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If that’s not confusing enough, Ricky Carmichael—the leader of the AMA series and champion of both—explained to me on Wednesday that his primary goal is to win the AMA title, but there was a sort of media blitz this week on the FIM title, where James Stewart is tied with RC and carrying all the momentum.
Now it’s time to get back to business, which is why I am in Dallas. In fact, it seems like a lot of folks are revved up (as Andy Bowyer would say) about seeing some new races. Jeremy McGrath just flew in from a vacation in Hawaii on the same plane as Simon Cudby, and he’s amped as well.
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The kit is available through Throttle Jockey dealers or you can check out their wbsite: www.throttlejockey.com And if MC shows up and races in this next year at Anaheim or even his own SX Invitational in early October, I will personally GUARANTEE him the cover of Racer X!
Of course, Jeremy is not racing this weekend, but there’s plenty of talent here, including the addition of Davi “The Duke” Millsaps to the 450 class. The recently crowned AMA 250F East Region Supercross Champion spoke with Eric Johnson earlier about his hopes and goals for the class, plus a more detailed description of the “bold new graphics” Davi himself has on his chest now. Check out EJ’s interview right here.
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I spoke to privateer Billy Swapp about the crazy schedule as we rode into the rental center together on the bus. He said he couldn’t wait to get back racing, because nine weeks off can make you lazy. He also said that while it seemed like the West guys have it better with the races spread out, the East guys do get it over with quickly, then have time to focus on the transition to outdoors. But at the same time, the coverage a 250F rider gets in those first six weeks when the whole motorcycling world is focused on the Amp’d Mobile Supercross races makes it arguably more beneficial to do the West.…
Anyway, if you want to listen to the Supercross Live! webcast of the Dallas Supercross tomorrow night, check out www.supercross.cc.com at about 7:00 p.m. Central time. And I just clipped this from our RCA Must-See Moto TV listing: This Sunday, April 23, don't forget to tune in to SPEED at 6:00 p.m. EST for coverage of the 450 class from Irving, Texas. Also, tune in to OLN this Saturday, April 22, at 3:00 p.m. for coverage of the Bike class from The General GNCC in Georgia.
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James Stewart got more mainstream media this week about his own plans to do what Ricky wants to do in the near future: drive over into NASCAR. Everyone I’ve talked to down here is still buzzing about just how ungodly fast Stewart has been these past few races. His front-end problems are gone, which leads me to believe that someone at Kawasaki is kicking themselves in the butt for not finding that soon enough to keep him from going down at races like Anaheim 2, Anaheim 3, and St. Louis.
Also, Racer X will once again be working with AMA Pro Racing and the NPG to air the live webcasts of every round of the 12-race series.
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EJ’s Renthal Great Races piece about the strange day that Mike Healey showed up in a little van after a cross-country drive and won the last moto of the Steel City 125 National is a must-read. When Andy Bowyer saw it over in the MX Sports office, he wrote, “You know, I raced Mike Healey in my very first pro race at Mammoth. I pulled the holeshot, but in the second turn at the top of the hill, I got slammed by this HUGE guy that had the back of his jersey cut open so his ‘HEALEY’ tattoo that was written in Olde English could show through. I don't think I ever remember being so intimidated!”
Let me turn this over to Ping right here.
The break in the Amp’d Mobile Supercross series was much-needed for the riders. And I don’t think fans mind, either. It’s been a long 13 weeks. Or was it 14? Weege?
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The annual Stateline Supermoto warm-up race took place at Buffalo Bill's Casino last weekend. Motocross legend Jeff Ward won the event, followed by his TLD/Honda teammate Chris Filmore and Australian dirt track phenom Greg Herfoss. Mickey Dymond, Kurt Nicoll and many of the Supermoto regulars were in attendance getting ready for the series opener on April 29 at California Speedway in Fontana. Who’s the series favorite? Between Doug Henry, Wardy and last year's champion, Jurgen Kunzel, it’s a toss-up. Should be good racing.
Over in Europe, Stefan Everts and Tyla Rattray will each try to make it three in row in the MX1 and MX2 classes, respectively, then the FIM World Motocross Championships move to Portugal. Everts now totals 89 career GP wins, and he’s opened a nice lead on Tanel Leok and Sebastien Tortelli in the point standings. You can subscribe and watch that races live on www.mediazone.com, or you can check out Geoff Meyer’s www.mxlarge.com all weekend for updates and photos and more.
Racer X reader Mike Dune sent this link over to us, which is this week's must-read blog: www.flatbiller.com. They've traced the roots of the flatbiller to motocross, and more specifically, to freestyle motocross. You simply have to check this out.
With Alloy MX out of it completely now, Simon just told me that Travis Preston is probably going to be wearing Fox gear now. After wearing Alloy even after company went belly-up, Preston has been looking for new gear and Fox, a longtime affiliate of Team Honda’s, wanted to help him out. It will be cool to see a Rider Rider in Fox gear again..
