Remember James Stewart's one and only 250F ride?

Here he is on a KX250F, before his last race in the old 125/250F class.

Matthes on Vegas: Hidden Treasures

Steve Matthes of racerxcanada.com writes some funny stuff in his Observation column. Go for the latest on the James Stewart to L&M Racing rumor, stay for the bassett hound picture by his wife... it's all good. I just wonder is any of it true? Reed to Suzuki?

Congratulations, Australian Supercross Fans!

Your guy did well, didn't he? Chad Reed, the pride of Australia, is the AMA/FIM Supercross Champion for 2008, his second supercross crown (third if you include his 250F East title). He's gonna bring that winning flavor back home to start his own stadium motoccross series. So now I can finally say it: Getdown Chad!

Try This On The Guy In Blue Next Time

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Geico Honda's Kevin Windham (14) nearly took out Red Bull Honda's Davi Millsaps in the first turn as they were both not backing off for the holeshot. I wish Kdub was that aggressive when Reed came up and passed him for the win, but Chad was in ass-kick mode. Photo by GuyB.

Synchronized Swimming in Vegas

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There were three Hondas in front of Reed for much of the main. Red Bull Honda's Andrew Short (29) was the last man standing between Windham and Reed. Reed easily passed and quickly dropped Short, and then went on to hunt down and dispatch his championship rival, again, with ease. Reed later said that it seemed like the other guys didn't want to win the race. I don't know about that, but it is clear that Red Bull Honda had no intention of riding dirty against the Yamaha rider. Photo by BuyG.

Chad Reed is the 2008 Supercross Champion

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Congratulations to Chad and the entire LM Racing/San Manual Band of Mission Indians/Yamaha racing team. Photo by GuyB.

Added Vegas Bonus: Hudgens Explains Reality

So I was listening to the Supercross Live webcast for the Vegas finale tonight, wondering why they were running commercials urging people to buy tickets for an event that was already underway and halfway over. And then the Director of Marketing for LiveNation Ken Hudgens appeared, apparently to publicly address complaints about the lack of live television coverage for this otherwise most exciting of nights.

And I was surprised they didn't ask him who was gonna win tonight.

Anyway, Hudgens explained that a joint decision NOT to go live as in previous years was made after Anaheim 1, though he did not elaborate on the significance of the timing, if any. Basically, since the event takes place on the West Coast at night, live broadcast requires the East Coast audience to stay up late (after 1am) to watch. Which they historically do not, if television ratings mean anything. Which they do, certainly to Hudgens and his clients. Simple, really: the ratings are too weak to justify the costs.

I heard that and immediately thought, "so tell the promoter to move the finale to an East Coast stadium and be done with it..." Oh yeah, LiveNation IS the promoter. This should be a no-brainer, right? Of course not, stadium logistics are a nightmare, ask someone who would know... like LiveNation. Anyway...

So after listening to Hudgens, I felt pretty clear on a couple of things. One, he knows a lot about this sport because he has been involved with the sport for a long, long time. One could say he's part of the status quo; he's certainly part of the establishment, and since the issue of live television broadcasts has ALWAYS been property (literally) of the establishment, he has great credibility on this issue. So when Ken Hudgens says that the ratings indicate that broadcasting the final supercross event is not worth the cost and effort, we should take that as the truth.

So with that understanding, Mr. Hudgens, why not let us have it on the web, for free? You know, us, that miniscule audience listening to the webcast with our friends from all over the world? I'm not even suggesting you pay for production, just let someone else come in and do it, for free. As in, no licensing costs to broadcast in a certain limited fashion on the internet. Imagine that? Some people can't.

Mr. 200 Percent

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Midwestern guys aren't supposed to be flashy, right? No? Trey Canard rocks the red state flavor. Red plates on a red bike... haven't seen that before! Another GuyB joint.

Smooth B

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Roll left, homie. J-Law lays it out at Vegas Press Day, looking like he wants to go to the des Nations or something... Color snaps by GuyB.

Remember Battles Like This?

Last year in St. Louis, Chad Reed and James Stewart trading paint... great stuff!

