The final round looms large: Vegas is calling

5/1/2009

A regularly updated blog by Rupert X Pellett...

May 1
So there I was. I promised myself that I'd keep my fat mouth shut, yet it went wide open, like the 38mm Mikuni on a CR500 Honda (Service Honda AF). Sam Boyd Stadium Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship.

I'll not go through the entire contents of the press conference. You can find it at RacerX's website or supercrossonline.com. Yet, in brief, I inquired of Makita Suzuki's Ryan Dungey and Chad Reed a couple pertinent queries. It's a dry 95-degree heat here in Sin City, with the skies showing signs of dark grey, and Chad Reed threatening to heat things up here in Vegas.

James Stewart no-showed for the press-"confey" -- yet, was right behind me watching the Short-Pourcel-Reed-Dungey practice session...

JLAW is in the house, as is Derek Costella, Willy Browning, David Pingree, Mike Metzger, Josh Denuth, Jeff Willoh, Ryan Abrigo, Nick Evennou, Tommy Hofmaster, the 928Minis gang out of Lake HAVASU (!) and a zillion other mini-bike nuts at MINIMOTO. Here, at the Orleans hotel and resort.

April 29
I've got an early flight. O'dark thirty. And yeah, I'm still a little steamed about reading an editorial "Archives" piece in Cycle News last night -- a well-written article by Larry Lawrence regarding who was better, Bob Hannah or Ricky Carmichael. Different eras, different bikes, different tracks (mostly) and a different style of motocross. So, yeah, it's a silly comparison, yet a fun read, nonetheless.

The problem was, that I happened to be having a quiet dinner with my only friend (me), and I about sent a tangy green-pepper up my left nasal passage when I stumbled onto a statement -- a very spicy statement -- alleged to have been uttered by a "former motocross racer, now road-race photographer" that went exactly like this: "Who did Carmichael beat?"

Who, indeed. I'm still fuming. Who didn't he beat? When they start discounting or diminishing the simply amazing career, statistics, championships, victories, rides and class that our Ricky Carmichael had, did and does, something is very askew.

I gotta grab some socks. Vegas awaits. Swine flu be damned.

Then, again, I might wear goggles. Safety first.

April 28
So, yes, the AMA and the FIM decided to adjudicate a fine toward Mr. Kyle Chisholm of the L&M San Manuel team for his actions at the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, and FIM World Championship, event in Salt Lake City. Five Gs. American. Cold. Hard. Cash. Yikes.

And, he gets a few days off school. Jason LAWrence isn't the only one visiting the principal's office, apparently. I watched the slow-mo tape and I'm not convinced. Yet, it does all appear a bit fishy...

No grassy knoll.

Meanwhile, the privateer bucks are still up for grabs. Heath Voss and Matt Boni, along with a few others, are in a tight battle to get the 25 grand at stake for the winner of the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Pro Privateer challenge, so it's not just a Stewart-Reed contest and Lites shootout in Vegas. It's a whole lot more.

Ashley Fiolek is IN for the MiniMoto in Vegas Friday night.

Thursday night in Vegas, there is an MXers for Karting meeting at Pole Position Raceway. I'm planning on getting my customary black flag. It's comforting -- feels like home.

Freestone Motocross Park in TEXAS has their tickets on sale NOW! Tony Miller says: www.freestonemx.com.

I received a note from Camp Carmichael. He'll be in Las Vegas to sign autographs and chillax, NOT RACE. So, there, all ye conspiracy buffs. Although, Chad Reed implied that Makita Suzuki teammate Mike Alessi might make things chippy at the Sam Boyd house of SX...

That SUPERCROSS flyover at the SAM BOYD Stadium always makes the lengthy hair on my arms stand at attention.

Afterburners at dusk, in balmy Vegas, with the National Anthem. Sobering.

Vegas06 078.jpg
James' '06 Vegas bike...black frame!

Vegas06 086.jpg
Hurry up, Vegas!

April 27
OK, from my perspective, on my lounge-chair, with it's cushy feel and it's nooks and crannies that hide the remote for my TV (sometimes for days), it appeared that Kyle Chisholm came straight across the corner toward Chad. Since I wasn't at the race, it's probably not fair for me to comment other than that, because, as you know, everything isn't always as it appears. Although, on my larger-than-life, big-flat-screen, hi-def, surround-sound and all types of functions I have not figured out TV, that's what it looked like.

No. 38 was black-flagged at SLC. (That happens to me a LOT at go-cart tracks, but I haven't seen it at a Supercross since the early 1870s.)

Now it's down to Vegas. Forgive me for being brief. I must gather my belongings, my tennis-racket, my swine-flu mask, my motion-sickness helmet and my vintage model-railroader magazine collection, and prepare for a massive air-trip out west.

This Saturday night at Sam Boyd Stadium, in a residential neighborhood near the Vegas city-limits, it's all about a few points, Chad and James. The final event in your Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, season.

And the incredibly exciting DAVE COOMBS Sr. East/West Shootout.

AMA Supercross Class Results, Salt Lake City
  1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha
  2. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Suzuki
  3. Davi Millsaps, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda
  4. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash. Kawasaki
  5. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda
  6. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha
  7. Matt Boni, Geneva, Fla., Honda
  8. Thomas Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Kawasaki
  9. Ivan Tedesco, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda
  10. Paul Carpenter, Ithaca, N.Y., Kawasaki
AMA Supercross Class Season Standings
  1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha, 357
  2. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Suzuki, 351
  3. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 257
  4. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha, 223
  5. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda, 218
  6. Ivan Tedesco, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 210
  7. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 208
  8. Davi Millsaps, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 208
  9. Mike Alessi, Apple Valley, Calif., Suzuki, 203
  10. Josh Hill, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 146
Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Results, Salt Lake City
  1. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda
  2. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki
  3. Ryan Morais, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki
  4. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki
  5. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
  6. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Honda
  7. Jake Moss, Temecula, Calif., Honda
  8. Kyle Cunningham, Fort Worth, Texas, Kawasaki
  9. Michael Hall, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
  10. Ben Evans, Boise, Idaho, Honda
Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Class Season Standings
  1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 178
  2. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki, 173
  3. Ryan Morais, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 166
  4. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 119
  5. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Honda, 110
  6. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda, 99
  7. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ky., KTM, 89
  8. Jeff Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Honda, 70
  9. Dan Reardon, Menifee, Calif., Honda, 67
  10. P.J. Larsen, Stanley, N.C., Kawasaki, 62
INDYSX2009 038.jpg
JS gets some advice from EB.

American Motorcyclist Association New Member Benefit Announcement