10 Things to Watch: Oakland
Friday, January 25, 2013 | 2:00 PM
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PrintBy Aaron Hansel and Chase Stallo
Perfect Record
The season has not started out well for James Stewart, but the great thing about Monster Energy Supercross is that there's always another race coming up. Stewart has never lost since the series returned to Oakland two years ago, the venue's soft and sandy track could be just the place to get his season back on track. Will he leave the O.co Coliseum with his perfect record intact? - Aaron Hansel
Streaking
Speaking of perfect records, GEICO Honda's Eli Tomac has one going so far this year in the Western Regional 250SX class. Red Bull KTM's Ken Roczen and Lucas Oil/TLD Honda's Cole Seely inched closer to ruining that streak last week at A2, but Tomac was just too strong. Will the points leader record his fourth consecutive win of the season? - Aaron Hansel
Sink or Swim
As is always the case this time of year in Northern California, there's a strong chance that the rain will be coming down this Saturday night. In wet weather conditions, practices are cut down to just one session, leaving riders with less time to seek out the track's fastest lines and rhythm options. If you're a rider who learns the track quickly, this is a big advantage, especially in Oakland where the dirt tends to break down rather quickly. Stewart always digs that situation the most--however if it's really muddy for the main events, lady luck will play as big a role as anyone else. - Aaron Hansel
Stewart will be seeking his third straight win in Oakland on Saturday.
Simon Cudby photo
First of Many?
Nobody doubted that Ryan Villopoto would win races this year, but the manner in which he dominated the field last week at A2 was downright scary; if he's able to access that level of speed at the upcoming rounds, this uber-hyped season is going to get boring real quick. Will Oakland mark the second race of what could be a string soul-sucking wins for the reigning champ? -Aaron Hansel
Dialing it In
TwoTwo Motorsports' Chad Reed has been struggling with setup this year, but at A2, he says they moved closer to finding the sweet spot with his equipment. Unfortunately, Reed also struggled with starts last week. “The feeling's better. When the feeling's better you can challenge. My starts were horrible today. My starts at the first two races were good. My bike sucked and I sucked. This weekend, the bike was good, I was decent and starts sucked. So just need to work on the full combo,” Reed told Racer X immediately after A2. Will the “full combo” come together this Saturday to deliver Reed his first win of the season? - Aaron Hansel
First Timer
Don't forget that last season offered up a healthy heaping of parity early on, as the 450SX class saw four different winners in the first four rounds (Ryan Villopoto, Ryan Dungey, Chad Reed and James Stewart). Parity has struck again in 2013, as the 450 class has witnessed three different winners through three rounds (Davi Millsaps, Justin Barcia and Ryan Villopoto). With three of the four winners from the first four rounds last year yet to reach the pinnacle of the class, and a healthy Trey Canard chomping at the bit, will Oakland offer up a fourth different winner in 2013? - Chase Stallo
Shutting Down
Initially reported by Steve Matthes on Tuesday, J-Star/JDR KTM will likely be closing up shop after the Monster Energy Supercross West Region. The early announcement puts the team and its riders in a precarious situation. “It's never good news that this could happen, but then again, it's never over till it's over,” offered the teams star rookie Joey Savatgy. “I have faith in the team, and I know they are working hard to get the money we need.” While there is no certainty on whether or not team will have to shut down (a sponsor could save it), Savatgy says he will enter the next few races with the same mindset he always has: “I approach every race the same, I always put my best foot forward.”
Further, we hear Andrew Short will be racing this weekend, even though the team he's supposed to ride for, L&Mc Racing, is done. Who will he be riding for? Surely we'll know, uh, shortly, but the real question is, how will he do on such short notice (see what we did there)?
- Chase Stallo
By Design
Things are coming together for the Lucas Oil/Troy Lee Designs Honda team (check out our story on this team's evolution here). Injuries limited Christian Craig to just three 250SX Supercross races during his two-year professional career, but now in year three, he's healthy and logged a career-high sixth at Anaheim 2. Cole Seely led a ton of laps last week, and Jessy Nelson has a great rookie campaign going. And overall, the TLD boys have nailed all three main-event holeshots and a ton of heat race and LCQ holies, as well. Can they keep this start streak alive? - Chase Stallo
Will Dungey have his breakout ride of 2013 in Oakland?
