Deep Thoughts With Brett Lee

Last week Brett Lee and I had a chat about how we both thought Ryan Villopoto would fair at round one of the 2015 MXGP Series in Qatar. Well, to put it mildly, we were just a tad off with our predictions as both Brett and I thought he’d win and at worst be on the podium. Well, this week we’ve regrouped and had yet another conversation about how RV2 will do this weekend in Thailand and also how Tyler Medaglia will do at this weekend’s GNCC in Florida.

Palms: Brett, what are you doing?

Brett: Actually I’m driving to Walton right now so it’s a good time to talk. Although you did interrupt me listening to Davi Millsaps talk about his 2015 struggles on the Pulpmx show.

Palms: Well, I have more pressing matters to talk about with you. Okay, so we’re clear right now, I’m recording this as we speak, as in my tape recorder is on! Last week we spoke about RV2 and how he would do in Qatar, and we both figured that he would do really well, in fact the word ‘win’ was uttered a few times. Clearly we know very little about MXGP racing as he didn’t even come close to winning. Are you still reeling about our failed attempt at predicting race results?

Brett: We were definitely way off, but so was most of the world so I don’t feel too bad about it. I guess if I had more time last week to think about it I probably wouldn’t have predicted RV2 winning, I maybe would’ve been a little more realistic. However, we didn’t know that he was going to stall his bike off the line in the first moto, and we didn’t think he’d be battling with some guy named ‘Fabreeze’ during moto 2. Like, so many things didn’t go as planned in Qatar, and unfortunately our predictions were one of them.

Palms: While we don’t know RV2 personally, how miserable do you think he was this week?

Brett: I’m guessing that he was not fun to be around beginning on Saturday night after the first moto until they boarded a plane yesterday for Thailand, and he fell asleep.

Palms: In our defense, though, we thought the track in Qatar was going to suit RV2 with its semi-SX type layout, however it looked like a fast, dark, and kind of an over watered mess. While I was watching some of the race I thought Lee Coutts would’ve done well there, or Jimmy Spencer as it sort of looked like Nanaimo with lights.

Brett: (laughs) I’m sure RV2 was surprised at who he was forced to battle with just to go 9-8. Like in 2003, I believe, when Damon Huffman raced Nanaimo for the first time and he was battling for 6th or 7th with Chuck Mesley who had ‘Chopper’ on the back of his pants. Nothing against Chuck, however Huffman was probably wondering who some of those riders were.

Palms: True! That brings me to my next point. Some of the GP regulars…(Brett interrupts me)

Brett: Never mind RV2 and how he did, I was equally surprised at how poorly Cairoli did. He’s the defending Champion, he’s been to Qatar before and yet he seemed to struggle. Sorry, please finish what you were saying.

Palms: Thank you. I was just saying that through Social Media you could see that some of the GP riders went straight from Qatar to Thailand to get themselves acclimatized. It’s going to be hot and humid there this weekend.

Brett: Yeah, and that goes back to having been there before and knowing how international travel affects you. None of these guys ride in the heat so it will be a shock to them, for sure, also time zones, jet lag, different food, it can’t be an easy schedule. Obviously, RV2 wasn’t happy with his bike so he went back to Belgium to test and then flew to Thailand yesterday.

Palms: We mentioned the heat and humidity, do you think RV2 will be best suited to it because he’s had to deal with it many times in the US?

Brett: Definitely, it’s probably been awhile since he’s practiced in the heat but he certainly knows how to do it better than the rest of the field.

Palms: So how do you think RV2 does this weekend?

Brett: How do you think he does?

Palms: With it being a new track that no one has raced on before and since it will be hot, and also RV2’s lap times were good last weekend despite his finishes, I say he podiums this weekend and even wins a moto.

Brett: I’ll agree with that. Afterall, he is Ryan Villopoto and you don’t get to where he is without being able to make adjustments and come out swinging at the next race. Here’s a question for you – how do you think Tyler Medaglia will do this weekend at the GNCC in Florida?

Palms: Good question, I wish he was racing the Daytona SX instead, but I’m glad he’s racing, nonetheless. I think he’ll do well simply because he’s fit, and those races look like they’re about 15 minutes of fun and then the rest is survival; Tyler knows how to suffer and still ride well. I don’t follow that series so I don’t know what ’doing well’ is for someone like Tyler, but I think he’ll do okay. You?

Brett: I think he’ll do well too because I agree, he’s as fit as they come, he’s strong and his style suits that type of racing a little. Also, over the years, Tyler has showed me that he’s better than anyone at jumping in behind a faster rider and then being able to adjust his speed to match their pace. He can do both, he can be smooth and conserve energy, or he can ride on the edge and still not make mistakes. I think he could be an awesome GNCC rider if he ever wanted to do it full time.

Palms: Good points all around, I like that. Hopefully RV2 does well and Tyler does well and we’ll look like moto geniuses. Well, thanks for this again. Next week I’ll be in South Carolina so we may have to email each other instead of talking over the phone. Enjoy the rest of the drive to Walton Raceway!

Brett: So we’re going to do this every week?

Palms: Well, why not. We talk all the time anyway, we might as well record it and share some of our witty and intelligent banter with the world.

Brett: I can’t wait. Talk soon and have fun down south.