AMA Transforms Dodger Stadium For Weekend Of Supercross
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Trey Canard (Courtesy of Feld Motor Sports)
So much for the grass, infield sand and chalk marks — bikes need dirt.
This weekend, it’s Dodger Stadium’s turn. For the first time ever, AMA Supercross comes to Dodgers Stadium Saturday, fresh off its first two events of the season.
For the past couple days, the stadium has undergone quite a transformation; a transformation similar to the one undertaken last year by the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for X Games 16.
Five hundred truckloads of dirt, equaling about 1.5 million pounds, have been dumped onto the infield and sculpted into an obstacle course by a crew of seven over the course of three days.
It all is in preparation for the opening ceremonies, which begin at 7 p.m. Saturday. Open practices will also be held from 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
It is the first of three straight California stops along the FM World Championship season. Next weekend, it’s Oakland Coliseum before another stop at Angel Stadium on Feb. 5.
Supercross, an off-road motorcycle racing competition, is often described as “the NASCAR of motorcross" -- a sport where the athletes’ “prime years” come and go in a flash, between 18 to 21 years of age. Careers typically do not go past the early 30s. Jumps can be as high as 70 feet in distance, and as high as three stories. And speeds can reach 60 miles per hour.
It’s also a sport that has seen parity despite incredible feats from one man, James Stewart.
It’s simple, really: If Stewart doesn’t crash, he will win.
The trouble is, he often crashes. He’s won 93 percent of the races he’s competed in — that is, races in which he has not eaten dirt. But the daredevil has eaten enough of it to drop his winning percentage to an overall 59 percent — still a remarkable tally.
He is coming off a win last weekend in Phoenix.
Outside of Stewart, the stars include last year’s shocking champion, rookie Ryan Dungey, along with Chad Reed. It was just the second time in the 36-year history of the sport that a rookie won the elite championship.
Los Angeles-area stars include Josh Grant, of Riverside, and Dean Wilson, of San Jacinto.
Ticket prices range from $20 to $75, depending on seat level.
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The first two events of the season precluded this weekend’s event at Dodger Stadium.
Here’s a way to get caught up, courtesy of CBS Sports and Feld Motor Sports:
Anaheim recap:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfNFMS00VGc&feature=fvst
Phoenix recap:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPj4ulco9Qc
One of the fastest men alive, James Stewart — no, not the guy in all those Hitchcock movies and “It’s a Wonderful Life” — featured in a practice:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34ZGYm_RPdA
Here’s a video of his ultimate crashes (other than winning, his best talent):
