Phoenix!! Spoiler....

[zcookie49]

Yeah, all though Reed came in 2nd, he is establishing himself as a legitimate contender. This is great that the other riders are "stepping it up now" , looks to be an exciting year of sx....

 

[HiG4s]

When Bubba gets a good start he really doesn't have anyone to challenge him. His berst lap times were a full second per lap slower than his best practice laps and 2 seconds slower than the best 250s and he still won by a long way.
Last week when he had to come from behind, his best race laps were faster than all the 250s except Reed and RC.

 

[2smoke]

Late last year whilst pushing Reed's barrow in the bench racing stakes I made mention that I thought Ezra had paid his dues and with a totally new machine may be ready to do siome damage. Very very pleasing to get up this morning and read about his win, good stuff, and Reedy was second, so its all good.

 

[portish]

wow! great win for yogi. it seemed like rc couldn't match reed and yogi's pace early on and tried to go beyond his ability and washed out. RC and DV are about the same pace as last year battling it out together for 4th & 5th and chad, yogi and ferry have stepped it up another level. nice work.

 

[jboomer]

Listening to the race last night, the announcers kept commenting on how slick the track was and was becoming. I think RC was and is just a little flustered and may take a couple more races to get his act together. He's making stupid little mistakes, it'll pass. I'm super happy for Lusk though. Just like LaRocco's win last year, it couldn't have gone to anyone more deserving. But, don't count RC out. He'll be on pace very soon!!

 

[TheGrinch]

I'm definately not counting RC out. But if he's feeling more pressure since others have stepped up the pace, then he's bound to make some mistakes as he did in the main at Phoenix.

 

[jboomer]

I'm glad he's being pressured! Although it sure makes for a long week between races and ESPN!

 

[ScottYZ250]

Hard work does pay off, good for Ezra...

 

[whitesands26]

Originally posted by jboomer
Listening to the race last night, the announcers kept commenting on how slick the track was and was becoming. I think RC was and is just a little flustered and may take a couple more races to get his act together. He's making stupid little mistakes, it'll pass. I'm super happy for Lusk though. Just like LaRocco's win last year, it couldn't have gone to anyone more deserving. But, don't count RC out. He'll be on pace very soon!!

It was so nice to see Lusk win and it would be cool to see Lusk win a championship...If it wasn't for MC Lusk may have already won a couple of championships...That would be the ultimate statement after he was displaced by honda for RC...I'd like to see a good points battle to the end in SX this year........

In RC's defense, like you said, the announcers said the track was super slick...Slick tracks aren't in favor of the super agressive riding style such as RC's...

WAY TO GO LUSK.....

 

[Duneman]

RC's days are numbered, he'll never top MC's supercross dominence, go Yogi.........

 

[nikki]

Originally posted by Duneman
RC's days are numbered, he'll never top MC's supercross dominence, go Yogi.........

Hehe you're killin me!!! RC didn't win the first few SX rounds last year, either... but he still came out with 11 wins!

MC is first on the AMA all time combined wins list with 89 (he raced '89-'02 = 14 years) and RC (at the age of 22?) already has 80 wins (he's raced '96-current = 7 years and counting). If you look at averages, MC averaged 6.4 wins a season over his career. RC is averaging 11.4! {I'm pretty sure 125 SX wins are not included in this number, which both riders raced their first 2-3 seasons...}

And MC raced 250 SX from '92-'02 = 11 years and carded 72 wins averaging 6.5 wins a season. RC has raced 250 SX from '99-current = 4 years with 26 wins averaging 6.5 wins a season, too (against MC every single race nonetheless). Not bad in my book!

 

[Senior KX Rider]

Its hard to argue facts isn't it :) :)

 

[mx547]

it's hard to be objective when you think with your heart instead of your head. i advise these people to stay away from vegas.

 

[Philip]

Originally posted by nikki



Hehe you're killin me!!! RC didn't win the first few SX rounds last year, either... but he still came out with 11 wins!

Not bad in my book!

.....mine either. RC always has a hard time on the west coast slick tracks. When the series moves east you'll see a different RC. The dirt is to his liking so don't get to euphoric over Reed's success. I hope the racing stays this good but I think RC will turn up the heat when he gets settled in. Reed raced in Europe and is feeling confident with his good results, a few bad races and that will change just like the outdoors last year.

 

[Chili]

Originally posted by Philip


RC always has a hard time on the west coast slick tracks. When the series moves east you'll see a different RC. The dirt is to his liking so don't get to euphoric over Reed's success.