Simon Cudby photo
Hit the Reset Button
What a difference a year has made for Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Tyla Rattray. A year ago at round three, held in L.A., Rattray held the points lead in the West Region and was in the thick of title talks. Although he would go onto to lose the red plate that night, and suffer a season ending injury a week later in Oakland, he was disproving his outdoor-only label. A year later Rattray has failed to show signs of contending after 8-12-8 finishes through three rounds. With Blake Baggett already on the sidelines and Martin Davalos marred in inconsistent results, the team needs Rattray to fill the void. Can Rattray find last seasons magic, or will he continue to dwell near the bottom half of the top ten? - Chase Stallo
What's Eating Ryan Dungey?
The ever-consistent Ryan Dungey has been well … very inconsistent through three rounds. Problems in his heats races have led to bad gate picks and subsequently bad starts. Even through his struggles, though, Dungey is still in the thick of the title chase-everyone has had some moments they'd like to have back this year. But he needs to break out of his slump quickly as RV, Canard, Reed and Millsaps are picking up stream. Will Dungey's slump be brought to a halt in Oakland? - Chase Stallo
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Further, we hear Andrew Short will be racing this weekend, even though the team he's supposed to ride for, L&Mc; Racing, is done. Who will he be riding for? Surely we'll know, uh, shortly, but the real question is, how we he do on such short notice (see what we did there)?
- Chase Stallo
Yes Chase, you misspelled "will".
Is anyone else out there seeing conflicting info on the TV broadcast? I know the show is not live and SHOULD be the 450s on CBS on Sunday at noon, with 250s on Speed at 1PM (Eastern).
But my local guide here in Austin for CBS indicates that there will be a 700 Club Telethon (oh goodie) during the SX timeslot. And I'm seeing on the CBS website that they only have a 30 minute show instead of the usual hour. I'm telling my DVR (AT&T Uverse) to record CBS during the normal time, but I have a bad feeling that it will just be 700 Club followed by college basketball. Hopefully my troubles are local (or user error / confusion).
Dungey let's do this man
RD is fine people ! he never looks the fastest, he is mostly careful and conservative when passing and keeps on clicking off fast consistant laps til the checkers fall.
He has had alittle more than his normal share of bad luck-most of his crashes were not directly his fault-have people not noticed this?
He is not going to beat Barcia and Canard on their good days so these 2 guys are going to place RD a position back most every week. He is as good as ever and he needs to improve from last year to reach the podium, much les win. Do I think he will improve ? YES ! Do I think he will take the title ? NO
RD will be there trying to the very end and and its so cool that no one knows who will win between any of the top seven guys, I cannot imagine JS being a threat this year with a torn acl.
has anyone givin this a thought what if roger and ryan never get the ktm to handle as well as the other bikes? At which point does ryan choose winning over his mentor? by him being on the KTM he is stacking the chips against him. The bike is as powerful as any but handles like shit. Now that the competition is getting thick and only gonna get worse, if he slides to far back in the pecking order Could you see him at some point saying to hell with this and going to another team? lets remember ryan races to win not to be there for roger and I'm sure its not just about the money
Maybe AS29 can pick up KW14's ride with Geico.
Great, put more press on JS7. Why does the media always set him up for failure? Just let it be.
Wow!!! Nothing to add this week, those two covered it all!! Good job, Aaron and Chase...Everyone enjoy the races and hope for a new winner to keep our surprise cup full...
Cody, I think Chase got it right...we'll is the same as we will ..
If its a mudder, I do not think it will help Stewie out.. If he has to dab that bad leg, it may end his season right there.. As much imput you have to put in from your legs to help control the bike, it is doubled in the mud...
