Steve Matthes Observations from Atlanta
FEBRUARY 26, 2008By Steve Matthes
Photos by Simon Cudby

I didn’t go to the Atlanta Supercross; I took a weekend off and went riding and it was nice to have a break halfway through the series. I grabbed some Double-Stuffed Oreos and some Cherry Coke and sat down to listen to the Supercross on the internet. Here’s what I heard…

.45: Jason "Weege" Weigandt comes on and welcomes us to Atlanta Supercross, “an FIM World Championship,” and introduces us to his partner Jim Holley. Holley gets really excited at Supercross races and I think this is good.

3:40: Holley tells us that Chad Reed “Is a little bit faster than everyone else.” Nice! He also mentions that tomorrow, the sun will come up.

6:00: Commercial time! We get to listen to an ad about Toyota Arenacross and how exciting it is. I’m no marketing expert but here’s a way to make it more exciting: have all the top AX riders in the same city at the same time! No charge for that advice.

6:54: The first U.S. Open ad hits us. By the end of this thing, I will be reduced to a sobbing shell of a man whose credit card will be maxed with Vegas tickets, hotels and Monster Jam merchandise.

8:58: An interview with Ryan Villopoto who actually admits that he’s not 100 percent. Right now Monster Energy Kawi PR guy Tom McGovern has to be thinking that Ryan is not following the “give them facts but be vague” policy.

12:23: Of course the next two interviews are with Josh Grant and “Marteen” Davalos who both say they’ve never worked harder, are super-pumped to race the east coast and it’s both their hometown race. Which is funny because Grant’s from California and Davalos is from Ecuador. Hey, whatever works to trick your mind into something…. Kind of like when I convince myself that Double-Stuffed Oreos I’m currently eating are actually placebos.

12:45: Weege says that a lot of people are wondering if RV is 100 percent despite RV telling us four minutes earlier that he’s not 100 percent. Weege probably can’t believe that a rider actually admitted a weakness.

Bowers lined up at Atlanta  ... minus his machete and goalie mask.

 

20:43: Interview with Yamaha of Troy’s Tyler Bowers who tells us that the riders he grew up racing with are crazy. Ummm, Tyler? They’re not the ones that lost their mind at an Arenacross race and then posed with a bloody machete and a goalie mask in a Shift ad. You are in the running for King Crazy of Crazy Island.

24:50: More commercials for US Open and Arenacross…can’t help it….reaching into wallet…

26:41: Weege reminds us that James Stewart designed the track. I like the idea of riders designing the tracks—that’s pretty cool. Can’t wait until next year when Jason Lawrence designs a track with circus bears and loop-de-loops.

30:00: Interview with James where he says that his track design is exactly like his practice track! Awesome to hear a guy say that, because that’s exactly what I would do also.

32:13: RC is riding three (?!?) parade laps on a RM250. I thought this guy retired? He’s at more supercross races than I am.

34:16: Weege reminds us that Vegas SX is coming up May 3rd, tickets are available, and also can you please stay at Planet Hollywood?

37:46: First Lites heat is on the line and Weege tells us that Doug Henry is the last guy to wear number 2 besides Jeremy McGrath. Now RV has it. Side note to this is that Lamson offered #6 to RV but he turned it down last year saying he wanted #2.

40:20: MDK/KTM’s Ryan Sipes grabs the lead early, good to see him up there. Now he just has to stay healthy. Canard is second, RV went down apparently on some kind of “wall jump.”

Trey Canard had an impressive SX debut... to say the least.

 

43:59: Trey Canard wins his first-ever heat race in his first-ever supercross. Pretty good for the Okie. RV comes back to seventh.

45:50: Weege tells us about something called the U.S. Open in Vegas. He then goes on to tell us it’s the “trendiest event of the year” and features “hip parties, A-list celebrities and all the Supercross stars.” Weege also says that he’s reading this off a script and I think that’s because he knows just how incredibly cheeseball this seems. Who writes this stuff? Cheryl Lynch?