I agree that RC will be up to speed very soon, but I also see no reason to downplay Reed's success.  Bottom line is it's going to be a great season whether your a fan of a certain rider or the sport in general it's great to see actual RACING rather than the bubba and RC runaway whip show :)

 

[BEEF706]

I hope NOBODY would count out RC, he always seems to finish stronger than he starts, (except for this year's nationals). I do think that the other guys spent their off season stepping up a bit, and Reed has a lot of confidence from the Euro rounds, but don't sount the redhead out! (besides who would Pred have to root agaginst if he just disappeared ). I just hop the series staya this competitive all year, how cool would it be if the series was decided at the last race among four riders!!! :yeehaw:

 

[whitesands26]

While I do believe that Rc will be number 1 when it comes to all time win list, I don't think he will beat MC's 72 supercross main event wins...RC is without a doubt the best outdoor motocrosser ever, but it takes everything RC has to win indoors(that shows how much heart he has...ALOT) because it doesn't appear as natural to him...

While RC may have a better average than MC 6.6 to 6.4, rc would still have to win 5 more supercross championships, 46 more sx main events, and remain virtually injury free for another 5 years...I don't think it will happen....Although interestingly enough, RC seems not to really ever get injured considering jow much he has fallen........MC's streak was phenonemal...

I do think that RC is the Greatest outdoor rider ever and I think he will set a record that wil stand for a long time....We'll have to see how the rest of the season goes to see about his supercross prowess...East coast tracks are looking very good for the redhead

 

[Philip]

I agree with ya chili, I a fan of the sport and I pay for good racing no matter who comes out on top. I am a little bias to RC because he seems to have the heart of my old heros. RC seems to charge harder and show us his real speed (like the other florida kid in 125 class) when the chips are down and he has to come from behind. Larocco seems to be the only other guy out their that gets stronger as the race goes on. Reed in the outdoors last year seemed to fade when things started going wrong. I would like to see him work on that part of his racing because I think he could be great.
Another thing to keep in mind about RC slow start is he is coming off a 24 moto win outdoor season and managed to get married all within the last few months. Thats got to be mentally and physically draining.

 

[TheGrinch]

Originally posted by Philip

..... Reed raced in Europe and is feeling confident with his good results, a few bad races and that will change just like the outdoors last year.

You seem to forget the only reason Reed had "a few bad races" and dropped back was because he dislocated his shoulder. Prior to his injury, and after he healed (last few races of the 2002 season), he gave Bubba a run for his money several times.

Everyone keeps remembering the race when Bubba purposely slowed down to let Reed pass and then toyed with him by passing him back. Reed was still injured at this time and Bubba knew it. Bubba took advantage to make himself look better than he really is. Don't get me wrong, Bubba is damn fast; but I guarantee he could not have, and would not have attempted it if Reed wasn't injured at the time.

 

[jboomer]

I don't recall Reed ever really giving "Bubba a run for his money." I rememer him crashing in front of Bubba once when Bubba pressured him. But nothing any more spectacular than that and the one you mentioned.

 

[Philip]

Maybe I am being a little premature in my judgement of Reed, and it will take some time to see if he's up to the week after week 20 laps conditioning of the 250 class. If he turns fast laps through the whole season a beats the current champ I'll eat my words and say I was wrong. Again maybe I am a little bias because I like good racing just like good football. It kills me to hear people complain about someone not playing fair because they bump a little or rub a little plastic. Racing is not a ballet, its 20 guys on a small track with obstacles all trying to be in the same spot, you have to expect contact and falls. Real racers will get up and give it right back to the guy who gave it to them first. Its like putting on a helmet and getting between the white lines of a football game and telling the other team you can't hit me too hard because it's not fair. If you want to cheer for a sport with no contact go watch chess.

 

[portish]

At the MOMENT reed is the best rider in the sport, you cant argue with cold hard facts, his last few races he has dominated everybody with lightning speed combined with consistency. rc is a little off the boil as is tp and dv, yogi needs a couple more good races to prove himself and he's due for some good fortune. i doesnt matter who won last year if you aint winning at the moment you aint the best! sure things could change when the series moves east but remember reed likes the east coast just as much as rc as he showed in dominating the 125east series

 

[marcusgunby]

I distintly remember reed beating bubba at a outdoor race and bubba trying so hard he nearly took out the mechanics.Bubba lost by about 20 seconds.

 

[jboomer]

I remember that too, but I can't remember the circumstances surrounding it. I've got the outdoors on tape, so in the morning I'll watch them and figure out what happened there. Gives me an excuse to watch all the races again! :thumb:

 

[mx547]

has anybody seen this yet? more fuel for the anti-rc fires.

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/news.asp?News=1&ID=4036