Posts
1114
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Santa Clarita, CA, USA
Edited Date/Time
1/27/2012 8:40am
Borrowed from Racer X ( and the newest )Racerhead:
There was a lot of chatter about whether it was safe to run full-length motos in Texas due to the extreme heat and humidity. A large contingent thought it put the riders’ safety at risk and that the motos should be shortened. To all those gals I would like to say, try another sport. Jeff Ward was in the TLD race shop this week talking about it and he made some good points.
“I can’t believe that all of a sudden the motos are too hard when it gets hot,” Ward said. “We’ve been running 30 plus two for a long time, and I can tell you that it was rarely cool back in places like Axton, Virginia, or San Antonio or any place in Florida. Why is it such a problem now? They run the Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii every single year in conditions worse than what they had last weekend. And every year there are competitors that push too hard early or just weren’t prepared, and they buckle. That’s part of the sport; it’s not easy. I don’t see what the big deal is.”
It’s difficult to argue with a guy like Wardy on a topic like that. I did see a handful of riders hit the deck after the motos with overheating issues, and it can be scary. Ashley Fiolek, Trey Canard, Nico Izzi, and at least a half dozen others made their way to the Asterisk rig for an IV before the end of the day. The two hottest races I ever experienced were in Troy, Ohio, in 1994 and one or two years later at Millville. I literally rode my bike down into Spring Creek and fell into it to keep from passing out. The good news is the weather looks like it’s going to be amazing for this weekend’s race at High Point.
Simply put, WARDY'S RIGHT!
Dave O.
There was a lot of chatter about whether it was safe to run full-length motos in Texas due to the extreme heat and humidity. A large contingent thought it put the riders’ safety at risk and that the motos should be shortened. To all those gals I would like to say, try another sport. Jeff Ward was in the TLD race shop this week talking about it and he made some good points.
“I can’t believe that all of a sudden the motos are too hard when it gets hot,” Ward said. “We’ve been running 30 plus two for a long time, and I can tell you that it was rarely cool back in places like Axton, Virginia, or San Antonio or any place in Florida. Why is it such a problem now? They run the Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii every single year in conditions worse than what they had last weekend. And every year there are competitors that push too hard early or just weren’t prepared, and they buckle. That’s part of the sport; it’s not easy. I don’t see what the big deal is.”
It’s difficult to argue with a guy like Wardy on a topic like that. I did see a handful of riders hit the deck after the motos with overheating issues, and it can be scary. Ashley Fiolek, Trey Canard, Nico Izzi, and at least a half dozen others made their way to the Asterisk rig for an IV before the end of the day. The two hottest races I ever experienced were in Troy, Ohio, in 1994 and one or two years later at Millville. I literally rode my bike down into Spring Creek and fell into it to keep from passing out. The good news is the weather looks like it’s going to be amazing for this weekend’s race at High Point.
Simply put, WARDY'S RIGHT!
Dave O.
if it's to hot back er down a little
If it were easy it would be called your mom.
The strong survive!
The Shop
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
Free shipping: VITALMX
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
For the few, Canard, Izzi, etc., nothing against them, but last week was a learning experience for them. Last week was just that for many actually. There's nothing wrong with that either. Regardless where they live-n-train, sometimes are just sometimes.
Remember it's a battle, a human 1 at that and at times she's a real bitch. Beyond all the mechanical trickery and heart, at times lady luck comes into play. There's the magic 3 I call it. Preparation, machinery & team, & lady luck, in any order it'll make or break any race, any situation, anytime anywhere.
At times it's really a survival game for both man & machine.
In my career I've had the privilege to be around most of the sports best, the ICONS.
And even for them many times Mother Nature threw them a curve ball too.
It's how 1 rolls through it all that breeds Champions.
And for me, Wardy's at the top. The tops a place with few chairs.
Moral to the story: Leave the races 30+2!
Dave O.
Ok Dave, just for discussion’s sake, how is this different than the wind at the USGP?
