You’re probably thinking “It’s about damn time!” Yeah, I've been "slacking in my pimping," as the kids say. Sorry for last week’s brain fart, it happens to the best of us (and the rest of us). This week’s topic is kind of wide-ranging, but the general topic is the fantastic supercross season that has just gotten underway.
Last Sunday, after watching the CBS coverage of A2, I received a phone call from my good friend Mark from Maryland. He and I used to be riding buds, but now he’s a fair weather mx fan at best, despite the fact that he lives basically next door to the famous Budds Creek facility. Anyway, Mark called me because he was still buzzing from seeing that awesome battle between RC and James, and he was now convinced that a “conspiracy” existed to deny James the 2006 supercross title. Mark went on and on about how “convenient” it was that a Suzuki rider (Rockstar Suzuki’s Mike Brown) happened to be on the ground at just the wrong place for James.
When I pointed out that Mike Brown was also involved in Stewart’s first-turn crash in Phoenix, that set my friend off even more!
Personally, I think it was just racing. I don’t think there’s a plan to deny Stewart anything, but there is a plan in the works… to make the racing more exciting by making the tracks easier. And that’s another subject that has received a lot of attention in the supercross world this week.
Just about everybody who’s anybody has said that the layout at A1 was technical, maybe too difficult. Certainly the whoops got everyone’s attention… between practice sessions, I saw both Roger DeCoster and Erik Kehoe walk the section to see if any decent changes had been made. I didn’t see the Phoenix track, but everyone said the A2 track was “too easy.”
Well, not everyone. Andy Bowyer, in his Thursday Rev Up over at Racer X Online had this to say:
“I think the track was a genius effort in creating the more four-stroke-friendly courses of the future. This isn’t BMX, and this isn’t freestyle motocross. In my opinion, we do not need “courses” for better action; we need “racetracks.” Spice up last week’s track just a little bit more and I think the Dirt Wurx crew will have it dialed.”
But Rick Carmichael DID think the track was changed to affect the competition. Here’s what he said in his interview with Steve Bruhn over at RX :
“If they want it to be where NASCAR is, NASCAR is good because there are 10 guys that can win. No one wants to watch a race where you know who is going to win. You want it to be a five-way battle. Unfortunately, it does suck for some of the top guys and take some of the advantages that you may have had away.”
So just when you start thinking, hmm, maybe there IS a conspiracy… Carmichael shuts that noise up by adding:
“But in the end, the best guy is always going to win. If the track is easy, then go faster.”
Ah, go faster, that’s all you have to do. And try not to have a brain fart when you encounter a rider down on the track, that’ll help, too.
So that’s what the “go fast boys” (as my friend Lliam likes to call them) have to say about this issue, but you’re probably wondering “What the heck does Pdub think about these tracks??” Well, brace yourself, here it comes: LiveNation and the AMA and DirtWurx can do whatever they like with the tracks, but it won’t make the racing any more competitive than it already is. The great racing and excitement that we’ve seen at all of the rounds so far is due to one thing… well, actually three of them. And their names are Carmichael, Reed and Stewart. Nobody else is in the same league. Sure, Tedesco and Larocco and McGrath and sometimes even Vuillemin can turn laps that are CLOSE to what the “Big Three” are running, but none of those guys can actually BEAT the “go fast boys”, not straight up. Although I think Ivan is getting really, really close.
So it doesn’t really make any difference if the tracks are so easy that even I could ride them, James and Chad and Rick will still run away from the pack. Heck, on the most “technical” track of the year, the leaders lapped up to tenth place. And let’s not forget that when Mike Brown fell on the “easy” A2 track and “caused” James to fall, he was being lapped for a SECOND TIME. Hmmm. Maybe if the powers-that-be really want to make the racing more competitive, instead of fooling with the tracks perhaps they should look at some rule changes, like black-flagging riders after they’ve been lapped?
P.S. - Props to my friends on MotoDrive for their suggestions for this week's topic! Yawl ROK!
January 27, 2006
January 25, 2006
Whatchoo Talking About, McGrath?
Donovan Mitchell posted a great little interview with the King of Supercross, Jeremy McGrath over at Racer X Online (read it here), but what tickled me was this quote by MC:
Ahem, did I just hear Chad Reed get called out?
Now, I like Jeremy very much, but the last time I checked the lap charts, Chad had him covered by much more than a half-second. So is he being serious, or is he just adding a little fuel to the fire that's already consuming Speedy Reedy? Either way, the next round is going to be spectacular!
I think between Ivan and myself, if we can find a half a second each lap,
we might have a chance at third.
Ahem, did I just hear Chad Reed get called out?
Now, I like Jeremy very much, but the last time I checked the lap charts, Chad had him covered by much more than a half-second. So is he being serious, or is he just adding a little fuel to the fire that's already consuming Speedy Reedy? Either way, the next round is going to be spectacular!
January 20, 2006
Where's Sparky?
Wow, talk about full disclosure! I'm just gonna man-up and admit it: I FORGOT to write a column for Sparkplug today! Yes, I know, that sucks, I suck and it sucks. All of that. My bad.
On the other hand, I'm stoked that I am going to A2 tomorrow, so I'm not too upset about the whole thing. You, however, will just have to get over it...!
On the other hand, I'm stoked that I am going to A2 tomorrow, so I'm not too upset about the whole thing. You, however, will just have to get over it...!
January 18, 2006
Townley Injured and Out: That Didn't Take Long
Just heard that New Zealander Ben Townley has injured himself in supercross practice. Here's the write up courtesy Racer X Online.
It was and still is a fairly common opinion that Townley has got the goods to win the outdoor 250F championship here in America, as long as he can survive his very first supercross season. Looks like he couldn't even survive supercross PRACTICE. Yikes.
Tough luck, Ben. Get well soon, heal up completely, and don't worry about it. We'll see ya at Hangtown.
It was and still is a fairly common opinion that Townley has got the goods to win the outdoor 250F championship here in America, as long as he can survive his very first supercross season. Looks like he couldn't even survive supercross PRACTICE. Yikes.
Tough luck, Ben. Get well soon, heal up completely, and don't worry about it. We'll see ya at Hangtown.
January 17, 2006
Carmichael Needed That Win
By now, even if you’ve only been paying a little attention to the Amp’d Supercross series, you probably know that Rick Carmichael piloted his fourstroke Suzuki to it’s first ever supercross win, and RC’s first win since, well, since too long ago. Despite the fact that Mr. Carmichael is the defending National supercross and World Supercross champion, before Saturday night he had not won a main event since… St. Louis ’05! Can that be right? Hard to believe, but true.
So, we can all excuse Mr. Carmichael for getting more than a little excited as he crossed the finish line in Phoenix. Heck, I was excited for him! It’s just funny to think that even the greatest motocross racer of all time needs the confidence-boost of a win every now and again. His mechanic’s pit board said it all: “Didn’t Forget.” What did it mean? Maybe “Didn’t forget to turn on the gas”? “Didn’t forget to make dinner reservations at Outback”? Perhaps “Didn’t forget to lock the motorhome on his way into the stadium”… no, of course it meant that RC proved that he “Didn’t forget” how to WIN.
