For 2015, Racer X has partnered with MotoDynasty to bring you Fantasy Supercross. We’ll be offering cool weekly and series prizes; dynasty play; private leagues that just you and you’re buddies can play in; weekly fantasy previews; and weekly podcasts all focused on fantasy. Each week, make sure to check out this preview, which explains how scoring works, how to play, and maybe even how to win. Or visit motodynasty.racerxonline.com.
How many got it right?
It's getting better. Trends are starting to develop in the 450s, and we're seeing fewer disaster weekends. Now it's down to details—did you put Trey Canard in fourth when you could have flipped a coin and locked him in as your San Diego winner? Where you furiously cheering for Ken Roczen to make the pass so you could bag 50 points? At this point we're getting a clear idea of who will make the mains and who will get on the podium. But just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water, the 250SX East Region begins. Expect blood to be drawn.
Let's dig into the week that was. Stats provided by @motodynasty's own Craig Lyons.
450
Trey Canard | 1st
1.) 5 percent
2.) 10 percent
3.) 19 percent
Only 34 percent of players had Trey finishing on the podium.
Ken Roczen| 2nd
1.) 49 percent
2.) 23 percent
3.) 15 percent
Fantasy can be so agonizing. Had Roczen passed Canard, nearly half of the players would have gone from a routine second-place finish (which pays 22 points here) to a 50-point double score. Look at your league standings to see how huge those extra 28 points can be.
Ryan Dungey | 3rd
1.) 14 percent
2.) 31 percent
3.) 32 percent
Kinda' shocking only 14 percent of players put Dungey out front considering he won last week. Or, considering he finished third, maybe you're just smart?
Now onto the 250s, which offered up the year's biggest fork in the road. After that big practice crash, did you stick with Cooper Webb or jump ship?
Don't you just love how Huey made sure he was getting checked out by the hottest chick at the party?
250SX
Cooper Webb| 1st
1.) 45 percent
2.) 12 percent
3.) 13 percent
Congrats! Nearly half of you either had stubborn faith in Webb, or were stuck doing household chores and never realized he crashed in the first place. Last week 70 percent of the players slotted him into first, so clearly some of you jumped ship. [Note from Weege: I slid him all the way back to seventh after I asked someone on the Yamalube/Star Racing team, "Can he still win?" and he whispered to me, as if to keep it secret, "I don't think so." Knowledge is not power, people!]
Shane McElrath| 2nd
1.) 1 player
2) 2 players
3.) 5 players
Those aren't percentages above, they're the actual number of people that voted for Shane to make the podium. Only eight! Only two percent nailed his runner-up finish. And who is the one person who picked Shane to win? Identify yourself to jasonw@racerxonline.com.
Tyler Bowers | 3rd
1.) 27 percent
2.) 24 percent
3.) 20 percent
In general, Bowers is podium material, and clearly we all know this.
Qualifying vs. Results
As we've said, it’s vital to study qualifying to make good picks, but one must use caution. We could list the many reasons as to why, or just show you some examples of the best and worst, and what was right on from qualifying to main event results.
Best
450SX
Kyle Chisholm| Qualified: 23rd | Finish: 16th | Difference: +7
Brett Metcalfe | Qualified: 18th | Finish: 11th | Difference: +7
Phil Nicoletti | Qualified: 20th | Finish: 14th | Difference: +6
250SX
Chris Alldredge| Qualified: 17th | Finish: 10th | Difference: +7
Mike Horban | Qualified: 26th | Finish: 19th | Difference: +7
Shane McElrath| Qualified: 7th | Finish: 2nd | Difference: +7
Alex Martin | Qualified: 12th | Finish: 5th | Difference: +7
We've been banging the "Please ignore Chisholm's qualifying times" drum here for a few weeks. This week we interviewed him and he explained that. DO NOT LEAVE CHIZZ OUT OF THE MAIN EVENT.
Missed the Mark
450SX
Davi Millsaps | Qualified: 4th | Finish: 20th | Difference: -16
Kyle Partridge | Qualified: 15th | Finish: 21st | Difference: -6
Josh Hill | Qualified: 11th | Finish: DNQ
Millsaps' twentieth was a killer for many. He might be the hardest 450 guy to predict right now. Except for Hill, who absolutely, positively should be a main event lock. What's going on here?
250SX
Justin Hill| Qualified: 4th | Finish: 22nd | Difference: -18
Malcolm Stewart | Qualified: 6th | Finish: 21st | Difference: -15
Aaron Plessinger | Qualified: 8th | Finish: 14th | Difference: -6
Jessy Nelson | Qualified: 2nd | Finish: 8th | Difference: -6
Let's face it. 250 dudes are inconsistent and all four of these guys can make the podium on any given night. The 250 class is like relying on your toddler to do chores: they're capable, but not reliable.
