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Henry is awesome
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Posted by: funktree---------------------

wins supermoto at the xgames

he really should think about doing a full series in one of these sports again

from cycle news;

Graves Motorsports Yamaha’s Doug Henry claimed a convincing win in the 40-lap X Games 11 Supermoto feature at Home Depot Center in Carson, California today, the former AMA National Motocross and AMA Regional Supercross Champion earning his first career X Games Gold Medal with 11.35 seconds in hand over two of his motocross peers, seven-time former AMA Supercross Champion and former AMA National Motocross Champion Jeremy McGrath and former AMA Supercross Champion Chad Reed.

Team Yamaha’s Reed grabbed the holeshot at the start of the nationally televised race, with Henry running second. Henry passed Reed in the paved right-hand turn just before the dirt section outside the main stadium on lap six and then pulled out a lead of several seconds before the round of pit stops that began to occur after lap 20.

"I was thinking of the pits because I wanted a little bit of a gap," Henry said. "You never know what could happen, so I tried to get a gap and come out of the pit stop ahead."

The lead changed hands a few times in the pit melee, but once it all sorted out, Henry worked his way back to the front and methodically clicked off the laps to the finish.

The real race was for second place, as Reed managed to reclaim the spot after his crew had difficulty in getting him out quickly after his pitstop. That allowed American Honda’s McGrath, who had struggled early and even crashed in the stadium dirt section before his pit stop, to work himself into position to challenge Reed. McGrath completed a hairball pass on Reed down the long and perilous wooden jump that led the riders back into the stadium dirt section on lap 34 to claim the second spot. McGrath went on to finish 4.59 seconds ahead of Reed to claim the X Games silver medal. McGrath, who earned a gold medal in the X Games Step Up competition last year, said that he thoroughly enjoyed his X Games Supermoto experience.

"The thing that I love about this race after racing Supercross for such a long time is it's a lot more business over there," McGrath said. "This is a lot more fun. Even though everybody wants to win, the athletes over here get treated the way they're supposed to, and I think that's great."

Reed was third, over 20 seconds ahead of Red Bull/Parts Unlimited KTM’s Eric Bostrom, who had passed Reed to run as high as second before pitting.

"My endurance was good," Reed said. "I had to hold my body in an awkward position the whole race, and I had to get used to the 450 from the beginning."

Red Bull KTM’s Kurt Nicoll crashed early in the race but rode strong to the finish for fifth.

X Games Supermoto

1. Doug Henry (Yamaha)

2. Jeremy McGrath (Yamaha)

3. Chad Reed (Yamaha)

4. Eric Bostrom (KTM)

5. Kurt Nicoll (KTM)

Posted by: Vic---------------------

Posted by: TheJunkMan---------------------

I thought REED did especialy well considering that(supermoto) is not his bag.

Posted by: KiwiBird---------------------

That was a great race! Henry's pit crew got him in and out in just over 20 seconds. McGrath looked great, as did Reed. Henry's pass on Reed was outstanding, clean but aggressive. The big peristyle jump had some gnarly crashes!

Posted by: dirt bike dave---------------------

Those guys were hauling! Loved the track. The pit stops were a nice wrinkle.

Nice to see Pastrana out there. Looked like his pit crew had some trouble.

Too bad Wardy crashed a few times.

MXers 4 out of the top 5.

Posted by: cnielse5---------------------

That was a lot of fun to watch. It is so nice to have a live televised event in this sport. wish it was like that in MX and SX!!!

Posted by: Ruff Rider---------------------

VERY SWEET RACE!!! nice to have something thats on a non-cable channel for a change

...Makes nascar look pretty crappy

Posted by: Al E---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by funktree

wins supermoto at the xgames

he really should think about doing a full series in one of these sports again

Henry is leading the AMA supermoto series in the 450 class.
This is from the AMA supermoto website.
Pos. Pts. Rider name Hometown
1 87 D. Henry Torrington, CT
2 81 J. Kunzel Temecula, CA
3 69 J. Ward Newport Beach, CA
4 57 B. Carlson West Bend, WI
5 47 T. van den Bosch
6 46 A. Thiebault Antibes,
7 45 D. Baffeleuf Cournon D Avuergne,
8 43 K. Nicoll Temecula, CA
9 40 C. Fillmore Oxford, MI
10 37 G. Trachy Orange, CA

Al E

Posted by: funktree---------------------

oh I didn't realize he was contesting the series.

alot of guys just do the xgames supermoto I assumed he was one of em, and you know what assuming does...

