Joined Oct 2006
3K Posts | 34+
Tar Heel State
It appears that the 2012 Outdoor series will not become the Ryan Dungey benefit after all.
Stewart and JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) split, thus ending a relationship that didn't produce as thought. James "Bubba" Stewart however announced that he has signed with Yoshimura Suzuki and will compete in the 2012 outdoor series.
So, in my opinion, that announcement makes the outdoor series interesting again because without a Villopoto, Reed, Canard, or Stewart, Dungey was a shoe in for the title.
I think the two obvious favorites now are Dungey and Stewart. Dung gets my nod for top favorite just because he has Roger DeCoster managing the team. We saw what happened to Dungey last year on the Zook after DeCoster had left, a couple of DNF's cost Dungey valuable points and championships, I'm sure it's the number 1 reason why he left Suzuki. That leads me to Bubba, have Suzuki managed to work out the issue it had when Dungey was on board? I think Bubba will come out strong, he's motivated, and wants to put the embarrasing 2012 SX season behind him. I think changing brands could be enough to get Bubba over the hump mentally and give him the confidence to ride the way he knows how to ride, but he better be prepared to bring it every moto, Dungey will not quit or go away.
Dark horse in this years championship. It was just annoucned that Tyla Rattray will fill in for Ryan Villopoto. I almost put him up there with Dungey and Stewart, and I sort of am by giving him his own paragraph. Tyla is seasoned, in shape, refreshed, and on a factory Kawi that Villopoto dominated with last year. We will have to see how he does on the 450, but I'm betting he goes well. He won't be flashy and dominate moto's, but he will be there in the last minutes dicing for the lead.
Other players. Weimer, Alessi, Metcalf, Millsaps, and Brayton. I mentioned before that Mike Alessi was getting racey towards the end of the SX season, he's a much better outdoor rider and with his legendary starts, he could very well be a player.
As far as lites...I predict, Tomac, Barcia, and Baggett to be top finishers regulary...and if Baggett has gotten his Mojo back...that boy could dominate....he's that good IMO.
May 19 Hangtown National, Scramento, CA
May 26 Freestone National, Wortham, TX
June 2 Thunder Valley National, Lakewood, CO
June 9 High Point National, Mt. Morris, PA
June 16 Budds Creek National, Mechanicsville, MD
July 7 RedBud National, Buchanan, MI
July 14 Spring Creek National, Millville, MN
July 21 Washougal National, Washougal, WA
August 11 Moto-X 338 National, Southwick, MA
August 18 Unadilla National, New Berlin, NY
September 1 Steel City National, Delmont, PA
September 8 Lake Elsinore National, Lake Elsinore, CA
Stewart and JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) split, thus ending a relationship that didn't produce as thought. James "Bubba" Stewart however announced that he has signed with Yoshimura Suzuki and will compete in the 2012 outdoor series.
So, in my opinion, that announcement makes the outdoor series interesting again because without a Villopoto, Reed, Canard, or Stewart, Dungey was a shoe in for the title.
I think the two obvious favorites now are Dungey and Stewart. Dung gets my nod for top favorite just because he has Roger DeCoster managing the team. We saw what happened to Dungey last year on the Zook after DeCoster had left, a couple of DNF's cost Dungey valuable points and championships, I'm sure it's the number 1 reason why he left Suzuki. That leads me to Bubba, have Suzuki managed to work out the issue it had when Dungey was on board? I think Bubba will come out strong, he's motivated, and wants to put the embarrasing 2012 SX season behind him. I think changing brands could be enough to get Bubba over the hump mentally and give him the confidence to ride the way he knows how to ride, but he better be prepared to bring it every moto, Dungey will not quit or go away.
Dark horse in this years championship. It was just annoucned that Tyla Rattray will fill in for Ryan Villopoto. I almost put him up there with Dungey and Stewart, and I sort of am by giving him his own paragraph. Tyla is seasoned, in shape, refreshed, and on a factory Kawi that Villopoto dominated with last year. We will have to see how he does on the 450, but I'm betting he goes well. He won't be flashy and dominate moto's, but he will be there in the last minutes dicing for the lead.
Other players. Weimer, Alessi, Metcalf, Millsaps, and Brayton. I mentioned before that Mike Alessi was getting racey towards the end of the SX season, he's a much better outdoor rider and with his legendary starts, he could very well be a player.
As far as lites...I predict, Tomac, Barcia, and Baggett to be top finishers regulary...and if Baggett has gotten his Mojo back...that boy could dominate....he's that good IMO.
May 19 Hangtown National, Scramento, CA
May 26 Freestone National, Wortham, TX
June 2 Thunder Valley National, Lakewood, CO
June 9 High Point National, Mt. Morris, PA
June 16 Budds Creek National, Mechanicsville, MD
July 7 RedBud National, Buchanan, MI
July 14 Spring Creek National, Millville, MN
July 21 Washougal National, Washougal, WA
August 11 Moto-X 338 National, Southwick, MA
August 18 Unadilla National, New Berlin, NY
September 1 Steel City National, Delmont, PA
September 8 Lake Elsinore National, Lake Elsinore, CA
