Ah, what a race to miss! This year's running of the Honda-sponsored Hangtown Classic, the first round of the Toyota-sponsored National Motocross championships, would have been my third consecutive Hangtown had a last minute snag not altered my travel plans. So instead of standing in the rain with 20,000 other MX nuts, I sat at my buddy's kitchen table and, along with untold thousands of internet-savvy motocross aficionados, listened with rapt attention as the webcast announcers bellowed the action.
Turns out it was a great race! For details, check out this fantastic race report over at Transworld Motocross Online.
For the Cliff's Notes version, though, you've come to the right place. In a nutshell, James Stewart and Rick Carmichael served notice to the MX world that the battle begun in the 2006 Amp'd Supercross series was in fact NOT over... not by any stretch of the imagination. After a two week lull in violence, combat has fully resumed, and motocross fans across the world have reason to celebrate.
Remember the last round of the supercross season? How all James could do was win the Vegas event and hope something happened to his rivals? Well that role was taken over by Carmichael at Hangtown in the second moto. Finishing third after an astonishing come-from-WAY-friggin'-back in the first moto, Carmichael needed Chad Reed to pass James for second place in the final moto. And just like in Vegas, it simply wasn't gonna happen. Yes, Rick ran the table in moto two, grabbing the holeshot and checking out to a ridiculously huge lead, but Stewart patiently rode him in second, assured of the overall victory (and the championship points lead) because of his last-lap pass on Reed in the first moto for the win. And while Superbad Chad rode extremely well, he had to be feeling a little low after being chased down in the first moto by the dynamic duo from Florida.
The other role reversal was the simultaneous ending and beginning of streaks. By winning the Hangtown National, James Stewart ended his National LOSING streak, which effectively spanned his entire 2005 season. And at the same time, Stewart ended Carmichael's National Overall Win streak, an unbelievable string of 27 wins.
So congratulations to Stewart and Team Kawasaki for their inaugural 450F class wins at the Hangtown Motocross Classic! And here's to another incredibly exciting championship series!
May 22, 2006
May 18, 2006
Sparkplug 49
Yes, there are only a few days before the start of the much-awaited outdoor national season, so it’s fitting that I talk about… supercross? Well, truth be told, I have some unfinished business to deal with, and that’s the fact that last week’s Sparkplug only dealt with the Big Three… and there were a lot more riders giving it their all this winter and spring. So today’s article is all about the best of the rest… giving props where props are due.
“Chump” comment notwithstanding, Makita Suzuki’s Ivan Tedesco showed off his championship form, I think, for finishing fourth overall in his first season in the big boy class. At the beginning of the season I was confident that Ivan would do well and he didn’t disappoint.
Nick Wey certainly deserves special mention. Slick Nick put together a consistent season, scoring three third place finishes and five fifth place scores to finish fifth overall and top non-factory dude. And I’m sure the fact that Wey was only 6 points behind Tedesco was not lost on any of the factory insiders.
I’m not the only one sad to see “Iron” Mike Larocco retire from the sport, and we were all disappointed that it ended in an injury. Larocco was still able to finish the series in 10th overall, despite the fact that he was out after 8 rounds… a testament to his performance early in the series. Good luck with whatever you get into, Mike.
And how exciting was it to have Kevin Windham return to supercross racing?
The “not so big three” of Jason Thomas, Ryan Clark and Kyle Lewis all had good years considering. JT Money got to wear the helmet cam and did himself proud. I’m sure those guys all wanted to finish higher in the points and make more money, but they can still sleep well in the knowledge that they are among the fastest supercross racers on the planet. “Lucky” Kyle Lewis could have used more luck, as he wasn’t able to crack the top ten at any event, but that’s okay as far as I’m concerned.
Michael Byrne held up his end of the Kawasaki team bargain, finishing on the podium at Daytona after James fell. He had some good motos out there as well, but I think Ivan had him covered. Travis Preston, the nearly invisible man, brought his factory Honda home in 7th overall, but I can barely remember seeing him out there. Flashy, he’s not. Certainly, his success was overshadowed by the tragedy that befell his teammate, Ernesto Fonseco (get well soon, Ernie). Let’s hope Preston can make more noise outdoors (um, that’s the rider, not the bike).
But the real action away from the supercross Big Three occurred in the 250F classes. Grant Langston and Davi Milsaps both had amazing seasons, as they seemed to show dominant speed in their respective regions. And they both faced serious challenges from their teammates. “Rocket” Ryan Villopoto is my new favorite young gun to watch, and he had a pretty incredible rookie season, almost putting it to Langston. Of course, Honda’s Andrew Short came very close to taking it from Langston, but as they say, close doesn’t count for shit… or something like that. Ask Pingree.
And how about that Josh Grant kid? Fast fast fast. Only Milsaps won more mains than Josh. These two are gonna be fun to watch at Hangtown, where Grant knows how to fly.
A little further back we find the very fast Tommy Hahn. Martin Davalos surprised me by leading a few races. And how can I forget Lil’ Goose, Chris Gosselaar and his amazing rides for Monster/Pro Circuit?
Others I have to mention: Paul Carpenter has his moments. Billy Laninovich rocked the house a few times with his sick whips and fast laps. Darcy Lange came out to show that Arenacross racers ain’t no punks (I already knew that). And of course, Mike Alessi ended up being the man for KTM, after a bit of a shaky start.
There were a few riders that I have to say disappointed me, and I cannot end this column without mentioning them. This is not about calling them out or anything like that, it’s just that these guys have phenomenal potential and incredible speed and skills, and I hope they do better in the future. I realize that many of them were dealing with injuries, bad luck and other issues, and that’s okay. I’m talking about some of my favorite riders like Greg Schnell, Matt Walker, Tim Ferry and of course, Sean Hamblin. Oh yeah, and David Vuillemin. Here’s hoping the outdoors finds you all at the top of your respective games.
So that’s my loose list of supercross highlights away from the lead pack. It was such a fantastic season, I’m still having trouble letting it go.
But tomorrow night, I’ll be on the way to Hangtown!
“Chump” comment notwithstanding, Makita Suzuki’s Ivan Tedesco showed off his championship form, I think, for finishing fourth overall in his first season in the big boy class. At the beginning of the season I was confident that Ivan would do well and he didn’t disappoint.
Nick Wey certainly deserves special mention. Slick Nick put together a consistent season, scoring three third place finishes and five fifth place scores to finish fifth overall and top non-factory dude. And I’m sure the fact that Wey was only 6 points behind Tedesco was not lost on any of the factory insiders.
I’m not the only one sad to see “Iron” Mike Larocco retire from the sport, and we were all disappointed that it ended in an injury. Larocco was still able to finish the series in 10th overall, despite the fact that he was out after 8 rounds… a testament to his performance early in the series. Good luck with whatever you get into, Mike.
And how exciting was it to have Kevin Windham return to supercross racing?
The “not so big three” of Jason Thomas, Ryan Clark and Kyle Lewis all had good years considering. JT Money got to wear the helmet cam and did himself proud. I’m sure those guys all wanted to finish higher in the points and make more money, but they can still sleep well in the knowledge that they are among the fastest supercross racers on the planet. “Lucky” Kyle Lewis could have used more luck, as he wasn’t able to crack the top ten at any event, but that’s okay as far as I’m concerned.
Michael Byrne held up his end of the Kawasaki team bargain, finishing on the podium at Daytona after James fell. He had some good motos out there as well, but I think Ivan had him covered. Travis Preston, the nearly invisible man, brought his factory Honda home in 7th overall, but I can barely remember seeing him out there. Flashy, he’s not. Certainly, his success was overshadowed by the tragedy that befell his teammate, Ernesto Fonseco (get well soon, Ernie). Let’s hope Preston can make more noise outdoors (um, that’s the rider, not the bike).
But the real action away from the supercross Big Three occurred in the 250F classes. Grant Langston and Davi Milsaps both had amazing seasons, as they seemed to show dominant speed in their respective regions. And they both faced serious challenges from their teammates. “Rocket” Ryan Villopoto is my new favorite young gun to watch, and he had a pretty incredible rookie season, almost putting it to Langston. Of course, Honda’s Andrew Short came very close to taking it from Langston, but as they say, close doesn’t count for shit… or something like that. Ask Pingree.
And how about that Josh Grant kid? Fast fast fast. Only Milsaps won more mains than Josh. These two are gonna be fun to watch at Hangtown, where Grant knows how to fly.
A little further back we find the very fast Tommy Hahn. Martin Davalos surprised me by leading a few races. And how can I forget Lil’ Goose, Chris Gosselaar and his amazing rides for Monster/Pro Circuit?
Others I have to mention: Paul Carpenter has his moments. Billy Laninovich rocked the house a few times with his sick whips and fast laps. Darcy Lange came out to show that Arenacross racers ain’t no punks (I already knew that). And of course, Mike Alessi ended up being the man for KTM, after a bit of a shaky start.
There were a few riders that I have to say disappointed me, and I cannot end this column without mentioning them. This is not about calling them out or anything like that, it’s just that these guys have phenomenal potential and incredible speed and skills, and I hope they do better in the future. I realize that many of them were dealing with injuries, bad luck and other issues, and that’s okay. I’m talking about some of my favorite riders like Greg Schnell, Matt Walker, Tim Ferry and of course, Sean Hamblin. Oh yeah, and David Vuillemin. Here’s hoping the outdoors finds you all at the top of your respective games.
So that’s my loose list of supercross highlights away from the lead pack. It was such a fantastic season, I’m still having trouble letting it go.
But tomorrow night, I’ll be on the way to Hangtown!
May 17, 2006
Racer X Films now online
Just in time for the upcoming outdoor racing season, the fine folks over at Racer X had launched a site just for online videos, Racer X Films. They're still working out some of the bugs, and the first vid that I watched, coverage of their awesome ride day at Castillo Ranch, took forever to fully load even with my fast connection. But I'm sure they'll get it all worked out soon.
Racer X now joins Transworld Motocross in the online video market... late to the game, yes, but better late than never, right? Now let's see if RX can step up and compete with TWMX's bikini model videos, too!
Racer X now joins Transworld Motocross in the online video market... late to the game, yes, but better late than never, right? Now let's see if RX can step up and compete with TWMX's bikini model videos, too!
May 15, 2006
Ernesto Fonseca Update with Pics!
You gotta check this out: Ernesto Fonseca's wife, Caroline, has started a website. [link deleted] It's got some touching photos of Ernie with some of the friends that have visited him. It breaks my heart to see him like that, but at the same time, seeing him smile and surrounded by people that love him... that's gotta be a good thing. Check it out.
May 12, 2006
Sparkplug 48
There is simply no way that I can let the 2006 Supercross season end without a final comment, so that is the subject of this week's Sparkplug.
In a word, this year was phenomenal. That “perfect storm” everyone expected for 2005, heralded by the arrival of an opponent finally able to give Rick Carmichael a run for his money? Well now we know it took 11 months for it to build up to Category 5 conditions. It wasn't until December of '05 that we finally got a glimpse of the Great War to come, during those two races in Canada that represented the unique FIM-points-only World Supercross rounds. And unveiling a new bike, a new attitude and a new number was the man who would be king (but not this year, maybe later), James Stewart.
It's not my intention to recap the season with a blow-by-blow, round-by-round summary. If you're reading this, you probably are as crazy about motocross as I am, so you also witnessed the fantastic races that made up this championship run, either on cable, network television or on the web. And that's one of the things that made this season so memorable: EVERY RACE was suspenseful and exciting, and EVERY RACE was made available to a reasonably large television audience. It was all so fantastic it's almost hard to believe.
Yes, there were never more than three riders vying for the win. The same three. The BIG three, Chad Reed, James Stewart and Rick Carmichael. Yes, it's true, not another rider was capable of turning lap times comparable to these stellar racers. Yes, it would have been even more exciting if there were more rivals for the championship, but to paraphrase our possibly senile Secretary of Defense, “you go to the races with the racers you have”, and those three are without a doubt the most talented, dedicated, motivated and galvanizing supercross racers alive today. We were blessed to be able to witness their 18 round battle.
Chad Reed has the heart of a lion. I remember watching RC seemingly tear that very heart right out of his chest in Atlanta in '05, chasing Chad Reed down and beating him mercilessly. But Chad reached down deep the very next race at Daytona... RC's home track!...and proved to Rick and the world that he could still win and win big at that. This year, Superbad Chad was all but dismissed as the perennial third place horse... I even opined, prior to the start of the season, that Reed would be fighting off a challenge for third overall from Ivan Tedesco. Boy, was I wrong about that! Reed hung tough all year, every single lap, and as such put himself in perfect position to capitalize on the mistakes that are usually NEVER made by RC and his team. Chad only won two main events this year, and each one was the result of severe bad luck striking both RC and JS at the same time. However, that was enough to put him in the amazingly unlikely position of being able to win the whole shooting match at the very last round. He made his own luck by believing in himself and never giving up. He deserves an award just for that.
James Stewart is the fastest supercross racer the world has ever seen. And that's not just my opinion; that same sentiment has been voiced by the top names in the sport, including one Rick Carmichael. Stewart overcame broken bones, intestinal illnesses, disastrous results and a lot of flack from fickle fans during the first 11 months of 2005 to triumphantly record stunning victories in December of the same year. He went on to compile an impressive win record in '06, winning 8 more rounds and on the way, winning every heat race he entered, a feat never before achieved, not by Carmichael and not even by the undisputed King of Supercross, Jeremy McGrath. Of course, heat race wins are ignored by the record books, but it still remains a remarkable accomplishment. Yet James still had moments on the track that caused him to finish off of the podium a number of times, losing valuable points in the process. Now James is the World Champion of Supercross, a title that used to mean little, even when it was held by the likes of Carmichael and Reed. To some, it still means little, but I'm sure it means a heckuva lot to Stewart, his team and his family. On top of that, James is the first rider in the history of the sport to wrestle a championship title away from formerly unbeatable RC. Now that's saying something about the both of them.
Rick Carmichael is simply the greatest motocross racer that has ever lived. And my opinion is backed up by fact: his number of championship titles is unprecedented, his records are arguably unbreakable. And if you need more proof, all you need to know is this: not only did he beat the King of Supercross at his own game, when faced with the fastest supercross racer of all time, he rose to the occasion, did what he had to do, and came away retaining his National Supercross Championship. No, it was not easy and he didn't make it look easy. RC suffered an uncharacteristic mechanical DNF at St. Louis and just missed serious injury in a scary getoff at Dallas. But he never stopped working hard and like Reed, never stopped believing. If he did, there was no way for us to tell.
Some say the fact that one series crowns two champions is unnecessarily confusing, and I understand where they're coming from... but at the same time, I feel strongly that having two winners is the best possible outcome for this season. These two guys put on the show that we've been waiting for since RC dethroned MC back in the day. And the truth of the matter is that there are many more winners this season than just two. We've all won something of value as spectators: the experience of watching one of the best years of indoor racing to date.
Now, who's ready for the OUTDOORS??!
In a word, this year was phenomenal. That “perfect storm” everyone expected for 2005, heralded by the arrival of an opponent finally able to give Rick Carmichael a run for his money? Well now we know it took 11 months for it to build up to Category 5 conditions. It wasn't until December of '05 that we finally got a glimpse of the Great War to come, during those two races in Canada that represented the unique FIM-points-only World Supercross rounds. And unveiling a new bike, a new attitude and a new number was the man who would be king (but not this year, maybe later), James Stewart.
It's not my intention to recap the season with a blow-by-blow, round-by-round summary. If you're reading this, you probably are as crazy about motocross as I am, so you also witnessed the fantastic races that made up this championship run, either on cable, network television or on the web. And that's one of the things that made this season so memorable: EVERY RACE was suspenseful and exciting, and EVERY RACE was made available to a reasonably large television audience. It was all so fantastic it's almost hard to believe.
Yes, there were never more than three riders vying for the win. The same three. The BIG three, Chad Reed, James Stewart and Rick Carmichael. Yes, it's true, not another rider was capable of turning lap times comparable to these stellar racers. Yes, it would have been even more exciting if there were more rivals for the championship, but to paraphrase our possibly senile Secretary of Defense, “you go to the races with the racers you have”, and those three are without a doubt the most talented, dedicated, motivated and galvanizing supercross racers alive today. We were blessed to be able to witness their 18 round battle.
Chad Reed has the heart of a lion. I remember watching RC seemingly tear that very heart right out of his chest in Atlanta in '05, chasing Chad Reed down and beating him mercilessly. But Chad reached down deep the very next race at Daytona... RC's home track!...and proved to Rick and the world that he could still win and win big at that. This year, Superbad Chad was all but dismissed as the perennial third place horse... I even opined, prior to the start of the season, that Reed would be fighting off a challenge for third overall from Ivan Tedesco. Boy, was I wrong about that! Reed hung tough all year, every single lap, and as such put himself in perfect position to capitalize on the mistakes that are usually NEVER made by RC and his team. Chad only won two main events this year, and each one was the result of severe bad luck striking both RC and JS at the same time. However, that was enough to put him in the amazingly unlikely position of being able to win the whole shooting match at the very last round. He made his own luck by believing in himself and never giving up. He deserves an award just for that.
James Stewart is the fastest supercross racer the world has ever seen. And that's not just my opinion; that same sentiment has been voiced by the top names in the sport, including one Rick Carmichael. Stewart overcame broken bones, intestinal illnesses, disastrous results and a lot of flack from fickle fans during the first 11 months of 2005 to triumphantly record stunning victories in December of the same year. He went on to compile an impressive win record in '06, winning 8 more rounds and on the way, winning every heat race he entered, a feat never before achieved, not by Carmichael and not even by the undisputed King of Supercross, Jeremy McGrath. Of course, heat race wins are ignored by the record books, but it still remains a remarkable accomplishment. Yet James still had moments on the track that caused him to finish off of the podium a number of times, losing valuable points in the process. Now James is the World Champion of Supercross, a title that used to mean little, even when it was held by the likes of Carmichael and Reed. To some, it still means little, but I'm sure it means a heckuva lot to Stewart, his team and his family. On top of that, James is the first rider in the history of the sport to wrestle a championship title away from formerly unbeatable RC. Now that's saying something about the both of them.
