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Jordy Smith eliminated as 12 surfers fall off tour at Billabong Pro Tahiti

GRINDTV NEWSWIRE via ASP TEAHUPOO, Taiarapu/Tahiti (Tuesday, August 31, 2010) - The Billabong Pro Tahiti recommenced today in clean three-to-four foot (1 metre) waves for the completion of Round 2 and the first 12 heats of Round 3.

Event No. 5 of 10 on the 2010 ASP World Tour, the Billabong Pro Tahiti played host to an incredible day of action, with major shifts in the hunt for the ASP World Title as well as surfers falling off the Dream Tour, the result of the midyear cut-off from the ASP Top 45 to the Top 34 (Top 32 finishers plus two surfer wildcards).

Manoa Drollet (PYF), 29, local Tahitian wildcard, caused the upset of the event today, eliminating current ASP World No. 1, Jordy Smith (ZAF), 22, from Billabong Pro Tahiti competition in Round 3. The quiet Tahitian utilized his intimate knowledge of the break and picked off the better set waves to control the heat and come away with the win.

"He (Smith) was sitting on priority and he only needed a small wave at one point," Drollet said. "He waited forever and he didn't catch anything. I have a good knowledge here. I've been doing water patrol so I've been watching the event and analyzing the guys' strategies a lot. I managed to get scores and get back in the lead there towards the end. I was expecting Jordy (Smith) to come back with a 9 at anytime."

Despite the loss, Smith remained gracious in defeat and positive as he transitions to the next event in California.

"It was pretty tough out there," Smith said. "Wave-starved a bit and difficult to find the right one. I got an average one in the beginning and the cut my hand on the reef. Some heats go like that. You live and learn, and I'm looking forward to the next one at Trestles."

Immediately following Smith's ousting, Kelly Slater (USA), 38, past nine-time ASP World Champion scored a sensational come-from-behind victory to overtake dangerous wildcard Heiarii Williams (PYF), 23. Needing a major score with moments remaining Slater failed to emerge from an excellent wave, only to paddle straight into another impressive barrel to secure the 8.80 and the win.

"I knew what he (Williams) was going to do from the beginning," Slater said. "He and Manoa (Drollet) have the same game plan: be patient and they know the wave better than anyone. He was going to play it smart; he did that in the first heat too. I had a couple of average waves before getting an okay one. I took one at the end, probably the best wave of the heat, and I got too greedy and fell. When I came out, there was one that popped up right away and I was fortunate to get it."

With his Round 3 victory, Slater moves from No. 3 to No. 2 in the hunt for the 2010 ASP World Title, but the Floridian is pragmatic when discussing his campaign this season.

"If the roles were reversed from J-Bay to here and I won out here, then we'd be right back where we (Smith and I) were before the last one," Slater said. "It's especially hard when you go out early and someone else goes to win a contest, like in J-Bay. We're at the halfway point this season so we haven't even been dropping results yet so I'm not super focused on it yet. I've actually been more focused on my buddies on the bubble. It's a bummer to see some of them go."

By the end of the Billabong Pro Tahiti, the 2010 ASP World Tour will have completed half the season, and the ASP Top 45 will be reduced to 34 (Top 32 finishers as well as two surfer wildcards) meaning that 13 surfers will be relegated back to the ASP PRIME and Star events.

Today saw 12 of the 13 decided throughout Rounds 2 and 3 of competition:

- Drew Courtney (AUS), 31
- Neco Padaratz (BRA), 34
- Tanner Gudauskas (USA), 22
- Mick Campbell (AUS), 34
- Kieren Perrow (AUS), 33
- Tom Whitaker (AUS), 30
- Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), 25
- Blake Thornton (AUS), 25
- Dean Morrison (AUS), 29
- Jay Thompson (AUS), 28
- Nate Yeomans (USA), 29
- Ben Dunn (AUS), 24

Today's relegation proved emotional for both the victors and the defeated.

Andy Irons (HAW), 32, past three-time ASP World Champion, controlled his bout against Gudauskas from the outset, and admitted regret at knocking the young Californian off tour.

"It's really slow this morning," Irons said. "Tanner (Gudauskas) and I probably only had three or four good waves and I got two of them. He's a really good kid. It's a bummer and I hate seeing him off tour. But he's young and I'm sure he'll be back here really soon. It's really emotional in the 33rd round. The point spread is so big. If you get in a bad rhythm, you can get a few 33rds and before you know it, you're on the bubble."

Despite the brevity of his ASP World Tour stint, a disappointed Gudauskas remained positive following his loss.

"It was a tough heat," Gudauskas said. "There's not a lot coming in and when you get a guy like Andy (Irons), you have to be on your game. Today wasn't my day. It (being on tour) has made us push as hard as we can. No easy days. We've gone as best we can and we'll just keep trying to go."

Amidst the ASP World Title Race shakeup and the cutoff dramatics, the world's best surfers quietly mounted and assault on one of the world's most pristine lefthanders.

Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), 29, current ASP World No. 15, past runner-up at the Billabong Pro Tahiti, posted the highest heat score of the event this afternoon, an 18.50 out of a possible 20, including an incredible 9.57 for a throaty barrel followed by a massive carve.

"I don't know what to say," Patacchia said. "I watched Owen (Wright's) heat and it didn't look consistent so I tried to start with turns, then a few gems came to me. That was probably the best surf I've had since I've been here. I feel really comfortable out here at Teahupoo. I've had a bit of bad luck in the past couple of years. So now I just have to make my own luck. I really feel one with Tahiti here. I feel at home. The family I stay with here shows me a lot of aloha. I have a bike, I have a boat, I have a kayak and all my dive gear here. So I have a lot of things to keep me busy here."

Adam Melling (AUS), 25, 2010 rookie and current ASP World No. 19, continued to exhibit his maturity, dominating his Round 3 clash with fellow rookie Dusty Payne (HAW), 21, posting the highest single-wave score of the event, a 9.80 out of a possible 10, en route to his emphatic win.

"It was good to get on a roll out there," Melling said. "A couple of wider ones that opened up for me and it felt great to get a couple of scores. Dusty (Payne) is such an amazing barrel-rider that I knew I had to be on my game from the outset."

Dane Reynolds (USA), 24, current ASP World No. 4, continued to show the world why he is one of the best surfers in the world, dominating Teahupoo to the tune of an impressive 18.00 out of a possible 20 to take a Round 3 victory.

"There was just a flurry of sets there for us," Reynolds said. "The waves that came in the beginning of the heat were better than most of the day. Blake (Thornton) probably picked the wrong ones and I was always in position for a better one. It's frustrating when that happens and you're on the receiving end. I got two 8s on today's scale and then a better one came in and I got a higher score. It was a lot of fun and I hope the waves hang around a little longer."

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 6am to assess conditions for a possible 6:30am start.



When competition resumes, up first will be reigning ASP World Champion and current ASP World No. 6, Mick Fanning (AUS), 29, up against wildcard Tamaroa McComb (PYF) in Heat 13 of Round 3.

Surfline, official forecasters for the Billabong Pro Tahiti, are calling for a small mix of south and southwest swell will prevail for the last three days of the waiting period along with moderate to strong easterly trades.

Highlights from the Billabong Pro Tahiti will be available via

FUEL TV will be broadcasting the Billabong Pro Tahiti LIVE in Australia. Check out http://www.foxsports.com.au/fueltv for details.

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI REMAINING ROUND 2 RESULTS:
Heat 7: Jay Thompson (AUS) 14.50 def. Taylor Knox (USA) 7.77
Heat 8: Chris Davidson (AUS) 9.77 def. Drew Courtney (AUS) 8.60
Heat 9: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 15.50 def. Neco Padaratz (BRA) 7.00
Heat 10: Andy Irons (HAW) 15.06 def. Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 5.20
Heat 11: Adam Melling (AUS) 14.44 def. Mick Campbell (AUS) 14.40
Heat 12: Travis Logie (ZAF) 14.16 def. Kieren Perrow (AUS) 6.33
Heat 13: Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 12.20 def. Roy Powers (HAW) 10.74
Heat 14: Dean Morrsion (AUS) 17.23 def. Tom Whitaker (AUS) 15.10
Heat 15: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 15.83 def. Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) 10.17
Heat 16: Dusty Payne (HAW) 12.77 def. Brett Simpson (USA) 11.93

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI REMAINING ROUND 3 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Dane Reynolds (USA) 18.00 def. Blake Thornton (AUS) 12.67
Heat 2: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 9.84 def. Luke Munro (AUS) 4.37
Heat 3: Tiago Pires (PRT) 16.03 def. Dean Morrison (AUS) 15.66
Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 13.10 def. Joan Duru (FRA) 11.00
Heat 5: Owen Wright (AUS) 16.33 def. Jay Thompson (AUS) 2.17
Heat 6: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 18.50 def. Travis Logie (ZAF) 14.07
Heat 7: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 16.87 def. Luke Stedman (AUS) 5.07
Heat 8: Manoa Drollet (PYF) 15.10 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 12.36
Heat 9: Kelly Slater (USA) 15.73 def. Heiarii Williams (PYF) 15.64
Heat 10: Adam Melling (AUS) 17.83 def. Dusty Payne (HAW) 6.84
Heat 11: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 16.13 def. Nate Yeomans (USA) 15.77
Heat 12: Michel Bourez (PYF) 9.17 def. Ben Dunn (AUS) 4.50

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI REMAINING ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 13: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Tamaroa McComb (PYF)
Heat 14: Andy Irons (HAW) vs. Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
Heat 15: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Marco Polo (BRA)
Heat 16: Chris Davidson (AUS) vs. Patrick Gudauskas (USA)

Jordy and Slater are out front for a reason

Jordy Smith and Kelly Slater looked fresh in their Round One heats at the Billabong Pro in Tahiti, looking undisturbed by the extended wait that has ripened even the most patient souls down there. Examine their demeanor and it's easy to see why these two could be heading for a world title showdown. Jordy's judo aerial and Slater's serious lip gashing are signs that these guys are having fun.

