Sunday, July 27

Washougal

We're almost ready to go on the air here in Washington. We had some rain this morning just to remind everyone that we're in the Pacific Northwest, and it subsided just in time for the second practice sessions, probably made the track better, in fact. Yesterday the track was even showing dust in a few spots late in the day, but now it looks perfect, and apparently, rides that way. The WMA just finished their second moto and Tarah Geiger said the track is "bad ass." We'll see. I talked to some of the AMA guys and they said this track doesn't get dug up as deep as some of the others on the tour so it doesn't always get as rough, but of course, there's always mixed judgement on if rough tracks are better or not. Yes, rough stuff seperates the "men from the boys" or even in the WMA's case, the Women from the girls. But smoother tracks, supposedly, create better racing because the gap is closer between everyone. This is one of those questions we'll never find the real answer to. Also, the AMA boys said this track develops different lines because most of the turns are big sweepers, and the track doesn't have a lot of straight sections. A track like Budds Creek, for example, runs straights and turns, straights and turns, whereas this one just runs big turns. When you have simple 18o degree corners it's easy to develop 5 ruts in those turns and hence, 5 lines. It doesn't quite work out that way when the track has big sweepers like this.

Does any of this matter? Aren't Stewart and Villopoto going to kill it anyway? Probably, so let's dig deeper.

A real battle this weekend may shape up between Jeff Alessi and Jimmy Albertson, who are both in the running for a factory Honda ride at Millville. Yesterday they both told me they were faster than each other when the tested with Honda on Wedesday. Yes, both faster than each other. Also, both said the factory bike is way better. Who will beat who this weekend? This is a question factory Honda and fantasy motocross team owners out there are wondering about. Albertson is taking no chances, though. He bought a sweet 1980's era exercise bike at a garage sale on the way to the track yesterday and set it up outside of the Moto XXX rig, which is transporting his bike. So now he's all warmed up and in fact going really fast in practice.

It's funny that both Jeff and Jimmy ended up riding under the same tent this weekend, by the way.

For my fantasy team, the question is who should I pick? Albertson, Alessi or Antonio Balbi or some combination of all of them? I think this is the battle to watch today.

Okay I'm back.

9 Comments:

yamalink said...

So now it's after the fact, race is over. Do you give it to Albertson?

yamalink said...

Too bad about Canard. So glad I'm not getting lapped by him (like I could even qualify for a Nat let alone, well, anything). Guaranteed torpedo!

Anonymous said...

crazy theory i know, but if you were canard, on the last lap, all alone in third, would you:

a. blitz by the lapper without caution, hey, you might be able to miraculously catch first and second. forget what happened last weekend, that was just a fluke.

b. slow a bit and make damned sure there is no way this dude is going to be able to come into you. it isn't like 4th is right on your ass or anything...

c. sieze an engine and park your bike by the nearest beer tent and share a beer with some fans, ala emig.

d. huh?

ps... how about a blog on why certain riders always have run in's with lappers?

not saying canard should have completely changed his race to get around the lapper, but it seems odd to even come close to a lapper on the last lap while in third. call me crazy, but i woulda been on the opposite side of the track coming into a lapper on the last lap...

yamalink said...

Conspiracy! I bet the lappers were cousins of Villopoto! Remember he said he'd take Ice Trey out??? I just watched interview footage of the SX finale, and he silently mouthed "...or my cousins Jack and Bob - the Mehoff twins -- will."

Damn you, RV! *fist shaking in the air toward the moto gods

MIKE D said...

Washougal was the most beautiful I have ever seen it Sunday! The track was calling my name. Trey Canard has been riding well after a tough start to the season, I hate to see this for him. Villopoto got beat straight up. After the first moto Decoster pulled Dungy aside a coached him, 10 min later I walked past again and they were in the same spot, Roger wasnt yelling or anything he was just being a good coach, RD28 must have listened because he went out and "stole" one from RV. I have a feeling RV will riding pissed off at the track in a couple of weeks.

yamalink said...

Speaking of in a couple of weeks, I have a bold prediction for the Lites class. Making his ama pro debut, newcomer and former Loretta Lynn's 125A (I think it was that class)/Canadian outdoor winner & phenom Ben Evans will make the top 10. And seeing as how Canard won't be there, if by chance Ben gets lapped he should at least be allowed to finish. Kidding, Trey.

Anonymous said...

Maybe you really should have watched the videos, Canard. Now who's going to pay for your trainer's roids for the rest of the season?

Anonymous said...

Canard crashed because he was thinking about getting Drago's autograph...no wait, its VanillaIce...Oh no! Its just Ping! Crash! Get well soon Trey!

Anonymous said...

Canard is a bitch.