Up and comer Nick Paluzzi share his best memory of his career, and the reason he prefers triples over whoops. Find out more in this AlliSports My Five, and watch him race in the Lucas Oil AMA Motocross series during his rookie season.

South African Gareth Swanepeol shares his favorite memories from racing motocross back in his amateur days and the reason why Japan is tops on his list for travel. Find out more in this AlliSports My Five, and watch him race in the Lucas Oil AMA Motocross series.

t>

Check out AWSM on Alli, hosted by legendary snowboarder Todd Richards, giving you his fun and humorous take on the industry. Nothing’s more entertaining than the Frends crew of snowboarders, that’s the focus of our behind-the-curtain series which gives you inside access into their lives and constant antics.


Check out Allisports new action sports channel every day of the week for something new. Monday’s you can expect a Best of Alli highlight video covering everything from Best of Dew Tour to Biggest Airs. Tuesday’s are an action sport toss up day, while Wednesday’s deliver BMX Content and the bimonthly Alli Show. On Thursday’s you can find freeski content and the Inside Allisports show, while Friday’s are another toss up day along with a Step By Step Trick tip video. Weekends offer skate content and AWSM on Alli ever Saturday and Snow Content and the Behind-the-Curtain Series.

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"Champions have the skill and the will, but the will has to be greater than the skill"

250

Dean Wilson

Let me start by saying how proud I am of the effort that Dean Wilson gave this summer in the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship. The Scottish/Canadian/Californian displayed just about every facet of a champion along the way. He was determined and dedicated, he worked hard, he was consistent, he kept his cool even when he was frustrated with his results, but most of all, he got better as the series went on. At that level, growth is so important. Hell, when I started the 1992 125 championship, I had never even won an overall, I only had a single moto win to my credit, but yet I ended the season as Champion. And for Dean, it was on an even playing field too! Many Kawasaki fans would say that Mitch Payton's Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki is the best in the biz, fair enough. The two other title contenders are on the same team, with the same "advantage." Dean slowly and patiently has become the best 250 rider in the USA, minimizing his steps backwards and seemingly building his confidence and speed with each passing race. Dean is cool cat too, he radiates fun whenever he is around. Now I can’t wait to see him match up with the FIM MX2 World Champion, Ken Roczen in a few weeks at the Motocross of Nations in France. Should be a tremendous event!

450

Ryan Villopoto

I've been wracking my brain all week to find some sort of "expert" insight to give you guys about the 450 championship. I have examined the "what if's", the stats, and my personal experience. For me, what it comes down to, is being in a position to control your own destiny and Ryan Villopoto earned that luxury last week by winning moto 1 at Steel City. From here on out, Villopoto does not have to beat Ryan Dungey in either moto at Pala to win the title. Of course there is so much that can, and probably will happen, between the time you read this and the final checkered flag on Saturday. Suzuki is counting on a 1-1 victory by Dungey and hopefully a spirited ride by Brett Metcalfe (along with Chad Reed and the boys). If Dungey goes 1-1, Villopoto needs a 3-4/4-3 to lock it down. Sounds pretty easy right? NOT! Last weeks AMA Superbike final from New Jersey is a great example of what can happen in racing. I just hope we are treated to a race at Pala that was as exciting and memorable as that one was.

Twice in my career I entered the final race of the season needing a win in both motos to take the title, 1992 in the 125cc class, then again in 1996 in the 250cc class (now the 250 and 450). You would think that there would be a great amount of stress and "pressure" from that, I agree, there was. But in a way it was comforting to have such a clear target. The objective was right there in front of you, no bullshit with "if I finish here and he finishes there..." Just glory at its greatest level.

I look back on those moments with a great amount of pride, as does every champion. For me, a high school dropout, with limited writing skills, it is hard to put into words what it is like to be in the title chase, with one race to go, so much on the line, so much hard work and dedication put out, not just by the rider, but by the team and support group too. It is like, if you do not win, the sky will fall, and the sun will not rise again on Monday, life as you know it is over. But if you are victorious, the sun never sets, it just keeps on shining on you, even into the night.

