Josh Grant hasn’t come out swinging just yet but look for this guy to get better and better. He is just so good on a bike that it has to go that way……I think.
Photos provided by Rich Shepherd
So far the 2013 Monster Energy Supercross season has had us all on our feet for the first two rounds due to all the excitement, surprises, and amazing racing. The field is just so stacked with talent. It’s what real fans expect but it’s a double edged sword at times. Stacked line ups can let us down because we expect too much, but so far expectations have been met, and then some. Davi Millsaps is the current points leader and for those that picked him, well, you should have bought a lottery ticket as well because it was a shocker to us all, even Davi a little bit. Also, a bit of a surprise is the rebound that Trey Canard has made from so many injuries. He has come back the same way he left: a title contender. Injuries are brutal but part of the sport. The way that Canard has returned is a true testament to the type of love and determination he has for the sport. It’s truly an amazing story. Enter Justin Barcia, a little misunderstood for his pit bull like aggression on the dirt bike. He took the win this past Saturday night with ease and has now put his name in the mix as a title contender, not just a race winner. We’re only 40 laps into this season and the story lines that have developed from each lap are biblical. Can it continue for 15 more races? Let’s hope so. Here are some great pics from our boy Rich Shepherd from Phoenix.
Martin Davalos had one of the scariest crashes ever witnessed in Supercross in his heat race. Luckily he managed to get tossed right onto a tuff block and stay harm free. He managed to make the last chance and won that. In the main he got out front and led laps then ended the race in 3rd in the 250 class. Kudos to the friendly Ecuadorian for the heart he showed to get back up and race.
The hard luck award goes to Bobby Kiniry from the weekend. He missed the main event by one spot after placing 3rd in the LCQ. I can just imagine how pissed he was after that race. Better things to come for Bobby at Anaheim this weekend.
Tyla Rattray is struggling this year so far indoors. Pro Circuit has hired him mostly for outdoors so hopefully he just gets through SX injury free so he can really show his skill once the gate drops for the Motocross championship.
The KTM Red Bull team doing their part for the fans
James Stewart knit this hat for the weekend. If he can’t stay racing he looks to have a career making hats. Haha
Former MLB All Star pitcher Randy Johnson is a huge fan of SX.
Opening ceremonies are done right at a SX near you.
Kevin Windham had a huge transfer this past weekend. At 34 years old KDub still gets the best cheers from the fans.
Ryan Dungey had a rough night. A big crash in his heat relegated him to the LCQ where he didn’t even win. Then a bad start and a crash in the main left him 8th at the checkers. This is a night he and the team will likely want to forget.
Jesse Nelson #36 grabs the early lead at the start of the Main event. That’s two in a row for the SX rookie.
This kid was way too impressive in Phoenix. Justin Barcia led all 20 laps and at one point had a ten second lead over Millsaps. His peers do not want this kid to get too confident or the youth of the sport will take over.
Though Barcia took off behind him, it was a great battle between Canard, Reed, Poto and Millsaps. It was good to see Reed in there for 10 laps before taking his position in 4th by race end.
This boy had lots to smile about after the race.
The 450 Podium: Poto 2nd, Barcia 1st, and Millsaps 3rd.
Austin Politelli has been turning some heads so far in this young season. It’s good to see a kid that got his pro start in Canada showing his skill on home turf.
The red plate will stay with Davi Millsaps once again after backing up his big win with a solid ride to 3rd in Phoenix.
The man with the coolest last name in racing. Jake Canada had an interesting night. On the start gate of his heat race he forgot to put his safety device in so Asterisk mobile can get his helmet off easily if needed. He had to take his lid off then put the device in right as the gate dropped. He actually started the race with his helmet undone and was black flagged.
Josh Grant hasn’t come out swinging just yet but look for this guy to get better and better. He is just so good on a bike that it has to go that way……I think.
Ryan Villopoto has struggled so far but he has shown he is the fastest guy. Though being the fastest doesn’t always get you the win, but in the main in Phoenix he battled from an early crash all the way back to 2nd spot. Look for the champ to get a win very soon.
Eli Tomac dominated for the second week in a row in the 250 class. Can he be stopped is the question on everyone’s mind now.
250 podium: Roczen 2nd, Tomac 1st, Davalos 3rd
Everything about this picture makes you wanna race. The screaming crowd in the background, the intensity that rises up as your fellow racers all rev the engine preparing for the gate drop and the anticipation of who’s getting the holeshot. There are two odd things in this pic as well. First; James Stewart still has his head up while the others are entranced on the gate and second; the damn Ninja star Canadian flag. I wish they would fix that.
