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Here is the deal...the top 5 in the AMA and the top 5 in the GP's are all about the same speed. Cairoli, Villopoto, Dungey, Desalle, Paulin, Tomac, Canard, Roczen, etc. would all have their day and would all win moto's...it doesn't matter if its an AMA series or the GP's. Arguing back and forth won't change that.
I'm both excited and sad if RV races the GP's...excited, because it will peek my interest in the GP's and I think he and Cairoli will fight tooth and nail for the title...but sad because I'd of loved to see RV win 5 SX titles in a row, and battling in the Nationals next summer.
Every year I think someone will step up and battle RV...and every year he finds more speed. Maybe Cairoli will be the same speed as him (I think Dungey is a bit off speed wise, and has to be have a perfect day-or RV crash-to beat him) and will be able to consistently push RV so we'll see what he has in the tank.
I also think RV is the type of personality that will take the travel and food and pressure of the GP experience in stride and it won't bother him. He's not a guy that seems to care about much beyond just twisting the throttle...bike set up, the track, etc. just don't seem to bother him that much (in contrast, I think Dungey would STRUGGLE in the GP's).
Anyway that's all just my opinion.
I would say that there are a lot more than 7 solid guys in the GP's. There are 13 GP winners for a start, they'll be 15 in MXGP next year, plus Villopoto, and a couple of others who are good solid riders but never managed a GP win. Don't think that because a lot of European riders have gone to America that there's no-one left over here, because that isn't the case. Roczen left to go to America, but was immediately replaced by Herlings and since then no-one has left to go to America. Except for Tonus who is going next year.
All I'm trying to do is make people realise that there are more to GP's than just Cairoli. There are a lot of other great riders who can win races.
Cairoli is the best in Europe, Villopoto is the best in America. We'll finally get to see who is the best in the world over 1 season. Hopefully, everyone stays healthy and at the end of it all the best man wins and then there can be no argument or excuses.
The Shop
I always thought Alessi of all people might do ok in Europe,he's missed his window of opportunity though I'd say.RV should slot it pretty good,personally I think he'll win at the early man made fly-away tracks
Also, I hope that RV going to the GP's opens the door and allows other top riders at the peak of their career to AT LEAST consider it. I'm thinking Baggett, and Alessi (a few years ago, like you mentioned) guys that seem to not thrive at SX.
Yes, it really appears to be the case.
One of the major things is , the seeming insistence on Tyla Ratray being his teamate. Now, I'm sure some here will read this and think I 'hate' Ratters - nothing could be further from the truth. I've followed his career since he came out of SA, into the GPs, through to the US, and now back to the GPs. He's back in the GPs, in the twilight of his career. To , unfortunately be bedeviled by injury - carrying on from much of his last few years 'luck' in the US.
Rattray knows the 'ins and outs' of surviving the GPs. I can't think of a better guide / mentor for RVs tilt at a World Championships than him. Some of you might have read the interview with Tyla, where he talks about having to move around Europe, for practice etc. Plonking yourself in Belgium, and only Belgium, is not the way to do it. It's a real MX 'hub', that many use as such, but you need to go from track to track / area to area / country to country, and be adaptable to the circumstances - weather etc. I'd say RV will have a couple of bases.
Rattray can offer so much to a bloke doing the GP circuit for the first time. Even a bloke like RV, who seems so self contained, can benefit from a bloke that's done it before. RV and Rattray, will be a formidable team.
And, if RV does a "2014 Nationals" - not compete - , well, Tyla's got a great , Factory Kawasaki ride, on full on Works bikes. Something, as much as I admire Ratters, he wouldn't have got without RVs influence. I hope Ratters can get back into the thick of it all, and avoid injury.
And, there's another Big thing for this "RV to the GPs" saga - RV has the chance, to have bikes made to his exact needs and requirements. He'll have access to Works Bikes, like he's never had before - at least in racing. That's quite a thing / temptation.