I dont remember RV being a very good mudder either, it may play into Reeds hands, he dominated the mud in Daytona one year until his bike died.. Millsaps might get another one in the mud also..
and before I get blasted with he just won a title on that bike be real with yourself that bike looked like shit out there and he struggled with alessi at times because of it had anyone of the other top guys (except stewart) had been there ktm would not have a U.S title when stewart gets fired from suzuki dungey should go get his ride back
I'd like to see someone with great video skills to make a split screen video edit of dungey 2011(suz) and dungey 2012(KTM) same track side by side that would be sick and I think we'd all be shocked at the difference of effort he was putting this year past year trying to keep that bike in line
call me an a**hole but stewarts knee looks fine to me he stuck it out when he fell over last weekend and popped right up on it no limp nothing but whatever what do I know
yeah milsaps did good last year in the mud I'd say he has the best chance between him and stewart who got 1st davi was 2nd stewart really looks like his plan is to roll around unless he gets a holeshot I wonder what he is scared of he did say something in one of his interviews about having to worry about being landed on but I say excuse me Mr. stewart you have been the one doing the landing on people your hole career haha he's probably landed on more riders than anyone else
@bd200 I agree. If your knee is jacked up, the last thing you want is wet, sticky dirt and ruts.
I don't think is till be a mudder anyway. My usually accurate web site predicts:
Details for Saturday, January 26
Partly cloudy. High 54F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph.
Evening: Clear skies. Near record low temperatures. Low 39F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Who's the good cold rider? Someone from Minnesota? Wishful thinking, I know.
mud=Barcia winning. Duh.
Wet & Muddy? Maybe K-Dub should have held out for one more week.
Jeramey, have you ever rode 1? I can tell they handle better than most of the other bikes out there. Try again!
Weve have 2 of them and there stock.
I think that what has been happening to RD5 may have actually been good for him. I've watched him ride with more aggression and seize the moment more often while having to work his way through the pack from a bad start. Whenever I watch RV ride and win, the only thing that I come away with that sets him apart from the pack is that his is a killer. He's got the killer instinct and uses it.
@bd200
RV came back from last place to 5th place at Daytona's mudder last year. He can ride mud. May not win but he will be on the podium if everything goes alright. Which is just fine.
Hope its not a mud race. And someone mentioned that its only a 10% chance of rain so i doubt it will be.
RD i think will be ok with a decent start. Here's the thing though. Everyone says RD is running fast consistent laps so he will be ok, but the thing is, RV TC DM and JB are all running fast consistent laps also. That will be Dungey's biggest problem. Can he handle all the pressure from those guys if he does get a good start? What happens if he can't? Anyway, hope it works out for him.
What a story !! Who makes up this stuff ! Its only ran 2 times since 1984 he wasnt even born.. Plus you mize well say he never lost on a yamaha !!! No next year say he lost cause he was on a Suzuki instaed of a YZ !!! Get real these stories an 8th grader could write... I guess if you were pulitzar material you would be writing for Racer X.. These stories are written by people that do not know SX or History there of. Fact..... Stamp it................ BD25
I dont think you can blame the KTM for RD's results . Roczen seems to be doing just fine !! and did you forget Cairoli and herlings lapping pretty much the entire field at mx of nations ?? Im not a KTM fan but i dont think RD's at a disadvantage
I think Gieco would be the best place for AS29 but they said K- dub needs his bike for intros. My next guess would be 22 motosports getting the lease on that same Honda, wich would be great! I also could see Andrew riding for Roger again with KTM because he is still very close to Roczen. Who knows? I'm just hoping Andrew gets a good ride. I can't think of any rider (other than MC, and that was along time ago) that has worked with Brooks that hasn't wanted to beat him to death after riding for him! My guess is Andrew is not getting paid his full contract that he signed and that Brooks bank account is in better shape than it was before they signed AS29. These guys always bragg about how they want to give back to the sport and as soon as the big sponsorship money slows they renig on their contract and abandon the the sport. (MC,Brooks and Ward) Unfortunatly racing is a business and businesses are put together to make money, it just sucks that riders like Chizz and Andrew have to suffer the most out of this B.S! Thats my opinion, but I could be wrong. I can't wait for Oakland, the racing has been incredible.
DavidL: That sounded really cute but you obviously watch RV and nobody else. Dungey is struggling and no where near as good as he was in the past-especially 2 or 3 years ago.