Go on with your bad self, Mr. Carmichael. And YOU… if you miss A2, you’re going to miss something special!
So, we can all excuse Mr. Carmichael for getting more than a little excited as he crossed the finish line in Phoenix. Heck, I was excited for him! It’s just funny to think that even the greatest motocross racer of all time needs the confidence-boost of a win every now and again. His mechanic’s pit board said it all: “Didn’t Forget.” What did it mean? Maybe “Didn’t forget to turn on the gas”? “Didn’t forget to make dinner reservations at Outback”? Perhaps “Didn’t forget to lock the motorhome on his way into the stadium”… no, of course it meant that RC proved that he “Didn’t forget” how to WIN.
Go on with your bad self, Mr. Carmichael. And YOU… if you miss A2, you’re going to miss something special!
January 13, 2006
Sparkplug 36
The first race, if by “first” you mean “first American round”, of the season is usually full of unexpected developments, some pleasant and other not so. Here is my quick list of “things that surprised me” from this weekend's exciting race at the Amp'd Mobile Supercross in Anaheim.
1) The “killer whoops.” From the stands they didn't look that bad, but they collected just about everyone at some point during practice. It was so bad that they sent a bulldozer out to alter them a bit before the second practice, and later Team Honda's Eric Kehoe and Team Makita Suzuki's Roger DeCoster were seen walking through them to check out the changes. That one section was the hot topic of the night... and it turned out to be the deciding factor in the fight between the “Big Three.”
2) Ryan Villapoto getting out front and leading the 250F main for ten laps, and ended up finishing second to Andrew Short. The kid looked like an RC clone out there, cutting quick and consistent laps as if he had been doing it all his life. He made it very hard to believe it was his supercross debut.
3) Jason Lawrence fading into oblivion in the LCQ and not qualifying. He seemed sharp in practice, and his Rockstar Suzuki sported some of the tightest graphics out there, but apparently looks aren't everything.
4) Grant Langston coming from dead last to finish a points-salvaging fourth place in the 250F main, turning the fastest laps of the class.
5) Mike Alessi's overall performance. He looked good at the start of his heat, but was nowhere to be seen in the main.
6) Chad Reed qualifying out of his heat after getting knocked down at the start. He made it all the way back to second place! And his speed was no fluke; he would eventually turn the fastest lap of the night in the main.
7) Mike Larocco ran strong all night. He had a little trouble in his heat, but won his semi in style, and then held off Carmichael for a number of laps in the main!
8) A surprisingly strong Ivan Tedesco ran very well in his heat until Michael Byrne looped out in front of him. When the two were re-matched in the semi, Ivan came out on top, winning his very first 450F semi. Then in the main he got a second place start and stayed there for a good number of laps before his inexperience led to a small mistake and killed his momentum.
9) Ernesto Fonseca's main event holeshot. How long has it been since we've seen Ernie out in front?
10) RC blowing his lead in those aforementioned “killer whoops.” It was a very rare mistake by the master of consistency.
11) The “King of Supercross”, Jeremy McGrath, finishing outside the top ten, which speaks more to the immense talent in the 450F class than to any lack of speed on his part. Ladies and gentlemen, we have an exciting season of racing ahead of us this year!
1) The “killer whoops.” From the stands they didn't look that bad, but they collected just about everyone at some point during practice. It was so bad that they sent a bulldozer out to alter them a bit before the second practice, and later Team Honda's Eric Kehoe and Team Makita Suzuki's Roger DeCoster were seen walking through them to check out the changes. That one section was the hot topic of the night... and it turned out to be the deciding factor in the fight between the “Big Three.”
2) Ryan Villapoto getting out front and leading the 250F main for ten laps, and ended up finishing second to Andrew Short. The kid looked like an RC clone out there, cutting quick and consistent laps as if he had been doing it all his life. He made it very hard to believe it was his supercross debut.
3) Jason Lawrence fading into oblivion in the LCQ and not qualifying. He seemed sharp in practice, and his Rockstar Suzuki sported some of the tightest graphics out there, but apparently looks aren't everything.
4) Grant Langston coming from dead last to finish a points-salvaging fourth place in the 250F main, turning the fastest laps of the class.
5) Mike Alessi's overall performance. He looked good at the start of his heat, but was nowhere to be seen in the main.
6) Chad Reed qualifying out of his heat after getting knocked down at the start. He made it all the way back to second place! And his speed was no fluke; he would eventually turn the fastest lap of the night in the main.
7) Mike Larocco ran strong all night. He had a little trouble in his heat, but won his semi in style, and then held off Carmichael for a number of laps in the main!
8) A surprisingly strong Ivan Tedesco ran very well in his heat until Michael Byrne looped out in front of him. When the two were re-matched in the semi, Ivan came out on top, winning his very first 450F semi. Then in the main he got a second place start and stayed there for a good number of laps before his inexperience led to a small mistake and killed his momentum.
9) Ernesto Fonseca's main event holeshot. How long has it been since we've seen Ernie out in front?
10) RC blowing his lead in those aforementioned “killer whoops.” It was a very rare mistake by the master of consistency.
11) The “King of Supercross”, Jeremy McGrath, finishing outside the top ten, which speaks more to the immense talent in the 450F class than to any lack of speed on his part. Ladies and gentlemen, we have an exciting season of racing ahead of us this year!
January 09, 2006
Seeing is Believing
Sometimes you just have to see things with your own eyes. Most of us “saw” what happened in Canada via Speed or the CBS Preview, but we didn’t really “believe” what we laid eyes on. And we heard all of the talk, which some would even go so far as to call excuses: “I didn’t train to peak in Canada”, “These rounds are for training purposes”, “The real championship starts in Anaheim.” And all of that talk served to pump up the hype for A1.
Well now A1 is over, and James Stewart is sitting on a three-race win streak. Not only did he win at what the CBS announcers erroneously called “the birthplace of supercross” (that would be the L.A. Coliseum), but he did so after a mid-pack start, having to come from behind both of his main rivals. And he did so despite the fact that Chad Reed managed to set fast time for the night. Check out the great race reports at Transworld Motocross Online and Racer X Online for the details, if you haven’t already. It was a fantastic race!
So a lot of people left Angel Stadium buzzing about what they just witnessed, and more than one industry pundit is talking about the “torch being passed.” Is it now officially James Stewart time? I don’t think one race will tell, but I do think that if he pulls off the win in Phoenix in a similar manner, meaning another come-from-behind, chase-them-down-and-run-away victory, the sound you hear will be the pounding of the first nail in the coffin containing the title hopes for Carmichael and Reed.
