Archive for October, 2010
This past weekend will be a memorable one for Dietrich Mateschitz and the Red Bull Racing Management. Some of the weekend’s events were positive and some were out right terrible!
First in Korea, Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel both had DNFs in the Formula Grand Prix. Vettel’s motor blew while leading the majority of the race while Webber spun only 3 laps in to the race. Webber lost his points lead to Fernando Alonso. Red Bull has the dominant car design this year but may come up short in the championship.
On US soil, Red Bull NASCAR had a positive. Kasey Kahne got the opportunity to join Team Red Bull for the final 5 races of the season giving the team and the driver needed time to adjust. Kahne finished 14th.
Red Bull NASCAR also made the announcement that it’s long time driver Scott Speed would be released from his contract at the end of the year. Scott Speed was the winner of Red Bull’s driver search in the early 2000′s. The driver search was to source America’s next F1 driver. Speed made it to F1 but had very little success. NASCAR has not been much better for Speed. Speed did have some early success in the Camping World Truck Series and ARCA. Maybe Scott Speed can put on some dirt bike gear and try freestyle motocross? Anything is worth a shot now!
Before there was Carmichael and Dungey there was McGrath. Jeremy McGrath was a true dominator on the track and had a style like no other. McGrath was Supercross Champion 7 times and holds the all time main event record with 72. What is he doing now?
After McGrath put down his motocross gloves, he did what lots of MX champions do. McGrath begun a 4-wheel racing career and continued to dabble in motocross. From 2003 to 2005 you could find McGrath on a limited Supercross schedule and appearing at the X Games in Supermoto and Step-up competitions.
McGrath also competes in TORC and Lucas Oil off-road truck series where he has shown some true 4 wheel talent. One of McGrath’s greatest achievements came recently when he was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. He was inducted along with other motorsports icons. McGrath was the first of the truely dominate forces on the Supercross Series. Look for McGrath to be a regular on the Lucas Oil Off Road Series in 2011.
Not at Talladega. Legendary racer of off road and pavement will again send his Robby Gordon Racing Team to NASCAR’s biggest track without Gordon behind the wheel.
When not wearing an off road helmet and racing across the desert, Gordon is an accomplished NASCAR racer with multiple wins. Robby’s NASCAR faction of his team has been struggling for funding all year long. In order to keep his top 35 position in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Robby has hired Kevin Conway and Conway’s sponsor Extenze to compete in the races that it does not make business sense for Robby to go to. Conway is not as competitive as Gordon is but has the funding to keep his program running. Conway is also trying to maintain his Rookie of the Year points lead.
We will miss Robby at the track this weekend in a race he normally does very well in.
Former Motocross Superstar and current NASCAR racer Rickey Carmichael has his career going down the right path. Carmichael has now entered 2 Nationwide Series events in 2010 while still competing full time in the Camping World Truck Series. Carmichael’s first Nationwide event was a success at Kansas finishing 18th.
Steve Turner owner of Turner Motorsport intends to keep Carmichael’s career on the right path by running select Nationwide races in 2010 and 2011 while still contending full time in the Truck Series. The eventual full time move to the Nationwide Series will take place in 2012. Monster Energy will continue to support any NASCAR races that Carmichael enters giving him and his team time to come to grips with the struggles of each series. Monster’s support of Carmichael since he used motocross gloves and dirt bike gear is key to the path he is taking. Turner, Carmichael, and Monster will soon see the rewards of a long term plan.
Kody DeRuyter’s first full racing season is almost complete. So far the young rider is boasting 1 win and many top 5 finishes. DeRutyer did not participate in any of the major national races this year. However, in 2011 there will be a full push by Kody and his team to make the regional and national events.
Kody continues to ride 3-5 times a week and practice on his 50cc racer and bigger bikes like his 65cc. With only a handful of events left, Kody would like to take in another victory to finish out the season.
Kody is also looking forward to the 2011 arena cross series and a new set of kids motocross gear and motocross boots. A long year his worn out almost every piece of motocross gear he owns.
One of the best races you never heard of is call the Gold Coast 600. The new event for the Australian V8 Supercars was a huge success this past weekend. Many of the worlds best road racers were paired with the V8 Supercar regulars in a 3 day event. The Gold Coast 600 has taken the place of the Indy car event which was not on the schedule this year in Surfer’s Paradise.