Rick Carmichael is simply the greatest motocross racer that has ever lived. And my opinion is backed up by fact: his number of championship titles is unprecedented, his records are arguably unbreakable. And if you need more proof, all you need to know is this: not only did he beat the King of Supercross at his own game, when faced with the fastest supercross racer of all time, he rose to the occasion, did what he had to do, and came away retaining his National Supercross Championship. No, it was not easy and he didn't make it look easy. RC suffered an uncharacteristic mechanical DNF at St. Louis and just missed serious injury in a scary getoff at Dallas. But he never stopped working hard and like Reed, never stopped believing. If he did, there was no way for us to tell.
Some say the fact that one series crowns two champions is unnecessarily confusing, and I understand where they're coming from... but at the same time, I feel strongly that having two winners is the best possible outcome for this season. These two guys put on the show that we've been waiting for since RC dethroned MC back in the day. And the truth of the matter is that there are many more winners this season than just two. We've all won something of value as spectators: the experience of watching one of the best years of indoor racing to date.
Now, who's ready for the OUTDOORS??!
May 07, 2006
Oh yeah... Congratulations to our Champions!
Big ups to Rick Carmichael for another championship season. He dug down deep and kept his AMA Supercross title.
And big props to James Stewart for winning his first 450F supercross crown, the FIM World Supercross Championship. And congratulations for becoming the first rider in history to actually beat Rick Carmichael in a championship series! That is saying something!
And big props to James Stewart for winning his first 450F supercross crown, the FIM World Supercross Championship. And congratulations for becoming the first rider in history to actually beat Rick Carmichael in a championship series! That is saying something!
So... How did I feel after watching the Las Vegas broadcast?
I wanted to hurt someone.
That was part of my reaction after watching last night’s Supercross Finale broadcast live from Las Vegas. I mean, I was looking forward to a FANTASTIC night of racing, and in all honesty, the qualifying races were great. Too bad the 450F main turned into a boring procession. But it wasn’t the race that angered me, it was the coverage.
And let me be clear, I wasn’t pissed about the technical coverage. I thought the technical execution was superb. The great camera angles gave me the feeling that I could see the entire track. The director and technical director seemed to capture the action at just the right time; their timing was nearly flawless. And whoever was able to talk Kevin Windham into wearing the helmet cam deserves a bonus! It was great to see what it’s like riding with one of the fastest riders in the sport. I could have watched even more of that, despite the signal breakup whenever he went down “Thunder Alley”.
And the graphical information offered on screen was nearly perfect. The scrolling position chart that alternated between laptimes and gap times was just great, and the color coding to show who’s in qualifying position… very cool. Laps remaining, point standings, rider number and name titles… the crew did a great job. They were on point and I have no complaints about that aspect of the broadcast. So what was it that made me squirm in my chair for three hours?
One, the show was visually boring. A three-hour live sporting event cannot afford to be boring for 15 seconds, but last night’s show became uninteresting whenever the racers left the track. I COULD NOT BELIEVE that the only cutaway available was a shot of the fans in the stands. A heat race would end, they would show the winner ride off the track, then they would cutaway to people in the stands as the announcers wrapped up the race and transitioned to a commercial. USING THE SAME CUTAWAY FOR THREE HOURS = FRIGGIN’ BORING!
My God, how many other things are there to shoot at a supercross race? How about the pits for one example? Wouldn’t it be interesting to see what happens when a factory rider returns to the pits after just missing a qualifying spot? There was not a single shot of the pits… and the factories spend a ton of money to make them visually appealing to fans. I mean, were the pits closed to the Speed camera crews? I think not.
Or how about a shot in the tunnel as the riders and mechanics make the trek to the starting line? Or how about a shot of the announcers in the booth?? Don’t get me wrong, I think it is a good idea to show the television audience the size of the sellout crowd… once or twice. We get it after that!
Pre-taped packages were another problem. I missed the first 20 minutes of the program, so maybe I missed the killer, kick-ass package, but the ones that followed were basic at best. I mean, another mini-interview with one of the top three, telling us how important the championship is? WE’VE SEEN THAT ALL WEEK, for chrissakes! There was ample downtime to run more 1 and 2 minutes packages. How about one showing the riders preparing for the week? You know, send a crew out to the factory practice tracks; show RC pounding out the miles on his road bicycle; see Stewart pumping iron in the gym. How hard would that have been?
And the commercials. Oh my god, I am SO GLAD the supercross season is over so I don’t have to see those same three commercials again! I was actually grateful that the local cable station was running some bullshit car sales commercials, just to break up the monotony! Would it have killed Amp’d mobile to produce a new commercial for this huge broadcast? I guess it was out of the budget… cheap bastards. Either that or they just didn’t care. Which one is it? And even Thor would have benefited from running something new… even if it was one of their older commercials from years past. Yes, advertising if more effective when repetitive. But there is a point of diminishing returns when the target audience gets sick of the same old message. I believe that point was overtaken months ago…
And the announcers… I still don’t like them, that’s not a surprise. But what really did surprise me was the fact that the announcing team has not “gelled” in the least bit. It’s like they’re still strangers to each other. There was absolutely zero sense of camaraderie. Denny Stephenson has a well-earned reputation for being a bit of a smartass, that’s a large part of his appeal, but his personality never shined through. There was even a moment when Ralph took an uncharacteristic jab at Denny, regarding wearing pink gear, and Denny refused to strike back. And Ralph gave Denny PLENTY of opportunities because Ralph said things that give the impression that he has no idea what he’s talking about. And Denny should have blasted him on it every time. That would have been entertaining as shit.
One example happened right before the start of the 450F main, when Ralph called the siting lap the “warm up lap.” If there were any NASCAR fans watching, they would have scratched their heads in confusion, wondering why those racers were trying to “warm up” something at walking speeds (there was another “cutaway” opportunity: show the riders in the pits, warming up on their stationary bikes). Denny should have corrected Ralph immediately. Yes, they eventually explained that the riders were looking for changes in the track condition, but Denny missed an opportunity to assert his personality. The sad part was I don’t think he even noticed.
The field reporters were no great shakes, either. There was a moment when Greg White talked about the hardpacked dirt in Thunder Alley. He pointed out some “lines” in the dirt, which were obviously ‘dozer track, and he compared them to “cobblestones”. Why he didn’t just identify them as ‘dozer tracks I’ll never know (is it possible he didn’t recognize them?), but then Ralph adlibbed that the mechanics were “working furiously” to address the traction issues. Um, okay. Picture Alan Olson in the pits, “furiously” changing tires. It never happens; the tire company guys do all the tire changing; Alan would change wheels, but “furiously”?? Instead, the producers missed a great opportunity to spend 60 seconds with Dunlop tire rep Broc Glover, letting him explain the fact that they use special, limited-use tires for supercross races. And Dunlop was one of the advertisers! What could have been a win-win turned into yet another missed opportunity, and a better visual alternative to a cutaway shot of a guy picking his nose in the stands.
I’m not even going to say anything about Krista… ah, who am I fooling? First, why a white belt with black shirt and pants? Was she trying to convince the nation that she has absolutely zero fashion sense, or was she trying to shame CBS into hiring a wardrobe person? She seemed lost throughout the entire broadcast, as if she was having trouble finding things to talk about. There was a great shot of racers preparing their starting slots by packing the dirt with their feet. Would it have killed Krista to get a rider or mechanic to explain exactly what they were doing? To a casual fan it must have been confusing.
I think, seriously, that Krista could benefit from sitting in a room and watching all of her “interviews” for a few hours, and then be forced to write better questions for each situation. She appears to “wing it” whenever she’s confronted with interviewing a rider, and she usually gets it wrong. Of course, that’s just my opinion, and who am I but just a guy with a blog, right?
But the last straw that broke my camelbak was the “ceremony” during which the top official of the AMA and the FIM presented their respective number one plates to our exalted champions. Did you see it? I just couldn’t believe it. After hyping up the title chase for three hours, the actual title presentation consisted of a few mumbled, un-microphoned words by Whitelock and Gallagher, while Ralph talked over them, adding absolutely nothing to the process.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the Supercross Champion of the World!! Here, take this piece of plastic, good job, now scoot…” Unfriggin’-believable. If I were a casual fan, I would be perplexed; as a huge fan, I was hugely disappointed and embarrassed.
And what was the deal with the stadium announcers? Why were they on the stage interviewing the racers at the same time? DID NO ONE TELL THEM THE RACE WAS ON LIVE TELEVISION? The fans in the stands seemed to know it was on live TV… why not let the television announcers handle the entire podium presentation… for the television audience AND the stadium audience? Whose idea was it to pretend this was just a regular race being taped for cable? At that point, I turned off the TV…
What it comes down to is this: I feel an unbelievable opportunity was wasted. There was enormous publicity and anticipation heading into this final race. The stage was set, but the production team dropped the ball bigtime. It was as if no thought or preparation went into this special program. I know that isn’t true, but the end result, to me, suggests that the preparations were insufficient. Either that or the people doing the preparations were in over their heads. Of course, this is just my opinion, and again, who am I? Just a guy who loves motocross and is not afraid to tell it like it is.
That was part of my reaction after watching last night’s Supercross Finale broadcast live from Las Vegas. I mean, I was looking forward to a FANTASTIC night of racing, and in all honesty, the qualifying races were great. Too bad the 450F main turned into a boring procession. But it wasn’t the race that angered me, it was the coverage.
And let me be clear, I wasn’t pissed about the technical coverage. I thought the technical execution was superb. The great camera angles gave me the feeling that I could see the entire track. The director and technical director seemed to capture the action at just the right time; their timing was nearly flawless. And whoever was able to talk Kevin Windham into wearing the helmet cam deserves a bonus! It was great to see what it’s like riding with one of the fastest riders in the sport. I could have watched even more of that, despite the signal breakup whenever he went down “Thunder Alley”.
And the graphical information offered on screen was nearly perfect. The scrolling position chart that alternated between laptimes and gap times was just great, and the color coding to show who’s in qualifying position… very cool. Laps remaining, point standings, rider number and name titles… the crew did a great job. They were on point and I have no complaints about that aspect of the broadcast. So what was it that made me squirm in my chair for three hours?
One, the show was visually boring. A three-hour live sporting event cannot afford to be boring for 15 seconds, but last night’s show became uninteresting whenever the racers left the track. I COULD NOT BELIEVE that the only cutaway available was a shot of the fans in the stands. A heat race would end, they would show the winner ride off the track, then they would cutaway to people in the stands as the announcers wrapped up the race and transitioned to a commercial. USING THE SAME CUTAWAY FOR THREE HOURS = FRIGGIN’ BORING!
My God, how many other things are there to shoot at a supercross race? How about the pits for one example? Wouldn’t it be interesting to see what happens when a factory rider returns to the pits after just missing a qualifying spot? There was not a single shot of the pits… and the factories spend a ton of money to make them visually appealing to fans. I mean, were the pits closed to the Speed camera crews? I think not.
Or how about a shot in the tunnel as the riders and mechanics make the trek to the starting line? Or how about a shot of the announcers in the booth?? Don’t get me wrong, I think it is a good idea to show the television audience the size of the sellout crowd… once or twice. We get it after that!
Pre-taped packages were another problem. I missed the first 20 minutes of the program, so maybe I missed the killer, kick-ass package, but the ones that followed were basic at best. I mean, another mini-interview with one of the top three, telling us how important the championship is? WE’VE SEEN THAT ALL WEEK, for chrissakes! There was ample downtime to run more 1 and 2 minutes packages. How about one showing the riders preparing for the week? You know, send a crew out to the factory practice tracks; show RC pounding out the miles on his road bicycle; see Stewart pumping iron in the gym. How hard would that have been?
And the commercials. Oh my god, I am SO GLAD the supercross season is over so I don’t have to see those same three commercials again! I was actually grateful that the local cable station was running some bullshit car sales commercials, just to break up the monotony! Would it have killed Amp’d mobile to produce a new commercial for this huge broadcast? I guess it was out of the budget… cheap bastards. Either that or they just didn’t care. Which one is it? And even Thor would have benefited from running something new… even if it was one of their older commercials from years past. Yes, advertising if more effective when repetitive. But there is a point of diminishing returns when the target audience gets sick of the same old message. I believe that point was overtaken months ago…
And the announcers… I still don’t like them, that’s not a surprise. But what really did surprise me was the fact that the announcing team has not “gelled” in the least bit. It’s like they’re still strangers to each other. There was absolutely zero sense of camaraderie. Denny Stephenson has a well-earned reputation for being a bit of a smartass, that’s a large part of his appeal, but his personality never shined through. There was even a moment when Ralph took an uncharacteristic jab at Denny, regarding wearing pink gear, and Denny refused to strike back. And Ralph gave Denny PLENTY of opportunities because Ralph said things that give the impression that he has no idea what he’s talking about. And Denny should have blasted him on it every time. That would have been entertaining as shit.
One example happened right before the start of the 450F main, when Ralph called the siting lap the “warm up lap.” If there were any NASCAR fans watching, they would have scratched their heads in confusion, wondering why those racers were trying to “warm up” something at walking speeds (there was another “cutaway” opportunity: show the riders in the pits, warming up on their stationary bikes). Denny should have corrected Ralph immediately. Yes, they eventually explained that the riders were looking for changes in the track condition, but Denny missed an opportunity to assert his personality. The sad part was I don’t think he even noticed.
The field reporters were no great shakes, either. There was a moment when Greg White talked about the hardpacked dirt in Thunder Alley. He pointed out some “lines” in the dirt, which were obviously ‘dozer track, and he compared them to “cobblestones”. Why he didn’t just identify them as ‘dozer tracks I’ll never know (is it possible he didn’t recognize them?), but then Ralph adlibbed that the mechanics were “working furiously” to address the traction issues. Um, okay. Picture Alan Olson in the pits, “furiously” changing tires. It never happens; the tire company guys do all the tire changing; Alan would change wheels, but “furiously”?? Instead, the producers missed a great opportunity to spend 60 seconds with Dunlop tire rep Broc Glover, letting him explain the fact that they use special, limited-use tires for supercross races. And Dunlop was one of the advertisers! What could have been a win-win turned into yet another missed opportunity, and a better visual alternative to a cutaway shot of a guy picking his nose in the stands.
I’m not even going to say anything about Krista… ah, who am I fooling? First, why a white belt with black shirt and pants? Was she trying to convince the nation that she has absolutely zero fashion sense, or was she trying to shame CBS into hiring a wardrobe person? She seemed lost throughout the entire broadcast, as if she was having trouble finding things to talk about. There was a great shot of racers preparing their starting slots by packing the dirt with their feet. Would it have killed Krista to get a rider or mechanic to explain exactly what they were doing? To a casual fan it must have been confusing.
I think, seriously, that Krista could benefit from sitting in a room and watching all of her “interviews” for a few hours, and then be forced to write better questions for each situation. She appears to “wing it” whenever she’s confronted with interviewing a rider, and she usually gets it wrong. Of course, that’s just my opinion, and who am I but just a guy with a blog, right?
But the last straw that broke my camelbak was the “ceremony” during which the top official of the AMA and the FIM presented their respective number one plates to our exalted champions. Did you see it? I just couldn’t believe it. After hyping up the title chase for three hours, the actual title presentation consisted of a few mumbled, un-microphoned words by Whitelock and Gallagher, while Ralph talked over them, adding absolutely nothing to the process.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the Supercross Champion of the World!! Here, take this piece of plastic, good job, now scoot…” Unfriggin’-believable. If I were a casual fan, I would be perplexed; as a huge fan, I was hugely disappointed and embarrassed.
And what was the deal with the stadium announcers? Why were they on the stage interviewing the racers at the same time? DID NO ONE TELL THEM THE RACE WAS ON LIVE TELEVISION? The fans in the stands seemed to know it was on live TV… why not let the television announcers handle the entire podium presentation… for the television audience AND the stadium audience? Whose idea was it to pretend this was just a regular race being taped for cable? At that point, I turned off the TV…
What it comes down to is this: I feel an unbelievable opportunity was wasted. There was enormous publicity and anticipation heading into this final race. The stage was set, but the production team dropped the ball bigtime. It was as if no thought or preparation went into this special program. I know that isn’t true, but the end result, to me, suggests that the preparations were insufficient. Either that or the people doing the preparations were in over their heads. Of course, this is just my opinion, and again, who am I? Just a guy who loves motocross and is not afraid to tell it like it is.
May 05, 2006
Sparkplug 47
Well, it's the Friday before the Greatest Supercross Show on Earth commences in Las Vegas, and it's about damn time that I got back to writing Sparkplugs, doncha think? Since our great sport is on the verge of crowning two champions in an unprecedented winner-take-all finale, you would think that this week's topic would be all about this big race. But really, what can I say that hasn't already been said by writers better than I? I mean, check out my man Jason Weigandt's blog, or check out Andy Bowyer's excellent “Rev Up”. Or read what my internet hero Steve Giberson over at TWMX has to say. Even former Supercross champ and all around motocross hero Jeff Emig weighed in over at Racer X Online. So I'm going to leave all the speculation and pontification to the pros.
But I will say this: I predicted that James Stewart would win the title this season in Sparkplug 35, where I said: “I think Rick Carmichael will take James to the wire this season, with the championship being determined at the very last round in Las Vegas.” I was actually expecting a mechanical to finally hit uber-champion Rick Carmichael. Well, I got the breakdown part right when RC's shock gave up the ghost in St. Louis... now, if either RC or Chad Reed fail to finish second to James, the talented Mr. Stewart will win both the AMA Supercross title and the FIM World Supercross crown. And then I'll say “I told you so...” Until then, not another word from me...!
So this week's topic is about something entirely different: the concept of racers “giving back to the sport.” For some fans, that is the mark of a “true” champion... that they not only win decisively, and win graciously, but they also take up some other extra-curricular activity to bring even more value to the sport.
The shining example of this would have to be the great Jeremy McGrath. “Showtime” is known and revered not only for his complete and utter domination of supercross in the late '90's, but also for changing the sport itself for the better. Jeremy is known for introducing the “bmx” style of riding, in which the rider “pre-jumps” the jumps in order to fly lower and return to the track faster. This style allows the rider to accelerate down the landing ramps of jumps, increasing their speed and dropping their lap times. McGrath used this technique to absolutely annihilate his competition, and a thousand young racers adopted the method with much success. It's standard supercross racing technique now.
