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• MXA’S WORLD TWO-STROKE BIKES

With the 2017 MTA World Two-Stroke Championship coming up on April 15 at Glen Helen, the MXA wrecking crew is just starting to get the bikes ready to race. This is our project 2017 Husqvarna TC250 (in traditional Swedish colors). It will get its shakedown cruise today at Glen Helen.

Our trusty but rusty 2017 KTM 250SX has been raced every weekend for the past seven months. It is largely stock, but does have a Dicks Racing bored-out Mikuni TM carb equipped with a Intelajet system.

The pride of MXA’s fleet is this ultra-trick, Ohlins-suspended, black-anodized, 2017 TM 300MX. It was built by TM’s Ralf Schmidt for MXA test rider Johnny Jelderda.

And, of course, we have our regular KTM 125SX, KTM 150SX, Husqvarna TC125, Yamaha YZ125 and Yamaha YZ250 waiting for their chance to hit Mt. Saint Helen at full tilt.

• THIS WEEKEND’S ST. LOUIS SUPERCROSS TRACK LAYOUT

• TV ALERT: THE DETROIT SUPERCROSS IS ON FOX SPORTS 1

Note that this race is on Fox Sports 1.  Check your local listing for times in your region. Set your DVR accordingly.

• MIKE ALESSI AND JACOB HAYES TO RACE 2017 CANADIAN NATIONAL FOR KAWASAKI

Mike Alessi will finish out the Supercross season, race the World Two-Stroke Championship and then switch to Kawasaki for the Canadian Nationals.

Monster Energy Alpinestars Kawasaki has announced their team for the 2017 CMRC Canadian Motocross Championship. Returning to the team for another season will be Mike Alessi in the 450 class and Jacob Hayes in 250 class. Team owner Jason Hughessaid,  “It’s great to have Mike and Jacob back again for 2017. Mike was a great addition to our team last year and did a great job. We’re excited to build on last year’s series and capture a title in 2017. I was gutted for Jacob last year, he got hurt at the first round and didn’t get to show his true potential so I’m glad we can bring him back again this season and I know he’ll be a championship contender.”

The team will also be supporting local Kamloops native, Josh Allen, in the 450 class. Allen will be contesting all ten rounds in search of a Top Ten overall placing in the series. The 2017 CMRC Canadian Motocross series consists of ten rounds, starting on June 4, 2017, in the hometown of the Monster Energy Alpinestars Kawasaki team – Kamloops, British Columbia. For more information on the Canadian National Motocross series, visit www.mxnationals.ca

• REM GLEN HELEN RACES 4 OUT OF 5 IN APRIL

REM will race four Saturdays out of the five weekend in April. The will take April 15 off to support the World Two-Stroke Championships that are at Glen Helen that weekend. For more in go to www.remsatmx.com

• THE PARIS SUPERCROSS IS BACK IN PARIS

The 2017 Paris Supercross will move to the brand new U-Arena in the Paris business district). The U-Arena seats 24000 spectators and has a larger floor area than Lille or Bercy. The 2017 Paris Supercross will be held on November 18-19, 2017.

• THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAY BOYS: JMB IS 48

April 1…Jean-Michel Bayle 1969
April 1…Tyson Vohland 1969
April 2…Tallon Vohland 1972
April 3…Phil Lawrence 1971
April 3…Brock Sellards 1978

April 4…Derrick Shae Bentley 1979
April 4…Jake Nicholls 1990
April 4…Blake Williams 1985

April 4…Bruce Ogilvie 1953
April 5…Ryan Hughes 1973

April 5…Ty Davis 1969
April 5…Brian Manley 1966

April 7…Dean Ferris 1990
April  7…Jay Mitrowitz

• THE WAY WE WERE: THE WHITE BROTHERS & BRAD LACKEY”S “SUPERBIKERS” SUZUKI

Before there was Supermoto, there was ABC-TV’s Superbikers. It was an made-for-TV race event held at Carlsbad Raceway that featured a little road racing, a little dirt track, a little offroad and a little motocross. Because of the variety of terrain, it required a special bike. Here, Dan and Tom White stand behind the bike they built for Brad Lackey to race in 1982. 

