What Really Happened: 2009 Rockstar Energy Drink US Open

By: Motocross.com

Posted: 10/14/09

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The US Open is one of the most competitive races of the year. On night one there were more elbows being thrown than in a UFC fight, and you can bet with 100 grand on the line the riders were willing to give it all for the win.

The first night of the US Open revealed changes in not only the lineup but the format as well. A new component in the two-night event was added which gave the riders an opportunity to earn more points towards their two-night racing total. Head-to-head racing was placed in the program. This was comprised of the top 10 finishing riders from timed practice. Racers were pitted against one another in a one-on-one, single lap race. The winner of each head-to-head race was awarded one point to their two-night racing totals. This was on top of the heat, semi, and LCQ format.

Before the racing got underway I had the chance to catch up with Roger DeCoster.

What are your expectations for your team tonight?
"We are kind of running a reduced team, and I only have one rider [Michael Byrne]. He is coming back from a pretty big crash in Italy at the Motocross of Nations, I am just happy he is riding the event. I really don't know how he is going to do tonight."

For the coming Supercross season have you signed any riders yet?
"We are still working on riders right now and I can't say who we will end up with for sure but we will probably end up with Austin Stroupe on the Lites bike, but I don't know what we will do for the next 450 rider."

Las Vegas is a race that really allows riders the opportunity to size each other up before they hit A1. Despite any preconceived notions as to who may have the best set up, Vegas is also a race that is known to put a wildcard on the podium. One such potential wildcard is Nick Wey.

What is your opinion of the race format for tonight?
"I was unaware of the new format prior to getting here but it should be cool. I think it will be okay. I have been riding quite a bit, but the track is so tight I don't know how it will go."

With Chad Reed out of the running tonight can we expect to see you on the box?
"Chad Reed? Bring them all back I'll be on the podium. It all depends on the start I get. If I have things going for me it will be good."

A new exhibition introduced to the US Open format is FMX. I was able to catch up with Mike Mason to get his thoughts on the event.

What can we expect to see from you tonight?
"It will be a good show, you can expect to see a few backflips, some cool tricks I may want to surprise you a bit."

What is your favorite part about being in Las Vegas?
"Definitely the women, the ladies. There are good women in Vegas. I can sit here and look at all the ladies passing by. There are a lot of things going on in Vegas after the race, it's fun."

Who would you like to see win the race tonight?
"Maybe Chad Reed, is he racing? Byrne, I like him. Oh and RV he has a red beard and likes hunting that's pretty cool. Nick Wey too, he's a cool dude. Like when I was racing he was the dude I looked up to."

As the opening ceremonies progressed the tension rose and riders put their game faces on. The new head to head racing was something riders and fans alike had never seen before. Here's how the matches played out:

Bowers vs. Byrne – Winner: Bowers
Blose vs. Siebler – Winner: Blose
Hansen vs. Reardon – Winner: Reardon
Hahn vs. Stewart – Winner: Stewart
Millsaps vs. Villopoto – Winner: Villopoto

Davi Millsaps took the first place position in heat two and had a few things to say about the win, "I feel good especially coming off of a horrible season, winning is nice and I just hope to carry that out into the main."

Does this give you more confidence going into the main?
"Yeah I know I am second fastest but it's the 20 laps that are a whole new race."

Do you think you could beat James in the main?
"James is definitely beatable. You just have to rise to his level. His level is his stupid bubba scrubs and the stupid jumps he does (said jokingly) and just his pace the whole 20 laps and to do that, you have to step up your game, and hopefully before A1 I can do it."

The Mechanic's challenge was yet another component added to the US Open racing format. The winning mechanic would earn one point for his team's overall points total. Davi Millsaps mechanic took the prize on night one and needless to say Davi was thrilled.

Semis and LCQ's played out to create a main event lineup including fourteen riders Stewart, Millsaps, Villopoto, Hansen, Reardon, Bowers, Byrne, Siebler, Casillas, Blose, Boni, Craig, Goerke and Wey.

In the main event all bets were off. The gates were down and James was on the move. James pulled an early lead followed then by Millsaps and Reardon. The single-lined track made it difficult to pass, this was advantageous to riders who started in the front and allowed them to gain distance on the rest of the pack behind them. James made his way across the finish with Millsaps, Reardon, Goerke and Craig in tow.

Dan Reardon was particularly ecstatic about his finish. Reardon explained how it felt to make it on the box, "This is my budget for next year! It was a long time coming. It felt good I had to stay collected out here. It felt really good. I am looking forward to tomorrow and a new challenge so we'll see how it goes."

With Stewart leading in points from night one it looked as though night two would be another sweep for the number one L&M Yamaha. Although, the Kawasaki contender Ryan Villopoto had other plans in mind. Despite a discouraging start on night one RV brought a whole new deck of cards to the table, and gave the crowd what they had been eagerly awaiting, a real race!

