Dowd to Suzuki

XRpredator

AssClown SuperPowers

Damn Yankees

Aug 2, 2000

13,510

19

• Aug 5, 2003

• #1

Suzuki is changing their AX plan (from RacerX):

Racer X has learned that some very big changes are in store for Suzuki's vaunted U.S. National Arenacross Series Program.  The manufacturer is apparently parting ways with five-time series #1 Buddy Antunez, as well as his teammate Evan Laughridge and team manager Billy Whitley.  Suzuki is now handing its program over to the new Empire Racing team, and the featured riders will be John Dowd and Jim Neese.  The change was confirmed by Dowd's current sponsor, Jeff Cernic of Cernic's Racing KTM.  Look for an official announcement and more information from Empire Racing later this month.

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Last edited: Aug 5, 2003

J

jake949

~SPONSOR~

Mar 7, 2000

245

0

• Aug 5, 2003

• #2

sounds like they gave Buddy the the Tim Ferry treatment, thanks for winning a title but your fired. maybe buddy will go to Shogun and whip up on his old team.

I saw Neese race in Tacoma and Ryan Huffman schooled him all weekend, and Ryan is the king of giving up. I don't see him replacing Buddy.

 

Last edited: Aug 5, 2003

Okiewan

Admin

Dec 31, 1969

29,555

2,237

Texas

• Aug 5, 2003

• #3

So teams should keep riders until they pass-away or what? Who knows how the deal came down. No where did it say they fired him anyway.

 

nephron

Dr. Feel Good

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Jun 15, 2001

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• Aug 5, 2003

• #4

I haven't been interested much in AX, but Dowd might do it for me now. That, and the fact that you can actually watch one on TV every once in a while.

 

steve125

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Oct 19, 2000

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• Aug 5, 2003

• #5

Heck Neph,  I was real into AX untill Bradshaw got hurt. He was lookin like the old Damon,  then bam, he broke his femur :(

 

M

mxneagle

Member

Jan 7, 2001

320

0

• Aug 6, 2003

• #6

Tib/Fib that is

 

9

94ruck

Member

Sep 14, 2001

318

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• Aug 6, 2003

• #7

No, teams shouldn't hang on to riders forever...but Buddy was still riding well, wasn't he. And Dowd, well I am a huge dowd fan, but he is 5-7 yrs older than buddy and unproven in arena cross. Doesn't look like sound judgement to me.

 

truespode

Moderator / Wheelie King

Jun 30, 1999

7,980

249

• Aug 6, 2003

• #8

Don't get your panties in too tight of a bunch guys. There is more in the works than it seems. I've been reading on some other places that things are not as cut throat as it may appear.

I could be wrong but I'm gonna wait for the rest of the story to come out.

Ivan

 

C

Chili

Lifetime Sponsor - Photog Moderator

Apr 9, 2002

8,062

15

• Aug 6, 2003

• #9

I'll wait to see what else comes out on this story. I can almost see Antunez as his career appears to be going backwards at this point in time but Laughridge seems to have a huge upside as an up and coming rider.

 

Okiewan

Admin

Dec 31, 1969

29,555

2,237

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• Aug 7, 2003

• #10

Originally posted by 94ruck
Doesn't look like sound judgement to me.

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Have you mentioned this to Suzuki yet? ;)

 

nephron

Dr. Feel Good

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Jun 15, 2001

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• Aug 9, 2003

• #11

is 5-7 yrs older than buddy and unproven in arena cross.

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I'd go as far as to say he'll probably dominate AX. Let's face it folks, the AX talent pool pales by comparison....look at Demuth in SX and the nationals. I'm not sure he qualified for half the races, did he? Dowd is so damn talented, persistent and hard-working. Anyone who can come out to Southwick and place 2nd is pretty damn talented.

He mentioned in this month's RacerX that when he was 30, he started saying every year will be his last. Then along came 36,37,38....now he just admits he's going to ride until he's no longer competitive or dies... ;)

He'll whip some ass.

 

Senior KX Rider

Super Power AssClown

Nov 9, 1999

8,577

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• Aug 10, 2003

• #12

Hope to see him do well. Not sure if his style is agressive enough for AX but I'm sure he will figure it out

 

truespode

Moderator / Wheelie King

Jun 30, 1999

7,980

249

• Aug 10, 2003

• #13

Dowd has raced a few regional SX's. Doug Henry and him did a Friday night event 2 years ago and according the reports they had a blast. Doug won one class and Dowd won the other.

I think he'll do well.

Ivan