Chad Reed

Maybe I just get too heavy at this time of year, I don’t know. I can tell you this, its way better to win than to lose. John Gruden, former NFL Superbowl winning coach, and current broadcaster for the NFL, once said, "The reward is greater than the sacrifice." This is so true. Whether the 450 title goes to Villopoto or Dungey this weekend I can tell you this, both riders (along with Chad Reed) have displayed a tremendous amount of heart in this summer and I am proud of these guys and what they have done on the track. Truly outstanding rides....Look, I feel that Villopoto is in the drivers seat at the moment, but unless Dungey can win both motos this weekend, he has a limited chance of taking the title. So to finish off my final Frocast, I thought I would give you guys a few statistics to form your own prediction.

Dungey started the season 7 points up on Villopoto after the first round, but since Hangtown it has gone like this; -7, -12, -13, -13, -6, -1, -1, -7, -8, and now -14 to Villopoto. The DNF at Freestone was a 10-point-swing in favor of Villopoto. But more importantly, it changed the momentum of the series, it left Dungey deflated and frustrated. Once again I'm talking the "what if's"... I benefited from those scenarios twice in my career, but hey, that's racing!

Villopoto has 3 motos off the podium, a 5th at Freestone in moto 2, a 9th at RedBud in moto 1, and a 4th at Southwick in moto 2. Dungey on the other hand, has only 2 motos out of the top 3, a DNF at Freestone in moto 2 and a 7th at Southwick in moto 2 (both due to mechanical failures).

Ryan Dungey

Moto Results

1st

Villopoto - 9

Dungey- 5

2nd
Villopoto- 5

Dungey- 14

3rd
Villopoto- 5

Dungey- 1

Average moto finish
Villopoto- 2.36

Dungey- 3.09

Overall Results
1st
Villopoto- 3

Dungey- 3

Average O/A
Villopoto- 2.00
Dungey- 2.45

Most Holeshots
Villopoto- 5

Dungey- 4

Laps led
Villopoto- 139
Dungey- 90

As you can see the statistics are fairly balanced. For me, it comes down to 3 moments. The issues Dungey had at Freestone and Southwick, without those issues he may be up 14 points instead of down, who knows, and Villopoto making that heroic pass on Dungey in the last turn of moto 1 at Steel City to put himself in the drivers seat going into Pala. But this season has been different, it's been very unpredictable, and just when you think a rider has it in the bag, boom!, it changes. So, with 2 motos left in the championship, this thing is far from over, and I can’t wait to witness the outcome.

Thanks again for reading my thoughts and I hope it encourages you to either come out to Pala on Saturday watch the first motos live online or tune in to the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championships final broadcasts on Fuel TV and Speed, all of which will be live, live, live, live, as my partner Jason Weigandt puts it. It has been a very memorable season of motocross racing and I am happy to be a part of it. Everyone involved works so hard to bring this sport to you and hopefully you cherish it as much as I do.

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They say you always remember your first, for me it was RedBud 1991. That was the day that I won my first AMA professional race. I had gotten the holeshot in moto 1 and crashed out with the lead halfway through the first lap, but I did remount and finish 13th. Moto 2 would be a different story as I would go on to win that moto. It would be a full year until I could finally notch my first overall at an AMA motocross. In fact I just watched the 1992 Redbud race on YouTube, what a difference in the broadcast quality of the show then to the shows we produce now!

Justin Barcia

Last week at MX-338, we had a few “firsts” with Gareth Swanepoel winning 250 moto 1, Justin Barcia winning 450 moto 2 and Brett Metcalfe winning the 450 overall. Coincidentally, none of these outstanding rides had any direct effect on the title chases, but were outstanding performances within themselves.

After the race I attended the post race press conference, and on a normal day the press tent would be full of media people hustling around to get pictures, video and stories to the world about what happened that day in the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship. But when it rains, the crowd is gone, presumably back to their RV's or hotels to dry off and clean up. Meanwhile the core media group is hammering away to get the word out as the riders hit the interview table to give their side of the days events. At Southwick, we had some very truthful, honest and quite moving interviews.

