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648
Joined
8/3/2009
Location
Rouse Hill, AU
Edited Date/Time
1/27/2012 5:36am
Steve states in his Observations column: "right now in my obese state and on that track, I’m pretty sure I could stay within 55 seconds of RV "
I am sure that's right. 55 seconds on a track where RV doing 1:37 would be do-able. It brings up an interesting subject.
What times, on a one lap basis, would old pro's and ex racers and even Vital MX contributors be able to do in comparison to RV. I am not aware of specific times, but I know Ping can hang with his guys and may even be quicker in some sections of a track. Nathan Ramsey raced recently, did he match or beat Tye Simmonds?
So, on a nice track for old bastards, not a rough as hell deal, could Steve Matthes or Ping or MC or Jeff Ward or Fro keep RV in sight? Have you shared a track with any of these guys?
I am sure that's right. 55 seconds on a track where RV doing 1:37 would be do-able. It brings up an interesting subject.
What times, on a one lap basis, would old pro's and ex racers and even Vital MX contributors be able to do in comparison to RV. I am not aware of specific times, but I know Ping can hang with his guys and may even be quicker in some sections of a track. Nathan Ramsey raced recently, did he match or beat Tye Simmonds?
So, on a nice track for old bastards, not a rough as hell deal, could Steve Matthes or Ping or MC or Jeff Ward or Fro keep RV in sight? Have you shared a track with any of these guys?
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The track was quite short too.
"USA- Ryan Villopoto- 1:37.9
Kuwait- Faisal Ben-Awadah 2:32.4
So our buddy Faisal was approximately 55 seconds off of RV’s time. That’s not at the end of the race. That’s one lap! Seriously, right now in my obese state and on that track, I’m pretty sure I could stay within 55 seconds of RV and that’s brutal. Just in case you think Ben-Awadah was not showing everything he had in practice, he was lapped four times in the qualifier on Saturday by RV.
Sometimes you gotta let go of the reigns, take a step back, and start enjoying life again
One of the secrets of the MXDN is that there are some incredibly bad riders from some far-off countries that show up. Did I mention that Canada wasn’t able to send a team yet? Ok, good. Just checking. Anyways, countries like China, Thailand and a new entry for worst motocross country ever Kuwait all entered riders and they were out there on the same track as the world’s best riders, which was a bit funny to see. For example of how slow they are, going off Saturday’s practice:
USA- Ryan Villopoto- 1:37.9
Kuwait- Faisal Ben-Awadah 2:32.4
So our buddy Faisal was approximately 55 seconds off of RV’s time. That’s not at the end of the race. That’s one lap! Seriously, right now in my obese state and on that track, I’m pretty sure I could stay within 55 seconds of RV and that’s brutal. Just in case you think Ben-Awadah was not showing everything he had in practice, he was lapped four times in the qualifier on Saturday by RV.
But the cool thing was seeing someone from Kuwait in full sheik robes in the pit boxes. That was awesome and I kept looking for Sargent Slaughter to come in and fix him up real good. Hey at least the guys from Iceland weren’t last anymore, they put a hurting on China, Kuwait, Greece and Thailand this year in the quali races.
That’s all I’ve got from the MXDN. I had a good time with some good people the entire trip. It’s fun to see everyone loosen up after the race, and a good time was had by all. If you guys have anything to say, shoot me an email at matthes@racerxonline.com.
http://www.racerxonline.com/2011/09/21/observations-motocross-of-nations
Steve Matthes points out that RV is 55 seconds faster per lap than Kuwait's Faisal Ben-Awadah. Further mocking his culture, "But the cool thing was seeing someone from Kuwait in full sheik robes in the pit boxes. That was awesome and I kept looking for Sargent Slaughter to come in and fix him up real good. Hey at least the guys from Iceland weren’t last anymore, they put a hurting on China, Kuwait, Greece and Thailand this year in the quali races."
Matthes... why not point out that our sport embraces people from different cultures and celebrate the fact that a team from the "Middle East" came to the MXDN to race against the world's best. Furthermore, Milton Friedman once said if a country is trading with another country, they are not at war. The same could be said in sports.
First or last.... congratulations China, Kuwait, Greece and Thailand for racing the MXDN. Although you did not of qualify the MXDN, you left a winner.
A lot could be said by that Mr Matthes. Maybe you should take a lesson in life from the teams that did not qualify.
Malin did make a comment about his seat jump technique during the qualifier Saturday saying something along the lines of "Well at least they know how to seat bounce in Kuwait. Good form."
I'm glad the Middle East is starting to embrace motorsports. Qatar already has MotoGP. Bahrain has F1. Abu Dhabi has it as well. Not to mention the Touring car races that go there. Let's not slam the door on interest from potential sponsors. There's a lot of money floating around the Middle East that hasn't come to Western Markets yet. I'd like some of those companies and oil/business tycoon millionares to take an interest in the sport.
If this is an editorial or journalism from the premier MX website, then this sport has an enormous mountain to climb to be main stream.
Ever listen to Steve Young on ESPN or does a HOF QB with a JD analyze football too deeply for you?
You can rah-rah them all you want but it doesn't make it right that they share the track in a race with the worlds best riders.
And as far as me staying within 55 sec of RV on a 1:35 track, I stand by that.
Pit Row
They aren't at a good enough level to race with the worlds best riders. I had more than a few guys tell me it was dangerous out there, the guys were almost getting landed on out there. There's no qualification to race the MXDN, just submit a team (probably pay some money) and you're good to go.
You know motocross as good as anyone in the industry…. Write it.
The fact that we have "live" motos on NBC is pointing in that direction.
Specifically SX.... easier to seat and video in a stadium.
A,B & C practices(I think the FIM could pre-judge that pretty well as to where which countries should fall for the most part)
A qualifiers as normal 3 classes.
1 B qualifier all mixed.
No C qualifier.
A mains like normal.
20minute B final,winning country transfers to A-Final.
10 minute C final.
Even it was only 2 or 3 countries going after each other in the C final it would still be neat.
Give them all little trophies and a pat on the back & thank you as a gesture of encouragement and send them on their way.
Just like they do at some peewee races.
End result,it is safer and everyone is happy.
No ones feelings get hurt and the C guys have cool little trophies to show their fellow country men when they return home.
Encouragement goes farther then benching them.
https://youtu.be/yn1f-EyOAkA
But hey,it sounds cool right? And journalists have a way of wording things to make you believe everything they write.
My opinion on that is....
Just because a sport reaches a large 'main stream' audience or gets lots of mainstream media coverage it doesn't necessarily make the sport in general mainstream.
Sports that most children participate in growing up (like Baseball,Football,Basketball maybe even Golf) are not subculture sports,they are what I consider as mainstream sports in the USA. Due to the fact that almost everyone has participated in one of those sports whether it was just for fun or serious competition.In a sense those sports are the American way because everyone participates in them and that is the standard for being mainstream in my eyes.
Personally,I do not consider NASCAR a mainstream sport, I believe NASCAR is still in its own subculture and it will always be that way for many reasons (cost & dangers age limits etc.).Everyone owning a car does not make it mainstream either....unless they own a competition level NASCAR.
I think MX/SX is it's own subculture and will always be that way also....just as surfing,bmx,skateboarding,snowboarding,skiing, professional fishing is.
Does MX/SX have room for growth? Sure it does....even enormous growth!
But having a so-called large mainstream fan base does not make the sport in general mainstream.
Everyone participating in it is what makes it mainstream.
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