Personally, I would like to see this championship chase go all the way down to the wire in Vegas.
Well now A1 is over, and James Stewart is sitting on a three-race win streak. Not only did he win at what the CBS announcers erroneously called “the birthplace of supercross” (that would be the L.A. Coliseum), but he did so after a mid-pack start, having to come from behind both of his main rivals. And he did so despite the fact that Chad Reed managed to set fast time for the night. Check out the great race reports at Transworld Motocross Online and Racer X Online for the details, if you haven’t already. It was a fantastic race!
So a lot of people left Angel Stadium buzzing about what they just witnessed, and more than one industry pundit is talking about the “torch being passed.” Is it now officially James Stewart time? I don’t think one race will tell, but I do think that if he pulls off the win in Phoenix in a similar manner, meaning another come-from-behind, chase-them-down-and-run-away victory, the sound you hear will be the pounding of the first nail in the coffin containing the title hopes for Carmichael and Reed.
Personally, I would like to see this championship chase go all the way down to the wire in Vegas.
January 06, 2006
Sparkplug 35
And now, in honor of the beginning of the great American stadium motocross championship series, better known now as the Amp'd AMA Supercross series or something like that... here is my pick for the title winner:
James Stewart, Jr.
Now, for the few of my readers that actually know me, my prediction should come as no surprise. After all, I erroneously predicted that James would win both indoors and outdoors in 2005. To the uninitiated it may seem that I have “Stewart Syndrome” or a “Bubba Bias”, even though it is not true, and he no longer wishes to be called by that nickname. I have actually come to my conclusion using solid evidence. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I have proof that what I am foreseeing will actually come true.
What is this proof? Well, it consists of a number of things:
– Stewart's performance in Canada certainly tells us a story. One simple fact of that story that has been overlooked is that James took his KX450F to a major win in its maiden voyage. That says something about both James speed AND his steed. Two wins in Canada might not mean anything, points wise, for the American championship, but it certainly indicates that Kawasaki has provided James with a potent tool for the job.
– Stewart's performance at the Anaheim press conference appeared to strengthen the storyline started up North. He sounded relaxed and confident yet modest, and he gave every indication that he has changed from a “win every race” strategy to a “win the battle not the war” approach.
– Finally, Rick Johnson said so! Well not in so many words, but during his Wednesday night appearance on must-listen DMXS radio, the ex-Bad Boy noted that the fourstroke seems to force James to ride in a more relaxed style, and it apparently works for him, judging by his wins in Canuck-land.
So I'm picking James to win all the supercross marbles this year. But I am in no way suggesting that this will be an easy title for him or a boring season. 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. And I also believe that Chad Reed will be surprised by a very strong challenge for third overall by the newest entry to the class, Ivan “just get the Tabasco sponsorship, dammit” Tedesco. Yep, you heard it here first.
Remember, I like Speedy Reedy a lot, and I think he will win a round or two this year. But I also think that Tedesco will get on the podium more than once, warming Roger Decoster's heart while giving Chad heartburn.
As for the rest of the field, I think we will see standout performances by Tim Ferry this year, as I do believe (and hope) he'll have a small chip on his shoulder for being kicked out of the factory circle. We'll see. And we'll also see how all-around good guy David Vuillemin gets around on that Honda oil burner. DV may make a podium, but I don't think he has a win in him this year. Finally, I cannot forget Michael Byrne. I don't know if Burner will be on the Kawi thumper, but if he is I am sure it will only help him go even faster. He may end up challenging Ivan for fourth overall.
So those are my picks for '06. And here they are again, in easy to swallow table form:
1) James Stewart
2) Rick Carmichael
3) Chad Reed
4) Ivan Tabasco
5) Michael Byrne
See you at A1!
James Stewart, Jr.
Now, for the few of my readers that actually know me, my prediction should come as no surprise. After all, I erroneously predicted that James would win both indoors and outdoors in 2005. To the uninitiated it may seem that I have “Stewart Syndrome” or a “Bubba Bias”, even though it is not true, and he no longer wishes to be called by that nickname. I have actually come to my conclusion using solid evidence. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I have proof that what I am foreseeing will actually come true.
What is this proof? Well, it consists of a number of things:
– Stewart's performance in Canada certainly tells us a story. One simple fact of that story that has been overlooked is that James took his KX450F to a major win in its maiden voyage. That says something about both James speed AND his steed. Two wins in Canada might not mean anything, points wise, for the American championship, but it certainly indicates that Kawasaki has provided James with a potent tool for the job.
– Stewart's performance at the Anaheim press conference appeared to strengthen the storyline started up North. He sounded relaxed and confident yet modest, and he gave every indication that he has changed from a “win every race” strategy to a “win the battle not the war” approach.
– Finally, Rick Johnson said so! Well not in so many words, but during his Wednesday night appearance on must-listen DMXS radio, the ex-Bad Boy noted that the fourstroke seems to force James to ride in a more relaxed style, and it apparently works for him, judging by his wins in Canuck-land.
So I'm picking James to win all the supercross marbles this year. But I am in no way suggesting that this will be an easy title for him or a boring season. 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. And I also believe that Chad Reed will be surprised by a very strong challenge for third overall by the newest entry to the class, Ivan “just get the Tabasco sponsorship, dammit” Tedesco. Yep, you heard it here first.
Remember, I like Speedy Reedy a lot, and I think he will win a round or two this year. But I also think that Tedesco will get on the podium more than once, warming Roger Decoster's heart while giving Chad heartburn.
As for the rest of the field, I think we will see standout performances by Tim Ferry this year, as I do believe (and hope) he'll have a small chip on his shoulder for being kicked out of the factory circle. We'll see. And we'll also see how all-around good guy David Vuillemin gets around on that Honda oil burner. DV may make a podium, but I don't think he has a win in him this year. Finally, I cannot forget Michael Byrne. I don't know if Burner will be on the Kawi thumper, but if he is I am sure it will only help him go even faster. He may end up challenging Ivan for fourth overall.
So those are my picks for '06. And here they are again, in easy to swallow table form:
1) James Stewart
2) Rick Carmichael
3) Chad Reed
4) Ivan Tabasco
5) Michael Byrne
See you at A1!
January 05, 2006
DMXS Radio Rocks Uncontrollably!
Last night, Kevin Kelly and David Izer hosted Larry Maiers, Bob Hannah, Bevo Forte, Rick Johnson and Roger friggin’ DeCoster! I listened to it today, between spreadsheets, flowcharts and phone calls, laughing my ass off the entire time! Bob and Bevo unleashed a torrent of unbelievable stories from the past, with Maiers egging them on and the DMXS guys barely maintaining their sanity… barely. Rick Johnson checked in with his views on the four stroke revolution… What a show! Check out the DMXS archives here.
Bob Hannah called Alessi a “damn monkey” for that Glen Helen incident. Wow!
