LA SX TOP 10 RIDERS ANALYSIS....

450:

1. CHAD REED: Chad was once again little off the RV/JS pace in practice. It has been the case for the first 3 races now which isn't a big deal for him. He has a long of experience and I don't think that's affecting him now. He has the ressources, with his technique and his experience, to turn it around during the race. In the Main, Chad really turned it around. It was a Championship contender that showed up. Chad was aggressive, fast and started jumping new stuff right at the beginning of the race. It was one of Chad's best race of his career. At almost 30 years old, Chad looked 5 years younger on Saturday
2. RYAN DUNGEY: I didn't see Ryan super comfortable in practice even with clocking the 3rd fastest time .8 sec behind RV. RD5 did a steady and consistent Main Event. Just like in Phoenix basically. Ryan rode good to stay in the Championship race. Nothing amazing, just mistake free and consistent.  RD never looked like he could race with Chad for the win. He took advantage of Bubba taking Weimer out in the 5th lap and Bubba doing a "Bubba" (crashing) in the 12th lap. I think Ryan will step it up during the season. His bike needs some more tuning, he needs more race time on it and I am sure his speed will improve soon. He will be there all season long but RV will not crash at every race like he did in Phoenix and L.A.
3. JAMES STEWART: I pretty much sum it up right HERE
4. RYAN VILLOPOTO: RV1 is the man to beat this year but he helped his competition in Phoenix and Phoenix by being way back in the first lap of the main events. Ryan is the fastest so far, only Bubba could clock a faster lap than him in practice, and has the best fitness. He showed it in LA by doing his best lap time in the last lap of the 20lap race. Ryan has the best package right now and will have to stay out of trouble on the starts and first laps.
5. BRETT METCALFE: Brett got his second top 5 of his career this weekend. His first was in muddy condition in Oakland 2011. Brett has been off the pace in SX since he moved to the 450 class. He is not a SX specialist and this top 5 will be great for his confidence. He started 5th and stayed in there. BM24 will have to find .5 to a second a lap consistently to get another top 5 but he is well capable of doing so. Brett had the 7th fastest lap in the Main Event.
6. DAVI MILLSAPS: Here is another rider that had a good race in LA. Davi started 8th and moved up to 6th. He took advantage of Weimer's crash but got pass by unstoppable RV1. His lap times were good and consistent. He is a great SX rider and will improve too. Look for Davi to fight for a top 5 with a better start. His fitness was questionable in the past but he has been doing his homework in the off season dropping 38 pounds. That's a lot of weight! He was 6th fastest in the Main in LA. Good to see him on the right path.
7. JOSH HANSEN: Josh has been doing great this year and has been under the radar. His performance since the opening 10-10-7 have been under rated. Josh is a great SX rider and he came ready to race in 2012. He impressed me in Phoenix in practice looking fast and smooth without seeing his lap times. He was "only" 17th fastest in practice in LA but it's tough to judge since there was only 1 practice due to the weather. JH100 ended the first lap in 11th worked his way up to 7th with the 9th fastest lap in the Main passing, 2011 lites rival, Broc Tickle in the process. That was a great ride
8. BROC TICKLE: Broc got his best finish of the year after missing the Main in Phoenix and a 12th place in A1. I think we are expecting a little more from Broc as the 2011 West Lites Champion. 6th on the first lap of the Main. Broc got passed by Millsaps and Hansen. He had a bad lap in the middle of the main, 4 seconds slower than his average, which I didn't see from what. Broc is learning the 450 class but should be doing better as a Lites Champion and being in one of the best team there is.
9. KEVIN WINDHAM: Kevin surprised everyone with a 4th in Phoenix where he could have got a podium with a little more fitness. KDub started 14th and worked his way up to 9th. He was 10th fastest in the Main. KW will be 34 in February and that is already impressive to be competitive in a stacked up 2012 450 class. Kevin will have to get better starts and will do good this year on more technical tracks and in the mud. It doesn't look like it's going to rain in Oakland but there are a lot of open stadiums until the end of the year. Kevin will also keep impressing us by doing crazy tranfers in the dark during opening ceremony
10. MIKE ALESSI: Mike was 18th fastest in practice just like A1. He did better in Phoenix were he was 10th. Mike had a great start in the heat race and rode good and consistent finishing 2nd behind Bubba, just like Anaheim. Mike hit the gate in the main and was last in 18th (Not 20th because Canard and Morais weren't there anymore). He ended the first lap in 12th. Josh Grant and Tedesco crashed soon after. He was 10th on lap 2 and stayed there. RV passed him and Weimer got taken out which left him in 10th. Mike was 11th fastest in the Main. To get closer to a top 5, he will have to start in front and fight to stay there. You will not see him go thru the pack "a-laVillopoto" but with his abilities to start in front from anywhere on the gate, Mike will eventually best his best finish of the season (9th) soon.

