Here’s what you read in 2015
Here’s what you read in 2015
It’s that time again. Time for the top columns of the year on Pulpmx.com. We do this every year and it’s always interesting to go back and see what resonated with you the people. One thing I have to say is that Tony Blazier’s columns (with myself and Swizcore sometimes chiming in) where he ranks the best and worst bikes of all time, and the bikes that changed motocross, best works bikes, etc, etc always rank right up there for our hits but that’s because people are working the Google for that kind of stuff. So we don’t count those because they weren’t done in 2015 and are always up there.
Also, the “podcasts” tab is huge because you people are checking those out as is the Pulpmx Show. We took out all those parts of the site and just worked on unique and original content produced in 2015 (or in the case of Blazier, articles that didn’t rank before).
I can’t believe this site has grown from a spot where I used to talk about Rollerball and my dogs to, like, a real site. I need to produce more original content for Pulpmx, I know but I’m busy with other stuff and the spoken-word has taken over my life. Thanks to Swizcore, Moser, Blazier, JT, DV934, Troy for all helping out with some great stories (and text articles Moser) and making Pulpmx what it is now. We’re not the biggest, we don’t post a ton of stories but we’ll let the big guys do that, what I like to think we do is put up stories that are interesting, unique, make you think and also make you laugh. Thanks for a great 2015 and we’re all in for 2016.
#1- David Vuillemin on the opening round of the GP
Matthes: This was our number one most read story on Pulpmx.com in 2015. People wanted to know all about RV and his quest for a World Title. And we know the opener didn’t go very well and people wanted to hear David Vuillemin tell us what he thought. And DV being DV, he didn’t hold back with some pointed thoughts about Villopoto’s bike set-up and pre-season prep.
#2- The Justin Weeks Story by Troy Bendgen
Bendgen: I initially wanted to do a story on Justin Weeks because I felt that he had been forgotten in the motocross community. Six years ago he had a promising professional career on the horizon and then he had his accident. It was a huge blow. Since then we hadn’t really heard much from him. I thought it would be great for him to have his own platform to where he could tell his life story unedited.
Justin and I are the same age and we grew up racing in the same classes. He always lapped me. Yet, throughout the years of racing one another we had never spoken one word to each other. When we talked on the phone for the story it was as though we were old friends reminiscing on old times. We had several interviews and in all talked for almost four hours when the story was said and done. Those hours went by very fast. It was emotional roller coaster.
I feel that his story was popular because of his fan base. Justin has overcome a lot and people were probably curious about what he’s had to go through. Justin is a down to Earth human being and he’ll always tell you what’s on his mind. He’s overcome so much in his life and he doesn’t take it for granted. He’s an inspiration to all and that’s why people want to read about him.
#3– The Anaheim 2 Post Race Pulpcasts by Steve Matthes
Matthes: This was the race where Reed got black flagged and I managed to get Chad after the race to give us his thoughts on what we all pretty much agree was not a very smart call on the FIM’s part. I tried to talk to Canard but he was gone when I went over there. This was a big deal at the time and Reed being Reed, he let us know how he felt about it.
#4- Silly Season Part 1 by Jason Thomas
Matthes: Sometimes in editorial meetings with the Racer X Magazine staff I get made fun of for suggesting we do Silly Season stories in the mag and maybe go into depth about some of these decisions. I guess I seem to bring it up enough that I’m now “that guy” at Racer X. Well, it’s because I see stories like the one that JT did getting good views, people Tweeting me about silly season, calling into the shows about silly season, etc, etc. The fans of the sport love this off-track stuff and can’t get enough of it. And as usual, JT does a great job breaking everything down here.
#5- Eli Tomac’s Next Move by Jason Thomas
Matthes: JT tackles the big move in the off-season in talking about Eli Tomac going to Kawasaki. We all knew this early on (the dudes at Monster can never, ever keep a secret by the way) and so it was open season on all of us discussing this move. Again, silly season stuff people!
Matthes: I’ve down three or four of these columns but I hadn’t done one for a while before deciding to get on it again. It was just a matter of finding the right guy who would do it with me. And this was a different guy from the other columns but he spoke a lot about what one other rider did a couple of years ago. I think people love this “truth” and I know I took the idea from ESPN Magazine which was a column I loved to read as well. The worst thing about doing this is I had to transcribe it myself because I couldn’t let anyone know who it was. Read this and know that it’s the truth about the way a rider feels about different subjects.