Gareth Swanepoel

Gareth told the story of his struggles to make it from South Africa, through the GP circuit in Europe, and now to race AMA Motocross, his childhood dream. Ryan Dungey told us a very honest, non-scripted account of what the day was like for him, and how he was down at the starting line, by himself in moto 2, anxiously waiting for his mechanic Goose, to come riding down the hill with his bike, which seemed to never come. And how it was his mother, Michele, of all people, that was there to convince him not to lose his cool, even when he wanted to take off his helmet and throw it in frustration.

Brett Metcalfe

And then there was the final rider to be interviewed, Brett Metcalfe, who has been racing on the AMA circuit for 8 years, surprisingly without a win. It was a very emotional moment when he spoke about all of the hard work, dedication and sacrifice that he puts into his racing, and how close he has come to winning, on many occasions, only to have it slip away. But on this day in southern Massachusetts, in the wake of a hurricane, with his father on hand to watch his son race for the first time in 3 years, Brett would be the best rider in the world. He would end his comments with, “Today, I'm a winner!”

450

Chad Reed

Chad Reed and Two Two Motorsports Honda suffered two mechanical failures at Southwick. For Chad, any shot at the title is gone. I have no words to describe the frustration that he must have felt that day. - 65 in the title chase

Ryan Dungey

Ryan Dungey came to Southwick as a man on a mission. Narrowly winning moto 1, over a late hard charge by Villopoto, it would put him just 4 points down in the title chase. A few hours later he would be faced with the thought of his motorcycle not making it to the starting gate, but, like a miracle, his machine would emerge just in time to make it on to the track, seconds before he would be disquailfied. Ryan would put on a legendary ride and make his way all the way to 7th place in moto 2. - 8 in the title chase

Ryan Villopoto

Ryan Villopoto really impressed me with his 1st moto ride, it was a 2nd, but late in the race he looked strong. I expected more from him in moto 2, but Southwick was a strange race this year. I’m not sure if and when he would get word on status of his nearest title contender, Ryan Dungey, and the mechanical troubles he was facing. Ryan seemed to ride very cautious, as I would have done myself in those conditions, which were challenging for man and machine. One could easily look back and think that the 4th in moto 2 wasted a golden opportunity to capitalize on Dungey’s misfortune. The point is Villopoto gained 1 point on the day, and isn't that the objective for each and every race in a series, to gain points on your competitors? + 8 in the title chase

250

Blake Baggett

Blake Baggett battled through the pack all day at Southwick to score a 9-6, dropping another 15 points to the championship leader, Dean Wilson. The upcoming race at Steel City should be a good track for Blake and I believe that it suits his style well. He needs better starts to turn this season around, but title is all but gone. - 40 in the title chase

Tyla Rattray

Tyla Rattray really surprised me at Southwick, yes he rides well there, and yes he loves the rough sandy tracks. But if you could have seen him at Unadilla, after the race, sitting in a chair with his head down. Obviously defeated, disappointed and discouraged after the 2nd moto crash that would leave him with a concussion and little shot at the title. There is no way you would expect him to come back with a win the next weekend, but Tyla did. Yes it is a long shot for him to win the title at this point, but it has happened before. I admire his determination and perseverance. - 38 in the title chase

Dean Wilson

Dean Wilson sucks in the sand, he said so himself. How is it then that he went to Southwick, a full-on sand track and finished a 3-2? Because Dean is a very talented motocross racer, he works hard and he is very determined to win this championship. Ricky Carmichael used to say that you win your championships on your bad days. If a 3-2 is a bad day then I think he has a great shot at locking this title down. + 38 in the title chase.

Looks like more rain in the forecast for Delmont, PA this weekend. Make sure to bring your rain jackets, umbrellas and wetties. And thank you guys for bearing with us last weekend while the broadcasts were riddled with technical difficulties. Our TV crew did an outstanding job to save the day and bring that race to the viewers.

As always, you can find this weeks air times and the live webcast here on allisports.com

Seeya in Pittsburgh, I will be the guy with the black and gold on, Go Steelers!

