A1 .. SX, Who's it gonna be?

[Okiewan]

With KDub back in the mix, does the top 3 change?
Does Reed find his speed?
Does Ivan podium?
Who else missing in Canada makes a difference?
Does DV give-up on the 2-T :p
Does RC get a better start than 6th?

Assuming nothing happens between now and then;

1) RC
2) JS
3) KW

 

[Papakeith]

Bubba,
RC
Reed

 

[CJG]

With KDub back in the mix, does the top 3 change?

Yes. KW should beat CR. CR looks terrible on the thumper.

Does Reed find his speed?

Only if he can find his two-stroke.

Does Ivan podium?

No.

Who else missing in Canada makes a difference?

Nobody.

Does RC get a better start than 6th?

I hope so.

Does DV give-up on the 2-T :p

I doubt it. Here are a couple of choice DV quotes for you:
"The 250 2 stroke is working really good. I did not have a disadvantage this weekend."From DV12.com referring to Vancouver.
"I really think a good 250 is better than a four stroke 450 – maybe I am wrong, but that is the way I feel. Four strokes are definitely fun to ride, but racing them is a little different. As far as I am concerned, the 250 is more of a racing bike!"From DV interview on ama Motocross. DV is officially my favorite rider. :cool:

My picks if everything stays the same:
JS
RC
KW
But I've got a hunch we might hear some ring-dinging at the US rounds. At least I hope so. :blah:

 

[XRpredator]

1. Mike LaRocco

 

[cnielse5]

I am still wondering how KW is going to feel after his hernia fix. I hope it is what slowed him down last year and now that the hernia is fixed he feels 100% and rides the best 450 (IMO) to the front.
I think that RC will be very prepared for this round as he tends to focus on january as the "start" of the SX season. If he gets a good start I think he has got it.
Reed needs to figure out the bike and start dialing in his speed but I don't think he'll figure it out by A1.
James is hot right now. If he keeps it on two wheels he will be on top or give a good fight for it.
Tedesco has impressed me so far and I think that he could very well lead the 3rd-6th pack of guys. watch for him later in the season to improve as he has more riding time with the goat.
DV is my new hero as he is sticking to the 250 (and a honda 250 at that) unfortunatly he just has too many fast guys infront of him.

so my prediction is:
RC
JS
KW (hopeful thinking)
CR
IT
Byrner
DV
Fonseca
Nick Wey (hopeful thinking again)

 

[CaptainObvious]

OK, this might be the kiss of death for Bubba, but I say

1. JBS
2. RC
3. Kdub

 

[ellandoh]

does any of the top three sneak out on a two stroke?

 

[cnielse5]

does any of the top three sneak out on a two stroke?

No Dice! DV is the only big name on a 250 man. They are locked in to the 450's now.

 

[ellandoh]

no more talk of a track by track preference ?? :(

go DV

 

[dante]

RC
JBS
Reed
Windham
Tedesco
dv

 

[JMD]

I think that RC will take a strategic view of the season as a whole, and will not hang it out too far just to win Anaheim, so I'm picking Bubbers to win, RC second, Reed third, KW fourth, Tedesco fifth, and McDougal sixth. Who? McDougall, No. 104. I have to root for a Scot, especially one I might be related to. By the way, I do think that Stewart will crash his brains out at least once this season and take himself out of contention for the title, and it could happen at any time, maybe at Anaheim.

 

[Masterphil]

JBS
RC
KDUB
This time, the battle is between RC and KDUB, JBS gets out front and stays there.

 

[Okiewan]

"The 250 2 stroke is working really good. I did not have a disadvantage this weekend."From DV12.com referring to Vancouver.

It also helped get you lapped :p

J/K!! I know DV12 is faster than he showed at Vancouver.

 

[Reesknight]

I'm thinkin its time for JS to get over confident and RC to be a man on a mission.
1) RC
2) JS
3) KW

 

[Vic]

Rc
Jbs
Kw
Cr
Mc
It
Mb
Nw

 

[cnielse5]

oops I forgot that Mcgrath will be there I guess I better revise my top 10
RC
JS
KW
CR
Tedesco
MC
Byrner
DV
Fonseca
Nick Wey

 

[JustinC]

1 JS
2 RC
3 KW
4 CR
5 DV

 

[XRpredator]

McGrath will win

 

[Uchytil]

Jbs
Rc
Reed

 

[zcookie49]

RC
JBS
Reed
KW
.
I think Kdub will be surprised of the newer notch of speed JBS has taken it up to on the thumper.
I think Reed should've stayed on the 2stroke this year....(but he probably tested both and was faster on the thumper, one would think that was the decision to switch rather than a corp push from yami).
.
I guess MC knows he is going to get lapped.

 

[Okiewan]

I guess MC knows he is going to get lapped.

I sure wouldn't bet against that happening. If he runs mid pack, you can count on it. Infact, 4-5th arent safe.

 

[Wraith]

I guess MC knows he is going to get lapped.

Quote from McGrath
The reality of me winning races simply isn't there. RC, CR, JS and KW are at the top of the game, but with the exception of those four guys, I can race with anyone else. Something crazy could happen, but I'm not putting pressure on myself to win races. I'm a good starter, I can run up front, and I'll be ready."
"James Stewart is going to win alot of races, but we might have another Damon Bradshaw on our hands. James is without a doubt the fastest guy out there, but he's shown so far that he's liable to blow up."

I like a guy who is not afraid to tell you straight up. Especially when he knows the whole motocross community is going to read it.

I hate to say it but I think it will be

1 Stewart
2 Ricky
3 Windham
4 Reed
5 Tedesco
6 McGrath
7 Larocco
8 David V
9 Byrne
10 Wey

 

[Okiewan]

Yeah Jeremy hasn't exactly held-back when talking about Stewart. Pretty easy to bag on someone for their past, rather than give them props for what they are doing now. I suppose we're all guilty of that to one degree or another.

I really don't understand Jeremy coming back... what's his schedule, is he planing on racing the whole series, or just those close to home? I'd guess he's still "The King" in a lot of our minds, why dilute it now? Surely he's not in $$ trouble. I can understand coming back to have some fun though. Wonder if it'll be fun when he see's JS and RC (and possibly CR, KW and Ivan) go by.. putting him a lap down?

Crazy sport we've got here! JBS could go down in practice tomorrow, then it's just another RC run-away... NO ONE else can run with him.

 

[john3_16]

Reed has me puzzled to be THAT far off the pace...But I really think Reed will get better as the season wears on as he's always been a slow starter.. Even being slow starter, Honestly, Reed looks SLOWER on the 4 stroke...


DV did get a BETTER start on a 250 2 stroke than most of the 450's...I don't think DV's performance during the race is a 2 vs 4 stroke issue..DV has been off the pace for a while now, even while all the other competitors were on 2 strokes.

 

[Okiewan]

Yeah, you're right, the 2 strokes are for sure better for starts.