Rest in peace, Jim Pomeroy

Jim Pomeroy, a great guy, a fast ex-racer and the first American to win a motocross Grand Prix in the modern era, has died. There's more information here at Racer X Online, as well as a retrospective written by Budds Creek Raceway owner Jon Beasley, that originally appeared in Racer X Illustrated in 2002. Motocross Action online also has a very good writeup here, that includes the picture you see above.

Godspeed, Jim. And thanks for racing for us.

Sparkplug Fiddy-Five

Just recently I was able to watch a recap of the 2005 Formula One season, and of course, it got me to thinking about motocross. Specifically, I began to think about how certain changes in the sport might go a long way to elevating its stature among the more popular and lucrative motorsports. So that's what this week's installment of Sparkplug is all about... change for the better.

You gotta give credit to the organizers behind Formula One; even though they already have a solid performer, they're not afraid to make drastic changes to the “formula” to keep the sport relevant and interesting. You may not know this, but they currently have a rule in place that stipulates that a car CANNOT change tires during the race, unless the tire becomes demonstrably unsafe. Basically, they have to run an entire 90 minute, 70 lap race on one set of tires! Can you even imagine NASCAR trying something like that?

Now, the powers-that-be at Formula One ostensibly instituted this rule in an attempt to slow the cars down a bit, “slow” being a relative concept. It has certainly forced the tire manufacturers to up their game in order to deliver tires that can go the distance, while it has also made the drivers and teams develop different strategies to maximize the life of the tires. In my opinion, it has made the racing more interesting; while watching the 2005 season, I was entertained by a few occasions where the race leader had to contend with badly deteriorating rubber while trying to hold on for the win... they didn't always make it!

So what does this have to do with motocross? Well, do you remember the last time the AMA made a major rule change to the sport? Okay, not including the dreaded four-stroke clause. And not the unleaded fuel regulation. And not the permanent number foolishness. Anyway, outside of the forced four-stroke regulation, I don't think there have been any BIG changes to the sport in quite a few years. And while I believe the sport is doing well, I think it can do better, and without further delay, here's the rule change I'm proposing:

Actually, I'm proposing an entire format change. I think we should retire the two-moto format once and for all, and go with a single race that lasts 90 minutes. And I think the onboard fuel capacity of the bikes should be limited to one gallon, in order to force at least one fuel stop. Now, before you go ballistic, let me break it down for ya...

First off, we motocrossers take a lot of pride in the fact that our sport is physically demanding. We've gotten a lot of mileage out of that old chestnut that “motocross is second only to soccer in terms of being physically challenging”, and there's that place in Pennsylvania that tested and compared professional motocross racers to other pro athletes and were simply astounded at our boys' capabilities. But still we “get no respect” from the mainstream sports media. Well, I think one reason is that our races are so much shorter than the other motorsports. NASCAR guys would scoff at a 30 minute stockcar race. And then we split them up into two... for what? Think about it: why are there two motos, anyway? Sure, it's a tradition, and as an out-of-shape racer, I personally appreciate being able to take a break between motos. But at the professional level, endurance is the name of the game... so let's emphasize it.

Think of how race strategy will change. No longer will anyone be able to sprint the entire distance, no matter how hard they train. And with the gas tank size limit forcing at least one pitstop, even more drama is possible. Plus, the riders will have an opportunity to get a drink and fresh goggle and gloves, something that will be sorely appreciated during mud races. Another upside of the gas limit is that the teams will have to pay attention to fuel usage, and the manufacturers will have to place some focus on fuel efficiency... a novel concept in these uncertain times, no?

What's the downside of this format change? Well, certainly there will be an issue with lappers, so I suggest a “lap limit”: if you get lapped three times, you're out. Take a seat, son, you're done for the day. Other problems? Some might say a 90 minute race will be difficult for TV to cover. To them I say, “Um, how long is a NASCAR race again? And isn't Formula One about 90 minutes??” Truth is, TV needs MORE time in order to fit in more commercials. Gotta pay those bills, ya know?

Actually, the single moto format has been tried before, most recently by the European circuit, and they said they did it for “TV purposes”. But they had other issues that, I believe, caused the whole thing to go away. My thinking is to not only go to a long, single moto, but to also play up the endurance aspect in the media as well. Let everyone know that survival is the issue, and come up with ways to demonstrate exactly how grueling it is to compete at this level for this long. WE know these guys are supermen; let's give them a showcase to prove it to the rest of the world.

Plus, we'll get rid of that same old, stupid argument that “it's too difficult to explain two-moto scoring to non-moto fans.” Okay, fine.