During the recent 6-star swing through Southern California in August we had a chance to talk with with Jordy Smith and Kelly Slater about their 2010 world tour campaigns. With both staring at a possible world title we wanted to get a status report on their mental state at the halfway point of the season.

In our last interview with Jordy back in May, we found him watching Invictus at home when we arrived. The 2009 film is is a compelling reminder of the power of sports to bring people together. In this case, it was the South African rugby team's historic victory at the 1995 World Cup, which, with help of Nelson Mandela, ultimately played a big role in giving the fledgling new republic of South Africa a sense of unity and global pride.

Jordy was only 7-years-old when it happened, and though he can recall a bit of the celebration, the true weight of the story and his country's massive journey hadn't registered until that very day as he sat watching in his living room a half-world away.

And little did Jordy know he'd be starring in his own miniature version of the film one month later, shortly after the entire globe turned its eyes to South Africa for the World Cup. By winning the Billabong Pro at Jeffreys Bay one week after the country's biggest bash ever, Smith became the number one ranked surfer in the world. His takeover of the world rankings kept the celebration going, and on Nelson Mandela's birthday, no less.

Smith won the same day that South African golfer Louise Oosthuizen shocked the world by winning the British Open. The two athletes were hailed as heroes, gracing the front of every major paper in South Africa, and instilling a renewed sense of world-leading pride to their country.



Now Jordy Smith is slated to meet Nelson Mandela next year. An honor few surfers have ever matched. And he's still got a title race on his hands. Given all that's going on Smith seems to be handling things well. The pressure of a the title race seems hardly a bother. He's still acting like the underdog, focusing purely on what's directly in front of him. "The next wave, the next heat, the next event," he says. "I try not too look much further out than that."

Slater, meanwhile, seems to be burning as bright as ever. The 38-year-old legend is having as much fun as at any time in his career, reveling in everything from his equipment, new moves, and new waves, to just enjoying his world full of friends that he's gathered over two decades of non-stop travel. Keeping things fresh, according to Slater, is all about keeping things fun.

Given how balanced these two are -- how comfortable they are in their own skin -- it shouldn't be surprising that their at the top of the heap. Listen closely to how they're approaching things, and ask yourself if these guys will be dueling things out in Hawaii.

Tahiti's flat spell could still spell torture for Billabong and the ASP

The wait was excruciating.

It's been seven long days of flat seas at Teahupoo, site of the fifth stop on this year's ASP World Tour, and one of the most anticipated thanks to the wave and the major implications to the world tour roster in the wake of this competition.

But the wait is over. The event is on today.

Today was the last day to get this thing started if Billabong and the ASP are going to finish on time. And we're hearing now that's going to happen.

But even if they finish a a couple rounds today that doesn't mean this event's problems are over. If the swell quickly fades on Tuesday, rendering heats impossible, Billabong and the ASP will have to start thinking about contingency plans, including cancellation.

Canceled events are rare, but do happen. Billabong knows this all to well since they just had to cancel a 6-Star Prime event in the Azores due to lack of swell. It's usually the surfers who demand heats not be run if conditions are bad. They're the ones seeking fairness. It's rare when organizers are the ones leading the no-go charge.

While pulling the plug on Tahiti would be torture to many fans, it's would be an even bigger headache for the ASP and their hatchet job. It's likely they'd reserve trimming their roster until after the Hurley Pro at Trestles, but there will certainly be an interesting debate about that with the ASP and the surfers.

We'll should know the answers to all of this by today at the earliest, Tuesday at the latest.

Above: With a flat lineup behind him, Billabong Pro contest director Luke Egan has no easy answers during the morning call. It's not the first time Egan's nearly lost his mind while trying to run an event in Tahiti.

Race Report: Southwick - Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross National

The Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship returned to action on Saturday with the Rockstar Energy Southwick National presented by Traxxas, Round 10 of the 12-race season, from Moto-X 338 in Southwick, Mass. Keeping up with the dominating trend he's set this season, Rockstar/Makita Suzuki's Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., raced to his ninth consecutive 450 Class victory by sweeping the day's motos and in the process, secured the premier class title with two rounds remaining. In the 250 Class, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Tyla Rattray, of South Africa, captured his second career victory.

Coming into the day with a 111-point advantage, Dungey needed to leave Southwick with at least a 100-point lead to capture the championship. While misfortune struck his closest rival, Honda Red Bull Racing's Andrew Short, of Smithville, Texas, Dungey encountered a stiff challenge from GEICO Powersports Honda's Brett Metcalfe, of Australia, who also had a mathematical shot at the championship lead in third. Despite the effort of his competitor, Dungey prevailed to take Moto 1 on the final lap and went on to dominate Moto 2.



