Catching Up With John Gallagher
swapmoto
- April 09 2009
- 62 comments
Catching Up With John Gallagher
By Donn Maeda
Following last weekend’s controversy between Supercross Champion Chad Reed and his challenger James Stewart, we decided to phone FIM Competition Director John Gallagher, to see if the “neck grabbing” incident was for real, or a figment of some people’s imagination, as many Internet Bandits dubbed it…
After all the flaming on Internet message boards that went on earlier this week, we thought it’d be a great idea to go straight to the FIM Race Director and ask, “Is there, or is there not a ‘neck grabbing’ incident under review by the FIM?
Yes, there is. I’ve seen the message boards, and how they are just ripping Larry Brooks apart, calling him a liar, and exaggerator and such. What these people don’t realize is that they are basing their opinions on what they saw on television, and television cut short all that happened when Chad Reed first rolled up to James Stewart. Yes, there was much more to it than a television viewer would have seen. Someone who was sitting in the stands would have seen much more. Television only shows what the show editors choose to show, so obviously, what James and Chad experienced was much different than what people who watched the Jacksonville race on television experienced. This incident is just a situation where the two riders in the morning, and the two riders in the evening, let their emotions get the best of them. We have to draw a line in the sand and make sure that people don’t cross that line. There was some touching going on, but not to the extent that you could call it a fight or an assault. But still, we have to curtail it. My whole off-race weekend is going to be spent dealing with incidents that actually have nothing to do with racing, per se. I have another incident involving Jason Lawrence and how he was not out there racing after he fell while trying to make a pass, but out simply to ruin Broc Hepler’s night and get even with him.
The 450 class is governed by the FIM. Has tape of the incident been sent back to Switzerland for review, as Larry Brooks mentioned? Or is the ruling on the incident solely in your hands, as the US Race Director for the FIM?
No, the footage is all here with me for review, and there will be no ruling made overseas. I am evaluating the footage, the statements and all of the information and will make a collaborative decision regarding the incident with help from Karen Myron, the AMA’s Race Director. I have heard from Larry Brooks and James Stewart, and I will hear from Roger DeCoster shortly, but I have not heard from Chad Reed at all. He is still in Florida and I have not heard from him. Nothing has happened since we left the racetrack on Saturday night, except for some information gathering.
We were initially informed about the situation from a couple fans, who saw the incident from the stands, and a call to Larry Brooks on Monday confirmed the story to an extent. In the television footage that was not shown, what did you see?
Well, let’s just say this. If you and I got into a fender-bender in our cars, and I jumped out of my car and started yelling at you, that’s the line in the sand. Now, if I yelled at you and took my index finger and started poking you in the chest with it, I would expect you to take a swing at me. Though I didn’t hit you first, I could probably expect you to take a swing at me. What I am saying is that there are things a guy can do to initiate the next step: to encourage the other guy to take it to the next level. We never got to the point where there Chad and James were swinging at each other and fighting on the field, but what I saw on the tape was one of those inviting things. Obviously, the incident on the track scared both of them, and emotions were running high.
It’s funny: from James’ perspective, he clearly thought that he had the lead. The riders were jumping the triple, and James was landing on the ramp like he had every lap. Chad, though, over-jumped the triple in a pass attempt. He didn’t make a mistake; he was over-jumping the triple in hopes of making a pass while entering the next turn. James landed and took the normal line towards the inside of the next corner, just as he had every lap prior, and he had no way of knowing that Chad was over-jumping the jump. So from James’ perspective, he had total control of the lead and was taking his normal race line. From Chad’s perspective, James cut over on him in an attempt to take out his front wheel. Afterwards, when James watched the video, he actually said, “I could see why Chad would be mad, but from my perspective, I was clearly in the lead.” The bottom line is that James landed the jump just as both of them had previously, and made the directional change to dive to the inside of the next corner. Chad didn’t have that ability, because he was still in the air. It was a racing incident. There was no fault in the incident that happened on the racetrack. Chad’s biggest issue is that he needs to count to 10 when he pulls off the track before he reacts.
So in the footage, what exactly did you see? Was it a friendly “good job” pat on the back like some have said, or was it a grab and squeeze of the neck with some heated words?