48:30: Terry Boyd says he loves making Trey nervous up on the podium. Canard is probably just nervous because, if you close one eye, Terry kinda looks like E.T. Weege immediately catches onto this and also makes fun of Terry, just like I’m doing.

52:00: Heat two on line and Jim tells us the story of Billy Payne and his return from an eight (!!) year retirement to come back to racing. Cool story. I still remember Billy being one of the only guys to jump the massive quad at Anaheim back in the day. This would just be the first of many very creepy Billy Payne updates from Hollywood.

55:41: Torco Racing Fuels Josh Grant wins the second heat making it a Torco Racing Fuels heat sweep. Holley goes on to tell us that stalling your bike in the race “isn’t good for a good finish.” Later, he will be docked a spot for jumping on a red light.

57:38: The guys are talking about Team Honda’s newest guy, Ben Coisey. Weege wants to call Ben “The Cobra” from now on because Vuillemin doesn’t want to use that anymore. Really? When did DV12 say that? I must have missed that release. He will always be “The Cobra” to me; I don’t care what anybody says—even the rider who wants to be The Rider formerly known as The Cobra.

59:34: Weege plugs Circuit City in a story about watching SX in high-def and then seamlessly transitions into an actual Circuit City commercial. Brilliant! And you wonder why this guy is the king of SX media?

1:03: Heat one of the Supercross class is on the first lap when Holley tells us that Barry Carsten fell in the first turn. Weege starts sobbing uncontrollably.

1:04: Eric Sorby slams Travis Preston hard and Weege says he had “Absolutely no chance of making the turn; he just decided that neither one of us is going to make the main…” I wonder if Sorby will threaten to slap Weege like he did me?

Sorby and Travis Preston kept things interesting ...

 

1:08: Preston catches back up to Sorby and takes him out hard. The guys are really excited at this point, as I imagine I would be also. Holley says that he wants to take credit for predicting that TP would take out Sorby… Wow Jim, that’s quite a prediction.  You’re a regular Kreskin.

1:10: Kevin Windham wins the heat in a convincing fashion. That’s three-for-three for Torco Racing Fuels so far. These guys are like the Detroit Red Wings of SX.

1:14: Weege is eating some M&M’s custom made with Phil Nicoletti’s racing number on them. Now they are talking about them in great detail and whether or not they melt in Weege’s mouth. A conversation that Bob Costas and Vin Scully have had many times I’m sure.

1:16: The gate drops for heat two and Weege says “Tim Ferry (long pause, me getting all excited) is absolutely dead last! Sorry about that Steve Matthes, who listening at home.” Nothing like having an announcer actually mocking you by name. Good times.

1:17: No doubt feeling bad for making me sit up and get all excited for nothing, Weege says that I will be happy with the good start by Jason Thomas and DV because they are two of “my guys” and you’re right, I am happy Weege. I celebrate by eating two Double-Stuffed Oreos at once.

1:19: Tim Ferry is working his way through the pack like a hot knife through butter. This gets me excited, but then I realize that the Campbell River Crusher Dusty Klatt is not in qualifying position. Now I am sad. I only eat one Double-Stuffed Oreo.

1:23: Reed wins the second heat after Davi Millsaps gives him a bit of a run. I tell’ya, Davi might just have something for Reedy one of these nights. Ferry sets the fastest time of the race ... I’m just saying.

1:25: Weege plugs Progressive Insurance for sponsoring the holeshot award. I’m all about this, it’s a great thing for sure. My only gripe is its $1500 bucks and 90 percent of the time it’s a top guy that gets it (at least since Kyle Lewis retired). Don’t you think Reed has that 15 hundy in his couch cushions? Does he really get excited by that? Maybe they should give it to the top placing “non-factory” guy in the main? Or how about giving it to a fan who correctly guesses the over/under on the number of times the word “Monster” is spoken?

1:27: Reed explains his friendship with Millsaps by saying that they’re not going to take each other out, they respect each other and “We’re all human beings out there.” Yes, Chad, you’re right, but you’re a human being with a BAZILLION DOLLARS IN THE BANK. You have so much money, you could buy another human being!