"Yeah it's kind of sunk in," said Dungey. "It's still pretty incredible and a dream come true but it really feels great to accomplish (the championship). I never thought I'd achieve all this at 20 (years of age). The whole season has gone by so fast and it's all kind of a blur. I've just tried to take advantage of all the opportunities given to me because I know it can all go away at any moment."

The event win and series title are historic feats for the 20-year-old rookie, who tied series legend Ricky Carmichael for the most wins ever by a rookie while also becoming the first rookie in the history of the sport to win both the premier AMA Supercross and AMA Motocross championships in the same season.

Jagermeister KTM's Mike Alessi, of Victorville, Calif., finished in the runner-up spot (3-4) for his second podium finish of the season while MotoConcepts Yamaha's Matt Goerke, of Lake Helen, Fla., finished third (6-3), one year after claiming his first career victory at Moto-X 338.

Dungey's lead now sits at 151 points over Short as he continues his pursuit of the most successful rookie season in AMA Motocross history. He also leads the division in average finish at 1.9 and laps led with 157.

Rattray took his first career victory on U.S. soil at the third round of the season and since then has used 2010 as a breakthrough season. Throughout both motos, the South African was able take advantage of strong starts and challenged for the lead in each, but settled for a pair of runner-up efforts to secure the overall. The day was made extra special for Rattray with the birth of his first daughter earlier in the morning.

"Today was a tough day but I got my second overall win just like my first, by going 2-2," said Rattray. "The sand is difficult but I seem to thrive in it. I have been looking forward to Southwick most of the summer and to come here and ride like I did is fantastic. This is something I will always remember, winning on my daughter's birthday."

GEICO Powersports Honda's Justin Barcia, of Ochlocknee, Ga., capitalized on a win in Moto 2 to grab second overall (4-1) while his teammate Trey Canard, of Shawnee, Okla., saw his four race win streak come to an end in third (1-9).

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Christophe Pourcel, of France, leads the 250 Class standings by 13 points over Canard with two rounds remaining. Canard holds the best average finish in the class at 4.1 while Pourcel has led the most laps with 101.

The MotorcycleUSA.com Women's Motocross Championship also returned to action with Round 6 of the eight-race season. Current series points leader Jessica Patterson, of Tallahassee, Fla., captured her fifth overall win for DNA Shred Stix/Star Racing Yamaha (2-1) while Honda Red Bull Racing's Ashley Fiolek, of St. Augustine, Fla., finished second (1-2) with Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil Honda's Tarah Gieger, of Puerto Rico, in third (3-3).

The 2010 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship heads to the penultimate round of the season next weekend with the FMF Steel City National from Steel City Raceway in Delmont, Pa., on Saturday, September 4.

Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship
Rockstar Energy Southwick National
Moto-X 338
August 28, 2010
Round 10 of 12

450 Class (Moto Finish)
1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki (1-1)
2. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM (3-4)
3. Matt Goerke, Lake Helen, Fla., Yamaha (6-3)
4. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Yamaha (4-6)
5. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda (7-5)
6. Nick Wey, DeWitt, Mich., Kawasaki (8-9)
7. Ben Townley, New Zealand, Honda (34-2)
8. Tommy Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Suzuki (2-32)
9. Brett Metcalfe, Australia, Honda (14-7)
10. Dan Reardon, Australia, Yamaha (13-11)

450 Class Championship Standings
1. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 468
2. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 317
3. Brett Metcalfe, Australia, Honda, 314
4. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM, 273
5. Ben Townley, New Zealand, Honda, 271
6. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha, 260
7. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Yamaha, 216
8. Chad Reed, Australia, Kawasaki, 204
9. Kyle Regal, Kemp, Texas, Honda, 201
10. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ky., Yamaha, 194

250 Class (Moto Finish)
1. Tyla Rattray, South Africa, Kawasaki (2-2)
2. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda (4-1)
3. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda (1-9)
4. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda (3-5)
5. Christophe Pourcel, France, Kawasaki (7-3)
6. Dean Wilson, Scotland, Kawasaki (5-4)
7. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda (6-7)
8. Gareth Swenapoel, South Africa, Yamaha (10-6)
9. Martin Davalos, Ecuador, Yamaha (11-8)
10. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha (8-11)

250 Class Championship Standings
1. Christophe Pourcel, France, Kawasaki, 399
2. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda, 386
3. Tyla Rattray, South Africa, Kawasaki, 364
4. Dean Wilson, Scotland, Kawasaki, 363
5. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda, 291
6. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda, 262
7. Blake Wharton, Pilot Point, Texas, Honda, 259
8. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha, 232
9. Martin Davalos, Ecuador, Yamaha, 210
10. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki, 195

