Tuesday, August 5, 2008

X Games

So there has been a lot of big questions about the women racing X Games. Was it exciting? Of course, was it scary as hell? Most definitely! I know a couple of the girls had more practice on a real supercross track than the rest of us, I personally had three days. That's about two months and 27 days shy of what the average guy spends before Anaheim one. I also only practiced on a ramp that was set up at 65 feet but when I got there they informed us it would be left at 75. Now 10 feet might not seem like a big deal but on a stock bike it was all I could do to get over it. And after having my "little sister" Ashley get banged up practicing before the event and then pulling over in practice just in time to see Alisa Nix break and dislocate both her wrists I was a nervous wreck! I felt completely out of my element, which I am sure it was obvious to see by observing me.

I know Tarah and Jessica were riding super well, but it just too big of a risk for me to take. I have never been good at jumping, and I am not saying I wont ever improve, I did surprise myself actually when I was practicing but when it came to the race it just wasn't worth it to me. I have trained my whole life to race motocross and I didn't want to throw it all away at a race I only got to spend a week preparing for. I loved riding supercross but just was not ready for a race. All along we were told that they were there to accommodate us, yet when only three out of nine of us were comfortable with the ramp they made us do it anyways, and didn't even seem to care when two people got hurt. I don't know about you but watching girls get hurt just so they can be on national television is not my idea of fun. Simply put it is a made for TV event that cares more about ratings than the safety of their riders. X games? I wont be back.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good job getting 5th! I love suzukis rmz-250! The engine is buttery smooth! Are you really on a stck bike? With a bike on the professional circuit i would assume you would have a hevily modified bike. With sponsors like: bills, boysen, uni, hinson, hotcams, cp pistons, and enzo suspension your bike has to atleast be semi-modded. Or is it a stock bike with stickers on it? Due to it not being a "factory" bike do they just put what everyone else has avalibility to on it? If you could tell me that would be wonderful, because anyone on the professional circuit is tight lipped on this subject of avalible or "works". Your biggest fan, Matthew Olsen

Anonymous said...

I thought all of you guys did great, i have raced all over for more than 20 years and i would have been really stressed out trying to do those big jumps. Definitely wasn't worth it with only 3 days of practicing on that stuff. I thought you had them on the start but then got pushed wide over that stupid jump right in the first turn. Great job just getting out out there and staying safe.
ES

Anonymous said...

Sarah you have guts even doin a 65 feet. you did awsome

Sarah Smile said...

Matthew,
I did have a modified bike ready to go for this race but I blew it up the day before and had to ride a borrowed stock bike. So yes mine was seriously stock with a pipe, handle bars and suspension.

Anonymous said...

Girly!!
are ya ever gonna talk to me!!
I miss you like seriously
call me soon ok
i love you,
Kristy

Anonymous said...

Wow. that is awesome. 5th on a stock bike. Do you only have 1 race bike and no backup bike? I would think suzuki would give you two bikes, or are you a 1 bike show? You sorta got ripped off, stock bike at x-games is unfair. Your biggest fan, Matthew Olsen

Anonymous said...

You would think that with all the "factory talent" you have ridden, you would have inherited some super cross skills! haha

Terry Frazier said...

Sarah,

I thought all the girls did a good job. It has to be intimidating for anyone to be put in that kind of situation. But you all did very well despite the pressure.

I think we have plenty of evidence now that X-Games is, in fact, relatively unconcerned about rider safety, or even about really good competition (see the X-Games 13 Step-Up contest.) Not that they want to get anyone killed -- that would be bad for business. But short of death, carnage is good for business.

Everyone wants more TV exposure, and maybe X is the way to get it. Maybe X sells a lot of energy drinks and sodas and flavored chips and such. But I bet no one buys a motorcycle because of X.

Personally, I think that getting the real races on more live webcasts, like the FIM/Youthstream/Freecaster.tv deal, would do more for the sport than all the X-Games combined. Hopefully AMA and MXSports will get something like that going soon, and WMA will get a piece of it. So we can all see the real talent and action we know you guys can provide.

Anonymous said...

hey good job ... also belated HAPPY BRITHDAY !!!!!!
yes it is sad ...when promotors and alike put Money ahead of what happens to riders out there ....
i am just glad you made it threw ...


also Moooooooo :) LOL

flynbrian said...

I just want you to know that you are my favorite female rider. I also have a question that maybe you os some of your readers can help me with. What is the most family friendly national track. I would like to take my wife and kids age 7 and 10 but was concerned about the rowdy's, and drinking.

Anonymous said...

Ya the reason they make the tracks so stupid and dangerous is because if your not wrecking then its not entertaining for a lot of the people that watch X. A good race where they are battling it out for most of the race isnt good enough. They have to have you jumping 75 foot ramp jumps.Most people dont realize that if you crash doin stuff like that your not just gonna be able to walk off without any consequinces.

Anonymous said...

Did you not know that the X games race was going to be a SX race 3 months ago?? I don't get it. The Woman are given a gift from the X games to compete on live TV and all you can do is complain. I am sure the X games were not looking to get the WMA riders hurt.

Own your performance and move on. You are better than that. Also, The stock bike is a non issue. WMA riders are B riders at best and a mod bike will do nothing for any rider at the B class level. The bike does not make the rider.

Its to bad you got spooked but you knew the details of the race before hand. you should praise the effort of the X Games. They gave the WMA a gift and thank God for Geiger and Patterson for there perfomrance. They were awesome.

Keep your head up and elbows high and hopefully you will find the speed so can race with with AF JP and TG at the next race.

Anonymous said...

nu uh there is a chick in our circut that races WMA and she races 125 A and is mid pack and doesnt do that well in WMA