MOTOCROSS ACTION MID-WEEK REPORT BY DARYL ECKLUND

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#WHIPITWEDNESDAY

2018 Husqvarna TE250i -

Rider: Daryl Ecklund
Bike: 2018 Husqvarna TE250i TPI
Location: Glen Helen
Date: July 27, 2018
Photographer: Travis Fant
Lens: 300mm
Focal length: 300mm
Exposure: 1/1600
F-stop: 4
ISO: 160

TWO-STROKE SPOTLIGHT: GILLES LAFON’S AF SUZUKI RM250

suzuki af rm250--2Gilles didn’t give us any details on the build, but it sure looks like a work of art. The chassis is a 2008 to 2017 RM-Z450 and the engine looks like the latest generation RM250 power plant.

suzuki af rm250--3Ohlins suspension replaces the Showa components front and rear.

suzuki af rm250-The bike is littered with trick parts like the Scalvini pipe, Neken clamps and Boyesen clutch cover

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.

MXA TO DO LIST:

2018 yamaha yz450fThe 2018 Yamaha YZ450F is being put through the ringer with our MXA wrecking crew. We tested it four days last week (two days with Yamaha) and are getting closer to working out the bugs. We will have a full write up of the 2018 Yamaha YZ450F in the November issue of MXA. Photo by Daryl Ecklund

2018 Kawasaki KX250FWe have three solid days of testing on the KX250F. The engine is better than last year, but we don’t necessarily like how the power is delivered with the stock map. We developed a custom map that irons out the power which we will put in the full magazine test. We still have some suspension tuning and gearing to try on our to-do list. The full write up of the KX250F will be in the November issue of MXA. Photo by Daryl Ecklund

2018 kx450fWe had Jeremy Lasater break in our 2018 Kawasaki KX450F. As the bike is unchanged for 2018, we still need to put it up against the updated CRF450 and YZ450F to see how it fares. In 2017, the KX450F beat out both blue and red in the MXA shootout. Check out MXA‘s 2017 450 shootout results HEREPhoto by Daryl Ecklund

2018 husky fc450The Husky FC450 won many shootouts last year due to its smooth fast power. We however, most MXA test riders preferred the more potent KTM 450SXF powerband. The Husky got the same updates as the 2018 450SXF: new suspension settings, revised internal fork parts and a bigger yet stronger battery. We only have a day of testing on the bike, but this will be on top of our to-do list when we get back from the 2018 Suzuki intro at JGR. Photo by Travis Fant

2018 Husqvarna TE250i --4Daryl Ecklund tries his hand at some Endurocross with the 2018 Husky TE250i fueliinjected two-stroke. We got the mapping and powervalve adjuster dialed in, but we are still working on gearing. The 2018 Husky TE250i will also be in the November issue of MXA. Subscribe HERE so you don’t miss it. Photo by Travis Fant

THEY SAID IT: WASHOUGAL NATIONAL

Marvin MusquinMusquinPodiumMarvin Musquin: “Coming from Millville and finishing 1-1 there, I was really looking forward to another good weekend in Washougal. It’s a track I really like. My practices were good and I qualified 2nd. I was able to grab the holeshot in the first moto, but Tomac was catching up quick. We had a good battle, but I was able to pull away and finish with a good gap. My start wasn’t as good in the second moto, but I still made my way up to the lead on the fourth lap. Once again, Tomac was right behind me but I pushed to increase the gap again. I felt really good today and was really comfortable on the bike. It was a fun day, and I’m happy to get another overall win.”

Cole SeelyCole Seely: “Today was great. I feel like I’ve finally been seeing a lot more forward progress since starting my new training program, especially in the past two weeks. Things are starting to click. I didn’t feel great in practice and was just trying to hammer out laps to get a good time, which didn’t work too great. When the moto came around, I felt way better. I was flowing really well and finding good lines on the track, as well as mixing up my lines each lap if I knew something had changed or gotten blown out. I’ve always struggled with that and normally take the same lines, so I felt good. Third in the first moto ties my best result, so that was great. I was really trying to go after an overall podium in the second moto but it was just out of reach. I didn’t want to push it too much and go down because the track was gnarly, but I still felt strong and am happy with fourth overall.”