WMX Class (Moto Finish)
1. Jessica Patterson, Tallahassee, Fla., Yamaha (2-1)
2. Ashley Fiolek, St. Augustine, Fla., Honda (1-2)
3. Tarah Gieger, Winter Gardens, Fla., Honda (3-3)
4. Sara Price, Canyon Lake, Calif., Kawasaki (4-7)
5. Vicki Golden, El Cajon, Calif., Yamaha (6-5)
6. Mariana Balbi, Brazil, Yamaha (5-6)
7. Sarah Whitmore, Cheboygan, Mich., KTM (11-4)
8. Tatum Sik, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha (8-8)
9. Alexah Pearson, Rocklin, Calif., Yamaha (9-9)
10. Julie Anne Parizek, Willington, Conn., Kawasaki (10-10)

WMX Class Championship Standings (After 6 of 8 Rounds)
1. Jessica Patterson, Tallahassee, Fla., Yamaha, 288
2. Ashley Fiolek, St. Augustine, Fla., Honda, 266
3. Tarah Gieger, Winter Gardens, Fla., Honda, 229
4. Vicki Golden, El Cajon, Calif., Yamaha, 190
5. Sara Price, Canyon Lake, Calif., Kawasaki, 180
6. Sarah Whitmore, Cheboygan, Mich., KTM, 176
7. Mariana Balbi, Brazil, Yamaha, 169
8. Alexah Pearson, Rocklin, Calif., Yamaha, 138
9. Tatum Sik, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha, 135
10. Erica Cook, Natalia, Texas, Yamaha, 113

FMF Becomes Title Sponsor for Penultimate Steel City National on Labor Day Weekend

MX Sports Pro Racing announced today that FMF, the leader in aftermarket motorcycle exhausts, will serve as the title sponsor for the FMF Steel City National on September 4, the penultimate round of the 2010 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship. The Labor Day tradition from Delmont's Steel City Raceway, which is just minutes from downtown Pittsburgh, will be as memorable as ever as the world's best riders got bar-to-bar across three professional classes.

Tickets to the FMF Steel City National are on sale now through AlliSports.com and RacerProductions.com. Race day tickets are just $35 for adults and $20 for kids! Additionally, a one-of-a-kind VIP Package is available, but it's going fast. The VIP experience provides two days admission, first class amenities and the best seat in the house! MX Sports Pro Racing is also offering FREE pit passes to all fans that purchase their tickets in advance.

FMF has been a long time supporter of American motocross. Their presence at the nationals is unmistakable whether it's the bright red race support rig, the iconic oval logo or the seemingly hundreds of bikes boasting the sound of their pipes. By stepping up to be the Steel City round's title sponsor, that presence will become even greater.

"We're very excited to serve as the title sponsor for the Steel City event," said FMF's Donny Emler Jr. "FMF has been a supporter of the AMA Pro Motocross Championships for over 15 years and the grassroots of the sport is a perfect fit for our brand. Steel City is one of the best facilities in the country and always produces stellar racing and the attention to detail from the promoters is second to none. Additionally, the Labor Day holiday means families have one more weekend to get out and enjoy themselves before kids get back to school and we want to be a part of giving them a memorable experience."

Rockstar/Makita Suzuki's Ryan Dungey is in the midst of a record-setting rookie season in the premier 450 Class and appears to be on his way to claiming the 2010 title. However, San Manuel Yamaha's James Stewart has returned to the outdoor nationals and after his first motocross race in nearly two years at Unadilla, he knows what it's going to take to beat his former prodigy. As the season winds down, all eyes will be on the showdown between two of the sport's biggest stars and at Steel City where both riders have had success, the battle could be legendary.

Additionally, the wildly competitive and unpredictable 250 Class has an international title fight on its hands as Frenchman and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Christophe Pourcel has his hands full with Oklahoman Trey Canard and his GEICO Powersports Honda machine. With four straight victories, Canard has arguably been the hottest rider in the series, climbing from fourth to second in the points over the last three rounds. After a forgettable outing at Unadilla for Pourcel, Canard is within striking distance of the championship lead and will look to make up even more ground at Steel City before heading into the season finale.

The MotorcycleUSA.com Women's Motocross Championship will also be in action. So far in 2010, it has been a head-to-head battle between the class' two most successful riders as reigning champion Ashley Fiolek has had to endure an exceptional challenge from five-time WMX champion Jessica Patterson. Through five rounds, Patterson and her DNA Shred Stix/Star Racing Yamaha team have the edge, but Fiolek and Honda Red Bull Racing are on the charge in their quest for a third consecutive title. After one of the most dramatic races in the history of the division at Steel City one year ago, fireworks will be sure to fly again as the title fight comes down to the wire.

The race marks the final opportunity in 2010 for motocross fans throughout the East Coast to see the world's best riders in person. With autograph sessions scheduled, an up-close-and-personal look of what happens behind the scenes in the pits and the best racing on the planet, it's fun for the whole family and something any enthusiast surely won't want to miss!

