#WHIPITWEDNESDAY

Rider: Justin Barcia
Bike: 2018 Yamaha YZ450F
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Event: 2018 Las Vegas Supercross
Photographer: Brian Converse
Lens: 300mm f/2.8
Focal length: 300mm
Exposure: 1/1250sec
F-stop: f/4
ISO: 500

TWO-STROKE SPOTLIGHT: ERIC CASAS’ HONDA CR125

We didn’t receive any details on this Honda CR125, but it looks look a 1990 replica RC125. 

EDITORS NOTE: Please keep those submissions coming. If you would like your bike to be featured in the “Two-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 for the “Two-Stroke Spotlight,” 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.

LAS VEGAS SUPERCROSS RECAP

The last round of the 2018 Supercross season is over. 

By Ben Bridges

450SX CLASS

Jason Anderson–With a fifth place finish in Las Vegas Jason Anderson was able to clinch the 2018 450SX Class title by nine points over Marvin Musquin. Anderson earned four wins and 11 podiums in route to his memorable season. Anderson becomes the 21st different rider to win a 450SX Class Championship. He also wore #21 through the season. Husqvarna picked up their first 450SX title as well and became the seventh different brand to do so.

Eli Tomac–Making his 80th career start, Eli Tomac rode to his eighth win of the season and 21st of his career. He moves into ninth all-time on the win list and is now the first rider ever to win the most races two seasons in-a-row without winning a title.

Marvin Musquin–He nabbed his 27th career podium and 12th of the season with a runner-up finish in Vegas.

Blake Baggett–Blake rode to his seventh career podium in his 60th career start. He finishes the season a career best fourth place in the points.

Christian Craig–Christian earned his fourth top five of the season in just nine starts as he wraps up what was a successful 450SX Class late season campaign. Craig rode in the 250SX Class in the first half of the season.

Benny Bloss–Benny rode to his career best sixth place finish. Seventh place finisher Weston Peick nabbed his career best sixth place finish in the points as well.

Josh Hill–Josh made his 80th career start and finished 19th.

Chad Reed–Chad was one of six riders to race all 17 mains this season and finished the year with the active lead in consecutive starts at 52.

250SX CLASS Adam Cianciarulo–Adam rode to his sixth career victory and second of the season with his Vegas win. He is now tied for 33rd on the 250SX Class wins list. For the second consecutive season Cianciarulo has fell just two points short in the standings.

Zach Osborne–Zach clinched the 250SX Class Eastern Regional title for the second consecutive season by finishing seventh place in Las Vegas. Osborne is the first rider since Justin Barcia in 2011-2012 to nab back-to-back titles on the East Coast.

Aaron Plessinger–Aaron snagged his first career 250SX Class title by the way of an eighth place finish in Vegas. The title is Yamaha’s third in the past four seasons on the West Coast but hasn’t won a title on the East Coast since Reed in 2002.

Jordon Smith–Jordan rode to his sixth podium of the season. He finished eight points behind Osborne in second place in the Eastern Regional class.

ALTA MOTORS TAKES ON ERZBERG RODEO

Alta Motors is competing for the Podium at the Erzberg Rodeo—the Most Challenging One-Day Motorcycle Race in the World. 

Alta Factory Racing team riders, Ty Tremaine and Lyndon Poskitt, will make history as they pilot the first electric motorcycles ever to compete for the podium at the off-road event.

THEY SAID IT | LAS VEGAS SUPERCROSS

Justin Hill: “I’m not going to lie, Las Vegas was a rough one. I wanted to end my 250 Supercross career with a bang, but it just didn’t happen. That’s racing. I’m looking forward to hopping on the Suzuki RM-Z450 next season and seeing what I can do.”

Weston Peick: “The result wasn’t what I was looking for. After finishing inside the top five several times this year, I wanted to end the series on a high note. I was slightly off timing during the start and had to work my way forward. It wasn’t easy to pass on the track, but I made it happen. I’m excited to finish the series in sixth, walk away healthy, and move on to the outdoors.”

