Ping,
Whole lot of shakin goin on… something that I just can’t figure out. I’ve noticed that a lot of the pros shake their heads rapidly left and right like a dog shaking off a bug right about the same time (before or after) they put on their goggles before the gate drop. Christian Craig was doing it in Glendale just before his heat race, Pourcel did it just before the start of his heat race and his semi race. To me, this seems like a bad habit that is catching on with the amateur crowd as well, I noticed a few kids at the end of the 2015 season in the 65JR class doing the head shake on the starting line, I’m assuming their trying to emulate the pros. I just don’t understand how shaking your head gets the rider more focused on the gate drop, seems like it would have the opposite effect, maybe if it’s done too much or too vigorously, could lead to diffuse axonal injury – yes, I had to use Google MD to find out what can happen to the brain as a result of vigorous shaking..... What gives? Are they trying to burn off some excess adrenaline? Can’t sit still? Maybe an alternative for “tugging on the throttle like a chimpanzee in a zoo discovering his genitals for the first time.” (thanks for that one by the way)
Thanks,
Dave
Dave,
Well, sometimes a little shake will get your helmet and goggles to settle into a secure spot on your face after you pull your goggles on. So there is a little piece of practicality to it. However, for the most part, it is a nervous twitch and just something that riders have done for a long time in those anxious moments before the gate drops. As you alluded to, there is a lot of emulation with young riders; if they see one of their favorite pros do something they pick it right up. I would say just try not to let it bother you. Oh, and if you are snapping your head back and forth so violently you suffer shaken baby syndrome… you’re doing it wrong.
PING
Hey Ping,
Being an Aussie I have an unhealthy amount of unrequited man love for Chad Reed. But even through the fog of my rose colored glasses I no longer see a real threat to a straight out race win. On the right night when things are comfortable for him and any every one of about 6 other guys (eg Dungey, Roczen, Anderson, Musquin, Seely, Tomac) Start behind him he may still pull it off. But as this list of riders that consistently show more speed than him grows surely this is becoming less and less likely. It was smart of Yamaha looking to the future to bring Reed in this year to get the bike ready for Webb and Martin next year and maybe stay on as a team manager or bike tester next year.
If I, with my embarrassing crush can see that Reedy is a spent force surely so can Jason Weigandt. I think Reed may have threatened him in a dark alley at some point because Weigandt refuses to "count Reed out.” despite growing evidence to the contrary.
I'm here to say it. Reed is counted out. He is a legend but his time is passed. Can you please get Weigandt this message, as I cringe every time he unjustifiably praises my no longer championship hero. Then again, Reed has spent most of his life proving bench racers like me wrong. Maybe he has one more in him for us fans.
Jason
Jason,
Weege is just gun-shy because he’s overlooked Chad before and been wrong. Reedy has been incredibly resilient over the years and he’s staged multiple comebacks when people thought he was done. I’m a little confused by your Australian hero, to be honest. At several of the opening rounds he was pressuring Dungey for the win; he had the pace of the leaders. But his last few races have been pretty bad and there doesn’t seem to be an answer or an explanation.
Historically, Chad has slid into some pretty abysmal funks but they typically happen during the Nationals. It seems like he was never the same after his big crash in Millville. I’m just not sure how you go from almost winning to struggling to stay in the top ten in a few short weeks. Chad likes the East Coast rounds so maybe he’ll make another push to the front. If not, I’ll tell him you said to retire.
PING
Hey Ping,
I’m gonna throw a theory at you that will either give you the ammo to blast me in your column or maybe, just maybe see some truth in. I think a lot of us have heard Ryan Villopoto blame Ricky for taking all the fun out of motocross and supercross racing, on a professional level, because he is the one that introduced the insane training and fitness level of today’s racers. I for one believe in hard work pays off. Every year, by the sixth round of the supercross series, we all can tell which one or two riders is going to win a championship, barring injury. The Daytona supercross is without a doubt, the race that really defines the fitness levels of the riders. I’ll bet money that this year, Anderson and Dungey will lap up to eighth place, on a dry track. Like every year, all the pre-season hype is for naught. Clearly Dungey and Anderson have sacrificed the most while training the hardest. They have earned it. Which leads me to my question: Should there be a format change in at least the supercross series to make it more competitive? NASCAR throws the “debris on the track” flag when the racing gets stretched out and boring-a la supercross at lap 10. I can hear you calling me a fool right now! I get it, may the best man win. But watching one guy wreck the competition week in and week out just isn’t all that interesting anymore. I see from the laughable attendance in the California rounds, they feel the same way. Believe me when I tell you that I’m not the guy that believes in “participation trophies.” Everyone shouldn’t win. On a non-televised race, if there is always one guy who just blows everyone away, I see no problem because we aren’t sitting through three hours of lame racing tv coverage. I would like to see supercross go to a 2 moto format, each moto being 10 laps, instead of one 20 lap main. All the racing with the heats, semis and LCQ’s would still be done. The main would be two motos, for the 250 and 450 classes, just like the outdoors. You would get points for each moto and the winner declared just like the outdoors. This weekend, watch the race and you will see it becomes follow the leader, unless you are Jason Anderson or Dunge, at about lap 12. I am fairly certain that the same riders would be running up front under this format, but at least the racing would be closer at the end. I once saw an interview with Mark Martin and he was asked what he thought of NASCAR throwing a so called debris caution flag. His response-he said racing that way was a lot better than running the dirt tracks back in Arkansas.
Thanks,
Jeff
Jeff,
First let me set you straight on something: Ricky Carmichael did not invent something new with his work ethic. In fact, it was Johnny O’Mara who drove that character point home for Ricky, teaching him that the more you suffer during the week the easier it will be on the weekends. Guys like Mark Barnett, Jeff Ward, Rick Johnson, David Bailey, Johnny O’Mara, Jeff Stanton and Bob Hannah worked their asses off. They didn’t have heart rate monitors or some of the technology the guys have now but they knew the value of out-working your competition. The downswing in training volume and intensity came when Jeremy McGrath and Jeff Emig started winning races. Those guys won on talent and instead of spending their free time running or cycling they were on a 28’ pickle fork in Copper Canyon at Lake Havasu doing shots of Goldschlager off the tits of ASU cheerleaders who were on spring break. When Ricky came along he just stepped the commitment level back up to where it was in the 1980s and early 1990s and paired it with a ferocious desire to win.
As far as the “competition yellow” goes, or any type of gimmick to bring racers closer together, I’m not a fan. I believe that this sport will always be for the core enthusiast and not the general masses. A “chase” points system is in the works for supercross from what I understand and I’m not a fan. It undermines hard work done early in a season and waters down the difficulty of being consistent through seventeen rounds. But that’s just my opinion. Now if you’ll excuse me I have to go yell at some kids to get off my lawn.
PING
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