TWK1: Roczen has been on a 250 KTM his whole career and he is very comfortable on it. Dungey is not at all on his 450.
Go Dunge!!!!!
you cant compare the 250 and 450 look at yamaha two completley different bikes
and you cant comapare what happened in lommel those guys would have done that on any brand
but as RCRDDW said he is clearly struggling im not even a fan but even I know the dungey of 2011 would run circles around the dungey of lately
how soon people forget that before dungey signed nobody but alessi would touch that bike, and whats really changed on it? fuel injection? they need to redo that whole frame the swingarm looks like something you would see on a mountain bike it looks cheap and the bike is still one of the heaviest
RD - aside from bad starts, he doesnt seem to be having trouble with the "bike" in my eyes....What we are seeing is Dungey haveing to work...he isnt out all by himself while the other guys are back in the pack or not on the track..he is having to change lines and make moves which result in more chances to make mistakes....If he gets a top 5 start, and Saps, Trey, Reed, Stew and RV are right there with him, we will see how he measures up...his practice times have been top 3 or 4 every week....so that is normal RDpace
JS7 - Dude needs to have a good weekend this week....A win would be great, but with the knee and poor starts, that may be a reach...but you never know with Stewart....that is what I like about the guy....Daytona last year???
for those of you who think his bike handles good go watch last weekends race when he tried to catch weimer coming through the whoops when he exited the whoops his rear end went from 6 to 3 but yeah I guess you guys are right hes had what a year and a half on the bike and they are still making drstic changes as in changing whole shocks but I guess they are just doing that for shits and gigs
Someone said Dungey is doing fine and isn't supposed to beat Barcia and Canard anyway, so they have pushed him back. Huh?
I think Dungey should be beating Barcia and Canard at least 50% of the time.
I think Dungey should be challenging for wins, getting good starts and just doing what Dungey has done since 2010. Is he not supposed to at least be competing with Millsaps? He was racing Weimer and Short last week the way he should be racing Canard and Barcia. If things don't change soon it is definitely in the "something is wrong" department.
A guy making $2.5 mil base salary is expected to do a bit more than battling it out over 5th place (and losing the battle). If Barcia didn't case out, that would have been a battle for 6th. The more races that go by the more it will start to weigh on him. I'm hoping he finds some speed out there this week.
So the long and short of it is that even though there was not short notice given because the funding was short 29 gets the short end of the stick. I got it !
RD is a great rider but bad starts, a conservative style (unlike TC / JB / RV) by the time he gets warmed up ..........
JimM
Pala374
As for the KTM being an issue, we may see when Dungey's contract is up and if he resigns with them (if they want him). It is the most money out there probably, so if he were to leave it would speak about the bike. Then again, they might throw all their eggs into the Roczen/Musquin basket at that point. I still don't get them going back and forth between an air shock and a regular coil over deal race to race.
anyone know how long his contract was for?
I have all the Bar To Bar dvds from 05-11 im gonna go back and watch 10 and 11 and see if its just my imagination, because I dont think he looks the same and the only thing that has changed is the bike
IMO, and I'm a Dungey fan, he has not looked as good since 2010 regardless of being on the Suzuki in 2011 or the KTM in 2012-13. My guess is that a big part of the problem is his head - he is a known over-analyzer and I think he just needs to relax and make it fun. In 2010 he was a 450 rookie and no one was expecting him to win - there was JS, CR, and even RV was expected to win based on his 2009 rookie showings. Then RD started winning, guys got hurt, he had a fantastic season but the weight of that success has held him back. He rides more timidly, like a guy who is thinking too much.
If you think it is just the KTM, watch the 2011 SX season when he was on Suzuki. Yes, he had bad luck with a chain derailment otherwise he COULD have won the title, but just watch how he raced compared to 2010. Different guy.
