MOTOCROSS ACTION’S MID-WEEK REPORT: (08/19/10)

Which leads to this interview, where we ask Dungey about his scripted answers atop the podium…

MINI-VIEW: RYAN DUNGEY

Since Hangtown, Ryan Dungey has amassed eight 450 National wins. He can wrap up the title next weekend at Southwick.
 
    Ryan Dungey has taken the racing world by storm, not having lost a series title since the 2008 Nationals. Although he hasn’t buttoned up the 450 National title (yet), Dungey is well on his way to racing lore. This past weekend he won his eighth outdoor race in a row, putting on a Ricky Carmichael-esque showing by going 1-1. I buzzed Ryan after the race to talk more about his experience this year.

MXA: Everything seemed to click for you at Unadilla. Reflecting back on the weekend, were there any rough patches from New York?
Ryan: Overall the weekend was pretty good. The only problem I had was that I struggled in practice trying to get the bike dialed in. We had to make a couple adjustments, but then we found the right settings after the second timed practice. After that I felt comfortable, which was key going into the motos.

You seem in tune with the RM-Z450, much like Chad Reed did last year and Ricky Carmichael did from years past. The race bike must be incredible. At this point in the series are you still making major changes to the bike?
At this point we’re not making major changes, unless we know that there is something better. Now we’re trying to stick with the setup that we have and make minor changes to the bike.

Every weekend when you stand atop the podium the TV commentator asks the same question regarding your thoughts on the championship, and every week you dodge the question by saying that you’re taking things race by race. Let’s cut to the chase. You’re knocking on the door of this championship.
I know where everything sits as far as the points and the number of races left. The championship is always the goal at the end of the season. It’s a goal that everybody goes after, but if you look too far ahead then you skip steps. I do try to take things one race at a time, but I know where I need to finish to win this championship. When the day comes I’ll finally let loose a little bit.

That sounds like the mindset of a champion. Have you always approached every racing series that way?
Just like a lot of things, as you get older you find out what works for you. As I have raced and gone through each season I have learned. I try to apply what I’ve learned to the next season. I go with what I feel works best, and that mindset works for me.

You were off the pace when the series started at Hangtown, and since then you have rattled off eight wins in a row. I don’t want to beat a dead horse, but do you look back on Hangtown and scratch your head?
Hangtown was definitely a tough race. I don’t really know what to say about it. The Supercross series was so close with the point standings, and I wanted to stick with Supercross instead of turning my attention outdoors. Then, as soon as I knew it the outdoors were starting. We only had two or three weeks to test. It came so fast, and I don’t know if I wasn’t confident in the bike or what else it could have been. What I do know is that after Hangtown I became more comfortable and found a couple of settings that worked really well. Then when I showed up to Texas I was much better prepared. I was able to go 1-1 on the day, and I didn’t expect to do that. I put forth my best effort out on the track. Hangtown was just one of those off days.

Did you ever imagine in your wildest dreams that you would win the 450 Supercross title in your rookie year, as well as the 450 National title?
No way! I haven’t wrapped up the outdoor title, so I don’t want to put the cart before the horse. Still, as a racer it’s everything that I had ever hoped for. Everything has come faster than I thought. I feel confident outdoors. I knew that outdoors I should do pretty well, but I didn’t expect to accomplish what I have done so quickly. I just believed that I could do it.

You and Clement Desalle had quite a battle going at Unadilla. Having not really raced him before, were you able to trust racing that closely to him?
I didn’t know what to expect. Even at the Motocross des Nations I didn’t know a lot of riders, but he was there. When Clement came over for Unadilla I knew that he would be pretty good, because he is doing well in the point standings over in Europe. In the first moto he kept me honest, and then in the second moto we battled for more than half of the race. I don’t know what kind of rider he is, but he didn’t do any dirty moves. It was cool to race him, and it was nice knowing that we weren’t going to clean each other out. He rode a great race and I don’t think a lot of people expected that out of him.

Every race you seem to catch a second wind about halfway through every moto and pick up the pace. What is it that makes you excel as the motos progress?
I’m not exactly sure. I just try to prepare the best I can for two 35 minute motos on the weekend. I try to put it all on the line. Maybe it’s that over halfway through each moto I’m able to go the distance.

Finally, as leader of Team U.S.A. at the Motocross des Nations, which rider are you most interested in racing against?
Antonio Cairoli. He is the defending MX1 champion and he’s doing great in Europe.

