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Bubba Puts Silver Rims First In LV...
Pretty much nobody expected anyone but Mr. James "Bubba"
Stewart to spin the big wheel in Vegas and come out the winner, but the
reality is - if there is a reality in that awkwardly surreal city of
confusion - that there were some doubts as Saturday night rolled on.
This being his first race aboard the new steed - a bright blue L&M San
Manuel Band Of Mission Indians Yamaha (they must shorten up that sponsor
listing, it's too complicated) and, with at least one hundo grand of
American bucks on the line - this edition of the Rockstar Energy Drink
U.S. Open, was sure to be a winner for all involved.
Friday night was a manic mess for the Suzuki team, as Makita Suzuki's Chad
Reed went down in the first corner and was forced to DNF as Bubba rocketed
off on his Yamaha for the Vegas victory. After some shenanigans involving
Red Bull Honda teammate - Andrew Short, Ivan Tedesco was able to
grab second spot ahead of factory Yamaha's Josh Hill. Saturday night was
more action-packed, with Australian Reed snatching the start and Stewart,
quickly in fourth, having to track down the very fast Reedy on his EFI'd
RMZ 4 fiddy. While Stewart had to follow Reed for some laps, there was no
trading plastic or dirty riding, Reed made a mistake and Stewart took
advantage and in fact, Bubba was ripping the track apart and nailed down
some impossible sections, so, eventually he probably would've won
regardless of Reed' s unfortunate spill.
Good news for Reed, he led sixteen laps against the best indoor motocross
racers in the world. Anyway, Bubba won moto two and the overall, with
Andrew Short taking second - aboard his Red Bull Honda and Reed, somewhat
bummed, pulled in a podium third for a few buckeroonies. *On a personal
note, It really bothers me that Bubba and the San Manuel Team are rockin'
the silver rims. Very unfashionable and misguided. Shockingly preposterous
and retro avant garde. Silver rims are so 1985.
Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open Friday Night Results
1. James Stewart, Yamaha
2. Ivan Tedesco, Honda
3. Josh Hill, Yamaha
4. Justin Brayton, KTM
5. Ryan Dungey, Suzuki
6. Broc Hepler, Yamaha
7. Michael Byrne, Suzuki
8. Thomas Hahn, Kawasaki
9. Nico Izzi, Suzuki
10. Kyle Chisholm, Yamaha
And, overall...
Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open Overall Results
1. James Stewart, Yamaha (1-1)
2. Ivan Tedesco, Honda (5-4)
3. Ryan Dungey, Suzuki (5-4)
4. Andrew Short, Honda (9-2)
5. Justin Brayton, KTM (4-9)
6. Josh Hill, Yamaha (3-12)
7. Michael Byrne, Suzuki (7-6)
8. Chad Reed, Suzuki (14-3)
9. Thomas Hahn, Kawasaki (8-13)
10. Broc Hepler, Yamaha (6-11)
Austin Politelli and his Suzuki won the 85cc invitational race, while the
"Beast From The East" - Mr. Damon Bradshaw - atop a Yamaha, won
the legends rematch race - besting Jeff "Chicken " Matiasevich
on his Kawasaki.
For Sunday's Rockstar energy Amateur Arenacross results - go here : http://www.ussx.com/results/ax08.asp
Also, in Las Vegas - MX Sports announced a host of changes for the 2009
AMA Toyota Motocross Championships - Presented By FMF.
In a nutshell, races will be run on Saturdays, the former "Lites"
class will be the 250 class, the big bikes will be called the 450 class
and if you earn a number one plate, you must run it. You don't need your
side plates anymore, except as a location to announce your sponsors. The
450 class will go first, more TV coverage (SPEED TV!) - including at least
three live events, pretty similar schedule, same tracks as last year, more
women's races and they are sticking with the thirty minutes plus two laps
format.
Already we are getting all tingly in anticipation of the Great
Outdoors, fill in your calendar, now -
2009 AMA Toyota Motocross Championship
May 23 Glen Helen Raceway San Bernardino
May 30 Hangtown Motocross Classic Sacramento
June 6 Freestone Raceway Wortham
June 20 High Point Raceway Mt. Morris
June 27 Thunder Valley Motocross Lakewood
July 4 Red Bud Buchanan
July 18 Spring Creek Motocross Millville
July 25 Washougal MX Park Washougal
August 15 Unadilla New Berlin
August 22 Budds Creek Motocross Budds Creek
August 29 Moto-X 338 Southwick
Sept. 5 Steel City Raceway Delmont
I recently had the distinct pleasure of being invited to the 2008 AMA
Motorcycle Hall Of Fame Museum Induction Ceremony and Concours D'Elegance
Motorcycle Show.
The 2008 Inductees were; Mr. Vaughn Beals, Mr. Rod Coates, Mr.
Larry "Supermouth" Huffman, Mr. Terry Poovey, Mr. Rolf Tibblin
and my friend - Mr. Scot Harden.
Mr. Harden was my desert guru during a grueling three-day epic
ride this past spring - in the sandy mountains of Nevada and California, a
place where I found myself - later, on that same trip, I would again lose
myself in Vegas, but there, for awhile, all life seemed to make a little
more sense. After you stare at the night stars over tiny Nipton,
California's campgrounds for a few eves, things really come together.
Thanks so much, Scot. And congratulations.
"There's talk on the street - it sounds so familiar ..."
- New Kid In Town, The Eagles
"If silver rims are so cool, why is it that everyone changes 'em? I
hate silver rims, always will, most motocross folk do..."
- D. Jimmy Spacklebottom
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