CHRISTIANCRAIGBDAYChristian Craig: “Washougal didn’t go as I’d hoped. I felt awesome in practice but couldn’t find a good flow during the first moto. I’m usually pretty good on that track so I’m not sure why I wasn’t able to put it all together. The second moto went a lot better after we made some bike changes. I had a pretty decent start but tangled with [Dean] Wilson and went down. I was able to work my way back up to ninth and ended up eighth overall on the day. I’m looking forward to this weekend off and getting back to where I should be in a couple weekends at Unadilla.”

Eli Tomac 2017 millville national--46Eli Tomac: [Musquin] was going fast. I was doing what I could. We had that little bump [in Moto 1] and I tried to settle into a pace, but he kept going faster. At that point I just settled in [to second]. That was all we got. Today we were just the second-best guy.”

DSC_9829 Joey Savatgy
Joey Savatgy: “Not a chance [did I think I won]. I thought maybe if I was on the podium then that’d be something realistic, and I’d be happy with that. [A] 7-1 [moto score] doesn’t win, or it doesn’t win often. I was just stoked to be on the [podium], but the way the cards were dealt we walked out with the win. I don’t expect that to happen again.”

ZachOsborneWASHOUGAL17Zach Osborne: “I went deep in the first moto [with my energy]. I was throwing up after. It was a lot of effort and I knew I’d be missing something in the second moto. After everything that happened today, to end up on the podium, I’m really happy about that.”

justin hoeftJustin Hoeft: “I’m stoked with how this whole weekend went. Thursday Night Motocross went really well. I won the heat and then ran up front with those guys all the way to the finish and came away with 3rd. It was a great foreshadow for Saturday. Practice at Washougal went well, and the team had my bike working great on the track. I got an awesome start in the first moto, but got passed a little ways into it. Once I settled down a bit I was able to ride smart and fast laps. This is only my second Pro National so I’m really excited to come out with an 11th overall.”

BE A MX COACH LAUNCHES PROFESSIONAL COACHING CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

MID WEEK--13Press Release: The Be a MX Coach Professional Coaching Certification program’s purpose is to personally train and mentor you to: Be a Professional Motocross Coach—and have your students realize breakthrough results. Own and independently operate a financially successful motocross coaching business.

The Be a MX Coach Professional Coaching Certification Program is not a one-time interaction or an on-line study course. Participants will be personally trained and mentored through a rigorous and extensive program and receive a minimum of 55 hours of training, with over 20 hours spent on the motocross track to be certified as a professional motocross coach.

MID WEEK-767Created by Joe DeGano who founded MX Coach in 2001.

Candidate coaches (participants) will be trained in a scientific approach to coaching, athletics, and motocross in the technologies of: 1) ontology, 2) neuroscience, and 3) physics. Utilizing using a distinct methodology that leaves one “being it” rather than merely knowing or understanding, and has produced champions––and will unquestionably take any rider, no matter what skill level, to immediate and breakthrough results.

Created by Joe DeGano, who founded MX Coach in 2001, represents over three decades of training, developing, integrating and mastering all the aspects to the art and science of professional coaching. Joe also established DeGano Coaching & Consulting, a world leader in organizational transformation and leadership, giving the Be A MX Coach program a unique ability to fulfill both promises of the program to: 1) Be a professional motocross coach, and 2) Be a financially successful business owner.

Joe represents over three decades of training, developing, integrating and mastering all the aspects to the art and science of professional coaching.

Be a MX Coach was created in response to market demand for access to professional and effective coaching for motocross competitors and dirt bike riders of any age, racing class and ability worldwide. Be a MX Coach creates a certification and professional standard for effective and ethical coaching all the way from youth sports up to adult professional.

