Racer X - Motocross & Supercross NewsRacer X

  • Subscribe Now
  • Latest
  • Features
  • Breaking News

Racer X - Motocross & Supercross NewsRacer X

  • One Click Sign-In

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    OR

    Sign in with your username and password

    • Sign In
  • Features
    • 10 Things
    • 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers
    • 3 on 3
    • 250 Words
    • 450 Words
    • Between the Motos
    • Breakdown
    • Deals of the Week
    • GNCC Report
    • Great Battles
    • How to Watch
    • Injury Report
    • Insight
    • In the Mag, On the Web
    • Lockdown Diaries
    • Longform
    • MXGP Race Reports
    • My Favorite Loretta Lynn's Moto
    • Next
    • Observations
    • On This Day in Moto
    • Open Mic
    • Privateer Profile
    • Race Day Feed
    • Racerhead
    • Racer X Awards
    • Racer X Redux
    • Rapid Reaxtion
    • RX Exhaust
    • Saturday Night Live
    • Staging Area
    • The Conversation
    • The List
    • The Moment
    • Things We Learned at the Ranch
    • Unphiltered
    • Wake-Up Call
    • Where Are They Now
    • 50 Years of Pro Motocross
  • Multimedia
    • Podcasts
    • Photo Galleries
    • The Weege Show
    • Racer X Films
    • Video
    • SX Preview Shows
    • Factory Tech Tip
    • MX Preview Shows
    • Behind The Bars
    • Racer X Rapid News
  • Races
    • Series Schedules
    • TV Schedules
    • Results
    • Champions
    • Teams
    • 2022 Numbers
  • Results
    • Points Standings
    • Race Results
    • Riders
    • The Vault
    • Loretta Lynn's Vault
  • Shop
  • About Us
  • The Mag
    • Digital Magazine Bookstand
    • Customer Care
    • Current Issue
    • Newsletter
    • Store Locator
    • Subscribe
    • Free Stickers
    • Sell Racer X
  • Table of Contents
  • Subscribe Now
  • Latest
  • Features
  • Breaking News
Results Archive
GNCC
Snowshoe
Articles
Overall Results
  1. Jordan Ashburn
  2. Ricky Russell
  3. Jonathan Girroir
Full Results
XC2 Pro Results
  1. Jonathan Girroir
  2. Ruy Barbosa
  3. Cody J Barnes
Full Results
MXGP of
Indonesia
Articles
MXGP Results
  1. Tim Gajser
  2. Jorge Prado
  3. Ruben Fernandez
Full Results
MX2 Results
  1. Tom Vialle
  2. Simon Laengenfelder
  3. Thibault Benistant
Full Results
Australian MX
Maitland
Articles
Motocross
RedBud
Articles
450 Results
  1. Eli Tomac
  2. Chase Sexton
  3. Justin Barcia
Full Results
250 Results
  1. Jo Shimoda
  2. Hunter Lawrence
  3. Stilez Robertson
Full Results
Upcoming
Motocross
Southwick
Sat Jul 9
Articles
Upcoming
Motocross
Spring Creek
Sat Jul 16
Articles
Upcoming
MXGP of
Czech Republic
Sun Jul 17
Articles
Full Schedule

Ask Ping!

December 5, 2008 3:10pm | by: David Pingree
  • Home
  • Ask Ping!
  • Ask Ping!
Hey Ping,

Long time reader and a huge fan of yours.  I was just wondering what’s your take on Chad Reed?  I remember when he first came into the 250 class in 2003, every loved him and hated Ricky. Over the years Reedy has been a fan favorite until now. From 2006 -2008 I think Reeds popularity has dropped. I think Its because his frustration of losing to RC and James every single race combined with a terrible Yamaha 450 in the 2005 - 2006 years caused his attitude to push every one away. Even at the US Open people still loved James more than the current AMA champ it seemed.  I think his attitude has gotten better this past Supercross season like with the shoulder injury and being "aggressive lap traffic" with Kevin Windham. What's your opinion on why most fans cheer on the other guy and not Chad? And what it was that cause him to become an as*hole?

-Jared
Simi Valley, CA


Dear Jared,

You have to admit that it would be frustrating to get beat by RC and James the way Chad has. Reed is clearly one of the best supercross riders ever, but unfortunately, he is competing during the era of the two best riders the sport has ever seen. And make no mistake; RC and James are the two best riders that our sport has ever seen. Hannah was amazing during his time and Wardy was my childhood hero and RJ was, well, a Bad Boy. But as bikes improve, so does the riders style and skills. And Chad has been just a tick off the pace of these two guys every weekend. That frustration has translated into a bad attitude, at times, for Reed and that is tangible to the fans. I wouldn’t call him an A-hole, but I do think he should just enjoy the success he’s had and appreciate the fans that are supporting him. Because the way Bubba is riding that new Yamaha I think 2009 is going to be more of the same.

PING
 

Ping,

Honda announced that they are pulling out of F1 racing, could this be a sign of things to come and could this possibly be a signal to most of the die hard 2-stroke fans that they might just make a come back? A lot of people are actually starting to buy 2-strokes again because they simply cannot afford the big 4-strokes. How does everything look in major sponsorship of motocross?

Thanks,

Antwan Rose

Dear Antwan,

Things look bleak in the motocross sponsorship world. They look really bleak. Suzuki is pulling out of amateur racing, teams are folding like origami left, right and center and, according to Brian Williams and the evening world news, the whole world is going in the crapper. It is a bad time to be a struggling privateer or even a good rider without a contract. Nick Wey was almost left without a chair when the music stopped and Nathan Ramsey looks like he’s going to be forced into retirement. Companies that were stepping up and throwing some dollars at race team in the past are not going to be able to do that again this year. In fact, many smaller companies will have a hard time even giving product away. I don’t know if this economic downturn will inspire people to buy two-strokes. I think it is more likely that they will sell their bike altogether. What you are seeing with Honda’s F1 program and with Suzuki’s amateur motocross program is corporate fat trimming. Companies that are run efficiently and without excess spending will be the ones still around when the economy turns upward again. My guess is that you’ll see Honda back in the fray at that point.

PING


Dear Ping,

What is up with the riders photos on the AMA website?  Have you seen them lately?  Some of them are the funniest yet saddest pics I have ever seen.  You would think that maybe every year or so they could get a new picture taken. 

Thanks- Suzie

Dear Suzie,

Those are pretty funny. Izzi looks like Spicoli from Fast Times at Ridgemont High. “Aloha, Mr. Hand!”

What you have to realize is that riders are pretty lazy. I know this because I used to be one. Going all the way down to get a passport photo and paying the $20 for it just seems like a lot of work. Besides, that high score on MX vs. ATV Unleashed isn’t going to beat itself. Besides, isn’t that the team manager’s job? He’ll take care of it, right? Well, it is attitudes like that which result in photos like Gavin Gracyk’s. He looks like he just left a sleepover at Jason Lawrence’s house. Munchies, anyone? As long as they leave it up to the riders to take care of their credential photos you will have pictures like these on the AMA website.

PING

  • Racer X Films: Kevin Windham Racer X Films: Kevin Windham 10:20am
Read Now
August 2022 Issue Now Available
Get Racer X on your iPhone
Check out all the exclusive content this month on any device!
Read Now
The August 2022 Digital Issue Availalbe Now

Motocross & Supercross News - Racer X

122 Vista Del Rio Drive, Morgantown, WV 26508 | 304-284-0084 | Contact Us
©1999 - 2022 Filter Publications LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
designed at: Website DesignImpulse Studios