Thanks for your time, Ryan.
No problem. Thanks for the call.

      The next GP is in Brazil this weekend and it is possible that Marvin Musquin will be able to clinch the 2010 FIM 250 World Championship there. If you look at the stats from the 2010 season so far, you can easily see that he deserves the title.

250 POLE POSITIONS
Roczen, Ken……….4
Herlings, Jeffrey………2
Frossard, Steven………2
Musquin, Marvin………2
van Horebeek, Jeremy………1
Paulin, Gautier………1

Jeffrey Herlings led the second most laps this year, but a Czech GP crash will sideline him for the rest of the season (this is his USGP crash).

250 LAPS LED
Musquin, Marvin………223
Herlings, Jeffrey………126
Roczen, Ken………62
Frossard, Steven………40
Simpson, Shaun………2

Movin’ Marv has won 14 motos out of a possible 24.

250 MOTO WINS
Musquin, Marvin………14
Roczen, Ken………5
Herlings, Jeffrey………4
Frossard, Steven………1

Steven Frossard won in Sweden.

250 GRAND PRIX WINS
Musquin, Marvin………8
Herlings, Jeffrey………2
Frossard, Steven………1
Roczen, Ken………1

Zach Osborne has stood on the box three times this year, but never on the top step.

    Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rookie Dean Wilson has made quite an impact on the 2010 Lucas Oil Nationals. His wide open riding style has caught the eyes of spectators, as well as his competition. Through triumph (Budds Creek) and anguish (Freestone), Wilson has made himself known in the 250 class. This past weekend at Unadilla Dean had a run-in with Geico/Honda’s Justin Barcia, fueling controversy and finger pointing. I caught up with Dean to talk about all things moto.

MXA: What are you doing on your off-weekend?
Dean: This off-weekend I’m probably going to be riding and training. We had a couple of weekends off before Unadilla, so I was able to enjoy myself. With only three races left in the season, I’m going to try and crack down so that I can get a few wins.

Take me through the first moto, up to the point where you and Justin Barcia came together.
I was leading, and then Christophe Pourcel passed me, but he crashed, so I was in the lead again. It was about 16 minutes into the moto, and Justin Barcia was behind me. After the finish line jump there is a right hand turn, followed by a tight left hand turn. Barcia went outside through the first turn, so he had the inside on me going into the second corner. I got to the corner first, but he didn’t let off. He cleaned me out. Everybody has their own opinion on the situation, but I feel like it was a dirty pass. If he felt like he was that much faster than me then he should have passed me somewhere else.

    “The incident this weekend made me mad! He [Justin Barcia] is a dirty rider and he has that reputation. You can ask any rider about Barcia and they will tell you the same thing.”

The two of you have raced against each other in the 250 East Supercross series, but I can’t really remember any bad blood or any take-out situations occurring between you two. Was Unadilla more a case of being a racing incident?
In the amateur ranks we never really raced one another. In Supercross he actually cleaned me out in a heat race. I really didn’t do anything to deserve getting taken out then. That’s where it all started. I let it go, but the incident this weekend made me mad! He’s a dirty rider and he has that reputation. You can ask any rider about Barcia and they will tell you the same thing. But whatever. I’m not going to worry about it. I’m going to focus on what I have to do.  

Dean is still in the hunt for the 250 title. A few weeks after the series concludes he will represent Scotland (AKA Great Britain) in the MXDN.

Was it a difficult decision in choosing which country you’re going to ride for in the Motocross des Nations?
Oh yeah, it was very difficult. It came down to me representing the country that I’m really from, and that’s Scotland. I lived in Canada for about five years, and I rode for them last year. It almost feels a little bit wrong switching countries, but at the same time I feel like it’s the best decision. I was born in Scotland, and that’s where it all started for me. That’s the country that I should represent. I have great supporters in Canada that have helped me out along the way, but I stand with my decision. I’m looking forward to representing Scotland in the Motocross des Nations.

    “I lived in Canada for about five years, and I rode for them last year. It almost feels a little bit wrong switching countries, but at the same time I feel like it’s the best decision.”

Are you satisfied with how your first National season is going?
Yeah. Things are going pretty well. I’ve had some great races, but then I struggled at a few races, as well. I had trouble at Washougal and I lost a lot of points there. I’m enjoying myself in the Nationals, and I’m in the top three in points. I’m pretty happy with my current position.