Bob was more than funny, he was also inspirational. He said, “I’m naturally lazy. The work ethic I have today I learned it…”
Bob Hannah called Alessi a “damn monkey” for that Glen Helen incident. Wow!
Bob was more than funny, he was also inspirational. He said, “I’m naturally lazy. The work ethic I have today I learned it…”
2006 Supercross Preview by YZThumpa!
This has got to be the best SX season preview I've read so far, written by MotoDrive regular "YZTHUMPA". Check it out; it's hilarious but dead on! I can't wait to read his regular race reviews this season.
January 04, 2006
Grant Langston is selling wolf tickets!
Langston racing issued an interesting press release yesterday (which you can find here at Racer X Online), with the headline “Langston shoots for Grand Slam”. In it, they list Grant’s considerable achievements in the world of MX: 125 World title, his AMA MX and SX championships, even his victories in the 2000 MXdN and his 2002 Prince of Bercy crown.
But what is a “Grand Slam”?
The press release goes on state that all “Langtown” needs to do is win the West 125 SX title in order to be the only rider in history to win every major 125 title. To which I say, “not so fast, Slick Rick…”
Now, I’ve never met Grant, but I hear he’s a nice fellow. I met his uncle at A1 last year, and he was very nice. I saw his father at Perris Raceway about 5 or 6 years ago, and he too seemed like a nice guy. So Grant is probably a good guy as well. And he is undeniably fast on the bike. But I have to admit that he’s not the best decision-maker in the sport. In fact, Grant has a history of making questionable decisions. Let’s review:
- While on the way to scoring KTM’s first ever supercross win, Grant decided to do a little showboating and crashed on the last lap.
- While practicing at Glen Helen one day, I don’t really know what happened, but somehow a woman he was passing crashed and got very hurt. I’m not saying it was his fault, and again, I don’t know the details, but the anecdote points to a possible bad decision.
- With the overall win already sewed up, he went for the second moto win at Hangtown last year and ended up badly tweaking his ankle and probably arguably killing his shot at a second AMA outdoor championship.
And now, Langston racing starts talking about possible Grand Slams. But the problem is that not only did Langston NOT win a 125 title last year, but the class does not even exist this year. Okay, sure, the AMA called the 250F class the “125” class in 2005, but Langston won the title on a 250F. My point being that he CANNOT claim a 125 grand slam with two of the titles being gathered on 250cc bikes. That just makes sense.
So good luck this season, Grant Langston. There is no doubt in my mind that you are a serious contender for another 250F title in supercross this year. But lose the crazy talk, okay? Your great achievements on the 125 are already well noted.
But what is a “Grand Slam”?
The press release goes on state that all “Langtown” needs to do is win the West 125 SX title in order to be the only rider in history to win every major 125 title. To which I say, “not so fast, Slick Rick…”
Now, I’ve never met Grant, but I hear he’s a nice fellow. I met his uncle at A1 last year, and he was very nice. I saw his father at Perris Raceway about 5 or 6 years ago, and he too seemed like a nice guy. So Grant is probably a good guy as well. And he is undeniably fast on the bike. But I have to admit that he’s not the best decision-maker in the sport. In fact, Grant has a history of making questionable decisions. Let’s review:
- While on the way to scoring KTM’s first ever supercross win, Grant decided to do a little showboating and crashed on the last lap.
- While practicing at Glen Helen one day, I don’t really know what happened, but somehow a woman he was passing crashed and got very hurt. I’m not saying it was his fault, and again, I don’t know the details, but the anecdote points to a possible bad decision.
- With the overall win already sewed up, he went for the second moto win at Hangtown last year and ended up badly tweaking his ankle and probably arguably killing his shot at a second AMA outdoor championship.
And now, Langston racing starts talking about possible Grand Slams. But the problem is that not only did Langston NOT win a 125 title last year, but the class does not even exist this year. Okay, sure, the AMA called the 250F class the “125” class in 2005, but Langston won the title on a 250F. My point being that he CANNOT claim a 125 grand slam with two of the titles being gathered on 250cc bikes. That just makes sense.
So good luck this season, Grant Langston. There is no doubt in my mind that you are a serious contender for another 250F title in supercross this year. But lose the crazy talk, okay? Your great achievements on the 125 are already well noted.
December 30, 2005
Sparkplug 34
The Year in Motocross: 20 Things that took me by surprise in 2005
1) The rain at A1. In all the years that I've attended that race, that was the first time it rained... and it poured! My usual strategy of buying my tickets at my local Yamaha dealer backfired, as they didn't get assigned tickets for the first round. My good friend Paul Fleming came through with extra tickets, but they were three rows from the field, uncovered, right out there in the downpour. It was, as you probably remember, a fantastic race.
2) James Stewart's second round injury. What a huge letdown that was for the entire series.
3) Chad Reed's Daytona domination, particularly after getting smoked by RC at the race in Atlanta. Reedy showed a lot of heart there.
4) How good the Monster/Pro Circuit Kawasakis looked. Not only were they easily the prettiest bikes in the pits, but they were apparently pretty quick,too.
5) James Stewart pulling off in the second moto at Hangtown. Right there, I thought “this is not his year”… what an understatement!
6) Grant Langston throwing his championship away in the second moto at Hangtown. I thought it was an unsportsmanlike move when I was at the track; when I saw the tape, it was clear that he didn't intentionally try to run a “pick-up pass” on Mike Alessi, but still he should have chilled and taken the second place... he would have still won the overall for the day.
7) Mike Alessi losing his mind at Glen Helen in the final moto. Incredible to watch, sure, but a dark day for sportsmanship.
8) Ivan Tedesco. Talk about stepping it up, “Tabasco” showed the nation that he is truly an all-around motocross fastguy.
9) How cool it was to be able to watch the MXdN webcast LIVE. American motocross really needs to step up to this level of media sophistication.
10) Getting an assignment to write my first feature article for a major motocross magazine from Racer X's Davey Coombs. More about that later…
11) That Honda would actually market an additional silencer as a handling enhancement.
12) That arenacross racing is good stuff, and the BooKoo Arenacross series is the best of the breed.
13) That Erin Normoyle is even hotter in person than her photos lead one to believe!
14) James Stewart's physical ailments.
15) How funny the DMXS guys are. I mean, genuinely funny.
16) How cool One Industries' Danny Dobey is.
17) What nice people the Carmichaels (Big Rick and Jeannie) are.
18) That if you had to be trapped for the rest of your life in one state, Hawaii is the one to pick Preferably Oahu, somewhere near the Kalaku Motocross Park.
19) James Stewart’s year-end performance at the Canadian rounds of the Amp’d World Supercross series. I had no idea that he would be so dominant so soon.
20) That someone could actually take fantastic supercross footage shot by Troy Adamitis and edit it into a sub-standard television program.
All in all, it was a great year for American motocross and the future truly looks bright for our beloved sport. Thanks to all who make it possible, from the media to the mechanics… ya done good! Here’s hoping that your New Year is the best year yet!
