250 Words: Wilson Rattled
Monday, March 11, 2013 | 1:00 PM
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PrintGoing into the 250SX East Region series, most people figured it was Dean Wilson’s title to lose. The Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider had by far the most career wins of anyone in the class, and he’d narrowly missed out on the title last year. All in all, if this were Vegas, Wilson would be the heavy favorite.
But as Chris Berman says, “This is why you actually have to play the games.” We’re four races into this series and it’s mystifying to see Wilson struggling right now. He won the opener easily and got second behind GEICO’s Wil Hahn at the next two races, but Daytona was not good for the #15. Early on he was challenging Marvin Musquin for the lead and looking good to take the win. The track was more outdoor-ish than usual, and Dean being a past outdoor champion, he was the fastest rider in practice. He also looked to the fastest guy out there on Saturday. Daytona, shoulda, coulda, woulda been his.
Wilson (near) lost more ground to points leader Wil Hahn (far) in Daytona.
Simon Cudby photo
But a funny thing happened: Wilson dropped back off Musquin, then allowed himself to be caught by Hahn and then rookie Jeremy Martin. His fourth-place was not a good look for him or his team. Afterward, according to his team, he admitted he got tight and had no real excuses for the disaster. Points leader Hahn, meanwhile, was able to put four more on Wilson.
Despite all this, Wilson is still very much in the mix. Just five points down with five races to go, this thing is far from over. But make no mistake about it: four rounds down, the favorite has taken some shots and is staggering. Can he regroup and start making up ground?
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Wilson got a reality check this past weekend. I know he likes to play around, but the other racers on the track are not playing. He better get serious quick and learn his lesson, if he wants this title and to have any chance outdoors on a 450...The Big Boys don't play, it is all business!!!
Wilson looked really aggrssive early in the race, but then just fell off the pace. Like he was losing steam lap after lap. Dean is a big kid now and may find himself having to really push the bike for his size.
I was SHOCKED to see the flying squirrel fall back like that. Dean has proven time and again to be very gritty and strong on the track. My first thought was that he hurt his wrist or something when he messed up the rythmn lane, or when he jumped off the track. I think he will still pull it out, but the "easy title" is long gone. Dean's gonna have to win it like he always does...the hard way.
GO DEANO!
Glad for Musquin. Marvin and Hahn actually are serious about racing
and not making stupid videos with wigger music. Time to wake-up kid.
Daytona was just a glitch. He'll still win this thing fairly comfortably. Just because he didn't mention hitting his face pretty hard when he casted a jump, don't mean it didn't happen. Maybe he just didn't want to look like a whiney beatch, so he kept quiet. Or maybe he got hard arms, who knows. What I do know is that he suddenly stopped going forward and then started going backwards, and when that happens there's usually a good reason.
He's a second a lap better than the field so he'll get the job done.
I feel like Deano's result was more a mental thing than a physical one, hence him getting tight and probably arm pumped. I don't think he'll be lacking fitness or anything once the outdoors come around.
Um....what happened to the report that Dean Wilson wacked his head on the bars or whatever and couldn't see straight after that etc etc???? How come nobody is talking about it??? Weird...
I suspect Wilson may have hurt his hand when he collided with Bell.
I feel this is very similar to RV being down 22 points to Davi with 9 races to go, not a terrible situation for him.
B-KR
Way different than being down to Milsaps......Wilson isn't a Back to Back SX champ, and he got punked by Tomac last year.
Hahn is finally healthy(after 5 years in the class) and on a Geico honda that swept the 250 class last year. I Would be suprised if Hahn finishes healthy, would not be suprised at all to see Musquin. I think Wilson may fold mentally if he can't come back and win Indy next week
I'm all for racers having fun and all but really how many more titles will he let slip away before he gets his shift together? Wilson if you expect a serious 450 team to even look at you you best get this title!! You can see the heart and hard work in Wil Hahn's face he wants it! BAD!! I didn't see Hahn giving tips to Erin bates at mini putt putt before Daytona supercross, he must have been thinking about his career and possibly winning Daytona supercross.. Hey Dean maybe Erin Bates will give you a hug after they give the #1 plate to WIL HAHN!!