What a lot of people probably don’t know is that if Pourcel and Canard both DNF a moto and you win, you’re right back up in the mix. There has to be hope in the possibility of winning the title with three rounds to go.
I’m fairly close, but my teammate Tyla Rattray is right behind me in the point standings. I don’t have much breathing room. Still, anything can happen with three rounds to go. I’m going to keep doing what I do and I’ll see how I end up at the end of the season.

Just think, next year Christophe Pourcel and Trey Canard will be moving out of the class. You’re on point for being the favorites.
It stinks that I’m not considered a favorite now, but that’s okay. You can’t predict the future and you never know what’s going to happen. Still, it feels pretty good being one of the favorites to win the title in 2011. I’m looking forward to next year, both in Supercross and outdoors.

      There is no doubt that Antonio Cairoli will win the 2010 FIM 450 World Championship (probably in Brazil this weekend), but here is how he got there; Tony is on top of every category that we have listed?except for winning the pole position in Saturday’s qualifying races.

Clement Desalle has won the most poles and has been on the podium as many times as Tony Cairoli, but has led 177 less laps.

450 POLE POSITIONS
Desalle, Clement………..4
Cairoli, Antonio………..3
Philippaerts, David………..2
Nagl, Maximilian……….1
Alessi, Mike……….1
Strijbos, Kevin……….1

Mike Alessi is one of only 11 riders to have led more than one lap in the 2010 GPs.

450 LAPS LED
Cairoli, Antonio……….222
Nagl, Maximilian………..87
Desalle, Clement………..45
de Dycker, Ken……….21
Philippaerts, David……….17
Bobryshev, Evgeny……….17
Leok, Tanel……….16
Townley, Ben……….16
Ramon, Steve……….13
Boog, Xavier……….5
Alessi, Mike………..2

Ben Townley won the second moto at the USGP?perhaps he will be able to turn that into a GP ride in the future.

450 MOTO WINS
Cairoli, Antonio……….13
Nagl, Maximilian……….3
Desalle, Clement………..2
de Dycker, Ken………..2
Leok, Tanel………..2
Townley, Ben……….1
Philippaerts, David……….1

Tony Cairoli is far-away the best rider in the stats for 2010. Ray Archer

450 GRAND PRIX WINS
Cairoli, Antonio……….6
Desalle, Clement………..2
de Dycker, Ken……….1
Leok, Tanel……….1
Philippaerts, David……….1
Nagl, Maximilian……….1

450 GRAND PRIX PODIUMS
Cairoli, Antonio……….10
Desalle, Clement……….10
Nagl, Maximilian………..5
Philippaerts, David………..4
Ramon, Steve………..3
Leok, Tanel………..2
de Dycker, Ken……….1
Alessi, Mike……….1

A RANDOM STORY ON TRAVIS PASTRANA

Travis Pastrana at his humble abode in November, 2004 (pre-double backflip and MTV show).

    Everyone loves Travis Pastrana. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who didn’t like the guy. He is easily one of the friendliest people on the planet. Aside from making his mother pull her hair out (he probably also gave his former team manager Roger DeCoster stomach ulcers when he raced full-time), Pastrana has made everyone, and I mean everyone, stand to attention when he hits jumps and races cars. The world loves Travis Pastrana.    

    I have known Travis for quite some time. I hung out with him on a trip to Northern Ireland from Dublin a few years back. I talked with him before he did the double backflip for the first time, way back in 2006. I have even gone to his house. This brings me to my story.

    In the fall of 2004 I was flown out to Pastrana’s house, which is located by Annapolis, Maryland, on EVS Sports’ dime. The goal of the trip was to hang out with Travis while he promoted his “Nitro Circus” movie (way before MTV picked up the idea and made it into a series). Back then you might recall the downhill water slide, which is directly behind Pastrana’s house. It was as crazy in real life as it looked on the movies. Down below his house rests a massive garage that contains an indoor skateboard park/foam pit, as well as his work station and a mechanical bull. Outside is the large foam pit where Pastrana learned all of his freestyle tricks. On that day in 2004 Travis was healing up from a broken wrist, so he was out of action. Still, he pulled out a caged go-cart and drove it up his driveway, only to turn around and slam the gas pedal down towards the foam pit ramp. With his casted hand grasping on to a can of Red Bull (Travis has always been fantastic at brand recognition), he hit the ramp, launching the steel trap high in the air and came down in a perfect landing. It was gutsy. It was stupid. It was classic Travis Pastrana. So then he coaxed me into doing it. “Don’t let off!” he yelled, as the go-cart shook like a wet dog towards the foam pit. I shot into the air, and upon orbital reentry I nearly messed my pants. However, I pulled it off.