1) The rain at A1. In all the years that I've attended that race, that was the first time it rained... and it poured! My usual strategy of buying my tickets at my local Yamaha dealer backfired, as they didn't get assigned tickets for the first round. My good friend Paul Fleming came through with extra tickets, but they were three rows from the field, uncovered, right out there in the downpour. It was, as you probably remember, a fantastic race.
2) James Stewart's second round injury. What a huge letdown that was for the entire series.
3) Chad Reed's Daytona domination, particularly after getting smoked by RC at the race in Atlanta. Reedy showed a lot of heart there.
4) How good the Monster/Pro Circuit Kawasakis looked. Not only were they easily the prettiest bikes in the pits, but they were apparently pretty quick,too.
5) James Stewart pulling off in the second moto at Hangtown. Right there, I thought “this is not his year”… what an understatement!
6) Grant Langston throwing his championship away in the second moto at Hangtown. I thought it was an unsportsmanlike move when I was at the track; when I saw the tape, it was clear that he didn't intentionally try to run a “pick-up pass” on Mike Alessi, but still he should have chilled and taken the second place... he would have still won the overall for the day.
7) Mike Alessi losing his mind at Glen Helen in the final moto. Incredible to watch, sure, but a dark day for sportsmanship.
8) Ivan Tedesco. Talk about stepping it up, “Tabasco” showed the nation that he is truly an all-around motocross fastguy.
9) How cool it was to be able to watch the MXdN webcast LIVE. American motocross really needs to step up to this level of media sophistication.
10) Getting an assignment to write my first feature article for a major motocross magazine from Racer X's Davey Coombs. More about that later…
11) That Honda would actually market an additional silencer as a handling enhancement.
12) That arenacross racing is good stuff, and the BooKoo Arenacross series is the best of the breed.
13) That Erin Normoyle is even hotter in person than her photos lead one to believe!
14) James Stewart's physical ailments.
15) How funny the DMXS guys are. I mean, genuinely funny.
16) How cool One Industries' Danny Dobey is.
17) What nice people the Carmichaels (Big Rick and Jeannie) are.
18) That if you had to be trapped for the rest of your life in one state, Hawaii is the one to pick Preferably Oahu, somewhere near the Kalaku Motocross Park.
19) James Stewart’s year-end performance at the Canadian rounds of the Amp’d World Supercross series. I had no idea that he would be so dominant so soon.
20) That someone could actually take fantastic supercross footage shot by Troy Adamitis and edit it into a sub-standard television program.
All in all, it was a great year for American motocross and the future truly looks bright for our beloved sport. Thanks to all who make it possible, from the media to the mechanics… ya done good! Here’s hoping that your New Year is the best year yet!
December 28, 2005
Alessi Apologizes?
I read it on Sunday, but it took until today for it to finally register in my old brain: according to Racer X's Davey Coombs, Mike Alessi has finally apologized for his foolish actions at Glen Helen. The apology actually is part of his "800" column for Racer X Illustrated, and will be in the January 2006 issue. But DC printed part of it in last weeks "Racerhead" so you can read it here.
Way to man up, Mike. Yes, you should have done this months ago, but better late than never. Good luck in '06!
Way to man up, Mike. Yes, you should have done this months ago, but better late than never. Good luck in '06!
December 23, 2005
Sparkplug 33
It’s nearly the end of the year, and most enthusiast publications are running their typical year-end wrap-ups, or the top ten lists or some other way of summing up the events of the last 365. Well, Sparkplug will be no different, but my year-ender will come next week, when I’ll take a look back at the things in motocross that most surprised me in 2005.
For this week, I want to tackle women in our sport. Er, that is, the subject of how women get involved in motocross. Or to paraphrase Cleavon Little in “Blazing Saddles”: “Where are all the black women at?”
As an African American man and huge fan of motocross, I know all too well the fact that the sight of a single, adult African American woman at a local motocross race is about as rare as a Husqvarna winning a supercross. But since I didn’t get into motocross in order to pick up chicks, so to speak, this state of affairs has never been much of a concern to me. Yet the question has been asked numerous times: why aren’t black women into motocross like their white counterparts?
I think I finally came up with the answer, and it’s simply that 99.9 percent of the time, it’s a man that starts the interest in motocross. Think about it. Your dad probably was the person that introduced you to the sport. Or maybe it was an older sibling, or a relative or a friend. I was introduced to minibikes by my neighbors; my local Honda dealer was responsible for my learning about motocross.
Or to put it another way, very rare is the woman who enters the sport of motorcycling, and in particular dirtbiking, on her own accord without having someone else provide the familiarity. Yes, I know I’m heading down the path of dangerous generalities, but I appeal to my sisters of all races to let me know their own stories, if they’re different from what I’m proposing here. When you see a top female motocrosser, you also see somewhere in the background the man that gave her a start in the sport. Usually it’s her father, but it could be her brother, boyfriend or husband. I’m not saying that she wouldn’t be supported by her mother or sisters. But can you imagine a mother coming home to her family and saying “Hey, I’ve got an idea… let’s all get dirtbikes and go riding!”
So in the case of the black females, the absence of them in the sport of motocross points directly to the small number of African American males in the sport. It’s funny, when you think of how many black people are involved in streetbiking. There are plenty of beautiful black women that like to hang around the streetbike scene (okay, well here are two, and that’s because there are plenty of black guys riding streetbikes. As you probably know, there are only a handful of us racing motocross or riding dirtbikes. So that limits the opportunities for our sisters, wives and girlfriends to be brought into the sport. And that, in turn, decreases the opportunities for me to meet single black women at the races… it’s all about me, right?
What about the appeal of the sport itself? Is it not possible for some women to just be drawn to the excitement of motocross on it’s own terms? In a word, no. Or at least, probably not… I mean, let’s look at a sport like basketball. Even back in grade school there were two types of girls that liked basketball: the ones that played the sport, and the ones that liked to watch the guys play. It’s like us guys watching women’s volleyball; some of you watch for the action, I watch for the ACTION, if you know what I mean. I’m a big fan of women’s volleyball. And I’m sure that many female motocross fans are into the sport at a professional level because they think the guys are hot. I don’t have any problem with that, but apparently they’re not hot enough to attract a lot of attention from black females. Or maybe it’s just a media thing; if motocross received some coverage from the likes of Essence or Ebony magazines maybe that would turn the tide. That’s funny just thinking about it!
Some people in the sport believe that James Stewart will be responsible for making motocross more visible to a wider audience. I’m not sure how that will work, but if it means more black women at the races I’m all for it! Go James!
Oh yes... and Merry Christmas to All!
For this week, I want to tackle women in our sport. Er, that is, the subject of how women get involved in motocross. Or to paraphrase Cleavon Little in “Blazing Saddles”: “Where are all the black women at?”