LITES:

1. ELI TOMAC: Eli has been, for me, the fastest guy since the opening. He is fast, aggressive, hungry, has the fitness and jumps stuff like the 450s. He has been struggling with starts and making a few mistakes. He knows how to start, he proved it by holeshoting the LCQ from the last gate on the outside in Anaheim. He needs to be more consistent off the gate and then he will tough to beat. He is the RV1 of the West lites this year. Eli was the faster man on the planet in LA clocking the fastest lap in the 250/450 Mains combined. 
2. DEAN WILSON: Dean is/was the favorite to win this Championship coming off a great summer and a Lites National Championship. The speed isn't quite there yet even if he won in Phoenix. He should have won A1 but Seely passed him and went on to win the race. He took Dean 13 laps to get around Zack Osborne while Tomac was checking out.  Dean was .8 sec slower than Tomac on their fast lap and was 15sec behind at the checkered flag. In maths strictly, that's 1 second a lap...
3. ZACH OSBORNE: Zach has been on fire in the first 3 races. Great style, fast and getting on the podium this weekend. Nobody was expecting him to do so well after being away from US SX for so long. On a YZF that is getting old and almost obsolete against the other brands, Zach is showing that he wants to come back to race in the US soon and what best way to show it than getting on the box. Teams, sign this kid up for 2K13! Great job Snackpack!
4. TYLA RATTRAY: Tyla isn't a SX rider but he is in it to win it. He's compensating his lack of SX skills and experience with hard work and dedication. He didn't have a great race in LA, top 5 start and rode consistent. He wasn't super fast in the main, only 9th fastest, but the guy will be there every weekend and will give 100% everytime he sits on the bike. For this, he deserves props.
5. JASON ANDERSON: Jason needs credit. He has been under the radar like Hansen but he is riding great. He has a good technique, he is a good jumper and makes it look easy. Has been consistent with a 7-7-5 finish on the first 3 races. He got in the main by winning the LCQ, 9th on the first lap by having a terrible pick on the gate. Top 5 with this circumstances is a good accomplishment.
6. MAX ANSTIE: Another kid under the radar. He was doing great in the heat race and got taken out. 6th in the heat race. He came back from outside the top 10 to finish 6th. That was a great ride. This is another rider that is here to prove himself that he has a place in the US. I don't think he will stay in the GPs much longer. He's only 18 and has a lot of potential.
7. MICHAEL LEIB: The 20year old SoCalian had 2 disastrous seasons in GP and he's back in the US as a privateer. Michael has been working hard to get back in SX form. ML had a close to top 5 start and rode really well fighting for every spots. After missing the main in A1, 11th in Phx and 7th in LA. It would be tough for him to do much better, he was "only" 13th fastest in the main but you have to give him, and his dad, credit for being up there in a stacked and equipment-competitive class. Keep it up Michael...
8. MATT MOSS: His highlight of his season before LA was his take out on Sipes in the Phoenix LCQ. Matt did good at Dodger Stadium. He was only 16th on the first lap and passed a bunch of guys to get 8th. He's a replacement rider if I remember right and had a great ride!
9. MARTIN DAVALOS: Everyone knows Martin is fast and can start. But in between those 2 facts there is the crash factor... Seems like MD is taking way too many dirt samples for many years. He holeshoted the main, rode great for a while and crashed. Got up in 6th and got passed at the end by Anderson, Anstie, Leib and Moss. As a Lites veteran now, Martin should be doing better.
10. BILLY LANINOVICH: After a few sabbatical years, Billy is back on a Honda as a privateer. The 29 year old, 2004 (?) San Francisco 125cc winner got his best finish of the year (14th-12th-10th) and he is 10th in the standings in front of a bunch of supported riders getting paid to ride. 16th fastest in practice, started 14th in the main, came back in the top 10 with the 14th fastest lap time. The stats aren't that bad and can only get better. He has experience, knows the sport/class well, has great bike skills and can stay in the top 10 with the proper training/preparation.