1:28: Did you know that CR and Millsaps have a $100 bet on who gets the holeshot every week? These are the things you read Observations for.

1:35: Another U.S. Open commercial. I have my credit card out and dialing for tickets and getting hotel rooms…then I realize that I get in free and live in Vegas. Do not listen to self… Must call now…

1:47: Holley calls privateer Jimmy Albertson “Albee,” which causes Weege to gently remind him that Greg Albertyn is retired but he gives Jim an out by suggesting that it’s easy to make that mistake with Alberston on a Suzuki. You’re right, Weege, very easy mistake to make, like confusing me with Brad Pitt.

1:48: Lites LCQ is over, Coisy wins and all of Team Honda exhales. Can’t wait until DV12.com tells us how “The (New) Cobra” likes the bike and what he eats for breakfast every morning.

1:49: Terry is talking to Matt Walker about his training school and asks about getting hold of him. Now I love the Stalker but when he says “I don’t believe in websites," I have to wonder if his Glen Helen crash is still affecting him. Matt, the internet is not like Rubic’s Cube ... it’ll be around for a while.

1:50: Weege says on air that Steve Matthes now has enough information from that Walker interview to do my whole Observations column. He’s right but I have to restrain myself to just the above comment. I cannot wait until the next time I see Matt.

1:52: The Supercross class LCQ is off and everybody, and I mean EVERYBODY is just watching Preston and Sorby.

1:53: Weege sounds very, very excited (just shouting out YES, like he’s being saved by Jimmy Swaggart) as he tells us that Preston is behind Sorby. He affirms that “The gods have answered our prayers!”

1:54: Sorby nails Preston and Weege can’t believe it. Holley is giggling and yelling. This makes me quit chewing my mouthful of Double-Stuffed Oreo and listen intently.

1:55: Preston stops on the track to line up Sorby. Holley brings up the Chicken/Bradshaw days as an example of the last time he’s seen this type of behavior. Man, I wish I was there!

1:58: Geez, Weege is now going on and on about Barry Carsten and Jason Lawrence meeting each other and the Garden State. Just sickening, really. It’s like if I went on and on about Tim Ferry and Canada.... Oh, wait, I do.

2:06: An update from Robert Hansen about the Toyota Arenacross series, he tells us that Kelly Smith is looking strong in practice. Of course he is, I groomed him and guided his career. Anybody remember Mt Morris 2000?

2:13: A guy from Belgium named Tom is being interviewed and says he’s in America “To visit his friend Scott.” I lapse into a Double-Stuffed Oreo coma while pondering how this guy was selected for an interview.

2:19: The Lites race is off and Canard grabs the holeshot. Jim Holley’s fascination with Billy Payne continues with a mid-first-turn Payne update. He went down, but got up quickly and is okay.

2:21: Sipes and Davalos both make mistakes on a jump combo and allow Trey to take off. Weege calls Holley a “genius” because he did predict a Canard victory earlier.

2:23: Holley goes on explaining how “RV and Josh Grant are racing each other in traffic” and “Grant’s looking at RV and the championship” and they are “Remembering that Dungey won last year and Townley didn’t get any points but Townley won the title anyways,” “It’s not over, you can’t lose the title at this race” and that “Everything is on still at this point…” Yes, and if you can figure that out, you’re a genius also.

Villopoto's East Coast season got off to a rough start.

 

2:25: RV crashes on the wall jump and Grant runs into him. Well, through him, actually. RV is off the track and in pain. Maybe he’s okay but he pulled off because he forgot to get Monster Jam tickets.

2:26: Hollywood says that RV is holding his wrist and saying “Ow, my wrist.” That’s funny.

2:32: Trey Carnard wins his first Lites SX at his first race. Holley correctly calls it and Torco Racing Fuels is having a pretty good night I’d say. Kudos to the MDK/KTM team for getting second and third and I can’t wait for team manager Danny Paladino to let me know at Indianapolis that I was motivation for his team.

