by Aaron Hansel
Morning Report: Oakland
Saturday, January 26, 2013 | 3:40 PM
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PrintRound four of Monster Energy Supercross is upon us here in Oakland, California, but with all of the action that’s already taken place this season, on and off the track, it seems like we’re already halfway through the year. Three riders have won in as many races in the 450SX class, and with names like Trey Canard, Chad Reed, James Stewart and Ryan Dungey still winless, the streak of new winners just might stay alive tonight. In the 250SX ranks, Eli Tomac continues to dominate the field, coming into Oakland sporting the red number plate and a perfect record.
Fans of Andrew Short will be happy to know that after the announcement of the closing of the Chaparral Honda team, the #29 bike has been spotted in the pits here in Oakland with the old L & M racing rig, which is the same rig Josh Hansen was pitting out of earlier in the year. Rumors continue to swirl regarding Hansen’s status. Some have him out sick, some have him out of the series altogether. In the Red Bull KTM pits, the air shock has once again been removed from Ryan Dungey’s bike. If you’re keeping score, that’s every other race so far that the team has gone back and forth between the air and traditional coil shock. Justin Barcia is here, and although it looks like he just emerged from a bareknuckle boxing match, he will be racing tonight after a badly cased triple forced him to pull out last week at A2.
Short is racing tonight in Oakland
Photo: Hansel
The track is interesting. Word is that the dirt is exactly the same as last year, but it sure seems different. Instead of the somewhat soft and sandy composition of the past, it’s hard, sticky and clay-like, and should develop plenty of ruts. There are two whoop sections. The first one is right after a flat 180 degree left-hander and consists of eleven whoops. A right-hand 180 degree berm follows before the riders launch into the second set of whoops, which is nine long. The whoops look hard and compact, but they're going to get rutted. The sand section, which could be described as a gentle right-hand turn that sharpens up at the end, has an inside section which is separated from the outside by a small berm. The inside line is clearly shorter, and it’s unlikely many riders will opt to go outside.
Timed practice will be happening soon here in Oakland, so be sure to check back here often and follow us on Twitter, @racerxonline, for updates on the action from the fourth round of Monster Energy Supercross.
Sand Section
Photo: Hansel
Whoop Section
Photo: Hansel
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It's gonna be Bubba's World tonight! Go shut up the Haters and win this thing James!
Good for Shorty!! Go away Hansen, your employment is terminated.
Top Jimmy likes Bubba! Top Jimmy thinks Bubba will win! Top Jimmy is going to be sadly disappointed...
Ruts = Millsaps ('specially if RV doesn't get a good start.)
No one does well on a rutted track with no ACL, so doubtful for Bubba.
PLEASE quit with all the testing KTM and just focus on winning a flippin race!!!!
Go RD5!
Maybe Short's current situation will light a fire up his ass to make some big moves tonight. Hope he does.
Someone actually thinks Stewart will win tonight? Seriously? Are you high? Did you fall into a coma four years ago and just wake up yesterday? I seriously don't know who is more obnoxious, Stewart fans or Stewart haters. Here's my winner odds.
Villopoto 50%
Canard 20%
Reed 15%
Barcia 10%
Dungey 5%
@ smee, your odds aren't bad but you left out Saps. I like top 2, Itnik you could interchange Saps, Reed, Barcia and Dungey right now. I think Barcia will be less than 100% aggressive tonight after getting the s#&t knogked out of him last week.
wow, I fat fingered the hell out of that post. Think and knocked to replace the words that don't make sense.
What's up with Weege skipping the Oakland round? Scairt of the neighborhood? Maybe Weege only wrestle pantsless NJ white boys?
RCRDDW.... shouldn't you be worrying about your boy finally makin a podium...maybe...i think the katoom should be R&d' to death..have Gandalf wave his wand over it next...............Havoc haters ....anyone turning a FULL second faster qualifing than RV is not over the hill and has a shot at the win ...period...even though he'll probably plow with ole paint before the eve is done.....Go RV1 ...Bam,,,..41..........t-mac G O N E....
The Dunge has got his excuse hookup set for the rest of the year, so you guys can relax. It's the shock.
@smee113 Stewart has a chance! There is no way someone having practice times in the top three and not having a chance to win! The only reason he didn't have the top practice time at A2 was because he had to slow down because of a slower rider in front of him on his fast lap. I saw it! Stewart has a chance. I was at the Phoenix Supercross in the pits and I was looking at James and he is not even limping. I personally dont think he is hurt that badly to ride that fast!
Dunge is the man ! Stamp it !