(Laughs) Your second rendition of the incident is much more accurate than the first. It was definitely a move to get James’ attention, and it was not friendly by any stretch of the imagination. I know what James told me was said by Chad, and from the tapes it looked like a pretty accurate recount. But I don’t care about trash talk; guys can say as much as they want. It’s when guys start laying hands on each other that we have to draw a line in the sand. There is a fine line here, because who wants the emotions in our series to go away? But we can’t have riders laying hands on other riders, trying to initiate other actions.
The fact that Larry Brooks is willing to write about things like this and be willing to take the wrath of half of the fans…I commend him for that. Giving readers an inside peek at what a guy in his position as a team manager has to go through takes courage, and the average joker out there would otherwise never get to experience these things. You and I know Larry, and we know his personality, so we can appreciate the things he writes, but I can understand how those who have no real experience with Larry could take what he writes the wrong way. Larry is not a whiner; he is simply putting his experiences on the table. I have told him before, that it takes balls to write that column.
Agreed. At TransWorld, we all enjoy Larry’s columns, regardless of where they are posted. So in conclusion, will there be a ruling on this that involves a fine or penalty of some sort.
No. Or at least I don’t expect there to be. This will be the hot topic in Seattle’s rider’s meeting, as we have to make it clear where the line has to be drawn. As far as penalties go, one thing I would like to touch upon is the criticism that the AMA and/or FIM takes for lacking consistency when it comes to penalties. Herein lies the debacle. For a rider like, say, Jacob Marsack…if he were to do something wrong and we were to penalize him points, he would probably have some hurt feelings, and nothing else. He is not in contention for a championship, or even the top privateer status. If we were to fine him $10,000, though, that would probably shut his entire program down. He’d have to get a loan before he could return to racing. And if we simply suspended him from some racing, that would hurt him the most because that’s what he’s here to do in the first place. Now take a guy like Chad Reed. If we were to dock him even a single point at this stage, it could be disastrous. A $10,000 fine, though, would roll off his back and he would just shrug his shoulders. Not every situation is identical, and that is why no two penalties can be identical. Everyone has something they want, and everyone has something that they don’t really care about. The intention of a penalty is to take something away that they really care about. The only way to be consistent in issuing penalties is to take it case by case.
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April 9th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
uno (first)
April 9th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
All of this makes it damn exciting to read up about thats for sure.Its gonna be a fight till the end for those two guys.I wanna know more on the lawrence thing also???
April 9th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
Good stuff, I hope there isn’t any point penalties, it would kill the championship excitement.
April 9th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
While Gallagher is around how about asking him why there was never anything released on Villopoto’s drug testing.
April 9th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
Wow thank you for that info transworld!!!!Reed and the yellow bikes still need to be watched.lol Ive been reading some of these internet boards and they have been crazy.just from watching the race coverage on tv and not seeing the neck grabbing incident Reed looked flustered by JS7 and any one that saw that race could see that JS7 was stalking Reed like crazy!Perfect play,hell it wasnt even a pic roll move!!JS7 didnt even touch Reed when he made the pass.Big upps to you guys for covering this story…
April 9th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
I say we get Reed and Bubba in the cage and let them settle it there off the track hahahaha good stuff, its racing guys lets get over it now
April 9th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
you morons are why the **** flies on the message boards. you live to simply “one-up” (pun intended) each other and I wish you would do it on the Strawberry Shortcake message boards and leave racing and riding commentaries to those who possess a few more brain cells than you and your simian friends….
April 9th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
What do you expect with a stupid name like J-smooth?
April 9th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
I say MC has an invitational again, and invites only Stewart and Reed. Head to head racing. Winner take all.
April 9th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
Larry Brooks should count to 10 before he writes his next column.
April 9th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
I was there and saw it. It wasn’t cool at all. Chad was just frustrated coz he had the start he wanted but still could not hang it out with Bubba. People need to understand when you are giving it your all and the guy just pulls away its a very frustrating feeling. With that said I think they shouldn’t doc Chad but just have him go to anger management. Really thats what he needs.
April 9th, 2009 at 7:33 pm
What happened to the “New Chad”? Ya know, the non-sniveling ,not a crybaby, role model for good sportsmanship? Maybey we should put fences between the lines in the corners, so nobody gets scared by a little “close racing”?
