June 11, 2007

Jim Kimball

“As much as I like the sand, let it be known that it’s still hard work out there for me.  James and I were on it again; in that first moto I ate a lot of dirt, there’s no doubt about it.  But he (James Stewart) got hung up in some lappers and it was able to help me” said Makita Suzuki’s Ricky Carmichael, who eventually passed Stewart and “brought it home for the win.” 

 

First Holeshot

 

Carmichael was pumped to have taken the holeshot in moto two, adding “in the second moto I was really happy to get the holeshot – it was the first time that I have gotten one in a long time.  I didn’t get any in supercross and none in motocross until today.” 

 

Gratification

 

“Anytime that you beat someone of his (Stewart) caliber it’s very, very gratifying.  We’re almost to the end of the road here and I’m sure that they (other MX riders) are ready for me to get out of it – and I’m ready to get out of it.  As well as I have done here, it is still hard, and it’s not fun all the time” said Ricky about beating James.

 

NASCAR Calling

 

Talking about his NASCAR schedule Ricky said “they would love for it to kick in now; as soon as the MX of Nations is over its wide open.  I have 15 (car) races that I need to do this year, 25 that I have to do the following year, and 35 that I must do in 2009.”

 

Stewart Switches Up

 

“I felt like in the beginning of the race I had some pretty decent lines, but then I started switching them up – I don’t know why.  So I started going all over the place and not arching my corners like I should, and Ricky ended up catching me.  Once he got by me, there were about three laps in a row where I just blew it.  Then he got a good gap and it stayed pretty much the same – until I stalled in on the last lap” commented Monster Energy Kawsaki's James Stewart on the first moto.

 

Adding to the Mix

 

Stewart was impressed by Grant Langston’s charge, and temporary pass on him in moto two, saying that “In the second moto he (RC) pulled the holeshot and was just on it.  I tried to stay up there with him, then the next thing you know I had Grant all over me.  He ended up getting around me, but I followed his lines for a few laps and was able to get back around him.” 

 

Houseguest

 

“He’s (Langston) not coming to my house no more!  I had him and Josh Grant over to my house to ride.  He then came out in the first practice on it, and then in the second practice he was on it; so last night I was thinking if he’s passing me today he’s not coming over again – then when he passed me in the race I said for sure he’s not coming” added Stewart about fellow Floridian Grant Langston.   

 

Business as Usual

 

While many riders come to the New England area for sand track riding, James Stewart stuck with his normal routine, commenting that “I did my same routine, but we were testing a lot.  We were trying to get our bike better and making small improvements.”

 

Confidence Booster

 

Taking his first podium of the year, Yamaha’s Grant Langston was both excited and relieved.  “I needed this for sure; for myself, for the team, and for everyone - I think that we put a lot of effort in.  Obviously we hit a big speed bump earlier in the season; but I felt like I was ready for supercross; maybe not set the world on fire, but I felt like I could have been a contender for that final podium spot” added Langston.

 

100%

 

“I gave it my all today and got a little tired near the end; but now I know what I need to work on” added GL.

 

Fun Factor

 

“One part of the track I would gain on him, while another part I would lose a little bit.  When I got up on him I may have waited and stayed there a little bit longer, but the roost was so bad.  I was eating roost every single turn and was just over it!  So I thought that I better go for it, but it seemed like that as soon as I passed him that it lit a fire under him.  It was probably one of the most enjoyable motos that I’ve ever had.  The first moto I had a third, but it was a lonely one; the second was a lot more exciting” said Grant Langston. 

 

Shorty’s Southwick

 

Andrew Short took his Honda to his best finish in the Motocross class with a very solid fourth overall.  While not getting the best of starts, Andrew was able to work his way past much of his competition.  If not for his past knee injury and return to racing late in Supercross, Andrew would have podium-ed here – it will happen soon!

 

Making Headway

 

Taking his best finish of the young season with fifth overall was Mike Alessi on his Red Bull KTM.  Alessi continues to get used to (and improve on) the bigger bike.  I hope we see a podium this summer. 

 

Feel Good Story

 

Ohio privateer Gavin Gracyk was on fire at Southwick earning sixth overall; beating several factory riders and many factory supported satellite team riders.  This kid has been through a lot of difficult times recently, and his success right now is the feel good story of the year.  I expect him on some type of factory supported ride next year!

 

Junkyard Dog

 

In spite of cr ash ing in one of the motos and being way back in the field, 41 year old John Dowd rode the wheels off his privateer Suzuki to take seventh overall.  When Dowd and Doug Henry took a lap around the track in a mule before the first moto started, everyone was on their feet!

 

Troy ’s Turnaround

 

After a couple disastrous motos so far (bike problems and cr ash es) Rockstar Suzuki’s Troy Adams rode two solid motos to finish eighth overall.

 

Survivor

 

Sobe Samsung Honda rider Kevin Windham will admit that sand tracks are not his favorite.  In spite of a huge high speed cr ash in moto one, resulting in no front fender, Kevin hung on to the finish.  With a stronger ride in moto two he ended the day finishing in the top ten.

 

Ferry’s Folly

 

Bike problems in moto one resulting in a DNF cost Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Timmy Ferry at least a top five finish at Southwick.  His second moto fourth was much better, but he was a ways behind Grant Langston.  Ferry slipped back to fourth in the championship points.

 

Millsaps Mishaps

 

Team Honda’s Davi Millsaps certainly looked fast, but two cr ash es and stalling his bike in moto one relegated him to a 22^nd moto finish.  Moto two started better, but near the end he dropped a few places to seventh - equaling his 13^th overall.

 

Remember Ryan

 

In his first American race this year, Ryan Mills finished 14^th overall via a very strong eighth in moto one and a 22^nd in moto two – where he started near the back of the pack.

 

Hard Lu ck Award

 

Two riders deserve the “hard luck award” at Southwick.  MDK Honda rider Nick Wey had bike issues in moto one while riding in the top five.  Moto two started out with a first turn cr ash , and subsequent three additional cr ash es.  Antonio Balbi Jr. also had bike issues in moto one; he was also the rider that Wey cr ash ed with in the first turn of moto two. Furthermore, later he and Wey would together cr ash again!

 

Hard Lu ck Award 2

 

Shortly into the first lap of moto one, it seemed like the entire DNA Energy Butler Brothers team went down together!  Shaun Skinner, Jason Thomas, and Doug Dehaan all went down hard; fortunately they all eventually returned to the racing.