Dungy 50 %
Villapoto 45%
Roczen 80 %
Tomac 20 %
I am looking for our 4th different winner for tonight! Nerver know, maybe Stewart will turn it up? Four weeks is about right for getting used to that knee. I hope it is Reed's or Canards turn to feel the majic! Maybe we will have a repeat winner, For the sake of the series I hope not. No offence BillC but I dont wanna se RV win again tonight. I just hope the racing stays close and everyone stays safe! My Bookie says to put all of my money on Hannah! OOPS! wrong episode of May the best Man win, Good luck to all!
PS: those are not "AIR' shocks they are running Nitrogen it is a compressable gas,if used in the pure form most people should know? Nitrogen will heat up and change the rebound on the shock the spring will help that. The main goal in my opion for no spring is less unsprung weight. It will work just gotta get a way to control the temp changes. Gee what do I know?
I personnaly dont think Stewies ACL is that bad, there isnt a chance it is "torn" like most people believe.. Is there a tear in it?.. Probably, but I dont believe it is torn completely.. Or he would be having problems in his practice laps also.. He wont tell because he likes the drama and is getting more press, even with the bad finishes.. The press still gives him a ton of air time, and its what he likes..
bd200
Dumb ass coment you better go back and look at the XRAY.. You need glasses or a class at looking at the film ...Stupid comment from a pure pozer !
@Scrub--If you dont agree with my opinion fine quit being a c0cksucker about it...You arent a doctor, and Stewie said himself he would be fine before the season ends, so that tells me it isnt completely torn, other wise it wouldnt heal without surgery..You have to have surgery if its completely torn, douchebag!!
@Supersxfan--just saw were Dungey was fastest in 2nd practice, he may surprise some guys.. And I dont think I have ever heard Dungey make an excuse about anything..
It is not going to heal mongoloid....I have picture just like I had both torn mcl and acl I have toe photos... It will not heal without a knife
if Havoc wasn't out there he'd be a p*ssy .....if he is out there he's fakin it....get a life. NO ONE knows the extent of the injury unless your in his Nikes. @welker ...huh? your shock diagnosis may be the result of too much nitrous inhalation......
@bd200 - to clarify, JS does have the overall fastest time (in the first timed qual) with a 55.147, RD 2nd overall with 55.333. With that said, I don't see either of them winning the main tonight . . . we'll know soon. Go BamBam and of course the non-HRC Shorty, qualifying times aren't great but . . .
Cold night in Oakland. Does nobody remember that Stewart can't race in the cold? He never could. If he makes a comeback to the front this year, it's going to be gradual. You don't go from hardly top ten for three races in a row due to simply not having the speed, to contending for the win the next week. No matter who you are. Dungey, Canard, Reed, we could definitely see a new winner yet again, but Villopoto and Millsaps should be in it as well. Should be another good one.
I wish all the gladiators of 2wheels well tonight. I just can't see Stewie pulling all of the stops and going for broke, but I do wish him luck. I am guess we will see the regular players up front, hope Dungey has sorted out whatever (bike, team, his head?). I would like to see RV and Bam Bam go toe to toe. Oh well, read it about today and watch it tomorrow I guess.
1. RV2
2. TC41
3. JB51
That's my top 3. Good luck to everyone!
@ Welker, as for nitrogen, we've been using it for years in (auto) road racing to keep tire temps stable. I'm not so sure the level of heat in the rear shock is going to increase the pressure that drastically. Also, I would assume that this new "Air Shock" technology has a series of blow-off valves to keep it from over pressurizing.
The weight savings has to be of prime inportance, as you just can't get that kind of weight loss at the sprung / unsprung axis cheaply. To accomplish that much weight savings would be in the tens of thousands of dollars in Ti & other expensive materials if it could be matched at all which, I do not think is possible hence, the urgency in bringing this technology forward.
How about some mud for tonight? Nothing like a good mudder to shake up the leaderboard.
@ bd200
Pretty bold prediction on your part Dick head how do you know what I am A-HOLE CHILLI F*CK
KTM should ask Bob Fox for some advise about air shocks...a true legend !
http://www.ridefox.com/archive/hall-of-fame/
Truly hope # 5 and # 22 and Havoc jump in feet first tonight....the more the merrier and if RV gets off about 8th or so it will be a great race.....RV1 ..41...5......looks like great conditions...
@carlsbad - any idea how different the current crop of "air" shocks are from what Bob Fox designed with the original Fox Airshox?
The air shock the KTM is running was developed over in Europe by Georges Jobe. It has some type of valving in it to relieve built up pressure in the shock that welker was talking about.