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Isn’t this a peculiar time of year? Summer is coming to an end soon, kids are going back to school, and we're all a little tired of the heat. When I was a kid it was a really sad time because I knew that it would be months before there was another amateur motocross national to attend. School was starting, and lets face it, I wasn’t really into that. At least not for the education. Boy did I miss the mark on that one.

But when I was a professional motocross racer, this time of year was much different. It meant the end of the MX championship, a time of year that I was pretty successful. For the most part, I really liked the late summer and the hot, humid races. While some guys are on the move up, fighting for the title, some are headed the other way. I have gone both directions, and as you can imagine, it’s way better to be skyrocketing than freefalling. So lets take a look ahead to Southwick and my Frocast. And come on Irene, please stay away until our race weekend is over...(that's for you Weege)

Tommy Hahn

The stats show that we have only had 3 winners, moto and overall, in each class. But MX 338 is a very different race track from the rest of the championship. Southwick, as most people refer to it, has a long tradition of long shots giving the champions a run for their money. My time there started in 1990 and there was more than one local rider that would surprise everyone with a "wicked" ride in the first moto. It didn’t matter whether or not those guys finished moto 2 or even were on the podium for the overall. The point was that Southwick is their track, and no one was going to come in there and ride a faster lap. As far back as the legendary "Jo Jo" Keller to the more recent ride a couple of years ago by Robbie Marshall, the locals have always shown that they have a little "local knowledge" when it comes to finding the fast lines. I can’t wait to see who will surprise us this year.

Wil Hahn

Before we get started on the title contenders I would like to mention the numerous riders that are on the Racer X Injury Report. Two of my favorite riders on the tour are the Hahn brothers, Tommy and Wil, who coincidentally are from my home state of Kansas. Both are out with shoulder injuries and will not return this season. You want a fun time, invite both these guys to dinner and listen to them argue over who is better at, well, anything.

Andrew Short

Andrew Short is out with two broken arms, and I’ve been there before. It’s no fun. We all know he has a lot going with his family and this just adds more stress. They say in life you are only given what you can handle. Andrew is being tested at the moment, that’s for sure.

Trey Canard

Last year’s 250 Champ, Trey Canard, is out with the femur break from Washougal. It would have been a pleasure to watch him battle on the 450 late in this championship. Lets hope he has a good recovery and is ready for next season.

As for Larsen, Stroupe, J. Alessi, Boni, Chisholm, Gilmore, Gracyk, Grant, Hansen, Hicks, Hill, Kiniry, Millsaps, Peters, R. Sipes, Thomas, Tedesco, and Wharton, we all miss you guys being out on the track performing. We hope you all a speedy and successful recovery and a prosperous offseason of training and testing.

Now as the say, the show must go on. So I will I will be brief and to the point, something I am not very good at.

450

Chad Reed

Chad Reed has been off the pace since the crash at Millville. I mean, everyone in the world saw the footage and I’m sure that the reminders of "how lucky he was" got into his head a bit. That stuff makes you think about the dangers of racing motorcycles at the top level. The best racers in the world are just that because they conquer the sport mentally. Bottom line is Chad needs to put that behind him mentally and rely on his family, friends, and team members to pull him through this situation and build his confidence back up to where it was before the crash. He needs to do this quickly to have any shot at the title. 7 moto wins, 4 overalls, 3.33 average moto finish. -25 in title chase.

Ryan Dungey

Ryan Dungey left Unadilla as a frustrated Champion. Both motos he watched as Villopoto wheelied away from him to the checkered flag and took the overall. And along the way, he got sucked into a distracting personal battle with Justin Barcia. I believe that Dungey can repeat as 450 Champion, but he has go to grab some holeshots at Southwick and make a statement to Villopoto that he is up to the challenge, and bring it on! 4 moto wins, 3 overalls, 3.11 average moto finish. -7 in title chase.

