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7327
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7/17/2007
Location
TX
US
Edited Date/Time
4/13/2013 9:48am
So, how is it that the most competitive SX season in decades is becoming a Ryan Villopoto romp? That's what I wondered before the Houston SX. And now I know why that is.
Watching the race, I started thinking about the running legend Steve Prefontaine. Pre was a bit of an enigma, in the sense that he didn't have the fast, leg-blur cadence of a Jim Ryun, the feather-soft stride of Frank Shorter or the pure endurance of Kenny Moore. If the race was about those things, he wasn't going to win. When Pre ran, there was no doubt that it was hard work, and there was no doubt that other men had talents that Pre didn't. But when he died in a car crash in 1975, Pre owned every American record from 2 miles through 10,000 meters. He did that because, as he said, "Some people race to see who's fastest. I race to see who has the most guts."
Well, if this SX series was about pure riding artistry coupled with a limitless capacity for risk acceptance, nobody would be able to touch James Stewart. If it was about passion and energy, Trey Canard or Justin Barcia would be walking away with it right now. If it was about cool, calm, analytical racing that capitalizes on smart decisions and endless physical fitness, Ryan Dungey would be your guy. But somehow Villo has made it a series about who has the most guts, and nobody - NOBODY - has more guts than he does. You can watch him ride and he looks like Pre; it doesn't look easy, it doesn't look pretty, and sometimes it doesn't look like a work of art, but one thing is easy to see...it doesn't look like anyone can beat him. Nobody has the guts that he does. I'm sure Pre would approve.
Watching the race, I started thinking about the running legend Steve Prefontaine. Pre was a bit of an enigma, in the sense that he didn't have the fast, leg-blur cadence of a Jim Ryun, the feather-soft stride of Frank Shorter or the pure endurance of Kenny Moore. If the race was about those things, he wasn't going to win. When Pre ran, there was no doubt that it was hard work, and there was no doubt that other men had talents that Pre didn't. But when he died in a car crash in 1975, Pre owned every American record from 2 miles through 10,000 meters. He did that because, as he said, "Some people race to see who's fastest. I race to see who has the most guts."
Well, if this SX series was about pure riding artistry coupled with a limitless capacity for risk acceptance, nobody would be able to touch James Stewart. If it was about passion and energy, Trey Canard or Justin Barcia would be walking away with it right now. If it was about cool, calm, analytical racing that capitalizes on smart decisions and endless physical fitness, Ryan Dungey would be your guy. But somehow Villo has made it a series about who has the most guts, and nobody - NOBODY - has more guts than he does. You can watch him ride and he looks like Pre; it doesn't look easy, it doesn't look pretty, and sometimes it doesn't look like a work of art, but one thing is easy to see...it doesn't look like anyone can beat him. Nobody has the guts that he does. I'm sure Pre would approve.
Edit: On second thought, absolutely is the wrong word. I think it's really hard to compare riders at completely different points in their career. I think that comparison should wait until both are retired.
The Shop
Especially when you look at phases of careers and overall wins etc...
James definitely had times where he was whooping on Reedy, 07 was horrible to watch, but Reedy was the only guy to consecutively beat down on RC more than once or twice...
Stanton was 3 time champ but not as many wins etc...
Hannah was so dominant but SX was basically MX then, even if it might have been more jumpy than MX at the time...
Also, Ricky had 48 sx wins I think? RV will track that down I believe... he's at 30-32 now and carving em out. And RV is gonna be a 3 peat Champ, which neither Chad nor James have done or will do. RV will probably be the 2nd best SXer of all time, and MX i'd put him top 3... Maybe 2... Kid's an animal
If you listen to "winners circle" on the homepage, he talks about the start. Basically, it's a separate race, and he will go all out to get that position.
IMO, RD isn't willing to do that, he just isn't that guy, and what's funny to me, is when I would race, I was a whole lot more RD than RV. If the other guy wants to kill himself in the first turn, or first couple laps, go ahead.. you'll see me later on in the race. (hopefully)
races accounted for most of Davi's lead. You got the midpack right at Daytona as he finished 10th and since then has
finished 4th, 2nd, 5th. Davi had a great first half of the season and still could win the championship, but luck has nothing to
do with RV1 winning the championship if he does. Sounds like your the one who is Cryan, and your term should just about
be up as Commander of chief.
Has anybody noticed that his corner technique looks a little different? Maybe my weekend warrior armchair SX racing skills need glasses, but to me it looks like he isn't "rounding" the corners, he is knifing them and getting the bike back to vertical and straight and on the meat of the rear tire as fast as he can an on the gas harder. Definitely using the throttle to steer a bit more and get the bike going straight faster. Maybe this is a natural progression with the way folks are having a hard time with their front ends in corners. Either way and even if I am partially nuts, it is working.
no shit RV get's good starts, he isn't willing to get a mid-pack start and it shows. he also isn't willing to sit behind a guy for multiple laps when he knows he can pass (alessi in the first lap this weekend). there are two races every main event, the race to the first corner and the race to the finish.
have you ever raced before? i'm thinking not
Pit Row
So hey, 2 new tracks on the schedule for outdoors, boys.
EDIT: Not only are you chickenshit little hater, but you are fucking gutless coward as well.
Oh wait! My bad... That was the race RV started right behind JS and RD...
Did you see how RV's Kawi just shot out ahead of everyone else in Houston? He also seems to be smarter and more aggressive about his first turn. Several times this year RD has had the jump on him to the first turn and then RV somehow sneaks past while RD gets stuck behind other riders.
And yes RV and the Kawi are dialed in at the starts. Houston no different. His reaction time and technique is great and he's probably hitting his shift points flawlessly.
And, actually, Dungey is slightly less agressive than me...LOL
No, I was trying to make a point, but, I knew you would jump on that one... you're welcome for the slow pitch!
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