So here's how the race weekend would be scheduled: practice on Friday, qualifiers and practice on Saturday, and three races on Sunday. Three? Oh yeah, between the 250F and 450F main events, there will be a 60-minute, 125 two-stroke college race, with entries limited to racers who ride for sanctioned college motocross teams. Of course, that's another story altogether, something that I touched on way back in Sparkplug 20. But until we get a college motocross series going, I suggest that the two-stroke race be for the best of the up-and-coming amateur racers... with an emphasis on AMATEUR, as in “non-salaried.”

So... what do you think?

Ernesto Fonseca on DMXS Radio!

Wow. What a great interview, and how cool it was to hear his voice. Ernesto has come a long way since his accident, and he sound great. Go here to listen to the archived version of the DMXS Radio show. Go for the Ernie interview and get a great bonus: Rick Carmichael! Yep, RC gets on the mic and runs it down for the guys as well. A great show!

Sparkplug 54

It's the halfway point for the outdoor motocross season, and that means one thing: who the heck is going to represent the United States at the Motocross of Nations? However, this week's Sparkplug isn't about speculating on the participants, but instead, questioning the value of participation in itself: why is the Motocross of Nations important? And if it's so important, why is funding an issue?

Over at Racer X Illustrated, my good friend Davey Coombs pretty much singlehandedly coined the phrase “Because Team USA still matters!” or words to that effect. So maybe I should ask him directly, but instead I'm asking you: why? Why and in what way does it matter if three of the top American racers compete in a race with racers that they intentionally snub the rest of the year. Seriously, while the average American motocross fan loves racing no matter what continent the races are held on, how many U.S. fans really care about the racing series that take place outside our borders? Or maybe the word I'm looking for is respect: how many American MX fans respect, say, the Belgium national motocross championships or Great Britain's national series? I would venture a guess that the percentage is pretty low.

Or maybe it's just my own personal bias? This blog that you're reading claims to be about “All Things Motocross”, but it's really only about American Motocross. I intentionally do not discuss the World Championship or racing in other countries because I am personally not that interested. Don't get me wrong; I have a ton of respect for the riders contesting the MX1, 2 and 3 classes, and I look forward to the day when I can personally visit and ride tracks in other countries. But I just don't follow the current World series like I follow the American championships. I mean, when I was growing up, I recognized, along with most of my motocross-loving peers, that the World Championships... better known as the Grand Prix... as the pinnacle of the sport. That was back in those days before Brad Lackey broke through to become America's first World Champion, and well before the 13-year win streak that Team USA accomplished at the Motocross of Nations. Since that time, though, America has indisputably become the home of the most competitive and lucrative motocross series in the world. No longer do the world's best riders seek their fame and fortune on the World Championship circuit; they seek to land rides in the American Supercross and Outdoor series. That's a fact, Jack (with the noted exception of the incredible Stefan Everts).

So, really, what difference does a one-day, one-off race featuring top riders from all of the motocross-racing countries of the world really make? Yes, it answers the question of who is the absolutely fastest rider on that particular track, on that particular day. So what? A series of races is a better judge of talent than a single race; that's why the championships are series.

Some will say that what “matters” is that sense of national pride that comes from seeing “our team” beat the world. And you know what? I have felt that pride. I felt it last year when Team USA won the event; I felt it in 2000 when we won it, and I felt it every time we won it before that. You hear the American racers talking about what it's like to ride “for their country” and the pride they feel. But all of this makes me ask the question: why don't they “ride for our country” the rest of the year? Why just settle for an American championship, why not go out and win a World Championship? That way we fans can feel that “national pride” all year long as well. I mean, if Team USA really matters, why does it only matter for a single Sunday in the Fall?

Am I sensing a double standard here?

To my mind, it gets even worse. This year, the AMA has allowed, for the first time, the average American motocross fan to nominate and vote for the members of Team USA... the catch is that in order to vote, one must make a $5 donation to the Team. Now, before you go calling me a cheap, unpatriotic bastard, know that I donated to several Teams in the past, by buying the souvenir t-shirts they usually offer. I actually own one of the “Mike Brown” shirts from last year (okay, so I'm still cheap). But the “charity/vote” drive gives me pause; I'm ecstatic that the AMA is involving the fans, but I'm a little miffed that they have to pay for the privilege. It really gets my goat that the fans have to chip in to send the GOAT over to kick ass. If Team USA really “matters”, why is financing the team such a challenge every year? Can you even imagine the AMA asking for donations so they could run the season-opening race at Hangtown?