I also believe that McGrath had a hand in the standardization of supercross tracks. The way the tracks are built now, each obstacle has consistent measurements and angles from track to track. Triples are always a certain distance, with the takeoff and landing ramps always having the same angle and height. This was no accident, and I could be wrong (as I have no proof whatsover), but I suspect that McGrath worked with the promoters and the track builders to nail down some consistency in track design. Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong.
There's no doubt that Jeremy changed the atmosphere in the pits. No rider before his time enjoyed the massive fan popularity that MC has. Even during his “part-time” seasons, he had some of the longest autograph lines.
But Jeremy went even further. He was the first to prove the concept of a rider running his own factory-backed team was possible, when he teamed up with Chapparal and Mazda. He brought in major outside sponsorship with the aforementioned Mazda, as well as MCI's 1-800-Collect and Bud Light. He was the first racer to own part of a major gear manufacturer in No Fear. He even promoted his own race, the Summercross that was held in the fabled L.A. Coliseum (and he's promoting another one this winter, the McGrath Invitational).
And let's not forget his invaluable contribution to the birth of freestyle, the Nac Nac.
Truth be told, Jeremy's contributions to the sport, both on the track and off, are numerous, and this article is not just about him, so I'll leave it to you to fill in the rest of MC's accomplishments. But who else has “given” to this sport we love?
I think it's safe to say that David Bailey has given of himself, not only with his riding schools and coaching of up-and-coming pros, but with his contributions from the broadcast booth. I believe DB has been one of our greatest television personalities, and I hope someone can talk him back into the booth someday.
Roger DeCoster is an obvious choice, as well. Here's a guy who could have retired years ago after his extremely successful racing career, but by taking the reigns at Team Honda and now Team Suzuki, he has advanced the cause of American motocross in an immeasurable way. Not to mention the fact that he has coached and managed nearly ALL of our Motocross des Nations teams, even leading them to victory against his own home nation of Belgium. I love RD.
There are other riders that have done well by motocross, and I don't mean to dis them by not mentioning them here. But I am truly perplexed when I hear some people say that the current crop of racers have not done their part, have not “given anything back to the sport.” Like, what has Kevin Windham done for the sport; what has Mike Larocco done for the sport; how has Rick Carmichael given back to the sport?
Here's my thinking: all a racer has to give is his or her best effort. That's all they “have” to give to the sport. I believe that's true for any professional sport. Do what you're paid to do to the best of your ability. Leave it all on the track or on the playing field, and the fans have NO RIGHT to ask for anything else.
I also think it's preposterous to assert that someone like RC hasn't “given” anything to this sport. Representing us at the MXdN last year, in my mind, qualifies as a great act of giving. Setting the bar so high that it may never be topped, by doing what it takes to accomplish not one, but TWO perfect seasons... that's giving, in my book. Is it on the same level as the stuff that McGrath has done for supercross. No, but the comparison is inappropriate. You can only give what you have, and Jeremy was and is gifted with a lot of fan appeal and personality. Rick is gifted with an unmatched level of drive and determination, and so his “gift” to us fans is his numerous record book entries.
And here's the biggest thing: I believe that racers are in a better position to “give” back to the sport AFTER their racing days are over, like Bailey and DeCoster have. So it's much too soon to come down on our racers about not “giving”. Give them some time.
End of rant. Now, ARE YOU READY FOR SOME SUPERCROSSSSSSSSSS!
And one more thing: GO JAMES!
But I will say this: I predicted that James Stewart would win the title this season in Sparkplug 35, where I said: “I think Rick Carmichael will take James to the wire this season, with the championship being determined at the very last round in Las Vegas.” I was actually expecting a mechanical to finally hit uber-champion Rick Carmichael. Well, I got the breakdown part right when RC's shock gave up the ghost in St. Louis... now, if either RC or Chad Reed fail to finish second to James, the talented Mr. Stewart will win both the AMA Supercross title and the FIM World Supercross crown. And then I'll say “I told you so...” Until then, not another word from me...!
So this week's topic is about something entirely different: the concept of racers “giving back to the sport.” For some fans, that is the mark of a “true” champion... that they not only win decisively, and win graciously, but they also take up some other extra-curricular activity to bring even more value to the sport.
The shining example of this would have to be the great Jeremy McGrath. “Showtime” is known and revered not only for his complete and utter domination of supercross in the late '90's, but also for changing the sport itself for the better. Jeremy is known for introducing the “bmx” style of riding, in which the rider “pre-jumps” the jumps in order to fly lower and return to the track faster. This style allows the rider to accelerate down the landing ramps of jumps, increasing their speed and dropping their lap times. McGrath used this technique to absolutely annihilate his competition, and a thousand young racers adopted the method with much success. It's standard supercross racing technique now.
I also believe that McGrath had a hand in the standardization of supercross tracks. The way the tracks are built now, each obstacle has consistent measurements and angles from track to track. Triples are always a certain distance, with the takeoff and landing ramps always having the same angle and height. This was no accident, and I could be wrong (as I have no proof whatsover), but I suspect that McGrath worked with the promoters and the track builders to nail down some consistency in track design. Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong.
There's no doubt that Jeremy changed the atmosphere in the pits. No rider before his time enjoyed the massive fan popularity that MC has. Even during his “part-time” seasons, he had some of the longest autograph lines.
But Jeremy went even further. He was the first to prove the concept of a rider running his own factory-backed team was possible, when he teamed up with Chapparal and Mazda. He brought in major outside sponsorship with the aforementioned Mazda, as well as MCI's 1-800-Collect and Bud Light. He was the first racer to own part of a major gear manufacturer in No Fear. He even promoted his own race, the Summercross that was held in the fabled L.A. Coliseum (and he's promoting another one this winter, the McGrath Invitational).
And let's not forget his invaluable contribution to the birth of freestyle, the Nac Nac.
Truth be told, Jeremy's contributions to the sport, both on the track and off, are numerous, and this article is not just about him, so I'll leave it to you to fill in the rest of MC's accomplishments. But who else has “given” to this sport we love?
I think it's safe to say that David Bailey has given of himself, not only with his riding schools and coaching of up-and-coming pros, but with his contributions from the broadcast booth. I believe DB has been one of our greatest television personalities, and I hope someone can talk him back into the booth someday.
Roger DeCoster is an obvious choice, as well. Here's a guy who could have retired years ago after his extremely successful racing career, but by taking the reigns at Team Honda and now Team Suzuki, he has advanced the cause of American motocross in an immeasurable way. Not to mention the fact that he has coached and managed nearly ALL of our Motocross des Nations teams, even leading them to victory against his own home nation of Belgium. I love RD.
There are other riders that have done well by motocross, and I don't mean to dis them by not mentioning them here. But I am truly perplexed when I hear some people say that the current crop of racers have not done their part, have not “given anything back to the sport.” Like, what has Kevin Windham done for the sport; what has Mike Larocco done for the sport; how has Rick Carmichael given back to the sport?
Here's my thinking: all a racer has to give is his or her best effort. That's all they “have” to give to the sport. I believe that's true for any professional sport. Do what you're paid to do to the best of your ability. Leave it all on the track or on the playing field, and the fans have NO RIGHT to ask for anything else.
I also think it's preposterous to assert that someone like RC hasn't “given” anything to this sport. Representing us at the MXdN last year, in my mind, qualifies as a great act of giving. Setting the bar so high that it may never be topped, by doing what it takes to accomplish not one, but TWO perfect seasons... that's giving, in my book. Is it on the same level as the stuff that McGrath has done for supercross. No, but the comparison is inappropriate. You can only give what you have, and Jeremy was and is gifted with a lot of fan appeal and personality. Rick is gifted with an unmatched level of drive and determination, and so his “gift” to us fans is his numerous record book entries.
And here's the biggest thing: I believe that racers are in a better position to “give” back to the sport AFTER their racing days are over, like Bailey and DeCoster have. So it's much too soon to come down on our racers about not “giving”. Give them some time.
End of rant. Now, ARE YOU READY FOR SOME SUPERCROSSSSSSSSSS!
And one more thing: GO JAMES!
May 03, 2006
Welcome Back, Brian Deegan!
I know, I'm a little late, but I just read this great interview with Brian Deegan over at Racer X Online, in which Deegan announces his return to racing motocross!
What really got me stoked about this news was that it was clear that Brian has really grown up. He's a family man now and a successful businessman and he admitted that he misses the sport and wants to ride the nationals simply for the pleasure of it. I think that's awesome. He even said he had a positive attitude now! That's the commandant of the Metal Militia talking!
Brian, welcome back. I am going to be one of the guys cheering for you on the sidelines, no matter what position you're running in. Good luck!
What really got me stoked about this news was that it was clear that Brian has really grown up. He's a family man now and a successful businessman and he admitted that he misses the sport and wants to ride the nationals simply for the pleasure of it. I think that's awesome. He even said he had a positive attitude now! That's the commandant of the Metal Militia talking!
Brian, welcome back. I am going to be one of the guys cheering for you on the sidelines, no matter what position you're running in. Good luck!
May 01, 2006
Congratulations Grant Langston!!
Wow, talk about putting it down when it counts, Grant "Lucky" Langston dominated the muddy Seattle Supercross last Saturday to clinch the West Region 250F supercross championship. Good job, Grant!
Now, at the beginning of the season I wrote an article about Grant, saying he was selling "wolf tickets". For those that don't know, "wolf tickets" is a slang term for bragging. And it was true; the article was in response to a press release issued by Langston's people, talking about how Grant was going for the "Grand Slam": by winning the West Regional supercross title, he would be the only rider in history to win every possible 125 title in the world.
And there's some truth to this. Before he came to race in the U.S., Langston won the FIM 125 World Championship on a KTM 125. Cool. Then he won the AMA 125 National Championship, also on a KTM 125. Then last year, Langston won the East Regional 125 supercross championship... but he was riding a Kawasaki 250F. No problem because they're legal in the 125 class, right? Okay fine, but this year is different. Yes, he won the title, but the class is no longer the 125 class. According to the AMA, it's now called the "Supercross Lites" class, and in fact, there was not a single 125 c.c. motorcycle contesting the entire series. Technically, it is NOT a 125 title for Lucky.
So, Grand Slam? I think not. But don't despair, Grant, because it is still a great championship and a great way to wrap up your career in the tiddler ranks. As Steve Whitelock ungraciously said when handing you the number one plate, "You're racing Supercross now, boy." Or something like that. I have no idea why he would call you a boy...
Now, at the beginning of the season I wrote an article about Grant, saying he was selling "wolf tickets". For those that don't know, "wolf tickets" is a slang term for bragging. And it was true; the article was in response to a press release issued by Langston's people, talking about how Grant was going for the "Grand Slam": by winning the West Regional supercross title, he would be the only rider in history to win every possible 125 title in the world.
And there's some truth to this. Before he came to race in the U.S., Langston won the FIM 125 World Championship on a KTM 125. Cool. Then he won the AMA 125 National Championship, also on a KTM 125. Then last year, Langston won the East Regional 125 supercross championship... but he was riding a Kawasaki 250F. No problem because they're legal in the 125 class, right? Okay fine, but this year is different. Yes, he won the title, but the class is no longer the 125 class. According to the AMA, it's now called the "Supercross Lites" class, and in fact, there was not a single 125 c.c. motorcycle contesting the entire series. Technically, it is NOT a 125 title for Lucky.
So, Grand Slam? I think not. But don't despair, Grant, because it is still a great championship and a great way to wrap up your career in the tiddler ranks. As Steve Whitelock ungraciously said when handing you the number one plate, "You're racing Supercross now, boy." Or something like that. I have no idea why he would call you a boy...
April 26, 2006
"Jumping" James to stay with Team Green
Well, there'll be no "jumping ship" to Honda for James Stewart, as Kawasaki has announced they've renewed his contract (check out the press release here, courtesy Racer X Online).
I maintained that moving to Honda would be a positive step for Stewart, because I believe that every pro racer eventually wants to ride for Big Red AND I believe the CRF450F is a better bike than the Kawasaki KX450F. At least in terms of handling. And we've all seen James have problems this year with keeping the Kawi on two wheels, primarily due to front-end washouts.
But all of that is for naught. "Jumping" James will remain a Kawi man, demonstrating a level of brand loyalty that is all to rare in today's sport. Here's hoping that the partnership continue to bear (championship) fruit.
So... how about that MXdN announcement, Kawasaki? You ARE supporting James' involvement this year, right?
I maintained that moving to Honda would be a positive step for Stewart, because I believe that every pro racer eventually wants to ride for Big Red AND I believe the CRF450F is a better bike than the Kawasaki KX450F. At least in terms of handling. And we've all seen James have problems this year with keeping the Kawi on two wheels, primarily due to front-end washouts.
But all of that is for naught. "Jumping" James will remain a Kawi man, demonstrating a level of brand loyalty that is all to rare in today's sport. Here's hoping that the partnership continue to bear (championship) fruit.
So... how about that MXdN announcement, Kawasaki? You ARE supporting James' involvement this year, right?
"Superbad" Chad speaks his mind
You gotta check out this audio interview of Chad Reed at last week's Dallas Supercross, as conducted by David Izer of DMXS Radio. "Superbad" really lays it on the line and doesn't pull any punches. And this was BEFORE his stunning surprise win in the main. What he has to say about Suzuki and the fuel penalty situation is amazing.
I'm Back!
Whoa. Where have I been? Well, I've been seriously ill the past two weeks or so, in so much pain that it was impossible to do any type of creative writing. But I'm much better now, so I'll get this puppy back on track.
I tell you what: during my time down I had ample opportunity to think about the difference between professional athletes and amateur/hobbyists, and the main difference is the fact that pros are paid to play when hurt or sick. Curled up in a fetal ball in my bed, I gave thought to what must have been going through Chad Reed's mind when he answered the call to race despite having a severely injured shoulder. I also thought about those races that James Stewart pulled out of last season, due to his "mystery" ailment. Pro athletes are a different breed.
I tell you what: during my time down I had ample opportunity to think about the difference between professional athletes and amateur/hobbyists, and the main difference is the fact that pros are paid to play when hurt or sick. Curled up in a fetal ball in my bed, I gave thought to what must have been going through Chad Reed's mind when he answered the call to race despite having a severely injured shoulder. I also thought about those races that James Stewart pulled out of last season, due to his "mystery" ailment. Pro athletes are a different breed.
April 08, 2006
Sparkplug 46
Now that the supercross season is taking a well-deserved two-weekend break (what a great season), I thought this would be a good time to tackle a not-so-serious moto-subject: rider nicknames. As in, I think it's high time that we adoring fans came up with some new monickers for our favorite riders.
Motocross nicknames have a rich history. Riders started taking nicks as soon as there were factory rides; some picked them up even sooner. Names like the "Flyin' Hawaiian" for John Desoto and "Jammin'" Jimmy Weinert are classics. Probably the greatest motocross nickname of all time is "Hurricane" for Bob Hannah. It's my opinion that the nicks in use today pale in comparison to the great handles from years gone by. So I'd like to rectify that situation.
See, it used to be that the nickname was actually descriptive of the rider and his riding style. "Hurricane" fit Hannah's wildman riding style like a fine suit. "Jammin'" had double meanings for Weinert; not only would he often be found in the pits jammin' on an acoustic guitar (making up hilarious songs about his competition), but on the track he would be the first to jam you into the snow fences on his way past. Contrast that with "RC." What does "RC" say about Rick Carmichael other than state his obvious initials? And before you get started, let me say that "G.O.A.T." is not an appropriate nickname for Carmichael; it's simply who he is. "Bubba" is another meaningless nick. The story is that an old lady gave that to James Stewart when he was still on minis. What do old ladies know about proper motocross nicknames?
I could be wrong, but I think the first professional sport to heavily adopt the use of nicknames was professional boxing. Early boxing promoters were always looking for an edge to sell tickets to their prize fights, so they would "create" flamboyant personas for their fighters. Now modern fighters are more known for their nicknames than their actual names. "Sugar" Ray Leonard. "Marvelous" Marvin Hagler. Thomas "Hit Man" Hearns. "Iron" Mike Tyson. These names are rich and evocative. This is what we need to get back to in motocross.
Yes, I have some new nicknames to propose, but first, let me set some basic guidelines. First and foremost, a rider MUST have achieved at least one championship of some kind before he deserves a nickname. Regional SX championships and Arenacross championships will qualify a rider for a nickname. Secondly, the nickname must be a clever reflection of the rider's personality and style. Finally, the rider must actually accept the nick. What good is a nickname if the rider himself doesn't like it?
So without further adieu, I give you the new nicknames for the top riders of our sport:
Heath "Work Hoss" Voss - Heath deserves props for his World Supercross title and his never-say-die attitude. And he ain't no little guy, either.
"TrackMaster" Travis Preston - this one was tough, because Travis is a genuinely nice guy who is really getting the job done, but usually is totally overlooked by the fans and the media. Travis deserves better recognition for the fact that he is an excellent rider... the man finished 5th overall in the 250 nats last year! Sure, "TrackMaster" isn't the greatest nickname ever, but it's alot better than Preston's current nick... nothing at all. Or is it "The Slower Travis"??
Mike "Bruiser" Brown - I mean, ANYTHING'S an improvement over "Brownie"! And many riders know that Brown is not to be messed with on the track. He'll put you on the ground with the quickness. Mike's not afraid to swap paint, so that's why I think he deserves a fighter's nickname.
Ivan "The Terrible" Tedesco - now I admit this one is not entirely original, but I think it's much better than the current play-on-words favorite "Hot Sauce". No, he's not a terrible rider, but like any good slang, this nick means the opposite of what it says (like "sick" actually means "dope"... er, cool or something). Ivan is in fact "terrible" to his competition... ask Michael Byrne.
