My take on Bubba....if anyone cares

I may be a newbie to the site, but I grew up racing mx, nothing big, a B rider at best, but never the less, a mx fanatic. Everyone knows once it gets into your blood, it never leaves. It's like a drug. Anyways, I think the transition for Bubba just hasn't transpired in the way he wanted. Again this is only my opinion, but I think that James is definitely faster than Ricky indoors than outdoors. I believe that had JS not injured himself that not only would the SX series went differently, but I think that it would have given Bubba somewhat of mental edge over Ricky heading into the outdoors. Even when Bubba finally did come back we got to see flashes of brilliance between a crash here or there.(and absolutely the Vegas injury has probably lingered somewhat) Bubba is not used to just being a little faster than everyone, he is used to being able to throw it away in turn 1, stall it on lap 5, and still come back to win the moto by 30 seconds. Right now I think all it will really take for Bubba is to get that 1st win over Ricky outdoors, to get his confidence back. Those of us who rode know how it feels coming back from injury, and JS had some hairy wipe outs in the SX series, a couple of which left him nicked up. At some point you start thinking going down is a possibility, where as there was once a point that it never crossed your mind. JS knows all too well that injury is for real and he is human after all. They say to ride as fast as those guys do that at some point they are all riding over their heads(balls to the wall)a little. I think that once Bubba gets himself completely healthy and over any lingering physical and or psychological issues that arise from the trauma that can come from wiping out that we'll all start to see the JS we were used to seeing. Remember the guy that never seemed to make a mistake? Bubba will get more used to seeing other riders too, you have to remember that it's been a long time since Bubba had anyone to really compete with. It's easy to forget how to race when you haven't had to race for years. The necessary patience, and wisdom will come in time, and I think when it all comes together for him, it will be just as we had become accustomed to seeing when JS was on site. Complete and total domination.

As a Bubba fan I am struck by a couple of alarming behaviors. I can understand pulling over because of a recent injury but there is a pattern here that goes against my nature. I have never quit a race unless I was too hurt to get back on the bike. I would always at least FINISH even if I came in last place. Bubba would probably be earning more fans if he hung in there and finished mid pack. He has already proved that he has speed but is showing a glaring lack of charicter reminescent of a spoiled brat. Real champions never quit. Buck Up Sonny and earn it! It's more than talent. It takes talent and heart. It takes the heart of a champion.

Bubba I'm telling you this because I think someone has to. Now get out there and ride slow if you have to but DON'T QUIT!

Yeah the quitting is tougher to pinpoint, but frustration has probably been a major factor in some of those decisions. Like I said Bubba is not used to being fast, he is only used to being the fastest. He needs to harness all of his energy and efforts into training and riding. One thing we know for sure about RC is that dude is exceptional shape, and when all else fails, 28 minutes in RC is still able to ride at the same level. Not at all knocking James shape or stamina, I'm just saying that we know it's not a speed issue with Bubba so it makes you look at different angles. Who knows what really has been hampering Bubba so far, but once he figures it out, and hopefully he does he will return to his winning ways.

i think that Bubba might be alittle knicked up, i wont argue that. but i dont think he is one RCs level, there is no way. RC has unmatched conditioning and he just just faster (we r talking outdoors, indoors i have slightly different thoughts). i agree that JS is frustrated and i think its kinda ridiculou that he isnt out there still trying to finish the race and earn some points. its just too much of a pettern here. i dunno where i saw it, but Pastrana wrote somewhere that JS has a bad attitude when he cant dominate the field. i think thats starting to show right now.

Very realistic opinions and observations guys, I couldn't agree more.

I'll move my post from another thread here... where it blongs.

As a fan of James', I will not give up hope. He has way too much talent. It's difficult for any of us to speculate what's going on. However, I truly believe it's a mental issue for him right now. I don't believe the weather or his bike are the reasons for his DNFs. I believe not dominating like he has done all his life is getting to him. He's human and it would happen to anyone. I couldn't imagine the pressure he has on his back.

KX72 wrote:

Very realistic opinions and observations guys, I couldn't agree more.