The Motocross of Nations is an interesting animal from a profit-motive standpoint. The only people who stand to make any money are the promoters and the sanctioning body, along with the on-site vendors and the local hospitality industry. For the teams and riders that participate, it's all about spending money, not making it. But the truth is, that's how every motocross race works. The U.S.-based Japanese OEM teams say that the MXoN does not fit in their yearly race schedules and budgets, because it does not provide the same promotional opportunities and visibility to the American market that SX and MX do. American Honda, for example, is concerned only with promoting motocross within the borders of this country; Honda Europe can spend their budget on that continent. But, Good Lord, isn't it better for the sport WORLDWIDE if the best riders in the world participate in the Motocross of Nations? And since we've already established that the best riders are from America, that means American Honda (or the team backing whoever is selected) needs to step up to the plate. And foot the damn bill.

In all fairness, Honda has indeed shouldered at least part of the cost on many occasions. And, as always, hats off to Roger DeCoster for putting in the extra effort to promote and prepare Team USA.
But in this era of racers owning sprawling ranches, custom Rolex watches and exotic cars, it's kind of hard for me to accept the idea that they need my $5 to fly overseas for a one-day race. I mean, if it matters, REALLY matters, this wouldn't be an issue at all.

National pride is another issue altogether. It's my feeling that our world is in a rather precarious state right now, and the decent citizens of the world need to find ways to share our common experiences and celebrate them. The idea of holding an event in which people from all over the globe can gather to enjoy the sport they all love is fantastic, and to me, the emphasis on winning is misplaced. I still believe that what REALLY matters is not whether we win or lose, but how we play the game. And I believe most motocrossers feel the same way. Think about it: at your average weekend MX race, there are only a couple dozen people who win their races, while the vast majority do not. Yet ALL of them go away still just as much in love with the sport as ever. In motocross, winning is definitely not the only thing. For the Motocross of Nations, what really “matters” about Team USA is not that they win, but that they simply show up and participate. And show the world how we do it over here.

David Baily needs our help

Last Friday I was startled to read the following press release (here posted on Racer X Online) about David Bailey's ill health, both physically and financially. I had heard that DB was suffering from some internal injuries, but I had no idea that they were life-threatening. And of course, there was no way for any of us to know what his financial situation was like.

Well, now we know. And now it's time for us to step in and help. I am confident that the motocross community will take care of its own.

And while you're making your donation, please be sure to send prayers and/or positive thoughts to David as well. Everything helps.

Get well soon, David Bailey.

Sparkplug 53

This week I want to touch on something personal, something truly near and dear to my heart and probably yours as well, if you're a motocross racer. Something that is an integral part of this great sport we all love; something that touches us all deeply. That something is the simple magic of Sunday mornings.

Now, in some parts of the country, like here in sunny Southern California, you can find motocross races held on days other than Sunday. But the biggest races are always on Sunday, just like in Bruce Brown's famous movie. Even multi-day races usually culminate with the final motos and trophy presentations on Sunday. Sunday is, without question, a special day for motocross racers. And every Sunday always begins with Saturday night.

For most racers, both serious and not so, Saturday night is reserved for final preparations: last minute work on the bike, checking on the gear, packing everything up, making sure to get a good meal and a good night's rest. When my head finally hit the pillow on a Saturday evening before a race, I was usually more than ready to sleep, but not before making sure the alarm clock was set for the early morning call.

I don't know about you, but I never had a problem with oversleeping on a race day. I guess I had so much anticipation for the day ahead that sleeping through it was never going to happen. This is not to say that I never got to the track late, but that was usually due to some unexpected changes in my “pre-flight” schedule.

No matter what time of year I was racing, it seemed I was always getting the holeshot over the Sunrise. Call me strange, but I always enjoy that slightly groggy feeling of pulling on a moto t-shirt and jeans and stumbling around first thing in the morning, looking forward to stepping outside in order to take in that first deep breath of crisp A.M. air.

Out in the driveway, soaking in the solitude of my still-asleep neighborhood, I move as quietly as possible as I hitch up the old three-rail and load my bike and gear. After everything's loaded and checked twice, I settle in the driver's seat and pull off for a day at the track. A lingering glance in the rearview at my immaculately clean bike puts a smile on my face, as I leave the silent street and hit the road. Next stop: heaven on earth.

When I was younger, I used to race with a good friend, Mark. There's a lot to be said about riding and racing with friends; it even adds to the road-trip aspect. Lately, though, I would head to the races by myself and hook up with my friends at the track. That meant driving alone, which I found to be a joy in itself. Even in traffic-congested SoCal, the freeways are pretty empty on Sunday mornings so the drive is always a breeze. And with the clear roads you can relax and just enjoy the scenery. Motoring through majestic hills, winding through wooded lanes, passing by endless prairies... driving to the track holds an allure all its own, no matter how many times I've made the trip. Just me, my truck, my bike and my music.

Before long, I come across other racers heading to the same race. The camaraderie of motocross begins on the highway, miles before the front gate. I wave to everyone with a number on a numberplate, and they all wave back. When I raced with the Over The Hill Gang, one of the cool things about that club was each region had its own designation letter that racers had to run on their numberplates. For the Southern California region, our letter was “G”, so it was easy to see who was headed to a Gang race.

