10 Things to Watch: San Diego
Friday, February 8, 2013 | 2:00 PM
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PrintBy Aaron Hansel and Chase Stallo
Building
Thanks to landing on Max Anstie at the opener and suffering from the flu the following weeks, Kyle Cunningham had a slow start to the season, but he’s starting to put things together now. He battled for a top-five position in Oakland before a mistake dropped him to seventh, and at A3 he stepped things up again by charging to fourth after a poor start saw him finish the first lap in ninth place. If Cunningham can get a good start, he could pick up his first podium of the year in San Diego. – Aaron Hansel
Homecoming
Chad Reed might be from Australia, but he sure seems to feel at home in San Diego. He’s won six out of the nine 450SX races he’s entered there (an injury in 2010 prevented him from racing), making him Qualcomm Stadium’s most successful rider of all time. Right now his win percentage there is 66.67 percent, and if he wins tomorrow night, he’ll raise that to a spectacular 70. – Aaron Hansel
Reboot Needed
Tyla Rattray just can’t seem to catch a break this season, and that especially goes for his night at A2. A problem with his front brake took him out of the heat race and he wasn’t able to transfer out of a stacked LCQ that included Zach Osborne, Christian Craig, Malcolm Stewart, and more. Will he be able to reset and post a good result in San Diego? – Aaron Hansel
Reed looks to make it 7 of 10 in San Diego on Saturday.
Simon Cudby photo
Maximum Effort
Monster Energy Supercross is full of the greatest supercross riders in the world, and just qualifying for a main event makes you a serious gangster on a motorcycle. Taking two sixth-places in a row on inferior equipment like Andrew Short has done makes you a mafia boss. How long can Short keep up these amazing finishes? How long will he do it before he gets a factory bike back underneath him? – Aaron Hansel
New Kid
The hype machine wasn't churning out much info on Joey Savatgy before the season started, but so far the rookie has been very good. For the most part, his starts have been on point (he holeshot A3), his best result was a sixth in Oakland, and he currently sits ninth in points. He’s got to be learning things every time he races, and if he keeps up his current pace, we could see him crack the top five this weekend in San Diego. – Aaron Hansel
TLD Troubles
Sitting in second place, just 11 points back of leader Ken Roczen entering Anaheim 3, Lucas Oil/Troy Lee Designs Honda's Cole Seely was in the thick of the points chase. But much like Los Angeles a year ago, where he finished fifteenth and essentially exited the title chase, Seely suffered a major setback in Anaheim. After a poor start, Seely clawed his way inside the top five before crashing and finishing twelfth. Now 27 points back of a red-hot Roczen, barring something unforeseen, Seely now finds himself fighting for pride instead of a championship. - Chase Stallo
Savatgy looks to leave San Diego with top rookie honors.
Simon Cudby photo
Back on the Hill
RCH Racing’s Josh Hill is expected to return this weekend after a concussion and hand injury at the opening round in Anaheim. "I may have some fatigue in the hand,” Hill said in a recent team press release. “I think just being able to have that grip for the whole 20 laps might be the only issues. I hope that I don’t have to compensate anything to make sure that the hand will be OK for the whole 20 laps." Hill’s injury list has been extensive over the past few seasons, with every sign of progression smothered by another setback. Will he make the main in San Diego and show the preseason speed that had everyone talking? – Chase Stallo
Battle for Fourth Heating Up
The chase for the 250SX title looks to have dwindled to Ken Roczen and Eli Tomac, but only three points separate fourth through seventh. With Martin Davalos (fourth in points) and Kyle Cunningham (seventh) coming off season highs at A3, and Jason Anderson—who seems like he’s a start away from his first win—and the ever-consistent Zach Osborne in the mix, things may pick up before the West Region packs up and heads east until Seattle in April. Who will leave the Golden State with fourth in his possession? - Chase Stallo
First Timer
With his improbable win at Anaheim 3 last weekend, Red Bull KTM's Ryan Dungey joined Davi Millsaps, Justin Barcia, and Ryan Villopoto as the fourth winner in 450SX through five rounds. With past champions Chad Reed and James Stewart yet to pop champagne in 2013, and past race winner Trey Canard lurking as well, will San Diego bring a fifth winner of the season, or will Millsaps, Barcia, Dungey, or RV rain on their parade? - Chase Stallo
Party Like a Rockstar
It's been a remarkable season up to this point for Rockstar Energy Racing. Davi Millsaps is the current 450SX points leader, and Jason Anderson graced the podium in Oakland (250SX). Anderson has shown blistering speed in his third professional season but has yet to get the start to contend for a win. Will San Diego finally be his breakout moment of 2013 and challenge for a win? - Chase Stallo
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It doesnt sound like Josh Hill wants to be out there, maybe he shouldnt be.