Justin Barcia: “The day was going really good, we made some really good changes to the bike and I was really happy. I was running towards the front throughout timed qualifying, but had a little excursion in the heat race. I went into the Main Event without the greatest gate pick so it kind of set me up for a tough situation but I felt like I could make it work. I just didn’t come out with a good start. I charged through the pack a bit but I got a little bit tight in the beginning and the end of the race. It’s super disappointing for me because the bike was so good. I’ve felt like we can get on the podium all season but I haven’t performed the way I know I should.
All-in-all, I’m glad to come out of this Supercross season on some positive notes. The beginning of the season went great, the middle of the season, obviously, I got hurt but then I came back and put in some solid rides. Not the podiums I wanted, but all-in-all I’m super happy with the Monster Energy/Yamaha Factory Racing Team and I’m really looking forward to the outdoor series. I believe we have a good bike that can win races and be in the title hunt outdoors, just like it could have been in Supercross as well.”

Aaron Plessinger: “It was a crazy race, I got off to a mid-pack start and battled with a few guys and when I was right behind Osborne I knew I had the championship wrapped up so I stayed there and tried to stay consistent and not go down. I had one sketchy moment and I backed it down after that. It honestly doesn’t even feel real. I don’t know what to say. It was a gnarly race and gnarly season. We’re number one baby, it’s a dream come true!”

Marvin Musquin: “I knew it was going to be a tough Main Event. It’s Vegas, it’s hard and slippery. My start in the Main Event was awesome but Eli was a little bit better and we were first and second right away. My goal was to keep charging and keep pushing. We both made mistakes and we pushed hard. I made a mistake with the lappers in the rhythm before the finish and definitely lost the connect with Eli and after that, the gap stayed the same. I gave my best, and on a track like that, I improved so much from last year and I’m really proud about it.”

Hayden Mellross: “Ending the season with a Top 10 is huge for me,” said Mellross. “I really liked the track today and felt like I was on it during practice and qualifying. Chiz and I put the 51FIFTY Energy Drink Yamaha YZ’s back to back in qualifying and the Heat which was super cool and I was able to come through the pack pretty well in the Main. I knew I had to be up there to get the Top 10 overall in points so I kept my head down and kept charging. Another solid year with the team and happy to end it on a high note.”

Christian Craig: “Today started off pretty good. I felt comfortable on the bike right away, which I think showed throughout the entire day and night. I just had a good flow and was feeling relaxed. After qualifying seventh during the day, I went into the night just wanting to put in a solid result to finish the season on a high note. The heat race went pretty good; I felt like I put in some good laps to finish fourth. In the main, I actually picked the first gate on the inside. I don’t know why I’m confident there, but I always find myself picking one of those tight inside gates and seem to get good starts. I came off to a fourth-place start, sticking myself in behind [Blake] Baggett, and just clicked off my laps. I just put in my laps, rode consistent, and tied my best finish with another fourth. I’m really happy. There’s a lot more left in me and I feel like I have some podiums in me, so there’s a lot of confidence heading to outdoors.”

Adam Cianciarulo: “It was a rollercoaster day because I’ve come in with the burden of a torn ACL all year, but then I twisted my ankle a bit in practice,” said Cianciarulo. “Maybe it evened me out, but I felt ready to get this win and I’m so happy it ended up being Pro Circuit’s 150th supercross victory. Since the knee ended up bothering me more than I thought it would during the supercross season, I have decided to get surgery on it so I can enter the 2019 season healthy and ready to bring the team a championship. It was a tough decision because I love riding outdoors, but it’s the best decision for the long term.”

Jason Anderson: “We’ve put our whole lives into this, been riding dirt bikes for so long, to win this championship between me and my team, it’s the most surreal moment of my life up to this point,” Anderson said on the podium. “Man, I’m so happy. I was tested this year … I’m just beyond words.”

MOTO | TRIVIA

Name the rider and year. Answer at bottom of page.

ARENACROSS CHAPIONSHIP–LAS VEGAS FINAL

Jacob Hayes won his first  (and last-ever) AMA Arenacross Championship. 

The final round of the 2018 Arenacross season was inside Las Vegas’ Orleans Arena. Babbitt’s Online Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jacob Hayes was crowned a first-time 2018 AMSOIL Arenacross Champion. Rockford Fosgate TiLube Honda’s Heath Harrison was crowned the Arenacross Lites East Coast Champion, and Babbitt’s Online GPF rider Ryan Breece became a two-time defending Arenacross Lites West Coast Champion.