And just when the ride seems to be getting a little too long, I get to the exit for the track. Minutes later, I'm in the queue to get in. And sitting there in the truck, waiting for the young person with the release paperwork to make their way to me, I feel the unmistakable tingle of the first adrenalin rush of the day: I am racing today!

Once through the gate, my truck barely needs my help finding our favorite parking spot. I pull up alongside friends both old and new and tumble out of the cab and enjoy the second long stretch of the morning. Another deep breath, another wonderful lungful of clean air and then it's off to the sign up booth.

Now, I don't know about you, but I ALWAYS enjoy sign up. That's where I get to see just about everyone without having to hike all around the pits; everyone is (usually) clean and fresh-smelling (in stark contrast to what it will be like later in the day), and the sign up ladies' makeup is not-yet-smeared. Everybody is still yawning, many are nursing cups of coffee, some are clearly suffering from hangovers, and yet... EVERYONE is either smiling, or about to. In fact, we are all tickled pink just to be where we are at that exact moment. I cheerfully flirt with the sign up ladies as I fork over my money and then mosey on over to wherever they're posting the practice and race schedules.

It's almost time for the best part of the whole day, and I relish every single step in its direction. This is going to sound silly to some of you, but I even get a kick out of something as plain as unloading my bike. It's all part of the build up... rolling the ultra-clean racebike down the rail, pushing it under the EZ-Up, hoisting it on the stand. Just look at it! We're ready to RACE! Next up, sliding into my cool pants, buckling up my soon-to-be-muddy boots, throwing on a ratty practice jersey. And usually right about now, I hear the first bikes being fired up across the pits. This never fails to elicit another adrenalin response from me, and sends me straight to the gas can. Time to fill up the steed and get this show on the road!

Starting up the bike for the first time of the day is anticlimactic as far as I'm concerned (unless it's a borrowed four-stroke and it's particularly cold-blooded... that's another story!), because at this time there is only one thing I'm really craving, and that's just about to happen. After warming up the bike, I pull on the rest of my gear and head over to the starting area for practice. At the line is usually the first time I run into the other guys and gals in my class, and it's always funny how we subtly check out each other's bikes for new hop-up parts. We make some quick mental notes for later conversations and then turn our attention to the referee, who is just about to give us our fix...

... And finally, the release! The green flag is waved, engines rev all around, the air is filled with flying dirt bombs and practice is officially underway! I toe the gear lever into second, lean forward and drop the clutch, shooting out onto the track, accelerating hard, feeling the rear knobby scramble for traction, feeling the front tire loft and lightly skim over the freshly disced surface, feeling the pressures of the work week subside, feeling at one with my bike, with the track, with the whole world. This is why I came, this is why I am here. This is why I race. This is the magic of Sunday morning.

And Sunday afternoon ain't so bad, either!

Shocker: Another Good Decision by the AMA!

According to this press release (courtesy Racer X online), Bevo Forti has been named to the AMA Racing Committee! This committee "...manages strategic planning and direction within its area of the AMA's mission, with the goal of responding to the interests of the AMA's 270,000 members. " Or so says the press blurb.

Let's see. "Manages strategic planning and direction... with the goal of responding to the interests of the .... members."

The AMA listens to its members? That news should be in ANOTHER press release!

Seriously, I cannot imagine the AMA Racing Committee sitting down to discuss "strategic planning and direction" by using input from member surveys and focus groups. Somebody correct me if my imagination is faulty, please. But in any case, I'm glad to see them pick Bevo, because there's no doubt that he has the best interests of the sport at heart.

Carmichael Kicks Ass

Hey, you probably don’t know this, but that guy Rick Carmichael is the best motocross racer the world has ever seen. What’s that you say? You already knew?

I’m just saying, the 2006 season is just at the halfway point and RC has firmly placed his butt in the driver’s seat. Again. And this year against his greatest competition to date.

I want to compare Carmichael to boxer Mike Tyson. That is, the real Mike Tyson, before he was accused of spousal abuse, before he was jailed for raping a beauty pageant contestant, before he lost to Buster Douglas, before he experimented with cannibalism against Holyfield (twice!), before he decided that face tattoos were a good thing… before he lost his mind, basically. Some of you are too young to remember, but there was a time when Mike Tyson was, without a doubt, the best boxer to ever step into a ring. Check that, he was the best FIGHTER to take up the sport of boxing.

