Mr. Pingree,
What is your opinion of the design of tracks today, especially about
the number and types of jumps squeezed on to tracks? Do you think they
contribute to the injuries suffered by pros? What happened to mud
holes? Back in the day it wasn’t a motocross track if it didn’t have a
mud hole. I am not talking about mud races, just mud holes on an
otherwise normal track.
Steve Wardlow
Dear Steve,
Mud holes? Really? Why stop there? Howzabout getting the Dirt Wurx guys to build an alligator pit? Maybe the finish-line jump could
be a leap through a big Ring o’ Fire! We could get a Volkswagen bug
packed full of clowns to circle the stadium floor and a couple of black
bears to ride unicycles in tutus. Hey, maybe Britney George would grow
a beard for us and do a freak show just before the main events?
Come on, Mr. Wardlow, this is supercross, not a
Ringling Bros. act. The tracks are supposed to be filled with jumps.
Our sport has come a long way since the “mud hole” days of 30 years
ago. Let’s not go backward. Hey, if you really want to see a mud hole,
come watch the first practice of, say, Budds Creek. I promise you’ll
get your mud hole fix.
PING
Dear Ping,
I think it’s in the Moto XXX 2 freestyle video that you get
busted by the cop riding at Reche Canyon. You went on to tell the cop
your name was Scott Sheak, I think, and the cop started yelling at you.
What happened next? The video cuts out after that.
Steve Gomolka. Englishtown, New Jersey
Dear Steve,
Actually, that riding segment was filmed up near Valencia, CA, in Mike
Kiedrowski’s old stomping grounds. It wasn’t Reche Canyon. And that
wasn’t me in that segment; it was, in fact, Scott Sheak. So you’ve
really gotten everything wrong here. Thanks for trying.
PING
Ping,
Who's the biggest prima donna in MX today?
Dennis Thomas. Whipple, OH
Dear Dennis,
 | | LaRocco waits impatiently for his manicurist at Anaheim 2 | | photo: TFS |
|
|
Mike
LaRocco. I know he seems like the rugged working man/man’s man of
motocross, but from what I understand, he’s high-maintenance. I’ve
heard that he demands that a bowl of red M&Ms (only red) be placed
in his locker at each supercross. And he has a manicurist, hairstylist,
and masseuse on call at every race. He also demands Evian water,
couscous, and asparagus spears (lightly steamed) with his meals
throughout the day. And I once had someone tell me he likes to unwind
after the race with a glass of Merlot, and if anyone walks into his
truck during this time, he has his people push them back behind the
velvet rope he likes to be behind at all times. Maybe this is all just
vicious rumor, but I’m not walking into Le Rock’s truck to find out.
PING
(Have a burning question that only Ping can answer? Send it to letters@racerxill.com and put "Ask Ping" in the subject line.)