As an African American man and huge fan of motocross, I know all too well the fact that the sight of a single, adult African American woman at a local motocross race is about as rare as a Husqvarna winning a supercross. But since I didn’t get into motocross in order to pick up chicks, so to speak, this state of affairs has never been much of a concern to me. Yet the question has been asked numerous times: why aren’t black women into motocross like their white counterparts?
I think I finally came up with the answer, and it’s simply that 99.9 percent of the time, it’s a man that starts the interest in motocross. Think about it. Your dad probably was the person that introduced you to the sport. Or maybe it was an older sibling, or a relative or a friend. I was introduced to minibikes by my neighbors; my local Honda dealer was responsible for my learning about motocross.
Or to put it another way, very rare is the woman who enters the sport of motorcycling, and in particular dirtbiking, on her own accord without having someone else provide the familiarity. Yes, I know I’m heading down the path of dangerous generalities, but I appeal to my sisters of all races to let me know their own stories, if they’re different from what I’m proposing here. When you see a top female motocrosser, you also see somewhere in the background the man that gave her a start in the sport. Usually it’s her father, but it could be her brother, boyfriend or husband. I’m not saying that she wouldn’t be supported by her mother or sisters. But can you imagine a mother coming home to her family and saying “Hey, I’ve got an idea… let’s all get dirtbikes and go riding!”
So in the case of the black females, the absence of them in the sport of motocross points directly to the small number of African American males in the sport. It’s funny, when you think of how many black people are involved in streetbiking. There are plenty of beautiful black women that like to hang around the streetbike scene (okay, well here are two, and that’s because there are plenty of black guys riding streetbikes. As you probably know, there are only a handful of us racing motocross or riding dirtbikes. So that limits the opportunities for our sisters, wives and girlfriends to be brought into the sport. And that, in turn, decreases the opportunities for me to meet single black women at the races… it’s all about me, right?
What about the appeal of the sport itself? Is it not possible for some women to just be drawn to the excitement of motocross on it’s own terms? In a word, no. Or at least, probably not… I mean, let’s look at a sport like basketball. Even back in grade school there were two types of girls that liked basketball: the ones that played the sport, and the ones that liked to watch the guys play. It’s like us guys watching women’s volleyball; some of you watch for the action, I watch for the ACTION, if you know what I mean. I’m a big fan of women’s volleyball. And I’m sure that many female motocross fans are into the sport at a professional level because they think the guys are hot. I don’t have any problem with that, but apparently they’re not hot enough to attract a lot of attention from black females. Or maybe it’s just a media thing; if motocross received some coverage from the likes of Essence or Ebony magazines maybe that would turn the tide. That’s funny just thinking about it!
Some people in the sport believe that James Stewart will be responsible for making motocross more visible to a wider audience. I’m not sure how that will work, but if it means more black women at the races I’m all for it! Go James!
Oh yes... and Merry Christmas to All!
December 21, 2005
Supercross on TV? You Must Read This...
DC pulled off a killer interview with CCE's supercross/TV head honcho Ken Hudgens. Check it out here at Racer X Online. The man gives more insight into the network/cable motocross wars than I've read in quite a while. There's no doubt that Ken knows of what he speaks, and he speaks very plainly in the interview.
Also, look forward to seeing the special supercross preview show on CBS (!) at 5pm EST on Christmas Day! Christmas Day motocross (well, supercross) on network TV? How can you beat that?
Well, with live coverage every week, that's how. Where not there yet, but if this year goes good with the CBS/Speed coverage, who knows?
Also, look forward to seeing the special supercross preview show on CBS (!) at 5pm EST on Christmas Day! Christmas Day motocross (well, supercross) on network TV? How can you beat that?
Well, with live coverage every week, that's how. Where not there yet, but if this year goes good with the CBS/Speed coverage, who knows?
December 16, 2005
Lucky #7: James Tells All!
Here in is own words, James Stewart wraps up his Canadian Journey in his latest newsletter.
I gotta tell you, I really like what I'm seeing from the Stewart camp these days. It sounds like they've got a good plan for 2006 and beyond.
I gotta tell you, I really like what I'm seeing from the Stewart camp these days. It sounds like they've got a good plan for 2006 and beyond.
Sparkplug 32
I'm a big man, not just in physical size, but when it comes to doing the right thing, I try my best to do it all the time. So after I spent last Saturday evening in the Long Beach Arena THOROUGHLY enjoying myself at the BooKoo/K&N Filter/Toyota Arenacross, I realized that I would have to write a Sparkplug column that would basically retract the bad things I said about arenacross in an earlier column (found here).
So I will now open my mouth, insert my foot and chew upon it slowly and thoughtfully.
It was a full day of motorcycle immersion for me and my buddy Lliam, as we took in the International Motorcycle Show that afternoon before we went to the races, which were conveniently held right next door. After a few hours of browsing, girl-watching, throttle-twisting, girl-watching, shock-bouncing and girl-watching, we grabbed a bite to eat and headed over to Arenacross way...
... and the first thing we got to do was walk right out onto the arena floor and walk the track! Folks, that right there is just about worth the price of admission. Compared to supercross, where the security guards have snipers in the stands, ready to pick off any “civilian” that dares to touch the track, at an arenacross they literally invite the audience to come on down and feel the dirt between their fingers, and to stumble through the whoops and stand on top of the triples. Which, by the way, don't really look like triples when you're standing on them. The first triple only had about a four-foot run up out of the corner... no WAY anyone would triple THAT, right?
But that's what the track walk is all about: letting the spectators really get a feel for what it must be like to do battle in an arenacross. Plus, they set up autograph tables along the start straight, and all of the “factory” riders were there, instead of out in a parking lot somewhere. You could walk all around them, and most of them were just sitting there talking to each other... and trying to catch glimpses of Erin Normoyle, Miss Arenacross.
You wouldn't believe how hot this woman is in person. Sheesh. You may have heard that a speaker caught on fire during the Friday night races, but how did it get started? It must have caught fire when Erin passed by it...
During the track walk, the announcers were doing their thing, and I have to take my hat off to Mike Kidd for hiring DMXS Radio's Kevin Kelley to be one of the announcers. Kevin was calmly standing on the track just running his mouth like it wasn't anything. In complete control. And when he saw me, he actually came over and did a quick on-mic interview with me! Then my head blew up and that was my night...
No, I managed to keep my ego in check, but I must confess that it was quite a thrill to address all of those people who weren't listening to a word I said. 15 minutes? No, more like 15 seconds of fame...
But the racing was what we were all there for, and when it started, it was intense all night long. It was so exciting, I didn't even take a moment to record any laptimes, which must have been in the 15 to 20 second range. Maybe 30 seconds? In any case, there was no place to rest on that track. It was attack or be lapped... in three laps.
