ChapMoto Race Recap Week 12: What Went Down In Detroit

This is
a new series in which we will look back at the past weekend's
Supercross race and give you our thoughts and perspectives on what
we saw. We've posed several questions based on the evening's events
to a motley crew of Chaparral Motorsports staff (and one outsider)
and provided you with their answers and insights.
A little background on the respondents in this series:
Dave Damron (DD): Chaparral Motorsports founder. Racer, team owner,
manufacturer, retailer. Dave has seen it all and done it all on two
wheels.
Travis Snyder (TS): Chaparral Motorsports Offroad Products and
Apparel Manager. Travis is one of our in-house moto racers. A Honda
guy, Travis is either at one of the local tracks or prepping his
bike for his next event.
Mike Medina (MM): Chaparral Motorsports Technical
Advisor/Communications Specialist. When Mike's not at the office
he's in the pits spinning wrenches for the Enticknap brothers, #722
Adam (The Seven Deuce Deuce) and #723 Tyler.
Eric Ellis (EE): Chaparral Motorsports Marketing/Social Media. Eric
is just a Harley guy who likes to watch Supercross.
The Outsider (TO): N/A. The outsider is not a Chaparral employee
but he is an industry veteran with a good perspective on the
inside.
Being that Chaparral Motorsport is part of the Monster Energy|
Yamalube| Yamaha Financial Services|
Yamaha Factory Racing team with two-time Supercross Champion
Chad Reed and two-time 250SX West Region Champion Cooper Webb
(making his debut in the 450 class this season) we focused a few
questions on the their performance. Also, we had the opportunity to
toss Reed and Webb a few questions in between their busy schedules
so you could get some perspective on the races directly from the
riders.
Let's start off with the questions we sent to Reed and Webb
first:
Cooper Webb:
How did you feel on Saturday night? Would you say you're back
to 100%, or are you still dealing with some
pain/discomfort?
CW: I felt good. My shoulder is fine. It's just a
matter of putting myself in a better position at the beginning of
the race.
After having to sit out a couple rounds, what's the thing you
feel you have to work on the most?
CW: My starts and general intensity. After sitting
out a few rounds, you forget how intense the race pace is. I just
need to get back into the swing of things, and we'll be fine.
Chad Reed:
A couple of riders commented about how slick the track was.
What did you think of the conditions and the design?
CR: For sure, it was slick, but traction is our
strong point, so I didn't notice it so much. Other than the sand
corner, I liked the track, particularly, the section going up into
the stands.
What are your overall thoughts on your night in
Detroit?
CR: I felt like it would be another weekend where
I was a podium guy, but I ended up on the ground and with a DNF. I
felt solid and excited for the 20 minutes plus one-lap main, and I
got a great start, but unfortunately, I got rear-ended.
What we Saw
General questions:
Who had the best night?
[caption id="attachment_62650" align="alignright"
width="300"] Photo:
GuyB, Vital MX[/caption]
DD: Eli Tomac making the points lead smaller and
Jordon Smith getting his first Win.
TS: Jordon Smith for sure, taking his first ever
Supercross main event win! Not only was it his first SX win, but he
did it in a fashion that hasn't been done since 2003. Fourteen
years ago, Ivan Tedesco was the last rider to win the LCQ and the
Main event on the same night.
MM: The best night award has to go to Jordan Smith
#44 of the Troy Lee Designs KTM team. He was top 5 in qualifying,
won his LCQ and won the 250 main event. Too bad DC was not doing
the Defy Convention LCQ bonus for any rider that can win his LCQ
and win the main event in the same night for 10,000 big ones this
year. He rode a solid main event.
EE: Jordon Smith. He had a tough go in his heat
race making his way all the way to fourth with a direct transfer to
the main before going down after him and Kyle Cummingham got
together. He ended up all the way towards the back at the 15th
position, meaning he had to go through the LCQ. After regrouping he
cleared the LCQ leading the entire race and then after a great
three-way battle between Smith, Dylan Ferrandis, and Joey Savatgy,
Smith was able to power his
KTM 250 SX-F past Savatgy for his first win. It was such an
exciting race and for Smith to win via the LCQ was icing on the
cake...oh not to mention that win also bumped Smith up from 4th to
2nd in the overall 250 East point standing.
TO: Tomac and Savatgy. Both coming one step closer
for a Kawasaki sweep in Supercross along with Hill in the west.
Who had the toughest night?
https://youtu.be/7jh2Jc5kR-E
DD: Zach Osborne, losing the red plate.
TS: I don't even know where to start. This is a
toss up between Zach Osborne, Alex Martin, Vince Freise, Cooper
Webb, Christian Craig, Chad Reed and/or Ryan Dungey. Who
all had a tough night. I'm trying to put myself in their
shoes as if I was in the same situation they were in, is much,
neither one of those riders are sitting pretty after Detroit.
MM: The toughest night is a tie for me between the
#26 Alex Martin or the #16 of "Wacko" Osborne of the Rockstar
Husqvarna team. Alex Martin was injured during timed qualifying
when he was punted of the track by Christian Craig. Wacko suffered
a busted front brake rotor in the first turn of his main event
which put him down a couple of laps while the team was changing the
wheel out. He placed 18th and lost the red plate.
EE: Toughest night goes to Zach Osborne. He went
into the night as the 250 East Coast series leader and was nine
points up on 2nd place Savatgy. Not only was Osborne part of that
big pileup at the start but he had to pull off the track and run to
his mechanic for a new front wheel and it then the points just
ticked by. He ended up in 18th place and while he only lost two
spots in the standings he's now 10 points behind the leader,
Savatgy.
