Just Short 2012 Indy

When Top Jimmy slipped into JT$ gear in Indy it really wasn’t that noticeable.

By: Moser
Photos by: Lissimore

I haven’t gone without a green beer on St. Patties day since I was probably 13 years old but I was sober during the Indy Supercross this year. I was still king of the porcelain and slept on the floor of the bathroom but not because I celebrated properly but due to a stomach flu virus (I’ll spare you the details). I was questioning my BAC level while following the live racing action on twitter, Metcalfe wins a heat race, Stewart, Kdub, Wey, Weimer, Regal go to the LCQ, the 250F main is red flagged and restarted with a single file line, no wait a staggered line up and green flag? An obscure night of racing for sure but here’s a Short look at the guys who came up Just Short of making the mains.

The red on red has grown on me after looking at this photo for the last 29 seconds.

#981 Austin Politelli – Hammer Nutrition/CHP/C4mx/Dunlop/Factory backing/Cycra/Hinson

Mr. Politelli first sponosor listed is Hammer Nutrition, well as luck would have it this just so happens to be a company and product I’m somewhat of an “expert” on. Perhaps you were not aware but I’m an Ironman, that’s not just some badass sounding self-title I’ve given myself but a rightfully and legally earned surname for finishing an Ironman distance triathlon. An Ironman event is a grueling endurance event with the goal for most athletes is to simply finish in the required 17 hour time limit. 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, followed but a Short marathon distance run of 26.2 miles for a total 140.6 miles covered, needless to say it’s a long day, and I’ve finished not one not two but four Ironman events and accomplishment I occasionally remind my friends of.

Enough shameless self-boasting, how does this relate to Hammer nutrition you ask? I’ve put more warm goo in my mouth and choked it down then I care to remember and this goo is made by Hammer nutrition which is a necessary evil to keep your body fueled over the course of 140.6 miles. The huckleberry flavor is my favorite flavor as of recently but the raspberry is also a solid choice. The syrup like goo isn’t the only product Hammer makes they also sell several types of powder endurolytes replacements again I’ve drank more of them than I care to remember. A product and company like Hammer Nutrition seems like a perfect fit with moto to safely and properly fuel athletes with the needed nutrition it’s ironic that instead SX/MX it’s marketed and portrayed that Monster, Rockstar and Redbull is the “nutrition” the athletes use to the naive viewer and easily gullible younger kids.

This is Politelli’s first year racing Supercross and he’s finished 13^th, 19^th and 16^th in his first 3 mains very solid for a rookie. The pulpmx photo editor James Lissimore knows Politelli from racing the Canadian nationals last year where he won a national and finished 3^rd overall in the series (who knew they still had a series up in Canada?) With Lissimore knowing him a bit I was sure to find some funny story about him pooping his pants or looping out on the starting line, but to no avail apparently Politellis is a quiet kid from So Cal that’s nice with good manners, sounds like he’s hiding something to me. Lissimore said that Politelli also tied for the win at the Amateur All-Star race at the Monster Energy Cup, if my memory is correct then I think he tied with Justin Hill in points for the overall but the win went to Justin for having a better 2^nd moto finish, if I’m thinking of the correct race but I’m too lazy to look up the results to see if I’m right. The name Politelli reminds me of a frozen Italian dinner you would buy at the grocery store, so next time you’re in the frozen food aisle remember Politelli is having a decent start to his rookie season, and that Hammer goo in your mouth will help you go this distance.

One of the biggest regrets of my racing “career” is not growing my hair out long enough to flow out of the back of my helmet, it’s a timeless fashion statement.

#48 Jimmy “Top” Albertson – BTO Sports.com, Palmetto Suzuki, Fly Racing, MMI

The last time Top Jimmy was featured in Just Short we started an interview but didn’t get a chance to finish it due to “phone problems”. We’ve tried again this week and I’m determined to get the answers this time around, maybe not today maybe not tomorrow but when Top Jimmy gets back to me we’ll post his response to my hard hitting questions below. Jimmy is having a rough season with lots of crashes hopefully his luck starts to turn around soon he’s a good guy of the sport as the King of moto media likes to say and a funny guy.

Mr. Albertson Sir,

Off the record…..

I hope this email finds you well today sir thank you for your time in advance. Please feel to answer the questions below as you see fit, skip them if you feel like it or answer the question with an irrelevant answer or whatever fits your fancy really. You have a big fan following especially in the pulpmx world and I know all your fans will appreciate whatever you give me even if it’s “just the tip”.

On the record….
Before we get started Mr. Albertson I just want to say you know you’re a main event guy I know you’re a main event guy and the many Top Jim fan supporters do as well so I’m sorry your being featured as a Just Short featured athlete again we recognize it’s not from a lack of effort.

Do you want to pick this interview up where we left off last time when you had “phone problems” or do we want to pretend like that never happened?

Jimmy I used to race these dirt scooters and I don’t like to give advice per say to a professional athlete such as yourself but since you asked if I had to give you one piece of advice it would be to try and get more height off the jumps so when you pull a boner air it will last longer, maybe take that into consideration, but what were we talking about again, oh that’s right Indy. The starting line up for the LCQ looked like a main event and if it had been a main event you would have finished on the podium so if you look at it that way I guess congratulations on getting on the box?

Rumor has it your gear was mistakenly donated to needy kids this last week so you had the pleasure of wearing JT$ gear, I’m not going to lie the mental image of this makes me laugh. I know you guys have become friends but was it awkward at all that you both ride in your gear commando?

What was it like to ride in capri pants and do you think it will catch on in the outdoors for ventilation purposes?

When you squeezed into JT$ gear did you have the sudden urge to eat raw eggs, grow a 3 day beard, put on a black beanie, climb a mountain covered in snow and fight a Russian?

Personally I like to place blame on other people when things don’t go my way, do you want to point the finger at anyone, I’d assume your brother Gregg deserves some of the blame for you not making the main event in Indy?

This summer you did some offseason local races and I couldn’t help but notice the required mechanic uniform was daisy dukes and a bikini top, perhaps your current mechanic Andy Dalton should wear them as well to help change your luck?

I know you got married recently, and congratulations, Georgia is a real catch (I’m speaking from experience I married way way up, my wife is way out of my league), the wedding was a bit sudden a shotgun wedding if you will, so have you found out if you’re having a boy or a girl yet?

After the Top Jimmy shadow video I heard you gave up smoking due to pressure from your sponsors and have switched to the metrosexual vapor cigarettes any truth to that?

You cut your glorious long hair locks into a mullet, well done sir, well done, that’s not really a question but I felt it necessary that I be mentioned that you’re a true American MAN.

Thanks again for your time Mr. Albertson and good luck this weekend in America’s top hat.

That concludes the Top Jimmy interview that is pending.

When I had the pleasure of sleeping with the Matthes’s I “borrowed” as many industry phone numbers as I could from Stevens phone when he was out walking the dogs, one of those acquisitions was Jimmy’s brother Gregg Albertson who helps out Trey Canard with practice bikes, track prep, beer opening technics, and washing his back when needed. I text Gregg to get his take on Top Jimmy’s season and like most brothers you could tell he’s extremely supportive and loving, this is what he had to say. “I think that %*&#^@ is a #*$&$*. He only does good when I’m on his ass, stamp it”. Analyzing this statement as the journalist that I am what Gregg is saying is he has helped Jimmy in the past by providing positive verbal encouragement. There is nothing quite like brotherly love.

Thanks for reading this Short recognition of the guys that almost made it. See you next week, Moser

Please continue to send your complaints about this column to jasonw @racerxill .comhe enjoys reading them.