Ryan Villopoto

Ryan Villopoto is a bad dude. Once again he is proving to us that he is one of the best motocross racers this sport has ever seen. His 250 career was as impressive as any rider has ever had to date, 3 titles in 3 years. Now after a two summers derailed by injury, he is back on top once again, but this time in the premier class. Ryan might have started the season off a bit slow but I will say it again, when it comes to the 2nd half of the season, I would rather have to momentum than the points. The pressure of finishing off the series is so immense, so stressful. When your in the zone like Villopoto is, its much more manageable. Ryan just needs to stay focused and out of trouble on the track to notch his first premier class championship. And for what its worth, with the Monster Energy Supercross title in his hand and the points lead in the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, he should be the MX 1 rider for team USA, he has earned it. 7 moto wins, 2 overalls, 2.44 average moto finish. +7 in title chase.

250

Tyla Rattray

Tyla Rattray pretty much ended his title hopes with the 2nd moto crash at Unadilla. I don’t imagine that will stop him from coming to MX 338 without something to prove. Tyla is tough guy, very determined to earn an AMA title. Its time for him to dig deep and find the speed he had at Southwick last year. If he can put in a 1-1 day it will do wonders for his confidence, and might just put him back in the title chase. 3 moto wins, 3 overalls, 4.56 average moto finish. -43 in the title chase.

Blake Baggett

Blake Baggett has had an up and down season, literally. When he stays on 2 wheels the young Californian is hard to beat. Problem is Blake has been beating himself by going down and giving up valuable championship points. To have any shot at taking points away from the Ultra Consistent Dean Wilson, he will need to put in perfect rides like he did earlier in the year at High Point, Thunder Valley and RedBud. 8 moto wins, 5 overalls, 3.33 average moto finish. -25 in the title chase.

Dean Wilson

Dean Wilson is a happy dude now, now that he finally notched an overall this season. You watch what that does for his confidence. Dean is in control of this championship now but knows that there is still a lot of racing to go. He needs to keep the intensity up and the hammer down. He has the points and the momentum and now needs to drive it home all the way to Pala. When you start to get close to the title, with a points lead, there is a tendency to become cautious and play it safe. I think its still too early for that mentality and the one thing that Deano needs to execute to perfection is his starts. If he can continue to do this he will eliminate a tremendous amount of "bad luck" that always seems to accompany bad starts. 7 moto wins, 1 overall, 2.28 average moto finish. + 25 in the title chase.

As always, the 1st moto racing action will be live on FUEL TV and here on allisports.com. Second motos will be on later in the day, primetime, on SPEED. And if you’re from somewhere in the world other than the good ole' USA, we have got you covered with the International program.

But lets be real, if your reading this, and you live within a few hours drive of MX338, and something like your OWN wedding isn’t planned on Saturday, I know you will be joining us for the best motocross racing on the planet!

I am really looking forward to this weekends festivities. We are having a SHIFT RIDE CLUB TOUR event at Motorosports International in Auburn, MA on Friday night. In Addition, I have the opportunity to ride Southwick again on Sunday with the Racer X Ride Day. I hope you can join me if you are in the area. Special thanks to Chaplin Kawasaki for loaning me the 2012 KX450F, now I just hope Hurricane Irene doesn’t spoil our fun!

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Blake Baggett

Blake Baggett is a perfect example of what the American MX system can produce. i remember him as this little dude flying around the local tracks in SoCal, taking home trophies bigger than he was! Blake has been exceptional at every age level, but not a stand out like Carmichael and Stewart were. I believe it's because our system is developing a deep and talented field of racers. Still, the Southern California star sits 3rd in the championship with 8 moto wins and 5 overalls. Speed hasn't been an issue this year, consistency has. With 4 races to go history would tell us to bet on him for 2 overalls, but the question is what about the other 2? -17 in the title chase.

Tyla Rattray

Tyla Rattray came from South Africa, and to be honest I have no idea what the amateur scene is there. which makes his journey around the world in pursuit of motocross championships even more amazing. Tyla has to have the ultimate desire and fire burning inside him to go from Africa to Europe, win the World Championship, then not settle with that, but come to America to challenge the world's best. This sense of self motivation is very inspiring to me. With 4 races to go his next goal is right in front of him, but so are the obstacles. -13 in the title chase.

