Zach Bell at Southwick..

mccread
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mccread
Edited Date/Time 8/8/2012 5:48pm
Can he break into the top five?!
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watson
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watson 8/6/2012 1:28pm
8/6/2012 1:28pm
Realistically, I believe he's most likely for a top 10. Which is no knock on him, the top 10 this year is gnarly.
pilotdude
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pilotdude 8/6/2012 1:33pm
8/6/2012 1:33pm Edited Date/Time 8/6/2012 1:35pm
No effing way. On second thought, Baggett, Barcia, Tomac, Musquin, and Roczen could all be involved in a 1st turn pileup, so yes maybe he could.
mtl
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mtl 8/6/2012 1:50pm
8/6/2012 1:50pm
Top 5 with a start for the first 20+2 Laps and then fade back is very possible.

The am's train for Loretta's 20+2, he wont be ready for 30+2 within a week of Loretta's concluding.

He will do some damage in 2013.

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j100
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j100 8/6/2012 2:09pm
8/6/2012 2:09pm
Zach will do better than you guys think. i'll leave it at that.
Riesenberg448 8/6/2012 2:21pm
8/6/2012 2:21pm
Great bike + no pressure + explosive speed = a good chance to spend some time at the front.

At the same point, I don't know how he rides the sand, he's a smaller rider, and his explosive speed can also put him on the dirt.

I don't have a doubt in my mind he can go straight to a national and be a front runner though. The speed is definitely not an issue.
35smom
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35smom 8/6/2012 3:52pm
8/6/2012 3:52pm
Riesenberg448 wrote:
Great bike + no pressure + explosive speed = a good chance to spend some time at the front. At the same point, I don't know...
Great bike + no pressure + explosive speed = a good chance to spend some time at the front.

At the same point, I don't know how he rides the sand, he's a smaller rider, and his explosive speed can also put him on the dirt.

I don't have a doubt in my mind he can go straight to a national and be a front runner though. The speed is definitely not an issue.
They have a sand track at their facility. The boys ride that when it rains in Georgia. He hauls on it!
Huckster
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Huckster 8/6/2012 4:54pm
8/6/2012 4:54pm
top 5? Baggett, Barcia, tomac, Roczen and Musquin. So which one does he beat? Anything can happen but I don't see that although those PC bikes have a history of breaking at the 'wick......
machine
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machine 8/6/2012 5:39pm
8/6/2012 5:39pm
j100 wrote:
Zach will do better than you guys think. i'll leave it at that.
Yep, I ended up eating crow when Bogle did so well last year, I won't underestimate a rider like that again. Plus, I saw his speed at the MEC last year, the kid can fly.
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Matt Wozney 8/6/2012 6:52pm
8/6/2012 6:52pm
Looked real good at LL. Top 5 speed with the stacked class we have this year outdoors? Kindly highly doubt that. I think just getting through the 4 rounds safe and gain as much as experience at that level is what he wants to do.
Riesenberg448 8/6/2012 7:45pm
8/6/2012 7:45pm
Huckster wrote:
top 5? Baggett, Barcia, tomac, Roczen and Musquin. So which one does he beat? Anything can happen but I don't see that although those PC bikes...
top 5? Baggett, Barcia, tomac, Roczen and Musquin. So which one does he beat? Anything can happen but I don't see that although those PC bikes have a history of breaking at the 'wick......
I know it is hard to believe, but coming in fresh with no expectations and pressure and something to prove can surely do a lot for you. I don't know if he'll finish top 5, but I wouldn't be surprised at all to see him running up there until the adrenaline wears off. I really do think he has the speed to be right in the mix.
motomcd
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motomcd 8/6/2012 8:27pm
8/6/2012 8:27pm
I'm with j100 i think he will do alot better than everyone is thinking, i've heard some interesting things about his practice times with all the the geico boys.
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loftyair 8/6/2012 8:38pm
8/6/2012 8:38pm
My opinion is...his lap times are impressive. He could run up front for a short time, then fade a bit. Any finish inside top 10 is a wonderful start. The older boys might push him around a bit if he bugs them too much. Most likely, 10-15th. Seems these kids are hot and cold in the beginning, so it's conceivable that he runs into some problems and has a lack-luster showing. I would like to see him do well though, inside top 10 would, again, be great!
Cook441
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Cook441 8/6/2012 9:00pm
8/6/2012 9:00pm
He's expecting to after riding with Tomac, He also had faster laptimes than even RC (Granted RC was having out of shape fun but that guy can still twist) so careful-

Like said before fitness and man strength may be a factor IMO
chrisbuehler
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chrisbuehler 8/6/2012 10:15pm
8/6/2012 10:15pm
Would it surprise anyone? I hope not. These kids are coming out of LL all jaked and ready to go. I remember Wharton running up front in 2008, I think he holeshot? I was going nuts while everyone was asking me who the 3-digit guy was. He settled into forth behind RV, Dunge, and Metty. Usually nerves get the best of the rooks and they blow a moto though. Jesus if he beats Roczen, even for a moto, this place will implode.
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kongols 8/6/2012 10:25pm
8/6/2012 10:25pm
If you look in a past all the big name amateurs did very good at their first race- Barcia, Tomac, Bogle.
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Jack_Wagon 8/7/2012 1:12am
8/7/2012 1:12am
Hopefully he can turn some negative distractions into positive energy and do very well. Maybe then we can talk about the real future of motocross instead of the minibike specialist.
Big
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Big 8/7/2012 2:26am
8/7/2012 2:26am
Top 10 maybe? Top 5 this year is maybe the best ever?He don't stand a chance breaking in there in my opinion. He must beat a bunch of champs in shape. No way....

