-
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
SX: The Holeshot - Indy
This is not the Monster Energy Supercross season we expected; Brandon Short reflects on how 'the year of parity' has become an injury-strewn, one-sided affair.
Monster Energy Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto (Photo: Hoppenworld.com)
PROGRAMMING NOTE: Round 12 of the Monster Energy Supercross Championship from Toronto, Canada will air LIVE on SPEED Saturday, March 24 at 7:30pm ET. #SXonSPEED
Last Saturday night in the Circle City was just another example of the harsh nature of Monster Energy Supercross racing. Just as he looked to be gaining some momentum this season, James Stewart’s title hopes took a devastating hit when he found himself buried under a pile of motorcycles at the start of his heat race.
The two-time champion did not finish the race, and, after getting checked out by the Asterisk Mobile Medical Crew, was not able to continue for the rest of the evening, suffering the effects of a blow to the head.
In his absence, Ryan Villopoto raced to his sixth win of the season (albeit not without a significant challenge) to move even further away from the rest of the field.
Last week, I argued that this championship still had some hope for a battle left it in, even if those hopes were faint. But after everything that went down in Indy, I think it’s safe to assume it’s all in Villopoto’s hands at this point.
After opening the season with four different winners in the first four races, what began as a year of parity has instead turned into a year of attrition and domination. At the opening of the season, much was made of the fact that the most recent four Supercross champions would be lining up alongside to take the starting gate. And couple weeks later, Trey Canard, the fifth player in the 2011 season, rejoined the championship after recovering from an injury. All of the pieces were in place.
However, just one week after his return, Canard experienced one of the more horrific incidents in the history of Supercross, along with Ryan Morais, and became the first major casualty of the championship.
Little did we know that the unfortunate loss of Canard would ignite a tidal (title?) wave of bad luck that has since stricken Chad Reed, Ryan Dungey, and now Stewart.
And in the wake of his rivals’ continued heartbreak, Villopoto continues to do what he does best -- attack the track. He has held nothing back at any point this season, no matter the fate of his counterparts, and has left little doubt that this is once again going to be his title to lose. If he was going to go down, he was going to go down fighting.
With Canard and Reed out for the remainder of the year, Dungey out indefinitely, and Stewart’s status still up in the air, Villopoto becomes the single focal point of this championship. Discussion has already begun as to where Villopoto might be most likely to wrap things up.
But with the void left behind by the sport’s biggest names, an opportunity for a crop of new faces has opened and last weekend in Indy, we got a glimpse into what the immediate future might hold for the remainder of the 2012 season.
Last Saturday night in the Circle City was just another example of the harsh nature of Monster Energy Supercross racing. Just as he looked to be gaining some momentum this season, James Stewart’s title hopes took a devastating hit when he found himself buried under a pile of motorcycles at the start of his heat race.
The two-time champion did not finish the race, and, after getting checked out by the Asterisk Mobile Medical Crew, was not able to continue for the rest of the evening, suffering the effects of a blow to the head.
In his absence, Ryan Villopoto raced to his sixth win of the season (albeit not without a significant challenge) to move even further away from the rest of the field.
Last week, I argued that this championship still had some hope for a battle left it in, even if those hopes were faint. But after everything that went down in Indy, I think it’s safe to assume it’s all in Villopoto’s hands at this point.
After opening the season with four different winners in the first four races, what began as a year of parity has instead turned into a year of attrition and domination. At the opening of the season, much was made of the fact that the most recent four Supercross champions would be lining up alongside to take the starting gate. And couple weeks later, Trey Canard, the fifth player in the 2011 season, rejoined the championship after recovering from an injury. All of the pieces were in place.
However, just one week after his return, Canard experienced one of the more horrific incidents in the history of Supercross, along with Ryan Morais, and became the first major casualty of the championship.
Little did we know that the unfortunate loss of Canard would ignite a tidal (title?) wave of bad luck that has since stricken Chad Reed, Ryan Dungey, and now Stewart.
And in the wake of his rivals’ continued heartbreak, Villopoto continues to do what he does best -- attack the track. He has held nothing back at any point this season, no matter the fate of his counterparts, and has left little doubt that this is once again going to be his title to lose. If he was going to go down, he was going to go down fighting.
With Canard and Reed out for the remainder of the year, Dungey out indefinitely, and Stewart’s status still up in the air, Villopoto becomes the single focal point of this championship. Discussion has already begun as to where Villopoto might be most likely to wrap things up.
But with the void left behind by the sport’s biggest names, an opportunity for a crop of new faces has opened and last weekend in Indy, we got a glimpse into what the immediate future might hold for the remainder of the 2012 season.
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
