Loves and Hates of 2005
by Robert Beaupre
Photo courtesy of Mike Torres at www.tagnmx.com

With the final month of 2005 upon us, I would like to vent about some of my motocross joys and sorrows of the year past. There was plenty to love and hate this year, so I’ve compiled a list to remember all that was worth feeling passionate about in the last 11 months:

--I loved the grips on my Honda. I don’t know if Honda grips have always been so tough, but mine usually last longer than my stock piston. I cartwheeled my 450 the weekend I got it, and I expected the grips to be toast. They were flawless. I only wish I could get them off the shelf.
--I hated the new generation of soft grips. They are lovely on the hands, but it makes no difference to me--I typically shred them during the installation process. I’ll take calluses.

--I loved the abundance of MX West events. Ty Erquiaga has his critics, but without him, there wouldn’t be half the number of races there are now. And of the persistent rumors about certain racing organizations coming to Nevada, none has come to pass.
--I hated the combined skill-level structure of the State Championship Series. The results ended up a being a hodgepodge of skill levels that compromised the prestige of winning a championship. How good can a serious Intermediate feel when he squeaks out a title a few points ahead of a guy who spent part of the year racking up points in the Beginner class? Let’s go back to a series-by-series system.

--I loved the anticipation of the “perfect storm” supercross season.
--I hated watching Chad Reed finishing 16th at Anaheim and James Stewart breaking his wrist at Phoenix, allowing Ricky Carmichael to turn the “perfect storm” into another chapter in his endless summer.

--I loved having a summer full of Carson City night races.
--I hated--really hated--seeing the same track begin to become suburbs after the summer ended.

--I loved when I got my backgrounds, numbers and graphics on just right.
--I hated when I didn’t. Sticky vinyl is pricey.

--I loved hearing Brett Metcalfe scream his lone 125cc Yamaha amid a chorus of four-strokes in Supercross and at the early nationals.
--I hated realizing that most serious racers will never buy another two-stroke.

--I loved watching the 125cc Nationals. They were all about action, and kids who would do anything to move forward.
--I hated watching the video of Mike Alessi taking an underhanded stab at Ivan Tedesco’s kill switch at the final national, taking the whole do-anything-to-move-forward philosophy a step too far. Just when it seemed that the kid was starting to earn respect for more than his speed, he took two serious steps back.

--I loved the idea of a feature film about motocross.
--I hated seeing that idea squandered by the silliness that was Supercross: The Movie.

--I loved the momentum building toward standardized class names when the Canadians adopted the FIM’s MX1/MX2 labels.
--I hated the AMA’s absurd decision to rename the 125cc class the “Lites” division. Who thought such a dismissive title would be popular, and--perhaps most importantly--who suggested the nonsensical spelling?

--I loved factory riders who worked hard, acted professionally and gave the sport the heroes it deserves. Sebastian Tortelli, for instance, did not have the success of his more-famous teammate this year, but he has been toiling away as a consummate professional for a long time now, in spite of all the injuries he’s faced. Yet I rarely see him not smiling. I hope he gets another shot at America in 2007.
--I hated riders who behaved like Cane on and off the track, and then thanked Jesus on the podium. If Jesus raced, I’m pretty sure he’d avoid making any pick-up passes.

--I loved the privilege of having another year on a motocross bike. When I would get down over a bad finish, I would simply remind myself that there are people facing war, disease, poverty and even genocide every weekend on this planet--and I am out racing a motorcycle for kicks.

I feel less like complaining after that.


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