Back in those days, when the bell rang for the first round, Tyson didn’t wait to “see” what type of strategy his opponent had in mind… he already knew that his foe’s only strategy would be “survival”. No dancing, ducking or weaving, “Iron Mike” would charge straight across the ring and just punch the guy out. Tyson’s strategy was “I’m gonna kick that guy’s ass RIGHT NOW”… and worked so well that many boxing commentators openly wondered if Tyson had the “stamina” to go more than a few rounds. Ha. Mike figured out early that if he brought the noise in the early rounds and really pummeled his opponent mercilessly, he would be able to get through all of the remaining rounds well ahead on points, if need be.

That, in essence, is Rick Carmichael’s style.

For the past few outdoor seasons, RC started his championship assault by delivering a technical knockout… a 1-1 finish… at Hangtown. Then he would continue pummeling his opponents in the early rounds, in the process amassing a huge points lead. That relieves pressure and allows him to relax a bit for the remaining races in the series.

Funny thing about the way Carmichael “relaxes”, though… he still wins! Even Roger DeCoster, in a interview during the Red Bud webcast, said that he can’t believe how focused RC continues to be. DeCoster is amazed at Carmichael’s tenacity? That says something.

This year, Carmichael was unable to score the overall win at the season opener. But he came back immediately at the second round to apply ungodly pressure on his upstart rival, the young James Stewart. And Stewart did indeed fold, in a horrific crash that, for all intents and purposes, ended his hopes for taking RC’s title. Of course, the series isn’t over yet, and anything is possible. And that’s probably why Rick Carmichael continues to turn it on.

Just look at the great photo above of RC’s second moto pass on Stewart this weekend at Red Bud (photo courtesy Steve Bruhn/Motonews.com). Check the body language of the two riders. Which one is in complete and dominating control? Which one is riding defensively?

RC has emulated Mike Tyson’s “I’m gonna kick that’s guy’s ass RIGHT NOW” strategy since his first days as a pro; he probably used it during his days as a dominant amateur champion as well. And even though motocross will miss him when he goes into partial retirement in ’07, I am confident that he will take that same desire to win to whatever new venture he chooses. I can’t wait to see the next chapter in his life.

Sparkplug 52

Yes, it has been too long since the last installment of this supposedly weekly journal, but instead of dwelling on the reasons for the lapse, let's just get right into it, shall we? This week's Sparkplug is about conscious moto-consumption.

Say what?

If you are any type of motocross fan at all, then I do not have to tell you that our sport is a small, insular community. We are an extended family, for all intents and purposes, brothers and sisters in dirt, sharing a common blood-line that somehow gets generated the very first time we stand at the side of a local MX track and get roosted by the passing pack. It used to be the odor of two-stroke fumes that united us; now it's up to other visceral elements to trigger our enlightenment, but in any case we are transformed by the experience... those that choose to become fans, that is... and we silently sign an unwritten membership agreement that cannot be revoked. And it's all okay.

That's why you feel completely okay with heading to the starting line on your bike, ALL of your tools and gear piled up in the open bed of your pickup truck, both doors unlocked, your cellphone on the passenger seat, your wallet in your gearbag and your keys in your toolbox. We know none of our moto brothers and sisters will steal our belongings. When the uncommon pit theft occasionally occurs at a local race, we automatically assume that it was committed by an outsider... and we are usually correct in that assumption.

It's that same spirit of community that causes us to festoon our cars and trucks with discreet moto-oriented stickers, our way of flying the flag of brotherhood to be recognized by our peers as we travel around in the “outside” world. T-shirts work in the same way; how many of us have struck up conversations with complete strangers simply because they were wearing a One Industries shirt or something like it? We recognize ourselves in each other.

So what of this conscious moto-consumption I mentioned earlier? It's about how we choose to spend our hard-earned dollars in support of our tight-knit community. Because in this current world, we moto-fans have more choices than ever before in the history of our sport; we need to make wise decisions if we want the sport to continue to thrive.

Here's a quiz: is it better to buy your next pair of pants from your local dealer than the discount mail-order juggernaut? Careful, that's a trick question. The correct answer is “it depends.” It depends on which of the two is more supportive of the sport. Your local dealer may be streetbike oriented and not care one thing about motocross, carrying the barest minimum of parts and supplies to support the few dirtbikes he sells. Or he might be the kind of guy that runs a small race team out of his shop, and offers discounts to anyone who races at the local tracks. Even still, it might turn out that the mail-order company is the biggest supporter of motocross, fielding a fulltime 250F team for supercross and the nationals (like Motoworld). My point is simply that as we spend our discretionary dollars on the sport that we love, we need to use discretion in determining the best places to spend that money. Because each dollar counts.

Let's take it a step further. We make other purchases in our daily lives that seemingly have little to nothing to do with motocross. Yet with just a little bit of effort, we might find that there is a way to benefit the sport with these choices as well. Say you like Red Bull and buy it regularly, not only because you like the product, but because you want to patronize them for supporting the sport. The next time you go to purchase some, buy it from one of your favorite smaller, local stores and take the time to talk to the store manager. Tell him that you're glad he carries the product because it supports the sport you love, and that you intend to make his shop the primary source of your Red Bull purchases. Then suggest that he contact Red Bull for some motocross-related promotional material to display in the store. You might be surprised to see a fullsize poster of Travis Pastrana or Rick Carmichael in the store on your next visit, helping to subliminally promote the sport to non-motocross fans. Heck, the store manager might even give you some of the promotional material to take home!

Conscious moto-consumption is about being aware of how your actions affect the sport. Ours is a leisure-time, recreational-dollar-eating endeavor, and business pays close attention to how and where these dollars are spent. The numerous outside-the-industry sponsors that have entered the sport are paying attention. We need to make sure they are compensated for their good deeds. Apple Computer's Ipods are extremely popular with many people, but Apple doesn't support motocross like Napster does. Motocross fans should consider this when making music player purchase decisions... this is just one example. Let's think about motocross before we buy; there may be a way to increase the benefits of our purchases.

Good News and Bad News for James Stewart

Looks like James will NOT be racing at Southwick, due to a lingering knee injury suffered during that horrendous get-off at High Point. You have to check out his latest newsletter, found at his website here (click on "newsletter"); it is the most informative injury report a professional motocrosser has ever shared with his fans. He even quotes his doctor and shows medical drawings! Good job!

But sorry to hear you won't be racing in Massachussetts... that title looks like it has slipped away.

Sparkplug 51

This week’s Sparkplug is all about the love… the love that I have for the sport of motocross. Specifically, what does it mean to love a sport and how does one express it? Yes, this essay is going to get a little personal and only those who share my emotions about the sport will understand.

Here’s the thing: if one were to judge my feelings about the sport by my current level of non-involvement, it might be easy to conclude that I’m not much of a motocross fat at all. After all, I’m not racing right now, I very rarely ride these days… in fact, I don’t even own a motocross bike. To make matters worse, the last race I attended was back in January and I no longer go to local races. I don’t sound like much of a motocross fan, do
I?

In my entire life, I have only owned 4 racebikes… contrast that with some guys who buy 4 bikes a year. Who loves the sport more? I live in the city; I have to drive at least an hour before I get to a place where I can ride. Some people I know can kickstart their bikes in their garage and ride right out the door. Who loves the sport more? My job is about as far removed from racing as any line of work can possibly be; I know more than a few good people who feed their family directly from their involvement in the motocross industry. Again, who loves the sport more?

And what gives me the right to say I’m a motocross fan?

I first stopped racing to attend college. Yet everyday during classes, I would find myself daydreaming about racing. I even stole a line from a philosophy class and decorated my notebook cover with the statement, “I race motocross, therefore I am!” It was my intent to make my way into the world, earn a great deal of money and return to racing with a big buck racing setup: motorhome, multiple bikes, the works. Funny how life doesn’t always work out the way we plan it. Years went by before I decided that if I was going to make my return to racing, it will just have to be in the same low-budget way that I started. And there I was, a racer again… a VET racer, to be sure, but a motocross racer.

After a couple of years I stopped racing again. I have more to accomplish in the world of business, and I just don’t have the time it takes to properly mount a racing campaign… at least, that’s what I have been telling myself. So I sold my bike and decided to be content with going to a few races and reading and writing about motocross for fun.

I’m not content.

Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoy writing about motocross on this site and engaging in moto-banter with my fellow fools at Motodrive.com. And I still follow the sport religiously (I spend more time listening to races on the internet on Sundays than going to church!), but… that FEELING is still haunting me, that yearning feeling that makes me want to ride. I still catch myself “launching” down stairways, doing imaginary “bermshots” off of parking garage walls… and the main reason I stopped going to see my friends ride at local races is because it hurts too much to watch them ride and not be able to join them. You can see where this is all heading, right? There’s a bike in my near future, no doubt.

But until then, I maintain that I still LOVE this sport, bike or no bike. And here’s how I manifest this love: I CARE about the way the sport is portrayed in the mainstream media, I am CONCERNED about the future of the sport. I want this sport to be RESPECTED as a legitimate sport, and no longer treated like a spectacle, like a sideshow. And that’s why I am so outspoken about the way the sport is promoted, about the way the sport is (mis-)managed, about the way the media covers this sport. Yes, my only outlet is this tiny webpage and a post or two at Motodrive, but it’s a start and it’s my way of giving back.