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Huckster
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Huckster 8/7/2012 2:59am
8/7/2012 2:59am
Huckster wrote:
top 5? Baggett, Barcia, tomac, Roczen and Musquin. So which one does he beat? Anything can happen but I don't see that although those PC bikes...
top 5? Baggett, Barcia, tomac, Roczen and Musquin. So which one does he beat? Anything can happen but I don't see that although those PC bikes have a history of breaking at the 'wick......
Riesenberg448 wrote:
I know it is hard to believe, but coming in fresh with no expectations and pressure and something to prove can surely do a lot for...
I know it is hard to believe, but coming in fresh with no expectations and pressure and something to prove can surely do a lot for you. I don't know if he'll finish top 5, but I wouldn't be surprised at all to see him running up there until the adrenaline wears off. I really do think he has the speed to be right in the mix.
so which one or two of those mentioned does he beat? practice times are great. some of our buddies on here go nuts about them, but it's a whole different story when that gate drops. Top 5 is insane fast this year in that class. full speed from gate drop to the checker and then he has to do it 2x....For me, a surprise result would be top 5. He should be top 10 IMHO based off the past history of the kids that Geico has moved up from their AM team....
TerryK
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TerryK 8/7/2012 4:36am
8/7/2012 4:36am
Top 5 first moto, top 10 second.
chrisbuehler
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chrisbuehler 8/7/2012 5:30am
8/7/2012 5:30am
Huckster wrote:
so which one or two of those mentioned does he beat? practice times are great. some of our buddies on here go nuts about them, but...
so which one or two of those mentioned does he beat? practice times are great. some of our buddies on here go nuts about them, but it's a whole different story when that gate drops. Top 5 is insane fast this year in that class. full speed from gate drop to the checker and then he has to do it 2x....For me, a surprise result would be top 5. He should be top 10 IMHO based off the past history of the kids that Geico has moved up from their AM team....
I think everyone is prob on the same page that a top 5 would be sick. That second moto might be a little rough on him. Adrenaline will get him that extra he needs in the first moto but second moto, when the whoops are 3ft deep, will be tough.
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SlowMoFo 8/7/2012 5:43am
8/7/2012 5:43am
Big wrote:
Top 10 maybe? Top 5 this year is maybe the best ever?He don't stand a chance breaking in there in my opinion. He must beat a...
Top 10 maybe? Top 5 this year is maybe the best ever?He don't stand a chance breaking in there in my opinion. He must beat a bunch of champs in shape. No way....
I agree with you but if he happens to beat some of the top 5 on that track, that will be something special!
therealjonon
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therealjonon 8/7/2012 5:54am
8/7/2012 5:54am
no knock on him cuz hes a great rider, but, to say there will be no pressure is just wrong. first pro national, whether its him or the team putting pressure on him, there will be nerves AND pressure no doubt. I say top 10 which is no bad result.

the intensity is so high in pro racing he better be able to keep the heart rate above 175 for 70 mins total.
ty159
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ty159 8/7/2012 8:52am
8/7/2012 8:52am Edited Date/Time 8/7/2012 8:56am
I know Zach has the speed to run top 5 with a good start. His conditioning shouldn't be a problem, in the second Pro Sport moto he apparently went down at the start and was 37th the first time the crossed the line, as he came through the pack, he turned his fastest lap on lap 10 I think, that to me says his conditioning is fine. He's worked with Ezra some, ans was at Eli's for a week or so, if Zach can control his nerves, and subsequently his breathing, he will be impressive. He's finally healthy and been getting consistent seat time, and it shows.

Good start and Zach is top 5-7, no doubt, bad start, he'll be in 12-15th by the end. It's harder to come throught the pack in the pro's than LL's but this kid id special when healthy, and he's healthy right now!!
1-forty-8
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1-forty-8 8/7/2012 12:47pm
8/7/2012 12:47pm
Huckster wrote:
top 5? Baggett, Barcia, tomac, Roczen and Musquin. So which one does he beat? Anything can happen but I don't see that although those PC bikes...
top 5? Baggett, Barcia, tomac, Roczen and Musquin. So which one does he beat? Anything can happen but I don't see that although those PC bikes have a history of breaking at the 'wick......
Only if there is a foreign rider on one who's in the hunt for a championship...

From what I've read about him he seems like a bit of a crasher, a fast crasher mind lol I think he'll crash and finish no where in the first moto and finish about 7th/8th in the second. Stamp it. Cool
Old School Racer 8/7/2012 10:29pm
8/7/2012 10:29pm
I think the kid will do just fine. He is one one of the best bikes (there are only 2 and Baggett rides the other one) and he has no pressure. Although i think he might be underestimating the intensity of the 250 class right now especially with the championship heated up the way it is. He made a comment in his podium speach at LL's saying something to the effect of "Southwick will be easy"

Let me tell you kid, Southwick will not be easy. Its never easy, not for a veteran or a rookie.
NateDawg122 8/7/2012 11:59pm
8/7/2012 11:59pm
I really like Zach and I have been really anxious for him to go pro. But for him to say he is looking to get a podium is very disrespectful to the big five. The intensity in that class might catch him off guard. Baggett's speed alone will probably have him scratching his head.
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dizzy8085 8/8/2012 12:02am
8/8/2012 12:02am
I would like to see him on the podium. I'm rooting for him!
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GuyB 8/8/2012 12:06am
8/8/2012 12:06am
mccread wrote:
Can he break into the top five?!
Yes. Adrenaline at a first national goes a long way. And I saw Zach before the season started, and for a few laps I was doing the, "Hey, who's that guy?"

Then do it again next weekend. And the race after that. And the one after that...

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