Official 2017 Supercross Thread

Yea I kinda saw it coming... Very impressive career. I'm glad he went out on top... I just hope the outdoors is exciting and not just a Tomac runaway...

 

I was not a fan of RD. In interviews he didn't seem fired up and wanting it (I realize he is a great rider who did really want it, just my perception of him).
I fully respect how good he is as a rider, and wish him the best. I wish I could retire at 27...

 

Yea he actually mentioned in his retirement speech that he really struggled mentally this year and had trouble getting motivated... Probably a large part of his not so excited interviews this year.

 

Im not talking this year. He never seemed super exited in interviews.

 

RD's personality was kind of robotic in most interviews as far as plugging sponsors and what-not but he is/was a charismatic rider who played the points game really well through his pit boards. Props to him for leaving on top (like Villapoto tried before going to the World arena).

 

For sure. Props to the guy. I wish him the best.

I always classified him as a great rider, like a Chad Reed, but not a generational talent. To me there is RC, JS7 and RV etc. Those guys are the top talent of an era. RD (like Reed) was never quite on that level of speed but still could win and finish near the top. You have to respect those guys. I think RD knew that he wasn't quite on RV's level or KRoc when he peaked and now Tomac. But he rode smart within his means and did well for himself because of it. A lot of people took that and were often disappointed when he couldn't turn it up to that next level of some of those other few guys, but I just don't think he had that level. But to do what he did without having that RV-type speed is still a lot better than most riders can say. Just my opinion, of course. Either way, I'll miss seeing him out there.

 

This

 

Looks like Tomac went 1-1 at Hangtown. I only watched the first moto on YouTube... He's gonna be near impossible to beat this season. I'm hoping we see some excitement from Musquin and Anderson...

 

The battle between Tomac and musquin was pretty good in the second moto. I was pretty surprised to see Osborne check out in the 250s.

 

IMO part of that reason could also be Alden Baker. Look how well Ryan, Marvin, Zach and Anderson do, under his eye. One thing nobody really talks about is where these guys live/train. Florida for a lot of them, but Tomac Colorado. Athletes have been doing for this decades: training at elevation.

Anybody going to Glen Helen saturday? I've been working out there since Tues as track crew setting up arches, banners, repeater, podium, media tent, will call tent, damn we are busy!

 

You are absolutely right about Aldon. He deserves a lot of credit. Is that John Ayers' KTM in that pic btw? lol

 

Not to take anything away from baker but he seems to only train the cream of the crop.

 

Or do those he trains become the cream of the crop?

 

James Stewart was great before him(as far as I know Stewart was his first guy). Dungey was great before him. Roxcen didn't win till after he left him. Russian and Anderson have not won anything yet.

 

Yep that's Johns bike alright. He's my boss. Small industry it really is!

@Styx586 You cruisin up to GH?

 

Nope I generally don't go to the outdoors events... I really should tho!

 

I like watching it better on tv. At the outdoors you can only see a small part of the track.

 

Sometimes racer's walk away when racing is no longer fun. When you learn to ride as a kid it was for fun.
No sponsors no one to answer to when on two wheels. When I was a Factory BMX Racer my dad got real
over the top on my results and got a little crazy sometimes when I lost a big race. It stopped being fun so
I made the jump to mtn biking when it was just me and the single track. Loved it until I rode too many miles
training and burned out on racing every weekend. Now I ride just to ride and I still love anything with two wheels.
Shit, the most I made one weekend in mtn biking was like $600 bucks. These factory motocross guys make a killing
and if they save and invest they will live comfortably forever. Not too mention their bodies get beat up pretty bad so
walking away healthy and rich isn't such a bad thing.

 

He said in an interview that he wanted to have a family and be there for his kids. I'm sure that's one of the main reasons. That and knowing this was probably his last hurrah.

 

I used to race amateur motocross as a kid, and my dad was the same way. He was crazy about the training and everything but I was just a kid and it kind of killed it for me... I quit riding for a lot of years because of it and didn't really get back into the sport until I was in my early 20's.