Why Jason Anderson May Just Be What the Sport Needs

bd wrote:

There are differences between 1993 and 2014: 1993 had the following: - Stanton who was over trained and burned out - Bradshaw who hated his job...

There are differences between 1993 and 2014:

1993 had the following:

- Stanton who was over trained and burned out
- Bradshaw who hated his job (racing dirt bikes)
- MX Keid and Rock who were better outdoors
- MC who brought new technique

1993 could of been radically different with a healthy RJ, motivated JMB, passionate Bradshaw, and hungry Stanton. MC, who has a lot of talent and changed the game also came into 250 class at the perfect time.

2014

- Field is stacked and hungry with veterans (DM 18, Stew, Dunge, Canard, Barcia)
- Field is stacked with youth (Tomac and KROC)
- Field has some serious rookies (DW15, BB4, JA, CS14)

The rider you mentioned, MC, changed the game via new technique. Before him, it was Hannah and RJ. RC and RV followed MC by changing the game. How/what technique, training does JA18 bring to the table?

* RV is a living legend. Comparing the 2015 SX champ to RV is foolish and short sighted.

bd wrote:

There are differences between 1993 and 2014: 1993 had the following: - Stanton who was over trained and burned out - Bradshaw who hated his job...

There are differences between 1993 and 2014:

1993 had the following:

- Stanton who was over trained and burned out
- Bradshaw who hated his job (racing dirt bikes)
- MX Keid and Rock who were better outdoors
- MC who brought new technique

1993 could of been radically different with a healthy RJ, motivated JMB, passionate Bradshaw, and hungry Stanton. MC, who has a lot of talent and changed the game also came into 250 class at the perfect time.

2014

- Field is stacked and hungry with veterans (DM 18, Stew, Dunge, Canard, Barcia)
- Field is stacked with youth (Tomac and KROC)
- Field has some serious rookies (DW15, BB4, JA, CS14)

The rider you mentioned, MC, changed the game via new technique. Before him, it was Hannah and RJ. RC and RV followed MC by changing the game. How/what technique, training does JA18 bring to the table?

* RV is a living legend. Comparing the 2015 SX champ to RV is foolish and short sighted.

2WheelsForTheMasses wrote:

Aye~

Your basically discrediting Mc for his rise in 93...get real!!

bd wrote:

There are differences between 1993 and 2014: 1993 had the following: - Stanton who was over trained and burned out - Bradshaw who hated his job...

There are differences between 1993 and 2014:

1993 had the following:

- Stanton who was over trained and burned out
- Bradshaw who hated his job (racing dirt bikes)
- MX Keid and Rock who were better outdoors
- MC who brought new technique

1993 could of been radically different with a healthy RJ, motivated JMB, passionate Bradshaw, and hungry Stanton. MC, who has a lot of talent and changed the game also came into 250 class at the perfect time.

2014

- Field is stacked and hungry with veterans (DM 18, Stew, Dunge, Canard, Barcia)
- Field is stacked with youth (Tomac and KROC)
- Field has some serious rookies (DW15, BB4, JA, CS14)

The rider you mentioned, MC, changed the game via new technique. Before him, it was Hannah and RJ. RC and RV followed MC by changing the game. How/what technique, training does JA18 bring to the table?

* RV is a living legend. Comparing the 2015 SX champ to RV is foolish and short sighted.

newmann wrote:

[i]1993 had the following:[/i] [i]- Stanton who was over trained and burned out[/i] Could the same thing not be said for Villopoto? The guy spent the...

1993 had the following:

- Stanton who was over trained and burned out

Could the same thing not be said for Villopoto? The guy spent the last x number of years crushing everyone. That level of commitment is enough to drive anyone over the edge. Stanton was a stud though, dude did not have a flowing riding style, just muscled the bike around to one championship to another.

hammertime wrote:

Because of posts like this, vital is the gift that keeps giving...hahaha

Dx3moto wrote:

I think Jason Anderson has a lot of potential to be a threat, and will contend for wins/podiums, but look at someone like Jake Weimer. He...