Hill what a douch'e.. If you aint pounding out 30 motos you shouldn't ride just stay out of the way......................Go hand with Hot Sauce !
11. The Weather...It's been raining all day and I'm 20 minutes from the stadium.
Seems to be a pattern with Hill - He comes back and isnt ready physically and ends up getting hurt again.....Even though its been 6 weeks, it seems like it may be too early for him to return, physically and especially mentally..... Some dudes were commenting he was out and about with the other 2 stooges (Hanny/JLaw)....so guess we'll see how he does.... Hart and Hanny had a falling out and although they cant tell Hill who to buddy around with, I am sure they are not too pumped on that situatiuon considering the history of the 3 and it appears Hanny out of a ride or will be soon. He seems to be just hangin' around because he has nothing else to do and is now riding on Jlaw shirt tails to be in the spotlight.. .....That 66.6 in Reeds SD win percentage could be a sign of trouble for him with the 3 holy rollers on the gate ...only kidding, i know i just ruffled some feathers....but you never know these days....Hope to see a crashless start and all our big boys (1, 5,7, 18, 22, 41, 51) up front.....
reed does seem to be riding better now if he gets good start we will get to see what he can do
Maybe with some rain today and not tomorrow, the track wont be a slick skating rink and some ruts will develop.. Which will bring some good racing with maybe more lines.. Lets hope this track makes for some great passing opurtunities..
If it rains all day race day, then my money would be on Reed, otherwise, any of the top five could pull it off.
Killomoto - you missed a holy roller # 29.
I feel you are right about Hill though. the whole leapards and the spots adage definately applies here.
I think anderson needs a podium this weekend - and can do it.
450 class - who the hell knows? remember when the 250's was the interesting class to watch? Next year looks to be even better with DW KR and ET -- just qualifying now is hard enough - imagine then? A privateers nightmare.
@ vanillaice782
2,953 miles from track its been a BLIZZARD HERE ......LOL !!!!!!!
"Short riding an inferior machine and getting 6ths" LOL -Maybe he can go lease that facotry Honda and go back to getting 12ths?
Good my rain dance is working, now NOR`EASTER cant see my Bimmer
The track will be fine; I can see the Murph rrrrrrrr QUALCOMM from my house. The dirt should be perfect, just enough rain to get some traction. Reed, RV, Saps...Stamp it.
Most of the time a second tier rider comes back and is just fast enough to screw up a real contender. I hope that doesn't happen with Hill...
I wonder which bike Dungey will line up with? I hope they arent running the KTM "Hard Tail" this weekend! Stick the Air shock on a shelf Decoster and use what works and has been proven to win.
It's just not right to push this new unproven technology on these racers. They want to win and don't need any help getting put into an Ambulance due to equipment failure while racing.
What ever happened to the production rule anyways???????????
The production rule covers the swing arm, gas tank, frame and cases. Thats it.
You Cali guys consider 54 degrees cold? LOL it is -4 here in Michigan as I type this. I hope girls dont turn into popsicles.
This Blizzard reminds me of 1977- 1978 but a foot more .. I think we have 3 ft of snow any snow bombers out there !!
It woould be cool if the SX was here today !! LOL !
if reed makes it past the 2nd turn............. podium ! and gets some mo rolling back east.
I remember the Blzzard of 78 in the midwest, I was visiting my Mom and had to dig her place out from the drifts over the roof went out a bck window used her stepladder to get to the roof and that was on the Iowa MO border.
We will probably hear CR22 complaining about his bike AGAIN.....Go Shorty!!!!! Gas is creeping up. Sucks that you're having to ride on your own nickel. Don't imagine the "King of SX" had any spare change to provide some financial assistance??? Shouldn't be long until one of the teams pulls their head out of their ____HOLE and throws you a bone.
Shorty had to buy his own bike n race,otherwise there would be a ten second gap between sixth an.................7th place