Posts
649
Joined
8/3/2009
Location
Rouse Hill, AU
Edited Date/Time
1/26/2012 8:32pm
I have put the riders into groups reflecting my assessment of the realistic expectations that surround these guys. The collective mindset of the riders, the teams and spectators.
A+ Winners
Stewart
Reed
Dungey
Villopoto
These guys expect to win. The top of the box is the only place that is acceptable. Of these I feel Dungey may have the lesser killer instinct, only 'cause it is all so controlled.
A Top 3 guys.
Canard
Grant
Tedesco
Windham
Short
A podium is expected by these riders. A win can come from the demise of all of the top guys. They know how to win.
B+ Top 5 guys.
Metcalfe
Brayton
Millsaps
These guys would be happy with an appearance or three on the podium. A win would take a miracle or four.
B Top 10 guys.
Regal
Reardon
Simmonds
Hill
Wey
Stroupe
M Alessi
Chisholm
Hahn
Blose
Goerke
Boni
These guys expect to and should make the main but bad luck may prevent that some nights. Regal may be the surprise package, he may be a podium regular. Reardon and Simmons may surprise the US spectators who will be wondering who they are when they are up the front of a heat or an LCQ. Electric start will help Reardon make it this year, he would have had such a better start to his US career if he had been able to restart after a small mishap.
C Top 20
J Alessi
Durham
Partridge
Lemoine
Byrne
Borkenhagen
Gosselaar
Bright
Lawrence
Thomas
Friese
Clarke
Peick
Browne
Albertson
These riders hope to make the main. Top ten would be considered a wonderful result.
Overall, I hope Reed wins. I expect mains stacked with talented hard working racers. I hope for some great racing.
I expect James to be the fastest at times but a mansion is a better place to spend the night than the emergency ward.
I hope Tye Simmons and Reardon end one or 2 nights with a top 3 in a heat or even a main. I hope Regal becomes a major player. I hope Metty wins one. I hope JGR and H&H go home happy. I know Canard and Short will be happy, they always are !!
I believe that we will not have one dominant guy. 2011 may be the best season ever.
A+ Winners
Stewart
Reed
Dungey
Villopoto
These guys expect to win. The top of the box is the only place that is acceptable. Of these I feel Dungey may have the lesser killer instinct, only 'cause it is all so controlled.
A Top 3 guys.
Canard
Grant
Tedesco
Windham
Short
A podium is expected by these riders. A win can come from the demise of all of the top guys. They know how to win.
B+ Top 5 guys.
Metcalfe
Brayton
Millsaps
These guys would be happy with an appearance or three on the podium. A win would take a miracle or four.
B Top 10 guys.
Regal
Reardon
Simmonds
Hill
Wey
Stroupe
M Alessi
Chisholm
Hahn
Blose
Goerke
Boni
These guys expect to and should make the main but bad luck may prevent that some nights. Regal may be the surprise package, he may be a podium regular. Reardon and Simmons may surprise the US spectators who will be wondering who they are when they are up the front of a heat or an LCQ. Electric start will help Reardon make it this year, he would have had such a better start to his US career if he had been able to restart after a small mishap.
C Top 20
J Alessi
Durham
Partridge
Lemoine
Byrne
Borkenhagen
Gosselaar
Bright
Lawrence
Thomas
Friese
Clarke
Peick
Browne
Albertson
These riders hope to make the main. Top ten would be considered a wonderful result.
Overall, I hope Reed wins. I expect mains stacked with talented hard working racers. I hope for some great racing.
I expect James to be the fastest at times but a mansion is a better place to spend the night than the emergency ward.
I hope Tye Simmons and Reardon end one or 2 nights with a top 3 in a heat or even a main. I hope Regal becomes a major player. I hope Metty wins one. I hope JGR and H&H go home happy. I know Canard and Short will be happy, they always are !!
I believe that we will not have one dominant guy. 2011 may be the best season ever.
It's nice to see all the names together and appreciate all the talent in the class.
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Besides that ,like 500guy pointed out, I think you have Metty under rated and Tadesco over rated.
The big ? marks for me this year will be Regal and Stroupe. Both of these kids could either light the world on fire if the stars align right.
It's about a results comfort zone, so a lot of guys will go better than the rankings suggest and some will go worse.
20 great guys will face the starter in the main. All will earn the spot, some might have been a little lucky. There will be a lot of talent watching from the stands . . .
The high rankings for Reardon and Simmons come from an results from home and abroad against local and international competition. Not just finishes, but how they raced up until a minor mishap. I recall Reardon 2nd or 3rd in a heat, getting punted by JLaw, not able to start a bike and trying to push it up a jump. Thereafter not making the main and less confidence . . I assume !! Naturally I have followed those careers a little closer - I have high expectations, as would they coming off domestic success in the previous years.
I hope the list gets re assessed after the first few races as someone who would be happy with a top ten at the outset, may start to expect a top five or top three. Regal ? Blose ? Millsaps ?
Might we see a mellower James ? A frustrated Chad ? A Dungey surrounded by overwhelming talent ?
tedesco, short, and kdub down to B+
alessi and up to B+
hill and stroupe up to A
and JLaw....what a waste. A+ ability....probably should be in the B+ catagory with the other pretenders but has earned just where he sits on your list i suppose.
reardon has under delivered for sometime. (better outdoors thou) .....C+ (and i'm an aussie)
KDUB!....the legend.....A+ as well...........
stroupes a wrecking ball.....nuff said.........
Any chance you're currently working out the rankings for the Lites Class (East and West)?
For one....i think KW is going to surprise a lot of people this year.....just like he does EVERY year!
Felpro............good friggin' list man! Very realistic from what I can see.
A+ (Majority of the wins will come from this group. They will be regulars on the podium)
Stewart
Reed
Dungey
Villopoto
A (Might be a couple of wins among this group. They will each see the podium a few times)
Canard
Grant
Windham
Short
A- (These guys will see the podium a few times, but it's unlikely they'll get a win)
Metcalfe
Hill - (When he's healed up)
B+ (Might see the podium a couple of times, but more often will fill in leftover top 10 positions)
Tedesco
Brayton
Millsaps (Hard to rate - He'll be on the podium as often as he's outside the top 15)
Stoupe
B (Occasional top 10's)
Regal
Albertson
Wey
Chisholm
Hahn
Blose
Goerke
Byrne
C+ (Will not make all the mains, but are still solid riders)
Boni
Reardon
Simmonds
M Alessi
J Alessi
Durham
Partridge
Lemoine
Borkenhagen
Thomas
Friese
Clarke
Alessi will be lucky to qualify this year unless there isn't any whoops!
Pit Row
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