• LISTA DE HONOR: 2017 GRAND PRIX WINNERS AT A GLANCE

Current 450 World Champion Tim Gajser, although you can’t tell by his number plate, won in Argentina, while previous winners Cairoli and Simpson floundered. Gajser has the 450 points lead after three rounds,

Date                   Venue                                     450                                 250
Feb. 25………..Qatar…………….Tony Cairoli…………..Pauls Jonas
Mar. 5…………Indonesia………Shaun Simpson………Jeremy Seewer
Mar. 19……….Argentina……….Tim Gajser…………….Pauls Jonas
Apr. 2…………Mexico
Apr. 16………..Italy
Apr. 23……….Holland
May 7………….Latvia
May 21……….Germany
May 28……….France
June 11……….Russia
June 25……….Italy
July 2…………Portugal
July 23……….Czech Republic
Aug. 6…………Belgium
Aug. 13……….Switzerland
Aug. 20……….Sweden
Sept. 3………..USA
Sept. 10……….Holland
Sept. 17……….France
450 points leader…Tim Gajser (Hon)
250 points leader…Jeremey Seewer (Suz)

• THE CURRENT TOP TEN HEADING TO DETROIT

Cole Seely had first tunr issues in Detroit and dropped a bundle of points in the 450 Supercross series. Photo: Brian Converse

2017 450 SUPERCROSS POINTS STANDINGS
(after 12 of 17 events)
1. Ryan Dungey…254
2. Eli Tomac…247
3. Marvin Musquin…207
4. Cole Seely…196
5. Jason Anderson…170
6. Davi Millsaps…152
7. Blake Baggett…149
8. Chad Reed…131
9. Broc Tickle…130
10. Dean Wilson…127

Adam Cianciarulo (36) has had some wild and crazy races with Dylan Ferrandis (108), but the Frenchman tends to fade late in the motos. Photo: Brian Converse

AMA 250 EAST SUPERCROSS POINTS STANDINGS
(after 6 of 9 events)
1. Joey Savatgy…124
2. Jordan Smith…115
3. Zach Osborne…114
4. Adam Cianciarulo…113
5. Dylan Ferrandis…86
6. Christian Craig…65
7. Luke Renzland…61
8. Alex Martin …60
9. Anthony Rodriguez…58
10. Mitchell Harrison…52

Austin Forkner is sixth in 250 West points. The 250 West starts up again on April 8.

2017 250 WEST POINTS STANDINGS
(After 6 of 9 events)
1. Justin Hill (Kaw)…138
2. Aaron Plessinger (Yam)…117
3. Shane McElrath (KTM)…113
4. Martin Davalos (Hus)…106
5. Jimmy Decotis (Hon)…91
6. Austin Forkner (Kaw)…90
7. Dan Reardon (Yam)…72
8. Kyle Chisholm (Hon)…60
9. Jeremy Martin (Hon)…55
10. Phil Nicoletti (Suz)… 54

• WHAT DO YOU LIVE FOR?

• THE WAY WE WERE: K-ROC ROCKIN’ THE CHAIN NECKLACE

We were all this young once, but maybe not as fast

• 2017 PACIFIC NORTHWEST VINTAGE SERIES STARTS APRIL 1

There are nine rounds starting on April 1 and ending on October 7. For more info go to www.pnwvmx.org

• COLTON AECK BENEFIT RIDE DAY ON APRIL 7 AT LACR

• MTA WORLD TWO-STROKE CHAMPIONSHIP COMING ON APRIL 15

Just in case you need a little extra time to get your trusty, but rusty, two-stroke ready to race, the 2017 MTA World Two-Stroke Championship is 16 days away. It will be held on Saturday, April 15, 2017.

• HARRY TAYLOR CUP FOR HODAKAS ONLY ON APRIL 28-30

• OLD SCHOOL SCRAMBLES ON GLEN HELEN’S OFFROAD TRUCK TRACK

Gary Jones will be designing a special Old School Scrambles track on Glen Helen’s Lucas Oil Offroad Truck track for a race on July 23, 2017. For more info go to www.oldschoolscrambles.com.

