MOTOCROSS ACTION MID-WEEK REPORT

On Feb 15, 2022

#WHIPITWEDNESDAY

Rider: Hunter Lawrence
Photographer: Trevor Nelson
Race: 2022 Anaheim 3 Supercross
Bike: HRC Factory CRF250

TWO-STROKE SPOTLIGHT: JOHNATHAN PARSONS’ 2000 KX125 THAT HE & HIS SON BUILT

“My son is 15 years old and we built this 2000 Kawasaki KX125. The triple clamps have been machined to mate with 2013 KX250F front forks and brakes. He had the frame and hubs powder coated. We updated plastics to a 2021 KX250. When he purchased the bike it was completely disassembled. This was a bike he built and paid for himself and I could not be any prouder of him. Would love to see it in your magazine as an inspiration for other kids. Thanks for your time.” —Jonathan Parsons

The cock pit. The shrouds are a lot wider the KX125 plastic.

The powerplant.

MXA TRIVIA QUESTION

What is the name of the rider and what kind of bike is he riding. Answer at the bottom of the page.

CUSTOMIZE YOUR GRIP DONUTS COLOR AND WITH YOUR NUMBER

OUR SISTER WEBSITE INTERVIEWS CYCLIST WHO GETS CHARGED BY BULL

ODI INTRODUCES NEW GRAPHITE COLORWAY FOR PODIUM FLIGHT BAR

Press Release: ODI introduced this new Graphite Colorway of their Podium Flight handlebar. The New Graphite color comes with stealth 2-toned ODI Flight graphics and a matte black injection molded bar pad.

The New Podium Flight MX Handlebars are the latest in the development of our MX handlebar technology. With our own profiled tubing and triple-butted design we’ve created a non-braced handlebar that has already proven worthy of race wins. The Podium Flight bar is constructed of a 2014-T6 alloy to provide added strength. Focusing more on racers and those riders looking for the perfect balance between strength and style the Podium Flight has been vigorously tested by top supercross and motocross racers. MSRP: $94.95.

Constructed of high-strength seamless triple-butted 2014-T6 alloy
Oversized and profiled 1-1/8” tubing improves strength and flex while Clamp Diameter improves Bar/Clamp Grip
- *Requires 1-1/8” /Oversized bar mounts.

Each handlebar is shot-peened and hard anodized for improved durability

Lightly Knurled left slide helps with grip bar adhesion, without interfering with Lock-On Grips
Stealth Podium FLIGHT 2-Toned graphics
Includes Custom injection-molded, high-density foam, ODI Flight Handlebar pad
Multiple bend options are available
www.odigrips.com

INSTA CARNAGE // GLENDALE SX

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FORGOTTEN BIKES

Mike Kiedroski’s factory 1991 Kawasaki KX125.

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THEY SAID IT // 2022 ANAHEIM 3 SUPERCROSS

Marvin Musquin: “I felt like I was right there all day – the speed was good and the feeling was good. In the Main, I got a decent start and put myself in a great position in third behind Tomac. Unfortunately, I went into the inside and hit a lapper and went down and lost a lot of ground. I’m really happy with the way that I fought and rode but without the mistake it would have been a podium tonight. It hurts a little but we have to look at the positive, which was the speed and the fight I had.”

Malcolm Stewart: “This is my first-ever podium for a Triple Crown and I’m beyond stoked. I can’t thank the whole team enough. We’ve all been grinding and we’re starting to see things pay off and I think this only builds more momentum for everybody.”

Eli Tomac: “It was another good podium for us. It wasn’t a win, but I fought as hard as I could. I tried to take the lead early in the race and made a quick move on Jason (Anderson) for one jump, but he was able to get back right underneath me right away. I was really strong in the whoops the first half of the race, and then I made one mistake and lost a little bit of my edge. That’s where I felt like I lost the ground tonight – the whoops because it was my advantage. At the same time, once I made that mistake, I was like, ‘alright, maybe I need to back it down, too, and just stay consistent.’ It was a solid night on points, and I’m looking forward to going east.”