I hope he can get it together soon, the longer he struggles the worse the over-thinking will get.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8LNbyyIu6w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rqeb8Aij0xg
that second video he makes some good aggressive passes
Wow, another JS7 headlining article, and next to nothing about the guy who is still leading in the points after 3 rounds. No, RacerX doen't show any bias! none at all!!
well you would think that new ktm roger made for Dungey would be pretty close to same geometry as the suzuki roger is the one who got suzuki back on track when there bikes where way behind remeber when Mcgrath was on the rm250
I say they get with the times and go with an aluminum frame they can powdercoat it if they want just go aluminum
RD will be fine .......maybe not top step fine but close
JImM
Pala374
That 450 KTM is a whole new bike compared to what Alessi rode so can't compare. Dungey on the new bike was right on Stewart those first two outdorr races so you can't say he didn't have any competition. He is running the second fastest times in practice. ITS NOT THE BIKE..stop it.
I said stop it!
@ Jeramey the KTM that Dungey rides was totally redsigned from the ground up just for RD. That swingarm that looks like it belongs on a MTN-bike is some of the newest technoligy available. The motor was fully redesigned also!!! That KTM was one of the fastest bikes on the track outdoors, had he not broke his collarbone he would have won the SX title. (RV missed the last 3 races) KTM built that bike in less than 6 months just so they could sign RD and it cost them millions to get 300 of them to the US so they could comply with the production rule. That KTM also had never raced outdoors and was able to sit on JS7s rear wheel 3 out of the first 4 motos and RD would have beaten JS7 easily had he not been hurt! I'm not a KTM fan at all but your either 14 years old or have no clue what your talking about. Dungey is either hurt or playing it safe while all the top guys ride over their head and injure themselves just like last year. Its always funny when guys on keyboards seem to know more about designing bikes than a guy with Roger DeCosters pedigree.
I think dungey is having problems cause he isn't aggressive enough. if he gets a bad start, it takes him twice as long to get through the pack as other guys. Even in the lcq he ended up second to some guy he could of beat. He's always been like that. people saying his bike is not good is ridiculous. also @codyrem, 1st post, "we'll" means "we will". The field is stacked, and guys need to get through the pack as quick as possible
What a bummer that it is on CBS.Sucks,a one hour commercial driven time slot,over a full 3 hour real moto show on speed.
Dungy just needs a little luck on his side, the bike looks fine to me, other than a small tracking issue but they are testing a new shock so the settings my be slightly off.
He is a conservative rider, I actually root for him more now than I did in the past because of the ktm, I never rode one but I enjoy seeing a different color in the mix.
@twk1 first off its "you're as in you are, moron!
and second if that bike is so great than why are they still having problems with it? Why did they have to put a cooling fan on it outdoors because if not he'd have blown it up, so either dungey sucks or the bike sucks and watching old videos of dungey on the suzuki I think its the ladder
roger decoster may be the best there is but he may have bit off more than he could chew with that bike, you ever heard the term "you cant polish a turd" well all they have done to that turd that alessi rode is some polishing haha
Read it again moonshiner, since the series returned two years ago. Man, at least read the whole thing clearly if your are going to be critical!
You, I mean.
gOT IT GRETAL !
Thats what can happin when you drink shine all day LOL ! My mistake !
lmao was his trail of bread crumbs not clear enough for you moonshine? hahahaha
@Jeramey I always try to post without calling people names. First off, that turd finished 3rd in 450 sx while missing 3 or 4 races. Secondly it finished 1rst in 450 outdoors with zero time for testing. Those are the two most competitive places to race anything. For a team to build a bike in less than six months and win the outdoor title on the first year that bike has been raced is what most people would say is incredible, yet you call it a turd. For you to not know that the bike was a brand new design with a linkage and all new frame tells me you don't know what you are talking about and miss informing other posters about. Anyone reading these posts knows how clueless you really are. Also people who call people names behind a keyboard are almost always cowards. I have never owned a KTM and will probably never own one but what DeCoster has done in such a short time would be unbelievable if it wasn't for the fact that he did the same thing at Honda and Suzuki before KTM. So Jeramey go ahead call me a moran and the KTM junk because it sounds you must know more about building championship bikes than Roger DeCoster and have much more valuable information than I do. Good luck, buddy.
okay cool guy
ktm wont be winning any races in the 450 class in sx this year thats for sure
RD is just as good as ever, though, that inverted crash in Phoenix had to hurt the body and mind. Get a start or bad things happen in the back like RV and JS7 too.
