First of all, a tip of the visor to Rutgers. I know this is Racerhead, not Collegefootballhead, but when you live in a college town and have a team that’s ranked pretty high, it means a lot. Our then-undefeated West Virginia Mountaineers got beat last week by the then-undefeated Louisville Cardinals, who in turn got beat last night by the still-undefeated Rutgers Scarlet Knights.

Barry Carsten is the Rutgers of motocross photo: Simon Cudby

In motocross parlance, Rutgers vying for a national championship is like Barry Carsten competing for one. Both are from New Jersey, both are under-appreciated, both deserve a shot. If Rutgers were a racer, he’d look just like Barry.

As I write this, I am in New York City, which is just across the water from Jersey. I’m being the “supportive spouse” of a business trip my wife is on, and we had dinner last night with Dirt Rider magazine’s East Coast Liaison Damien Ercole. When I mentioned the early score at the Morimoto bar, five different people came and asked me for details. There’s a lot of Jersey folks who work in the city, and the night before the astonishing upset, the Empire State Building was lit in red in honor of the Scarlet Knights. The team’s next big game? A visit to Morgantown, West Virginia. Which means I’m going to have to find both Damien and Chris Tedesco, a Rutgers alumnus, tickets to the game!

Okay, enough football talk. The indoor season is now in full tilt, with the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series and the BooKoo AX tour up and running. If that’s not enough, there’s the Paris-Bercy SX, which will probably be starting up by the time we get this posted. It’s another one of those US-vs.-France-vs.-The Rest of the World deals, and with new MDK Honda’s David Vuillemin—the all-time King/Prince of Bercy—signed up for the French side along with the Pourcel brothers and Eric Sorby, they might have something for the Yanks this time around. With all of the cheerleaders and fireworks and rabid French fans, this could be quite a weekend.

Before the races, Josh and Cameron took in The Louvre in Paris photo: Stephan LeGrand

For the individual win, though, I like Josh Grant. He’s been on fire lately, he’s got a lot of confidence, and he’s even flown his own cheerleader in—San Diego Charger girl Cameron.

Mike Alessi is also over in France and could also be the man to replace the injured Andrew Short as King of Bercy. Mike raced in the Sheffield SX in England two weeks ago and did just fine. He’s got some history with France, though, so he will have a bull’s eye on his back all weekend long. Stay tuned to Racer X Online for updates from TFS, and also maybe a film highlight or two from our friends at Moto Verte (www.motoverte.com).

Last weekend saw an event-filled race in Prague in the Czech Republic, featuring lots of American supercrossers. According to our man in Eastern Europe, Slawo, it was a crashed-filled event, fortunately without many injuries.

Colton Facciotti won the first night in Prague but crashed out the second night photo: Allison Kennedy

The Racer X Canada crew was stoked to know that Colton Facciotti won the first night in a dominant way, but then Colton crashed hard in the Sunday morning practice and banged his head pretty hard. According to Slawo, he tried to race but felt dizzy and had to quit for the second night of racing. But he plans on racing Bercy this weekend, while most of the other U.S./Canadian guys move on to Stuttgart for the first German indoor event of this season.

Jason Thomas, the fastest Butler brother of them all, suffered some start crashes in the Czech race but was okay and quick as always indoors. And Doug DeHaan, who crashed together with JT$ in the first corner, seemed to struggle a bit with that track too.

Slawo added that Joe Oehlhof was not quite up to speed yet, and Cole Siebler looked good but just needs a little more luck and better starts. Michael LaPaglia surprised some people with his second night.

Eric Nye had a difficult first night, not making it into the main, then he injured himself on Sunday with an AC shoulder separation and bruised ribs after he holeshot his heat race, only to hit neutral on a step-on-step-off that put him over the bars. Best wishes to Eric on getting better soon.

Lance Armstrong worked with Jeff Spencer before clocking a sub- three-hour New York City Marathon photo: Courtesy of Spencer

What’s Jeff Spencer, the legendary moto-fitness guru, been up to? He’s been working with Lance Armstrong, getting the seven-time Tour de France Champion ready for the New York City Marathon. Jeff went with Lance on the Nike jet for four days to work with Armstrong on meeting his goal, which was to do 26 miles in under three hours.

Clint Bowyer had one of his best weekends of racing, winning the truck race on Friday night, then taking fifth in Sunday’s Nextel Cup. Clint runs the #46 truck when he does the Craftsman Truck Tour, so big brother Andy pulled out the four-six for this week’s Shift Number Cruncher.