I was watching NBC’s coverage of the French Open tennis tournament earlier today. I’d like to see motocross treated with the same respect that professional tennis gets. No one questions whether tennis players are “true” athletes. There is a lot of hype and drama surrounding some players, but the journalists covering the sport never blow it up or treat it like “professional” wrestling or “monster” truck “racing”. But as long as our promoters continue to put short-term goals like stadium seat-filling at the top of their agenda, motocross will never outlive this circus mentality. I hate that. (By the way, did you know SFX Sports, a division of LiveNation, manages a number of pro tennis players like Andre Agassi and tennis tournaments?)

I also hate the fact that I have allowed “life” to move me away from this sport that I love. So I am in the process of making some changes… changes in my expectations as to what life is supposed to be like, changes in my living conditions, changes in my environment… and finally changes in my chosen field of employment. It’s time to take back control and to get back to what really matters to me. One of these days, I am going to figure out how to make a living doing what I love: writing and communicating about motocross, using words, photographs and videos. And my love of the sport will be apparent in the quality of my work.

How is James Stewart Doing?

Check it out for yourself: he updated his newsletter. It's a cool read, and I'm glad and relieved to hear that he's doing better. I hope he's able to race at Southwick, but it's more important for him to think about the long run and sit out the race if he needs to.

How about that Hangtown cablecast?

Those readers familiar with All Things Motocross know that I tend to be very critical of all media coverage of our sport, particularly television coverage. The reason is because I am a former television professional myself, and I am knowledgeable of the challenges and difficulties involved in covering a dynamic motorsport like motocross. I am also aware of the great impact television coverage has on the uneducated public, and I always want to encourage accurate portrayals of MX. So with this in mind, I sat down in front of a friend's TV to watch OLN's coverage of the Honda Hangtown Classic. Here's my review in a sentence: very cool.

Actually, I was very impressed with the job that Chet Burks Productions performed in capturing and cablecasting this race. Let me list some specifics...

What was cool about the show?

1. The rider ID graphics were very nice, and included all of the information you would want.
2. The fact that they included an interview with Kevin Windham and didn't limit their interviews to the Big Three.
3. The bit they did on the Toyota sponsorship, featuring a short interview with the AMA's John Farris. Good pit footage and good level of detail. I'd like to see even more footage from the pits.
4. The Track Facts section was good, informative and brief.
5. The fact that they showed all of the early action in moto one BEFORE cutting to commercial. That was very thoughtful.
6. The “Toyota Leaderboard” was good.
7. The overall camerawork was very good, and the camera placement was well thought out (I do have a small bone to pick about this; see below).
8. “Rider Tips from Suzuki”. Nice.
9. The announcers were competent. David Pingree's partner (can't recall his name!) had that “broadcast voice”, but it was never overbearing, and he seemed to have more than passing knowledge of the sport. Pingree himself came across as quite the expert on the sport.
10. Erin Bates did a great job on the podium. Her questions were smart and her rapport was evident.
11. The “Racer X Holeshot Award” replays were cool.
12. Erin Bate's mini-interview with Bob Hannah. He looked great!
13. The fact that the AMA actually ran its own commercial (even though it was kind of weird).
14. Showing the highlights from the WMA races; that was excellent. Even more excellent was the fact that they were sponsored by Hitachi.
15. The Carlsbad flashback from 1980 was fantastic.
16. Some of the new commercials: Polaris and Cuervo Black. Nice to see others step up to support the sport.

And what were the areas that could use some improvement?

1. Pingree sounded monotone; he should work on voice modulation. Content-wise, though, he's excellent.
2. The other guy just needs to stop saying “Jamesbubbastewart”. That was last year.
3. Show the lap times. We know the AMA is providing them, figure out a way to get them in the show.
4. How is it possible that they never mentioned Antonio Balbi's great first moto ride?
5. The camera angles and lens selections tended to flatten out the jumps. They lost all sense of the height and distance that the riders were jumping, which is a huge component of the dynamics of the sport. It's like losing the sensation of the speeds achieved at an autorace... a huge no-no. Rethink the camera placement.
6. Why did they use an old photo of James in his ID shot? He doesn't have dreadlocks anymore.
7. Speaking of James, the camera completely missed James taking the checkered flag in moto one. That's an unforgivable error. Imagine them missing the winner of the Indy 500...
8. When Reed said on the podium it was possible that this is his last season, Erin should have followed up on that for clarification. That was bad timing on Reed's part, but he should have been called on it.
9. This is not the fault of the production team, but the commercial mix was questionable. Where were the Kawasaki and Yamaha commercials? What happened to Thor?

And there you have it. Sixteen cool things and 9 areas for improvement. That's a winning score and the folks at Chet Burks Productions should be proud. Yes, it would have been nice to see more race footage, but considering the fact that the second moto was basically a procession it's completely understandable. And squeezing two 30-plus-minute motos in one 60 minute block while making room for commercials and other information mean that cuts have to be made somewhere. I think they did a good job of trimming the racing action in just the right places. I feel confident that our sport is in good hands with this group.