For tickets and fan and racing information on the 2010 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, log on to www.allisports.com/motocross.

Andrew Short's Unadilla Update

Stewart Out for Remainder of Outdoor Season

After more than a week of training and testing since the Motocross Outdoor National race at Unadilla, a difficult decision was reached today by James Stewart and Team to withdraw from the remainder of the Outdoor National race series. Due to his abbreviated Supercross season, Stewart, with the full support of his Team, had hoped to return to the track much earlier in the Outdoor National Series. But a slow healing injury kept Stewart out of the series until recently, when he received medical clearance just a few short weeks before Unadilla. With only four races remaining in the Outdoor Series, both Stewart and his Team worked hard to train and test. And despite a very sincere attempt to return to racing, the rush to do so was visible. Though Stewart had a good run in Moto 1 at Unadilla, lack of physical preparation and challenges with the bike set up forced him off the track in Moto 2. Though they've had some time to make adjustments, James and the Team have decided they just aren't ready to compete in the Series.

"I hope my fans will understand. I have said before that I wanted to be on the track starting in Sacramento. But the slow healing nature of my wrist injury made it impossible to do that. Watching race after race and not being a part of the series was very hard. All along my motivation was to get back to racing and return to the Motocross National Series for my fans and sponsors. The reality is, though my wrist is feeling great, I'm not ready to race at this level. As much as I'd like to be out there, I need more time to prepare so that I don't put my entire career at risk by getting injured again. A younger James might not have been mature enough to make this decision, but I've learned a lot in recent years and sometimes you have to do what's right, despite what's in your heart. I'd like to apologize to my fans, the Outdoor National series and my sponsors. You've been incredibly supportive of me throughout these recent months. I am sorry if what I've said or done has disappointed anyone in any way, but I'll be back on the track at Anaheim 1 and ready to race. I plan to work hard over the next few months and do what I know I need to do to prepare for a chance at the next Supercross Championship title" said Stewart.

From Team Manager Larry Brooks "We had every intention of racing Southwick and beyond, but sometimes you have to see the bigger picture and make a decision based on what's right, not on what you'd like to do at the time. We're a Team and we have to do what we feel is best to ensure we have every opportunity to win the next Championship."

Dane Reynolds' New Trailer

If your into normal surf video trailers, then this isn't for you, it's a little out there. And that's what I like about the current state of professional surfing. The mainstream, big time pros are getting weird and creative. It used to just be Ozzie Wright. Everyone else was into making videos with just clip, after clip, after clip of surfing to bad "pop punk music," with really bad skits in between. It was almost like a lullaby, I still watch some of those late 90s videos to put me to sleep.

Now, we have Modern Collectives, people are starting to get a sense of style and art, there's creative editing and weird music. Oh wait, that might not be a good thing. If everyone is starting to get weird it means I'm now normal. I think I'm going to go out and buy some baggy jeans, a pair of puffy generic skate shoes, some bug eye shades and some old Blink 182 albums. Then, I'll be back to being weird.

Anyway, here's the trailer for the new Dane Reynolds movie, Thrills, Spills and Whatnot.



Thrills, Spills, and What Not Official Trailer from Marine Layer on Vimeo.

It's nail-biting time for those on the ASP's endangered surfers list

The wait for waves is only adding to the already tense situation in Tahiti, where a dozen surfers will be losing their ASP World Championship Tour seeds after the Billabong Pro at Teahupoo.

While there's a nice title race percolating at the midway point, the headline story in Tahiti is all about who will be left standing once this event is done and dusted.

There's no shortage of high quality talent in danger of being sent back to the minor leagues. And while there's a lot of bitching and moaning about the fate awaiting many of these guys, the fact is the ASP World Championship Tour will be a better for it once this band-aid is ripped from the flesh.

Those left standing will represent the tip of the progressive spear. One glance at the current world tour rankings makes that abundantly clear. With Jordy Smith and Dane Reynolds both in the Top 5 along with veterans like Kelly Slater and Taj Burrow, it's safe to say things are working. Are they perfect? Hell no. But nothing ever is.

Sadly, it doesn't look like it'll be the huge death-defying Teahupoo fans love to see. While many competitors will be breathing a sigh of relief about that, rest assured there will be blood.

To the right is a list of the key players riding the bubble that's due to burst. As you can see it's a very slippery slope between those tied in the 24 slot, and those back in the upper 30s. This is a very slippery portion of the ladder, where one decent result can change everything. Nobody on this list is entirely safe, and it's almost a certainty that some unlucky souls will be sent packing after some form of tie breaking.

Meanwhile, in that little title race thing that's going on it seems to be advantage Kelly Slater heading into Round One. Jordy Smith has two perennial Teahupoo standouts in his first round heat, with CJ Hobgood and Manoa Drollet joining him that's arguably the toughest Round One heat there is.

Slater, meanwhile, will be paired with his formal rival Andy Irons for the first time in Round One. Both have won at Teahupoo. But you're more likely to see high fives than friction between these two at this stage in their careers.