• 2017 SUPERCROSS WINNERS AT A GLANCE

Eli Tomac has won seven of the 12 races so far this Supercross season, but he still isn’t in the points lead. Photo: Brian Converse

Date                   Venue                                     450                                 250
Jan. 7……..Anaheim, CA………….Ken Roczen………..Shane McElrath
Jan. 14……San Diego, CA…………Ken Roczen………..Shane McElrath
Jan. 21……Anaheim, CA………….Ryan Dungey………Justin Hill
Jan. 28……Glendale, AZ………….Eli Tomac…………..Justin Hill
Feb. 4………Oakland, CA………….Eli Tomac…………..Justin Hill
Feb. 11……..Arlington, TX……….Marvin Muquin……Justin Hill
Feb. 18……..Minneapolis, MN….Eli Tomac……………Joey Savatgy
Feb. 25……..Atlanta, GA………….Ryan Dungey………..Zach Osborne
Feb. 25……..Atlanta, GA………….Ryan Dungey……….Zach Osborne
Mar. 4……….Toronto, ON………..Eli Tomac……………Zach Osborne
Mar. 11………Daytona, FL………..Eli Tomac……………Adam Cianciarulo
Mar. 18………Indianapolis, IN….Eli Tomac……………Joey Savatgy
Mar. 25………Detroit, MI…………Eli Tomac……………Jordon Smith
Apr. 1………….St. Louis, MO
Apr. 8…………Seattle, WA
Apr 22………..Salt Lake City, UT
Apr. 29………..New York, NY
May 6………….Las Vegas, NV
450 Points leader...Ryan Dungey (KTM)
250 West points leader…Justin Hill (Kaw)
250 East points leader…Joey Savatgy (Kaw)

• CLASSIC MOTOCROSS ADS FROM THE GOOD OLD DAYS

This CZ ad from 1975 is a little confusing. The copy says that they won the 500cc Trophy des Nations, but, in truth, they won the 1975 Motocross des Nationas. The Trophee des Naions was for 250cc machines, while the Motocoss des Nations was for 500cc bikes. CZ never won a Trophee des Nations in the races 21 year lifespan. Amazingly Roger DeCoster wa son the winning Belgian team 10 times. Belgium only won once without Roger (1980).

• FOREIGN RIDERS WHO MADE THE MAINS IN DETROIT

Marvin Musquin is easily the best of the foreign riders in the 450 class, while Dylan Ferrandis, another Frenchman, is tops in the 250 East. Photo: Brian Converse

These are the top foreign riders who made the main events in Detroit last Saturday. They have come a long way to race in the USA and they deserve a round of cheers when they pass by. They are strangers in a strange land—although a few have been here long enough to lose their accents.

DETROIT 450 CLASS
Marvin Musquin (France)….2nd
Dean Wilson (Scotland)……9th
Chad Reed (Australia)…22nd

DETROIT 250 EAST CLASS
Dylan Ferrandis (France)….4th
Anthony Rodriquez (Venezuela)…9th
Paul Coates (England)…15th
Gradie Featherstone (England)…21st

• HOW TO SUBSCRIBE & GET MXA FOR FREE: ACTUALLY, WE PAY YOU

The April 2017 issue of MXA is on the news stands now and includes the most asked about bike in motocross today— Sean Collier’s KX500 Beast. You should be reading MXA, and if you subscribe now you get a $25 gift certificate from Rocky Mountain ATV/MC which more than pays for your subscription.

Do you subscribe to MXA? You should. We know that you think that print magazines are dead and that the internet will fill the void, but most of the stuff in the current issue of MXA won’t appear on the web for several months, if at all. Luckily, you can get all of MXA on your iPhone, iPad, Kindle or Android by going to the Apple Store, Amazon or Google Play. Better yet get the Digital desktop version at https://hi-torque.com/product/motocross-action-digital-edition/ for $9.99 a year.