I'll move my post from another thread here... where it blongs.

As a fan of James', I will not give up hope. He has way too much talent. It's difficult for any of us to speculate what's going on. However, I truly believe it's a mental issue for him right now. I don't believe the weather or his bike are the reasons for his DNFs. I believe not dominating like he has done all his life is getting to him. He's human and it would happen to anyone. I couldn't imagine the pressure he has on his back.

And also to you, that was very well put KX72...
Humbling yourself, or in other words humility, is all to often a difficult pill to swallow. Sometimes it's humility that turns a boy into a man. Some things just have to be learned the hard way. These are humbling times for James.

i agree with you milsaps fan. i also had another idea what may be making him quit. since he's only quit on the really hot days i think he may be laying around in his trailor with the air conditioning blasting on him. i know if i sat anywhere that was air conditioned and went out into the heat we've been having in the northeast and tried riding id be done for in a few minutes to.

whatever is wrong with stewart he needs to figure it out before kawasaki dumps him and no other manufacturer will touch him. hes only finished 3 out of 6 motos which isnt making him look that good.

i somewhat disagree w/ u guys on this. i was at highpoint and the sun was blaring down all day and im still peeling from it. it wasnt insanely hot, but it was definatly hot enough and im sure the riders were feeling the effects of the sun. JS rode that whole race and its because he was in contention both motos. im not trying to downplay stewarts talent, but that kind of attitude is unacceptable in my opinion. Carmichael is obviously faster outdoors. instead of coming up w/ excuses and pulling off, use that as a means to train harder/ride better. having a hard time dealing w/ losing is not a good enough excuse as far as i'm concerned. if everyone had that attitude no one besides Ricky shouldve bothered showing up on the gate at any Nationals the last couple years becuase RC ran away w/ every moto. And i honestly believe that that is the reason to whats wrong w/ Stewart. TP warned of it in the peice i read and notice how Kawi has either chose not to comment or has given a shady excuse everytime this happens. just my .02

xeroxedCR250 wrote:

i agree with you milsaps fan. i also had another idea what may be making him quit. since he's only quit on the really hot days i think he may be laying around in his trailor with the air conditioning blasting on him. i know if i sat anywhere that was air conditioned and went out into the heat we've been having in the northeast and tried riding id be done for in a few minutes to.

whatever is wrong with stewart he needs to figure it out before kawasaki dumps him and no other manufacturer will touch him. hes only finished 3 out of 6 motos which isnt making him look that good.

I don't think Bubba is gonna ever have to worry about having a factory ride. His resume is pretty solid. Along with his lap times I'd say that will be the least of his concerns, although I will say that Team Kawasaki is just as anxious as James to right the ship. But the entourage alone that Bubba brings to the table far excedes any need for results to secure a ride. While they'd love for him to be winning every race they know what they've got.

kawasaki is not gonna dump him, r u kidding me???i mean, i disagree w/ his attitue lately but hes not even close to being in danger of lsing his factory status

The bottom line here is that professional motocross is a business. These guys are getting paid a lot of money to win championships. Along with that just like any other job is accepting the responsibilty of doing what it takes to get the job done.

RC knew Bubba was fast, so he went out and got himself in the best shape of his life to prepare for the challenge. What did Bubba do? (I don't know, does anybody know if he did anything special to prepare for the battles to come with RC or Reed or KW?)

Yeah, Bubba is under a lot pressure, but so is everybody else, and so is everybody in the real world that has a pressure job. Think of the pressure to win 24 straight motos. Think of the pressure Reed must have felt to be out front knowing RC was coming somewhere right behind him and he could finally break his streak. Pressure is part of the resposibility of the job.

A championship in the 250 class is not going to be handed to you on a silver platter, you have to earn it. Pure natural talent is not enough, it takes hard work and determination.

To win a championship is not about turning the fastest lap times. It is not about turning faster lap times on your 125 than the 250's were doing. (This has been going on forever) You have to finish consistantly in the podium spot weekend after weekend AND get those points in the beginning of the season. This is what RC does and does well, he comes out strong early on and mentally dominates from the start. Reed and RC set Bubba up by not dicing with him in Supercross. He wasn't in points contention so they didn't care if he was way up front. I hope he didn't think he was really that much faster, 'cause then he fell for their mental games hook, line, and sinker!