Here's a look at the rest of the Round One draw. You have a littel under 24 hours left to make your ASP Fantasy Game trades if you're so inclined. It never hurts to examine the draw and the forecast before making last-minute adjustments. The difference could be money in your pocket.

If you haven't checked out the new Fantasy Action Sports League, I suggest you do so now.

There are prizes being awarded after each event, including cash and some pretty nice schwag. Check it out.

Above: Tanner Gudauskas squeezed off a few rounds at Teahupoo on Monday in preparation for his final stand. Gudang and his brother Patrick both need a solid result in Tahiti to keep their ASP World Tour standing alive. Photo: ASP/Kirstin

Billabong Pro Tahiti will start light, weigh heavy

TEAHUPOO, Taiarapu/Tahiti (Saturday, August 21, 2010) - The greatest assemblage of surfing talent in history is converging upon the idyllic South Pacific island of Tahiti, home of the world's heaviest wave, Teahupoo, for Stop No. 5 of 10 on the 2010 ASP World Tour, theBillabong Pro Tahiti.

Finishing off the midway part of the 2010 ASP World Tour season,the Billabong Pro Tahiti plays a vital role in both the hunt for the2010 ASP World Title and the midyear field reduction from the ASP Top45 to the Top 34.

Jordy Smith (ZAF), 22, current ASP World No. 1, is into his thirdseason on the elite ASP World Tour, but enters into the Billabong ProTahiti as the No. 1 seed, a career first for the young South African.

"Most important for me is to realize that it's not always going tobe a walk in the park," Smith said. "Being No. 1 is much like being No. 2, 3 or 4 as there is still a long way to go this season. Maybe No. 1 is like being No. 16. At this point in the season, it is still early. I am working heat to heat, and that is really all that I can do. My goals are to win heats and stay in range to win battles which, in the end, win the war. For me, nothing has changed in my formula - my preparation is the same and my focus stays heat to heat. A win would be great."

Despite having yet to net a solid result in Tahiti (a 17th in 2008 and a 9th in 2009), Smith's growing familiarity with the wave gives him confidence moving forward.

"Teahupoo is known for its power and stands alone as one of the most unique waves in the world," Smith said. "I don't think there is any surfer on the planet who does not respect it, even if it's breaking at a mid-range size. As perfect as it gets, it can still crush your dreams even if you favour big waves, and I don't think anyone gets into a comfort zone out there. You can't get too cheeky."

With the added intensity of the midyear field reduction and the minefield of Teahupoo specialists lining the wildcard ranks, Smith understands the challenge awaiting him in this island paradise.

"The wildcards and lower seeds will be going all out to get themselves back into the Top 32 seeds for re-qualifying so I guess we are going to see some really good performances from them - or whoever for that matter," Smith said. "If we go back and look at the veteran standout World Tour campaigners, maybe Kelly (Slater), Andy (Irons), the Hobgoods among a few other also with the mix of all the specialists could be dangerous. Even the local boys could possibly come away with asurprise win."

Smith will take on former ASP World Champion (2001) C.J. Hobgood(USA), 31, and wildcard Manoa Drollet (PYF) in Round 1 of competition.

Mick Fanning (AUS), 29, reigning ASP World Champion and current ASPWorld No. 6, has been a consistent performer thus far in 2010, but admits that not being a top seed in Tahiti is not necessarily a bad thing.

"I am not the top seed heading into Tahiti which may actually be a blessing," Fanning said. "I think you need to avoid the wildcards in Tahiti as they are so dangerous. I am just going to try and put a smart event together and hope to get a solid result.

Fanning battles 2010 ASP Dream Tour rookie Adam Melling (AUS), 25,and wildcard Tamaroa McComb (PYF) in Round 1 of the Billabong ProTahiti.

Bobby Martinez (USA), 28, current ASP World No. 8 and defending Billabong Pro Tahiti Champion, has historically been one of the strongest performers at Teahupoo, but the lethal goofy-footer remains cautious when considering his options for the 2010 instalment.

"Nothing is on my mind other than trying my best in the next event," Martinez said. "There's no point in thinking ahead of yourself. Every contest holds your hopes of winning a World Title so you've got to do the best in each contest or else there is no chance at all."

Despite the certainty of hungrier performances from those looking to make the midyear field cutoff, the Californian maintains that everyone can be a threat at this level of competition, especially inTahiti.

"I do think the lower seeds will be intense in Tahiti, but I expect that from everybody on this tour in every heat in every event," Martinez said. "If you don't give 100% in every event, you will not behere the following year so I think it'll be a very interesting contest.That said, it's like that every contest. Anyone and everyone is acontender in Tahiti. Nobody is a favorite and nobody is an underdog in my eyes. And it's not just in this contest, but every contest. At this level, anyone can beat anyone."

Martinez will face Jeremy Flores (FRA), 22, and Marco Polo (BRA), 29, in his opening round match.