Sparkplug 50

This Memorial Day weekend marks the second round of the 2006 AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF. And for this milestone Sparkplug (the big 5-0… woot!), I want to take a look NOT at the racing, but at the sponsorship issues that were raised just last week.

The first press release was, er, released on May 19, just two days before the start of the new season. The intent was to announce the total list of sponsors; here it is. Note that there is the Title Sponsor (Toyota), the Presenting Sponsor (FMF), a list of 18 Series Sponsors, and then Presenting Sponsors and in the case of the Honda Hangtown Classic, an Event Sponsor for each of the upcoming Nationals. Very cool, especially compared to last year. So everybody should be just as pleased as punch, right?

Well apparently not everybody. Shortly after the release of the above press release, Honda sent out one of their own dated May 22. While the headline of the release says Honda will participate in the sponsor program, the second sentence of the very first paragraph says that “…American Honda will do so under duress.”

Jeepers! Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary defines duress as: “1. forcible restraint or restriction, and 2. compulsion by threat; specifically: unlawful constraint” (emphasis theirs).

Now, if there’s one thing we know about American Honda it’s that they are a professional outfit, so there’s no doubt a pro wrote the press release and chose the wording very carefully. What was Honda’s problem with the AMA’s sponsor program? The simple fact that the AMA rules required all competitors to run Toyota logo stickers on their front number plates.

Read the press release, if you haven’t yet. It goes on to make a strong case: “Placing competitor logos on another manufacturer’s machines is offensive to companies with strong brand identities. Such a requirement is misleading and potentially confusing to spectators and customers. It is surprising the AMA would incorporate such a requirement into its series sponsor contract without consideration to the competitive position of the companies involved. This is analogous to NASCAR naming Toyota as series sponsor and requiring, Dodge, Ford and Chevrolet to place Toyota logos prominently on their vehicles, a situation we believe NASCAR would never allow.”

Well, wait a minute. What did Honda do when Mazda sponsored the supercross series a few years back? According to Honda’s press release, THEY DIDN’T RUN MAZDA LOGOS ON THEIR BIKES, choosing instead not to participate in the Mazda rider points fund. And what about when Chevy Trucks sponsored the outdoor nationals? They didn’t address it in the press release, but my guess is that Honda didn’t mind because at the time they were not in direct competition with Chevy in the truck market.

So how did the AMA respond? You know they did, right? They issued a response on the same day, saying that they were “…unaware of Honda’s concerns over this requirement until approximately three weeks ago.” The AMA goes on to say, “While AMA Pro Racing can empathize with the reluctance of some companies to display the logo of competitive entities, this is a traditional practice in motorsports and one that is necessary to maintain commercial viability. In this case, Toyota’s sponsorship adds tremendous value and benefits to riders, fans and promoters of AMA Motocross including contribution to a championship bonus fund paid out to top finishers. Additionally, Toyota’s proactive sponsorship activation plans will generate broad benefits to all involved in the sport. Honda’s reference to NASCAR practices in this matter is completely irrelevant (emphasis mine).”

No matter where you might stand on this issue, that little bitch-slap last sentence was definitely uncalled for. The kicker is when the AMA adds this killer line: “It is AMA Pro Racing’s intention to uphold the rulebook in this regard.”

Nice to know they’re in the rule-enforcing mood these day, no? Maybe they’ll keep those underage kids out of the pits, like it says in their rule book…

Back on track, here are my feelings about this: I am concerned that the AMA has somehow lost touch with the manufacturers that sponsor the most powerful teams on the circuit. They said that they were unaware of Honda’s concerns until 3 weeks before it all blew up… have the lines of communication between the AMA and Honda completely closed ever since Honda pulled out of the AMA Board? And is the AMA completely unaware of the way the Japanese do business? Honda and Toyota are fierce home market competitors; why wouldn’t the AMA be aware of this potential problem and address it ahead of time?

Finally, I must admit that it is interesting that Suzuki, another competitor with Toyota for the automobile market (though obviously not as big as Honda), has silently acquiesced to the sponsor program. Is Honda ultimately making a mountain out of a molehill, or was the “duress” so great that Suzuki was scared to speak up?

2007: The Year of Electric Motocross?

I found this over at Motocross Action's website: a story about the latest electric mx bike. Apparently, the makers of this bike have married it to lightweight, longer-lasting lithium batteries. The result? A run time of 3 hours at trail-riding speeds and 1 hour at motocross speed! And the kicker is that recharge time is only 30 to 90 minutes, rather than multiple hours. Check it out; I believe this is the indisputable future of our sport and I welcome it with open arms.

Hangtown '06: Role Reversal

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!

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!

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!

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.

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??!