I think Jason Anderson has a lot of potential to be a threat, and will contend for wins/podiums, but look at someone like Jake Weimer. He won a lot more than Anderson on 250's and look at him now. It's harsh but its the reality of professional motocross.

bd wrote:

I agree.... the intensity, racing, training, traveling, press.... RV sounds burned out. Going to Europe is blessing for him, his family, and fans.

bayodome wrote:

jonesaustin - I like you're thinking on this, but just don't see it happening. In 1993, McGrath was not only coming off of a much more...

jonesaustin - I like you're thinking on this, but just don't see it happening. In 1993, McGrath was not only coming off of a much more dominant two years in a row ('91 and '92) of winning the West Coast SX series (plus finishing runner up in '90), he also brought a whole new BMX-inspired riding style with him that no one had ever seen before in the 250 class. Bayle had his super smooth style, Bradshaw was a flashy basher, and Stanton was a work horse. McGrath's style was a mixture of Bayle and Bradshaw that left Stanton (and the rest of the stiff riding paradigm) literally in the dust.

I do agree that Anderson has a unique riding style that's very enjoyable to watch, but are his style and speed that much better than everyone else who will be competing in 2015 to run away with premier class title in his rookie year? No. I have no doubt that he has race winning speed, and he could even be a championship contender, but the field is far more skilled, practiced, and refined than they were 22 years ago. There are few riding techniques that are kept secret nowadays, and riders are far more apt to pick up new tricks that may or may not work (look at Bogle's foot thingy...the jury's still out on that one if it does anything but you see more and more riders doing it nowadays).

Riders that break molds and break new ground in MX are rare:

Bailey and Bayle - precise and smooth
Bradshaw and Hannah - raw speed
McGrath - BMX style precision combined with raw talent
Carmichael - raw speed and 100 percent commitment to winning at all costs
Pastrana - pure talent, creative, perfect balance
Stewart - created a new riding technique, displayed true athleticism on a motorcycle

I would put guys like Roczen and Tomac in this list long before Anderson, but all of their careers are young and they still have plenty of time to make their marks.

StixxEnormous wrote:

I don't chime in on Vital very often, but to doubt that the next era of 450 moto is anything but Rokzen/Tomac, then AC is wishful...

I don't chime in on Vital very often, but to doubt that the next era of 450 moto is anything but Rokzen/Tomac, then AC is wishful thinking. Watch Anderson... You absolutely CANNOT ride a 450 the way he rides a 250. Case in point: why has Barcia struggled? (By "struggle", I simply mean has not lived up to expectations).

StixxEnormous wrote:

I don't chime in on Vital very often, but to doubt that the next era of 450 moto is anything but Rokzen/Tomac, then AC is wishful...

I don't chime in on Vital very often, but to doubt that the next era of 450 moto is anything but Rokzen/Tomac, then AC is wishful thinking. Watch Anderson... You absolutely CANNOT ride a 450 the way he rides a 250. Case in point: why has Barcia struggled? (By "struggle", I simply mean has not lived up to expectations).

IWreckALot wrote:

Barcia doesn't know when to turn the aggression up or down and doesn't know how to maintain his momentum in corners. . . If you absolutely...

Barcia doesn't know when to turn the aggression up or down and doesn't know how to maintain his momentum in corners. . . If you absolutely think you can't ride a 450 as aggressive as a 250, how do you explain how RV has been doing it over the last few years?

I'll answer, you have to have a VERY good off the bike program to tie along with your on the bike performance. Barcia no doubt works HARD. But hard does not equal efficient. The same can be said for many riders on the line.

Anderson proved that he really stepped up his off the bike program. So I wouldn't be surprised if he came out swinging. He's just a huge question mark if he can keep it going.

But I'll also agree that the podium will be full of KRoc, Tomac and AC will for the next decade.