2012 Supercross Season

[98SS1LWEE]

Okay, seriously??? Noone's posted yet on the upcoming season? Who is excited as I am abotu every single race this season? With the new moves for Bubba Stewart over to Joe Gibbs and Still on a Yamaha, to Ryan Dungey moving over with Roger Decoster to the new Red Bull KTM team? How about Mike Alessi with JT? anyone think Alessi can pull off a full race? I am so pumped to see the top riders, but my disappointment has triumphed over excitement with the recent crash and broken collar bone of rising start, Trey Canard and the Factory Honda team. Trey has done nothing but improve, even in his final year as a Lite's rider, he was on the podium for every race he filled in for in the 450 class, and last year, to win 3 races and only be slowed down by the broken Femur. Well, needless to say my Bias opinion lies with Trey and of course, the man who day in and day out is always there, up front, riding hard, and the one you never want to give an inch away to, Two Two Motorsports owner/racer, Chad Reed. With no talk of which bike he'll ride this year, most are speculating with his help form the Factory Honda team that he'll remain on the bike again this year, but who knows, we could see Chad on a ZERO motorcycle this year. There's so much to look forward, I just hope I'm able to view the races here in Germany. Man, i miss being back home in the states, bu i'm sure some of you guys wil catch a race or two for me! Good luck in Anaheim boys, and Fingers crossed I get to watch the race


Oh yeah...And reigning Supercross champ...Ryan Villopoopoo (can you tell who's not on my cheer list this year)

[2010450x]

Trey Canard is one of the best riders in the sport. Granted I'm not a Honda fan, I still pull for him every race.

[98SS1LWEE]

Same here bro, not the biggest Honda guy, but man, Great Christian and Great Rider

[2010450x]

Absolutely, I love that he isn't afraid to show his faith in God

[scottEMS]

I can't wait to see how Ryan Dungey does on the all new KTM 450 SXF!!!!!

Based on his performance in Vegas (after three rides on the bike) I think it will be a good season for Team KTM.

Scott
Elite Motorsports

[Rydeblue]

Stewart hit the tough block... that made me smile. You can tell his head isn't in the game, and hasn't been for a couple seasons. He was too relaxed, and when he tried to kick it in gear and go fast, he still wasn't as fast as Villopoto. I'm still hoping for Dungey and Reed to take some of the wins from him. Gonna be an awesome season.

[harry697]

Stewart hit the tough block... that made me smile. You can tell his head isn't in the game, and hasn't been for a couple seasons. He was too relaxed, and when he tried to kick it in gear and go fast, he still wasn't as fast as Villopoto. I'm still hoping for Dungey and Reed to take some of the wins from him. Gonna be an awesome season.

Glad to finally see someone else who actually sees the reality!


I didn't smile when Stewart crashed. I flat-out laughed because about a half a lap before that, I was yelling at the screen "Just go ahead and crash already!" Stewart's best days are definitely behind him. A few years ago, he would have passed Reed and Dungey without even trying. Now he's following them lap after lap, looking like a flounder. Not saying that he doesn't have a chance at winning anymore. I'm sure he will win at least a few this season, but he surely isn't champion material these days. I bet RC could come out of retirement next week and still beat him.


Dungey is a great rider, but honestly, he won a championship because there was nobody else out there at the time to give him any competition. Once RV came back into the picture, Dungey didn't really have a chance. And switching to KTM surely wasn't a move for the better. Think about it, when was the last time KTM won a 450 title? He was on that Suzuki and had probably the best mechanic out there. I'm sure he will win a few too, but as long as RV stays healthy, I don't see Dungey sporting a #1 plate next season.

[scottEMS]

"And switching to KTM surely wasn't a move for the better. Think about it"

I respectfully disagree!

1. KTM has the biggest budget of any team/manufacture this year.
2. KTM has Roger Decoster who works extremely well with Dungey.
3. KTM has expressed that they will not leave anything on the table R&D or money wise in their effort to take home a championship.
4. KTM has developed an all new motorcycle with the help of Roger Decoster specifically for this SX Championship.

In hind sight:

1. Dungey did well at the Monster Energy Cup despite only having three days of training on the 450 SXF.
2. A solid finish in Anaheim placed Dungey in the points.
3. The win in Phoenix was great for the points battle and a good confidence boost.

Sure, Villapoto is looking extremely strong this year. In addition, there is a lot of talent in the field, but I would not count out a steady season from Dungey and a great points battle towards the end.