Don’t spill the Red Bull! Pastrana goes big, despite having a broken wrist.

    Why is Pastrana’s Nitro Circus crew insane? It’s simple. The cast that makes up the Nitro Circus is just as wild and sensational as Travis. They know no boundaries. They also goad each other into doing stupid stunts. Innocent bystanders are not exempt. On that day, I was the impressionable person that Pastrana targeted. Travis told me that I had to do a backflip before I left his house. It was a rite of passage at the Pastrana household. So I made the dumb decision to do a backflip. No problem, I thought. I had gone upside down on snow skis, while jumping off a ledge into a lake, into pools and also on trampolines. How hard could it be?

    Where the decision to do a backflip on a dirt bike became asinine was when I decided to do a tandem backflip with “Mad” Mike Jones. If you don’t know Mike Jones, it should be perfectly clear by his nickname that the guy is off his rocker. He also wasn’t very swift at pulling off a backflip. I did it anyway – three times. The first two attempts into the foam pit were perfect, while on the third try we under-rotated. I slammed into the handlebars and Mike’s lumberjack of a body drove into my chest. It hurt, and my body let me know how much of an imbecile I was.

It was dangerous and dumb to do a tandem backflip. Lady Luck was on my side that day.

    In hindsight it was a pretty cool experience. How many people have done a tandem backflip? I assume not very many. How many people should do a tandem backflip? Let me answer that question by stating that no sane person should do a backflip, let alone be a passenger on a trip to potential death.

    People often ask me whether Travis Pastrana’s thumbs-up eternally happy schtick is real or just for the cameras. I can tell you with certainty that what you see with Pastrana is what you get. The kid might be nuts, but he’s one heck of a nice guy. 

    I’d like to finish off my Pastrana story by remarking about Travis’s uncanny ability to complete a backflip off a flea’s turd. The guy is unbelievable. Just stay away from him when motorized vehicles and parachutes are around.

MINI-VIEW: DAVE SIMON, OF SIMON SMART BODY

    Michael “Rock” Rigdon first got in touch with Dave Simon of Simon Smart Body Fuel Injection looking for the next big thing in performance increasing mods. As an advocate for quieter bikes, the Rock was especially pleased to learn as he got involved with Dave Simon, that the Simon Smart Body worked very well with quiet muffler inserts. The Rock has been excited getting to know Dave Simon and his Smart Body and wants you to have the chance to get to know them too. So, Rock sat down with Dave for an interview to cover the bases.

Rock: What is your background?  
Simon: I’ve been building engines since I was ten. I always think about airflow. I never think about redesigning something that’s already out there. I always try to look to the future. Hence, I helped Donnie Emler with development of the Powerbomb in the year 2000.     

What’s the story on your butterfly-less SSB throttle body?
A well-shaped small hole always moves more total air than just a “bigger” hole. Velocity of the air is key. That’s why a 37mm SSB can put out so much more power than a 43-50mm standard TB with a butterfly’s throttle shaft in the way.

Dirt Bike magazine’s experience showed the SSB increased performance even when running a quiet insert. Why is that?  
A smaller tip creates more back pressure in the engine until the engine gets to a high rpm for the intake and engine velocity to push through the back pressure since increase intake velocity helps combat the back pressure. This helps get rid of the bog/lack of bottom end plus this evens helps on the top.

    “At the end of the day, it’s a balancing act and you need a smaller intake throat to combat the smaller exhaust tip. This is why the SSB’s smaller throat will be your best friend for optimum performance while meeting FIM or AMA sound level requirements.” 

Based on the USGP and Ben Townley’s comment, his TLD bike didn’t run well meeting the two-meter-max test, plus with AMA amateur sound levels dropping to 94 db from 99 db now appears to be an excellent time to be introducing the SSB. When you were designing the SSB how much did lower sound levels impact the process?
It wasn’t originally designed with that in mind. Halfway through development it became evident the SSB’s higher intake velocity allows both pros and amateurs to meet tough sound requirements and still make power.

What is the price and delivery for the SSB?
$899.95 plus shipping. Kawasaki and Honda SSBs are in stock and both are being utilized both in the US and internationally. Suzuki’ s are shipping in at the end of this month.