Most of the visiting drivers did not have much success. Many of the visitors were involved in major wrecks including Jacques Villeneuve, Helio Castroneves, and Dario Franchitti.
The most successful visiting driver was Patrick Long. For some reason no one down under thought Long have a good showing. However if one would have done research on him they would have found that the factory Porsche driver has much more experience in cars similar to a V8 Supercar than the open wheel stars. Long runs a GT2 Porsche for Flying Lizard Racing in ALMS, and he has won on road courses in ARCA stock cars and NASCAR Regional Divisions. Patrick Long knows how to drive a heavy cars with lots of horsepower. Something Indy Car drivers could not match on the Surfer’s Paradise Street Course.
Sorry off-road fans, no mention of off-road helmets in this blog. The Gold Coast 600 was one of the most exciting racing weekends on pavement all year long. Look for the delayed broadcast on SPEED Channel this coming weekend. Congrats to winner Jamie Whincup and thanks to the 150,000 plus fans in attendance over the 3 day event.
NASCAR star Robby Gordon has been missing from the seat of his number 7 Sprint Cup car for weeks now. So where is he?
He’s out doing things his way. Although he could not finish the NASCAR season due to sponsorship, he found a way to keep his team running and solidify a top 35 in the NASCAR standings.
He’s prepping for the Baja 1000 and the Dakar Rally. 2 of the biggest races in the world.
Check out Planet Robby. Then you know just how strong Robby Gordon Racing really is.
Robby Gordon’s heart is in NASCAR but his roots are in the off-road. There’s nothing like strapping on off road helmets and taking to the dirt. Robby is one of the best and never count him out. Robby will return to NASCAR this weekend at Charlotte in a pink 07 Toyota sponsored by Robby’s own Speed Factory TV.
Looking your best on and off the track matters. After a good run on the track a rider should go back to the pit and relax. Crew guys in crew uniforms take over from there.
Professionals look good not just because they can afford it, but because it matters. Presentation is a plus even for the struggling racer. Teach a young racer from the beginning to sport their motocross apparel in the most professional way when at the track.
Child racers that are being groomed for the pro ranks need many things to be successful. Number one is safety equipment. Picking out the best kids motocross gear will protect their ability to learn without fear. Secondly their equipment must dependable.
This piece of advice is only for those who think their child is the next Ryan Dungey. Don’t show up to a track with an unprepared bike that was slow to begin with. By a bike that is specifically built for kids to race. Cobra motorcycles and KTM are 2 of the best for child racers. Honda and other top adult bike brands don’t spend the time or development dollars to make a competitive bike for young racers.
If you don’t have a lot of knowledge with the mechanics of motorcycles, get assistance. There are plenty of knowledgeable parents that are willing to help or do it for you for money or beer. Young racers need to be on fast bikes at a younger age. The age of a pro rider continues to get younger. So young that after a few motocross championships a racer can move on to other forms of motorsports and still be successful there too. Just ask Rickey Carmichael.
Better bike, better result. Take a look at a Cobra or KTM 50cc.
There are thousands upon thousands of competitive motocross racers that are under the age 10 in the US. Since pro riders are younger, they have to start younger. We as adults must help them learn what true sportsmanship in competition is all about.
Over the years we have seen way too many parents scuffling over on track incidents between 6 year olds. There is no doubt that young racers will make mistakes. Some of those mistakes will change the out come of a race. Mistakes that may take a win or good finish away from your child. Some mistakes will cost you money in bent handle bars, and some mistakes cause other riders to be injured. These are the times that the adults and parents must remember that they are children.
Confrontations between parents over a mini bike race is as silly as it sounds. Your child is on the track to learn how to race. Sportsmanship is part of racing. Anytime your child is involved in an on track incident, the lesson is to avoid similar situations in the future. Do not blame another rider. Do not allow your child to think that another rider caused the wreck or fall. Your child can only control his bike. Teach your child to go faster, and get away from other racers sooner. Pick easy passing zones to lap slower riders. Teach your child to accept their results and learn from them.
At no time is getting in another parent’s face and acceptable follow up to an on track incident between young racers. Use good judgement when coaching young racers. Teach responsibility and sportsmanship above all other lessons. If this doesn’t sound reasonable, trade in your child’s motocross boots for boxing gloves. In a boxing ring, hand to hand combat is expected.