Scott

[harry697]

Looking at your sig, I can understand why you feel that way. No doubt Dungey is a world-class competitor, but I just don't see the move to KTM being an advantage over where he was. I'm glad to see them finally catch up with the times and put a linkage on the rear end, but they're still the only one sporting a steel frame and why in the world would you put an electric start on a SX bike? The only time I can think of where that would have made any sense is on the YZF400's. If those bikes stalled, you might as well push them back to the pits and wait til the next day to try to start it again. Aside from that, I've never seen any of the newer 4-strokes have a need for it.

Definitely an odd bike. They've always been great for the woods, but it just seems as though they're still off the mark for MX and SX. Dungey will surely prove something this season, one way or the other. He shows the most promise out of the field to take the title away from RV. I guess time will tell.

As for KTM having the biggest budget for the year, I'm sure there's a good reason for that.

[limited60]

I used to enjoy watching Reed battle with RC and JS, but hated his whiney interviews.

IMO, he has become a true ambassador to the sport, a risk taking entrepreneur, and an even more incredible rider.

I was happy to see his win this weekend in LA.

Good thing RC has retired. Otherwise, I'd have a tough time hoping for a 1st and 2nd place.

I'm hoping he and RV can overcome that small points deficit, and battle for the series win.

RV or CR would make me happy.

Dungey can come dead last for all I care, and Stewie.....he has to smarten up a bit.
He's fast becoming the new Travis Pastrana, but without a fallback plan in Freestyle or Rally.

[harry697]

I always enjoy seeing a Honda on top of the podium. Reed is capable of getting it done from time to time. It just seems like it's too few and far between anymore. With Reed, his L.A. win means one of two things: Either he will be on a hot streak in the upcoming weeks, or this win will be the best thing we see out of him all season. He's hard to predict sometimes.

I feel bad for the other Honda hopeful (Canard). Can his luck possibly get any worse? He would have been a real contender for sure, but it doesn't look like he's gonna get the chance this year, at least indoors.


RV was hands-down the fastest thing out there las weekend! From 19th to 3rd, was it? That kid was movin'!!!!! Just imagine if he had gotten a good start in the main! Can you say "CHECKED-OUT!"

[limited60]

There was a marked changed in Reed's riding after this. Been there. Takes a while to get the head back into the game.

Once he has his confidence back a bit more, and that crash is less vivid, I think he'll be running with Villo.

[harry697]

There was a marked changed in Reed's riding after this. Been there. Takes a while to get the head back into the game.

Once he has his confidence back a bit more, and that crash is less vivid, I think he'll be running with Villo.

]

That crash definitely had an effect on him, but I'm talking more career-wise. This is just one example. Probably one of his scariest moments, but there always seems to be something to break his stride.

As far as running with RV, maybe once in a great while, but those two aren't really on the same level. Especially outdoors.

But that really was an insane crash! I remember watching it over and over in disbelief.

[limited60]

I dunno, I have some faith in Reed being able to run a fast pace. You're right, maybe not RV fast, but RV has really cranked things up in the last year. His $1 000 000 victory really galvanized his reputation as fast, consistent and headstrong in my opinion that's for sure.

But Reed was, back in the RC days, someone who could rise to the challenge of a faster rider. He was the only one I feared would ever come in ahead of RC....and, I know we're in different eras here, but I think RC in his prime could have raced RV and been bar-to-bar with him for 20 laps.....and hung in for the whole season to come out with either a championship, or a close second place in the series.

Perhaps age, marriage, and a baby, has put CR into the class of rider of those with similar home situations.

I mean, look at Ezra Lusk, Windham, RC, Vuillemin and now Reed. When there is a lot at home, racing just isn't as balls to the wall anymore. Kids can change a man's perspective on what's valuable. Handsome paychecks come down for the top 3 riders....and even for some of the consistent top 5's. No need to end your career racing with a single kid when you have a wife and kid at home depending on your income.

I think CR has the speed, the mental capacity etc, but, I think there are life circumstances that are more limiting than fitness or ability.

[limited60]

Well, CR held off RV this week.

I thought RV was going to chill for 12 laps, then turn it on. Dunno if he didn't have the gas, or if he wasn't able to catch Reed.

Great race, figured Villo would have dumped 'em both for the win, considering how his heat went. I thought he'd have more for JS and CR....

Good to see Dungey finish outta the top 3 though.