#7- The Race to a Million by Moser
Moser: #7 Most read article in 2015. Do you mind if I smoke? Ahhhh well this is a very glorious and content feeling, I could get used to it. Since the first time I submitted anything in writing to PulpMX I have longed for this moment, finally the recognition I deserve. One of my articles broke the top ten most read list of the year. I’d like to give it up to my sponsors, for Shorty inspiring me to overcome my past shortcomings, thanks to my team, we all put in a lot of work, gave it 150%, kept our heads down, etc. etc.
Seriously though every year Steve posts the most read articles on PulpMX and I was crushed the first year to realize I wasn’t even in the top 100, not even close. Last year was a break out ride of ‘Shorts” I had two articles inside the top 100. Here is the link to last year’s list, you have to scroll all the way to last place to read my thoughts– http://pulpmx.com/stories/pulpmx-top-15-stories-2014
Race to a Million my shining moment. It was fun to write, who hasn’t thought how fun it would be to have their own race team. I owe a big thanks to Alan Brown, without his feedback the article wouldn’t have had any real expertise behind it. Although the budget we came up with was stated as hypothetical and just in good fun it still ruffled some feathers. Dave Osterman for one chimed in on Twitter questioning our logic. Going racing is expensive and I think we showed a million dollars doesn’t go as far as it used to.
#8– Project 88 Rebuild Column #1 by Steve Matthes
Matthes: I knew this would be a big one because #project90 was also a bit column for the views. People love two-strokes and they love seeing a rebuild as well. This bike went way slower than the ’90 Kawasaki and I did less updates for some reason but it was still fun along the way. If you didn’t stop to add it all up in terms of money and time. But it was fun to get into the garage and get wrenching again. I’m also glad I got it done before 2016 hit because I think I got the bike sometime in February earlier this year!
#9 David Vuillemin’s Anaheim 1 column
Matthes: People love DV! You want more DV! We gave you more DV, can you handle it?
#10- Classic Steel on ’92 KX 250SR by Tony Blazier
Blazier: Now this one is not hard to figure out. People love works bikes, plain and simple. Even though the days of $250,000 Factory exotica are long gone on this side of the pond, we all still love to drool over the special parts and attention to detail that separate a factory bike from a garden variety machine. This particular one was special to me, because I got to chat with Jeff Ward about it when I was putting it together.
Jeff was incredibly gracious to take the time and share his remembrances with me on that season and while I was always more of a Rick Johnson guy, it was still beyond cool to get to interview him. This particular bike may or may not have been his, as there seems to be a little confusion as to its actual origin. It may have been a practice bike of his, or it may have been cobbled together later from works parts. Either way, it is still a good example of the cool bikes Factory Kawasaki were using in the early 90’s. Hopefully, everyone enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed putting it together.
#11- Swizcorner- No Need to Panic by Kevin Husted
Swizcore: I can see why this column made the top reads of 2015, it was early in the RV to GP saga and things were definitely not going as we in the States had anticipated. We didn’t expect RV to trounce the field but even less than that expectation was that he would look tired, beaten and under-prepared. We were all left reeling at this point of the adventure and I was not ready to jump off the optimist bandwagon yet. I tried to use a little false-confidence to sway destiny… It clearly backfired.
#12- Classic Steel on 1981 YZ 465 by Tony Blazier
Blazier: Now this one is pretty interesting, because I actually wrote this article two years ago. I’m not sure why this bumped up in popularity all of a sudden (it did not make the list either of the last two years), but I’m glad people continue to find the stuff I’ve written. The YZ465 certainly has the credentials to warrant its place on the top 14, as it is one of the all-time ground pounders from the heyday of Open class two strokes.
There is something about the sound and fury of a 500 smoker that continues fascinate and entice people, even though modern four-strokes do it faster , easier and with less drama. For many people, the original Monoshock Yamaha’s are the quintessential 70’s motocross icon, and none were as big, bad and badass as the mighty 465. Even today, it remains a popular vintage racer and its staying power is a testament to how right Yamaha got it thirty five years ago.
#13- David Vuillemin’s Anaheim 2 Column
Matthes: This was black-flag-gate race and you people wanted to know what DV thought of this tragedy. And DV being DV, he laid it all out there.
#14- Swizcorner- Craziness is Afoot by Kevin Husted
Swizcore: This column was a quick and dirty synopsis of the oddball things that had happened up to this point during the year. It was still Supercross season and there was plenty to write about. Dungey looking actually dominant not just consistent, Millsaps getting canned faster than Moser can down a pint of Grey Goose, Weston Peick being considered a regular podium threat and RV’s loop-out heard round the globe. It was like The MX Twilight Zone of 2015 but at the time it was definitely the Millsaps release from Kawi that had people most intrigued. Just one of the many historical tales of moto that remains confusing to this day.
