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Another Season In The Books: SX Finale Wrap

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5/12/2009

A regularly updated blog by Rupert X Pellett...

May 12, 2009
Yes, Josh Grant and his JGR Yamaha started off the season a little too hot, flying a Tuf-block cover in the rear wheel while taking the victory, in spectacular fashion at Anaheim I. That was the very first piece of this amazing and very delicious Monster Energy AMA Supercross series, an FIM Championship, as things would complicate this puzzle of a year -- quite remarkably, all season long -- race by race.

Last year's West Coast SX Lites Champion Jason Lawrence fizzled early and switched over to the big bikes, enabling a jaw-dropping ride at Daytona early in the spring that shocked every one, except JLaw himself, while Ryan Morais, Ryan Dungey and Jake Weimer all fought out the West title, round by round, with Makita Suzuki's Dungey taking home the title and a new puppy.

In the East, the Frenchman with the inspiring storyline, Christophe Pourcel, and his brilliant green Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki KX250F took the East Coast Supercross Lites away from teammate Austin Stroupe and the rest of the Easterners, earning the championship at the Toronto, Canada, round in front of mom, family and friends and, of course, team leader Mr. Mitch Payton.

Now, onto the real savory part of this three-course meal: Let's accept the tasty reality that this series was all about two men from two different countries, on different bikes, that happen to reside in the same state in America-The-Beautiful, who genuinely don't like each other, going all out every race weekend, from January through May, at cities across North America for the chance to win the prestigious Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship.

In this blue corner: James "Bubba" Stewart, from Haines City, Fla, riding for San Manuel Yamaha. In the yellow: Chad "Skippy" Reed, from Australia, riding for Rockstar Makita Suzuki. Stewart had a few slip ups, most notably a 19th and a measly 2 championship points at Anaheim I and a seventh at Daytona; however, he did virtually win everything else. Read won a few and was high upon the podium when he didn't.

Then came Las Vegas, where Monster Energy Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto and his KX450F took the win. Reed nailed down second and Stewart took third but, most important, the championship title.

This humble correspondent can't wait for next year, where he hopes to be back here again, with you, chatting Supercross, talking smack and watching the world go through the whoops -- front wheel first, hopefully.

But first, there's the Lucas Oils AMA Motocross Championship, where somebody just told me Chad and, perhaps, James, may be in for the duration. Weirdorama and Sickosaurus. Let's get it on.

May 6, 2009
(Worth mentioning is that somewhere between Wikieup, Ariz., and Wickenburg we encountered a stream of vintage Volkswagens tooling about, all cruising at exactly 58 mph, in brilliant formation.)

The pits at the Supercross event were nuts. Too many excited fans and far too many attractions and distractions. The tight band hurling out some energetic rock and roll from the Jagermeister stage was top-notch, with a tantalizing re-work of Alice in Chains and some other meandering moto-music that was quite acceptable to my dignified ear-drums.

The race itself at Sam Boyd stadium was as tremendous and spectacular as Vegas itself, starting with a stirring rendition of the Star Spangled banner, which is always concluded with the traditional USAF flyover, as a couple jets from the local Nellis AFB buzz the joint and display their afterburners before burning off into the endless Nevada sky.

I'm told that the USAF has an officer stationed in the press-room to act as the pilots "spotter," directing their arrival time to coincide with the anthem...

The Lites main, featuring the very "bestest" of the riders from both the East and West Coast Lites divisions, boiled down to a battle involving Blake Wharton, Trey Canard and the two No. 1s: Christophe Pourcel and Ryan Dungey.

Ultimately, Pourcel was able to sneak into the lead, with Dungey slowly catching up to lock onto his fender in the last few laps, although Pourcel was able to sail over "Le finish line" briefly before Dungey. Pourcel gets a brand spankin' new Toyota Tundra and the Dave Coombs Sr. Shootout trophy. Dungey already has two trucks and, as he said earlier in the press conference, he didn't know what he'd do with another.

In the Supercross main, all the biggies got decent starts, with James Stewart and his San Manuel Yamaha able to take the lead away from Rockstar Makita Suzuki's Mike Alessi on lap one, although Monster Energy Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto snagged Stewart's lead away on lap two, which surprised everyone, maybe with the exception of RV.