250AX CLASS MAIN EVENT RESULTS

1. Jacob Hayes, Greensboro, N.C., Kawasaki (2-1)
2. Jacob Williamson, Swartz Creek, Mich., Kawasaki (1-2)
3. Travis Sewell, Westville, Ind., Kawasaki (4-3)
4. Daniel Herrlein, Bethesda, Ohio, KTM (3-4)
5. Kyle Bitterman, West Pelzer, S.C., Kawasaki (5-5)
6. Robbie Wageman, Newhall, Calif., Yamaha (8-7)
7. Steven Mages, Sardinia, Ohio, Kawasaki (10-6)
8. Preston Taylor, Hastings, Neb., Kawasaki (7-9)
9. Gared Steinke, Woodland, Calif., Kawasaki (6-13)
10. Ryan Breece, Athol, Idaho, Kawasaki (9-10)

250AX CLASS CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

1. Jacob Hayes, Greensboro, N.C., Kawasaki (167)
2. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Honda (135)
3. Travis Sewell, Westville, Ind., Kawasaki (127)
4. Daniel Herrlein, Bethesda, Ohio, KTM (125)
5. Gared Steinke, Woodland, Calif., Kawasaki (112)
6. Kyle Bitterman, West Pelzer, S.C., Kawasaki (89)
7. Heath Harrison, Silverhill, Ala., Honda (85)
8. Jacob Williamson, Swartz Creek, Mich., Kawasaki (35)
9. Gavin Faith, Duncombe, Iowa, Kawasaki (10)
10. Shane Sewell, Westville, Ind., Kawasaki (4)

Your East and West AX Lites champs Heath Harrison and Ryan Breece.

AX LITES MAIN EVENT RESULTS

1. Ryan Breece, Athol, Idaho, Kawasaki
2. Robbie Wageman, Newhall, Calif., Yamaha
3. Issac Teasdale, Robbinsville, N.C., Kawasaki
4. Heath Harrison, Silverhill, Ala., Honda
5. Carson Brown, Ravensdale, Wash., Honda
6. Mason Kerr, Altoona, Iowa, Kawasaki
7. Renton Minuto, Avalon, Calif., Yamaha
8. Devin Harriman, Brush Prairie, Wash., KTM
9. Hunter Hilton, Youngsville, La.,
10. Dawson Newby, Eaton, Co., KTM

AX LITES WEST CLASS CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

1. Ryan Breece, Athol, Idaho, Kawasaki (94)
2. Carson Brown, Ravensdale, Wash., Honda (76)
3. Kevin Moranz, Topeka, Kan., KTM (68)
4. Devin Harriman, Brush Prairie, Wash., KTM (50)
5. Mason Kerr, Altoona, Iowa, Kawasaki (38)
6. Johnny Garcia, Moriarty, N.M., Honda (32)
7. Hunter Hilton, Youngsville, La., (31)
8. Renton Minuto, Avalon, Calif., Yamaha (30)
9. Robbie Wageman, Newhall, Calif., Yamaha (29)
10. Preston Taylor, Hastings, Neb., Kawasaki (27)

AX LITES EAST CLASS CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

1. Heath Harrison, Silverhill, Ala., Honda (99)
2. Isaac Teasdale, Robbinsville, N.C., Kawasaki (96)
3. Garrett Marchbanks, Coalville, Utah, Kawasaki (47)
4. Tanner Basso, Alpine, Calif., Yamaha (33)
5. Tanner Ward, Woodstock, Ontario, KTM (33)
6. Tanner Stack, Shawnee, Kan., Yamaha (32)
7. Carter Halpain, Lubbock, Texas, Yamaha (29)
8. Josh Mosiman, Menifee, Calif., Husqvarna (28)
9. Jake McKinney, HAmersville, Ohio, Kawasaki (27)
10. TJ Albright, Mount Marion, N.Y., KTM (26)

WASP SCRAMBLES IS BACK

2018 YAMAHA YZ125 RAW FOOTAGE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=42&v=wsiDWgMZD98

WHO SCRUBBED IT BEST IN VEGAS?

Justin Hill.
Phil Nicoletti.

Mitchell Harrison.

Hayden Mellross.

Kyle Chisholm.
Aaron Plessinger.

Shane McElrath.
Adam Cianciarulo.

Anthony Rodriguez.

Kyle Peters.

Sean Cantrell.

Jeremy Martin. 

CLASSIC PHOTO

Jeff Emig in 1999 aboard a privateer Edge Racing Yamaha YZ250 at the U.S Open. Jeff went on to win that night as well as the $100,000.

Moto Trivia answer: Two-time 125 World Champion Alessi Chiodi racing in Anaheim Stadium back in 1999 where he placed 5th in the 125cc class. He raced three Supercross races that year with two of those placing inside the top five.