I hope Bubba can get it together. When I watch him ride I am in awe at his ability. But nobody is going to hand the title to him.

Welcome to the 250 class Bubba!

Crom i am a bubba fan and agree with u in the beggining of ur speach...but not the end. You think RC is going to let bubba win by all that space in between being a "true champion" and get embarraced like that?.......i don't think soo!!!! Bubba without a dought was definetily faster indoors then rc and cr and he was out of practice for a while when he was injured and the guys racing, Outdoors is a different story, bubba could set fast lap times but just for a few laps constent but not straight til the end like rc(for now). Bubba needs to get in shape and get on that kx450f

hi guys I posted a lot on the bubba the quiter post and i would move my post but its to long but i couldnt agree with you all more on that bubbas transition wasnt the way he thought it could be and maybe he is having mental issues dealing with losing but everytime I see bubba quit I think wow how great is a guy like rc or reed or windham or even a guy in thats 25 in b class riding his heart out because its a sport he loves . I hope bubba will come around I really do I would love to see him battle rc and reed and just always be on the edge of my seat ..i hope at least

crom wrote:

The bottom line here is that professional motocross is a business. These guys are getting paid a lot of money to win championships. Along with that just like any other job is accepting the responsibilty of doing what it takes to get the job done.

RC knew Bubba was fast, so he went out and got himself in the best shape of his life to prepare for the challenge. What did Bubba do? (I don't know, does anybody know if he did anything special to prepare for the battles to come with RC or Reed or KW?)

Yeah, Bubba is under a lot pressure, but so is everybody else, and so is everybody in the real world that has a pressure job. Think of the pressure to win 24 straight motos. Think of the pressure Reed must have felt to be out front knowing RC was coming somewhere right behind him and he could finally break his streak. Pressure is part of the resposibility of the job.

A championship in the 250 class is not going to be handed to you on a silver platter, you have to earn it. Pure natural talent is not enough, it takes hard work and determination.

To win a championship is not about turning the fastest lap times. It is not about turning faster lap times on your 125 than the 250's were doing. (This has been going on forever) You have to finish consistantly in the podium spot weekend after weekend AND get those points in the beginning of the season. This is what RC does and does well, he comes out strong early on and mentally dominates from the start. Reed and RC set Bubba up by not dicing with him in Supercross. He wasn't in points contention so they didn't care if he was way up front. I hope he didn't think he was really that much faster, 'cause then he fell for their mental games hook, line, and sinker!

I hope Bubba can get it together. When I watch him ride I am in awe at his ability. But nobody is going to hand the title to him.

Welcome to the 250 class Bubba!

Crom, welcome to the forum! Awesume post with great points.

I Use to like Bubba and not like reed. Being a RC fan well thats a given that I am on RC's side. BUt lately seeing Bubba pull off and give in and then watching Reed work his butt off just for a spot at 2nd. Well I have grown to respect Reed. As much as I didnt like him before, now I respect him and hope his days racing in the States are good.

Bubba, as upset at him as I am..... I can see its hard on him and I'm sure he has pressure in the Kawi rig. I dont think Kawi would drop Bubba, I mean even if he lost every race, To Kawi (or any other brand) its not about winning races, its about selling bikes. Bubba sells bikes!

The question is can Bubba grow up and come back out of this with a clear head.

PS, remember all the older guys saying that Bubba would not take out RC that easy (would have to be earned), and remember all the young guys saying Bubba was so fast and would kill RC. Well this goes to show that experiance allways comes out on top. You young guys should listen to the older guys more often.

I think its his conditioning, I do agree with Bubba that nothing substitutes riding, but when you are competting at that level I think you need to do some major training and get in super shape so you can ride strong all moto. Just watch great outdoors 3, Bubba gives his opion on training and I feel thats his probably right there. Also he needs to finish those motos, even if he does finish last it looks a lot better than just pulling off and DNFing it.