Leatt Brace Day - Brandon Butler

Brandon Butler of Florida's BBMX team will be the first to use the Leatt Brace in a night show in a few minutes. BBMX likes the brace and hopes to have more using them at San Diego.

As far as the Bailey video, a cruise of the pits for reactions to the video among the top guys was a lot of "haven't seen it yet." People are not against such a thing. They either like it or say its a matter of time and don't rush into it(for the most part).

Houston 2

RC is at Houston signing autographs this afternoon. As far as his schedule from here, he's still racing Atlanta, St Louis, Daytona, and his last supercross, Orlando. On Indy weekend will be his first car race.

As far as the Leatt brace thing, RC knows about them but hasn't seen the Bailey video and can't comment. He has been fitted for car racing with a HANS device, so he knows the program. As far as SXMX and neck braces, he thinks they are in the future but we don't need to rush into it (not an exact quote).

Another topic on race protection is chest protectors, which are an issue for the frequency of chest/rib injuries this year. Most chest protectors for moto are really just rock guards. Something better is needed. Who will develop it?

The supercross banquet the night after the Vegas finals has been moved to Planet Hollywood in Vegas, so it won't be at the MGM.

Houston, Saturday Afternoon

It's cold in Houston this afternoon, but that's OK because the race is inside.

Practice has started and not much to report so far.

This weekend there should be some base jumpers in the show. The building is big enough for it. Also Geoff Aaron is doing his amazing trials show out in the pits. Toyota has a truck proving ground outside where you can drive and climb a hill.

The Leatt Brace topic is picking up steam on message boards by the week. It got a huge boost on line with the Bailey "Stand for Something" video that just about everyone has seen. Weekend Window knows fans are anxious to get some rider reactions, so that's on the agenda for this afternoon after practice. It might be better to wait a week on this one. Not everyone is glued to the internet.

It was truly good to see the Icon sitting up and giving a talk!

The fuel fuss thing isn't so much a race day issue right now. Everyone said what they want to say. The buzz is people are talking and anticipate a resolution.

Great Moments in Supercross #2!

Maybe he really IS a rock star.....











(Photo by PK)

Anaheim 3: Tyler Evans draws a huge gathering in the pits by getting on his motor home and tossing some shirts.

Evans knows how to work a crowd! This the supercross version of U2 doing a concert on the roof of a building, just waiting for someone to pull the plug.

Sipes Injured

Sobe/No fear/Samsung east rider Ryan Sipes took a bad fall practicing in Georgia and was hospitalized for a collapsed lung and broken ribs. He is expected to need several weeks recovery time but so far reports indicate will be fine. Watch this Weekend Window and Racerhead for more details as this develops.

Chad Reed's Mechanic Taking Care at Home

Pic: Reed and Oscar Wirdeman on the gate at A3.

Chad Reed's mechanic Paul DeLaurier is out for a while to be with his son, who has suffered a spinal injury. Details were not released, so we just hope them all the very best and 100% recovery.

Reed's mechanic at A3 was Oscar Wirdeman, who will cover as long as Paul needs to be at home taking care of business.

A NASCAR Team Racing Supercross - Yes

Jeff Dement and Tyson Hadsell are racing Amp'd Mobile Supercross for a NASCAR team that likes the marketing and coolness of supercross. They will also be joined in the east by former 125cc west champion Shae Bentley.

Rick Ware Racing, a NASCAR team, put together the Pro30.com team to give his sponsors better value and go racing in a more sponsor-friendly environment. NASCAR weekends can be long and drawn out for non-racing sponsors to endure and hospitality is off site. In supercross, it's over in a day, you can hang out in the semi, and right after a show is over, you are on the freeway going home. Ware knows this, and he knows the value of keeping his sponsors interested and comfortable.

Watch for the Pro30.com guys and stop by their pits for some good ol' car racin' style hospitality.

Dement came out to press day on Thursday to meet with TV and newspapers and talk about this weekend. A few pics:













"Car 43, Car 43." "No, it's bike, BIKE!"













On riding injured, then reading fans putting riders down - something that is too common. "Those couch potatoes, they sit there and do the talk, but they can't do the walk. Unless you have done it our been around it, you can't appreciate how much goes into really preparing for this sport."













Dement sits with the Houston Chronicle on Thurday and explains supercross to the reporter.

Bits from Press Day at Houston - "Best Dirt of the Year"

Cole Siebler: "I love Houston. The dirt here makes it one of the best places to race. The dirt is loamy and tacky. I like Texas. It's loamy. There are no rocks. It's probably the best dirt of the year.



Siebler.



Leighton Lillie: "Yeah, Im an underdog."



Lillie

Who Makes Those Videos?

Supercross fans this year are talking about the cool show opening video skits featuring the riders getting ready, "passing the torch" or riding a race bike through a hotel. Those are made by Live Nation's Wes Nobles.

Wes says the riders are used to the idea of taking some time out for a video and the feedack is good, so they make it easy. When he knocks on Stewart's door, he gets "yeah, what are we doing this time!?"

When you get to a supercross this year, make sure you get back from the snack bar before the show opening starts, and check out the popular videos.

Wyvern and Pro30.com at Houston Press Day

Wyvern's Cole Siebler and Leighton Lillie rode press day with Pro30com/Ware Racing's Jeff Dement Thurday afternoon to show local media (and some from far) what supercross is all about.

Siebler and Lillie ride out of a semi, but you can still call them privateers. In fact, most privateers in SX these days are in semis, blurring the line between themselves and the last guy in with his bike and a pickup. It's a tough life.

Jeff Dement likes Houston press days. He is from nearby Humble, Texas and likes to talk to local TV and newspapers.

Today's press featured a couple of TV stations, the Houston Chronicle, Racer X, and one news guy actually flew in from St Louis (blue shirt in pic) to learn about supercross.













Hey, this is where they race the dozers, right?













Ya see, Supercross is dirt bike racing inside, with big jumps, and it's REALLY cool, and......"

A3 - Supercross Does have a life after RC

Stewart had an Anaheim sweep to work on at A3, and Reed's mission was to prove he can hang it out with Stewart and make supercross interesting. Reed is on his game no doubt.

People in the Reed/Yamaha camp have been saying this year's Chad Reed can beat Stewart as soon as he heals up. Reed has an "I'm here to win" attitude.

Stewart said he didn't have the best of weekends, but he still pulled off a win that had the crowd on it's feet.

The problem was they were on their feet booing. Weekend Window was shooting somewhere else and couldn't see, but the consensus in press among those that saw it was the crowd gave Stewart a bad rap. Welcome to the land of Boo-Birds.

At least the series is out of here and headed to Texas!