TO: Dungey and Osborne- seeing the Championship
slowly slipping away.
What do you think about the Craig/Martin incident?
https://youtu.be/Rz84dRbTBYs
DD: It was a qualifying incident that didn't need
to happen. Unfortunate for Martin.
TS: Uncalled for. I understand these racers are
really passionate in what they do and are really focused when out
on the track. When one racer is in front of another and only a
block pass away, you get very frustrated constantly eating roost
and taking BB's to the chest and arms. Leave the retaliation at
home and beat them during racing when it counts. Alex Martin cannot
race the next round in St. Louis due to injuries which happened
during a PRACTICE incident. SX is challenging enough while trying
not to get hurt.
MM: I think the move Craig made was not called for
at all and I think he got off lightly considering A-Mart suffered
injuries that would not let him ride that evening and now may be
out for St Louis this weekend. Granted, A-Mart was rolling some
previous sections in the main line on his cool down lap when Craig
was trying to put a heater in, but a pretty ugly incident for sure.
What I could not understand was why A-Mart went from the slow
inside line of the rhythm to take the fast line of the next turn
which did disrupted Craig's heater.
EE: Obviously it sucked for Martin, and I'm glad
that he was able to walk off under his own power, (apparently he
wont be racing this coming Saturday however) but it didn't look
like Craig did it on purpose and he apologized immediately after.
I'm not sure about the penalty and fine though, I guess it was
because it occurred in practice? Would he have gotten
penalized/fined if it was during the main?
TO: Pretty ugly crash. Hopefully Martin is OK.
What was the pass of the night?
DD: Jordon Smith passing Savatgy right after the
finish to regain the lead.
TS: Joey Savatgy passing Zach Osborne in points to
take the red plate. Zacho fell back 10 points allowing Jo.Smith to
slide into second within the points standings. Three rounds to go
for the East coast series and the top three are 10 points apart,
this is going to be a close one!
MM: I liked the exchanges between TLD's Jordan
Smith and Pro Circuits Joey Savatgy in the main event battling for
the 2nd spot at the time. Jordan just had that drive and
determination to return the favor to Savatgy every time he was
passed. Jordan was not shaken by the big bad PC green
machine.
EE:
Tomac railing the outside line in the sand
section to pass Musquin! That pass was so smooth and fast, it was
awesome.
TO: The 250 main was crazy with all of the passing
back and forth with Savatgy ,Smith, Cianciarulo and Ferrandis. one
of the Best races this year!
How about Alessi landing on Friese?
DD: Tweedledee and Tweedledum
TS: I'm surprised that hasn't happened more than
once. They do practice together right? Or is it just starts they
practice? They should work on jumping next to each other. Maybe the
whole team should switch to drag racing...
MM: This was a racing incident that could have
been way worse. Alessi had a straight line over the triple jump and
Vince Friese crossed lines while in the air and some how rode away
with just a tire mark on his back. I feel it was Friese's bad which
is why there was no hard feelings at the end of the night between
the teammates.
EE: Again glad it didn't end with someone getting
seriously injured and they were both actually able to continue on.
I think many people might see it as a bit of karma for both riders.
It did make for a great highlight and will probably live in SX
infamy. It must have been a bit awkward in the Honda
Smartop MotoConcepts pit after that. Friese should get Alessi's
signature tattooed next to the tire track on his back. Friese needs
to start capitalizing on his protective gear sponsors, because no
matter if its hands from Peick or Anderson or a tire from Alessi,
that guy can take a beating and just keep motoring.
TO: They are both lucky that they stayed on two
wheels and didn't get injured.
Reed/Webb questions
How did Cooper look in his return after the shoulder
injury?
DD: Not as strong as he was. The press said, "It's
wasn't serious", but after five weeks off, I think it was
serious.
TS: No bueno. Which leads me to believe it
was a lot worse than reported. Bring out the motocross
bike, cuz the Supercross season is over for Factory Yamaha
Financial Yamaha Monster Yamaha Chaparral Yamaha Racing Team
<--- (Did I say that right?) Because I haven't heard Ralph
or Jeff mention the team name once this year! I should
stop talking.
MM: Coop did ok for being out a few rounds. He
just needs to shake some of the ring rust off and hopefully get
back in the groove of racing. I hope the shoulder holds up for
Outdoors which is where his focus should be leaning towards at this
point of his season.
EE: He looked good, could have had a better start,
it looked like he got hung up or something because he a a hair or
two behind and it looked like his rear end jumped up a bit. I just
hope it's not going to take him too long to get back to where he
was mentally before he got hurt. Glad to see him back though for
sure. It's be great if Cooper can get in there and mix it up with
Dungey and Tomac, it would make their points chase all the more
interesting.
TO: Cooper looked fast. Hopefully he can use the
remaining rounds to get ready for the outdoor nationals.
Reed had a tough time in the main, what do you think was
going on there?
DD: I don't know. I thought having Cooper back
would help spark some fire into the team.
TS: This SX season in general is putting a toll on
the 35 year old.
MM: I think this is a season Reedy would like to
forget. I have not seen this many mistakes happen with Reed during
one season. After having a good heat race, Reed crashed off the
start in the first turn trying to run over some tuff blocks on the
inside in the 450 main event. He was getting pinched off and
decided not to let off, which would have been the better and safer
decision.
EE: Just one of those nights I guess. He was on
the inside on the gate lineup, next to Dungey, and they were
banging bars at the start then Reed got pinched into the tough
block and it went down from there (literally). It was weird to see
him go over the edge of that turn later in the race. I'm not even
sure what happened there that caused him to run into the tough
block? Next week!!!
TO: Whisky Throttle 2