If you missed it yesterday, I did a short interview with Paul Gross, the moto-loving, children-caring man behind www.mxforchildren.org. Paul is getting ready for another big promo to benefit a children’s hospital, this time in Toronto. Check out the interview to see how you can make your Toronto WSX experience a great one for you and some unfortunately sick children.

Also, props to Brett Wise and Rex Backman, who have also been pitching in to help Paul with his work, and also to FMX star Jeff Tilton, who saw the interview then contacted us to see if Paul and he could join forces for Steve Bauer’s annual Loma Linda Hospital visit in Riverside, CA.

Mainstream Moment of the Week: The AMA’s Karen Myron walked into a post office wearing a special Team USA sweatshirt this week. “There wasn't a single person in line, and I asked for some interesting stamps. The clerk looked at my MXoN sweatshirt and showed me these!”

The post office is pushing motorcycle stamps photo: Courtesy of Karen Myron

Last week I mentioned that MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden and AMA SX/MX Champion Ricky Carmichael share the same trainer in Aldon Baker. Road Racer X Editor Chris Jonnum was chatting with Nicky this week and asked him about working with Aldon.

Nicky said: “I actually saw on Racer X the other day where they were talking about where he’s got the biggest motocross champion and the road race one. His pedigree ain’t a secret. You’ve got to be prepared to get on his program, though; it won’t be the easiest thing you ever did! You’ve got to be ready. He’s definitely taught me a lot about training, like how not to over-train.

“The main thing is that he’s just got a program—it’s not hit or miss. He calculates everything with the travel and how much you train in the various zones. If you want to be a world champ, you can’t take any shortcuts. You’ve got to train like a champ, take your rest like a champ, eat like a champ—be ready to do it all. It can’t just be some days. You’ve got to eat, breathe, and sleep the stuff…. I don’t mind a hard day’s work. It’s not always easy, but I enjoy working hard and learning about it. Anything that can help me be better on Sunday, I’ll do whatever. He’s a good guy to have in your corner.”

That’s Stefan and Ricky, and those are gold Oakley watches! photo: Courtesy of Oakley

A quiet reception took place at Oakley recently when ten-time World MX Champion Stefan Everts was flown over to California along with ten-time AMA MX Champion Ricky Carmichael to greet all of the people at Oakley, who each ride for. They also got a special surprise: solid gold Oakley watches! I don’t know how many Oakleys and Breitlings and Rolexes RC has now, but I’ve seen him get handed at least six of them myself!

Quote of the Week From Frank Hoppen: “Ping on the Racer X cover? You are kidding, right? Maybe on Reader’s Digest, if I think about it!”

Yes, our man in California, David Pingree, upset the proceedings last Sunday at Troy Lee’s Supermoto “Duel at the Docks” when he won the 250F main event in a nail-biter over the younger, lighter, and better-looking Brandon Currie. Everyone here at Racer X was proud of Pingaling, and we even chatted him up for Wednesday’s Between the Motos.

Hey, just got an IM from Steve Bruhn over in Paris. He says that Gary Bailey, the legendary motocross professor, is the new trainer/coach for Mike and Jeff Alessi. He also says that it’s like a Motocross des Nations on the inside over there, with Pourcel and Tony Cairoli and all the Yanks….

Ping on the cover of Racer X? Not if we want to sell a bunch of them. photo: Frank Hoppen

Some of the personal effects of Steve McQueen, the patron saint of motocross, will be auctioned off tomorrow. Barbara Minty-McQueen, his widow, has owned the stuff since Steve died from cancer some 25 years ago. Among the items are the glove that he wore in The Great Escape, as well as the Triumph he jumped that fence with in the greatest movie scene ever involving a motorcycle.

A fond farewell to the always classy Joel Smets of Belgium. He will participate in what he says will be his last motorcycle race next week: the 81^st running of the International Six Days Enduro. According to one report we received, the five-time world motocross champ aggravated a knee injury during Sunday’s Taupo International Motocross and was a doubtful starter early last week, but it is now confirmed Smets will make Tuesday’s start line for the Belgian Trophy Team, departing as rider #99. Good luck, Joel!

Joel and son at the recent Motocross des Nations in England photo: Simon Cudby

In other New Zealand news, Josh Coppins won that big race there last Sunday over another departing Belgian star, Stefan Everts, and Ben Townley sounds like he’s okay after banging his knee in a scary collision with another rider during press day. He should be already back and at it with RC and Aldon Baker as Carmichael is in boot camp again, getting ready for Toronto and Vancouver (yes, he’s in for that race too).

