Moto 3 and race pics
The races had been exciting for sure and because of some bad luck the pressure was on Short and Dungey to perform. Because you throw out one result the real differential was just two points. The good news was Short did get up and finish the race so it appeared that he was OK physically.
The track crew had done some work to the loamy Colorado soil eliminating some berms and that had cleaned up the start straight so all would have the best shot at getting to turn 1. I was busy chatting it up with a fine gent from So. Africa and one from San Diego. It is interesting going to races alone as it sort of makes you reach out to others. It would suck to keep all of the excitement contained within...! We figured that the US boys had to be ahead of the German's by a spot or two to pass them up, but Belgium was still in the hunt and we had seen both Short and Canard have some bad luck throughout the day so the tension was there for the American fans.
After the sighting lap the riders roll into a staging area and get sent to the line one at a time. It was Dungey that rolled out first and I felt it was ironic that he would roll into his spot and be the only man on the start line for a few minutes. I snapped a quick photo of that...just because.:teeth
The rest of the field settled in to their spots. Dungey had chosen the middle of the inside side. He would end up with World Champ Cairoli on he left and Barragon to his right. Short was to middle of the left side of the start gate, in a similar position when he pulled a massive holeshot earlier.
The crowd frenzy was certainly peaking and the air horns announced to the valley that the gate had dropped and the final race of the day was on!
It was Short again coming around turn 1 with the lead shadowed by Metcalfe and Dungey was P-3 with a tight line around turn 2. It was a crazed mob behind as the racers headed to the big step up jump. When I was at the bottom of the two jumps I watched riders sail more than two stories over my head.. it was amazing! There is a shot of Short below as he is coming down to the upper jump, but that does not do the height nor the distance between them justice. All the guys in the main event were doing this jump, but many teams had a rider that was not willing to come up short on it during the qualifying races and practices.
When the field blasted below my venue (over the hot pit) it was Short and Dungey one two and we went wild of course. :flag Townely had got by Metcalfe and Clement Desalle #9, Steve Ramon #7, Jay Marmont #21, and Jake Nicholls #13 completed the top eight. I was busy watching my boys out front and did not get the other two in the top ten, but I think Cairoli was in it. Short held a second or two on Dungey for a couple of laps and Dungey held two seconds on Townley.
By lap 4 the gap was about the same, but Metcalfe would start to fade a bit and was six seconds behind Townley with Desallle and Ramon on his tail.
On lap 5 Dungey wicked it up and caught Short taking P1. I think he felt the pressure from Townley and decided it was time to go. Townely was all over Short now and after he had clipped the Red Bull rider's front wheel earlier in the day I told the fan next to me "He should let him go.. we have this thing if he finishes 3rd and the last thing we need is to have another crash".
Lap eight (about the 1/2 point) we saw Dungey pulling away, riding smooth and fast. Short was still second with Townley right there. Metcalfe was next with Desalle, Ramon and Cairoli. Then a 3 second gap to Barragan, Xavier Boog, Arnauld Tonus, Nichols, Goncalves, Balbie, Marmount, Paulin, Nonni, Anderson and Leok (who was having motor problems. The German Schiffer was next and we were looking good now!
Next go round Townely had moved to second place and part of me was relieved. Short had a big gap to 4th place and that felt secure. At least as secure as you can feel in MX Racing, because anything can happen! Townely was not making any time on Dungey, but pulling a bit on Shorty. Metcalfe was still leading the battle behind.
Two laps later Dungey came by with a huge margin.. I counted it off to about 15 seconds and it was Short who came by in second..! Apparently Townley had a problem on the part of the track I could not see and now we were looking really good for the win!! Desalle had moved to third and now Cairoli was pressuring Metcalfe for 4th. Coming down the hill a block pass put the World MX Champion in 4th and he would immediately start to close on Desalle.
On the 3rd from last lap it was Dungey smoking his way to the 2 lap board as they hit the 30 minute mark. Short seemed secure and as both riders went around the track and each spot brought waving flags and air horns blasting.
Cairoli was 2 seconds back of Desalle as they took the 2 lap board with Metcalfe, Ramon and a fast moving Boog closing in. The last lap was on hand and Team USA had this one in hand, but there was no sideways/show off antics to be seen. Dungey kept his head down as did Short, but when he hit the finish line a big tail whip and fist in the air went up. 20 seconds later Short confirmed the victory with a big ass tail whip too.. nice!!
3rd place went to Desalle with a solid ride. Cairolli would take 4th with Metcalfe, Ramon, Boog, Tonus, Paulin and Marmont filling out the top 10.
With the US (23 points) winning second ended up going to Belgium (30). The two German riders had problems and Belgium with solid rides from lept to second. The Germans held down 3rd with 44 points after a fast closing Great Britain closed with 45 points. Fifth went to Italy with 50.
The balance of the top 10:
Australia 54
France 71
New Zealand 90
Portugal 94
Puerto Rice 99
This was a fantastic experience in more ways than one and I will plan to be in attendance when the race returns to the USA in 2014.
I was happy with the weekend, even though it costs some fairly big doe to be one of those 200 Gold VIP's. The access it gave and the special parking area and entrance made for quick entries and exits along with some food and a very decent viewing area if you were willing to hang there and keep it. I was.. because this checked one item off the bucket list.
Good times. :flag
Pics:
1. Dungey grids alone
2. Moto 3 start
3. Exiting T1
4. Close up of start showing Dungey position
5. Dungey on straight.
6. Dungey railing the berm on to the start straight.
7. Dungey close up exiting his berm railing.
Captain America.jpg
another fan usa.jpg
national pride.jpg
MX Des Nations usa fans.jpg
Some would say US had big heads.jpg
usa fans.jpg
:teeth
