David Hunter
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Well, the holiday season is finally over, and it’s time to get back to work.
Now, it’s time to ring in 2012.
Right now, the bowl season is wrapping up with the BCS games, college basketball has begun conference play, and 12 NFL teams are preparing for the postseason.
Also, the NHL and NBA are starting to hit the long grind of the regular season.
However, there is one motor sport that begins its 2012 season this Saturday night in Anaheim, while locally there is a chance to catch the future stars of the sport next week at Miller Coliseum.
The 2012 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season revs up late Saturday night at the same baseball stadium that the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim play its home games.
For those not familiar with the event, here is a quick cliff notes lesson about the sport.
The series last 17 races from January to May, held in football and baseball stadiums around the United States and Canada.
One race also takes place at Daytona International Speedway, home of NASCAR’s biggest race, the Daytona 500.
The closest race to Murfreesboro will be at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Feb. 25.
Each track is developed with hundreds of truckloads of dirt that are laid over the stadium floor.
A company called “Dirt Wurx” takes the different types of dirt depending of the location of the race, and makes the course that will include jumps, berms and bumps.
On the night of the race, the best riders from around the world will try to be the one to conquer the course in the fastest time riding special dirt bikes from all of the major motorcycles makers.
The riders are divided up into two different classes, Supercross and Lites that will race the same course, but in separate races.
The Supercross class is made up of the top riders of the sport like former series champions Ryan Dungey, James Stewart and the defending champion, Ryan Villopoto. Each of the rider’s machines is 450cc four-stroke motorcycles.
While the Lites class is made up of up-and-coming younger riders that are looking to gain valuable experience and hope to move to the premier class in the near future.
Ones to watch this season in the class include Dean Wilson, Justin Barcia and Ken Roczen.
They will be riding 250cc four-stokes.
Also, the riders will compete in half of the events, because the division is divided up into an East and West Region and the ultimate champion out of the two regions will be crowned in Las Vegas on May 5.
At each event, the riders are divided up and race separate qualifying heats with the top finishers moving to the night final race, the Main Event.
Then the 20 best riders compete for the top prize of the night.
The 450cc Main Event usually last 20 laps, while the Lites class is 15 unless bad weather plays a factor then the races are shorter.
All of the races will either be shown on Speed or CBS.
You should check it out.
Of course, local races take place around the country, including here on short courses in small arenas with future riders of all ages trying to move up to the highest level of the sport.
On the same night the professionals start their season and local riders will compete in an event at the Calsonic Arena in Shelbyville.
On Jan. 14, some of those same local amateur riders will not have to leave the county as they join the top stars of the Arenacross Tour for an event at the MTSU Miller Coliseum.
It is one of my favorite events to watch each winter.
However, I need your help.
I know that several local riders will take part, but I usually do not find out who you are until after the event is over.
Also, along with the recap of the races, I want to do a preview of the event for next Thursday’s issue.
So, if you know of anybody from the Rutherford County area that will be racing here, let me know.
David Hunter can be contacted at dhunter@murfreesboropost.com or 615-869-0800. |
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