Ryan Villopoto explained what happened on night one.
"I got a good start but locked bars with Reardon going into the first corner, so I ended up getting a bad start. Then I started working my way back up through the pack and around the eighth lap I clipped a tefloc and bent my shifter all the way back to my foot peg. That was it."

What does it feel like to be back on the track?
"It was a last minute decision and my reason behind it was so I wouldn't show up at Anaheim without racing all summer. It feels good to be back."

There has been a lot of talk at this race in particular of Chad being on the team next year. What are your thoughts?
"He has been riding the bike, his deals not signed yet. I'm assuming it is gonna be, I think it can be good and bad. A benefit because I'll be able to ride with him and learn from him."

Throughout the day a lot of news was storming through the pits as to who will be riding where. There is no way to get a concrete quote from anyone until pen touches paper, although it seems as though Hansen has made plans with Monster Energy Pro Circuit for the coming season. Josh Hansen has a history of doing well at side races (think US Open, X Games) but fails to seal the deal in a series race.

I ran into Josh Hansen in the pits before the racing started and he detailed last night's racing and his plans for this year."I came off the start on Davi and I think me and Searle got together and I clipped the side of the jump and it put me to the ground there was nothing I could do. I got back up and finished and went back down. It's one of those main events you gotta put behind you."

Where are you looking to finish tonight?
"I'm hoping to do good and finish good. It's one of those tracks where anyone can do good because the track is so easy and it's so small. There's not really anything you can do I just need to be consistent."

People have put you under a one hit wonder category, at races such as X- Games your great but when it comes to SX you seem to fall behind, can you explain that?
"I think the situation I was in was a difficult one. I really have nothing to say to that. I can only prove myself again, I'll have to."

Will you be at A1?
"Definitely, there to choke [joking]."

What are your plans for the supercross season?
"I will be riding for Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki. It's a done deal."

Since you're now on the Pro Circuit team have you started putting any hours in at the test track?
"We just got the deal done with Pro Circuit the night before I came here so not yet. Next year we start riding and testing and going in that direction, when I get back home it will be on."

After watching the head-to-head racing many fans agreed that it was a great addition to the evening program. The dynamics of racing for an individual point that may make the difference in overall finish made things all the more exciting. Here's how the second round of head-to-head match-ups played out:

Stewart vs. Wey – Winner: Stewart
Villopto vs.Byrne – Winner: Villopoto
Blose vs. Reardon – Winner: Blose
Kiniry vs. Millsaps – Winner: Millsaps
Lusk vs. Hansen – Winner: Hansen

Following the head-to-head racing were rounds of competitive heats. After a bout of semis and LCQ's it was time for the long awaited main event. Most expected Stewart to once again easily take the win. Much to the contrary Stewart got off to a shaky start. Dan Reardon pulled the holeshot with RV hot on his tail. Villopoto passed Reardon and led the pack. Without Stewart in front of him Villopoto seemed to maneuver the bike effortlessly through the rhythm and also appeared to be riding more confidently than anytime he had prior exhibited throughout the evening. It didn't take long for James to catch up and despite a round of back-and-forth passing and leading Stewart eventually took the lead.

It didn't take long after Stewart settled into a grove before Villopoto backed it off a notch and started riding a bit more conservatively. It was obvious that Villopoto made the mature decision to settle into a second spot on the podium instead of going all-out with Stewart for the remainder of the race. Behind Villopoto was a battle between Reardon, Millsaps and Byrne. Millsaps and Byrne made their way throughout the pack and Millsaps seized the opportunity to pass Reardon and take third overall. Here are the results:

1) James Stewart
2) Ryan Villopoto
3) Davi Millsaps
4) Dan Reardon
5) Michael Byrne
6) Matt Boni
7) Nick Wey
8) Ezra Lusk
9) Tyler Bowers
10) Chris Blose
11) Bobby Kiniry
12) Tiger Lacey
13) Keith Johnson
14) Josh Hansen
15) Robbie Reynard

I was able to catch up with Stewart after the event, here's what he had to say about the racing.
"It's always good to win. It's my first time being back in five months and I'm just happy. I'm happy to debut the bike, I'm happy to win, I'm back to my normal self I feel great."

Can you tell us what happened at the start?
"Yeah I was holding, they held the gate long, I blinked and the gate was down. Just something I need to get dialed in and I'll be good to race in a couple months."

When you have to work your way from the back is there ever any doubt as to whether or not you'll be able to work through it?
v"I always give myself the chance, I always believe when it comes down to making stuff happen I'm the guy to do it. Ryan was riding good tonight, he was putting some hot laps in but when I start going, getting in my rhythm I just start knocking it down, I never doubt myself and I definitely gave him a run for his money."

So that's how the chips fell in Vegas, and congratulation to James Stewart on taking home the win!