Went down the rabbit hole watching 20 (wtf!) year old racing tonight in the garage.
I respect anyone who has ever raced Professionally on a dirtbike, any time period… all the eras, all the pros, there’s been just so many amazing riders and stories. Everts on an alloy frame 500, Pourcel on a PC 250f, Reedy on his 04 YZ, Millsaps in 13 (?) on that Suzuki leading the 450SX… and the intensity of RV/Tomac, fluidity and style of Jett…
But dang. The ferocity of RC and JS in some of those outdoor rounds in 06 is truly unbelievable. Carby factory 450s, tiny mufflers, maximum intensity and throttle pegged, wide open for 2 motos… simply incredible stuff. I dunno if that has been repeated!
https://youtu.be/8IRu0aW1KWw?si=RWn9CSWBFr0aKatA
Anyway. Sorry to go down memory lane. 20y just seems way to long!
Here’s to another 20. Good luck Hunter!
James Stewart is really lucky he can still walk. You forget how peaky those tracks were back then, slower speed but really steep and awkward sections. So different from today
James on that Splitfire KX125.
Wide open on a well tuned race motor.
I was at Southwick 07, RC's last year. Him and James were going at it. They were running the track in the opposite direction that year. While leading James took the inside of a sweeping left hand turn and RC passed James taking the much rougher outside. RC's bike was swapping side to side wide open popping on the rev limiter! It was insane! One of those moments you don't forget.
Gosh damn.
No matter how many times I rewatch the 2006 season, it still leaves me jaw-dropped. What those two were doing feels impossible, to this day.
The Shop
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
Free shipping: VITALMX
Imagine a dude like me re-watching Terrafirma and Crusty Demons of Dirt. 30 years. 😐
That speed still plays today
Ever wonder what Ocotillo Wells would be like had the Crusty video not come out ? Having gone out there since 78' it definitely became more popular after that video came out. OW used to be just a place most people drove by on their way to Glamis 😛 Oh well, progress right ? Time marches on...
Shell Reef would be just a bunch of hillclimbs, you could camp at Pole Line Road without having to listen to thrash metal all night, and there probably wouldn't be a fence around the Gas Domes.
The carbed 250's and 450's from 2004-2008 were NASTY. So much explosive power in those beasts. No special mapping for RC,CR, or JS. Just the absolute most power you can put in the engine was the goal. It was awesome.
Almost.... factory kawi.
Though his am bike had the graphics.
25 years since MC won his last race. Wow. Time really flies.
Looking back… you’re damn right. Checkers or wreckers was the real motto for him then… some amazing raw speed but truly on the dangerous edge. He had just so many big hits over the years… It’s amazing that guys today can likely ride close to, at those speeds, but the furious battles JS/RC engaged in during those high speed outdoor races were almost on the reckless edge… no fear (and complete commitment and belief).
remember that 01 Loretta's like it was yesterday. Such an epic year.
Terrafirma 2 is the Gold Standard for MX film.
PLUS, Soundtrack is absolutely top-shelf.
I believe James was on Factory (Chevy sponsored) Kawasaki no Pro Circuit Splitfire. Big James would not have his boy on the farm team.
May be referring to 2001 before going pro.
I remember watching rc on the woody woodpecker 250 and just begging my parents for a cr85 big wheel lol
I got a clapped 2000 cr125
Close enough.
Pit Row
Could easily be wrong - what 125 was he on when he went over the bars from braking too hard?
That’s the racing I was thinking of.
Yes.
Was he ever on a spitfire kawasaki? I though he was factory the whole time?
I remember some mini bikes and maybe the 125 at the word minis.
You really think so? Maybe in the 7-12 range, but not at the front of the pack I don't think.
You pair modern bikes with those throttle hands, yes. No question.
He was. He had a factory bike with a PC pipe.
I didn't realize you meant with modern bikes. Given that, you might be right. The fitness in today's athletes though is so much better I don't think it's a no-brainer.
The fitness of today’s riders surpasses that of RC? Not a chance.
Yep RC was fit!!!!!!
That was 2006
Post a reply to: Damn. Has it really been 2 decades?