2:34: Weege says RV crashed on the “stop jump” or “wall jump.” Which is it Weege? I don’t think we should call it a jump at all. How about “giant mound of dirt” or “Wall of Death” as K-Dub will say later?

2:35: Holley gives another Billy Payne update saying that he did well, his dad Bill Sr. would be happy along with “Uncle Rich, Uncle Pat and everybody huddled around the computer.” I’m not making this up.

2:47: I missed the interviews as I had to run to the store to get more Oreos and milk. Plus I was flipping channels to watch the mighty Maple Leafs cruise past the Atlanta Thrashers in this sport called hockey for all you American readers. It’s on the VS network if you ever want to tune in, same network that once had the nationals on with Ping announcing before they decided Emig was a better color guy.

2:50: Millsaps and Reed go at it early in the Supercross main event. Sounds like Davi might give the two-two a run. Weege is very excited again which makes me excited; it’s either his voice or the fact I got more Oreos. Not sure which.

2:52: Reed is being pressured by Millsaps! Isn’t this great for Supercross? We really, really, really need some racing for the lead. The only thing better would be if you replaced Davi Millaps with Tim Ferry.

2:53: Nathan Ramsey is in third. Not sure if you’ve guys have noticed this or not but Nate-Dog is having a good season. If you listened to my Larry Brooks pod cast interview you would be up on all of this knowledge. Tune in this week sucka!

2:54: Reed goes down on the stop jump or wall jump or giant mound of dirt. Whichever it is, Millsaps takes the lead as CR struggles to start his bike. Weege just lets out a “Whooooooooo” !

2:55: Ferry is putting the pressure on Short, KW passes Nathan aggressively. Sounds like a good race, can’t wait to watch Ralph and Jeff call it tomorrow like they are in a library.

2:56: CR is not going through the pack like you would think, maybe something is bothering him? If there is, you would have a better chance of going to the moon than finding anything out from the mystery man.

3:00: Ferry, after moving into third, promptly stalls his bike and goes back to sixth. I get up at this point and crush a Double-Stuffed Oreo into crumbs and kick my dog. There will be no Tim Ferry victory tonight.

3:01: Josh Hansen goes down and is way back. When is the Josh Hansen experiment going to be officially called off? I feel for him, as he’s hurt, but either go away and heal up or do something on the track. Riding around at the back like he’s been doing is helping no one.

3:03: Weege tells us that Millsaps had a real close call, almost going off the track. I think we shouldn’t even bother to get excited when Davi almost crashes. He seems to be the most out of control/in control guy I’ve ever seen. Maybe he’s just sketchy, like Nathan Ramsey.

3:06: Ferry goes past Ramsey again and Holley remarks that who knows where Ferry would’ve finished had he not stalled. I’ll tell you where Jim: AT THE TOP OF THE PODIUM, PROVING THAT HE’S THE BEST RIDER EVER. Sorry about that.

3:07: Andrew Short is under fire from Ferry with two laps left and they are going at it hard, slamming each other back and forth. I can’t wait to see it!

Millsaps wons his first ever Supercross in front of his hometown fans.

 

3:08: Davi Millsaps wins his first ever Supercross in a great ride. Ferry gets by Short but Andrew retaliates with an aggressive pass. Holley is yelling at the top of his lungs; I think he’s about to pull something. Short holds off Ferry somehow. I know if I looked back and saw the one-five, I would probably pee my pants.
3:21: The interview with the girl formerly known as Miss Supercross, not dating Davi Millsaps, closes out my listening experience… I have to get up early and start working overtime to pay for my suite in October when I travel five city blocks to get to The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino for the trendiest race of the year, the U.S. Open right here in Fabulous Las Vegas! My wife is going to love this.

Well, that’s it folks. Thanks to Weege and Holley for providing me with entertainment on a Saturday night.  I’m actually going to the race next weekend so look for a real live Observations from Indianapolis.  Send in your  thoughts to matthes@racerxcanada.com. Thanks for reading!