December 31, 2007 - JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR
ORDERED FOR A BAD CASE OF DMS
PHOTO: Courtesy of
speedtv.com
One of the things that helps get me through the
"Dark Months" each year is the AMA Supercross series and if you suffer from
Dark Months Syndrome (DMS) like I do, I highly recommend you check it out
for yourself. It all starts this coming Saturday night (01/05) in Anaheim,
California and SPEED channel will be carrying the race LIVE!
AMA Supercross packs all the excitement of motocross
racing into stadiums around the country and showcases the sports most talented
riders. It's the best of the best. The racers are world-class, the tracks
are short and fast... and when you combine that with 20,000 screaming fans
in a stadium or dome environment… it makes for some exciting racing.
Here's a little primer for you newbees.
There are basically 2 classes. Supercross and
Supercross Lites:
SUPERCROSS:
These are the "big-boys" with riders on 450cc 4-stroke
bikes (formerly the 250cc 2-stroke class). Since Ricky Carmichael officially
retired last year, the man to beat in 2008 is without a doubt, James "Bubba"
Stewart of the Monster Energy Kawasaki Team. Known as the fastest man on
the planet, this guy is extremely talented and with the exception of Carmichael,
has had little trouble distancing himself from the field in the past. The
guys that have the best shot at staying with Bubba are Chad Reed (L&M
Racing/Yamaha) and Stewart's own teammate Tim Ferry (Monster Energy Kawasaki)
but also keep an eye on Ivan Tedesco (Red Bull Honda) who could have a break-out
year if he stays healthy.
SUPERCROSS
LITES:
These riders pilot 250cc 4-stroke machines (formerly
125cc 2-stroke) and even though the bikes are smaller and the class primarily
exists as a stepping stone to the Supercross class, the Lites races typically
provide more competitive racing which is more appealing to the spectator.
The Lites class is split into two divisions with champions crowned in both
the East and West. The guy to watch in the West is Ryan Villopoto of the
Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki Team. This kid is the real deal and proved
this year he can hang with anyone by dominating riders from all over the
world at the Motocross of Nations… and doing so on a 250 bike! He is
amazing and this will probably be his last year in the Lites class.
Even if you aren't into off-road riding, Supercross
is highly addictive for any two-wheeled enthusiast… and it couldn't
come at a better time. With football season coming to an end and good riding
days few and far between… grab a couch and watch some great Supercross
action. It's just what the doctor ordered for a bad case of
DMS!
Below is a look at this years schedule. TV broadcasts
are typically the Sunday following the race and will be either on SPEED or
CBS. Check local listings for dates and times.
January 5 - Angel Stadium - Anaheim
CA
January 12 - Chase Field - Phoenix
AZ
January 19 - Angel Stadium - Anaheim
CA
January 26 - AT&T Park - San Francisco
CA
February 2 - Angel Stadium - Anaheim
CA
February 9 - Qualcomm Stadium - San Diego
CA
February 16 - Reliant Stadium - Houston
TX
February 23 - Georgia Dome - Atlanta
GA
March 1 - RCA Dome - Indianapolis IN
March 7 - Daytona Int. Speedway - Daytona Beach
FL
March 15 - Metrodome - Minneapolis
MN
March 29 - Rogers Centre - Toronto,
Canada
April 5 - Texas Stadium - Dallas/Irving
TX
April 12 - Ford Field - Detroit MI
April 19 - Edward Jones Dome - St. Louis
MO
April 26 - Qwest Field - Seattle
WA
May 3 - Sam Boyd Stadium - Las Vegas
NV
Earlier in the week I was down at Bumpus
Harley-Davidson in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and found out they would be unveiling
the new Buell 1125R today at 12:00pm. I've been anxiously awaiting this bike
since I first heard about it in the Fall so after I finished helping the
wife take down all the Christmas decorations this morning I hopped on the
Electra Glide and made my way to the 'boro to check it out. I got a ton of
pictures so you can follow the link below to check it out. The bike looks
great and spec-wise indicates that the metric bike scene will finally have
some US competition.
CLICK HERE now to
check out my pics of the Buell 1125R.
December 23, 2007 - A CHRISTMAS TRADITION...
SUGAR COOKIES
So... every year we have this tradition in my family
of making sugar cookies at Christmas. Most years there are Bell shapes, Santa
shapes, Star shapes, Tree shapes and the likes but this year we added a new
shape for the first time... a Motorcycle shape. I'll bet they will taste
the best!
December 22, 2007 - MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY...
HAPPY WINTER SOLSTICE
It's that time of year when we celebrate one of
my favorite holidays. No, I'm not talking about Christmas (although it has
the most meaning to me) but rather the Winter Solstice. What is that you
may ask? Well, I'll leave the formal explanation to the scientists out there
but it has to do with the earths tilt and relationship to the sun. The Winter
Solstice is that point where everything works out to create the shortest
day of the year... and it happens today. You know what that means? It means
that starting tomorrow, each day will gradually get longer... pushing us
closer and closer to Spring... and the end of the Dark Months!
WhoooHooo!
OK... so it's not really a holiday... but for me
it is! Happy Winter Solstice and come on Spring!
December 17, 2007 - THUNDER ROADS TENNESSEE
- JANUARY 2008
It's hard to believe that 2008 is upon us but part
of the proof is that the January 2008 issue of Thunder Roads Tennessee will
be in the stores next week. My article in this issue is a tribute to the
career of Jeff Ward. Thunder Roads Tennessee is available for FREE in just
about every motorcycle establishment in the state of Tennessee and as always,
my out of state visitors can check it out on-line at
www.thunderroadstennessee.com.
