Things are busy in the hotel lobby this morning (Saturday) next to the Roger's Centre. Teams are meeting and planning the day. People are signing up the KTM Junior Supercross Challenge, which they do here as well as the US.
There are always some job changes between seasons, so this is the day we see people in new colors and shirts, more so mechanics and team folks, since we know about rider changes early. L&M Racing has a full crew here, and the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians (Reed/Ramsey's main sponsor) is here too. The story so far is the group wanted a sport and an athlete to organize around, and Reed/Ramsey and SX were a good fit. Jeff Gibson and Paul Carpenter are here in green, and Byrne is on a Rockstar Suzuki. Millsaps is here walking around on one crutch. He is still a maybe for Anaheim but his healing is at least ahead of schedule. Martin Davalos is here for KTM.
Yesterday was a "free practice," maybe the last one in supercross, because today they start "Qualifying practice" for the first time. Times will be used to determine the night show lineup. This was also the last Friday practice, unless one gets added one-at-a-time in the future.
Some buzz on fuel, a huge issue last season-the limits will relax so the "splitting hairs" problem won't ruin things like before. Good.
Also on the new format changes, which were more for live TV (eventually), they seem to be receieved pretty well. Semis are gone and the SX (450s) heats take nine to the main instead of 4.
You knew this already but RC is enjoying not having title pressure. And Stewart is going to be fast!