RC, by the way, was riding today down in Florida, then he will jet out to Phoenix in the morning for the NASCAR race there, wearing the headsets in the Nemechek pits and just getting used to how the radio works in auto racing.

Oops, one more Kiwi note: Next Thursday, Kiwi Crusty Demon “Scary” Mary Perkins will bungee jump off Auckland’s Sky Tower on a 110cc mini-bike. “The death-defying stunt marks the launch of the Crusty Demon’s 2007 Kiwi Carnage Tour,” according to the press release. “The 2007 Kiwi Carnage tour is the first stage of an all new world tour which will then move to Australia, India, China, the USA and Europe over the next 12 months.” Further information is available at www.crusty.com.

“The Professor”Gary Bailey is now working with the Alessi team photo: Steve Bruhn

We mentioned that the Wharton boys signed with KTM last weekend; now we hear that former Honda standout Terren O’Dell went to American Suzuki when Blake and Tyler went to KTM.

We spotted a post on Mototalk by Will Topete about a busy practice day out at Lake Elsinore this week, where Nathan Ramsey, DV12, Ryan Sipes, Ivan Tedesco, Tyler Evans and more were all in attendance. For a glimpse at the action, check out Will’s site.

Check out Will's site photo: Courtesy of Will Topete

I got a note from my old friend David Hand, who I’ve been racing against since we met at a mini national back in 1977(!), asking about the vet class changes at Loretta Lynn’s. He asked if it was true that any former pro license holder could not run in the +40 class, but that’s not the way it’s going to work. As I understand, former pro license holders between the ages of 25 and 39 will have to ride the +25 class, as +30 and +35 will be B classes now. But the +40 class is based on age alone, which means David won’t have to get out there and bang bars with Jimmy Evans and friends!

Dear Racer X,
Just wanted to show you what my buds did for me. It took them three months, and we probably broke every copyright law there is, but they had a new set of graphics made up based on the Stones deal. All because one day long ago I made a comment about wanting a “theme” bike based around a band. They took the bike out of my garage without me knowing and put the graphics on. Then took the bike to our Mudslinger Club work party. What a surprise. Thought you might like it.
John Tillman

The Rolling Stones are rolling with John Tillman photo: Courtesy of Tillman

I’m hearing and seeing more and more about the Leatt-Brace Moto GPX neck protector. Geoff Patterson even stopped in a couple of weeks ago to show us how it works. If you haven’t heard or seen this brace, by all means check it out: www.leatt-brace.com.

Okay, here’s a good spot to turn this over to Ping:

If you didn’t make it out to Troy Lee’s Duel at the Docks AMA Supermoto finale in Long Beach last weekend, well, you blew it. Not only was the event a huge success and a very fun venue, but I stole my first Supermoto Lites win! Cassidy Anderson wrapped up the title in the class after pretty much waxing the rest of us all season, but I went out on top, and that’s what really important … to me. Anyhoo, Ben Carlson went home with the Unlimited title, even though Micky Dymond won the race and Jeff Ward, the baddest 45-year-old I know, won his ninth AMA championship in the premier class. The fact that Wardy is still as fast as he is at his age is just ridiculous. The series schedule has already been announced for the 2007 season, and the Long Beach round will return, along with new venues such as Laguna Seca, Seattle and a round in downtown Syracuse, New York. The success that Supermoto is having at such an early stage is a sign that it has a very bright future.

Troy Lee’s Duel at the Docks had it all photo: Simon Cudby

I spent yesterday out at Ryan Villopoto’s house. RV was doing some ringing on his private supercross track while Jay Schweitzer filmed for one of his upcoming movies. RV looked fast. I don’t mean fast like he will be a title contender this year. I mean like a cheetah-on-cocaine fast.

Apparently, Ryan had been riding with an old suspension setting up until this week, and once they got his forks working better, Ryan dropped his lap times at the Kawasaki test track significantly. In fact, he is only a few tenths off of James Stewart’s best lap time.

The house that Ryan is living in is actually Stephane Roncada’s old place. RV built a supercross track, a minibike supercross track, and a minibike outdoor track in his backyard. There is also a minibike freestyle ramp, in case you want to get an injury that way. If Mitch Payton saw Ryan tearing around in his backyard on a 110 in flip flops and T-shirt the way he does, he would jump up and give him a roundhouse kick to the head.

Is this kid going to be even faster in January? Ping thinks so.