Posted by: Colton545---------------------

I think Pastrana Pit may have cost him a medal

Posted by: Dirtbike'n man---------------------

Congrats to doug. Nice pass on reed through that turn. i also think reed did a good job since thats not really what he was used too.

Posted by: dante---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by KiwiBird

That was a great race! Henry's pit crew got him in and out in just over 20 seconds. McGrath looked great, as did Reed. Henry's pass on Reed was outstanding, clean but aggressive. The big peristyle jump had some gnarly crashes!

I disagree that his pass was clean... I guess it's ok to make contact in motocross, and supercross when making passes, but not on the street? If it was a roadrace that pass would have been as dirty as they get... Their was another supermoto race going on the Speed Channel wraping up as x-games was starting and Doug Henry made a simular pass that would have made the other rider crash if they did'nt back off... Henry stole the line by forcing his way inside and making contact on the street portion of the corse... He did'nt pass being faster but by making contact... The exact same thing he did to Reed at x games... Allot will disagree with me I'm sure... "he must have been faster to even make contact" or "that's just a racing incident" To me clean passes are made with faster lines, and actually moving faster not by making contact, & blocking, and forcing someone to brake to avoid a collision... Like Millsaps, he does it right in my book, always squiky clean passes...

Posted by: SpeedyManiac---------------------

Well, since they are riding dirtbikes, not street bikes, what's wrong with a little contact. Rubbin is racin, and it sucks when guys are too scared that they'll get penalized to realize that a little contact makes it interesting. I would have had no problem if Reed had gave Henry a tap back.

Posted by: the Eel---------------------

I thought it was an aggressive pass but ultimately a fair one. It doesn't seem like Reed is complaining ! The race was awesome ... and great coverage. Doug Henry rocks ! Top 5 at a national motocross a week or so ago, overalling a GNCC earlier this year, and now this. He's versatile and he obviously loves to race his motorcycle. I dig that.

Posted by: SpDyKen---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colton545

I think Pastrana Pit may have cost him a medal

Travis was riding aggressively later in the race, but was only above 7th place when he waited longer than those ahead of him to pit. I loved his aggressive, attack mode in his first freestyle final run.

Posted by: Colton545---------------------

He was in 2nd place when he entered the pit

Posted by: zcookie49---------------------

Yeah, hats off to Henry and strong performances by MC and Reed.
Looks like Yamaha woke up and sponsored Henry this year for his ride. Last year he went over to the Honda since their was no support program for him at Yamaha. How fitting if he wins them a supermoto championship.

Posted by: SpDyKen---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colton545

He was in 2nd place when he entered the pit

Yes, only because every other faster riders had taken the 50+ seconds to pit and get back out on the track. It is easy to pass someone when they are stopped. Double check his position BEFORE anyone had pitted!

Posted by: Colton545---------------------

I relize that but there are certain advantages doug henry had such has starting in first.

Posted by: SpDyKen---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colton545

I relize that but there are certain advantages doug henry had such has starting in first.

Nope, Chad Reed hole-shot and lead until DH dove inside and stood him up. He then pulled out a 20+ second lead. Of course he did have the advantage of actually going faster than anybody else!

Posted by: dirt bike dave---------------------

I missed the first part of the race, but I heard McGrath was as fast if not faster then Henry, but collided with Ward on the first lap.

Also, there is no way Pastrana would have medalled with a faster pit stop. Shave 20 seconds off his pit stop and he might have moved up a couple of places, at best.

Posted by: Anssi---------------------

In the pass Henry put on Reed, they were already out of the turn when the almost-contact happened. Seemed like CR just hadn't realized he had been passed and that was the only reason he had to make the correction.

Posted by: bikepilot---------------------

Henery is awsome, and has been for a long time. I remember watching him race nationals before his first major injury and being very impressed, then I was at budds creek for both crashes and even got to hang with him for a bit when he returned

The nicest, cleanest, hardest working guy you'll ever meet imo:thumbup

Posted by: dante---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anssi

In the pass Henry put on Reed, they were already out of the turn when the almost-contact happened. Seemed like CR just hadn't realized he had been passed and that was the only reason he had to make the correction.

no they were at they apex whe henry made contact with reed... I don't think CR felt like crashing on the street for an exibition race

Posted by: HiG4s---------------------

The big jump over the stands really hurt the roadrace guys... Last year most of the top five were roadracers..

