by Andy Bowyer
Rev Up: Atlanta
Thursday, February 21, 2013 | 2:35 PM
Dragon is a leading mx goggle manufacturer with innovative new styles like the NFX frameless goggle with patented lens technology. To win a pair of these premium NFX goggles, go to Dragon’s Facebook or Instagram page and pick this week’s 450 AMA Supercross winner.
Tweet
Advertisement | Advertise with Us
Share
Comment
Email
PrintHello, everyone, and welcome to the Rev Up. I can’t remember a better time to be at the races than 2013. Being in Dallas last weekend at Cowboys Stadium was almost everything I could have asked for. On one hand, I’ve seen thousands of supercross races but never seen anything like Zach Bell’s crash. Before that we saw the greatest heat race battle I can remember, then we all watched James Stewart pass Ryan Villopoto to win his heat. The 250 main had crazy action with charges through the pack, take-outs, and highlight reel crashes. The 450 main saw Ryan Dungey stuff the dog crap out of Chad Reed, and an intense race to the finish. Although, what set the tone for my sweaty palms on the night was meeting an interesting man on the track walk...
I was standing behind the starting gate checking out the holeshot when I spotted a large man fidgeting with the huge Monster sign on top of the start box. He climbed down and walked over giving me a nod, so we exchanged greetings. With wide eyes he introduced himself, “Name’s Keith Herbert, I’m the pyro-technician for the series, man in charge of the fire.” With raised eyebrows I said nothing while he went on to explain the aggressive flames that we see after a checkered flag being the result of a burst of liquid propane, which he controls. Clearly proud of his trade he added, “We use all kinds of different chemicals to get the color.” Now looking at the ceiling with his hands on his hips, he continued, “We don’t have color this weekend, but we can use BIG fire in this stadium. You got to be careful though, we first used this in Atlanta years back and didn’t have the regulator set right.” Looking at me as if he were glancing over the top of imaginary glasses he concluded, “We scorched the roof of the stadium right in front of the building superintendent! But we have it dialed in now.” Ho, ho.
Will Wilson light the flames again in Atlanta?
Simon Cudby photo
Time to burn the roof again in Atlanta. This is the biggest supercross of the year ladies and gentlemen. An army of reasons makes it so, but paramount is the event’s history. Atlanta is territory for some of the greatest supercross races we’ve ever seen. Who can remember seeing the #10 of Guy Cooper flapping his arms like a bird after he crashed out of the lead in ‘89? How about Jeff Ward doing the triple fist pump winning the '90 barnburner? If you listen closely enough you can still hear reverberations from explosion the stadium made when Chad Reed cleaned James Stewart the hell out in 2011. It’s the history behind the Atlanta event that makes it the grand daddy, but accompanying the nostalgia is a pack of fans that stomps a mud hole in any in the country. They’ll be 70,000 standing tall for 20 laps and ready for the beast if it comes calling.
Is this going to be the race we see it go down? Why wouldn’t it be? It’s Atlanta, son.
Headlining the stoke coming into round eight of the 2013 Monster Energy Supercross series is Rockstar Energy Racing’s Davi Millsaps, who owns a 21-point lead. Born in Florida but with many a year spent in Georgia, Davi has extended his lead for three consecutive rounds, posting fastest qualifying times, winning heat races and main events along the way. It’s going to get loud when he rolls out for opening ceremonies. Can you imagine holding his handlebars as he coasts out to greet his home fans this Saturday night? The Davi-Train will be ready to run for them.
Davi just has to keep chugging along because even though Ryan Villopoto won last weekend he is still 24 points behind. This series is beginning to remind of Ricky Carmichael’s 2003 championship when Chad Reed beat him six consecutive times down the stretch, to no avail, titlewise. DM18 and his crew have to start looking ahead because we’re already near the cross flags of the series. As for Villopoto, Atlanta has been cruel and kind to him. He won in 2011 (riding around the Reed/Stewart pile on the last lap) but in 2010 he carted huge and got dirt stuffed into his muffler. Remember that? Atlanta is also the venue where Josh Grant plowed his daylights out in the old Lites class. That noted, there are nine other guys that are pressing hard to stop Millsaps. Justin Barcia also calls this race home, and he’ll be ready to use the red dirt to hang it out. That’s right, red dirt. I’m an Instagram advocate and always look forward to Dave Prater’s weekly post of the track being built. Looks like we may finally have some traction and ruts. We may finally see the war we’ve been waiting for all year.