It wasn't until lap 15 that Rockstar Makita Suzuki-mounted Chad Reed was able to get close to Stewart and force a sketchy pass on the flat-track section -- outside the stadium walls -- although RV was long gone.

It all made for some great racing and a terrific finish to one incredible year of Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship.

AMA Supercross Class Results, Las Vegas

1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash. Kawasaki
2. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Suzuki
3. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha
4. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda
5. Ivan Tedesco, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda
6. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki
7. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha
8. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda
9. Nathan Ramsey, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha
10. Davi Millsaps, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda

AMA Supercross Class Season Standings

1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha, 377
2. Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Suzuki, 373
3. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 270
4. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha, 237
5. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda, 236
6. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 233
7. Ivan Tedesco, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 226
8. Davi Millsaps, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 219
9. Mike Alessi, Apple Valley, Calif., Suzuki, 218
10. Josh Hill, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 146

Dave Coombs Sr. East West Shootout Results, Las Vegas

1. Christophe Pourcel, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki
2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki
3. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda
4. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki
5. Austin Stroupe, Lincolnton, N.C., Kawasaki
6. Ryan Morais, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki
7. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
8. Jake Moss, Temecula, Calif., Honda
9. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, KTM
10. Brock Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha

Cinco de Mayo, 2009
Mingling with the Gumball Rally participants fleeing Las Vegas Sunday morning, I had occasion to navigate, marinate and reminisce while my trusty traveling companion piloted the mid-size rental wreck we had acquired by legal means earlier in Phoenix.

Apologies are all mine for failing to maintain a diligent, vigilant upkeep on this esteemed bloggery, but I handily delegate blame to excessive hotel Internet fees, the transfer of capital to off-shore banks and the mystery of Nevada's complex thoroughfares and byways. I guess I should absorb some of the blame, just to keep me being pushed high in a berm and, potentially, involved in some sort of fracas or other shameless brouhaha.

From what I recall, in brief, we flew into Phoenix, Ariz., snagged the aforementioned silver-bullet mid-size with unlimited mile, headed up and across the desert, over the Hoover Dam into the glittery-glitz of Vegas. Friday night would see monumental mini-bike mayhem at MiniMoto, with most spectators not remembering WHO won, but WHO Jason Lawrence was punting over most every corner. Using a (guesstimated) $12,000 BBR bike as a bling-a-bang, T-bone-prod Mr. Lawrence was involved in multiple instances of high-jinx and shenanigans on the track, mostly with some foreign competitors, possibly from France.

According to my sources, who remain sketchy and often in odd garb, a gentleman and his team had brought over a few riders from France and other such exotic locales to compete at MiniMoto, supposedly at a cost of some $20 Gs, so they were not too happy with the "JLAW" and his on-track attacks. Yet, in Jason's defense, MiniMoto -- especially in the pro-class -- has often been like General Tso's chicken, something greasy at a Chinese take-out.

Worth mentioning: Everybody within the motocross "industry" is at this splendid affair, so it's always a grand time. Kept seeing THE BRAD LACKEY everywhere, amongst other luminaries, dignitaries, stars, starlets and strapping papparazzi.

Riders at the MiniMoto included: Michael Blose, Blake Baggett, Jason Anderson, Tommy Hofmaster, David Pingree, Willy Browning, Derek Costella, Scott Burnworth, Victor Sheldon, Austin Politelli, Nick Evennou, Ryan Abrigo and Josh Demuth. And hundreds of other racers you're familiar with. It's a great time, "No Doubt About It !"

Friday morning was the press conference at the SAM BOYD Stadium. Riders attending included: Andrew Short from Red Bull Honda, Rockstar Makita Suzuki's Chad Reed and Ryan Dungey, and Monster Energy Pro-Circuit's Christophe Pourcel. The invited JAMES Bubba Stewart of the San Manuel Yamaha team elected not to appear, which was very odd. Indeed, a newspaper reporter from a local paper had mentioned in his opening query to Chad, "why wasn't the other top athlete in the sport here?" or something like that. You could of heard a cotter-pin drop from the axle nut off a 450 Yammie when he asked that. It was sickosaurus.

Saturday's pits at the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championships, were extensive and terrific, with a slew of activities, displays, shows and performances.

Here's a link to that Gumball Rally thingy: www.gumball3000.com/RALLY

And, for comprehensive MiniMoto results: www.minimotosx.com