Swizcorner: A2

It figures, I go to Arenacross to write a piece on it and the sport explodes at Anaheim 2 and now my workload is doubled.

Lead Photo By: Ray Archer

James Stewart and “could-be 5X-straight” title hopeful, Ryan Villopoto may not be racing this series but there is still more than enough controversy and compelling action going down weekly to keep this series in the running for one of the most-exciting ever. Through two rounds, Chad Reed has looked to be a shadow of his former self. Even his former self as of a year ago. He had a bike issue at A1 and a lackluster Phoenix but last night when the Series returned to Anaheim 2 with one of the most unique track designs I can ever recall seeing, the 22 was emerging from that shell and looked to be in that fighting mindset we’ve become accustomed to.

Chad’s speed still didn’t look to be on track with where his capabilities lie but it was an obvious improvement over rounds one and two. He won races last year, this one specifically and he wasn’t at that pace last night but as the feisty Australian can be, he was using his years of experience to hold position as he picked his way around the track, adjusting lines and settling in. Trey Canard on the other hand, has shown speed since round one and though he hasn’t had good starts, he has made passes and worked forward. He was doing just that in the opening laps in Anaheim as he reeled in the 22 and began looking for a point to make his move. He made it based in an area where Chad purportedly maintained speed around the outside the previous lap. Trey choose the inside line and Chad, no doubt sensing the proximity of “whoever”, protected the inside only to find himself in a situation not far removed from the one he found himself in with James Stewart in Dallas of 2011.

Chad has had a front wheel crammed near where the sun don’t shine before.

Chad was fully caught by surprise when the front wheel of Trey Canard’s Honda was thrust into the nether region of his inner left thigh and his KX450F. Trey was equally as surprised to be caught in the predicament as he suffered the harder hit to ground as the wedging of the machines left him high-siding viciously and very nearly having his back tore open by Justin Barcia’s JGR shark-tooth, I mean foot-peg. Chad got his legs under him and looked to Trey with his arms raised, clearly indicating, “What the hell were you thinking”. Trey was gathering himself and had no time for pleasantries or apologies. Within 100’, Trey was reaching for a tear-off as he coasted by the mechanics as Chad drifted wide in a clear statement of, “that was NOT ok with me”. This move by Chad is no stranger to Supercross. We see it year after year, and have even seen it by Chad himself such as in Vegas of 2009 when it was his last ditch effort to snatch the title back from James Stewart on the last lap.

There was no Black Flag here, nor any other push in the history of Supercross.

Trey gets into Reed and Reed pushes Trey, A2 2014

As Chad crested the finish line the next lap, he was shocked to see the Black Flag waving. It was unprecedented to see a black-flag waving for a move seen so often in racing. Chad was reeling as he came past the finish line two more laps and still the black flag was waving. It was clear, unbelievable but clear, he was being black flagged for his pushing wide of Trey Canard. It was the 3rd push of the last 45 minutes of racing on the night which left the pushed rider on the ground. Let me state that again, very clearly so there is no confusion, IT WAS THE THIRD TIME IN 45 MINUTES A RIDER WAS PUSHED WIDE AND LEFT ON THE GROUND… yet it was the only instance where a rider was reprimanded, penalized, fined, disqualified, given a stern-talking-to… ANYTHING. Cooper Webb had snatched victory from Tyler Bowers less than 20 minutes prior on the last lap of the 250 main by pushing him off the track and into the side of the triple take-off. A mere 12 laps before that, Josh Hansen sought and carried out a little chin music-push-retaliation on Shane Mcelrath stemming from an A1 incident between the two.

A premeditated push less than an hour before “The Black Flagging heard round the sport”.

Let’s think about this for a second in terms of real-world law and the judicial system. When a crime is committed in the heat of the moment is the offender typically given more or less leniency than the offender who has premeditated and bided their time with a deliberate reaction? Clearly, heat of the moment crimes are given some form of leniency over those which are premeditated. Chad’s offending action came less than 30 seconds after his victimization and he received the precedent-setting disqualification. Hanny’s move was timed and deliberate by a timespan of over 12 days and it was over and done with 30 seconds after it happened.

The quick-trigger response of John Gallagher was so inappropriate with regard to the infraction and sentence that it cannot be overstated. In mere seconds he has opened a Pandora’s Box of a shit storm in the coming rounds and years of racing that he very well may have put his decision making duties in jeopardy. They sure as hell should be after that.

Chad should absolutely receive discipline for his actions on Trey Canard. Trey made a decision which in hindsight turned out to be a pretty big assumption and failure but that’s racing. Chad was frustrated and pissed and made a rash move. Penalization yes, but on the level of a black flag? Ridiculous. Between this and the massively excessive fine on James Stewart regarding his mishandling of a TUE, the FIM is in pretty much the worst situation they could imagine. Now, more than ever, they have fans, the industry and racers asking what in the hell they bring to the table that is worth keeping them around.