On Point
450SX
Josh Grant| Qualified: 13th | Finish: 12th | Difference: +1
Jake Weimer| Qualified: 14th | Finish: 15th | Difference: -1
Ken Roczen| Qualified: 1st | Finish: 2nd | Difference: -1
250SX
Cole Martinez | Qualified: 11th | Finish: 13th | Difference: -2
Tyler Bowers | Qualified: 1st | Finish: 3rd | Difference: -2
Jackson Richardson | Qualified: 14th | Finish: 12th | Difference: +2
Austin Politelli | Qualified: 18th | Finish: 16th | Difference: +2
SCORING CHART
Need a refresher on how scoring works? Go here. Want to view the scoring chart? See below.
Place | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | |
1 | 50 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |
2 | 22 | 48 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | |
3 | 20 | 22 | 46 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | |
4 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 44 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | |
5 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 42 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | |
6 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 41 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | |
7 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 40 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | |
8 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 39 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | |
9 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 38 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | |
10 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 37 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | |
11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 36 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | |
12 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 35 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | |
13 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 34 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | |
14 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 33 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | |
15 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 32 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | |
16 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 31 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | |
17 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 30 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 16 | |
18 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 29 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 17 | |
19 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 28 | 22 | 20 | 18 | |
20 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 27 | 22 | 20 | |
21 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 26 | 22 | |
22 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 25 |
Top Picks/Sleepers
Fantasy been depressing lately? Your 12-year-old sticking it to you on the leaderboard? Luckily for all of us, an entire new series kicks off this weekend. So instead of providing the usual 450 and 250 class top picks and sleepers, we’re doubling up on the 250SX East Region.
(Note: We won't cover everyone here, so make sure to check out our East Region Preview.)
250SX East Region
Vince Friese | Smartop/MotoConcepts | Last year: 4th
You don't have to like how Friese rides on the track. But, for fantasy purposes, he should be in your top ten. Last year he had eight top-tens in nine rounds.
Anthony Rodriguez | Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha | 2014: 37th
Has speed to burn, but has been prone to crashes. Use caution here.
Matt Lemione | JAB Motorsports | 2014: 11th
Had six top-tens a year ago—slot him there.
Kyle Cunningham | AG Motorsports/Gurrnaid Energy Racing | 2014: 4th
Another veteran that should be inside the top ten. He had eight top-tens in nine rounds a year ago.
Mitchell Oldenburg | Arma Energy/MotoSport.com Yamaha | 2014: 14th
Has the best support of his career. Look for him to take advantage.
Jimmy Decotis | Riverside Harley Davidson/Trail Jesters/SOB MX | 2014: 7th
Don’t be scared to put the Rippa inside the top ten.
Arnaud Tonus | Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki | 2014: GPs
Pay attention to qualifying to see where the GP import stacks up.
Jeremy Martin | Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha |2014: 10th
Won’t happen again, right? Can’t happen three years in a row, right? We don’t think so.
AGAINST THE GRAIN
If we can, let us be honest here for a second: YOU ARE NOT GOING TO PICK UP POINTS PICKING KEN ROCZEN FIRST-THIRD. Just not going to happen. Even if you hit it on the nose, chances are half of the competition will as well. You pick up points further down the field. Let’s take a look and who may or may not have made up some ground last week.
450SX
- Josh Grant’s average position picked was fifteenth; he finished twelfth.
- Only 5 percent of players had Killy Rusk making the main; he finished nineteen.
- Zero percent of players had Ronnie Stewart making main; he finished twenty-second.
- Mike Alessi’s average position picked was fifteenth; he finished thirteenth.
- 36 percent of players had Blake Baggett finishing eighth or better; he finished seventh.
- Andrew Short’s average position picked was tenth; he finished eighth.
250SX
- Cooper Webb’s average pick was second; he finished first.
- Seventy-two percent of players had Justin Hill fifth or better; he finished twenty-second.
- Only 4 percent of players had Josh Hansen finishing fifth or better; he finished fourth.
- Zero percent had Alex Martin finishing fifth or better; he finished fifth. Zero percent!.
- Zach Bell’s average position picked was tenth; he finished seventh.
- Cole Martinez’s average position picked was fourteenth; he finished eleventh.
- Seventy-eight percent of players had Aaron Plessinger finishing tenth or better; he finished fourteenth.
- Nine percent of players had Mike Horban making main; he finished nineteenth.
- Forty-nine percent of players had Malcolm Stewart finishing fifth or better; he finished twenty-first.
Bonus Picks
This week is not the week to make bonus picks in 250SX. With an entire new field coming in, it’s smarter to wait a week or two. In 450SX, though, there is potential to pick up valuable points. Last week I suggested picking Ken Roczen for fastest qualifier, Eli Tomac as a heat winner and Mike Alessi for holeshot. Too bad I got scared and made none of those picks. I basically led everyone to water and then decided not to drink it. I would have hit on two of those three (Roczen and Tomac) too! I suck. This is terrible.
It was probably for the best in 250SX, as I suggested you take Justin Hill for fastest qualifier, Jessy Nelson as a heat winner, and Zach Bell for holeshot. This week, I’ll throw out some potential winners for the East Region, but if I was you I would stay clear.