So who stood out? Turbo Reif came out and immediately starting kicking ass. Unfortunately, he ended up breaking his collarbone in the 250F main, I believe (correction: per David Pingree over at Racer X Online, Turbo dislocated his hip). Shane “Daddy Knows” Bess (remember him?) was a solid contender as well, but had some problems with starts in the mains. The man of the night, though, was “The Sheriff” Josh Demuth, who won both mains by riding as aggressively as I've ever seen a motocrosser ride. How aggressive was Josh? If Mike Alessi were there, Josh would have used him as dental floss, to pick the other riders out of his teeth. Demuth never did anything dirty, he just rode it hard and put it away panting and slippery.
This is not to take anything away from any of the other riders. Even the “privateers” came to race hard, and everyone put on a great show. Unfortunately, the fine citizens of Long Beach all decided to stay home that night, so the crowd was miserably small... truly a surprise considering it's in the middle of the motocross kingdom. Some blamed the promoters for not doing enough; I think that SoCal is more of a supercross town, and the Long Beach arenacross was the first event of its kind to be held in this part of the state in a long while. But the small crowd didn't slow the riders down any, and it didn't stop me from having a blast.
So if the K&N Filters presents BooKoo Arenacross Championship Series brought to you by Toyota shows up in your town, do yourself a favor, get yourself a ticket and go see the show. It's racing, baby!
So I will now open my mouth, insert my foot and chew upon it slowly and thoughtfully.
It was a full day of motorcycle immersion for me and my buddy Lliam, as we took in the International Motorcycle Show that afternoon before we went to the races, which were conveniently held right next door. After a few hours of browsing, girl-watching, throttle-twisting, girl-watching, shock-bouncing and girl-watching, we grabbed a bite to eat and headed over to Arenacross way...
... and the first thing we got to do was walk right out onto the arena floor and walk the track! Folks, that right there is just about worth the price of admission. Compared to supercross, where the security guards have snipers in the stands, ready to pick off any “civilian” that dares to touch the track, at an arenacross they literally invite the audience to come on down and feel the dirt between their fingers, and to stumble through the whoops and stand on top of the triples. Which, by the way, don't really look like triples when you're standing on them. The first triple only had about a four-foot run up out of the corner... no WAY anyone would triple THAT, right?
But that's what the track walk is all about: letting the spectators really get a feel for what it must be like to do battle in an arenacross. Plus, they set up autograph tables along the start straight, and all of the “factory” riders were there, instead of out in a parking lot somewhere. You could walk all around them, and most of them were just sitting there talking to each other... and trying to catch glimpses of Erin Normoyle, Miss Arenacross.
You wouldn't believe how hot this woman is in person. Sheesh. You may have heard that a speaker caught on fire during the Friday night races, but how did it get started? It must have caught fire when Erin passed by it...
During the track walk, the announcers were doing their thing, and I have to take my hat off to Mike Kidd for hiring DMXS Radio's Kevin Kelley to be one of the announcers. Kevin was calmly standing on the track just running his mouth like it wasn't anything. In complete control. And when he saw me, he actually came over and did a quick on-mic interview with me! Then my head blew up and that was my night...
No, I managed to keep my ego in check, but I must confess that it was quite a thrill to address all of those people who weren't listening to a word I said. 15 minutes? No, more like 15 seconds of fame...
But the racing was what we were all there for, and when it started, it was intense all night long. It was so exciting, I didn't even take a moment to record any laptimes, which must have been in the 15 to 20 second range. Maybe 30 seconds? In any case, there was no place to rest on that track. It was attack or be lapped... in three laps.
So who stood out? Turbo Reif came out and immediately starting kicking ass. Unfortunately, he ended up breaking his collarbone in the 250F main, I believe (correction: per David Pingree over at Racer X Online, Turbo dislocated his hip). Shane “Daddy Knows” Bess (remember him?) was a solid contender as well, but had some problems with starts in the mains. The man of the night, though, was “The Sheriff” Josh Demuth, who won both mains by riding as aggressively as I've ever seen a motocrosser ride. How aggressive was Josh? If Mike Alessi were there, Josh would have used him as dental floss, to pick the other riders out of his teeth. Demuth never did anything dirty, he just rode it hard and put it away panting and slippery.
This is not to take anything away from any of the other riders. Even the “privateers” came to race hard, and everyone put on a great show. Unfortunately, the fine citizens of Long Beach all decided to stay home that night, so the crowd was miserably small... truly a surprise considering it's in the middle of the motocross kingdom. Some blamed the promoters for not doing enough; I think that SoCal is more of a supercross town, and the Long Beach arenacross was the first event of its kind to be held in this part of the state in a long while. But the small crowd didn't slow the riders down any, and it didn't stop me from having a blast.
So if the K&N Filters presents BooKoo Arenacross Championship Series brought to you by Toyota shows up in your town, do yourself a favor, get yourself a ticket and go see the show. It's racing, baby!
December 15, 2005
Get Well Soon, Kevin!
A collective "arrrgh" arose over the motocross world last night, and it wasn't because people thought it was "Talk like a pirate day". Kevin Windham, it was announced, went down at the Honda practice track and broke his arm, effectively ending his supercross season just weeks before it even got started. (Here's the brief press release, courtesy Racer X Online)
I personally think that this is not such a bad deal for Kdub, because I feel that he's stronger outdoors than in, but my pal MXWordNerd (aka Steve Cox) reminded me in a friendly way that Windham has won many more supercrosses, both 125 and 250, than he has won outdoor events.
But since he returned from that broken femur to showcase the abilities of the mighty Honda CR450F, Kdub has seemed more of an outdoor specialist to me.
In any case, get well soon, Kev. Spend some quality time with the family, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and we'll be looking for you on the line at Hangtown.
I personally think that this is not such a bad deal for Kdub, because I feel that he's stronger outdoors than in, but my pal MXWordNerd (aka Steve Cox) reminded me in a friendly way that Windham has won many more supercrosses, both 125 and 250, than he has won outdoor events.
But since he returned from that broken femur to showcase the abilities of the mighty Honda CR450F, Kdub has seemed more of an outdoor specialist to me.
In any case, get well soon, Kev. Spend some quality time with the family, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and we'll be looking for you on the line at Hangtown.
December 09, 2005
Sparkplug 31
This week, as the Holiday season gets fully underway, I've decided to tackle an issue that doesn't normally get a lot of attention, even though it truly is a very big deal. I want to discuss American Morality in American Motocross.
First, I have to admit that this is an extremely complex subject, and this little column will in no way offer any answers to this touchy matter. In fact, it will barely scratch the surface. But it's something that needs to be discussed; hopefully this will inspire further talks and introspection.
The funny thing about the recurring “morality in motocross” discussions is that they are usually triggered by a picture of a girl in a skimpy bikini. Transworld Motocross magazine or Racer X Illustrated will run an ad or poster of a bikini-babe, and then they'll get letters from irate prudes claiming that the publications are ruining the sport by exposing their children to human body parts. Most recently the subject was brought to the fore by a series of commercials aired during the first round of the Amp'd World Supercross series. I didn't see the commercials, so I cannot comment on them directly. But I do wonder how they could possibly be as big a deal as some have made it?