Grant "Lucky" Langston - I chose this because it rolls nicely off the tongue and it also means the opposite of what it says. I'm referring to the bad luck Grant overcame early in his career, when he threw away his first supercross win with a last lap crash, and when he lost his first possible National title when his KTM's rear wheel exploded. Despite those setbacks, "Lucky" Langston is homing in on an unprecedented feat: becoming the only rider in the history of the sport to win a World 125 title, an American National 125 title and both Regional Supercross titles. Maybe he IS "Lucky"... (Note to Kyle Lewis fans: yes, your man has won a Japanese National Championship, and he's a fine motocross racer AND he currently holds the pink slip to the "Lucky" nickname, but... it's time to let it go.)
"Sugar K." Windham - this one is tough, but most people will agree that Kevin is one of the smoothest riders to ever grace the saddle of a modern motocross bike. In boxing, the nickname "Sugar" is held in high esteem; it describes a fighter that moves with sweet, assured footwork. We could call him "Special K" or "Smoothie", but neither of these has the historic value of "Sugar K"... and it sounds like "Sugar Ray".
"Superbad" Chad Reed - again going with the opposite meaning, I just like the ring of "Superbad Chad". To me, his hold nick of "Skippy" is borderline insulting. And the fact is that Chad is indeed "Superbad"... he may not be keeping up with the Rick and James show this year, but no one else in the field has anything for him. I can't wait to see what he'll do outdoors this year.
"Jumpin'" James Stewart - What other nick for a guy who singlehandedly rewrote the rules on jumping? James may not have invented the scrub, there few can dispute the fact that he made it a mandatory move for pros that actually want to win races.
Rick "The Hammer" Carmichael - At first, I thought of Rick "The Ruler", because of the R's, but Slick Rick the rapper beat me too it. Plus, "The Hammer" kind of goes with the "tool" aspect of his team's sponsor, Makita. And that fact is that Carmichael has hammered his competition senseless ever since he first swung a leg over a bike. Besides, Tom Delay won't be needing the nickname anymore (and that was the absolute last political aside you'll ever read at this blog)!
So... what do you think? And what would be a good nick for our newest champion, Davi Milsaps?
Motocross nicknames have a rich history. Riders started taking nicks as soon as there were factory rides; some picked them up even sooner. Names like the "Flyin' Hawaiian" for John Desoto and "Jammin'" Jimmy Weinert are classics. Probably the greatest motocross nickname of all time is "Hurricane" for Bob Hannah. It's my opinion that the nicks in use today pale in comparison to the great handles from years gone by. So I'd like to rectify that situation.
See, it used to be that the nickname was actually descriptive of the rider and his riding style. "Hurricane" fit Hannah's wildman riding style like a fine suit. "Jammin'" had double meanings for Weinert; not only would he often be found in the pits jammin' on an acoustic guitar (making up hilarious songs about his competition), but on the track he would be the first to jam you into the snow fences on his way past. Contrast that with "RC." What does "RC" say about Rick Carmichael other than state his obvious initials? And before you get started, let me say that "G.O.A.T." is not an appropriate nickname for Carmichael; it's simply who he is. "Bubba" is another meaningless nick. The story is that an old lady gave that to James Stewart when he was still on minis. What do old ladies know about proper motocross nicknames?
I could be wrong, but I think the first professional sport to heavily adopt the use of nicknames was professional boxing. Early boxing promoters were always looking for an edge to sell tickets to their prize fights, so they would "create" flamboyant personas for their fighters. Now modern fighters are more known for their nicknames than their actual names. "Sugar" Ray Leonard. "Marvelous" Marvin Hagler. Thomas "Hit Man" Hearns. "Iron" Mike Tyson. These names are rich and evocative. This is what we need to get back to in motocross.
Yes, I have some new nicknames to propose, but first, let me set some basic guidelines. First and foremost, a rider MUST have achieved at least one championship of some kind before he deserves a nickname. Regional SX championships and Arenacross championships will qualify a rider for a nickname. Secondly, the nickname must be a clever reflection of the rider's personality and style. Finally, the rider must actually accept the nick. What good is a nickname if the rider himself doesn't like it?
So without further adieu, I give you the new nicknames for the top riders of our sport:
Heath "Work Hoss" Voss - Heath deserves props for his World Supercross title and his never-say-die attitude. And he ain't no little guy, either.
"TrackMaster" Travis Preston - this one was tough, because Travis is a genuinely nice guy who is really getting the job done, but usually is totally overlooked by the fans and the media. Travis deserves better recognition for the fact that he is an excellent rider... the man finished 5th overall in the 250 nats last year! Sure, "TrackMaster" isn't the greatest nickname ever, but it's alot better than Preston's current nick... nothing at all. Or is it "The Slower Travis"??
Mike "Bruiser" Brown - I mean, ANYTHING'S an improvement over "Brownie"! And many riders know that Brown is not to be messed with on the track. He'll put you on the ground with the quickness. Mike's not afraid to swap paint, so that's why I think he deserves a fighter's nickname.
Ivan "The Terrible" Tedesco - now I admit this one is not entirely original, but I think it's much better than the current play-on-words favorite "Hot Sauce". No, he's not a terrible rider, but like any good slang, this nick means the opposite of what it says (like "sick" actually means "dope"... er, cool or something). Ivan is in fact "terrible" to his competition... ask Michael Byrne.
Grant "Lucky" Langston - I chose this because it rolls nicely off the tongue and it also means the opposite of what it says. I'm referring to the bad luck Grant overcame early in his career, when he threw away his first supercross win with a last lap crash, and when he lost his first possible National title when his KTM's rear wheel exploded. Despite those setbacks, "Lucky" Langston is homing in on an unprecedented feat: becoming the only rider in the history of the sport to win a World 125 title, an American National 125 title and both Regional Supercross titles. Maybe he IS "Lucky"... (Note to Kyle Lewis fans: yes, your man has won a Japanese National Championship, and he's a fine motocross racer AND he currently holds the pink slip to the "Lucky" nickname, but... it's time to let it go.)
"Sugar K." Windham - this one is tough, but most people will agree that Kevin is one of the smoothest riders to ever grace the saddle of a modern motocross bike. In boxing, the nickname "Sugar" is held in high esteem; it describes a fighter that moves with sweet, assured footwork. We could call him "Special K" or "Smoothie", but neither of these has the historic value of "Sugar K"... and it sounds like "Sugar Ray".
"Superbad" Chad Reed - again going with the opposite meaning, I just like the ring of "Superbad Chad". To me, his hold nick of "Skippy" is borderline insulting. And the fact is that Chad is indeed "Superbad"... he may not be keeping up with the Rick and James show this year, but no one else in the field has anything for him. I can't wait to see what he'll do outdoors this year.
"Jumpin'" James Stewart - What other nick for a guy who singlehandedly rewrote the rules on jumping? James may not have invented the scrub, there few can dispute the fact that he made it a mandatory move for pros that actually want to win races.
Rick "The Hammer" Carmichael - At first, I thought of Rick "The Ruler", because of the R's, but Slick Rick the rapper beat me too it. Plus, "The Hammer" kind of goes with the "tool" aspect of his team's sponsor, Makita. And that fact is that Carmichael has hammered his competition senseless ever since he first swung a leg over a bike. Besides, Tom Delay won't be needing the nickname anymore (and that was the absolute last political aside you'll ever read at this blog)!
So... what do you think? And what would be a good nick for our newest champion, Davi Milsaps?
April 03, 2006
Davi Does It!
Congratulations to Davi Milsaps and Team Honda for wrapping up the 2006 East Region 250F supercross championship. It's the first professional title for both Milsaps and the littlest Honda fourstroke... and with Andrew Short leading the way in the West Region, this might be the first year Honda sweeps the regional classes since Jeremy McGrath and Brian Swink completed the deal for Team Peak/Pro Circuit/Honda.
And it's kind of ironic that if Shorty wins the title, he'll be beating Pro Circuit rider Grant Langston to do so.
So, let's welcome Davi Milsaps to the ranks of factory riders that have won regional supercross titles... it's almost the minimum requirement for keeping a factory ride.
And it's kind of ironic that if Shorty wins the title, he'll be beating Pro Circuit rider Grant Langston to do so.
So, let's welcome Davi Milsaps to the ranks of factory riders that have won regional supercross titles... it's almost the minimum requirement for keeping a factory ride.
March 31, 2006
Sparkplug 45
Unlike “Strobe Light” madness (which is strangely enough also the title of a great song by the B-52s, by the way), this week's Sparkplug addresses an issue that is rarely talked about in motocross: health insurance.
I used to be involved in the life insurance industry and my current job is in the healthcare industry, however this is not meant to suggest that I'm an expert on these matters, just that I some idea of what's going on in both industries. One of the things that used to trouble me about life insurance was the fact that many people tend to believe they have no need to buy the product for their loved ones... and then the unthinkable happens, a child dies, and they have to scrape up money to cover the expenses of an unexpected funeral. Actually, this scenario still troubles me today. I have seen too many “memorial” car washes and t-shirt sales campaigns in Southern California held for the sole purpose of raising a few thousand dollars to pay for the burial expenses of a poor family's deceased teenager. It's heartbreaking, and considering the low cost of life insurance for minors, mostly unneccessay had a little foresight been used.
So, what does this have to do with motocross? Like many motocross fans, I have been moved by the plights of our fallen riders, most recently James “The Outlaw” Marshall and Ernesto “Fonzie” Fonseca. I recently took a day off work to attend a benefit “Outlaw Ride Day” held at Glen Helen Raceway, the proceeds of which were being given to Marshall's family to help them deal with the costs of healthcare related to his terrible injury suffered at the San Diego supercross. Truth be told, it was a fun and inspirational day, and I was happy to donate a little money to his cause. But it made me question why such an event was necessary in the first place. How is it possible that a professional athlete not be covered by adequate health insurance in 2006?
My first question, for which I have admittedly not searched for an answer, is what is the AMA's position on health insurance for their professionally-licensed racers? I also read that Live Nation donated $25,000 to Marshall's fund, which leads to my second and third questions: Is Live Nation prepared to make similar donations to every under-insured racer's family should they be injured at one of their events? And wouldn't funding a comprehensive group health insurance package for all riders be a better idea? I am glad that they made the donation, but it makes me wonder if it was a big-hearted gesture or a corporate CYA maneuver...
It's no secret that the healthcare industry hates motorcycles, but just in case you have trouble comprehending that fact, I will repeat it again: the healthcare industry hates motorcycles. The “other” AMA, the America Medical Association, has a long record of opposing motorcycles and motorcycle sport. And they're joined by the mainstream media, Hollywood, and the professional “safety” lobby... all of whom help influence the insurance industry's dim view of our sport. Which means that IF the insurance underwriters even see fit to offer an insurance product for racers, it will be at astronomically high premium costs.
Which really shouldn't be surprising, considering the ridiculous cost of healthcare... a collusive, vicious circle to be sure, but it's a plain fact. And being a fact, that means we simply have to deal with it. That means racers need to pay for health insurance... or not race.
This is a decision that thousands of amateur racers face every day. A good friend of mine who lives in the San Diego area has actually stopped racing because of the cost of health insurance... and health care. A simple motocross injury would be financially challenging for him; a serious setback would be financially devastating.
Now, not all riders are in the same boat. Ernesto Fonseca suffered a terrible injury as well, yet there were no calls for donations and no benefit rides held in his name (here is the latest news on Fonseca, courtesy Racer X Online). The assumption is that as a factory rider, he had his health insurance needs taken care of. That certainly would be fitting, but this just points to the severe differences between being a “true” professional racer and a privateer. Factory sponsored or not, a “true” professional should make sure he has the tools, training and other essentials necessary to do the job. In a dangerous sport such as motocross, sufficient health insurance is essential. This is not meant to suggest that only pro racers overlook this important need. How many professional oil rig workers are underinsured? How many coal miners are underinsured? How many construction professionals are underinsured? Probably more than we know.
But how does our sport compare to other professional sports? We often take some pride in the fact that our sport has the lowest barrier to entry, cost-wise, than almost any other motorsport. Obviously, this only takes the cost of equipment into consideration. Yet, can you even imagine an injured NASCAR driver having to hold a fundraiser to pay for their healthcare expenses? Maybe it has actually happened, but I really doubt it. [Update: my friend FLVet from Motodrive tells me: "If I'm not mistaken the AMA will let you race a pro event with just their $25,000 policy. It has happened in NASCAR. They raised monies for Ernie Irvin when he had that bad crash that left him with an $850,000 bill plus rehab to pay for. Yes he had insurance as well. The NFL insures all it's players through NFL Wokers Comp if they get hurt in a game or practice. It's an on the job injury."]
Motocross has come a long way, but until the industry seriously addresses this health insurance issue, we might as well admit that our sport is still in its infancy. Racing with insufficient health insurance, even at the amateur level, is simply irresponsible. At the professional level it is inexcusable and I believe the organizations that sanction professional races should be held accountable for this issue.
I used to be involved in the life insurance industry and my current job is in the healthcare industry, however this is not meant to suggest that I'm an expert on these matters, just that I some idea of what's going on in both industries. One of the things that used to trouble me about life insurance was the fact that many people tend to believe they have no need to buy the product for their loved ones... and then the unthinkable happens, a child dies, and they have to scrape up money to cover the expenses of an unexpected funeral. Actually, this scenario still troubles me today. I have seen too many “memorial” car washes and t-shirt sales campaigns in Southern California held for the sole purpose of raising a few thousand dollars to pay for the burial expenses of a poor family's deceased teenager. It's heartbreaking, and considering the low cost of life insurance for minors, mostly unneccessay had a little foresight been used.
So, what does this have to do with motocross? Like many motocross fans, I have been moved by the plights of our fallen riders, most recently James “The Outlaw” Marshall and Ernesto “Fonzie” Fonseca. I recently took a day off work to attend a benefit “Outlaw Ride Day” held at Glen Helen Raceway, the proceeds of which were being given to Marshall's family to help them deal with the costs of healthcare related to his terrible injury suffered at the San Diego supercross. Truth be told, it was a fun and inspirational day, and I was happy to donate a little money to his cause. But it made me question why such an event was necessary in the first place. How is it possible that a professional athlete not be covered by adequate health insurance in 2006?
My first question, for which I have admittedly not searched for an answer, is what is the AMA's position on health insurance for their professionally-licensed racers? I also read that Live Nation donated $25,000 to Marshall's fund, which leads to my second and third questions: Is Live Nation prepared to make similar donations to every under-insured racer's family should they be injured at one of their events? And wouldn't funding a comprehensive group health insurance package for all riders be a better idea? I am glad that they made the donation, but it makes me wonder if it was a big-hearted gesture or a corporate CYA maneuver...
It's no secret that the healthcare industry hates motorcycles, but just in case you have trouble comprehending that fact, I will repeat it again: the healthcare industry hates motorcycles. The “other” AMA, the America Medical Association, has a long record of opposing motorcycles and motorcycle sport. And they're joined by the mainstream media, Hollywood, and the professional “safety” lobby... all of whom help influence the insurance industry's dim view of our sport. Which means that IF the insurance underwriters even see fit to offer an insurance product for racers, it will be at astronomically high premium costs.
Which really shouldn't be surprising, considering the ridiculous cost of healthcare... a collusive, vicious circle to be sure, but it's a plain fact. And being a fact, that means we simply have to deal with it. That means racers need to pay for health insurance... or not race.
This is a decision that thousands of amateur racers face every day. A good friend of mine who lives in the San Diego area has actually stopped racing because of the cost of health insurance... and health care. A simple motocross injury would be financially challenging for him; a serious setback would be financially devastating.
Now, not all riders are in the same boat. Ernesto Fonseca suffered a terrible injury as well, yet there were no calls for donations and no benefit rides held in his name (here is the latest news on Fonseca, courtesy Racer X Online). The assumption is that as a factory rider, he had his health insurance needs taken care of. That certainly would be fitting, but this just points to the severe differences between being a “true” professional racer and a privateer. Factory sponsored or not, a “true” professional should make sure he has the tools, training and other essentials necessary to do the job. In a dangerous sport such as motocross, sufficient health insurance is essential. This is not meant to suggest that only pro racers overlook this important need. How many professional oil rig workers are underinsured? How many coal miners are underinsured? How many construction professionals are underinsured? Probably more than we know.
But how does our sport compare to other professional sports? We often take some pride in the fact that our sport has the lowest barrier to entry, cost-wise, than almost any other motorsport. Obviously, this only takes the cost of equipment into consideration. Yet, can you even imagine an injured NASCAR driver having to hold a fundraiser to pay for their healthcare expenses? Maybe it has actually happened, but I really doubt it. [Update: my friend FLVet from Motodrive tells me: "If I'm not mistaken the AMA will let you race a pro event with just their $25,000 policy. It has happened in NASCAR. They raised monies for Ernie Irvin when he had that bad crash that left him with an $850,000 bill plus rehab to pay for. Yes he had insurance as well. The NFL insures all it's players through NFL Wokers Comp if they get hurt in a game or practice. It's an on the job injury."]
Motocross has come a long way, but until the industry seriously addresses this health insurance issue, we might as well admit that our sport is still in its infancy. Racing with insufficient health insurance, even at the amateur level, is simply irresponsible. At the professional level it is inexcusable and I believe the organizations that sanction professional races should be held accountable for this issue.
March 24, 2006
Sparkplug 44
Continuing with the theme from last week, in which I hit upon the development of my affection for writing, today's Sparkplug deals with a specific example of my love of motocross. In particular, my ill-fated attempt to become National Champion at the age of 40.
The National amateur motocross championships, held every year at country music legend Loretta Lynn's ranch, is an iconic event for American motocross. More than just a one-off race meet, LL's has become the finest showcase for up-and-coming riders that the sport has ever seen. Almost like the NFL draft, young riders must pass through the crucible of Loretta Lynn's in order to gain access to a career on the professional side of motocross. One can certainly turn pro without qualifying for and racing at Loretta Lynn's, but good luck getting any type of support if you don't.
When I returned to racing after a 20-year break, I came back with a big dream. By that time, I had read plenty of positive thinking texts and business school books, and one lesson stuck with me strongly. It suggested that the key to large-scale success was to set BHAGs, which are Big Hairy Audacious Goals. Well, I certainly set one for motocross: I wanted to win the 2001 Loretta Lynn title in the 40 Plus B/C class. For a guy who's racing efforts to date had never amassed even one trophy, let alone a win, that was indeed a BHAG. But I had complete faith that if had good equipment, got good instruction and trained relentlessly, that I could will my way to a win in the Big Show. The biggest challenge of my goal, though, was the fact that the regional qualifiers were only 3 months away.