Posted by: zcookie49---------------------

I think the big jump evened it up more for the dirt guys. Lets use some more of that suspension.
.
I tivod the race and watched it last nite. IMO, Henrys pass was fair, he took the inside line, CR didnt see him until he was pulling past him on the inside, CR tried to throw an elbow or body english out there but was too late. No contact by Henry hitting in or t-boning. It was actually amazing how Henry railed that pass so tight around that barrier; and if it wasnt there on the 5th lap, CR wouldn't have made it another 35 out front. My hat is off to CR for his performance anyway, did you see his qualifying wreck, that was viscous.

Posted by: xsnrg---------------------

Why does Reed get a pass for doing something as dangerous as this during a motocross season (especially when he's ranked 3rd in the points). I didn't see it, but if his qualifying crash was viscous, what if it took him out the rest of the MX series? TP would be ridiculed for doing the same thing, but no one bats an eye at Chad doing it. I'm just as much a fan of TP as I am of CR as I am of RC or any other... I was just wondering why the double standard... is it because it is racing instead of aerial maneuvers? Does that matter?

Posted by: Okiewan---------------------

Not to take anything away from DH, but he does have a LOT more seat time than the rest of them...

Posted by: dirt bike dave---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by xsnrg

Why does Reed get a pass for doing something as dangerous as this during a motocross season (especially when he's ranked 3rd in the points).

IMO, Chad does deserve criticism for getting hurt at a non-MX event during the MX season. I felt the same about Pastrana when he rode for Team Suzuki.

In fariness to Chad, Travis was an easier target as he got hurt several years in a row, often after giving pre-season interviews about how he was 110% committed to SX/MX. Hopefully this is a one time thing for Chad.

I think people are not publicly questioning Chad's participation & injury for a few reasons:

1) We like watching MX stars compete in the X games and don't want them to stop

2) We don't want to be called haters

3) We don't feel like getting a lecture (reminder?) about how the X games are bigger and more important than the nationals.

Posted by: HiG4s---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by xsnrg

Why does Reed get a pass for doing something as dangerous as this during a motocross season (especially when he's ranked 3rd in the points). I didn't see it, but if his qualifying crash was viscous, what if it took him out the rest of the MX series? TP would be ridiculed for doing the same thing, but no one bats an eye at Chad doing it. I'm just as much a fan of TP as I am of CR as I am of RC or any other... I was just wondering why the double standard... is it because it is racing instead of aerial maneuvers? Does that matter?

Reed crashed hard at Glen Helen,, messed up the pins in his hand and will be out the rest of the season because of surgery this week, which he would have had to have whether he raced in the X-game or not. Maybe not as soon, but it's not like he was going to beat RC or KDub this year after some of the bad luck.. The chain just falling off was major bad luck.

Posted by: zcookie49---------------------

I agree somewhat with the comparison to TP,but in all fairness to Chad, his season is over anyway. I mean, RC is so far ahead of anyone, and if he injured himself out, then Kdub is ahead as well.... Plus Chad probably wont feel the wraith of the "haters" as much because supermoto is racing where as the "haters" claim "fmx isnt a sport because there are judges"..and that TP doesnt focus on racing, and doesnt it make it thru 2 events without getting hurt.. Not that I agree with that, but just pointing it out from what I have read before on here. What happened to Kdub in the supermoto, his name was on the invite list, did he decide not to go?

Posted by: SpDyKen---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Okiewan

Not to take anything away from DH, but he does have a LOT more seat time than the rest of them...

Jeremy and Jeff actually have the most time on supermoto. DH joined the party late in the first season on a private, but well-tuned Yamaha. Astro-physist Dr. Rob Tululie [sp?] had DH up front from his very first race after leaving Polaris but before going to Europe to work in F-1. Doug was competitive immediately but his 'aggressive' style and inexperience cost him wins and in fact the title in his first full season, last year, to a more consistent, but often slower, Jeff Ward. DH has both talant and fun these days and it shows!

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Henry is awesome

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