by Aaron Hansel
Practice Report: Oakland
Saturday, January 26, 2013 | 8:45 PM
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PrintWelcome to the Oakland Supercross practice report, coming to you from the brisk press box in O.Co Coliseum. Coming into the weekend there was a slight chance of rain, but right now, there’s barely a cloud in the sky, and things are looking good for a dry night of racing. Tonight’s track is looking a little one lined in places, and the guys will really have to work hard to make passes happen. For a closer look at the track, check out the Morning Report from earlier today.
When the first 250 qualifier got under way, it quickly became apparent that Ken Roczen was on the gas. He looked great in the whoops, got into attack mode early and was brilliant through the sand. He set the fast time almost right away, and the only rider to top that time was Rozcen himself. When the session ended it was Roczen with a 56.339, Jason Anderson (57.017), Martin Davalos (57.438) and Eli Tomac (54.451).
Roczen was very fast in practice
Photo: Cudby
The second 250 qualifier took place on a slightly different track. Between practices they built a lip exiting the sand section and added lips on a pair of tables in the ensuing rhythm lane, which allowed guys to jump in easier and use the table-to-table option more consistently. The changes didn’t stop Roczen from quickly setting the fast time and keeping it the entire time, however. He finished it out with a 55.164, followed by Anderson (55.362), Osborne (55.905), Tomac (56.241), and Davalos (56.457). Osborne, who was having a great second session, unfortunately ended it by crashing hard, getting up slowly and pulling off the track.
In 450SX action, the #7 of James Stewart quickly set a fast time that was nearly two seconds faster than anyone else. As practice wore on the rest of the field slowly chipped away at the gap, but nobody was fast enough to top it, except for Stewart himself, who would turn his 55.764 into a 55.147 by the time the checkered flag flew. Ryan Villopoto was second with a 56.377, then Trey Canard (56.427), Justin Barcia (56.604), Ryan Dungey (56.661), Chad Reed (56.673) and Davi Millsaps (57.449).
Stewart was fastest again here in Oakland
Photo: Cudby
In the final 450 qualifier, Reed looked aggressive early on, and it was reflected on the leaderboard when the #22 shot to the top. Several laps later Stewart roosted into the lead with a 55.441, only to go down hard in the whoops a few laps later. He got back up and finished out the qualifier, but the crashed looked like it had temporarily taken a bit of the wind out of his sails, and he did not retaliate when Dungey topped his time with a 55.333, which would be the fastest lap of the session. Stewart was second with a 55.441, followed by Villopoto (55.625), Canard (55.718), Reed (55.753), and Millsaps (56.005). Check out the top five, they’re all in the 55-second range!
One of the coolest parts about this track is watching the guys come over a triple and slam into the sand section and absolutely blow the dirt up. The section itself is pretty one lined, but it sure looks good when someone rails it. Roczen especially looks good here, and if he’s going to get a win this season, it may come tonight. He looks very good, and excluding Stewart, Roczen’s fastest lap was faster than all of the 450 guys. And speaking of Stewart, he's got a perfect record here in Oakland, having won here the last two years in a row since the series returned to Oakland in 2011. Will he have a three-peat in Northern California?
Keep checking back at Racer X Online for updates from the night show, and follow us on Twitter, @racerxonline.
Combined Qualifying Times
250SX
Ken Roczen 55.164
Jason Anderson 55.362
Zach Osborne 55.905
Eli Tomac 56.241
Martin Davalos 56.457
450SX
James Stewart 55.147
Ryan Dungey 55.333
Ryan Villopoto 55.625
Trey Canard 55.718
Chad Reed 55.753
For a complete listing of times, visit results.amasupercross.com
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Hotshot !! Trey's nite !!
JS7 should really start using his clutch.
pizza js can ride a bike thats why hes in clevland and your sitting in front of your computer
I am basically a JS hater, but I hope he can get a W tonight. I am pulling for Canard, though.
I dig the fact that we've had enough variance in the first three races, and thru qualifying today that none of us have any idea what's going to happen tonight and a case could be made for any of the top 9 guys to podium. Life is good. Pulling for a 51 podium and a 29 top ten based on their past 7 days.
Jake Weimer out tonight with pneumonia, bummer. The guy that doesn't mind is Kevin Rookstool, your 41st fastest qualifier, now the last gate pick in Heat #1.
James told me at the last race he's just cruzin for the first few rounds and he is gonna turn it up a notch in Oakland!
crossed fingers Dungey says sayonara
@ Mr-Motorcross
Get a life you f*uckin stupid ass
@ Mr-Motorcross
Was that before or aftr you wiped his ashole ! LOL !
