Monster Supercross

As a Christmas pressie Alma bought me a ticket to go see the Monster Supercross 2012 event (dirt bikes to you and me) at the Qualcomm stadium (home of the San Diego American football team the "Chargers").  Because these events can be quite scary, she also bought one for herself in order to make sure I'd be ok, and as extra backup we dragged Rob along with us.

Americans really know how to make a day of these things.  I mean, only in America would you arrive 4 hours early in your Toyota Tundra or Ford F150 with half the garden furniture in the back as well as a full blown BBQ - you know for a family "picnic" in case anyone gets peckish.  They even have a term for this - 'tail gating'.  Not only that, but the cars are actually designed to incorporate tail gating features.  The two back seats in our car for instance flip over so that you can pop the back hatch and use them as 'regular' arm chairs while waiting for the big event to start .... and start it did !

There's no such thing as a simple whistle or hooter to start an event over here.  Au contraire - if there's no laser show, flame throwers and general all round fireworks, chances are it's not worth going to.  Luckily our event had said features so we were fairly confident it was going to be up to expected standard.

There were any number of races - I lost count fairly quick.  In fairness as avid sports fans, we were there for the main event anyway, so we sat back and relaxed while the not so hot racers tried to qualify for the last few remaining spots in the finale.  Normally you'd expect one main event, but this is America man ! - two whole main events; one main-er than the other !  To be honest, the second and final one was the most exciting.  In most of the other races, once one guy got out in front (which was usually within the first 5 secs of the race) he stayed out in front for the rest of the race.  In the last one it was pretty much neck and neck right up to the end with Chad Reed just losing it to Ryan Villopoto (the current number 1).  I got the feeling that Chad was a little surprised to find himself out in front for the last lap having worked really hard to get there.  Well, that or it's perfectly normal to look over your shoulder while 30 feet in the air coming into the last bend.

Anyways, lots of fun.  I think the funniest bit though had to be the Supercross ladies who hold up boards showing which heat it is; that there's 30 seconds to the start, or for those of you who were wondering what you're doing here - that there's an event of some kind or other on (most rewarding job ever !).

P.S. - not my picture, but I found it so funny I couldn't leave it out.  There was even a Ms. Supercross who was obviously just "thrilled" to be there for the second year running.  Oh woo hoo !

The other thing is that you have to be a ninja to actually keep up with everything.  There's action all over the place with lads flying through the air (on and off the bike), crashes, riders bumping etc. so chances are we missed half of what was going on.  Maybe there's something to be said for TV coverage after all.