The MXA test riders prefer the print version and not just because it is delivered by a uniformed employee of the U.S. Government, but because right now you can get 12 issues for $15.95 and a free $25 Gift Card from Rocky Mountain ATV/MC. That means that there is a profit to be made in this deal for you. For the Print magazine go to: https://hi-torque.com/product/motocross-action/

• HOW IS YOUR TWITTER GAME GOING? UP IT BY FOLLOWING MXA

Follow us to see fresh content every day at www.twitter.com/MXAction or on twitter at “MXAction”

• 2017 MOTOCROSS SCHEDULES: WHERE TO BE & WHEN TO BE THERE

This weekend there is an AMA Supercross in St. Louis, Arenacross in Reno, Grand Prix in Mexico, WORCS in Vegas and Australian National in Wonthaggi.

2017 AMA SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Jan. 7…………………………Anaheim, CA
Jan. 14………………………San Diego, CA
Jan. 21………………………Anaheim, CA
Jan. 28………………………Glendale, AZ
Feb. 4……………………….Oakland, CA
Feb. 11………………………Arlington, TX
Feb. 18………………………Minneapolis, MN
Feb. 25………………………Atlanta, GA
Mar. 4………………………Toronto, ON
Mar. 11………………………Daytona, FL
Mar. 18………………………Indianapolis, IN
Mar. 25………………………Detroit, MI
Apr. 1…………………………St. Louis, MO
Apr. 8………………………..Seattle, WA
Apr. 22……………………….Salt Lake City, UT
Apr. 29……………………….New York, NY
May 6………………………….Las Vegas, NV

2017 AMSOIL ARENACROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Jan. 7-8…………………….Cincinnati, OH
Jan. 13-15…………………Grand Rapids, MI
Jan. 20-22…………………Baltimore, MD
Jan. 28-29…………………Nashville, TN.
Feb. 4-5…………………….Louisville, KY
Feb. 18-19…………………Kansas City, MO
Feb.y 25-26……………….Tampa, FL
Mar. 3-5…………………….Southaven, MS
Mar. 11-12…………………New Orleans, LA
Mar. 18-19…………………Portland, OR
Mar. 24-26…………………Reno, NV
April 1-2…………………….Sacramento, CA
April 21-23…………………Denver, CO
May 5-7…………………….Las Vegas, NV

2017 FIM MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Feb. 25…………………….Qatar (Saturday)
Mar. 5………………………Indonesia
Mar. 19…………………….Argentina
Apr. 2………………………Mexico
Apr. 16……………………..Italy
Apr. 23…………………….Holland
May 7………………………Latvia
May 21…………………….Germany
May 28…………………….France
June 11…………………….Russia
June 25……………………Italy
July 2……………………….Portugal
July 9……………………….San Marino (Canceled)
July 23……………………..Czech Republic
Aug. 6……………………..Belgium
Aug. 13…………………….Switzerland
Aug. 20…………………….Sweden
Sept. 3………………………TBA
Sept. 10……………………Holland
Sept. 17…………………….France

2017 AMA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
May 20……………………Hangtown, CA
May 27.…………………..Glen Helen, CA
June 3..………………….Thunder Valley, CO
June 17..…………………Mt Morris, PA
June 24.………………….Muddy Creek, TN
July 1.…………………….Red Bud, MI
July 8..……………………Southwick, MA​
July 22.…………………..Millville, MN​
July 29.…………………..Washougal, WA
Aug. 12..………………….Unadilla, NY​
Aug. 19..………………….Budds Creek, MD​
Aug. 26.…………………..Crawfordsville, IN