What’s the best way to get more information or purchase a SSB?    
Contact me at (602) 465-2143 www.simonsmartbody.com or Rock’s Racing Services www.rocksracingservices.com at (310) 387-1889. Be sure to mention that you heard about the SSB in this Mid-Week Report and I’ll give you free shipping.

PRESS RELEASE: NEW MX FACILITY OPENING IN ANZA, CA

    New Motocross facility to open in August on the 20, 21 & 22 in Anza, California.

    This 700-acre facility will be called “The Ranch” and is designed and built by Marc Peters of Petersbuilttracks.com. Five (5) Motocross tracks with terrain for all rider’s capabilities and equipment, from the Main track with four-five lines through every corner and 36 ft wide straight a ways. The track carved out of a natural hillside in the mesquite chaparral (green year round) is two (2) minutes and ten (10) seconds for a good Professional rider.

    The “Main Track” at The Ranch has an East Coast National track feel brought to the West Coast. Marc Peters has been building National Tracks for the past 4 years for MXSports.

    The “Main Track” at The Ranch has been designed with elements of High Point, Steel City, Bud’s Creek, and Red Bud National Tracks. There are big uphills and downhills, off cambers, step-ups, and great rhythm sections. The track will be prepped and groomed at the same professional level you see before National races like Steel City or High Point (Mount Morris), to give you the ultimate riding experience.

    The 1960’s track is a European style, laid out by Preston Petty & Stu Peters, again in the natural hillside, up and down lanes with sweeping corners and “NO” jumps. This track will take you back in time. The 1980’s Motocross track is a combination of Carlsbad Raceway, Saddleback Park, and Indian Dunes. It is located on the flats with sand wash sections and hillside with great safe landings, tabletops that you can jump or just ride over, 40-foot corners and 36 feet wide straight a ways. There will be a 65/85cc track and a PeeWee track. Both are technical, safe and fun for all riders.

    There are flat pit areas for camping, plus great viewing areas for spectators and family. This new Motocross complex is 2.9 miles past the Cahuilla Casino on State Highway 371 going (North), to Bautista Road go Right (East) for 1.5 miles to “The Ranch”.

    “The Ranch” will be open the 3rd & 5th (3 months of the year have a 5th weekend) weekends of the month on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Prepped & watered tracks each day and $25.00 per bike, per day, per rider to practice, Spectators free for Practice and $10 to over-night park (no hook-ups) per vehicle/motor home. Operating hours will be 8am to 4pm.

    For more information, email: [email protected]

PRESS RELEASE: SOUTHWICK PRO MX RACE & HEAL CLOTHING HONORS DOUG HENRY

Legendary AMA Hall of Famer Recognized with Track Naming & Clothing with a Cause: Proceeds to Benefit Injured Extreme Athletes

    Monroe, CT  –  HEAL Clothing (Helping Extreme Athletes Live) and Southwick MX-338 are teaming up to bring you a special offer to watch the AMA Lucas Oil Motocross Championship race at Southwick with Doug Henry on Saturday, August 28th beginning at 7:00 a.m.EST.  Southwick is naming a section of their famous sand track after the AMA Hall of Fame member Doug Henry.  To celebrate this unveiling at the race, HEAL has made a limited edition t-shirt with the track sections logo and name on it HEAL Clothing’s online store.

     The purchase of this shirt at the VIP price of $75, will allow attendees the opportunity to watch the racing in a private area along the newly named part of the track honoring the legendary Doug Henry.  Henry will be available for photo and autographs in the special area.  Food and beverage provided by Great Brook Farms will be served in a covered area that only people that have purchased a VIP shirt package can enter.

    “I’m looking forward to being in an intimate setting to watch the race with fans for the first two motos of the pro races. I’m humbled by the honor Southwick is providing, the fans going above and beyond to watch a sport they love,” said award-winning Doug Henry.

     All the proceeds from the sales of these t-shirts will be donated to the Road 2 Recovery to help injured motocross athletes. Shirts can be purchased through HEAL Clothing.

About Doug Henry:
    Doug Henry is a multi AMA Champion in motocross/supercross as well as an X Games Gold Medalist. Doug is known for his comeback after a career ending injury to win a championship and revolutionize the sport of Motocross by pioneering the 4-Stroke bike to be competitive in both motocross and supercross.

About HEAL Clothing:
    HEAL (Helping Extreme Athletes Live) is an action sports apparel line that is based on providing donations to help injured action sports athletes with money raised in sales of their clothing. HEAL donates to help non-profits that look after injured action sports athletes such as Road 2 Recovery and Athlete Recovery Fund.