April 9th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
boy oh boy have these racers become whiney little girlie men these days!
April 9th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
Hey a lot of talk from Larry Brooks the same guy that got penalized in Seattle at the Mickey Thompson Ultra cross for freaking out and screaming and flipped off another rider.. His penalty was that they cut him out of all coverage from the event and showed very little on TV… Larry should know about anger management!
April 9th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Ive punched people in the face, i dont know y grabbing someones neck after they almost made you fall would be any worse, role models? they’re athletes that happen to make it on TV. I dont see lawnmower racers as role models, maybe because its not as covered as sx
April 9th, 2009 at 8:22 pm
yeah. make him apoligize to ramsey too
April 9th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
good point on the penalty variations between riders, i know everyone complained about RC in 06, though i think i heard that stewart did lose a title cause of it, unlike reed and rc
April 9th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
That was YOU?!? Healed up nicely, but nose is still a bit crooked….
April 9th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
first of all J-smooth is a dumbass for thinking ppl dont know what uno means.second of all i have to agree with josh jsmooth and all the other “oh i commented first” ppl need to take a hike.no on to my actually comment…..i was there.clearly i missed the incident as always.lol.blind as a bat.anyways i gotta say it was by far the best race of the season and ive been to 5 other sx races this year.amazing battles amazing passes and just good, CLEAN racing.
April 9th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
Finally some excitement.
April 9th, 2009 at 11:20 pm
What is up with Jason Lawrence and Broc Hepler?
April 10th, 2009 at 3:18 am
and reedy for the stuff in the past
April 10th, 2009 at 5:45 am
As for Ramsey…. I think all the teams work that way.
I thought Honda did that to Ricky and it sounds like Kawi just didn’t offer Bubba anything and hoped he got the hint.
Doesn’t make it right, just the harsh reality.
April 10th, 2009 at 6:32 am
There was information on Villopotos drug testing, Villopoto, Stewart, and one other guy all got tested and they were all clean.
April 10th, 2009 at 7:37 am
ok i saw J law smack into Hepler but what happen to J law to make him do it? any one have and photos or video?
April 10th, 2009 at 7:55 am
Hepler went out of his way to take Lawrence into the tough blocks when he could have squared it up. I heard that he was pissed about something at Daytona.
April 10th, 2009 at 8:30 am
NO. There was nothing “official” from the FIM.
and this from virtual trainer:
…from Alden Baker “…they have never officially been notified of James’ results from San Francisco”.
April 10th, 2009 at 8:35 am
The truth is when you are a proffesional racer in hight levels like Chad and Js, everyone looks up to you as the SX figure and leaders. So when you react like Chad the sport loses fans and parents dont want their kids to look up to Chad anymore. James has maintained his cool all through and that shows who’s real profession.
April 10th, 2009 at 8:52 am
Yeah i hope Reed didnt think JS7 was giong to just let him ride away!Reed is the 2nd fastest guy on the track untill next yr when J-law goes full time on a 450.I hope JS7 rides out door.Reed should man up and come play in the dirt to.Watch them yellow bikes next wk JS7,they see you rolling out in front some one might catching them riding dirty!LOL
April 10th, 2009 at 8:52 am
wouldn’t it be primero?
April 10th, 2009 at 9:18 am
pissed about what, getting his a$$ handed to him on a platter to a guy in his first 450 race? yeah, i would take lawrence high on purpose too… pssh
April 10th, 2009 at 9:50 am
Taking someone high and taking someone out are two different things. Lawrence is a little baby, plain and simple.
April 10th, 2009 at 10:11 am
i think the only thing your punching is your clown you dork
April 10th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
The only thing i saw was Jlaw dive in on a 180 turn on Hepler looked like it was nasty for sure! i like the kid but man it really look crapy for Hepler so i really would like to have seen what went on before or at at Daytona. but if i remember Jlaw did but Hepler in the dirt that night on his way to the front.
April 10th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
The guy just played with him after the pass! he could have checked out like always but decided to just sit and play. with chad being who he is (a all star in his own eyes) that really can set it off! for James to just play into it instead of just blowing Reed away and opening up a huge gap he didn’t that is childish if you ask me. wish RC was still here to but the jig in his place!
April 10th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Ya I read either on racer x or transworld that they were clean to, those guys wouldn’t take PED’s anyway.
