Faces at the Races: Sand Diego SX
By Billy Rainford
It’s not always easy to find time to sit down and go through photos when you’re on one of these extended moto trips, so I apologize that some of these post-race columns area running a little later than we would like. We just got back from Milestone MX Park where we’d hope to catch Pro riders on the practice SX track. However, they all finished at around 12:30 so we missed them all. We’re calling Lake Elsinore home this afternoon and night, so we’ll head over to the local SX practice track early Tuesday morning for some coverage.
Anyway, that’s not why you called…
Here are a bunch of off-track photos from round 2 of Monster Energy Supercross at Petco Park in San Diego.
I really like this newish trend of putting the stadiums in the downtown core of cities. Petco Park is a nice baseball stadium that is walking distance to everything.
You can never forget you’re in Southern California when you look at all the exotic cars on the road.
This is the sharpest big screen I’ve ever seen!
I saw all the ‘real’ photogs setting up for the opening ceremony shots so I followed suit. Mine ended up making it look like a war zone! I’ll work on my skills for next week…
#1 Ryan Dungey during rider intros.
They even left some of the local history in when they built the new stadium.
This one goes out to our old friend Chris Haddad.
Canadian National #6 Cade Clason, in the house!
My assistant took this fuzzy shot of Cade. It was difficult, but I had to fire her.
Dylan and Papa Schmoke in their fancy box enjoying the night.
Andy White from FXR with some old friends from his KTM Canada days.
Track walk.
#800 Mike Alessi.
CT again.
Nobody got my ‘Red Rover’ joke.
The Slaton Racing boys.
No, we’re good, thanks. We’ll walk the 1/2 mile back to the pits…
We stood here and just snapped a few as the riders and their mechanics went out for practice.
This one of Cole and Donk could be my favourite.
Where do you place Adam Cianciarulo when the East finishes?
Ryan Dungey had a very long line for autographs.
Always good to see Big Kev helping out with Cole’s program.
Wait. If I’m down there stalking Ricky Carmichael, then who…???
Oddly, he didn’t really stand out wearing these.
Thumbs up, from RC.
The KTM Junior SX podium: 14 Enzo Temmerman, 3 Chase Carr, 8 Brazen Dever.
#222 Chris Howell races the Canadian AX Championships. He came back to win the 250 LCQ.
Have I already mentioned how unfunny this is? #parenting101
Finish the Beck lyrics…
Cole Thompson and Donk getting ready for battle. Guys! Battle faces!
You had to know these shirts were being printed LAST Sunday.
Cole and Donk at the line.
#11 Kyle Chisholm went down hard with Cade Clason and left favouring his right arm.
Lurch, never point someone out to the girls and make THAT symbol with your hand. Look how terrified the gal on the left is.
Miss SX Juliana Daniell gets the racing going.
#41 Trey Canard didn’t have the night he wanted.
Our old buddy, #42 Mitchell Oldenburg, qualified 3rd but this crash bent his bars and dashed his main event hopes.
#21 Jason Anderson scoping out the gate.
#3 Eli Tomac is all business before the main.
Come on, #94 Ken Roczen, I have you in our moto pool!
#22 Chad Reed about to go out and take 2nd in the main.
#55 Vince Friese and #800 Mike Alessi just before the main.
Apparently, Chad is happy to be back on a Yamaha.
It’s great to see the top 2 finishers able to smile with each other at the end of the night.
Chad celebrating with his family.
Was I the only one yelling, “Gooooooooo!”? It must be a hockey thing…
Aldon Baker congratulating Ryan.
There was a long line of hand shakes and high fives…
#14 Cole Seely.
#37 Joey Savatgy did not look happy at all on the podium.
Did you know #1W Cooper Webb’s dad was a pro surfer?
#39 Jordan Smith.
Another way of telling him to move his ass.
Is that Robbie Feder telling #55 Vince Friese to fight??? You can finish that thought on your own. That’s as far as I’m willing to take it…
Another hand shake for Dungey.
Chad looking serious on the podium.
And then not.
Now it’s time to sell some energy drinks…
OK, back to the program.
The King, Jeremy McGrath, approves and says, “Shaka, brah!”
There’s our old buddy Josh Hill in his 9-5 gig.
At the end of the night, Reed and Dungey faced off with the champagne bottles, but I wasn’t in position. I’ll just bet Cudby got the perfect shot, as always…
Our weekend ended just up the road in La Jolla. Not a bad place to live.
One of those little gems there will run you about $7M. We looked it up.
OK, thanks for looking. It’s time for a R&R. See you at the races…
