Slaw Dog
Let me get this out of the way up front to save myself from getting chirped on the bird: Southwick is not Lommel. We get it. Does that mean it isn’t rough and gnarly? No, no it does not.
I have not watched every race at the venue since its first in 1976, but I feel this past weekend was super gnarly. Super fit dudes were straight up DONE after the motos. I don’t think you could pay me enough to do two 30+ motos there this past weekend. I’d be on the couch getting straight IVs for a week.
A lot of riders struggled with the heat, including Adam Cianciarulo. Always honest about his racing, AC tweeted some scary stuff after the race. Heat strokes or whatever he experienced are no joke.
“I came into the weekend a little under the weather, and man, I paid for it! Southwick is always a tough and great test for us. I was feeling pretty good in the second moto, but I started overheating around halfway and really had to man up to bring it home from there.
“Finished, rode straight to the medical rig, and promptly passed out. Sorry Mom.. Very grateful for Dr. Bodner and the rest of the staff, as they took great care of me. Not sure if it was heat stroke or heat exhaustion, but whatever it was, I wouldn’t recommend it.
“Not an ideal last couple of races, but it will make the great days ahead that much better. I’ll rest for a few days and come out swinging at Millville. Thanks to the people that cheer me on all the way around the track no matter how I’m doing, ya’ll are awesome.”
AC went 7-8 for 8th overall on the day.
Main image: Kawasaki
It’s been over a decade but we can’t forget Josh Lichtle. The race committee has to act in the best interest of the riders. That may mean shortening an event to prevent heat stroke.
I raced at Southwick in the 1980s and remembered a racer passing away from heat stroke one weekend. It’s definitely not anything to take lightly….