So I purchased an '01 YZ250 in late December 2000 and started the ball rolling. I was already spending my evenings memorizing Gary Semics instructional tapes, so I booked classes with the local Gary Semics MX School instructor in mid-January. Unfortunately, this led to my very first setback when my instructor called to cancel my class because he broke his leg the week before! Undaunted, I quickly scheduled a session with local SoCal legend Ron Turner. And I learned two things, one of which was that I was too out-of-shape to actually endure a day's worth of instruction.
But two hours of training was certainly better than nothing and I was officially underway. I joined the Over The Hill Gang vet racing organization and began an intensive schedule of practicing and racing on a weekly basis. In fact, I would leave my office on Friday evenings, drive 2 hours to the old Competition Park facility in Hemet, California to get in about an hour of practice on their lighted course before they closed. Then I would go to a practice track on Saturday and race at another track on Sunday. The rest of the week I spent my evenings in the gym, alternating weight workouts with cardio sessions, quietly repeating my mantra “2001 National Champion” with every breath.
I even had the gall to ask motocross legend David Bailey for some free advice, and unbelievably, he gave me some pointers on structuring my riding practice sessions for endurance and speed. Wow!
By late February 2001, I had several races under my belt, though not a single race win (or trophy). But I was clearly improving, both in technique and endurance. Then at a Gang race at L.A. Country Raceway in Palmdale, California, while running in the top 5, I lost my balance in a low-speed off-camber turn. The tipover resulted in a broken thumb, and with just two weeks before the first qualifier, my chances for making it to LL's were looking pretty grim.
Despite the fact that I had a cast that reached midway up my forearm, I decided to drive out to Glen Helen for the qualifier anyway. No, I didn't intend to ride, I just wanted to see what the competition was like. When I got there and assessed the situation, my heart was broken again. Had I raced, I would have had to finish in the top ten to qualify; there were only 9 people signed up for my class! I would have made the first round of qualifying just by showing up!
There was another opportunity to qualify, however, and it was scheduled to happen after I had my cast removed. But the scheduling of that race posed other problems for me. For one, the race was in Utah, a 15 hour drive away. And even worse, it was on the same weekend that my best friend was getting married. What to do? Well, I actually asked David Bailey for more advice and he plainly told me that friends and family were more important than racing. Again, wow!
And with that, I let go of my pursuit of the BHAG. And any idea I may have had about picking up the dream again in 2002 was squashed when LL's axed the 40+ B/C class. But I have no regrets for my efforts in 2001. It was a great run, and it got me prepared and in shape for a fun 2 years racing with the Over The Hill Gang (still no trophies though).
The National amateur motocross championships, held every year at country music legend Loretta Lynn's ranch, is an iconic event for American motocross. More than just a one-off race meet, LL's has become the finest showcase for up-and-coming riders that the sport has ever seen. Almost like the NFL draft, young riders must pass through the crucible of Loretta Lynn's in order to gain access to a career on the professional side of motocross. One can certainly turn pro without qualifying for and racing at Loretta Lynn's, but good luck getting any type of support if you don't.
When I returned to racing after a 20-year break, I came back with a big dream. By that time, I had read plenty of positive thinking texts and business school books, and one lesson stuck with me strongly. It suggested that the key to large-scale success was to set BHAGs, which are Big Hairy Audacious Goals. Well, I certainly set one for motocross: I wanted to win the 2001 Loretta Lynn title in the 40 Plus B/C class. For a guy who's racing efforts to date had never amassed even one trophy, let alone a win, that was indeed a BHAG. But I had complete faith that if had good equipment, got good instruction and trained relentlessly, that I could will my way to a win in the Big Show. The biggest challenge of my goal, though, was the fact that the regional qualifiers were only 3 months away.
So I purchased an '01 YZ250 in late December 2000 and started the ball rolling. I was already spending my evenings memorizing Gary Semics instructional tapes, so I booked classes with the local Gary Semics MX School instructor in mid-January. Unfortunately, this led to my very first setback when my instructor called to cancel my class because he broke his leg the week before! Undaunted, I quickly scheduled a session with local SoCal legend Ron Turner. And I learned two things, one of which was that I was too out-of-shape to actually endure a day's worth of instruction.
But two hours of training was certainly better than nothing and I was officially underway. I joined the Over The Hill Gang vet racing organization and began an intensive schedule of practicing and racing on a weekly basis. In fact, I would leave my office on Friday evenings, drive 2 hours to the old Competition Park facility in Hemet, California to get in about an hour of practice on their lighted course before they closed. Then I would go to a practice track on Saturday and race at another track on Sunday. The rest of the week I spent my evenings in the gym, alternating weight workouts with cardio sessions, quietly repeating my mantra “2001 National Champion” with every breath.
I even had the gall to ask motocross legend David Bailey for some free advice, and unbelievably, he gave me some pointers on structuring my riding practice sessions for endurance and speed. Wow!
By late February 2001, I had several races under my belt, though not a single race win (or trophy). But I was clearly improving, both in technique and endurance. Then at a Gang race at L.A. Country Raceway in Palmdale, California, while running in the top 5, I lost my balance in a low-speed off-camber turn. The tipover resulted in a broken thumb, and with just two weeks before the first qualifier, my chances for making it to LL's were looking pretty grim.
Despite the fact that I had a cast that reached midway up my forearm, I decided to drive out to Glen Helen for the qualifier anyway. No, I didn't intend to ride, I just wanted to see what the competition was like. When I got there and assessed the situation, my heart was broken again. Had I raced, I would have had to finish in the top ten to qualify; there were only 9 people signed up for my class! I would have made the first round of qualifying just by showing up!
There was another opportunity to qualify, however, and it was scheduled to happen after I had my cast removed. But the scheduling of that race posed other problems for me. For one, the race was in Utah, a 15 hour drive away. And even worse, it was on the same weekend that my best friend was getting married. What to do? Well, I actually asked David Bailey for more advice and he plainly told me that friends and family were more important than racing. Again, wow!
And with that, I let go of my pursuit of the BHAG. And any idea I may have had about picking up the dream again in 2002 was squashed when LL's axed the 40+ B/C class. But I have no regrets for my efforts in 2001. It was a great run, and it got me prepared and in shape for a fun 2 years racing with the Over The Hill Gang (still no trophies though).
March 17, 2006
Sparkplug 43
This week, I find myself needing to explain myself. Specifically, who am I to think that I can just write what I want about the sport that I love?
First, a little background is necessary. Before I fell for motocross as a teenager, I had already kindled a raging love affair with the written word. My parents, both voracious readers, surrounded me with books of all kinds and my first introduction to the world of periodicals was through the venerable Reader's Digest. Yet even though I had written a play in elementary school and several short stories by high school, I still did not consider myself to be a writer.
My senior year in high school, I was the editorial page editor for our award-winning weekly newspaper, and one particular event became a sort of turning point for me. Our paper featured a weekly guest column and I was in charge of enlisting a different teacher to do the honors. One week I invited a popular history teacher, who also happened to be a football and track coach, to submit an article. When I read his work, I was blown away by the sheer number of grammatical and spelling errors he had committed. I knew this man was no dummy, yet I couldn't understand why he would give us something he obviously neglected to proof. Instead of correcting the mistakes, I decided to print the column as it was written, pointing out each error with “syntax incorrect” notations (sic). Hell, I reasoned, the man was a teacher!
As you might imagine, the shit hit the fan when the paper came out. This teacher, understandably livid, responded by challenging the entire newspaper staff to come out and “see what it's like” to work out with the track team for a few days. Everyone knew it was a virtual death sentence, but I felt responsible for incurring his wrath, so I alone took him up on it. And that was the turning point for me; I took those three days of hell and turned it into a two-part series of my experience being ground into fine paste by the pissed-off track coach. Those articles were the most well-received stories I had written all year, and the rush of participatory, “first person journalism” filled me with a new sense of excitement about writing.
Thirty years later and I still love to write. That coupled with the fact that I am an extremely opinionated individual means all I need is an outlet and I can easily fill it with paragraph upon paragraph of thoughts, feelings and anecdotes. Which is why I am so bullish about the internet... writing in a paper journal and putting it on one's shelf is nowhere near as satisfying as self-publishing on the worldwide web. Bulletin boards and blogs were tailor-made for people like me, and we're the ones you see with thousands of posts covering just about every subject imaginable.
In fact, I think of motocross bulletin boards like Motodrive as some sort of game, an enjoyable way of meeting new people who share similar interests. Posting on these boards is also a great way to let off steam built up from the stresses of everyday work. And just like any game, there are a range of skill levels, from expert players to first-time beginners, all verbally jousting while discussing the hot topics of the day. Sometimes it can be a lot of fun watching the fireworks of an extended “flame war”, as two or more posters try to get the better of the others. On the flip side of that, however, are those uncomfortable moments when things get out of hand, too much is said and feelings truly get hurt. Yet it's all part of the game.
The “talent” on the motocross bulletin boards can pretty much be ranked just like motocross racing classes. There's the pro class, which features a wide range of professional writers from struggling freelance privateers like myself, up to full-blown “factory stars” who have full-time gigs writing for magazines. Of course, there are intermediates and novices as well, but all levels take to the “track” at the same time.
Occasionally real motocross professionals join the bulletin board fray, but their race experience doesn't automatically grant them “pro” status on the internet. Instead of being able to turn fast laps, it's all about turning a phat phrase, with candor, wit, logic and the ever-important proper grammar and correct spelling. Some of these guys show up and get their asses handed to them, sort of like a virtual Glen Helen Thursdays in reverse (for those that don't know, Thursday practice at the Glen is open to anyone and is usually well-attended by top pros pounding out practice laps. It's quite common to see them blazing past inexperienced beginners lap after lap). Yet some do quite well for themselves, hanging with the “best” of them. But all would do well to remember again: it's all just a game. Like motocross itself, we do it because we love it.
Now it is true the internet can get kind of funky because it's very easy to post anonymously... and plenty of clowns use bulletin boards to fire poison arrows while hiding behind multiple screen names. Personally, my approach is much different: I stand behind everything I write, and when directly addressing other people, I only say things that I am willing to say to their faces, in person. I do not use multiple online personas, in fact, I strive to show my true self in everything I write. I love this sport and I have absolutely nothing to hide.
So I started All Things Motocross as my own little “practice track” of sorts, a place where I could freely write about motocross and the people involved in the sport. While it really doesn't matter to me whether anyone actually reads this blog, my intention is to start a dialogue about the subjects I tackle, which is why I have enabled a “comments” function and is also why I alert my fellow Motodrivers whenever I post a new Sparkplug. So far my logs show that All Things Motocross has been read by motocross fans all over the world, and I think that's pretty cool. If you're so inclined, I hope you'll occasionally let me know how I'm doing, because we all make mistakes sometimes, and we all can use a little help from our friends.
First, a little background is necessary. Before I fell for motocross as a teenager, I had already kindled a raging love affair with the written word. My parents, both voracious readers, surrounded me with books of all kinds and my first introduction to the world of periodicals was through the venerable Reader's Digest. Yet even though I had written a play in elementary school and several short stories by high school, I still did not consider myself to be a writer.
My senior year in high school, I was the editorial page editor for our award-winning weekly newspaper, and one particular event became a sort of turning point for me. Our paper featured a weekly guest column and I was in charge of enlisting a different teacher to do the honors. One week I invited a popular history teacher, who also happened to be a football and track coach, to submit an article. When I read his work, I was blown away by the sheer number of grammatical and spelling errors he had committed. I knew this man was no dummy, yet I couldn't understand why he would give us something he obviously neglected to proof. Instead of correcting the mistakes, I decided to print the column as it was written, pointing out each error with “syntax incorrect” notations (sic). Hell, I reasoned, the man was a teacher!
As you might imagine, the shit hit the fan when the paper came out. This teacher, understandably livid, responded by challenging the entire newspaper staff to come out and “see what it's like” to work out with the track team for a few days. Everyone knew it was a virtual death sentence, but I felt responsible for incurring his wrath, so I alone took him up on it. And that was the turning point for me; I took those three days of hell and turned it into a two-part series of my experience being ground into fine paste by the pissed-off track coach. Those articles were the most well-received stories I had written all year, and the rush of participatory, “first person journalism” filled me with a new sense of excitement about writing.
Thirty years later and I still love to write. That coupled with the fact that I am an extremely opinionated individual means all I need is an outlet and I can easily fill it with paragraph upon paragraph of thoughts, feelings and anecdotes. Which is why I am so bullish about the internet... writing in a paper journal and putting it on one's shelf is nowhere near as satisfying as self-publishing on the worldwide web. Bulletin boards and blogs were tailor-made for people like me, and we're the ones you see with thousands of posts covering just about every subject imaginable.
In fact, I think of motocross bulletin boards like Motodrive as some sort of game, an enjoyable way of meeting new people who share similar interests. Posting on these boards is also a great way to let off steam built up from the stresses of everyday work. And just like any game, there are a range of skill levels, from expert players to first-time beginners, all verbally jousting while discussing the hot topics of the day. Sometimes it can be a lot of fun watching the fireworks of an extended “flame war”, as two or more posters try to get the better of the others. On the flip side of that, however, are those uncomfortable moments when things get out of hand, too much is said and feelings truly get hurt. Yet it's all part of the game.
The “talent” on the motocross bulletin boards can pretty much be ranked just like motocross racing classes. There's the pro class, which features a wide range of professional writers from struggling freelance privateers like myself, up to full-blown “factory stars” who have full-time gigs writing for magazines. Of course, there are intermediates and novices as well, but all levels take to the “track” at the same time.
Occasionally real motocross professionals join the bulletin board fray, but their race experience doesn't automatically grant them “pro” status on the internet. Instead of being able to turn fast laps, it's all about turning a phat phrase, with candor, wit, logic and the ever-important proper grammar and correct spelling. Some of these guys show up and get their asses handed to them, sort of like a virtual Glen Helen Thursdays in reverse (for those that don't know, Thursday practice at the Glen is open to anyone and is usually well-attended by top pros pounding out practice laps. It's quite common to see them blazing past inexperienced beginners lap after lap). Yet some do quite well for themselves, hanging with the “best” of them. But all would do well to remember again: it's all just a game. Like motocross itself, we do it because we love it.
Now it is true the internet can get kind of funky because it's very easy to post anonymously... and plenty of clowns use bulletin boards to fire poison arrows while hiding behind multiple screen names. Personally, my approach is much different: I stand behind everything I write, and when directly addressing other people, I only say things that I am willing to say to their faces, in person. I do not use multiple online personas, in fact, I strive to show my true self in everything I write. I love this sport and I have absolutely nothing to hide.
So I started All Things Motocross as my own little “practice track” of sorts, a place where I could freely write about motocross and the people involved in the sport. While it really doesn't matter to me whether anyone actually reads this blog, my intention is to start a dialogue about the subjects I tackle, which is why I have enabled a “comments” function and is also why I alert my fellow Motodrivers whenever I post a new Sparkplug. So far my logs show that All Things Motocross has been read by motocross fans all over the world, and I think that's pretty cool. If you're so inclined, I hope you'll occasionally let me know how I'm doing, because we all make mistakes sometimes, and we all can use a little help from our friends.
March 16, 2006
Ernesto Fonseca
I have to admit that this isn't the type of post I like to write. In fact, I've been putting off writing anything about Ernesto Fonseca's unfortunate practice accident and terrible injury because... well, frankly because I have been hoping for a miracle. I have been waiting for good news to be released, and I have been checking the major motocross websites several times a day in search of another announcement or press release. All I've found is the one released by Team Honda on March 10th (here's a version on Racer X Online).
I am hoping and praying for a miracle, that's all I can say.
I am hoping and praying for a miracle, that's all I can say.
March 10, 2006
Sparkplug 42
Well, it seems that everything is back to normal in the Amp'd Mobile Supercross Circus. Now that the AMA and the FIM seem to be in a rule-changing frame of mind, I thought this would be a good time to open up the 2006 AMA Pro Racing Motocross/Supercross rulebook and see if there are any other curious regulations that might benefit from some closer scrutiny. Here are the first two that stood out to me:
1. Supercharging and turbocharging are prohibited
2. Only single-cylinder engines are permitted.
So THAT'S why I can't get a turbocharged, V-twin CR450F! It's right there in the rulebook. It's 2006 and my motocross racing and dirtbike riding pleasure has been artificially limited by mere words on a page, and for what reason? The AMA defends the single-cylinder rule in a bulletin dated 12/5/05, stating “This restriction would help preserve a sensible cost of equipment and keep practical maintenance at a tolerable level.” [read all you want at the AMA Pro Racing website]
Can you imagine AMA Pro Racing trying to institute a rule like this now in Dirt Track racing [Why imagine? Go look it up... I didn't.)? Harley Davidson would kick their collective asses. Why are “sensible cost” and “practical maintenance” rule-making considerations in Motocross/Supercross, but not, say, Hillclimbing? Or better yet, AMA/ProStar Drag Racing? Do you think multi-time Top Fuel Champion Larry “Spiderman” McBride, a man whose four-cylinder, supercharged, 1500 horsepower bike can get to 244 mph in a quarter-mile, is particulary concerned with preserving a “sensible cost of equipment”? This rule seems so arbitrary that it makes one question the veracity of its stated intent.
With regards to pressurized fuel induction, the rulebook doesn't give any reason for its exclusion. But can you imagine what a turbo'd 250F would be like? More power than a 450F, and almost as light as a 125! It would be awesome! Not “Spiderman” awesome, but pretty dang cool. What I'd like to see is a return to the smaller displacements with many cylinders, like a 6 cylinder 125CC fourstroke. Low emissions, high power.
Here's another questionable rule:
3. All motorcycles must be driven by rear wheel transmitted power only.
The AMA defends this ruling in the same bulletin, stating “Emerging technology involving front wheel drive could be detrimental to the balance of competition in MX/SX (my emphasis). Moreover, such equipment would dramatically increase the cost of racing.”