MrMx James does seem to like Oakland and the knee should be feeling stronger.. plus I am sure is tired of those sub par finishes...Would be nice to see him or Dungey take a win tonight, silence their critics and keep all the fans guessing for next week!
By the way, how is the molar? Did you find a dentist?
Hopefully Kroc can catch that win that has been slipping from him. As for Stewie, if he wants to win, he will need to get Ralphie boy keys to the race, a good start.
Could we see a couple of the big guys pushing it too hard, banging bars and crashing out tonight?
Go Dunge!!!
hey @porcupinetree hes in oakland not clevland
BD25
That is not who you think some other poster ! He is at the race from what I have seen !!
@ ktandler96 There is a e in cleveland.. I'll still 69 you ! Hottie
Scrub Well hard to keep up with all the name changing and jumping...lol..Heats races went well for the Sensational Seven..Millsaps wins heat one over Dungey, Canard and Barcia. Villopoto wins heat two over Stewart, then Alessi. Reed made it up to 6th after a poor start. Surprise was Dungey had the fastest lap time of out of both the heats, almost a second faster than Millsaps. We will see if he can replicate that speed in the main..Things ought to be close in Oakland tonight in both classes!
Alessi will be out of top 10
Its Dunge night to shine I see the AMA live wire maybe these other keyboard whores would do the same LOL !!!!
Yeah RV1 was 13.5 seconds ahead of Stewart and 31 in front of Reed in an 8 lap race. He ran 7 straight laps at 55 seconds and 4 of them were just about 55 flat. If he gets the holeshot it is a race for second and that person will not see RV1,
Good to see the Dunge was fast, as were Canard and Davi. Barcia was a bit off the pace as could be expecte with last weeks cobweb hangover..
How about Jesse Nelson nailing down a Heat race win!
Looks like RV will be hard to beat, so let's see who can turn it up tonight. I know Barcia was off a tick, but doesn't seem to mean anything to him in the heat race. Jesse Nelson is really starting to make a name for himself.
Red54m I am sure RV can dip into the 54's like RD did...RV and RD have all the titles since 2010...Great competitors-Great Rivals-Great Racers and between them Great Respect!!...I find it hard to say any thing bad about either one, they have each found success with different styles and programs.. Helmets off to both Great Job !!
@BD25- yes it is obvious this is not the real scrub nuts.
Where are the updates,,heat and lcq results??
I can't believe it, Tomac out, what happened?
He just went from 1st in the points to 3rd is what just happened...Bad starts bad things happen..hope he is alright
Mikeo live timing and ama supercross.com
Scrub_This wrote: about 5 hours ago
Dungy 50 %
Villapoto 45%
1. Roczen 80 %
2. Seely20 %
So Kenny wins and Eli just lost some valueable points. Will be interesting to find out what happened.
All the top 250 guys had same time just goes to show you its a holeshot race ..
Just like F-1 SAMP IT !
Guys on rx twitter must be blind saying not a Suzuki in the 250 main..Anderson just put one on the podium...lol..
Tomac 5 laps out ????
Bambam out front Villapoto 11 first lap !! Wow
Jump the gun parade lap !! LOL !
Had to be a wreak all the player pimps are in the back ! lol !
Must have been carnage on the first lap Barcia and Stewart out,Reed 17th Dungey 12th
grant must of crashed he was up front
Dungey is on looking at milsaps for 2nd LOL
Dungey up to 3rd Canard should get to 4th Villopoto cruiseing as is Millsaps 8 secs back
Funny how shorts lap times didnt differ from the so called stock bike vs factory LOL!
REED SHOULD JOIN WINDHAM LOL!
Reed will have to work to make 10th
bRAYTON BOW WOWED FROM BEING UP FRONT
Nice calling the race with you BD25 OUR TYPING SKILLS WOULD NEVER MAKE THE BLOGGER HALL OF AME ..Good night keep warm it a cold 20 here
Hall of fame sorry its late and I have to work in the morning
Congrats to RV, but another good job to Davi.
To easy for RV, shows what a start will do for ya..been nice to see RD up there as those two were the fastest all night ..Dungeys 54.8 in the heat and Potos 54.9 in the main only laps below 55...That has to help Dungeys confidence, he still has the speed to run with anyone just needs to get a start...Canard did a great job of salvaging his evening also..and Millsaps keeps the red plate
If only we could get obama to follow stew around a SX track... Problem solved
Night Scrub in the 20's here too, night CZmark been fun watching the race with you two ...