Dallas SX Practice Report
As Andy Bowyer said on the One Industries’ Rev Up on Thursday, James Stewart probably could have dined at the all-you-can-eat buffet for the last two weeks and parked it on the couch and still shown up here in Dallas with mind-blowing speed. But, apparently his hunger to win, and not eat, still burns. We talked to James this morning and he said all he did over the break was ride, ride and ride. And it looks it, because he was on it again in both practice sessions, going about a half-second faster than second-fastest Ricky Carmichael both times out. Chad Reed, who says he was actually able to start riding during the week now that his shoulder is feeling better, was third both times out.
The track here in Dallas started a little damp thanks to heavy rain when they were building the track earlier in the week, but the Texas sun has dried it all out, and we’re back to the hard, slick stuff we’re used to seeing in the Big D. Most of the rhythm sections seem routine, but there is a tricky corner with whoops in it leading to the finish line jump, which seems to have everyone struggling. Most riders are opting to roll to the top of the finish line jump instead of jump it, because the whooped corner slows them down so much that they have to launch way too high to get over the finish – and all that air takes time. So, most hop to the top and use the finish-line over/under table as a step on and step off. Stewart seems to do this the best, because he carries incredible speed into the whoops after the finish. He might be making up all of that time right there!
Bad news out of the Honda camp. Davi Millsaps crashed in the first practice session and is now out for the night. “Duke” tweaked his knee, and although he should be okay, Honda figured it best for him to just sit this one out. Before he crashed he was sixth fastest in the first practice session.
Big story here is a return to the West Region Lites battle, with two points separating Team Honda’s points leader Andrew Short and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Grant Langston. Langston staked his claim to tonight’s points by running the fastest lap of the second practice session. His teammate Ryan Villopoto was fastest in session one. Brett Metcalfe was actually third in the final session, while Short could only muster fourth fastest. It’s worth noting that Jeremy McGrath is here in Dallas to help work with Andrew as he goes for a championship.
That’s the news from Dallas in practice. Remember to tune the live webcast in tonight at supercross.cc.com beginning at 7 p.m. CST. And of course there’s TV on Speed tomorrow.