There's that concern about the cost of racing again. Why is that such a big deal for MX/SX and no other form of motorcycle sport? It's like we're the poor cousins of the motorcycle world. But of even more concern to me is that dangerous statement about the “balance of competition.” Every motorsport sanctioning body in the world has at one time cut off its nose to spite its face by implementing rule penalties to reduce tecnological domination by one or more parties... when will they learn that stifling innovation is not the way? I could be wrong, but I believe Yamaha is currently the only player with a viable two-wheel drive bike, and at first glance, it doesn't seem like the technology would have any benefit in MX/SX. But I have talked to a guy who actually owns one of the very few two-wheel drive WR450s in the United States and he swears it's a revolution waiting to be unleashed. According to him, it corners better than a standard, rear-drive-only motorcycle. Why is the AMA stopping us from buying and racing a two-wheel drive bike? Or more to the point, why is the AMA stopping Yamaha from marketing an existing bike here in America? Yamaha may have Chad Reed, but the race wins have been few and far between. Is the AMA concerned that letting Reed campaign a 2WD YZ450 would result in sudden, unbalanced domination by the Blue Brand? Really?
Making innovation illegal in AMA Motocross/Supercross racing just doesn't make sense in my mind. Where else should motorcyle companies test new ideas and products, if not in championship events contested by the best motorcycle racers in the world?
Moving on, here's another set of strange mechanical rules:
4. A maximum of six gearbox speeds will be allowed.
Again, the reason for this would be... what? Is seven an unlucky number for transmissions? Will an extra cog make racing too expensive? Give me a break.
5. All footrests must fold at a 45 degree angle.
Now we're getting into that never-never land of arbitrary limits, measures and rations. Do the tech inspectors actually break out the protractors and measure “footrest” folding angles? If Carmichael's bike was found to have pegs that folded at 46 degrees, would he lose 25 points again? Or is this just one of those rules from the early '70s that never got excised from the rulebook? Well, AMA Pro Racing guys, you started the cleanup, you might as well finish it and do a good job, don't you think?
How about this one:
6. Paddle (continuous radial rib) tires and tires with lugs having a height of over 0.750” are prohibited.
This couldn't possibly be the same law instituted back in the “Jammin'” Jimmy Weinert days, can it? Someone say it ain't so! And I guess the same tech guys who measure footpeg angle take the knobby height measurements as well. I can definitely see how a tire with 0.752” lugs would be a decided performance advantage... probably cost more, too (just joking, to see if you're still paying attention).
What I don't understand is how AMA Pro Racing enforces certain rules because they say they're worried about the cost of racing, and at the same time all of the top teams use special, high-cost, limited use tires and they change them after every moto and practice session. THAT can't be cheap... so why is it legal?
Here's another dinosaur that needs to be put out of its misery:
7. Electronic transmitting of information, including radio communications, to or from a moving motorcycle is prohibited with the following exceptions:
a. AMA Pro Racing transponders utilized for scoring purposes (mandatory equipment assigned by AMA Pro Racing).
b. Data or video transmitted for the sole use of the AMA Pro Racing approved event television production (mandatory equipment assigned by AMA Pro Racing).
c. Automatic lap timing devices.
Hey, welcome to the 21st Century, AMA Pro Racing! Listen, if radio communications are safe enough for guys driving cars in 200mph circles, it's safe enough for 20mph supercross laps. And you're missing out on an entirely new revenue stream by not marketing pit radio scanners to the fans. With regards to other types of data transmissions (telemetry, video, etc.), I don't understand why the OEMs aren't up in arms about this. The data they could capture in a racing situations would surely prove to be invaluable to their R & D efforts.
How about this one:
8. Riders may only enter one class at Supercross (no double classing). [the same rule is repeated for Motocross]
Why you dirty double-classer! What is the point of this rule? I don't get it, if a rider is strong enough to qualify for both classes, why not let him or her do it? Is it because it makes racing more expensive? Is it because it will affect the balance of competition? Why is this rule still on the books?
And here's a rule that's NEVER enforced:
9. Persons under 16 years of age are not allowed in pits, grid, signal area or other restricted areas.
How is it possible that this rule even remain in the rulebook? This single rule unfortunately suggests that the AMA Pro Racing officials HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S IN THEIR OWN RULEBOOK. If you have ever been to a supercross in the past, I don't know, ten years, you know they let kids in the pits.
And finally, here's a rule that makes sense, but has been selectively enforced at best:
10. Unless directed to do so by the Race Manager or his designee, no one at any time will be permitted to ride a motorcycle in the wrong direction on the track.
At the rainfest that was Anaheim I in 2005, Rick Carmichael plainly rode his bike backwards on the track for about 20 yards, in order to get turned around after falling in a horribly muddy bowl turn. I know this for a fact because I was seated less than 100 feet away... in the middle of a downpour! Carmichael ended up getting 3rd place points that night. If he were penalized points for that obvious rule violation, there is a chance that Chad Reed would be the 2005 Supercross Champion. Maybe that's a bit of an overstatement, but the fact that this particular rule is rarely or selectively enforced is true. It doesn't happen often, but it has happened.
In closing, I suggest all of the above-mentioned rules be carefully scrutinized and jettisoned if they are no longer appropriate (this process shouldn't take long). I also strongly suggest that the entire philosphy of rulemaking for the sport change completely. Rules set in place to make racing “more affordable” need to be stricken entirely. Rules made to affect the “balance of competition” should be cautiously applied, if at all, and never written so as to restrict or hamper innovation in anyway. And rules written to ensure the safety of the participants of our great sport should be rigorously and consistently enforced. Otherwise, what's the point of even having a sanctioning body oversee a professional sporting series, if its own rulebook cannot be respected?
Besides, I really REALLY think a 210-pound, 65 hp, supercharged V-four 250F with electric start and 2wd would look good in my garage.
1. Supercharging and turbocharging are prohibited
2. Only single-cylinder engines are permitted.
So THAT'S why I can't get a turbocharged, V-twin CR450F! It's right there in the rulebook. It's 2006 and my motocross racing and dirtbike riding pleasure has been artificially limited by mere words on a page, and for what reason? The AMA defends the single-cylinder rule in a bulletin dated 12/5/05, stating “This restriction would help preserve a sensible cost of equipment and keep practical maintenance at a tolerable level.” [read all you want at the AMA Pro Racing website]
Can you imagine AMA Pro Racing trying to institute a rule like this now in Dirt Track racing [Why imagine? Go look it up... I didn't.)? Harley Davidson would kick their collective asses. Why are “sensible cost” and “practical maintenance” rule-making considerations in Motocross/Supercross, but not, say, Hillclimbing? Or better yet, AMA/ProStar Drag Racing? Do you think multi-time Top Fuel Champion Larry “Spiderman” McBride, a man whose four-cylinder, supercharged, 1500 horsepower bike can get to 244 mph in a quarter-mile, is particulary concerned with preserving a “sensible cost of equipment”? This rule seems so arbitrary that it makes one question the veracity of its stated intent.
With regards to pressurized fuel induction, the rulebook doesn't give any reason for its exclusion. But can you imagine what a turbo'd 250F would be like? More power than a 450F, and almost as light as a 125! It would be awesome! Not “Spiderman” awesome, but pretty dang cool. What I'd like to see is a return to the smaller displacements with many cylinders, like a 6 cylinder 125CC fourstroke. Low emissions, high power.
Here's another questionable rule:
3. All motorcycles must be driven by rear wheel transmitted power only.
The AMA defends this ruling in the same bulletin, stating “Emerging technology involving front wheel drive could be detrimental to the balance of competition in MX/SX (my emphasis). Moreover, such equipment would dramatically increase the cost of racing.”
There's that concern about the cost of racing again. Why is that such a big deal for MX/SX and no other form of motorcycle sport? It's like we're the poor cousins of the motorcycle world. But of even more concern to me is that dangerous statement about the “balance of competition.” Every motorsport sanctioning body in the world has at one time cut off its nose to spite its face by implementing rule penalties to reduce tecnological domination by one or more parties... when will they learn that stifling innovation is not the way? I could be wrong, but I believe Yamaha is currently the only player with a viable two-wheel drive bike, and at first glance, it doesn't seem like the technology would have any benefit in MX/SX. But I have talked to a guy who actually owns one of the very few two-wheel drive WR450s in the United States and he swears it's a revolution waiting to be unleashed. According to him, it corners better than a standard, rear-drive-only motorcycle. Why is the AMA stopping us from buying and racing a two-wheel drive bike? Or more to the point, why is the AMA stopping Yamaha from marketing an existing bike here in America? Yamaha may have Chad Reed, but the race wins have been few and far between. Is the AMA concerned that letting Reed campaign a 2WD YZ450 would result in sudden, unbalanced domination by the Blue Brand? Really?
Making innovation illegal in AMA Motocross/Supercross racing just doesn't make sense in my mind. Where else should motorcyle companies test new ideas and products, if not in championship events contested by the best motorcycle racers in the world?
Moving on, here's another set of strange mechanical rules:
4. A maximum of six gearbox speeds will be allowed.
Again, the reason for this would be... what? Is seven an unlucky number for transmissions? Will an extra cog make racing too expensive? Give me a break.
5. All footrests must fold at a 45 degree angle.
Now we're getting into that never-never land of arbitrary limits, measures and rations. Do the tech inspectors actually break out the protractors and measure “footrest” folding angles? If Carmichael's bike was found to have pegs that folded at 46 degrees, would he lose 25 points again? Or is this just one of those rules from the early '70s that never got excised from the rulebook? Well, AMA Pro Racing guys, you started the cleanup, you might as well finish it and do a good job, don't you think?
How about this one:
6. Paddle (continuous radial rib) tires and tires with lugs having a height of over 0.750” are prohibited.
This couldn't possibly be the same law instituted back in the “Jammin'” Jimmy Weinert days, can it? Someone say it ain't so! And I guess the same tech guys who measure footpeg angle take the knobby height measurements as well. I can definitely see how a tire with 0.752” lugs would be a decided performance advantage... probably cost more, too (just joking, to see if you're still paying attention).
What I don't understand is how AMA Pro Racing enforces certain rules because they say they're worried about the cost of racing, and at the same time all of the top teams use special, high-cost, limited use tires and they change them after every moto and practice session. THAT can't be cheap... so why is it legal?
Here's another dinosaur that needs to be put out of its misery:
7. Electronic transmitting of information, including radio communications, to or from a moving motorcycle is prohibited with the following exceptions:
a. AMA Pro Racing transponders utilized for scoring purposes (mandatory equipment assigned by AMA Pro Racing).
b. Data or video transmitted for the sole use of the AMA Pro Racing approved event television production (mandatory equipment assigned by AMA Pro Racing).
c. Automatic lap timing devices.
Hey, welcome to the 21st Century, AMA Pro Racing! Listen, if radio communications are safe enough for guys driving cars in 200mph circles, it's safe enough for 20mph supercross laps. And you're missing out on an entirely new revenue stream by not marketing pit radio scanners to the fans. With regards to other types of data transmissions (telemetry, video, etc.), I don't understand why the OEMs aren't up in arms about this. The data they could capture in a racing situations would surely prove to be invaluable to their R & D efforts.
How about this one:
8. Riders may only enter one class at Supercross (no double classing). [the same rule is repeated for Motocross]
Why you dirty double-classer! What is the point of this rule? I don't get it, if a rider is strong enough to qualify for both classes, why not let him or her do it? Is it because it makes racing more expensive? Is it because it will affect the balance of competition? Why is this rule still on the books?
And here's a rule that's NEVER enforced:
9. Persons under 16 years of age are not allowed in pits, grid, signal area or other restricted areas.
How is it possible that this rule even remain in the rulebook? This single rule unfortunately suggests that the AMA Pro Racing officials HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S IN THEIR OWN RULEBOOK. If you have ever been to a supercross in the past, I don't know, ten years, you know they let kids in the pits.
And finally, here's a rule that makes sense, but has been selectively enforced at best:
10. Unless directed to do so by the Race Manager or his designee, no one at any time will be permitted to ride a motorcycle in the wrong direction on the track.
At the rainfest that was Anaheim I in 2005, Rick Carmichael plainly rode his bike backwards on the track for about 20 yards, in order to get turned around after falling in a horribly muddy bowl turn. I know this for a fact because I was seated less than 100 feet away... in the middle of a downpour! Carmichael ended up getting 3rd place points that night. If he were penalized points for that obvious rule violation, there is a chance that Chad Reed would be the 2005 Supercross Champion. Maybe that's a bit of an overstatement, but the fact that this particular rule is rarely or selectively enforced is true. It doesn't happen often, but it has happened.
In closing, I suggest all of the above-mentioned rules be carefully scrutinized and jettisoned if they are no longer appropriate (this process shouldn't take long). I also strongly suggest that the entire philosphy of rulemaking for the sport change completely. Rules set in place to make racing “more affordable” need to be stricken entirely. Rules made to affect the “balance of competition” should be cautiously applied, if at all, and never written so as to restrict or hamper innovation in anyway. And rules written to ensure the safety of the participants of our great sport should be rigorously and consistently enforced. Otherwise, what's the point of even having a sanctioning body oversee a professional sporting series, if its own rulebook cannot be respected?
Besides, I really REALLY think a 210-pound, 65 hp, supercharged V-four 250F with electric start and 2wd would look good in my garage.
March 03, 2006
Sparkplug 41
I’ll give you just one guess what this week’s Sparkplug is about…
Actually, as I was putting this one together, I couldn’t decide which headline to go with… so here are all of them:
When is a rule not a rule?
The AMA shoots itself in the foot.
The death of credibility.
What is a sanction worth in supercross racing?
Who’s running this show anyway?
Take a gander at this AMA press release (if you haven’t seen it already), courtesy Racer X Online. The long and short of it is that the AMA and FIM have decided to change Team Suzuki’s and Rick Carmichael’s 25 point penalty, given for using illegal fuel at the San Diego round, to a $20,000 cash penalty. The champ’s championship points were restored as of today.
So what’s the problem? The problem is that a cash penalty for this infraction is not what’s stated in the rules. “Again,” you ask, “What’s the problem?… the guys who made the rules are changing them.” Cool the eff out, some suggest…
I’m just asking, how is it right to change the rulebook midway through a season? And how bad does it look to rescind a penalty given to the defending champion? And what were the grounds again… because the fuel, although out of spec, doesn’t really enhance performance?
The AMA really opened Pandora’s box with this one.
Number one, there is no question about what’s in the rule book… it denotes the lead levels and the penalty for infraction. It’s been there for the past three years. Everyone knew about it.
Number two, there is also no question that it’s a relatively bogus rule. Relative, in that there are serious questions about the rule’s purpose and intent. Apparently, the lead level as stated in the rule is so low that unleaded pump gas is considered illegal. Add to that the opinion by many that this small level of lead is in no way beneficial to a rider, and that equals a rule that is questionable at best.
But no one can question the fact that the rule exists. The AMA was well within its rights to enforce it, just as it had enforced the rule against Kawasaki in 2005 and Yamaha in 2004. So the question changed to the penalty… was it too strict?
According to Team Suzuki manager Roger DeCoster, hell yeah. Check out Roger’s latest interview (again, courtesy Racer X Online). This issue was so intense, he actually had to tell his team to “Stay off the internet” this week. Roger even admits that he wished he had stood up when the same penalty happened to Yamaha two years ago: “I feel bad that I did not go out of my way and ask to help them. I didn’t go over and ask if I could help,” DeCoster also added, “…but they also did not come to me and say, “Can we band together?”
So… what does it all mean, Gene? To me, it just reinforces the fact that the American Motorcyclist Association really needs to get out of the business of professional motorcycle sport. AMA referee Steve Whitelock is a great guy, no doubt, but his organization has consistently demonstrated an inability to conduct business in a serious, well-thought-out manner. As I mentioned in an earlier entry, now that American Honda has bailed from the AMA’s Board of Directors, it is just a matter of time before the other manufacturers follow… and this last debacle, for that is truly what this was, could be just the spark to ignite a mass exodus. I am really interested in hearing Yamaha and Kawasaki’s response to this latest development.
Actually, as I was putting this one together, I couldn’t decide which headline to go with… so here are all of them:
When is a rule not a rule?
The AMA shoots itself in the foot.
The death of credibility.
What is a sanction worth in supercross racing?
Who’s running this show anyway?
Take a gander at this AMA press release (if you haven’t seen it already), courtesy Racer X Online. The long and short of it is that the AMA and FIM have decided to change Team Suzuki’s and Rick Carmichael’s 25 point penalty, given for using illegal fuel at the San Diego round, to a $20,000 cash penalty. The champ’s championship points were restored as of today.
So what’s the problem? The problem is that a cash penalty for this infraction is not what’s stated in the rules. “Again,” you ask, “What’s the problem?… the guys who made the rules are changing them.” Cool the eff out, some suggest…
I’m just asking, how is it right to change the rulebook midway through a season? And how bad does it look to rescind a penalty given to the defending champion? And what were the grounds again… because the fuel, although out of spec, doesn’t really enhance performance?
The AMA really opened Pandora’s box with this one.
Number one, there is no question about what’s in the rule book… it denotes the lead levels and the penalty for infraction. It’s been there for the past three years. Everyone knew about it.
Number two, there is also no question that it’s a relatively bogus rule. Relative, in that there are serious questions about the rule’s purpose and intent. Apparently, the lead level as stated in the rule is so low that unleaded pump gas is considered illegal. Add to that the opinion by many that this small level of lead is in no way beneficial to a rider, and that equals a rule that is questionable at best.
But no one can question the fact that the rule exists. The AMA was well within its rights to enforce it, just as it had enforced the rule against Kawasaki in 2005 and Yamaha in 2004. So the question changed to the penalty… was it too strict?
According to Team Suzuki manager Roger DeCoster, hell yeah. Check out Roger’s latest interview (again, courtesy Racer X Online). This issue was so intense, he actually had to tell his team to “Stay off the internet” this week. Roger even admits that he wished he had stood up when the same penalty happened to Yamaha two years ago: “I feel bad that I did not go out of my way and ask to help them. I didn’t go over and ask if I could help,” DeCoster also added, “…but they also did not come to me and say, “Can we band together?”
