Houston Observations

Houston Observations


Practice Notes:

Hmmm, where to start! The difficult track in the Reliant Stafium was claiming riders left and right (and mainly, down). The jump that was originally a quad was modified at the last moment before practice, transforming into a standard triple. Well, not quite standard, as it was larger than the other triple. The rhythm section that was located right before the portion of the track that went backwards down the start was quite technical and interesting to watch. Ryan Sipes busted out a very technical triple before the oversized (originally a quad) triple that only a couple of top 450 guys nailed. He looked to be extremely fast but he proved that a pack of black cats crosses his path before nearly every night show. He needs some luck for a change! Brayton was very impressive, posting the fastest lap during the first timed practice. Reed was duking it out for the fastest time during this session also, looking somewhat rested and relaxed but eager to mix it up. One of the funniest things I have witnessed in a while took place during the lites A practice. Pourcel was doing his normal roll around the track in first gear deal when Barcia comes up behind him, staying right behind Pourcel for nearly three laps. Pourcel was moving out of the way constantly, but Barcia was just moving with him. It was obvious Barcia was trying to play some mind games. I liked it! Pourcel pulled into the mechanic area after he had enough of "the little kid" playing follow the (points) leader. Regal was going for it in practice, which ended up resulting in a reality check. He attempted to launch the triple on to table out of the corner in the aforementioned rhythm section by the start, but endoed off the face and had a gnarly get off, narrowly missing slamming directly into the face of the table. He was tough and got up after a little bit. He never attempted that jump again to my knowledge. The same section is where Stroupe's season was ruined. Stroup-a-loop got together with Kyle Cunningham and went down hard, apparently suffering a dislocated shoulder. A laugh was delivered when Lawrence came around and saw Dungey tipped over in a turn and pinned it over the next obstacle, roosting Dungey. Definitely got a chuckle over that! Wilson was on the gas, proving that he belongs in America and not stuck at the border. I heard Mitch Payton saying that he thinks Deano possibly needs to calm down a little.


Heat Races and LCQs:

Barcia holeshot his heat and looked to pull away from his Atlanta rival, Martin Davalos. Gravity had other plans and Barcia fell in a turn, letting Davalos go unchallenged for the win. Barcia regained his composure and didn't let the fall become anything more than a speed bump in his night. Sipes went down in this same section while working up through the pack Pourcel won his heat easily also. Millsaps had one of his textbook heat wins while Dungey rode away with his heat. Cunningham worked his way into the lead in the LQC past Levi Kilbarger with Tapia on the outside looking in. Last turn, Tapia banzai'd it into Kilbarger and ended both of their nights. Regal and Chisolm were the biggest names in the Supercross Class LCQ, and they both did what they needed to do and secured their spots in the main, Chisolm taking the win.


Lites Main:

The holeshot goes to Pourcel. Is there anything else that needs to be said? I think he's going to win 99% percent of the time he starts in first place. Mistakes are a rare occurrance in the Frenchman's riding. Barcia did not get the start he needed if he wanted to dice with Pourcel, but slowly creeped his way up. Bagget was flying, starting in second and not loosing sight of Christophe. Wilson did not get a top-notch start either. As fate would have it, the three rookies ended up in a fierce battle. Wilson went for the pass through the huge whoop section right before the finish on the last lap, but went down after dropping the front wheel while trying to blitz the whoops. This handed Barcia the final podium spot, Bagget claiming second and Pourcel taking the win and thus being crowned

the East Coast Lites Champion.


Supercross Class Main:

Villopoto annihilated the start and looked to check out while the hungry veteran Windham was thinking otherwise and latched onto his tail. Reed had a horrid start (sounds familiar) but methodically worked his way up. Tedesco stayed in third for a long time until Dungey challenged for the spot, but the points leader fell right after the mechanic area, dropping several spots. Dungey had one more close call but rode to a fifth place finish. Reed held off Dungey for fourth, helping out his team mate in doing so. Villopoto rode nearly flawless and notched yet another win. I have never been as impressed at anyone's whoop speed as I was with Kevin Windham's. He was one of few riders who blitzed them instead of jumping, and it did result in some sketchy-ness. K-dub kept it on two wheels and finished second with Tedesco rounding out the podium.


The points race has just gotten tighter, and it is sure to be a nail-bighter right down to the moment the checkered flag is flown in Las Vegas. Congratulations to Pourcel and the Pro Circuit team on their latest number one plate. They're gonna need bigger doors on that semi. How 'bout one of those internships Guyb! Haha