And I’m hearing that Broc Hepler will likely be in Thor when he returns at Hangtown. Hepler’s been nursing his broken foot, which has had some complications in healing. But he has been staying in shape, and he’s about to release a training video along with UPMC that might just become this generation’s Rolf Tibblin or Ake Jonsson Guide to Motocross.
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Last week’s Racerhead was all about safety, and I have since received a lot more ideas and suggestions, like this letter:
“There are so many talented people involved in motocross and dirt bike riding and by getting them to work together problems will be solved. It was interesting to hear the various ideas. Some common themes definitely came through. Given all the injuries associated with riding, why not add a column on healing and recuperation? I also think riders need to know who the top specialists are in orthopedics around the country. The bad ones do more damage than good. I just had a wrist injury and worked with a specialist at Wake Forest named Jon Li. He is one of the best in the country with wrists and hands. I use a alternative stuff like arnica and acupuncture which get me amazing results and yet I never hear anything about either one. Acupuncture is extremely effective with pain management (and much better than the highly addictive painkillers). At 41, I make sure that I load up on the protective gear. Chad was laughing at me at the dealer show because I kept checking out all the body armor.”
Ed Kuhlenkamp
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Karl Ebel
But then I got this “Letter of the Week”:
“Yea its all good reading....but not for racerhead.!!!!!!!!!! This is a dangerous sport and theres alot of money and with that goes presure! The top 3 check out each week and nobody notices I guess????? The AMA should promote something they can handle (county fairs) . The races are much better when the tracks are easier but the AMA probably just cant fathom this??? Again this is a lame issue to build a complete racerhead around....but then again you guys always find writing racerhead a pain.....dont you?????”
Craig Seymour
Dear Craig,
Since there was no racing other than Europe, and two kids were in the hospital with broken necks, I thought it was a timely piece. You can always skip it if you find it "lame," but I thought it was a pretty responsible thing to do, opening a forum like that for people who give a shit about the riders.
Sorry, lost my temper there. It’s a touchy subject, but it’s important. Look for more safety letters and suggestions next week.
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The 2006 AMA Supermoto Series kicks off next weekend at Fontana’s California Speedway, which will also be hosting the third round of the AMA Superbike Series. The series hasn’t exactly been on the radar lately, but Gavin Trippe checked in this week to tell us that Hot Wheels, Red Bull, and 70/30 (Lockhart-Phillips’ Supermoto line) are all signed on as official class sponsors. The Aprilia V-twin is also expected to be in action. For more info, check out CJ’s Road Racerhead today over on www.roadracerx.com.
Speaking of Road Racer X, our little bro is putting on a cool contest in conjunction with Suomy helmets. Basically, the idea is to design the Suomy lid that Ducati Marlboro rider Loris Capirossi (currently leading the MotoGP points standings) will wear at the Red Bull USGPat Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in July. The winner will get an all-expenses-paid trip to the race, will meet “Capirex,” and will take home the (autographed) helmet. If there are any Racerhead readers out there with an artistic bent, check this out.
Hey, if anyone is interested, we’ve set up a new e-mail notification program. If you want to get e-mails with breaking news, event cancellations or changes, etc., click on the link and choose which newsletters you want to subscribe to. Unsubscribing is easy, so if it doesn’t work out for you, you can always opt off the list.
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There’s racing at Loretta Lynn’s this weekend, but not motocross—the 2006 Suzuki GNCC Series will travel to Loretta’s, where Alan Brutto and the ranch gang are beginning a 25th anniversary celebration of hosting motorcycle races there. But just like always, the track is never open for practice—at any price—and the only motorcycles ever allowed to touch tread on the track are this weekend’s GNCC riders and then the 1,344 finalists in the 2006 AMA/Air Nautiques Amateur National Motocross Championships, presented by Toyota. Beyond that, it’s for horses.
And speaking of off-road stuff, Ryan Hughes is laying it on the WORCS guys. He won again last weekend (with old nemesis-turned-friend Mike Alessi there to cheer him on) at Victorville to open a big lead in the points. Hughes has three wins, a second, and a third in five races so far.
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Did you hear the one about the MX Oasis brothel? Crazy stuff right there.
Do you know who this man is? That’s John Gregory of JT Racing, a sure AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame candidate, holding the One Industries Bailey ’86 tribute lid, plus an Anaheim ticket in his pocket.
Gregory still turns at the races up now and again from his home somewhere out in Idaho.
And speaking of the old school, here is a link to an old-school Euro SX minus the dirt, but be warned: It’s a big download.
It’s a big download, but it’s pretty cool—nice, pre-freestyle footage of Mike Jones!
Okay, that’s it—gotta go to dinner. Thanks for reading Racerhead. See you at the races.
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