The field in 2012 is way more stacked than 2010 and 2011. Compare lap times now vs. then and see how many guys are within 1.5 second of first now.
Compare how many race winners in each main. As RC says, there is a big difference racing guys that know they can win versus guys hoping to win.
Canard, Barcia and soon Tomac are at RD speed but willing to risk more. The big 3 or 4 has turned into the big 6 plus 3 more that fight for spots. Watch 2010 as the bottom 15 just about pull over for the big dogs.
@ TWK1
Seriously ,man??? Did you really say "if RD hadn't hurt his shoulder her would've won SX cause RV missed the last 3 rounds?"
Do I need to explain the concept of the 'space/time continuum? You change the course of time and everything else changes.
What if's are irrelevant!
Dungey has actually been consistently not-so-great this year. The most inconsistent riders based on point swings have been Villopoto and Barcia - both who have many great rides ahead of them. I don't think it's fair to label RD5 as inconsistent. It's more a case of just not being fast enough.
@ ripdown yeah and never mind the fact that he clinched the title the race before lol
RD would be better off if KTM ditched the rear end...Airshocks never have an never will work better than the conventional,PDS never worked either,time to ditch the the antiquated steel frame while your at it...just a thought anyway
@Ripdown you are 100% right about ifs! That was the first time that RD has ever been hurt and missed races in his career as a pro. Rd has missed less races as a pro than any other champion in the last 20 yrs.
@ Jeramey RV blew his acl at Seattle and RD got hurt at least 2or 3 races before Seattle. If you are going to rip on people at least have your facts in order.Some of the things that you say make you sound like you have been a fan for a few months! I know better than to start returning posts with guys like you because it is pointless, I guess thats what happens when you are injured and on the couch, too much time on my hands.By the way I'm a RV fan and not a RD fan, But I do respect what RD has accomplished in 3 seasons on the 450I
I'm not gonna go round and round about what ifs with you twk1 because we get into what ifs that has dungey with no titles in the 450 class so just quit with that
And I guess we will see how happy he is after looking back at the press release his contract was for two years so its up at the end of this year
I was stating my opinion that dungey looked better on the Suzuki more aggressive,cornering speed, passing etc. so why wouldn't I think that the bike is holding him back? Go watch the videos for yourself from 2010
jeramey, youre an idiot. Have you ever rode a moyorcycle? Go back to youre chair and watch tv!
Holy over analyzation's Bat Man!!! They all ride kick ass equipment and they're all on the same starting line folk's. It just comes down to who wants it most....
First off in this article, and several other How to Watch _rd.? Anyone cutting down CBS's (or any) coverage of Supercross, Please layoff! We need to welcome any, and all major network(s) to our sport. We need the $ to exist at the current level of support our riders have come to expect. Our sport on the professional side is in trouble. The budgets of some of the current race teams cannot continue to escalate year after year, without TV and outside sponsorship. I beleive the current levels of $ support by teams are at cost that cannot, and will not continue. It just does not make economic sense. For the good of our sport, please support the major networks, and any sponsors spending money in our sport.
Jeramey, do everyone a favor and stop talking about the KTM. Everyone knows that they are still developing it but man, it's a sick bike! They have come a long way even before Roger was hired, but even more so now. KTM is competitive and that's all there is to it. Now do back to watching your Bar to Bar videos.
why would they go with an aluminum frame the steel/chrome or whatever it is gives you more feedback. i was convinced that it was all a marketing gimmick from honda. also at the speeds of the top riders if there bike is off even just a little im sure it makes a big difference at the speeds of the top guys that is
i have to agree with everyone jeramey that ktm factory edition is one badass bike if i was going to get a new bike and i had the money i would get one, i dont know if its worth the extra 2000 but the motor has got some good ideas i like the valve train i think its single cam with 4 rocker arms. I have to say i think all the time bc i dont want you guys giving me hell and correcting me lol
I dont think Stewarts knee can survive a mud race- if it turns out to be one.
Tyla should move to the 450 class or go back to s.Africa- he first raced the 250 supercross in 2007 against Ryan Morias. Time to move up buddy.