Thumpa Report

Latest Posts

- The First Two Time Winner...
- Last post by Go-Lo
- 05:37 on Feb 04, 2012

Thumpa Report: Phoenix / Los Angeles '11

Written by Craig Fury aka Thumpa Wednesday, 26 January 2011 12:39

As the series marched onward from Anaheim, the initial salvo has long since been fired and the smoke has cleared. Gone are the opening round nerves and jitters. What Anaheim proposed as prognostication and conjecture, Phoenix and Los Angeles have now established as trends. Two men stand out among a lead pack of 5, with the past 2 races decided by one recurring issue:

- the front end tuck.

But this series is much more than a drag race between Villopoto and Stewart, and the Lites class alone has offered enough action to satisfy even the most demanding of drama queens.

At the forefront of the Lites action is teen sensation Ken Roczen. While he has yet to catch even a glimpse of the podium, he's clearly been the most exciting rider on the track.

Now, I don't want to deprive Hansen of his due credit - in fact, you can already put Hansen's name on the trophy. For me, Hansen's 5th place finish in Los Angeles sealed the deal. Of course, he virtually rode on cruise control to victories in Anaheim and Phoenix. But Los Angeles defined the new Josh Hansen. Again challenging for the lead right from the start, Hansen proceeded to stall his bike and took a while to get started again. However, he showed no signs of panic. He methodically picked off riders lap by lap on his way to a solid 5th place finish to salvage more than enough points to maintain his series points lead. Championships seasons are defined by how you respond in times of distress (I just made that up, but it sounds profound so I'll run with it).

Thumpa Report: 2011 Anaheim 1 - Supercross Class

Written by yzthumpa Tuesday, 11 January 2011 14:30

The much hyped 2011 Supercross season is upon us, and Anaheim 1 delivered as promised. And as usual, the Thumpa Report's crack photography staff was on hand and right on target to deliver all the hottest action.

The 2010 season saw two of the sports biggest stars - James Stewart and Chad Reed - absent for most of the season. The mass appeal of riders of their status is obvious...

Thumpa Report: 2011 Anaheim 1 - Lites Class

Written by Craig Fury aka Thumpa Monday, 10 January 2011 12:32

I don't usually write a Lites report, but since this is one of the most anticipated seasons in the history of Supercross, I'll grant an exception for Anaheim 1. As I'm sure you've already noticed, over the years the Thumpa Report has evolved more into a series of observations about the race and the weekly drama that accompanies it. With the constantly improving TV coverage (about half the races will be shown live this season), by the time you read this you've likely already seen the race and no doubt read several of the countless reports out there that simply detail the lap by lap action.

Now, I feel obligated to admit that Thumpa has been wavering in his loyalties. In my season preview, I mentioned that for the past few years I've been neglecting the outdoor MX season in favor of following MotoGP with near religious fervor. After making a personal switch from motocross to road racing a few years ago, my love for that sport grew to the point where the memorabilia-adorned walls of my gameroom began to take a decidedly ashphalt-related turn (though my DV jersey still remains my most prized possession!). However, I'm pleased to reveal that the first drop of the gate at Anaheim 1 was like a swift kick to the head that knocked some sense back into me and gave me a much needed reality check. Supercross is a sport without equal. While MotoGP is like an artful, precise, and refined symphony, in the world of motorsports Supercross clearly stands out from the rest ...

...and it freakin' ROCKS.

Thumpa's 2011 Supercross Season Preview

Written by Craig Fury aka Thumpa Wednesday, 05 January 2011 10:16

Gone are the lazy days of the holiday season...

...and the 2011 Supercross season is now upon us.

The onset of the upcoming season offers a stark contrast to the 2010 SX season. Heading into last season, perennial favorites veteran like James Stewart, Chad Reed, and Kevin Windham were hungrily eyeing up the youngsters.

The Official Thumpa Report Disclaimer

Written by Craig Fury aka Thumpa Tuesday, 04 January 2011 08:16

Hello race fans! I'm hoping that all of you are looking forward to the 2011 AMA Supercross Season with the same enthusiasm that I am. With the arrival of the new season, the Thumpa Report will be back in full force. At the risk of sounding like a traitor, I have to confess that I've largely ignored the outdoor MX season in favor of watching our American representatives in MotoGP. But once January rolls around, my full attention reverts back to my first love - Supercross. And with the first drop of the gate in Anaheim, once again Thumpa's creative juices will start flowing (barring a serious case of writer's block). But while I hope the Thumpa Report provides some light-hearted entertainment for the fans, some others will surely misunderstand my intentions and take offense at some of the things I write. I'd like to take this opportunity to explain the origins of my love for this sport and the deep respect I hold for not only our professional racers, but also anyone brave enough to throw a leg over a dirtbike.

This was my final bloody day of riding. Haven't thrown a leg over a bike since that day...