“Motocross is a family sport.” This statement is accepted as fact by just about everybody, but it's also the line in the sand drawn by everyone worried that the sport will be overtaken by oversexed imagery and outright debauchery. It is true that motocross is one of those rare sports that can be enjoyed by every member of the family, regardless of age or gender. But that doesn't change the fact that the primary audience is made up of MEN between the ages of 18 to 49, so it should come as no surprise that images of beautiful young women work wonderfully in attracting said audience. Yes, these men often want to get their women and their children involved in the sport they love, but again, look at the chain of influence: first, the men take up the sport, then they recruit the rest of the family. Since the man is the primary target, the advertising adjusts itself accordingly. This is simply the way business works.
Does the pandering appeal to everyone? Of course not. Does it offend some sensitive souls? Without a doubt, and guess what? They don't have to put up with it if they don't want to. But will they or should they be able to force the advertisers to change, to make them stop using their very effective marketing tools? Not in a free market society. Not in a society that guarantees the right of free speech to its citizens. Not in a sane world.
The truth of the matter is that American morality is pretty messed up. The fact that a bare breast nipple glimpsed during a televised sporting event can cause mass hysteria and much wailing and gnashing of righteous teeth proves my point. It's as if people have forgotten that if it weren't for nipples, many of them wouldn't be alive today. And don't even get me started on genitalia. Take a picture of a naked penis and everyone will call it pornography. Show that picture to a kid, and you'll be thrown UNDER the jail. How did we come to hate our bodies so much? But that's an entirely different matter, well outside the scope of this week's column.
The fact is, beautiful women and motorsports go together like, well, like beer and motorsports. And the best place for mixing beer, beautiful women and motorsports will be at Dave and Buster's in Anaheim on the Friday night before A1, but I digress.... Motocross may indeed be a family sport, yet it is driven by adults and their adult appetites. So that basically means pin-up girls forever and ever, amen. And there is nothing inherently wrong with that, as long as you remember your parental duties and take the time to explain to your little ones why they can see the umbrella girl's thong.
I told you there wouldn't be any answers!
First, I have to admit that this is an extremely complex subject, and this little column will in no way offer any answers to this touchy matter. In fact, it will barely scratch the surface. But it's something that needs to be discussed; hopefully this will inspire further talks and introspection.
The funny thing about the recurring “morality in motocross” discussions is that they are usually triggered by a picture of a girl in a skimpy bikini. Transworld Motocross magazine or Racer X Illustrated will run an ad or poster of a bikini-babe, and then they'll get letters from irate prudes claiming that the publications are ruining the sport by exposing their children to human body parts. Most recently the subject was brought to the fore by a series of commercials aired during the first round of the Amp'd World Supercross series. I didn't see the commercials, so I cannot comment on them directly. But I do wonder how they could possibly be as big a deal as some have made it?
“Motocross is a family sport.” This statement is accepted as fact by just about everybody, but it's also the line in the sand drawn by everyone worried that the sport will be overtaken by oversexed imagery and outright debauchery. It is true that motocross is one of those rare sports that can be enjoyed by every member of the family, regardless of age or gender. But that doesn't change the fact that the primary audience is made up of MEN between the ages of 18 to 49, so it should come as no surprise that images of beautiful young women work wonderfully in attracting said audience. Yes, these men often want to get their women and their children involved in the sport they love, but again, look at the chain of influence: first, the men take up the sport, then they recruit the rest of the family. Since the man is the primary target, the advertising adjusts itself accordingly. This is simply the way business works.
Does the pandering appeal to everyone? Of course not. Does it offend some sensitive souls? Without a doubt, and guess what? They don't have to put up with it if they don't want to. But will they or should they be able to force the advertisers to change, to make them stop using their very effective marketing tools? Not in a free market society. Not in a society that guarantees the right of free speech to its citizens. Not in a sane world.
The truth of the matter is that American morality is pretty messed up. The fact that a bare breast nipple glimpsed during a televised sporting event can cause mass hysteria and much wailing and gnashing of righteous teeth proves my point. It's as if people have forgotten that if it weren't for nipples, many of them wouldn't be alive today. And don't even get me started on genitalia. Take a picture of a naked penis and everyone will call it pornography. Show that picture to a kid, and you'll be thrown UNDER the jail. How did we come to hate our bodies so much? But that's an entirely different matter, well outside the scope of this week's column.
The fact is, beautiful women and motorsports go together like, well, like beer and motorsports. And the best place for mixing beer, beautiful women and motorsports will be at Dave and Buster's in Anaheim on the Friday night before A1, but I digress.... Motocross may indeed be a family sport, yet it is driven by adults and their adult appetites. So that basically means pin-up girls forever and ever, amen. And there is nothing inherently wrong with that, as long as you remember your parental duties and take the time to explain to your little ones why they can see the umbrella girl's thong.
I told you there wouldn't be any answers!
December 05, 2005
James Stewart Wins Toronto SX!
I am sure this is old news to you true motocross fans, but I had to post something, right? I would have posted earlier, but blogger issues... woulda, coulda, shoulda, blah blah blah.
Anyway, James Stewart took an exciting race win on Saturday night in Toronto, leading many to believe that this will indeed be the year that he goes all the way to the Supercross title. Here's an excellent race recap by Jason Weigandt over on Racer X Online. And here's a great report by Brendan Lutes from Transworld MX Online.
I didn't get a chance to see the Speed Channel next-day coverage, but I listened to the race live via the CCE webcast, and it sounded like a great race! Jim Holley was the first person to say that James was "toying" with RC, which I found hard to believe... but then Ricky himself said the same thing in his post-race interview. What's funny is that James didn't feel like he was "toying" with anyone! Check out his interview with TFS over at Racer X Online.
In any case, there is now officially no question that this new supercross season will be one for the ages. And the Amp'd World Supercross rounds are finally on the map as being important races. I can't wait to see it all in person January 7th at Anaheim!
Anyway, James Stewart took an exciting race win on Saturday night in Toronto, leading many to believe that this will indeed be the year that he goes all the way to the Supercross title. Here's an excellent race recap by Jason Weigandt over on Racer X Online. And here's a great report by Brendan Lutes from Transworld MX Online.
I didn't get a chance to see the Speed Channel next-day coverage, but I listened to the race live via the CCE webcast, and it sounded like a great race! Jim Holley was the first person to say that James was "toying" with RC, which I found hard to believe... but then Ricky himself said the same thing in his post-race interview. What's funny is that James didn't feel like he was "toying" with anyone! Check out his interview with TFS over at Racer X Online.
In any case, there is now officially no question that this new supercross season will be one for the ages. And the Amp'd World Supercross rounds are finally on the map as being important races. I can't wait to see it all in person January 7th at Anaheim!
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