Reed and Stewart had 60,000-plus on their feet in 2011. What will 2013 bring?
Andrew Fredrickson photo
My sweaty palms are back and I’m not even at the race yet! As you read, Mr. Herbert is busy setting up the fire machine and soon enough those in attendance will feel the heat on their faces. Who’s ready to hear 70,000 strong stretch their vocal cords? Does anyone share my feeling that we’re on the cusp of another version of The Battle of Atlanta? I think it’s time. It just has to be time for the donnybrook. This is a huge weekend. I’ll be driving down with my family for the supercross, then driving all night to watch my brother, The Wheelman, go to work in the Daytona 500. It’s already time for the madness again, and every supercross fan in the world should be rolling their necks for this one. Time to see if the war is going to go down. Time for Atlanta!
Thanks for reading, see you at the races.
Did you like this article?
Check out LONE STAR RISING
in our Latest issue of Racer X available now.
The James Stewart Freestone AMA Spring Classic in Texas has quickly earned a place on the list of must-attend springtime amateur events. Page 182.
Look for the verified symbol 
Impulse Studios
BD’S BS: Questions in Atlanta
The Atlanta Supercross, over the years, has been one of the best races of the year. This year should be no different, as the Sensational Seven will morph into the Great Eight with the addition of Tomac to the 450 class.
Eli is Confident, Comfortable and ready to show he belongs in the premier class. How will his debut affect the title contenders? Will he run up front the way he did at the MEC or will he take it easy get his feet wet and not disrupt the title fight that is going on.
Milsaps is on home turf where he got his first 450 win. Davi has been fast and consistent through 7 races, building a 21 point lead. Will the hometown crowd give Davi a boost or add pressure, causing the mistake the other riders need to close the point’s gap?
Dungey has been showing the aggression many have wanted to see from him the last few weeks. Will the new improved Ryan push his way to the top step once again at a venue he feels comfortable at?
Villopoto says he has taken the pressure off himself, it seemed to work last week, as he got the win, looking more like the rider we all expected to see. Will RV keep having fun or will he fall back into the good race bad race syndrome?
Canard shocked everyone at the first 3 rounds. The last few weeks, the results are more what could have been expected from him. I know he is not happy with 7th place finishes, but he is in 4th place overall. Shouldn’t that be good enough under the circumstances?
Reed has yet to find Comfort on his air forked, twin pipe Honda. In an interview he said maybe it was him, is his Confidence shaken also? Will the lack of C&C be the beginning of the end for Reed or the burr in the saddle that spurs him back to the front?
Barcia and Stewart both arrive in Atlanta with little chance at the title, but both still could shake up the points with a win. Stewart showed his speed by passing RV, something we don’t see very often, when Villopoto has a clear track. Will either one of these riders bring out the speed and light the candles in Atlanta?
Short has had a tough year, going from a factory Honda to a stock Honda. To his credit he has kept himself in the top 10. Now he’s on a new ride, a bike that has been proven by Dungey. Can he adjust to it in just a week and how will it affect his results?
There are many more questions that could be asked, Will Brayton continue to improve? How will Chisholm fair as a fill in? Will the track be an issue? None of us know, so to those of you who will be in attendance, Enjoy the show!! To the rest of us, lets give Speed some amazing Nielson numbers!!!
Thanks for the Rev!
I'll let you know soon as I get in KC I have a ticket to atlanta good thing its indoors .
Always like the ruts !
Lets just hope we get some soft dirt for once.. They said there was a Monster Jam event in there last weekend, and the dirt has been sitting inside all week--drying out!!!! Not good, it will get hard as a brick if thats the case, lets hope not..
I don't think the 2003 season is a very good comparison. Reed and RC were 1-2 or 2-1 every race. That is far from the case this year, obviously.
Something crazy always seems to happen at Atlanta. Throw Tomac into the mix, and some dirt with traction, and this could be a classic. (yes, I avoided using the oxymoronic "instant classic").
The best part!! I don't need to stay up til 2am to see the finish!!!
