-
Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
-
Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Games
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
- Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
- Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
Supercross & Motocross
AMA MX: High Marks At Hangtown
Brandon Short issues grades following the 2012 AMA Pro Motocross opener at Hangtown.
(Photo: Suzuki Racing)
With one round down in the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, I wanted to take a look at the efforts of the most talked about riders in the sport and grade their first outing in what is certain to be a tough and hard-fought season.
450 Class
James Stewart – Team Yoshimura Suzuki
Grade: A+
I don’t think there really is another way to grade Stewart's Suzuki debut. He did everything one could ask of a rider at Hangtown and then some. For a guy that hasn’t really raced or even prepared for outdoors in three years, Stewart looked as though he never left. That's an incredible testament to the talent he still possesses, despite the ups and downs of the past couple seasons.
He was first in practice (the only rider to break the two-minute barrier) and then effectively dominated both of the motos. He had to do a little work to get out front in Moto 2 and was kept honest by Ryan Dungey, but it never appeared as though anyone other than Stewart had a real shot to win last weekend.
Stewart has only been on the Suzuki for a few weeks, but he’s so comfortable on it already that it’s as though he’d been testing it for months. There’s still a long way to go and a lot of tough challenges lie ahead as the schedule wears on, but a bigger statement could not have been made at the opening round.
Ryan Dungey – Red Bull KTM
Grade: A
Dungey’s day could have been disastrous right of the gate in the opening moto. He crossed the line outside the top 10 and appeared to be mired deep in the pack early on. However, true to his nature, he began to chip away at his competitors, one-by-one, and before you knew it, he was right on the heels of the top five.
With each lap, it became evident that Dungey remained as strong as ever while his competitors were slowly fading. Eventually he worked himself into podium position and set himself up for a strong day.
In Moto 2, Dungey did showed impressive pace, following Stewart closely pretty much the entire moto. Lappers ultimately erased any chance he had to potentially find a way past Stewart, but he left Hangtown well within striking distance.
The biggest element separating Dungey from the field is his fitness. He appears to peak at the end of a moto, no matter the conditions, and is almost always a threat to win.
Mike Alessi – MotoConcepts Suzuki
Grade: A
We all know that Alessi is an exceptional motocross rider, but exactly how he would fare without factory equipment was still a question mark.
By grabbing the holeshot in the second moto, Alessi made it clear that he's still a factor no matter what bike is underneath him. While he couldn’t keep pace with Stewart and Dungey, he still turned a lot of heads.
Andrew Short – Team Chaparral Honda
Grade: A
Much like Alessi, many weren’t sure how Short might perform on the L&Mc Racing machine. The Seattle Supercross win demonstrated that he and the bike are strong enough to run up front, but motocross is an entirely new challenge for a brand new team.
Nevertheless, Short did what we’ve come to expect from him over the years, grabbing strong starts and riding consistently at the front portion of the field. He ultimately tied Alessi in points for the day and set a solid foundation for the team to build off of moving forward.
450 Class
James Stewart – Team Yoshimura Suzuki
Grade: A+
I don’t think there really is another way to grade Stewart's Suzuki debut. He did everything one could ask of a rider at Hangtown and then some. For a guy that hasn’t really raced or even prepared for outdoors in three years, Stewart looked as though he never left. That's an incredible testament to the talent he still possesses, despite the ups and downs of the past couple seasons.
He was first in practice (the only rider to break the two-minute barrier) and then effectively dominated both of the motos. He had to do a little work to get out front in Moto 2 and was kept honest by Ryan Dungey, but it never appeared as though anyone other than Stewart had a real shot to win last weekend.
Stewart has only been on the Suzuki for a few weeks, but he’s so comfortable on it already that it’s as though he’d been testing it for months. There’s still a long way to go and a lot of tough challenges lie ahead as the schedule wears on, but a bigger statement could not have been made at the opening round.
Ryan Dungey – Red Bull KTM
Grade: A
Dungey’s day could have been disastrous right of the gate in the opening moto. He crossed the line outside the top 10 and appeared to be mired deep in the pack early on. However, true to his nature, he began to chip away at his competitors, one-by-one, and before you knew it, he was right on the heels of the top five.
With each lap, it became evident that Dungey remained as strong as ever while his competitors were slowly fading. Eventually he worked himself into podium position and set himself up for a strong day.
In Moto 2, Dungey did showed impressive pace, following Stewart closely pretty much the entire moto. Lappers ultimately erased any chance he had to potentially find a way past Stewart, but he left Hangtown well within striking distance.
The biggest element separating Dungey from the field is his fitness. He appears to peak at the end of a moto, no matter the conditions, and is almost always a threat to win.
Mike Alessi – MotoConcepts Suzuki
Grade: A
We all know that Alessi is an exceptional motocross rider, but exactly how he would fare without factory equipment was still a question mark.
By grabbing the holeshot in the second moto, Alessi made it clear that he's still a factor no matter what bike is underneath him. While he couldn’t keep pace with Stewart and Dungey, he still turned a lot of heads.
Andrew Short – Team Chaparral Honda
Grade: A
Much like Alessi, many weren’t sure how Short might perform on the L&Mc Racing machine. The Seattle Supercross win demonstrated that he and the bike are strong enough to run up front, but motocross is an entirely new challenge for a brand new team.
Nevertheless, Short did what we’ve come to expect from him over the years, grabbing strong starts and riding consistently at the front portion of the field. He ultimately tied Alessi in points for the day and set a solid foundation for the team to build off of moving forward.
SX Seattle
LATEST HEADLINES: MOTO-RACING
-
AMA MX: Hangtown Specialty Award Winners Announced
Justin Barcia, Eli Tomac, and Cole Seely were among the award winners… -
MOTOGP: Noyes' Notebook - Yamaha Falling On Hard Times
The balance of power has shifted firmly back in Honda's favor. Do… -
AMA MX: Villopoto Leads Into Thunder Valley
Ryan Villopoto rolls into Lakewood, Colorado for Round 2 of the '13… -
AMA FT: Series Prepares For Springfield Mile
Round 4 of the AMA pro Flat Track Championship will take place this… -
WSBK: Title Battles Arrives At Donington Park
The British contingent is preparing to defend its home turf this… -
AMA MX: Hangtown Ticker (UPDATED)
Notes and quotes following this past weekend's Lucas Oil Pro Motocross… -
VIDEO: AMA MX - Hangtown Classic Highlights
Ryan Villopoto kicked off the '13 Lucias Oil Motocross season in… - More News