Speaking of 'plates

Time for a change, this site is way past due for a little touch up.

Fashion Plate

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Hey Chad, now that color scheme is working. SuperX put on a riding clinic, going from last to fighting Andrew Short for second on the last lap. Here Reed gestures to Shorty after taking the checkered flag. "What up, foo? You can't stop this!"
photo by GuyB

Jason Lawrence: 2008 supercross champion!

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He did it, he pulled it off, he earned it and he definitely delivered for the once-mighty Yamaha of Troy team. Give the man some credit! Getdown Jason Lawrence!

I know the headline looks a little off since Lawrence "only" won the 250F West Regional championships... and they have a term for the class that I refuse to use.... but to me, supercross is supercross, regardless of the bike size. Anyway...

photo by GuyB

Honda Gets The Small Bore Crown

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When was the last time Honda won a 250F Supercross title? Was it back when Travis Preston capitalized on James Stewart's rookie mistakes to take a surprise championship? Well, Trey Canard's crown is every bit a "surprise", as even with his pre-season injury, Monster Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto was widely expected to dominate the East Coast region.

What a difference a year makes. Last year Pro Circuit won both Coasts; this year they were completely shut out.

A Championship Lost, A Title Won

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Trey Canard did it! He outmaneuvered Ryan Villopoto when it counted most, going inside before the finish line jump and forcing Villpoto into a mistake, winning the St. Louis 250F Supercross and the East Region Championship. Congratulations TC! The crux of the biscuit brilliantly captured by GuyB.

Chad Reed Has Heart

Pro athletes often are called upon to perform when injured. Tonight at the Detroit Supercross, championship-points-leader Chad Reed (L&M Racing/San Manual Band of Mission Indians/Yamaha) suffered a big time crash in practice, spent hours in the hospital being treated for internal injuries, than came back and raced to a championship-saving 12th place finish.

Now, that might not sound like so much for the normal, jaded sports junkie... but I just heard his voice, as the Supercross Live webcast guys were able to interview Chad right after they pulled off the track. And it was kind of chilling listening to Reed's voice. You could hear in his voice how stressful the entire night had been, and even though he was somewhat relieved to finish as high as he did, particularly since he also crashed in the first turn, there was still a lot of tension in his tone.

Get well soon, Chad. And keep doing what you're doing.

BREAKING NEWS: The Thunder Valley National Outdoor Motocross will air LIVE on CBS TV!

Actually, that's a complete fantasy of mine, no truth to it all. Call it a late April Fool's day headline, but wow, after thinking about the new Saturday night championship round in Colorado, well... it sure would be cool!

C'mon CBS Sports. Do it. Wake up that sleepy Saturday night audience with a live network television broadcast of the outdoor motocross championships this summer!

The Man from the Mission is on a Mission

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Say what you want about Chad Reed's sartorial splendor, but the "The Man from the Mission" (San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, to be precise) is in complete control of the Monster Supercross Supercross title chase (yes, it looks silly to repeat "Supercross"). On a nasty track in Dallas, SuperX Reed rode away from best of the rest. Yamaha's Josh Hill took second, and Honda's Davi Millsaps found himself yet another podium ride to finish third.

But Chad... what's up with the gear? That color scheme is teh suck...

#2 is 2 for 2

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First, I have to say my favorite source for All Things Motocross, the generous Guy B of Vital MX, spent the weekend at the Grand Prix of The Netherlands at the Eurocircuit at Valkenswaard. So this week's Monster Supercross report is ably illustrated by the cheerful (and charitable) Chris Hultner of Amateur MX.

Monster Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto continued to re-emerge as his usual dominating self, taking advantage of points leader Trey Canard's bad luck to grab his second win in a row in 250F East action at the Dallas Supercross. RV is down 17 points to Canard, with only two rounds to go. If Villo loses this title, it will have nothing to do with his speed or skill; that first round DNF is the major culprit.

Jeremy McGrath Injured While Practicing

Man, I'm sorry to hear this: McGrath was riding at his ranch when he somehow crashed . He fractured his femur, according to the report.

Get well soon, MC!