In an earlier thread, you praised the FIM’s decision to reduce the amount of practice prior to the USGP because of the wind at Glen Helen. I think it could be argued that heat is MORE dangerous than wind- with wind, you know about it, can feel it, and approach it with open eyes & a clear head. Heat exhaustion (and stroke) creeps up on you, clouding your decisions while hauling ass on your bike- I think it’s very fortunate no one was injured. They are both Mother Nature’s curve balls- why the different opinion? If the wind would have continued at GH should they have canceled the race?
“And even for them many times Mother Nature threw them a curve ball too.
It's how 1 rolls through it all that breeds Champions.”
BTW, I enjoy reading your posts- you bring a wealth of knowledge to the board- keep ‘em coming!
(sarcasm alert for the sarcastically challenged)
Some riders are able to acclimate to the conditions and others are not. The problem we have had is the weather is so inconsistent, at least here in Ca. It will be 100 one day and two days later the high is 60. The acclimation process (which takes from 10 to 14 days) could not be put into place. I will bet that most of the riders who had issues will be working hard in hot and humid conditions for the next "hot" race. I felt bad for Eli, the kid was out here this winter training and to be honest he really didn't look "special" but from then until now, he has transformed into the real deal. Living in Colorado definitely played a role in his outcome of that race. I'm sure his dad will have him a sauna training before the next hot race.
Keep it 30 +2, train in the conditions you are going to race in and do your best till the end.
the end alan? i'm with ya....
i say ride WFO until you die or win!
at least you if you do die you were doing something you loved...well if it was a little cooler that is.
my dad would never ever have called for shorter motos unless of course i was winning then he woud want the white flag the next lap....lmao
I'm also a dad and an amateur athlete of sorts so I get it all.
The best preparation can fail in these types of conditions.
We humans are not machines even though there's human dynos
so to speak, until she's real, do the math.
As far as the Mother Nature factor as in the heat vs the wind at Glen Helen's
recent GP it's night & day. The heat can defeat you that's true, but there's a choice.
Race and push to exhaustion or the very limits of oneself though it effects each and everyone differently, there's that choice to continue or back it down some or pull in altogether. The wind, the winds dangerous as it can literally push and throw you off line and off track and off of the track altogether. When the wind decides to bite you in the azz, say on that up hill triple, again, do the math and she ain't pretty. I've personally witnessed both on many occasions and the winds worse, trust me.
And to quote "MXTRAINER1" : "There is nothing right or wrong about this. "
It's about being safe & smart, but leave the motos alone, 30 + 2!
Dave O.
and my dad walked 10 mile to school in 5 foot deep snow...
get off your high horse Wardy, these kids have to push 3 times as hard just to make the top ten., the competition is 10 times deeper with the difference betweeen losing is only hundreds of a second. Get real
This isn't your, "and my dad walked 10 mile to school in 5 foot deep snow... "
Your certainly entitled to yours, but your off base, way off.
And Dungey, he has no trainer!
Dave O.
Maybe we should ask what John Desoto thinks, since those from the past are what is consider factual.
Pit Row
End of discussion.
"since those from the past are what is consider factual."
That's not exactly what I mean......
Just look around, most if not all programs here-n-there have past heroes and
Champions on board in some fashion, and many aren't so off the back.
Trust me, this I know and it is very factual. Very!
And again for guys like Trey Canard for example, I've been with a couple of riders that experienced the same type of situation as Trey with a similar outcome, and that situation never ever repeated itself even when Mother Nature repeated herself!
The tough lessons learned were used and used well. Tomac too went to school that day,
and I bet for him too there will be no next time.
And if you ever have the pleasure to ask a Ward or the like if they ever had the hard lesson too, you bet they'll tell you they certainly did one way or another.
That's how Champions are realized and born.
Dave O.
Topic: Carlsbad GP- ungroomed track, 500ccs, 45 minute Motos.
The bottom line genetics do play a role in this, i don't think Hannah was anymore dedicated than Canard, Metty, etc...the dude pushed until he passed out 2 years ago.
amen brother...
.......did I complain about the 20 min + 2 laps in the Tenneesee heat? .....no, instead I was really down on myself for not being prepared and my family spending all that money on me just so I could tank it down there for a week.
I don't know how many riders complained about Freestone.....maybe none, but if any did they should probably look in the mirror before they complain because as Wardy said, racing in the summer heat has been going on for years.
Post a reply to: "WARDY'S RIGHT!"