Nobody sane who follows this sport is happy seeing injured riders, so you Aussies can stop your pity party. Reed was a liability to the factories not for his riding but for his childish antics. Factories dislike problematic relationships. As far as Bubba, he was crashing before this year, but they still wanted him because he wouldn't resort to pathetic desperation on the playing field. Where Bubba screwed up was buying into the MTV reality show ......... Though it was at least something to do while recovering from injuries.
I think Reed called it himself in his last podium interview. He admitted that speeding up the pace and challenging for a win was not typical of him. (If you recorded it, go back and listen to him again.) Reed is fast but not the fastest of the real leaders. His success has come from attrition! He lost sight of this and tried to challenge the boys that are simply more talented. I'll give him at least some kudos for trying to win as oppose to hanging out waiting for others to crash or have injuries. However, he rode above his head, hence his big crash.
This is why people respected Bubba when he was crashing while still being undeniably the fastest guy out there. While he wasn't crashing he was thrilling people and showing us what can be done on a dirtbike. I think what is happening with him is he has tried to balance fast with finishing. Its taken him out of his zone. Perhaps the explanation is, he is probably crashing because he is not pushing? I've been saying this several times now, he is crashing but without being the fastest (unlike before when he was crashing while being the fastest). How many of us said, 'man, if this guy could just slow down a bit he would be unstoppable.' Well, he has slowed down, but is still crashing. Something doesn't look right. He's getting shitting starts and isn't charging up the field anymore like before.
I don't think the other guys have raised their game. I just think Stewart slowed down. Villopoto is more confident and has improved his racecraft. Though he doesn't look to be as raw fast as the old Stewart was, he is close to being as fast with a hell of a lot more consistency.