So… what does it all mean, Gene? To me, it just reinforces the fact that the American Motorcyclist Association really needs to get out of the business of professional motorcycle sport. AMA referee Steve Whitelock is a great guy, no doubt, but his organization has consistently demonstrated an inability to conduct business in a serious, well-thought-out manner. As I mentioned in an earlier entry, now that American Honda has bailed from the AMA’s Board of Directors, it is just a matter of time before the other manufacturers follow… and this last debacle, for that is truly what this was, could be just the spark to ignite a mass exodus. I am really interested in hearing Yamaha and Kawasaki’s response to this latest development.
February 28, 2006
An Open Response to RC’s Open Letter
[see RC's original letter over at Racer X Online]
Rick, you are The Man. What you have done for the sport of motocross in America will never be forgotten. The mental images of you that were burned in my memory by your blinding speed on the track will be cherished forever. I personally thank you for all you have done.
Now you know, after all of that, I’m about to say something you probably won’t like… and you’re right. With regards to this bum deal you got due to your team getting caught with illegal fuel, I would like to politely suggest, using a term made popular on the internet, that you STFU. With all due respect, of course.
The reason I say this is because I truly believe there is nothing left to be said. We can argue about the rule itself, its history, and whether the penalty is fair, even though it’s the very same penalty used for the last two years. None of that changes the fact that your gas was indeed illegal. You complain that you have not been allowed to appeal; on what basis would you appeal? This is about as open-and-shut as it gets.
Rick, no one in the entire world believes that you need special gas to kick anyone’s ass. I personally believe that you could probably win the outdoor championship on a 250F against the others’ 450s… but that’s just me. It is very clear to me that a mistake was made on Suzuki’s part, not in attempting to cheat, but in not being diligent enough to prevent this awful mess from starting in the first place. Accept it and move on. It doesn’t change the fans’ acceptance of and love for you.
At the very least, Rick, leave all the political squabbling to the other Man, Roger DeCoster. He’s very good at his job, as you surely know. You definitely don’t want to get caught up in the flying crap if this whole deal comes down to spurious allegations about tampering samples and points manipulation. Stay above the fray by keeping your mouth shut (publicly).
The real truth may come out someday, if it hasn’t already. And when that day comes, you’ll either be vindicated or proven wrong, but never scorned. Sure, some very fickle (and probably drunk) fans boo you here in Southern California, but you can rest assured that you have the respect and admiration of the vast majority of true motocross fans. We’ll never scorn you… unless you start toying with our emotions. Hinting that you might pull out of the supercross championship is definitely toying with us. We’re used to you being a straight shooter, RC. Playing coy is not your style. If you’re fed up, we’ll understand. If you suddenly no longer want to race supercross, that’s your prerogative and we’ll just have to accept it. Most of us will follow you to wherever your new adventures take you. To steal another pop culture phrase, “Just Do It!”
But dang man, don’t kid around about it!
Rick, you are The Man. What you have done for the sport of motocross in America will never be forgotten. The mental images of you that were burned in my memory by your blinding speed on the track will be cherished forever. I personally thank you for all you have done.
Now you know, after all of that, I’m about to say something you probably won’t like… and you’re right. With regards to this bum deal you got due to your team getting caught with illegal fuel, I would like to politely suggest, using a term made popular on the internet, that you STFU. With all due respect, of course.
The reason I say this is because I truly believe there is nothing left to be said. We can argue about the rule itself, its history, and whether the penalty is fair, even though it’s the very same penalty used for the last two years. None of that changes the fact that your gas was indeed illegal. You complain that you have not been allowed to appeal; on what basis would you appeal? This is about as open-and-shut as it gets.
Rick, no one in the entire world believes that you need special gas to kick anyone’s ass. I personally believe that you could probably win the outdoor championship on a 250F against the others’ 450s… but that’s just me. It is very clear to me that a mistake was made on Suzuki’s part, not in attempting to cheat, but in not being diligent enough to prevent this awful mess from starting in the first place. Accept it and move on. It doesn’t change the fans’ acceptance of and love for you.
At the very least, Rick, leave all the political squabbling to the other Man, Roger DeCoster. He’s very good at his job, as you surely know. You definitely don’t want to get caught up in the flying crap if this whole deal comes down to spurious allegations about tampering samples and points manipulation. Stay above the fray by keeping your mouth shut (publicly).
The real truth may come out someday, if it hasn’t already. And when that day comes, you’ll either be vindicated or proven wrong, but never scorned. Sure, some very fickle (and probably drunk) fans boo you here in Southern California, but you can rest assured that you have the respect and admiration of the vast majority of true motocross fans. We’ll never scorn you… unless you start toying with our emotions. Hinting that you might pull out of the supercross championship is definitely toying with us. We’re used to you being a straight shooter, RC. Playing coy is not your style. If you’re fed up, we’ll understand. If you suddenly no longer want to race supercross, that’s your prerogative and we’ll just have to accept it. Most of us will follow you to wherever your new adventures take you. To steal another pop culture phrase, “Just Do It!”
But dang man, don’t kid around about it!
February 24, 2006
Carmichael penalized 25 points!
Wow. Even bigger than "Sparkplug" is the news that Rick Carmichael has been docked 25 HUGE points for using "illegal" fuel at San Diego! Here's the story at Racer X Online.
Talk about shaking up the points. For any other rider, that could spell the end of a championship run. For RC, all bets are still off. And I can't imagine how pissed off he must be. Ironically, this means that all of the Big 3 (Stewart, Reed and now Carmichael) have been dinged for running illegal fuel at one point during their careers. Reed was '04, Stewart in '05 and now this.
Let's wait and see what Suzuki has to say.
Talk about shaking up the points. For any other rider, that could spell the end of a championship run. For RC, all bets are still off. And I can't imagine how pissed off he must be. Ironically, this means that all of the Big 3 (Stewart, Reed and now Carmichael) have been dinged for running illegal fuel at one point during their careers. Reed was '04, Stewart in '05 and now this.
Let's wait and see what Suzuki has to say.
Sparkplug 40
Today’s Sparkplug is a kinder, gentler Sparkplug. No rant today, just a look at a new trend in rider protection, the “lite” glove.
Way back last summer, I touched on the lack of innovation in certain types of MX gear in Sparkplug #9. The fact that I completely left gloves out of the discussion is testament to the truth that we don’t really think about gloves that much. Most of us wouldn’t dream of taking to the track without covering up our hands, but what is it that we really want our gloves to do for us?
In the latest issue of Motocross Action magazine, they do a pictorial on the latest gloves, and one thing stood out: the coolest-looking, most colorful, most affordable gloves offered by the top MX gear manufacturers look as they wouldn’t protect you very well in a serious get-off. Instead of protection, these gloves seem to be designed for comfort and touch. Let’s take a look at a few.
Here’s the No Fear “Rogue” model (they’re saying this particular glove was designed for maximum comfort and control).
Here’s Shift’s “Team” glove:
Here’s Fox Racing’s “Matrix”:
Here’s Alloy’s “Clutch” glove (I posted links instead of pics to avoid copyright infringement and bandwidth stealing).
These are all a far cry from those old pigskin gloves some of us used to ride with. You remember them, with the rubber strips sewn along the back to offer “protection.” Back then, the purpose of “dirt bike” gloves was pretty clear: protect the back of the hand from tree branches and other hard objects. The gloves above are clearly not designed to protect the back of the hand from serious impacts. Instead, these gloves are designed to enhance bike control. Say what?
Think about it: the bike/rider interface is dependent on just a few contact patches, all of which are constantly engaging and disengaging from the bike. We certainly ride by the “seat of our pants”, relying on our butts and inner legs to contact, control and communicate with the bike. Our feet play a major role of course, but our hands are hands down (sorry) the most important point of contact that we have with the motorcycle. As such, it is extremely important that our hands remain “happy.” That is to say, comfortable. The need to be able to comfortably grip the throttle and actuate the levers, without binding or pinching and with a solid, in-control feel.
Right now, the most important things a glove can protect a hand from is blisters. Yes, we want our gloves to keep our hand from getting shredded into hamburger during an endo, but hopefully we’ll spend more time in the saddle than on the ground. And that’s the gamble we’re willing to take, trading protection for comfort. But my question is this: is it really impossible to have both? And what about a glove that goes beyond abrasion protection and makes bone protection part of its mission statement? How about a glove that prevents your fingers and thumbs from being hyperextended, the way knee braces work? How about a glove that includes integrated wrist protection?
I love the way our gear manufacturers come up with great styles year after year. But I would really like to see them address the safety issue with the same energy and creativity.
Way back last summer, I touched on the lack of innovation in certain types of MX gear in Sparkplug #9. The fact that I completely left gloves out of the discussion is testament to the truth that we don’t really think about gloves that much. Most of us wouldn’t dream of taking to the track without covering up our hands, but what is it that we really want our gloves to do for us?
In the latest issue of Motocross Action magazine, they do a pictorial on the latest gloves, and one thing stood out: the coolest-looking, most colorful, most affordable gloves offered by the top MX gear manufacturers look as they wouldn’t protect you very well in a serious get-off. Instead of protection, these gloves seem to be designed for comfort and touch. Let’s take a look at a few.
Here’s the No Fear “Rogue” model (they’re saying this particular glove was designed for maximum comfort and control).
Here’s Shift’s “Team” glove:
Here’s Fox Racing’s “Matrix”:
Here’s Alloy’s “Clutch” glove (I posted links instead of pics to avoid copyright infringement and bandwidth stealing).
These are all a far cry from those old pigskin gloves some of us used to ride with. You remember them, with the rubber strips sewn along the back to offer “protection.” Back then, the purpose of “dirt bike” gloves was pretty clear: protect the back of the hand from tree branches and other hard objects. The gloves above are clearly not designed to protect the back of the hand from serious impacts. Instead, these gloves are designed to enhance bike control. Say what?
Think about it: the bike/rider interface is dependent on just a few contact patches, all of which are constantly engaging and disengaging from the bike. We certainly ride by the “seat of our pants”, relying on our butts and inner legs to contact, control and communicate with the bike. Our feet play a major role of course, but our hands are hands down (sorry) the most important point of contact that we have with the motorcycle. As such, it is extremely important that our hands remain “happy.” That is to say, comfortable. The need to be able to comfortably grip the throttle and actuate the levers, without binding or pinching and with a solid, in-control feel.
Right now, the most important things a glove can protect a hand from is blisters. Yes, we want our gloves to keep our hand from getting shredded into hamburger during an endo, but hopefully we’ll spend more time in the saddle than on the ground. And that’s the gamble we’re willing to take, trading protection for comfort. But my question is this: is it really impossible to have both? And what about a glove that goes beyond abrasion protection and makes bone protection part of its mission statement? How about a glove that prevents your fingers and thumbs from being hyperextended, the way knee braces work? How about a glove that includes integrated wrist protection?
I love the way our gear manufacturers come up with great styles year after year. But I would really like to see them address the safety issue with the same energy and creativity.
February 21, 2006
Honda To AMA: "See Ya!"
This could be the "shot heard 'round the world", if by "shot" you mean "press release" and if by "'round the world" you mean the American motorcycle industry. In any case, American Honda has pulled it's representative from the AMA Board of Directors, ending a 30-year-span of continuous membership on the sanctioning body's board. Here's the press release, courtesy Racer X Online.
What does this mean for the sport of motocross? In the release, Honda maintains that it will continue participating in AMA competition and that it will continue to hold it's corporate membership with the organization. But there's no question that the door just swung wide open for another sanctioning body to step up to the plate. The AMA's strongest point, with regards to professional motorcycle competition in this country, has been the fact that most of the major Japanese OEMs sat on it's board of directors. Now that Honda has bailed, who's next? And if they all abandon the (maybe not quite sinking, but certainly listing) ship, look for a bunch of new racing series to spring up out of nowhere.
I think it's time for a change anyway, so I am looking forward to what happens next.
What does this mean for the sport of motocross? In the release, Honda maintains that it will continue participating in AMA competition and that it will continue to hold it's corporate membership with the organization. But there's no question that the door just swung wide open for another sanctioning body to step up to the plate. The AMA's strongest point, with regards to professional motorcycle competition in this country, has been the fact that most of the major Japanese OEMs sat on it's board of directors. Now that Honda has bailed, who's next? And if they all abandon the (maybe not quite sinking, but certainly listing) ship, look for a bunch of new racing series to spring up out of nowhere.
I think it's time for a change anyway, so I am looking forward to what happens next.
Am I Wrong About Ralph?
After reading an article about Ralph Sheheen in the March Racer X Illustrated, I realize that I have been incorrect about his experience as a motocross announcer. In the article, which was a quickie interview by Davey Coombs, Sheheen claimed that he announced many races up in Northern California, including the USGP at Hollister, as well as a few supercross races for cable television.
And to think, I was CONVINCED that he had never called a race before. I was wrong.
So I went to the Speed Channel’s website and looked up Ralph’s biography, which you can peruse here. Looking through the brief write-up, the words “motocross” and “supercross” or even “United States Grand Prix” are all missing. In the interest of maybe saving valuable website bandwidth (?), the Speed Channel website content gurus apparently condensed all of Ralph’s experience into the sentence, “…has covered all forms of motor sports from swamp buggies to Formula One…”
Hmmm.
Now, I do not doubt for one minute the veracity of Ralph’s claims made in that interview in Racer X. Not one minute. But I am perplexed that Speed omitted some very important parts of Ralph’s resume. Not that it really matters, anyway… he, in my opinion, continues to be at best a mediocre supercross play-by-play announcer and while I admit I was wrong about his background, I still think he (and Krista Voda) should be replaced.
And to think, I was CONVINCED that he had never called a race before. I was wrong.
So I went to the Speed Channel’s website and looked up Ralph’s biography, which you can peruse here. Looking through the brief write-up, the words “motocross” and “supercross” or even “United States Grand Prix” are all missing. In the interest of maybe saving valuable website bandwidth (?), the Speed Channel website content gurus apparently condensed all of Ralph’s experience into the sentence, “…has covered all forms of motor sports from swamp buggies to Formula One…”
Hmmm.
Now, I do not doubt for one minute the veracity of Ralph’s claims made in that interview in Racer X. Not one minute. But I am perplexed that Speed omitted some very important parts of Ralph’s resume. Not that it really matters, anyway… he, in my opinion, continues to be at best a mediocre supercross play-by-play announcer and while I admit I was wrong about his background, I still think he (and Krista Voda) should be replaced.
February 20, 2006
How About That Race??
Wow! Did that race have everything or what? Drama, excitement, crashes, unexpected turns... man, I never thought that Jimmie Johnson would pull it off!
Oh yeah, the St. Louis Supercross was pretty good too, huh? Just kidding... I watched the Daytona 500 yesterday and really enjoyed it, but the St. Louis SX was completely off the chain! I listened to the race on Saturday night and went to bed in disbelief. And I couldn't wait to see it on CBS on Sunday. I had to see for myself the fact that it took James Stewart three laps to pass Jeff Dement! Sheesh!
Carmichael's bike literally tried to kill him. It slammed him to the ground with a vengeance and just missed hitting him a second time. Some say RC's luck has just run out, but I say he was damn lucky to escape that crash without breaking a few bones. I hope to God that he's alright. Like the soldier that he is, he answered the call for the semi and won it just as expected. But nobody could believe that his Suzuki actually broke in the main!
And what are the odds that Stewart's bike would also break just a few laps later?? Unreal!
To top it all off, for a moment it looked as if IVAN TEDESCO was going to win his first 450F SX main! IT was flying, but Speedy Chad Reedy finally got his second wind and ran Ivan down and over. Congratulations to Skippy for the win AND the points lead! Like I said before, Wow!
Now I REALLY wish I were going to Atlanta!
Oh yeah, the St. Louis Supercross was pretty good too, huh? Just kidding... I watched the Daytona 500 yesterday and really enjoyed it, but the St. Louis SX was completely off the chain! I listened to the race on Saturday night and went to bed in disbelief. And I couldn't wait to see it on CBS on Sunday. I had to see for myself the fact that it took James Stewart three laps to pass Jeff Dement! Sheesh!
Carmichael's bike literally tried to kill him. It slammed him to the ground with a vengeance and just missed hitting him a second time. Some say RC's luck has just run out, but I say he was damn lucky to escape that crash without breaking a few bones. I hope to God that he's alright. Like the soldier that he is, he answered the call for the semi and won it just as expected. But nobody could believe that his Suzuki actually broke in the main!
And what are the odds that Stewart's bike would also break just a few laps later?? Unreal!
To top it all off, for a moment it looked as if IVAN TEDESCO was going to win his first 450F SX main! IT was flying, but Speedy Chad Reedy finally got his second wind and ran Ivan down and over. Congratulations to Skippy for the win AND the points lead! Like I said before, Wow!
Now I REALLY wish I were going to Atlanta!
February 17, 2006
Sparkplug 39
Well, the only way you could possibly miss the Winter Olympics telecasts is if your television is broken or you failed to pay your electricity bill. So with that in mind (the Olympics, not your dire personal situation), this week's Sparkplug is all about the Olympics and motorcycling, as in “Why the hell are motorcycling events excluded?”
I am old enough to say that I grew up in the era during which the Olympics truly represented the pinnacle of athletic achievement. Rare was the kid who did not aspire to stand on top of the podium to receive that special gold medal and hear the National Anthem played for his or her own personal triumph. EVERYONE in this country wanted to go to the Olympics and represent America. But the problem was, and still is, that not every sport is deemed “Olympic.”
For decades, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) stuck to their guns and kept a lot of the newer sports segregated from their exalted Games. However, as the Games became more expensive they responded by becoming more commercialized, and the floodgates were opened for the new, more popular sports to get a toehold. The Olympics were held hostage to the almight television ratings, so drastic changes had to be made to battle the loss of viewers. All of a sudden, what was once the bastion of the amateur became the home of the professional. And once million dollar pro athletes were allowed into the Games, they were naturally followed by their million dollar brand name sponsors. Team Uniforms not only carried the name of the sportsman's home country, but also the name of the highest-bidding conglomerate. And still, the tv ratings sank.