Dean Wilson

Dean Wilson is from Scotland, via Canada, now lives in California, which is why we can't understand a word he says in his TV interviews! I'm just messin' around. I love this guy, he says whats on his mind and he doesn't hold nothin' back. You can tell in his TV interviews that he is so passionate about motocross and that he really loves it. Look, he is leading the points, but I know, and he knows, it's about winning. Dean has been so close to an overall this season but it just keeps narrowly escaping him. I look for him to be on fire at the 'dilla this weekend. if he can notch an O/A it will do wonders for his confidence. +13 in the title chase.

Now the big boys, the 450's....

Ryan Villopoto

Ryan Villopoto was a really good amateur mx star, but was often overshadowed by Mike Alessi. Since turning pro, Ryan has pretty much dominated every championship he has entered. not without overcoming some incredible obstacles though. In the 2007 250 title chase, he battled his Pro Circuit teammate Ben Townley tooth and nail down to the final checkered flag. It still goes down as one of the most intense title chases that I have ever witnessed. What Ryan has going for him this summer is that type of experience, just as he gained in the quest for this year's Monster Energy Supercross title. Ryan knows what it feels like to have this type of pressure every morning when you open your eyes and every time he lines up for the start of a race. 4 races, 8 motos, close to 5 hours of racing left in his quest to be the AMA 450 Motocross Champion. If he can do this, he will join me in a very elite club of racers who have won the Supercross and Motocross titles in the premier class, in the same year. No doubt that is great motivation. +1 in the title chase.

Ryan Dungey

Ryan Dungey signed a deal with Team Suzuki a few years back to ride on the professional team and the crazy thing is I had never heard of him! Even though he won a title at Lorettas that year, he was off my radar. I'm sure since then there have been riders that were supposed to win, but haven't. Ryan is great example of how important determination is. As a young pro, he took a few beatings from his competition, on and off the track, and some by his own mistakes. Ryan has always been self-motivated and this is his greatest asset. Since those tough lessons he learned a few years back he has been virtually unstoppable. We all know he suffered a mechanical in Supercross that cost him 20 points, and maybe the title. Earlier this summer in the heat of Texas he once again had a misfortune where the bike cost him 25 points and the overall. Still through it all, Ryan has never given up, only using these disappointments to fuel his fire. 4 moto wins and 3 overalls so far this summer, but more importantly, he has the momentum. And I will say it again just like I did last year in the 250 chase, I would rather have the momentum than the points at this time of year. -1 in the title chase.

Chad Reed

Chad Reed, the man who thought he could fly.... I could go on for days about how impressed I have been with this veteran over that past 3 seasons. Before that I though Chad was a bit arrogant and over confident, even if he did have 1 SX Lites title and a pair of SX titles. But over the last 3 years I have seen him mature into a man that I believe is our sports greatest ambassador. I am proud to be his friend. It's a great pleasure to work with him at SHIFT MX and Chad has had a tremendous positive effect on our business so far this year. But, thats not what its all about. Its about winning races. Its about winning overalls. Its about winning the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship. Chad started this summer with an incredible amount of success and luck. But lady luck took a turn at Millville when he went flying off the bike through the air with the lead in moto 2. Chad remounted with an incredible ride to finish the moto and gain valuable points towards the title. The 2 weeks off should have allowed him to clear his head, let the body heal, and get focused on the final 8 motos of the year. Chad needs to find the speed he has had most of the summer and ride with the confidence of a Champion if he wants to win the title. -9 in the title chase

I am really looking forward to Unadilla. Legendary racetrack. Legendary riders. Legendary title chases in the making. See all the racing action this weekend on FUEL TV, SPEED, and NBC. 1st motos live right here on www.allisports.com.

P.S. I taught my 7 and a half year old daughter to ride yesterday for the first time. I couldn't believe how happy it made her. I was even more proud to pass on the sport that I love to her....

