MOTOCROSS ACTION MID-WEEK REPORT

On Oct 14, 2021 Last updated Oct 14, 2021

#WHIPITWEDNESDAY

Rider: Ivan Tedesco
Bike: 2008 Factory Honda CRF450

FOUR-STROKE SPOTLIGHT: CHRISTIAN CHAMORRO’S 2018 CRF250 PROJECT BUILD

“Here’s my 2018 Honda CRF250 Factory Build. The bike has a full ti-kit from Mettec Titanium, Motostuff Brakes Works Caliper, TM Designworks chain guide and slide parts, custom CRM carbon subframe, KYB A-Kit Suspension from Technical Touch USA, Evans coolant, ICW Custom welded radiators, Works Honda Martin Racing HRC carbon tank, Factory Connection linkage, Race Tech engine with tuned vortex ECU and some nice cerakote done to the cases! Last but not least and one of the sickest mods on my build are the FCP engine hangers (still waiting on upper ones) but lower ones help the bike flex a whole lot more. I live in Nicaragua and would love to see my bike on the website.”

Carbon fiber gas tank and subframe.

A view from the rear.

EDITORS NOTE: Please keep those submissions coming. If you would like your bike to be featured in the “Two-Stroke or Four-Stroke Spotlight,” please email me at [email protected]. All I ask is that you give a breakdown of your bike and a detailed description of the build. Please also send a few photos of your steed. By submitting your bike, you agree to release all ownership rights to the images and copy to MXA. Please don’t email me spam or try selling me Taylor Swift concert tickets or email me spam. I already celebrate T-Swizzle’s entire collective, and there will be “bad blood” if you send me junk mail. See what I did there? Happy submitting your smoker.

MOOSE RACING SERIES 36 LOCK-ON GRIPS

Press Release: No more grip glue, safety wire, and waiting around for glue to dry with the new Series 36 Lock-On grips by Moose Racing. The Series 36 Lock-On grips feature a 100% slip-free design that do not require grip glue or safety wire and include all throttle cams for most modern 2-stroke and 4-stroke bike applications. Available in six color combinations, the Series 36 Lock-On grips also feature a slim diameter profile for improved grip and knockout ends for wraparound handguard installation. Suggested retail $26.95. Visit www.Mooseracing.com for more information.

MXA | MOTO | TRIVIA

Who is this rider? Answer at the bottom of the page.

THIS WEEK IN MXA: DAVE PRATER ANSWERS QUESTIONS ON SUPERCROSS

KAWASAKI ANNOUNCES THAT THEIR MAJOR MOTORCYCLE MODELS WILL BE ALL-ELECTRIC BY 2035

Kawasaki’s parent company KHI (Kawasaki Heavy Industries) has spun off Kawasaki Motors as its own company. According to Kawasaki, this is a good thing as to focus more attention on outdoor activity since it has picked up so much during the pandemic. This allows Kawasaki Motors to focus better on their Powersports products.

Also announced was their investment in electric motorcycles. Stating that all their popular motorcycle models will be electric (or offered in an electric) by 2035. We called Kawasaki to ask them if this also includes dirt bikes as well. They didn’t have all the information, however, they will get it to us shortly. After reading Kawasaki Motors policy briefing, it sure makes it sound like the focus will be electric or hybrid vehicles even for their off-road models. Below is a snippet of Kawasaki Motors’ plan for the future.

TALK MOTO WITH ON MXA’S FACEBOOK GROUP CHAT

We love everything moto and want to bring all moto junkies together into one place to share their two cents, ideas, photos, bike fixes, bike problems and much more. To check it out first you must need to or already have a Facebook account. If you don’t, it isn’t much work and you could even have an alias so nobody knows it is you. To join click HERE. After you request to join we will accept your request shortly after.

LOST BUT NOT FORGOTTEN | 1993 KAWASAKI KX125

Dave Miller of DMC built this full bodywork Kawasaki for Mitch Payton’s Hot Wheels team, but Kawasaki said no because it didn’t look like a Kawasaki.

ONE-EYED HEROS OF MOTOCROSS

A handicap is only a handicap if you let it be. Tony D is proof positive.

Dear MXA,
My son lost the vision in his left eye to retinoblastoma when he was 4 years old. Now, at 12 years old, he is fascinated by motocross and wants me to buy him a bike. Of course, as any parent would be, I am leery of allowing him to do a sport where vision and depth perception are so important. Have there ever been any motocross racers who have suffered the same problem?