April 10th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
I think what made chad mad was everytime he would pass Stewart, stewart wouldn’t simply pass him back and go on his way, he would run reed wide and completely stop. Someone said reed isn’t being a “true” professional, and stewart has kept his cool the whole series, remember a1?
April 10th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
OK. Well you read here that he wasn’t. Show me something “OFFICIAL”. You cant because the FIM has not released it.
April 10th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
i watched the video of chad and bubba over and over i see where bubba hit reed on the jump reed was talking about. they came over the tripple side by side reed over jumped it a lil but bubba pinned it and changed lines from outside to inside and hit reed in the air. also ripped off reeds fork guard.
April 10th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
So its JS7 fault Reed that Reed grabbed his neck.Do you really think JS7 needs to ride dirty to beat Reed?? for the nxt 2races he can just do th same stalking tactic that sht was funny to see just how muc faster JS7 is then Reed and JS7 4sho rode smart in that race Rc was even saying JS7 was setting Reedy up.
April 10th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
I didn’t see this little scuffle but I am sure that John will make the right decision. My mom used to work with his wife and the last time I met him he seemed like a very sound and smart guy who knows whats what in motocross. Good Luck John. Don’t let what people say cloud your judgment.
April 10th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Post the video! and let us the FANS to Decide!
April 10th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
yeah whatever.
April 10th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Zachary Epps, This was no “little scuffle” by any stretch of the imagination.
Didn’t you read the comments from Larry brooks?
It was a full blown neck grabbing extravaganza party bonanza!
A full tilt grab it like you want it premeditated bone crushing kung fu karate chop boomerang tomohawk whiplash to the neck!
A spine jarring im gonna rip your head off if you cut me off on a tripple again psycotic leatte brace crushing wish i was wearing my neck donut C1, C2 vertabrae damaging disc fluid oozing im gonna kill you dock reed points or im gonna cry attempted decapitation.
April 10th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
dgizzy got it
April 10th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
” Chad came up from behind and grabbed him by the back of the neck, put pressure on it, and told him basically “I want to kill you; I’m going to take you out!” It was crazy. ” - Larry Brooks
Basically what homeskillet said though..
April 10th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
First!
April 11th, 2009 at 1:55 am
Thats some funny shit right there homeskillet…props for that use of ur imagination haha
Gotta love it….Vegas will be down right spectacular
April 11th, 2009 at 9:59 am
Too Funny!
April 11th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Wrong website. Your lookin for the Dirt Bike magazine site. Put the jig in his place? Your racist comments are not wanted here.
April 11th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
It will be sweet.
April 12th, 2009 at 2:39 am
yes it would. j-smooth = idiot. uno means one. primero means first.
April 12th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
so what he is saying is as long as your in contention for the championship, its ok to put hands on another person, i think its a horrible message to send and a bad move on the FIM’s part, i wasnt a chad reed fan before but now i cant even explain , he is a cry baby and a sissy and i can only hope bubba takes him out next week.
April 12th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
Larry Brooks is still a wiener!!
April 12th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
Next 3 races should be gooooddddd!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 13th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Yes i agree with DKR some one please post the video of the Neck grab,ive been all over you tube looking for it! A few of my friends that are stationed in Florida went to that race and said that it did happen!!
April 14th, 2009 at 9:05 am
They would never let “the fans decide”. I am a fan and that is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. Most fans out there have no clue what actually goes on durring and after a race (including me) plus with the emotional attachment to their favorite rider and what they actually think is bad and not bad, no one would ever come to an agreeable decision. I think the FIM is handling in the perfect way. I also agree that no two punishments are the same, and $10,000 is nothing to Reed, but being docked a point is. In life there are always consequences and no one ever likes them, but it is what it is. I lime both riders, and I wouldn’t want to see more than a 2 point penalty because the championship points lead is exciting! A 2 point penalty will keep Reed a full race win (3 points) ahead of Bubba. Then let the racing begin, then we will get to see the best man win.
April 14th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
I look up to the lawnmower racers. They’ve got some mad skill.
April 14th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
OK is there any word on what the penalty will be???
December 15th, 2009 at 8:12 am
Gallagher is no longer arond he has just recently passed away cuz of work releted. RIP john