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Bear with me, I've had a bit of writer’s block. Each week I usually give you my thoughts on the upcoming race, but all week I have been trying to gain some perspective on the loss of Josh Lichtle. The loss of a family member, loved one and friend seems to trump all thoughts of winning or losing....

Display in memory of Josh Lichtle courtesy of Racer X

A few weeks ago I was listening to a podcast with Ryan Hughes and he talked about how each time we get on the bike we basically risk our lives. At the time I thought it was just Ryno being Ryno, the always-intense guy that he is. I mean really, risking your life? I guess my attitude is that because throughout my whole life I have been putting the risk involved with riding motocross out of my mind, just focusing on how to use my talent and technique to win races, all in a safe and consistent manner. The risk would come from crashing; it never crossed my mind that there was a risk from physical strain. Physical fitness, good nutrition and mental preparation are all things that I take for granted when I go ride. But it’s times like these that make me understand how important preparation is in motocross, because motocross can be dangerous, and it can be very hard on your body. That's why we choose to ride - not because it's safe, but because it's not. Some people I talk to say I'm crazy when I tell them what my life's work has been. I will admit that when I watch the races on our monitors in the TV booth, sometimes I say to myself, 'Wow, that's nuts!' But then the next chance I get I'm on a bike doing the same thing.

I have been very fortunate to still be able to ride a motorcycle after the injuries I have sustained in my career. When I fractured a vertebra in my back in 2000, I thought it was over. Though my injury ended my professional racing career, never once did the thought of never riding again enter my mind. In fact, riding was a big part of my physical and mental recovery. Man, that day that I went back out to Glen Helen and threw a leg over the bike for the first time was very emotional for me.  It got even more interesting when some dude on a quad cut off the track and took me out. I totally flipped over the bars and landed on my back. As it was happening I thought I would get hurt again, but when I dusted myself off I was fine, just totally pissed off at the dude on the quad. So I took myself, all 135 pounds and four national titles, over to confront the guy and tell him off. Big mistake. The guy was a 250-pound body builder armed with six more guys just like him, and none of them were in any mood to listen to me bitch about quads on the track. As I started instructing him on track etiquette, the guy says, "Get the #%*!  out of here Emig!" Looked like it was time to eat some humble pie, so I did. I went back to my van and loaded up. Not exactly how I wanted the day to go but nonetheless, I was back on the bike, doing what I love.

Josh Lichtle courtesy of Racer X

Fast forward a few years to April of 2002. I get a call from a woman married to the oldest of three brothers, and she informed me that they had lost the youngest son, Lance, in the World Trade Center on 9/11. She invited me and my wife to a private ride day they were having at Budds Creek in Maryland in Lance's honor. Riding motocross would be a way of putting the sorrow of the past behind them and moving forward. Dirt bikes were their way of celebrating life, and living each day to the fullest. I am glad that I accepted the invitation because since then Donna, Jim and their whole family have become some of my best friends. In fact, I will be staying at their farm in Upstate New York during the Unadilla National next month. I'm sure that in the short time I spend with them riding ATVs and hanging out telling stories we will have lots of laughs, as we always do. I may even get over that encounter with the 250-pound quad bully!

That brings us to my thoughts on Millville, the real reason you clicked on my Frocast. We are at the halfway point of the American Motocross tour and what you see is what you get. The Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship is in full swing and we all know who is working hard and who isn't. Your guess is as good as mine on which riders will be crowned champion in September at Pala. All I know is that in my experience this is the time of year when you have to want it, and I mean really want it, as in so bad that it's all you think about, day and night. I remember waking up with my running shoes and shorts right next to my bed. I couldn't wait to put them on and go challenge the uphill dirt path by my house, all the while visualizing the upcoming race and the level of effort it would take to beat my competitors to eventually win the title. Then when I got back to my garage, straightaway I would put on a pair of MX gloves and demolish the speed bag hanging on my wall for 15 minutes, once again talking myself through the pain, knowing that it would all be worth it come race day when I was standing atop the podium. Whoever has the "eye of the tiger" and the highest intensity level the rest of the season will win the title (though a little bit of good luck doesn't hurt either).