Yes. 1952 500 World Champion Victor Leloup, who lost an eye in the Second World War, won his World motocross title with only one eye. Three-time 250 AMA National Champion Tony DiStefano lost the vision in his left eye in a workshop accident and missed the 1980 season, returned to racing the AMA Nationals in 1981. Grant Langston, the 2000 FIM 125 World Champion and 2007 AMA 450 National Champion, was diagnosed with cancer in his left eye in 2009. He returned to racing in 2010 and scored three top-10 finishes in the AMA Supercross series.

These three riders aren’t the only athletes to compete with vision in only one eye, but they are significant because they lost their sight and returned to racing in a very short time, which points to how quickly the human body can adapt to monocular vision. In fact, scientific studies support the theory that the loss of an eye may theoretically lead to the development of supra-normal vision in the remaining eye. Although a one-eyed person lacks the advantage of binocular summation (the ability to focus on an object with both eyes), the potential improvement in the vision of the remaining eye can outweigh the loss of binocular summation.

Your son has spent most of his life learning the relationship between objects and motion without the benefit of binocular vision and, most likely, will be able to ride a motorcycle as well as any 12-year-old.

If you have a technical, political, emotion or historical question you want answered, send it to [email protected]

2021 DUBYA WORLD VET MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP ON NOV. 5-7

For more info go to www.glenhelen.com

PHOENIX HANDLEBARS TIGRESS PACKAGE | SUPPORT A GOOD CAUSE

Ride with a purpose this October. Everyone knows why we see pink all over the place during this month and it’s for a great reason. Cancer sucks. Hopefully, a little more awareness from Phoenix Handlebars and your support will help in some little way. It certainly can’t hurt.

What’s in the box?

The new Tigress pad cover for your 118 Bars
50/50 Grips (PINK)
Limited Edition Prey T-Shirt (WHITE/PINK)
Sports Towel (PINK)
Regular $61 now for $45

MXA YOUTUBE CHANNEL | HIT THAT SUBSCRIBE BUTTON

The MXA wrecking crew is everything moto related. Check out our MXA YouTube channel for bike reviews, Supercross coverage, rider interviews and much more. And don’t forget to hit that subscribe button.

HAIDEN DEEGAN SIGNS WITH STAR RACING YAMAHA TEAM

After Haiden Deegan’s latest video on Friday expressed a sincere ‘thank you’ to KTM for supporting him for 8-years of his amateur mini-bike racing life, Haiden announced that he was starting a new chapter and that we’d have to wait a few more days for the news. Now, it’s official, Haiden has signed with the powerful Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha team.

All along, since Haiden was a youngster, there was a question mark around where he would end up when he turns Pro. KTM has certainly benefited from supporting the hot commodity that is Haiden Deegan, but would they still have invested in him these last 8-years if they knew he would be switching to Yamaha before he turned Pro? The question of who Haiden would ride for has been floating around more than you’d expect because of the long term relationship the Deegan family has had with Monster Energy. Monster has supported Brian Deegan for many years, and his kids, Hailie, Haiden and Huckson, for their racing careers. If Haiden would’ve stuck with KTM, he would be wearing a Red Bull hat while his Dad would be wearing a Monster hat.

Haiden Deegan is already riding his new YZ250F in Florida at the new Star Racing Yamaha training facility. Formerly known as Ricky Carmichael’s G.O.A.T. farm.

Read below for the official Star Racing Yamaha press release:

STAR RACING YAMAHA PRESS RELEASE:

Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing is pleased to announce a multi-year deal with one of the sport’s top up-and-coming riders – Haiden Deegan. The Californian has multiple amateur titles and is a great addition to the team’s amateur motocross program.

At the young age of 15, Deegan is already one of the most popular riders in the sport with his on-track success and engaging personality. The son of motocross icon Brian Deegan, racing is in his blood and he shares his father’s work ethic and passion for the sport. He has won championships at every level that he has raced, including winning four in a single day. In addition to his impressive number of titles, at 10 years old, Deegan became the youngest rider in the world to land a backflip on a motorcycle.

Jeremy Coker – Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing 450 Team Manager

“We’re really happy to have a rider of Haiden’s caliber join our team. He has a great presence on and off the track and is a proven championship contender. We look forward to the upcoming season and look to bring home some more number-one plates!”

Haiden Deegan – Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing

“I’m excited to ride with champions and learn from them at Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing. I feel good on the bike and have a lot of work to do, and I am looking forward to it!”

With Star Racing, Haiden also gets to keep his sponsorships with Thor Mx and 100% goggles along with Monster Energy.