@mrmotoitall - well said! I was just about to comment on the mini-golf w/ Erin Bates thing. I know those guys need downtime but I think Deano needs to spend time focused at the track and physically training. The kid with the most fight and focus is going to win ... and as you said, right now that is Hahn.
Well said BD25
Man i can just imagine the tension and bad vibe going through the PC/Kawasaki team rig right about now. No good on west coast and slipping away on the east coast.
Boy, i bet Mitch has had some rants this season that will never be forgotten. lol
Jeremy Martin wasnt playing around either. How tough is he going to be going forward? That kid was nails right till the end. Very impressive.
How can you guys bash Wilson for playing a game of putt putt golf? He is young, working harder than most people can even fathom and incredibly skilled on a bike. Heaven forbid he does something fun...
Unfortunately he was again super hyped up so when a couple races go sour everyone jumps all over it. He is only 5 points down and there is plenty of races left.
I did not like the takeout of Bell, Wilson pulled. I felt he could have got him after the turn with less loss of time, notice- it cost Wilson time and almost messed him up ? Its easy to take a rookie rider's bar and dump him, but why
Every time I watch Wilson race lately I visualize Jeff Ward and Mike Kranyak all backslaps and highfives they got out of paying Wilson $750,000 (something round there) to race SX in the big boy class.
Wilson was off a long time,dont think he was ever a supercross guy,hes getting reminded how tough it is. He can rebound tho
Man, you'd think the guy failed to qualify and is sitting in 10th place right now. He's 5 points out! I think it's great that Hahn is doing so well, but its 4 races in, 5 to go still. I just hope we have great racing the rest of the way. 10 days ago RV was over 20 points down and I was seeeing similar talk about him and his title chances by some off the impulse posters.
Not4show,
Yep, way different, 5 points instead of 27 or whatever RV was down.
daytonas a different animal , dean will be fine as long as he gets good starts and stays outta trouble. i like will hahn but hes been known to yardsale at times one crash and its over. as far as the golf bit i dont think its a big deal as long as he wins the title that is.
PUT MARTIN ON A HONDA.
Its sad to hear people bashing Dean for playing putt putt. You can't be work 24/7, I mean, do some of you guys sit around and practice saying "Do you want fries with that" when you are on your days off? Don't think so!
@davidl....Are you really saying that wilson took Bell out going on the outside of him in a corner? He was trying to squeeze Bell into breaking first into the corner and Bell fell, that's racing and not even close to a take out.
Al you guys bashing Wilson for not taking his career seriously are retards. All these kids (Bell, Hahn, Wislon, Musquin) have given up their entire childhood to try and make it as a racer, and now that their hardwork is paying dividends they get slammed for taking a day off and enjoying life occasionally.
Next time your eating pork rhines and double fisting some beers while watching supercross on your couch, think of how hard you work on your day off.
@griffter, I'll tell you why. Because everybody publicizes Stewart's excuse list and nobody else's, and Stewart's excuses have no basis in reality while everybody else's do. It's so wrong.
I can easily see Wilson tightening up as you say his camp stated, Steve. I mean look how long he has been out of the mix of things. I wouldn't count him out as he is just getting the feel of racing back after his semi-retirement stint. Hahn is appearing pretty hungry and his confidence level is getting a weekly injection so far. Deano could beat himself up a little over Daytona, or he could use that as a motivator and rally back. I see him rallying back.
Wilson had a bad race in Daytona, yes. But its racing, every rider has their bad race. The SPEED segment on the mini golf was the programs way of shining light on a rider. Basically showing, yeah these riders are here at supercross doing what they are paid to do, but also have their down times. It gives their fans something to watch and see a rider outside of competition and yes, most fans like that. Dean is still very much in this race for the title.