Chad Reed

Each race we go to this summer is a celebration, a celebration of motocross and of life. A chance to do some livin', l-i-v-i-n! I hope you get a chance to spend the day with us at the beautiful facility known as Spring Creek, if not you know you can catch all of the racing action as always on SPEED, FUEL TV and the live webcast on allisports.com. Join us as we get one step closer to crowning a champion and for dreams to be fulfilled.

Blake Baggett

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We just hit the highest peak in the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship and one would think that it’s all downhill from here. Not the case at all. But I do believe this is a pivotal time of the series for the rider and teams. Twice in my career I had to recover from a massive points deficit to win the Championship. Once in 1992 to win the 125 title then again in 1996 to win the 250 title (of course now the class names are 250 and 450). When I look back on those years I can remember having many struggles in the beginning of the season with bike setup, fitness, pure speed and, of course, lady luck.

Chad Reed

Once we get through RedBud we are at the halfway point. Let’s say you are Ryan Dungey and you sit 21 points behind the leader Chad Reed. Seven moto wins in a row would put you in the points lead, at worst a tie. My point is that many times I have seen a rider struggle in the beginning of the series but put the pieces of the puzzle together by RedBud and next thing you know he’s back in the title hunt. Outside of the obvious points leaders, here are the riders that can get back into it with a couple of wins...

450
Ryan Dungey- Last week at Thunder Valley he was fast and consistent or consistently fast! This was the first race since last year that I felt he was back up to his pace from last season. I look for Ryan to build on that and be the man to beat the rest of the season.

Ryan Dungey

Ryan Villopoto- each week the 3-time 250 champ gets better, stronger, faster, riding more like the aggressive rider from a few years back than the rider we saw at the start of the championship.

Ryan Villopoto

Kevin Windham- obviously a long shot for the title, but if it rains, look out! Kevin has really impressed me with his speed and stamina so far this summer. Kevin has the “just happy to be racing” attitude that seems to pair so well with the “I’ve got nothing to lose” mudders that could be coming our way.

Kevin Windham

250
Tyla Rattray- Tyla is the benchmark for this years 250 title. A rider’s day is scored either +/- based on where he finishes. I look for Tyla to be back on the podium this weekend in RedBud as his speed is much quicker than at the beginning of the season.

Tyla Rattray

Blake Baggett- All I can say is this kid has been awesome so far. Blake needed to eliminate the “bad” races that seem to be every other even week. RedBud is the 6th race of the summer which, if you’re a believer, is going to be an off week for the young Californian. I believe that RedBud is a track that Blake will excel on. If he gets he even-week-gremlins out, the other riders may only see him at the start of the race and on the podium.

Blake Baggett

Eli Tomac- At 38 points down he is not out of it yet, but he has yet to win a moto. Something he desperately needs to do. If Eli can win a moto at RedBud it will be a big boost in confidence for him and Geico Honda. Only problem is that he has three very fast Pro Circuit riders in front of him that have set the pace in 2011. He needs better, more consistent starts and to raise his intensity to match that of the leaders.

Eli Tomac

I look for our championship points leader to be as fast and consistent at RedBud as they have been all season. RedBud is a track that takes a smooth, carry your momentum cornering technique to set fast lap times. It is a fun track with some of the biggest jumps on the circuit, including “LaRocco's Leap”, and 120’ uphill masterpiece by the track builder Tim Ritchey. Seems like to me that each year he stretches out the leap little by little. I was just there for the Kawasaki kx450f press release and it was wide open in 3rd gear, with a clean run up. 450's shouldn’t have any problems getting over it at the race, but the 250’s should be a little apprehensive once the track gets rough.

Andrew Short

RedBud is one of my all-time favorite tracks, fitting that the Legends and Heroes Tour will be honoring my accomplishments there this Saturday.

Dean Wilson

Once again we will be giving you the first motos live on FUEL TV and here on the allisports webcast. This weekend the running order will be swapped, the 250's on SPEED will race before the 450's to accommodate the live NBC 450 coverage. As always check for broadcast times in your area.

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