What Really Happened: Seattle SX

Dungey back, Stewart MIA, RV DNF, Sipes and Short win.

What Really Happened: Seattle

First-time winners; Villopoto DNF
Photos: Kardy

Just when you figured it was time to switch gears toward the outdoor series since two of the three supercross titles have already been determined, more chaos ensues on the track and rumors fly off the track as well.

First off, on an up note, Andrew Short has a better reason to flash his million dollar smile in the pits. With the Brooks/McGrath team having sponsor issues, Honda stepped in to help out and allow the team to pit out of the Factory Honda tent. Short and Team McBrooks scored their first win in Seattle. Short rode a solid race and battled back after a heated match with KTM’s Ken Roczen.

Rockstar Yamaha's Ryan Sipes celebrates his win.

Ryan Sipes, who has had an on again off again series, pulled out the big win in Seattle. This was also his first podium of the year. His second-best performance was in Oakland, where he finished 4th.

KTM's Ken Roczen was a happy camper in Seattle. Roczen, aboard the 350cc machine put the bike on the box and at one point had a real chance at the win.


Seattle also marked the return of Ryan Dungey. The KTM rider looked strong, yet probably a little reserved knowing the outdoor season was just around the corner. He finished 6th. Dungey was not the top KTM finisher, that prize went to Ken Roczen aboard the 350cc Katoom.

With the title clinched and most of the top riders out with injuries, most figured Ryan Villopoto would cash in on win bonuses by taking the last few races of the series. Yet in Seattle things did not go his way as the champ crawled and hobbled off the track holding his knee—the same knee he injured in the past. It was the shot that rung around the industry, did RV just wreck his 2012 outdoor season? Several days after the accident and there are still no detailed reports on the condition of his knee, we’ve only heard that his knee is sore, he knocked the wind out of himself during the crash, and it was unknown if he will be back in action this weekend in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The news and condition of Villopoto's knee should be released any hour now. Some say minor twist (no worries) while others are saying more severe. (Possible ACL?)

Off track most of the rumors circled around James Stewart and Team JGR. You name it and it was out there. Our people said they spoke to Yamaha and Joe Gibbs and there was no talk of Stewart parting ways. However, rumors were all over the place and even a Twitter post from another publication made reference that they saw Stewart riding a Suzuki, yet there have been no photos to back up the post. So what does this all mean? Not much at this point, rumors are just that, rumors. There is no word as to whether JS will ride outdoors and if he rides, what brand he will mount. We are aware that Stewart does have a three-year deal with Joe Gibbs Racing and from what we have been told, his contract is with Gibbs and does not directly involve Yamaha, yet Gibbs does have a deal to run Yamahas. Stewart did spend time on a Factory Suzuki during the offseason and it’s been said he did like the bike but a deal with JSE and Suzuki could not be met.

Was Moto Concepts trying to mess with a few heads? Or did they simply build a tribute bike for #7 Seahawks Tarvaris Jackson. It was a good one, it got a lot of people talking and Tweeting. Rumors about Stewart could be meat or cake, or maybe even meatcake.


Lites:

Wilson and Tomac Seattle Slamfest. Wilson got the short end of the stick and a possible bum shoulder.


Now for the only title that has not been totally sewn up yet, the Lites/250 West Championship. Heading into Seattle it was a two-rider fight, leaving Seattle it could end up a one-rider fight. Eli Tomac and Dean Wilson are rivals and have put on some nice shows on the track. During the main event slamfest in Seattle the second slam/block pass by Tomac on Wilson put Deano on the ground and in a post-race interview you could see the pain in his is face and a sling on his shoulder. For the 2012 season, this sort of calamity has become way too customary and not surprising.

The West title is in a holding pattern to see if Wilson is sore or injured. PC has yet to release the condition of their rider and if he will be able to battle back with two rounds to go. If Wilson is indeed injured, like Villopoto, it could affect their outdoor series.

With Short out front heading toward his first Supercross/450 win, Roczen in second, you can see Villopoto in the backdrop right before his minor crash that might change the rest of his season depending on what the doctors say.

Arenacross rider Tyler Bowers filling in for the fill in riders on the Hart and Huntington Dodge Truck team.

Gavin Faith has been a professional fill-in rider this season. In Seattle he was on the JGR bike yet failed to make the main via the LCQ. He was in qualifying position in the heat before he and Nick Wey got tangled up on the ground.

Related Posts:

Add a Comment

By submitting a comment you grant Motocross.com a perpetual license to reproduce your words, name and web site in attribution.
Comments may be removed at an administrators discretion. Your email is used for verification purposes only and will never be shared.

Fantasy Corner