2017 MOTOCROSS DES NATIONS
Oct. 1…………………..Matterley Basin, Great Britain

RICKY CARMICHAEL AMATEUR DAYTONA SUPERCROSS
Mar. 12-13…………….Daytona, FL

MTA WORLD TWO-STROKE CHAMPIONSHIP
Apr. 15…………………..Glen Helen, CA

2017 TRAVIS PASTRANA’S NITRO WORLD GAMES
June 24……………….Salt Lake City, UT

2017 AMA LORETTA LYNN AMATEUR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
July 31-Aug. 5…..…Hurricane Mills, TN

2017 WOMEN’S MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Mar. 13…………………….Daytona Beach, FL
Mar. 25……………………Wortham, TX
Apr. 9………………………San Diego, CA
May 5………………………Las Vegas, NV
May 18-19………………..Hangtown, CA
June 2…………………….Thunder Valley, CO
June 16……………………Mt. Morris, PA
Aug. 5……………………..Hurricane Mills, TN

2017 WORLD OFF ROAD CHAMPIONSHIP (WORCS)
Jan. 6-8…………………….Taft, CA
Jan. 27-29…………………Primm, NV
Feb. 17-19………………….Taft, CA
Mar. 10-12…………………Lake Havasu, AZ
Apr. 1-2…………………….Las Vegas, NV
Apr. 21-23…………………Hurricane, UT
May. 19-21…………………Cedar City, UT
Jun. 9-11…………………..Adelanto, CA
Sept. 8-10…………………Glen Helen, CA
Oct 13-15…………………..TBA

2017 ITALIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Jan. 29…………..………..Riola Sardo
Feb. 5………………………Malagrotta
Feb.12………………..……Ottobiano

2017 MAXXIS BRITISH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Apr. 9………………………Lyng
Apr. 30…………………….Canada Heights
May 14……………………Hawkstone Park
June 18……………………Desertmartin
July 9………………………Sherwood
July 16…………………….Blaxhall
July 30…………………….Preston Docks
Aug 27……………………..Foxhill

2017 BELGIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Mar. 12……………………Moerbeke-Waas
Mar. 26……………………Kruishoutem
Apr. 2……………………..Genk
Apr 10…………………….Mons
Apr. 18……………………Axel
Apr. 30……………………Wuustwezel
June 11…………………..Comines
June 18………………….Genk
July 22……………………Axel
July 23…………………..Hasselt
July 30…………………..Gooik
Aug. 15…………………..Balen
Aug. 20………………….Wachtebeke
Aug. 27………………….Orp le Grand

2017 CANADIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
June 4……………………Whispering Pines, BC
June 11………………….Blackwater, BC
June 18………………….Wild Rose, AB
June 25………………….Moto Valley, SK
July 9…………………….Gopher Dunes, ON
July 16…………………..Ulverton, QC
July 23…………………..Pleasant Valley, NS
July 30…………………..Riverglade, NB
Aug. 6…………………….Deschambault, QC
Aug. 13………………….RJ Motosport, ON

2017 DUTCH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Mar. 26…………………..Oss
Apr. 9th…………………..Harfsen
May 14……………………Emmen
July 15-16……………….Lichtenvoorde

2017 ADAC GERMAN MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIP
Apr. 9……………………….Muhlberg
Apr. 30…………………….Jauer
May 14…………………….Molln
June 18……………………Bielstein
July 16…………………….Tensfeld
Aug. 27……………………Gaildorf
Sept. 24…………………..Holzgerlingen

2017 AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
April 2……………………..Wonthaggi, Victoria
April 23…………………..Appin, New South Wales
May 7……………………..Connondale, Queensland
May 21……………………Horsham, Victoria
May 28……………………Murray Bridge, South Australia
July 3……………………..Nowra, New South Wales
July 16……………………Shepparton, Victoria
July 30……………………Port Macquarie, New South Wales
Aug. 13…………………..Toowooba, Queensland
Aug. 20……………………Coolum, Queensland

2017 AUSTRALIAN SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Sept. 9…………………..Queensland
Sept. 23…………………Queensland
Oct. 14…………………..TBA
Oct. 26…………………..South Australia
Nov. 4…………………….Victoria
Nov. 11-12……………..New South Wales

Photos: Brian Converse, Justyn Norek, Scott Mallonee, Jody Weisel, Daryl Ecklund, Dan Alamangos, John Kerr, Massimo Zanzani, MXA, KTM, Honda.