December 11, 2007 - SUNNY WITH A HIGH
OF SEVENTY-FIVE... THE STREET TRIPLE
Despite the calendar confirming it was indeed December
11th today, nature to the contrary was convinced it was Springtime in Middle
Tennessee! It was one of those days I live for during the Dark Months...
absolutely beautiful and sunny with a high of seventy-five. Of course, I
took full advantage of the biker-friendly conditions and commuted to the
office on the SV. It was awesome... just Levi's, a shirt and a light
jacket... no bulky clothing, no chattering teeth, no frozen
fingertips.
At lunch time I got out again and made my way over
to the local Triumph Dealer to check on the status of the new 2008 Street
Triple. (See pic above courtesy of
triumph.co.uk.)
This bike is WAY cool and I've been anxiously awaiting it's arrival here
in the US since October but it looks like I will have to wait longer. Now
they are telling me they probably won't be here until after the first of
the year. Bummer... Anyway, I got a quick camera phone shot of the SV at
the Dealer which I've posted below. I sure hope there are more days like
today in our Middle Tennessee Winter!
December 9, 2007 - THE ONLY THING MISSING
WAS THE FOGHORN.... AND ANOTHER SEASON IS OVER
The weather this morning was not exactly what you'd
call Biker-Friendly. I'm sure that most motorcycles in Middle Tennessee were
warmly tucked away inside their garages but since I hadn't been on two wheels
in about a week, I couldn't resist the temptation to fire up the EG and head
out. It was a little like riding through a Sherlock Holmes Mystery in London
as you can see in the pic above... wet roads, a drizzly mist in the air,
patches of fog. The only thing missing was the foghorn. But even with
the less-than-ideal riding conditions, it was a great ride. My wife often
tells me that the best thing for my general attitude is wind blowing through
my beard and after 60-plus miles I remembered that she is right... she usually
is.
On the way back home I passed by the local high
school. Last night my entire family witnessed the Bulldogs claim the TSSAA
State 5A Football Championship down at Middle Tennessee State University
in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. We have now won the state 5A Football Championship
two years in a row... something that has never been accomplished
before.
That high-school football team sure has provided
some excitement in our town over the past two years and it has been great
fun coming together on friday nights to cheer for these kids. My wife and
I have known some of the Seniors since they were in Kindergarten and it seems
strange that they will be moving on to college soon... and maybe away from
our town for good. Life is strange like that... and I was reminded of a couple
of important things.
One, we need to relish the moments that God gives
us. Take a look around, enjoy where He has you right now and don't be so
busy that you miss it. Secondly, remember to look forward with anticipation.
Even though our boys accomplished a lot this year and the memories are priceless,
there are much bigger and better things available to them in the coming years...
and that's exciting!
Before I left, I got a quick shot of the stands.
They looked really strange sitting there in silence with not a person in
them. On Friday nights this football season you could barely get in the place...
and the noise level was at times painful... but for now another season is
over and life moves on. Congratulations Bulldogs! Seniors... now get out
there and take life by the horns! Underclassmen... we'll be there next season
to cheer you on so let's see what you got!
December 6, 2007 - THE END OF AN ERA
- JEFF WARD RETIRES
As the 2007 AMA Supermoto season came to an end
a couple of weeks ago, so did the amazing racing career of Jeff Ward. I first
became aware of Jeff in 1977 when the then unknown Scotland born, California
kid competed in his first professional motocross race. It didn't take long
for him to make an impact on the sport and soon thereafter you could see
his freckled face in just about every issue of Dirt Bike Magazine. By 1989
he had accomplished what no other motocross rider in history had done up
to that point, winning every major AMA Motocross title including the coveted
500cc Motocross Championship. Later he went on to the Indy Racing League,
where in 1997 he took 3rd place in the Indy 500. After eight years in open-wheel
car racing he returned to motorcycles, entering the AMA Supermoto circuit
where in 2006 at the age of 45 he not only won the AMA Supermoto Championship
but also won the Supermoto X-Games Championship, a venue typically dominated
by much younger athletes.
I had the privilege of meeting Jeff during the
2006 Supermoto season and got some pictures of his race in both 2006 and
2007 at the Nashville Motorplex. Something deep inside me found great pleasure
in watching a guy older than I am, beating the pants off of 19 and 20 year
olds! My hat is off to Jeff Ward for an amazing career. Here's a look at
his accomplishments.
Motorcycle
· 1984-Won AMA 125cc national motocross title.
· 1985-Won AMA national 250cc motocross and
Supercross titles.
· 1987-Won second AMA national 250cc Supercross
championship.
· 1988-Captured second AMA national 250cc
motocross title.
· 1989-Won AMA national 500cc motocross
championship.
· 1990-Won second consecutive AMA national
500cc motocross championship.
· 2004-Won AMA Supermoto Championship at 43
years of age.
· 2006-Won X-Games Supermoto Championship
at 45 years of age.
· 2006-Won AMA Supermoto
Championship
Indy Cars
· 1997-Finished third at Indianapolis 500,
finished 30th in IRL season point standings.
· 1998-Finished career-best 6th in IRL season
point standings.
· 1999-Finished career-best second at Indianapolis
500, 11th in IRL season point standings.
· 2000-Finished fourth at Indianapolis 500,
two top five finishes, finished 11th in IRL season point standings.
· 2001-Two top five finishes, finished 11th
in IRL season point standings.
· 2002-Winner of Boomtown 500 at Texas Motor
Speedway, finished ninth at Indianapolis 500.
Hall of Fame
· Inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame
in 1999.
· Inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame
of America in 2006.
