Anaheim 1 is always a great race, be it track conditions or just heated battles, and this time was no different. We got a couple of different winners - Grant with his first Supercross win (that almost didn't happen), and Weimer on the Lites pulling out his luck and skill cards at just the right moment.
The big guys (Supercross class) got their chance to strut a little bit when Reed and Stewart took each other out. Reed eventually climbing back for a 3rd, Short got around and stayed ahead for 2nd. The big news, to me, is that Villopoto pulled out a top 5 in his first Supercross race. I had thought that it might be a season too early for him to hop up to the big bikes, but it seems he's got a lot more to give the older guys than I had expected. The biggest upset of the race, though, has to be Stewart. I know for a fact that it's one of the most gut-wrenching feelings ever to have to walk off the track, I can't begin to imagine what that is like having all of the media stuffed in my face.
The Lites class was pretty straight forward. Lawrence received some payback karma by taking himself and Canard out. TV-style rival Dungey took the bottom of the podium leaving Morais to claim 2nd. I would have to say that the Lites class was the most exciting racing (besides Grants last couple of laps) that I've seen out of Supercross in a while. Hopefully, the rest of the west-coast season is that way.
Overall, I would have to say the race was pretty good. What I cannot say is good, though, is the TV presentation of the race. I felt as if I were watching a long, drawn-out commercial the whole time with the little plug-segments which fabricated stories that had no shred of truth to them (Ex: The segment with the kids on the bicycles, or the whole 'arch-rivalry' between Lawrence and Dungey - trash talking is part of MX/SX, it happens between friends too). I remember when it was the norm for all of the top riders to be great friends, and that to be show through their actions on the television or in their interviews. Now, it's as if they are getting paid to say that everyone is their enemy, and they're the only person who deserves it, and they hate everybody and so on and so forth.
Motocross and Supercross are great sports, great venues to attend, and a way of life for many of us. Lets just hope that Speed doesn't turn my sport into some sudo-wrestling amusement for the masses. I can honestly say that I wouldn't be surprised to see everyone on KTM50's next round wielding baseball bats and wearing capes.