So the Olympics held “exhibitions” of sports like mountain biking, mainly because mountain biking had already become wildly popular and had resurrected the entire bicycle industry. The same has happened with snowboarding. Yet the IOC has steadfastly refused to cross the line and allow motorsports to be represented at the Games, using the disengenious argument that a motor transforms the sport into a “non-athletic” endeavor because they're not human-powered.
Hmmm. Look at all of the Olympic “sports” that rely on non-human-powered vehicles: bobsledding, canoeing (whitewater), luge, sailing, skeleton. Ah, what's the point? We all know that a double-standard is being applied here, so why continue to fight it?
Why indeed. So my proposal is that an “Olympics of Motorsports” be organized, a once-every-two-years event that brings together ALL major forms of worldwide motorsports in practice today, both two- and four-wheeled. The host nation will have to be able to provide appropriate venues for each type of racing. If done correctly, can you imagine how big this would be? Here's my list of sports to include:
For Automobiles -
- Open wheel road racing
- Sportscar road racing
- Oval track pavement racing (NASCAR-style)
- Oval track dirt racing (World of Outlaws-style)
- Rally racing (and/or hillclimb)
- Drag racing
and for Motorcycles -
- Regular roadracing
- Supermoto roadracing
- Motocross
- Supercross
- Trials
- Cross Country
- Speedway
There you have it. Not too many disciplines, but enough to cover the sports well and to attract large worldwide audiences. Plus these sports provide plenty of opportunities for sponsorships and have a proven track record of generating good tv audiences. What do you think?
I am old enough to say that I grew up in the era during which the Olympics truly represented the pinnacle of athletic achievement. Rare was the kid who did not aspire to stand on top of the podium to receive that special gold medal and hear the National Anthem played for his or her own personal triumph. EVERYONE in this country wanted to go to the Olympics and represent America. But the problem was, and still is, that not every sport is deemed “Olympic.”
For decades, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) stuck to their guns and kept a lot of the newer sports segregated from their exalted Games. However, as the Games became more expensive they responded by becoming more commercialized, and the floodgates were opened for the new, more popular sports to get a toehold. The Olympics were held hostage to the almight television ratings, so drastic changes had to be made to battle the loss of viewers. All of a sudden, what was once the bastion of the amateur became the home of the professional. And once million dollar pro athletes were allowed into the Games, they were naturally followed by their million dollar brand name sponsors. Team Uniforms not only carried the name of the sportsman's home country, but also the name of the highest-bidding conglomerate. And still, the tv ratings sank.
So the Olympics held “exhibitions” of sports like mountain biking, mainly because mountain biking had already become wildly popular and had resurrected the entire bicycle industry. The same has happened with snowboarding. Yet the IOC has steadfastly refused to cross the line and allow motorsports to be represented at the Games, using the disengenious argument that a motor transforms the sport into a “non-athletic” endeavor because they're not human-powered.
Hmmm. Look at all of the Olympic “sports” that rely on non-human-powered vehicles: bobsledding, canoeing (whitewater), luge, sailing, skeleton. Ah, what's the point? We all know that a double-standard is being applied here, so why continue to fight it?
Why indeed. So my proposal is that an “Olympics of Motorsports” be organized, a once-every-two-years event that brings together ALL major forms of worldwide motorsports in practice today, both two- and four-wheeled. The host nation will have to be able to provide appropriate venues for each type of racing. If done correctly, can you imagine how big this would be? Here's my list of sports to include:
For Automobiles -
- Open wheel road racing
- Sportscar road racing
- Oval track pavement racing (NASCAR-style)
- Oval track dirt racing (World of Outlaws-style)
- Rally racing (and/or hillclimb)
- Drag racing
and for Motorcycles -
- Regular roadracing
- Supermoto roadracing
- Motocross
- Supercross
- Trials
- Cross Country
- Speedway
There you have it. Not too many disciplines, but enough to cover the sports well and to attract large worldwide audiences. Plus these sports provide plenty of opportunities for sponsorships and have a proven track record of generating good tv audiences. What do you think?
February 15, 2006
David Bailey Rides Again!
Oh my friggin' God! You have to see this video: David Bailey riding a modified CRF450, courtesy Transworld MX Online. More than unbelievable, it's downright inspirational. And he jumps that darn bike farther than I would!
All I can say is "Wow!"
All I can say is "Wow!"
February 10, 2006
Sparkplug 38
Alright, I’m laying it on the line this week, no holds barred. I’m talking about motocross on television in America. And the reason I’m talking about it is because the situation sucks and it has sucked for too long now.
“What situation?” you ask. “Didn’t Clear Channel report that ratings for the supercross series have been great??” Sure they did; you can read it for yourself here at Cycle News Online. In fact, they’re saying that this “…series has been watched by more fans this season than ever before in the sport’s history…”
But did you see the actual ratings numbers? 1.5! That’s “one-point-five.” As in less than two. So what does that mean? According to Yahoo, “There are an estimated 110.2 million television households in the USA. A single ratings point represents 1%, or 1,102,000 households for the 2005-06 season.”
So according to the Nielsen ratings (a scam if there ever was one, but that’s another story), the Amp’d Mobile Supercross series was able to draw an audience of 1,635,000 viewers for just one broadcast. In fact, that rating is high enough to put the show in the top ten list of sports programs for the week… not counting the superbowl, of course. Well shucks, where’s the champagne?
But here’s the kicker: network television is dead, Jim. Been dead for a while. The networks have been hemorrhaging viewers to “other” forms of media for over twenty years now. So getting real excited about these network ratings NOW is a little bit late. In fact, it’s my opinion that the only reason we’re seeing MX on a network now is because they’re, basically, desperate. Particularly the so-called “Tiffany Network”, CBS, which does not have an X-Games or a Gravity Games to appeal to the much-sought after extreme sports audience.
So to the ratings gods, we hereby sacrifice our sport: “Oh god, please let us get a 1.6 this weekend! We’ll do anything… we’ll… hire announcers that have no working knowledge of the sport! How’s that for a good idea??”
Yes, I took a round-about way to get to what’s really bugging me: Ralph and Krista. But my problem with them goes beyond the fact that they’re basically unqualified for their positions. My problem is that in this country, motocross/supercross has such low self-esteem that it has historically accepted the worst possible television packages. Put another way, if the sport were a nerdy elementary school kid, it would be the one that gets beat up by the school bully everyday and gets their lunch money taken each time. And when the bully finally tires of the beating and just demands the money, the kid, our sport, is actually grateful that the extortion continue “because it used to be much worse.”
You hear it all the time: “Why are you complaining about the CBS broadcasts, jerk? Why, I remember when we used to wait SIX MONTHS for ABC to air the U.S.G.P. at Carlsbad!” The entire motocross industry has been bullied by the American media conglomerates. ESPN used to say “You’ll take these weird timeslots and last-minute schedule changes and LIKE IT!” And that’s just what we did. And when this year’s joint CBS/Speed Channel coverage was announced, with (brace yourself) NEXT DAY COVERAGE… well, we collectively soiled ourselves in excitement.
And for those few still willing to complain… about the fact that the 250F class is omitted from network coverage, about the fact that editing of the program leaves a lot to be desired, about the fact that fully two-thirds of the announcing crew are not qualified to announce a local PeeWee race… ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE SPORT DESERVES AND DEMANDS LIVE COVERAGE… well, we just get bashed for being unreasonable and ungrateful.
So back to my pet peeve. Look, there is no way in hell that CBS would put a rookie announcer in the lineup of ANY OTHER SPORT THEY AIR. Think about it. CBS airs a lot of different sports; can you imagine that they would show an ice skating event using announcers with zero experience in the sport? They certainly wouldn’t do it for any of the stick-and-ball sports. Hell, they wouldn’t do it for girl’s collegiate basketball! So how is it possible that it is acceptable for the greatest form of motorsport in the world? You want to know how? I just explained it: because this industry is just happy to be in the game. We’ll take whatever scraps they throw at us. We have no pride, our sense of self-worth is truncated. And somebody needs to stand up for this sport and demand that we be treated with respect.
Back to the ratings issue. It is my fervent (yes, I said “fervent”) belief that supercross can garner network ratings of over 5 points. The sport is dynamic; it is visually stimulating; it has a rich history and it is populated by great characters. But it needs to be treated with respect as a legitimate sport, as legitimate human competition. To steal a line from Lance Armstrong, “It’s not about the bike…” Now, I’ll give credit to the current series in that they seem to be playing the human aspect of the Big Three well, but this sport is more than RC/Stewart/Reed. That may be the storyline for this season, but it’s not the story of the sport. This is a great sport!
But the single biggest change that HAS to happen, that will trigger a MASSIVE audience, in my opinion, is live coverage on Friday or Saturday nights. We don’t have to broadcast the entire show; we can show highlights from the heats, etc. But we have to show both classes LIVE. It will become a must-see event, because supercross is naturally compelling. Sure, there are a lot of people who couldn’t care less… we don’t need them to get a 5 rating. We just need to put the sport in the best possible timeslot, keep it there consistently, promote it properly and use experienced pros to create the broadcast. Then we can sit back and watch this thing takeoff like those fireworks in the opening. It’ll be awesome. And that's just the start...
“What situation?” you ask. “Didn’t Clear Channel report that ratings for the supercross series have been great??” Sure they did; you can read it for yourself here at Cycle News Online. In fact, they’re saying that this “…series has been watched by more fans this season than ever before in the sport’s history…”
But did you see the actual ratings numbers? 1.5! That’s “one-point-five.” As in less than two. So what does that mean? According to Yahoo, “There are an estimated 110.2 million television households in the USA. A single ratings point represents 1%, or 1,102,000 households for the 2005-06 season.”
So according to the Nielsen ratings (a scam if there ever was one, but that’s another story), the Amp’d Mobile Supercross series was able to draw an audience of 1,635,000 viewers for just one broadcast. In fact, that rating is high enough to put the show in the top ten list of sports programs for the week… not counting the superbowl, of course. Well shucks, where’s the champagne?
But here’s the kicker: network television is dead, Jim. Been dead for a while. The networks have been hemorrhaging viewers to “other” forms of media for over twenty years now. So getting real excited about these network ratings NOW is a little bit late. In fact, it’s my opinion that the only reason we’re seeing MX on a network now is because they’re, basically, desperate. Particularly the so-called “Tiffany Network”, CBS, which does not have an X-Games or a Gravity Games to appeal to the much-sought after extreme sports audience.
So to the ratings gods, we hereby sacrifice our sport: “Oh god, please let us get a 1.6 this weekend! We’ll do anything… we’ll… hire announcers that have no working knowledge of the sport! How’s that for a good idea??”
Yes, I took a round-about way to get to what’s really bugging me: Ralph and Krista. But my problem with them goes beyond the fact that they’re basically unqualified for their positions. My problem is that in this country, motocross/supercross has such low self-esteem that it has historically accepted the worst possible television packages. Put another way, if the sport were a nerdy elementary school kid, it would be the one that gets beat up by the school bully everyday and gets their lunch money taken each time. And when the bully finally tires of the beating and just demands the money, the kid, our sport, is actually grateful that the extortion continue “because it used to be much worse.”
You hear it all the time: “Why are you complaining about the CBS broadcasts, jerk? Why, I remember when we used to wait SIX MONTHS for ABC to air the U.S.G.P. at Carlsbad!” The entire motocross industry has been bullied by the American media conglomerates. ESPN used to say “You’ll take these weird timeslots and last-minute schedule changes and LIKE IT!” And that’s just what we did. And when this year’s joint CBS/Speed Channel coverage was announced, with (brace yourself) NEXT DAY COVERAGE… well, we collectively soiled ourselves in excitement.
And for those few still willing to complain… about the fact that the 250F class is omitted from network coverage, about the fact that editing of the program leaves a lot to be desired, about the fact that fully two-thirds of the announcing crew are not qualified to announce a local PeeWee race… ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE SPORT DESERVES AND DEMANDS LIVE COVERAGE… well, we just get bashed for being unreasonable and ungrateful.
So back to my pet peeve. Look, there is no way in hell that CBS would put a rookie announcer in the lineup of ANY OTHER SPORT THEY AIR. Think about it. CBS airs a lot of different sports; can you imagine that they would show an ice skating event using announcers with zero experience in the sport? They certainly wouldn’t do it for any of the stick-and-ball sports. Hell, they wouldn’t do it for girl’s collegiate basketball! So how is it possible that it is acceptable for the greatest form of motorsport in the world? You want to know how? I just explained it: because this industry is just happy to be in the game. We’ll take whatever scraps they throw at us. We have no pride, our sense of self-worth is truncated. And somebody needs to stand up for this sport and demand that we be treated with respect.
Back to the ratings issue. It is my fervent (yes, I said “fervent”) belief that supercross can garner network ratings of over 5 points. The sport is dynamic; it is visually stimulating; it has a rich history and it is populated by great characters. But it needs to be treated with respect as a legitimate sport, as legitimate human competition. To steal a line from Lance Armstrong, “It’s not about the bike…” Now, I’ll give credit to the current series in that they seem to be playing the human aspect of the Big Three well, but this sport is more than RC/Stewart/Reed. That may be the storyline for this season, but it’s not the story of the sport. This is a great sport!
But the single biggest change that HAS to happen, that will trigger a MASSIVE audience, in my opinion, is live coverage on Friday or Saturday nights. We don’t have to broadcast the entire show; we can show highlights from the heats, etc. But we have to show both classes LIVE. It will become a must-see event, because supercross is naturally compelling. Sure, there are a lot of people who couldn’t care less… we don’t need them to get a 5 rating. We just need to put the sport in the best possible timeslot, keep it there consistently, promote it properly and use experienced pros to create the broadcast. Then we can sit back and watch this thing takeoff like those fireworks in the opening. It’ll be awesome. And that's just the start...
February 09, 2006
The Jeremy McGrath Invitational?
You gotta love Racer X Online... always posting interesting press releases, like this one. It was announced today that the King of Supercross, Jeremy McGrath, is promoting a special invitational supercross this year, to be held in early October!
Shades of Summercross!
This time, instead of the Los Angeles Coliseum, MC's race will be held in the Home Depot Center in Carson, California, just a few miles down the road from the Coliseum. The Home Depot Center is a pretty nice facility... it has hosted some major World Cup soccer games, so there's plenty of room for a supercross there.
But is there room for another supercross in the so-called "off season?" I don't know, but as a Southern California resident I can only smile that smug "we got another race to attend!" smile that some of you love to hate!
Shades of Summercross!
This time, instead of the Los Angeles Coliseum, MC's race will be held in the Home Depot Center in Carson, California, just a few miles down the road from the Coliseum. The Home Depot Center is a pretty nice facility... it has hosted some major World Cup soccer games, so there's plenty of room for a supercross there.
But is there room for another supercross in the so-called "off season?" I don't know, but as a Southern California resident I can only smile that smug "we got another race to attend!" smile that some of you love to hate!
February 08, 2006
Godspeed, Kevin Crine
Shocking news today. Kevin Crine, a superfast privateer based in my old home district of the State of Maryland, was killed in an auto accident. Here's the story at Racer X Online.
I didn't know Kevin personally, but my heart goes out to his family.
I didn't know Kevin personally, but my heart goes out to his family.
February 07, 2006
National Couch Racing Series?
That crazy Jason Weigandt is at it again. Over at his blog in The Racing Paper, he’s running a story that claims that ATV racing is on the cusp of the big time, noting that Suzuki just spent big bucks wining and dining motojournalists for the introduction of its new quad racer, the LT-R 450.
Basically, he’s saying that the National Motocross promoters are looking to begin a series for four-wheelers!
Heaven help us all.
Seriously, though, when you consider the fact that quads outsell motocross bikes by like a 50 to 1 margin (exaggerating here), it makes sense that the big manufacturers would get behind a racing series dedicated to the couches. But if they build it, will you come? Er, show up?
As for me, I wouldn’t mind having a 450 c.c., fuel-injected quad racer in my garage. But as far as the racing part goes, I’d have to see if first. So bring it on!
Basically, he’s saying that the National Motocross promoters are looking to begin a series for four-wheelers!
Heaven help us all.
Seriously, though, when you consider the fact that quads outsell motocross bikes by like a 50 to 1 margin (exaggerating here), it makes sense that the big manufacturers would get behind a racing series dedicated to the couches. But if they build it, will you come? Er, show up?
As for me, I wouldn’t mind having a 450 c.c., fuel-injected quad racer in my garage. But as far as the racing part goes, I’d have to see if first. So bring it on!
February 06, 2006
What's up with that front wheel, James?
Wow, after watching A3 on the Speed Channel yesterday (right before the Superbowl... whoohoo!) it became very clear to me that my man James Stewart was having serious difficulty with his left turns. Going for the holeshot in the main, his Kawasaki washed out in the first turn, dropping him back to last place. A few laps later, in another left hand turn, he washed out again. And then there was that crash involving Jeremy McGrath, but that was more of a mental error, as James took MC high in the bowl turn leaving poor Jeremy nowhere to go but into the Kawasaki's rear wheel. MC took James down, but in my eyes it was James' fault.
Watching the laptimes, it was clear that James was just as fast as Carmichael, but man, they must have been giving him fits back in the pack because once he broke into the top ten it took him forever to advance. In any case, it was another fantastic race in a phenomenal series, and San Diego is sure to be off the hook!
I just wonder what they'll do about that front end problem?
Watching the laptimes, it was clear that James was just as fast as Carmichael, but man, they must have been giving him fits back in the pack because once he broke into the top ten it took him forever to advance. In any case, it was another fantastic race in a phenomenal series, and San Diego is sure to be off the hook!
I just wonder what they'll do about that front end problem?
What? Another Missing Sparkplug?!
Ah, technology. Yep, that's my excuse this time. I was out of town on business Thursday and Friday and I tried to complete and update "Sparkplug" using the "high speed" internet connection in my hotel room. I put "high speed" in quotation marks because it was anything but fast. And it caused my MS Word program to crash for some reason. So instead of throwing my laptop out of the window in frustration, I spent the evening watching "Beauty and the Geek."
I will post a belated "Sparkplug" tomorrow, and my subject will be the state of Supercross television.
I will post a belated "Sparkplug" tomorrow, and my subject will be the state of Supercross television.
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