Gearing Up For Daytona

Tomorrow the 2014 Monster Energy Supercross Series moves from the tight confines of the football and baseball stadiums of America to the world’s most famous speedways.  Each year, around this time, motorcycle riders from all disciplines and all walks of life converge on the oceanside city of Daytona for Bike Week and all the festivities that go with. If you love two wheels, Daytona is the place to be because in one day you can watch everything from road racing to dirt track racing to supercross to some guy cat walking down Atlantic Avenue with his girlfriend on the back. All you have to do is spend a few hours in Daytona this weekend and you can see it all.

Well, obviously the big attraction for us is the Daytona Supercross, which goes off the gate tomorrow evening. Heading into round ten, defending champion Ryan Villopoto has a 23 point lead over Ryan Dungey in the 450SX class. So far in the 2014, Villopoto has been almost robotic, taking only the chances necessary to score the maximum points that each track has offered to him. After a few weeks of playing it very safe and allowing the other riders to make the mistakes, last weekend in Indianapolis Villopoto was forced to remove his throttle stop and make things happen. He and his training buddy, Ken Roczen, didn’t even make it to the first corner when they found themselves on the ground as the rest of the pack began their 20 lap quest for glory. However, in true three-time champion style, Villopoto remounted, got his bearings and set out on a ride that only legends are made of. On a track that was changing by the nano second, he sliced and diced his way through the pack and moved up all the way to fourth while his closet points rival, Dungey, rode off to victory. They say that an athlete wins championships based on how he manages his bad days. So far in 2014 Ryan Villopoto has done a masterful job of this.

After going down early in the main event last weekend, Ryan Villopoto did a great job of charging his way back to fourth. Look for him to be very good again this weekend in Daytona.

So the riders now move to the place where anything can happen with an odd ball track, poor lighting and the Florida weather capable of anything. This round of the series could either make or break anyone’s championship chase. Daytona is also a race where a rider could have their breakout ride of the season due to the nature of the track. All a rider has to do is get a good start, find a few decent lines, get in a rhythm for 20 laps and see what happens. In a sport where top riders demand and expect perfection, the unique Daytona track gives them anything but. Deep, sandy ruts, deteriorating jump faces and ever changing lines can sometimes frustrate the lead guys and cause them to make mistakes that we normally don’t see. Basically, the Daytona Supercross is 20 laps of survival of the fittest battle where only the smart and strong find success. We can’t wait!! Although, with no Speed channel on Rogers now, anyone who is a Bell customer is all of sudden my new BFF.

One of the riders that will certainly suit the tough Daytona track is our own Cole Thompson. So far in the East Lites Series, Cole has been quietly very good. After a sixth at the opening round in Dallas, he has found himself having to play catch up in Atlanta and again last weekend in Indianapolis. While it’s almost impossible to come from behind in a normal SX (unless your name is Villopoto), at Daytona you can do it if you ride smart. As we all know, riding smart is Cole’s forte; his effortless riding style and calm demeanour makes him perfectly suited for what he is about to face tomorrow night. Cole needs to soon produce one of those rides that leaves everyone talking in the pits. He’s more than capable of it so let’s hope we see that type of ride in 24 hours. Finally, good luck to every Canadian who is down south riding. There are a number of our kids racing on Sunday and Monday in Daytona at the Ricky Carmichael Amateur Supercross, so good luck and be safe! I’m sure I’m not the only Canadian who wishes they were at Daytona right now.

With his smooth and calculating style, Cole should do well on the rough Daytona track tomorrow night.