Brandon Hartranft: “In the main event I was riding pretty aggressively in the beginning. I had a little battle with another rider. I tried showing a wheel on him and trying to be a little more aggressive and hang with the boys.” Hartranft reported of his main event. “Then I started making mistakes. Because of that I got out of my rhythm. So, for not riding that well in the main, 15th is pretty solid.”

Michael Mosiman: “It was a tough race for me. I made a couple of silly mistakes, and I’ve got to clean that stuff up but it’s fuel to the fire. After some post-race reflecting, it really lit a fuse under me and it’s going to be good going into this off-season break to have a lot of motivation. Tough nights like these but it’s hard to be too mad when you’re in front of fans like this.”

Christian Craig: “It was a good day here in Anaheim. Practice went well, and I was gelling with the track, feeling comfortable. I got off to a good start in my heat race and put in my laps. Then in the main event – I really focused on my start. I knew if I could check that one off, then the rest would kind of play out by itself, and I’d be in a good spot. I was able to get into the lead in the second turn, and from there, I just focused on my laps. The track was pretty crazy, and some of the rhythm sections and the whoops were sketchy, but I was able to just do my laps and let the rest play out behind me. We get a little break now, and we’ll try and keep the momentum going for Seattle.”

Cooper Webb: “It wasn’t the best night, I’m still struggling with some stuff, but we charged hard all day. I got a decent start in the main and kind of got shuffled back. It’s not where we want to be by any means but I rode to the best of my ability tonight with what I’ve got, so we’ll go to Minneapolis and see if we can turn it around.”

Aaron Plessinger: “I was feeling really good for tonight. I actually qualified the best I have this year and I rode well in the heat race, ended up second. In the main, I was feeling really good and confident but I just got out there and didn’t ride like myself – I made a lot of mistakes and just didn’t execute. I need to be better. I’m going to work on it this week and come out swinging in Minneapolis.”

Adam Enticknap: “I rode a lot better and was more consistent. I was flowing with the track.” Enticknap went on to explain the advantage his tall and strong body gave on the Anaheim 3 track, “There was a really long set of whoops this weekend that were treacherous. That’s my strong suit so I hammered those out. It was definitely beneficial for me to have such a long set of whoops, being that I’m so big.”

Ken Roczen: “Our weekend at Anaheim 3 was honestly a disaster. I was really uncomfortable all day. It doesn’t help that they’ve been building the track gnarlier than maybe even any other year, so It’s just a bunch of stuff collapsing and it’s just not good right now. Nonetheless, I’m going to continue working on myself and try to improve every weekend. We have to find a bike setup that works for me. It’s definitely not enough right now in order to compete with those guys out there. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but we’re not giving up.”

Chase Sexton: “Anaheim 3 was a challenge all day. I didn’t feel that great with the whoops section or the track itself; it wasn’t a good combination for me. I felt decent halfway through the main event and then made some mistakes, got squirrely a few times and lost ground. It was a frustrating night for me; I lost a good amount of points. I’m going to have to turn it back up when we go East. I’m going back to Florida this week, so I’m happy to go home and get back to a normal schedule. Hopefully we can crank out some wins. Overall, I’m proud to get out of here healthy with how treacherous the track was, and I look forward to Minneapolis.”

Dylan Ferrandis: “It was another bad night for me. I had a big crash in my heat race and had to go through the LCQ. I was pretty sore, but I fought as hard as I could and finished sixth. It’s really frustrating to have these tough weekends. We’re going to keep working and try to get back on the podium.”

Nate Thrasher: “It was another tough night for me. I felt like I was riding well and had the speed, but unfortunately, another rider went down in front of me, and I had nowhere to go. I’m really bummed. It’s not how I wanted to finish the West Coast run, but we have a break and will get back to work and regroup.”

