Pit Bits: From LA to Oakland

Not the best week in Moto but we will carry on

Pit Bits: From Los Angeles to Oakland

Type-Os and Photos: Scott Hoffman

It has been a rough week in the motorcycle industry. There was the gnarly crash last Saturday night with Trey Canard and Ryan Morais and then this week tragedy hit another one of our own, and it did not involve a motorcycle. It was sad news when we heard that JGR mechanic Mark “Tex” Adams was killed the other day when he was struck by a car while the driver was allegedly texting. Adams was being a good Samaritan and helping a stranded driver on the side of a road when he was struck. Adams was a longtime mechanic and has worked for several teams and riders over the years. Our hearts go out to his family and friends. Here is a tribute from JGR. (click here for the link)

Like Canard, Ryan Morais is also on the mend but for both riders it has not been a great week, Morais will have to go in for more surgery on his wired-shut jaw next week.

Canard is on the mend and already up and walking with a little help. Here is a shot right before the season when he was on the mend from his shoulder.

Back on the racing home front, it looks as though Trey Canard did go under the knife late this week to have a pressure spot in his spine relieved. Reports from his mother said he is still in a lot of pain but is trying to keep his spirits as high as possible. Ryan Morais did not have to undergo surgery on his neck but has had and will have further oral surgery on his upper and lower jaw. He is stable enough to go home for the weekend before having to have more oral surgery on his jaw next week. As of today, Canard is back on his feet and photos have floated around of him walking with a walker, a back brace, and a smile on his face. No matter what, you just can’t keep this ginger down. Morais has insurance but the facility he was at is out of network. Road 2 Recovery has set up an area for donations: https://r2r.webconnex.com/gen?comments=for:+Ryan+Morais

Going into round four at Oakland, the race for the championship is still going strong. We heard that James Stewart had the JRG guys head all the way over to Florida to do more testing during the week. If Stewart can get comfy and stay off the ground, he could be a threat. Chad Reed was an animal last weekend, Ryan Dungey was just Dungey—smooth and patient collecting points, and Ryan Villopoto loves his come-from-behind races. Wonder if that was part of RV’s training strategy for the early part of the season?

Yet after the top 4-5 riders, there is a huge hole in the field now. You’ve got Canard and Morais out, Jeff Ward Racing’s Josh Grant sidelined with an injured shoulder, and H&H’s Ivan Tedesco out with a broken finger. That leaves four spots potentially open in the main event. For these four it sucks, but for struggling privateers it’s awesome. The only team that has announced a fill-in rider that we are aware of thus far is Jeff Ward Racing. They will be putting Australia’s Cody Mackie on Grant’s machine.

In the Lites, it is a two, maybe three-man race for the title. With TLD’s Cole Seely sitting fourth in points, 13 behind third-place point holder Tyla Rattray, it will be a hard battle and would require some luck for him to secure the title. With Eli Tomac, Dean Wilson, and Tyla Rattray being so strong and consistent thus far, one of the trio will likely be triumphant come Vegas. Tomac is looking the strongest and we spotted him spinning some laps at the Lucas Oil Supercross track in Perris testing during the week.

Oakland will be another one of those too early in the season, too early to make bold prediction races, yet we can positively identify the group of riders that will prevail at season’s end. The good news is that the weather is clear and there are no signs of rain for the Northern California event.



(right) We ran into 80s local So Cal pro Ray “Spike” Groom at the LA Supercross. You might remember him in DG ads back in the late 80s sporting a huge Mohawk or remember the clothing line Spike Racing.

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