Florida amateur supercross: East Bay’s Round 3 money class spells drama for Picone and Livesay

Posted by: Chronic MX Posted date: June 03, 2011 In: Amateur, Amateur MX News | comment : 0

Round 3 of East Bay’s Monster Energy Super Motocross series was nothing shy of bar to bar, intense local supercross racing! Florida’s fastest amateur riders showed up to cash in on the healthy “open money” cash pay-out. Moto 1 was all Michael Picone (aka “Pinecone”). Though Tyler Livesay pulled the holeshot, Pinecone passed him early in Lap 1 and ran away with the lead. Livesay charged hard to catch up and looked lightning fast, but a wash out in a tight turn on Lap 3 left him stuck with a third place…earned by moving back up through the pack. Jerry Kopoian meanwhile finished an impressive second with a smooth ride aboard his spanking new YZ 450f.

Moto 2 was all drama! The drama was all about an early mishap between Pinecone and Livesay. Pinecone stuffed Livesay with a debatable block pass in a tight bowl turn right after East Bay’s big double jump. Pinecone went on to take the win and Livesay once again had to battle his way up to finish third. Kopoian took another solid second place and was really looking comfortable. Everyone had their own opinion as to whether Pinecone’s pass was “clean” or not. Apparently Livesay didn’t think it was “clean” and unfortunately made the poor decision to “ghost ride” his KX 450f directly into Pinecone’s Xtreme Powersports CR 450f immediately after the finish. Mayhem broke out in the pits with helmets and fists flying, but thankfully no one was hurt. Pinecone claimed that the pass was simply competitive ”racing” but added that it was a necessary move to get past Livesay’s ”ultra aggressive and dangerous air tactics”. Later on, a seemingly apologetic Livesay, claimed the opposite and said Pinecone’s Moto 2 block pass, that left him on the ground, was “dirty”. Ironically, Kyle Keylon put the exact same pass, in the exact same location, on Livesay just a few laps later in the moto…but Livesay kept it on two wheels that time. There is no doubt that aggressive block passes are common in both pro supercross and local amateur motocross racing. This year, for example, during the Atlanta Supercross, we saw Chad Reed take James Bubba Stewart out with a deliberate aggressive block pass that left them both on the ground and created debate for weeks to come. Either way, as common as these passes can be, no one likes to see them followed by unsportsman like conduct in the pits. Fighting never gets anyone anywhere. Just ask J-Law (Jason Lawrence) how far it got him in his professional motocross career. All in all, the racing at East Bay’s Round 3 was simply awesome and the excitement was intense. Stay tuned for brief video coverage of Round 3 coming soon… you can judge the pass for yourself! Cheers, Rocket 88

East Bay Round 3 Open Money results: