Aaaah the memories, thanks guys, both class acts. And someone give Ivan a chance - he would be a great mentor and leader on a team!
A common thread among the world's fastest racers is their skill set (or lack thereof) upon their retirement from their chosen line of work.
Ivan was great untill someone landed on him and hurt him bad and Ivan was never the same....Is he getting old too?
I don't think Barcia has the concentration to win a championship this year with experienced 450 champions like VIllipoto....
James has got to stay away from those cute drunk bar stars who like to DRY HUMP him, just like in his reality show....never show that stuff dude....thats the stuff you hide from everyone....and then you run like hell from women like that!!! I'd like to say lol cause it was funny from my perspective but not from your James....
http://twitter.com/BAMMBAMM51/status/293901139924111361/photo/1
is that Justin Barcias private track? He must have come from a wealthy family...a very wealthy family....Rich kids never appreciate what they have and their egos are their worst enemies...
ramair350 , what you said Ivan could be is called a team manager......I think he still wants to race....Unfortunately with his bad luck ( injuries, injuries, injuries) and old age it's guna be tough.....
@canadian....I think if you win alot of races and have a Geico Honda then a factory Honda contract how can you NOT have a giant pile of money....he's makin some paper. Good for him....I do not believe he had a silver spoon....any more than most....no one said bike racing was cheap.
Best quote of the week: "RV gobbled up that gap between him and Canard like a fat kid eating cake". :)
@canadianmxfan
You mention that Stew needs to "stay way from cute drunk bar stars."
Don't knock it until you try it!
Justin probably paid for that himself, he has been making a few $ for a few years now. Nice training ground. Any pro rider at his level makes this investment in himself.smart
@thatcatschaaf, are you from Ohio?
Osteo, lol no doubt a ton of fun....I really think that is his problem...Cause his competition is not involved in that much fun..It would be really hard to concentrate on racing when you got your mind on that pure bred fily that was riding you like it was the kentucky derby..
DC you don't think this is one of many pilars the 'old guard' has lost? I'de say the first pillar to go was RC in 07 then Cobra12 then.....and now K-Dub. Thankfully however there are still plenty of old guard riders out there like RV & RD to list a few. Seriously I can't believe you are still singing that changing of the guard song. You sing it, only once or when it is happening. Having more guys at line does not mean changing of the guard. 3 mains where they feature in the top 3 does not mean a changing of the guard either. Would you have said the same the 1st time le Cobra or RC or K-Dub beat MC?
The Dungey KTM thing is more delicate. At A1 I recall you writing he was comfortable but couldnt make it happen. Then he's had some rough races since, and he is now being called uncomfortable? Has anyone forgotten that this is motocross and there are a ton of things that can go wrong, even when you are riding well? Oh and if Canard and Barcia were to get injured between now and the end of the season, would you still say they are the changing of the guard, or were they riding over their heads in the beginning of the season to stay with RV?
VISTAJIM
I am I'll meet you for a Philly Cheese Steak @ Steak Thyme