Andy Irons (HAW), 32, former three-time ASP World Champion andcurrent ASP World No. 18, took a sabbatical from full-time competing in 2009 and his transition back to the competition singlet this season has yielded moments of brilliance amidst an overall building momentum.

"The season went the way I thought it would be - hard," Irons said. Everyone is surfing really well and you basically can't skip a beat or you're off the tour. I'm feeling stronger and stronger at every comp. On my time off, I have been putting in some extra time in at the gym and I think it's starting to pay off."

A former winner at the Billabong Pro Tahiti, the Hawaiian'sperformances at the treacherous lefthander have become the stuff oflegend and Irons enters into this year's event as the man to watch.

"Teahupoo is one of my favorite contest that's for sure," Irons said. "I love the wave. I love the tropical vibe as well. It's like being home for me. Of course, everyone going to be charging at this year's event regardless. The field reduction is a heavy thing and it weighs on everyone's mind. Everyone wants to keep there job."

Irons will take on former nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater(USA), 38, and wildcard Heiarii Williams (PYF) in Round 1 of competion.

Michel Bourez (PYF), 24, current ASP World No. 13, will round outthe three Tahitian wildcards as the nation's sole competitor amongst the world's elite. Into his second year on the ASP World Tour, Bourez will look to improve upon last year's disappointing result at home.

"Last year, I lost really fast at this event and I was so disappointed because it was my first time in the main event here in Tahiti," Bourez said. "I hope we are going to have some waves this year so I can make a better result. I've pretty much qualified for the WorldTour through the rest of the year. I know that a few guys will leave us after Teahupoo so this contest means a lot to those guys. I just wish my best luck to everyone and I hope the conditions will be great for the event."

Bourez faces veteran Australians Dean Morrison (AUS), 29, and Mick Campbell (AUS), 36, in his opening round bout.

The major storyline threading its way through the upcoming Billabong Pro Tahiti is the mid-year field reduction of the ASP Top 45 to 34 (Top 32 finishers plus two wildcards) following the battle atTeahupoo.

Tanner Gudauskas (USA), 22, 2010 ASP World Tour rookie and current ASP World No. 33, will look for a major result at the infamous lefthander to keep his Dream Tour hopes alive, but the young Californian retains a positive outlook when facing the challenge.

"Rookie for life," Gudauskas said. "I am a grommet at heart. Rookie year has been a blast and I have learned as quickly as I could. I have had a couple of heats that felt really close after I lost and a couple where I needed to go back to the drawing board for another perspective. Mother Nature will ultimately be the biggest opponent in Tahiti. I havebeen feeling really happy looking towards Teahupoo and can't wait to sit in the channel and harness the vibe before heats."

Gudauskas will face fellow rookie Matt Wilkinson (AUS), 21, and Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), 28, in Round 1 of the Billabong Pro Tahiti.

A full breakdown of ASP World Title Rankings possibilities for the Billabong Pro Tahiti are available at ASPWorldTour.com

The waiting period for the Billabong Pro Tahiti will begin Monday, August 23 and run through September 3, 2010.

Surfline, official forecasters for the Billabong Pro Tahiti, are calling for a slow start to the contest waiting period with a very modest mix of southwest swells providing contestable, but small scale, surf on Monday and Tuesday.

The Billabong Pro Tahiti will be webcast LIVE via http://www.billabongpro.com/tahiti10/

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS
Heat 1: Damien Hobgood (USA), Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), Jay Thompson (AUS)
Heat 2: Jadson Andre (BRA), Luke Stedman (AUS), Nate Yeomans (USA)
Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA), Jeremy Flores (FRA), Marco Polo (BRA)
Heat 4: Dane Reynolds (USA), Tom Whitaker (AUS), Blake Thornton (AUS)
Heat 5: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Roy Powers (HAW), Tim Reyes (USA)
Heat 6: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Kieren Perrow (AUS), Joan Duru (FRA)
Heat 7: Mick Fanning (AUS), Adam Melling (AUS), Tamaroa McComb (PYF)
Heat 8: Jordy Smith (ZAF), C.J. Hobgood (USA), Manoa Drollet (PYF)
Heat 9: Taj Burrow (AUS), Tiago Pires (PRT), Tuamata Puhetini (PYF)
Heat 10: Kelly Slater (USA), Andy Irons (HAW), Heiarii Williams (PYF)
Heat 11: Adrian Buchan (AUS), Dusty Payne (HAW), Drew Courtney (AUS)
Heat 12: Owen Wright (AUS), Brett Simpson (USA), Neco Padaratz (BRA)
Heat 13: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Matt Wilkinson (AUS), Tanner Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 14: Michel Bourez (PYF), Dean Morrison (AUS), Mick Campbell (AUS)
Heat 15: Taylor Knox (USA), Luke Munro (AUS), Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 16: Chris Davidson (AUS), Patrick Gudauskas (USA), Ben Dunn (AUS)