Without a doubt, a production based 'works bike' is a trick, trick thing, the likes of which but a few ever get to use, but a full on Factory SR, well, that's something else. It's up to the rider to make use of / take advantage of what a custom made Works Bike can deliver - and, there's times when they've been a marked disadvantage, with factories going off on hair brained tangents, telling riders "this is it, use it". And Kawasaki have been notable for that. But, I think, with their fearce desire to get a 450 Wotld Championships, RV will get whatever he wants. Now, that could be Factory Exotica, or he could prefer a production based weapon - CP certainly went that way when he was last in the GPs ( he had the offer of Factory Bikes being available to him, from what I read, but in testing, he preferred a production based, Works / PC bike, and stuck with that)
As I've written previously, I hope it happens - RV races the GPs. He could win, he could lose. It's Motocross, folks. But, I think he's certainly the US rider that seems the best suited to the vicissitudes of World Championshops Motocross, and I do believe he could end up winning the title.But, he's going to have to work at it - he'll be up against an entirely different field, and 'breed' of riders.
Over here the high profile style trainer regime isn't such a done thing.I guess the logistics in the US is more clockwork,one day races,and all on Saturdays,back training same day each week possibly
So, I don't think training will be a problem for him. He may well hook up with Rattray with his fitness regime, as well. The partnership with Rattray brings so much to the table, I reckon.
Then you see his wife, that amongst all of the nasty crap I've read about her being so skinny, obviously is a bit of a fitness fanatic - with her, I don't think he'll have a bad diet (by the way - good food / produce in Europe - not a problem, at all), and will have a good fitness training partner. She's a runner? - well, if he does a Bus . RV, Camper Van set up to many races, he's not got a 'sit on her arse, and concentrate on looking like a trophy wife' lady on his hands.
There are plenty of great trainers in Europe, that RV can hook up with, with Moto specific programs / experience , if RV wants a 'controller', They perhaps just don't have the hype (much deserved) that Aldon Baker has.
You never hear much about Cairolis training regime, other than he is superfit. Either a recent Dirt Bike Rider, or Moto issue, had an interview with him. He said he'd never had a 'trainer' as such, but knew his bodies requirements. But he did monitor his health through medical checks and testing, to limit overtraining. . It works for him - I liked his comment about being flexible in training, not obsessive - he said something along the lines of, he didn't stress about going for a run, at say 9am / 10.30 etc on the dot , he would fit one in at 4 /4.30 if he felt like it. And, he emphasized riding, as the key fitness regime for him.
when is the impending press release?!
not even seen any official confirmation yet that this is definitely happening!!!!
It is all dependent on how serious RV takes it.
Pit Row
It's a long time since he was in the series.
I'm sick of hearing that the US riders go out harder, if its so true then why don't we see that in the mxdn?
I hope it's the fit and fast Villopoto that shows up, he is a beast no doubt, he is, however, not alone in his capabilities and it's about time this argument got shut the fuck up.
also i would like to point out that cairoli has had the measure of reed (the year he was ama champ- 09) , dungey 12 and 13 at the des nations..
if what reed was saying was true, then the ama champ would walk all over all the gp riders every time they meet at the mxdn (or clear off at the start of the races) - we've seen that not to be the case
it will be interesting to see how it unfolds- i am convinced that its not only cairoli that rv will have to worry about next year. I think next year will be the year we see paulin and desalle mount serious title challenges aswel, add JVH and searle to that mix and you have a very interesting championship! there will be more than 2 race winners next year- all these guys will be running a similar pace (de dyker and simpson will be up there too in the sand races)
i'm definitely going to make the effort to get to more gp's next season- its going to be awesome for us fans! its a real shame theres no lierop or valkenswaard gps as they are 2 of my favourites to go to, but there are plenty of others that i have always wanted to visit too! (the italian and french rounds will be really good, and the spanish round!)
Paulin was still fairly new on a 450, Searle was having his first ever ride on a 450, Desalle was injured, Herlings was still a kid, JVH wasn't there either but was still in MX2. So that wouldn't really be an accurate reflection on how good they are now
And separately
Steed thanks for the link
Not saying it means AMA racing is better, its just different than what they're used to.
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