Round | Fastest Qualifier | Heat Winners | Holeshot |
Anaheim 1 | Eli Tomac; Cooper Webb | Andrew Short, Eli Tomac; Justin Hill, Tyler Bowers | Mike Alessi; Jessy Nelson |
Phoenix | Eli Tomac; Cooper Webb | Cole Seely, Eli Tomac; Justin Hill, Jessy Nelson | Eli Tomac; Zach Osborne |
Anaheim 2 | Justin Barcia; Zach Osborne | Ryan Dungey, Mike Alessi; Cooper Webb, Shane McElrath | Jimmy Albertson; Zach Osborne |
Oakland | Trey Canard; Justin Hill | Ken Roczen, Justin Barcia; Cooper Webb, Jessy Nelson | Andrew Short; Zach Bell |
Anaheim 3 | Ryan Dungey; Tyler Bowers | Eli Tomac, Ryan Dungey; Malcolm Stewart, Jessy Nelson | Blake Baggett; Matt Bisceglia |
San Diego | Ken Roczen; Tyler Bowers | Eli Tomac, Cole Seely; Justin Hill, Shane McElrath | Ken Roczen; Zach Osborne |
My Picks for Dallas
450SX
Fastest qualifier: Eli Tomac
Heat Winner: Eli Tomac
Holeshot: Mike Alessi
250SX
Fastest qualifier: Marvin Musquin
Heat Winner: Justin Bogle
Holeshot: Marvin Musquin
ADVICE FROM THE SO-CALLED EXPERTS
Last week we brought in Racer X marketing manager Jordan Roberts. Currently second in the Racer X League, we thought Mr. Roberts would bring some energy to the section. He correctly predicted Cooper Webb to win. (Golf clap.) He had Cole Seely top-five. Close enough. But, then he went and told you to pick Justin Hill for the podium (hot dumpster pick) and Josh Grant seventeenth. And, to top it off, he once again risked public ridicule and picked a heat race winner… and failed.
Now we're bringing back Racer X Online Editor Jason Weigandt with some picks for the weekend. Weege is fourth in our league.
Five Things I’m Betting on this Week (Jason Weigandt)
Blake Baggett is better than you think. He’s not just knocking on the door of a top-five, he now actually has keys to it. He will unlock it this weekend!
A few 250 East dudes were racing the 450 class out West, and they’ll come in hot. I’m putting Vince Friese in my top five, and AJ Catanzaro and Mitch Oldenburg in the top ten.
I think Joey Savatgy is a sneaky pick and could podium.
Something has changed with Josh Grant—bike changes and I heard his team said, “You need to do all twenty laps no matter what.” At San Diego he went from complete disaster (18-19-20-21-22) to borderline top-ten with a twelfth. He’ll be around there again.
Weston Peick will probably be fast, but I’m not sure he has the full twenty laps in him after being off the bike for a month. I’m keeping him out of the top ten and also hiding from him after saying that.
PRIZES/WINNERS
Winning is awesome. Congrats to these winners from last week. You’re all number one (two or three) in our book.
450SX
1.) GOFAST – 543 pts | Maxima Pro Package: (4) Pro Plus+ Full Synthetic Engine Oil (1L bottles), Chain Care Kit, SC1, BIO Wash, Maxima T-Shirt, Decal Kit
2.) Tincup23 – 519 pts | Pro Filter: Stainless Steel Oil Filter, Billet Oil Filter Cover, Premium Air Filter
3.) kporter31 517 pts | Maxima BIKE: Syn Chain Guard Chain Lube, Assembly Lube, SC1, Maxima BIKE T-Shirt
250SX
1.) Travmx821 – 423 pts |Renthal Twinwall Bars
2.) NarelliRacing – 414pts |Renthal A1 Works Chain
3.) DoubleDee61 – 410 |Renthal Ultralight Rear Sprocket
If you didn’t win, don’t freak out—there’s always this week. Check out what we have on tap.
Pro Circuit 450 Prizes
1st place: Pro Circuit Brigate Backpack
2nd place: Pro Circuit Pit Chair
3rd place: Pro Circuit/Mechanix Apron
Factory Effex 250 Prizes
1st place: Factory Effex OEM Tracker Jacket and Shirt
2nd place: Factory Effex OEM Pullover Hoodie and Hat
3rd place: Factory Effex OEM Shirt and Hat
Racer X League
Oh, the ups and downs of fantasy. It wasn't long ago I was winning. Now, well, I just can't get it together.
Want to challenge the Racer X team? Here’s your chance. Each week we will run down the top five in the overall standings of the Racer X Fantasy League. Did you destroy us this week? Let us know in the comments.
Standings After Round 6
1) Steve Matthes: Racer X Editor-at-Large – 4671pts
2) Jordan Roberts: Racer X Marketing Manager – 4533pts
3) Chase Stallo: Racer X Online Managing Editor – 4507pts
4) Jason Weigandt: Racer X Online Senior Editor – 4472pts
5.) Andrew Fredrickson: Racer X Illustrated Managing Editor – 4382pts
Thanks for coming out. Hopefully you liked the videos. If not, make sure to complain in the comments. Have any questions or suggestions, hit me up at chase@racerxonline.com or on Twitter.