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FEATURE STORY

Onward and Upward
Haven’t been to a race yet, but I’m going to check it out this weekend for Anaheim 2. Deep down I had a feeling things wouldn’t be as easy for James, but I thought it would be more about the bike being so different. I am not at all surprised to see Dungey doing what he is doing. He is the most focused with the right approach and coming off a great year. I remember going to Europe at around the same age and when I came home the following year in 1983 I won everything - with a little luck. Being on the Des Nations Team is a privilege. I always came away from it a better person and rider. It appears to have done the same for Ryan.

Last weekend I saw what everyone else at home saw and James clearly jumped across on the triple in his heat. There didn’t appear to be anything Kyle Partridge could do to avoid him. I hope Kyle is okay and ready for this weekend. James wasn’t thinking completely straight after that and Chad seemed to have an agenda back there behind him sort of like Vegas. Who knows for sure, but James was out way to wide and should’ve known Chad was coming under him. They practically touched a few times there already. Bummer Chad got hurt and a bummer our defending champion had a meltdown. Imagine if that had been Alessi? Anyway, people make mistakes. I ghost rode my bike into Ricky Ryan after the Tokyo SX in 1986 and then pulled a wooden stake out of the ground and started hitting him in the head (helmet) because I was so angry he took me out early in the race while I was leading. I can relate to James’ anger. When you live and breathe it and thing come undone it’s very frustrating and it takes a hell of a man to avoid poor form. Anyway, I think some apologies and some forgiveness would be nice and that we as a whole can focus on the good the sport has to offer, not just the junk. Here’s hoping things get back to normal and a little more professional in that class.

In the Lites I’m very impressed with Ryan Morais. I didn’t think he would be as strong without that Pro Circuit bike, but obviously his team is solid and Ryan is on a mission. Way to go Mo! Of course Weimer is impressive and again, I think that MX of Nations experience gives you a little extra. After that you come home, look at who’s on the line with you and you expect to win. His teammate Hansen has impressed me also. He’s fast, he’s getting great starts and has handled his adversity much better than in the past. Wouldn’t surprise me at all to see him win Saturday or any other time. Nice to see him get things pointed in the right direction.

See you at Anaheim

db

I got an email from Johnny O’Hannah with this image “No Kaw Tippin’ and I thought it was funny. John likes to keep things light and I wanted to forward the thought and have a little bit of fun with it. He’s served in Iraq and has been through more hardship in his life than you could imagine so all the Phoenix fuss is humorous to him. Considering there are people dying and trapped under rubble in Haiti it seems foolish to worry so much about a dirt bike race and couple of flared tempers.