Hunter Lawrence: “It was obviously a bit of a scare, with what could’ve been something pretty bad, but it checked out to be all okay as far as my body is concerned. We were really going for the win, so we were laying it out there. Second place seemed like the easy option, as we had extended a pretty good gap on third, but I was pushing for the win – I felt like that was a pretty defining race in the championship, and I wanted to go for it. The whoops were super-gnarly, and going at full speed and pushing as fast as you can every lap, it’s how the sport can be sometimes. I’m thankful to the team for supporting me.”

Justin Barcia: “It’s definitely good to be back here on the podium. The heat race was so good tonight but I’m a little disappointed with the way I rode in the Main Event – Jason and Eli had a great race. I got a decent start and fought through the pack pretty good, so a lot of positives for sure. I had a lot of fun and the track was awesome!”

WE HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ANAHEIM 3 SX THAT YOU MISSED

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PRICED OUT OF THE MARKET // MXPERTS

Dear MXA,

In every issue of MXA, I see tests of expensive four-stroke project bikes that are so complex and fancy that it would take at least $4000 to duplicate them. I don’t know about other people, but I am priced out of this market.

You are not priced out of the market. You are just caught up in the hubbub about exotic bikes. MXA tests motocross bikes for the education and edification of our readers — whose main interest is in modern motocross machinery. MXA rarely worries about the budget of a project bike for one simple reason—we want to cover as many mods as possible to allow owners of that model to know the options that are available and what they do. Not everyone will buy $750 SFS air triple clamps, a $1300 titanium exhaust system or $3500 aftermarket forks, but shouldn’t the readers see that they are available and make the financial choice for themselves? Project bikes are the things that dreams are made of—they aren’t reality for everyone.

Relax. No one needs an exotic factory bike except an exotic factory rider. You should think about getting a good used YZ250. It is a competitive motocross bike at the local level and you can rebuild it with a nutcracker and a butter knife. The parts are cheap, the maintenance is simple and the fun is off the chart. Don’t keep up with the Jones — blow by them on the back straight.

A used Yamaha YZ250, even as old as this 2006, can still be competitive at local races.

KYLE PETERS WINS THIRD CONSECUTIVE ARENACROSS CROWN

Press Release: With another main-event sweep at the 2022 AMA Arenacross finale in Denver’s Events Center at National Western Complex, Kyle Peters wrapped up his third consecutive championship in the series, stretching the Phoenix Racing Honda team’s record to four crowns in a row. (Phoenix won with Jace Owen in 2019.)

The series hosted 10 rounds while visiting six venues, and Peters was dominant aboard his 2022 CRF250R. The Greensboro, North Carolina, native topped 19 of 20 main events, taking the title with a 222-point margin over the second-place racer. (Only a runner-up finish to fellow Red Rider Lance Kobusch in the first 450 Pro main event prevented Peters from repeating last year’s perfect season.) Peters’ Phoenix teammate Cullin Park took fifth in the series despite missing early rounds with an injury.

“It was a great season,” said the 25-year-old Peters. “When I first tried the new bike during the off-season, it was a lot different, but I knew right away it was going to be a great platform for Arenacross. Coming in, there were obviously high expectations from last year. I wanted to keep the win streak going, but unfortunately some things happened at the first round. Honestly, I think that took a weight off my shoulders, and from then on, it was head down, hammer down. I had a couple races where I made things hard on myself – like crashing in Oklahoma and getting a bad start this weekend – but I was able to get through those and win, and to take the championship again.”

With the AMA Arenacross series completed, Phoenix now turns its attention to other championships, including the AMA Supercross 250SX East Region series and the GNCC series.

“We’re extremely proud of Kyle and everyone at Phoenix Racing,” said American Honda Manager of Sports & Experiential Brandon Wilson. “Over the past few years, they’ve become something of a powerhouse in AMA Arenacross, proving the competitiveness of the CRF250R. The fact that they’ve enjoyed this success while also fielding efforts in other racing series just shows what a professional operation they run. They’re a great partner, and we look forward to more success together in the future.”

CLASSIC PHOTO

Johnny O’Mara back on a factory Suzuki in 1989.

MXA trivia answer: Mike Brown on a Honda of Troy CR125 back in 1994.

mid-week