@mxbob
I threw in the '03 thing thinking about RV being capable of going on a streak. It would take him 8 races to catch up in the event Davi was runner up each time. Both scenarios highly unlikely in this field, just a factoid to go along with the 24 pt deficit.
Dungey, who won ATL last year and is riding determined will be in thorn in both of their sides. Seriously can't wait to get to ATL and see how the track develops. Thx for reading!
@Andy--I agree, cant wait to see how the dirt is for the track.. A 24 point deficit is going to be a chore, but you never know what can happen.. We have seen first turn crashes take out 5 or more guys.. If Millsaps get caught and Rv gets a hole-shot who knows how many points he can make up..
@ VISTAJIM
Good stuff buckin donkey!!!!
I hope I'm wrong but we all get geeked up before the race only to come back here and complain about a one-lined, slippery track and watch someone get a holeshot and check out.
Hoping everyone comes out in good shape as well. I really wonder if Davi is gonna try to hang with RV, CR, RD, TC, JB on some good, loamy, rutty, just good ol'. dirt. It better not be packed all to hell. Just got a feeling there may be a big points shake up this weekend.
Tomac is getting a lotta respect but later on when he lines up alongside pole sitter DEANO he and a bunch of other guys are gonna know who's ur daddy. The racing has never been better Ready 2 RUUUMMMBULE
I forgot about the ET.
@Agman
I hear you. But with Stew going as fast as he is and steaming over last week's bummer, Tomac, Dungey, Reed, Barcia, RV AND Millsaps all fast enough to win I think it'll be on. There is just too much culminating for it to be mundane.
The fans alone will get the guys fired up. ATL rolls.
Jesus...
Villopoto, Reed, Dungey, Canard, Barcia, Tomac, Stewart.
@someguy, you know you are on to something. The only way it could be more stacked is if Jesus personally rolled up to the gates (insert "pearly gates" joke). And even then I think Millsaps could keep him honest with the home crowd vibe going in Atlanta.
Great article Andy, I like the Pyro slant. My last ATL was the Stewart / Reed takeout so I can't wait to be back for the 2013 fireworks. literally and figuratively.
@BillC--I know what you mean, I have had 6 or 8 people here for every live race so far, and at least 2 of them my son and myself are the only ones awake at the finish of the 450's... LOL!!!!!!
I like those little segways into the main story, good job AB.
MEC was a great primer for how ET can ride a 450 so cant wait to see him in a stacked lineup!
Hey Andy. There's another guy racing Saturday who's name is Ryan Dungey. He's won a few championships and, oh yeah, HE WON ATLANTA LAST YEAR!!!
LOL BD200, My wife just shakes her head when I tell her I will be up till 2am watching SX!! It's hard on Sunday Morrning when my little girl wakes me up and wants to play!! this Sunday maybe I will beable to wake her!! We are getting another snow storm Sat into Sunday and she likes to ride in the ToolCat when I snowblow and then we take out the sleds!! can't wait. When she hears a snow storm is coming she says Snowmobile here I come!! LOL
@MOTOXWANNABE
As charged. Didn't give due to Dungey (not by design) and he is riding aggressive and very fast, AND is defending race winna. Sometimes when I try to do a story and tie in a theme I drop stuff. Tried to make up for it in the comment section up there but who reads these anyways? ;) Dungey is charging for sure. Gonna be a great night at the races!
@BillC--We are getting the weather tonight, but in the form of freezing rain!! Its gonna suck on the roads, and make it too soggy to ride!!!!
I believe the house is going to be rockin this weekend. Everyone is healthy, pretty much, and it is ON. Can't wait. Will Tomac go for it, or will he lay back and chill? This is going to be great.
biggest race of the year, as ALL EAST COAST SX'S ARE, YET . tired old cal still gets 5, wake UP ama, FLORIDA ''IS'' THE NEW PLACE TO BE, as pretty ALL the pro's are based out of OUR FABULOUS sunshine state , rick chew says so !!
Let's hope the track isn't too easy, one-lined and sub 45 seconds!
I'll be one of the 70.000 there. Whaaaayaaayaaa! Rocking a retired ambulance from Tampa! "the lance lounge" after party! C'mon saps! Zebra neck roll mojo baby.
motocrossone.blogspot.de you can get other news there!
Glock26, see you there.