Applications are now being accepted for the first 2017 program at www.beamxcoach.com.
For more information please contact Joe DeGano: 208-841-9655, j[email protected]

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2018 ANSWER INTRO PHOTO BLAST (PAST AND PRESENT)

2018 answer intro 2018 answer intro 2018 answer intro 2018 answer intro 2018 answer intro 2018 answer intro 2018 answer intro 2018 answer intro 2018 answer intro

PJ1 FACTORY OEM COLOR MATCH PAINTS

MID WEEK-
Press Release: Factory OEM Color Match Paints have been developed to match past and present OEM model Off-Road Motorcycles. This durable finish helps to keep your bike look like a factory fresh bike off the show room floor.

Features and Benefits:
-Epoxy Formula
-Factory Match Colors
-Durable Finish
-No Clear Coat Needed

Current Color Options:
-Honda Red 1988 – 1989
-Kawasaki Green 1988 – 2002
-Yamaha Blue 1998 – 2006

For additional information please visit www.pj1.com.

PHOTO OF THE PAST: 2001 SX DAVID VUILLEMIN & JEREMY MCGRATHJeremy McGrath David vuillemin

2017-18 RACE SCHEDULES: BE THERE OR BE SQUARE

CZECKMX2start_MXGP2017

2018 MONSTER ENERGY SUPERCROSS SCHEDULE

Jan. 6…… Anaheim, CA…… Angel Stadium
Jan. 13…… Houston, TX…… NRG Stadium
Jan. 20…… Anaheim, CA…… Angel Stadium
Jan. 27…… Glendale, AZ…… U. of Phoenix Stadium
Feb. 3…… Oakland, CA…… Oakland Aameda Coliseum
Feb. 10…… San Diego, CA…… Petco Park
Feb. 17…… Arlington, TX…… AT&T Stadium
Feb. 24…… Tampa, FL…… Raymond James Stadium
Mar. 3…… Atlanta, GA…… Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Mar. 10…… Daytona, FL…… Daytona Intl. Speedway
Mar. 17…… St. Louis, MO…… Dome at America’s Center
Mar. 24…… Indianapolis, IN…… Lucas Oil Stadium
Apr. 7…… Seattle, WA…… Centurylink Field
Apr. 14…… Minneapolis, MN…… U.S. Bank Stadium
Apr. 21…… Foxborough, MA…… Gillette Stadium
Apr. 28…… Salt Lake City, UT…… Rice-Eccles Stadium
May 5…… Las Vegas, NV…… Sam Boyd Stadium

2017 LUCAS OIL PRO MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP

May 20…Hangtown…Sacramento, CA
May 27…Glen Helen…San Bernardino, CA
June 3…Thunder Valley…Lakewood, CO
June 17…High Point…Mount Morris, PA
June 24…Muddy Creek…Blountville, TN
July 1…Red Bud…Buchanan, MI
July 8…Southwick…Southwick, MA
July 22…Spring Creek…Millville, MN
July 29…Washougal…Washougal, WA
August 12…Unadilla…New Berlin, NY
August 19…Budds Creek…Mechanicsville, MD
August 26…Ironman…Crawfordsville, IN
* Visit www.promotocross.com/mx/tickets to buy tickets

2017 FIM MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

February 25…Losail…Qatar
March 5…Pangkal Pinang…Indonesia
March 19…Neuquen…Argentina
April 2…Leon…Mexico
April 16…Trentino…Italy
April 23…Valkenswaard…The Netherlands
May 7…Kegums…Latvia
May 21…Teutschenthal…Germany
May 28…Ernee…France
June 11…Orlyonok…Russia
June 25…Ottobiana…Italy
July 2…Agueda…Portugal
July 23…Loket…Czech Republic
August 6…Lommel…Belgium
August 13…Frauenfeld…Switzerland
August 20…Uddevalla…Sweden
September 3…Gainesville…USA
September 10…Assen…The Netherlands
September 17…Villars sous Ecot…France

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