MOTOCROSS ACTION’S MID-WEEK REPORT BY DARYL ECKLUND (10/30/13)

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

We won’t blame you for making two-stroke noises upon viewing this photo of Daryl Ecklund ripping on the 2014 Yamaha YZ125. Photo by John Basher.

RICKY CARMICHAEL’S EMOTIONAL HALL OF FAME SPEECH

MY THOUGHTS ON THE GOAT: RICKY CARMICHAEL

15 Championships, 150 career wins and two perfect outdoor national seasons, all by the ripe age of 28. Most people at this age are just getting their career started, where the GOAT, Ricky Carmichael already retired from professional racing. RC had his ups, but not without many downs, but one thing remained consistent, he remained persistent in his journey to become the greatest rider that has ever lived. 

Ricky doing an exhibition lap at the 2013 Monster Cup. He’s still got it.

How did he become so great? You can speculate that he was talented, you can definitely say that he worked hard, but bottom line he hated to lose. When you would watch him ride it often seemed as if he wanted to win just as bad as he needed to breathe. 

RC was short, pudgy and he struggled to adapt to Supercross when he stepped into the Pro ranks. His desire to win and lack of experience on the technical Supercross tracks caused for some erratic behavior in his rookie year. With his determination to win, he came back the following year in 1998 and won his first Supercross title. Outdoors was not an issue for RC, he was in his element and won the title his rookie season.

When RC stepped to the premiere 250 class (now the 450 class) he struggled. Showtime Jeremy McGrath was in his prime and ran circles around the competition. RC pushed the limits to run up front, but had many hard crashes that pushed him outside the top ten in points. It took him two long years of hard work and mental fortitude to dethrone “The King” Jeremy McGrath. 

Ricky at Millville during his last season.
RC learned what it took to be on top. He repeated his habitual hard work and dedication year after year making sure he had no excuse to lose. When his next threat James Stewart (known as the fastest man on the planet at the time) came along RC kept him at bay. I will confidently say that Stewart had more talent than RC, but RC just wanted to win more. 

I remember RC once said that his race weekends were his easy days! I couldn’t imagine the amount of work he puts in during the week. Year after year he broke record after record and did the impossible having won 24 out of 24 motos, not once but twice in the outdoors. When I watched the video of his speech into the Hall of Fame (above) I realized that he give up and put everything he had into the sport. The shed of tears said it all. The GOAT will forever be remembered. Ricky Carmichael, welcome the the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. 

LISTEN FOR THE BEAUTIFUL SOUND OF A TWO-STROKE


BRIAN JORGENSEN FLIES TO THE USA FOR THE WORLD VET…AND BREAKS HIS HAND AT MILESTONE ON DAY ONE

Brian Jorgensen.

A potential winner of the 2013 World Vet Championship would have been former GP winner and Danish Champion Brian Jorgensen, who retired in 2006 and has been a motocross coach since then. Brian planned to make is American debut at Glen Helen Raceway on November 2-3. But, unfortunately, while practicing at Milestone Raceway on Sunday, he had a small crash and broke two bones in his hand.

MINI-VIEW: MIKE TOMLIN

Mike Tomlin and his baby.

Mike “Schnikey” Tomlin?not to be confused with the Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin?is Justin Barcia’s mechanic. One of the nicest guys in the pits, Mike often goes out of his way to say hello. That says a lot, given that the pit area is a pressure cooker. I thought it would be interesting to hear what Tomlin thought of his first season in the 450 class with Justin Barcia.

By John Basher

Justin at the Monster Cup.

MXA: How do you find the will to keep going, week after week, month after month? A mechanic’s job is never finished, even when the season is over!
Mike: That’s the best question I’ve been asked in a really long time! For starters, racing is my passion. I love working on dirt bikes. Second, Justin Barcia is my rider. He gives me the motivation to work hard every day and provide him with what he needs to win. Third, my race team is great. I think that Honda is at the top of the list of teams that a mechanic could work for. Everybody wants to be at factory Honda. That right there makes a big difference. We want to show everyone that we are the best, and we do whatever it takes to put Honda motorcycles up on top of the podium.

In any given race how many heart attacks does Justin Barcia give you? He can be wild!
It’s really not that bad. I’m often cool and collected when he’s racing. Of course I get nervous, but generally I’m even keel. I’ve grown into the certain person that I need to be in the middle of the race. I almost feel like a robot out there! When there is a crash then I’m there to repair and prepare so that he can get back up on top.

You’ll be going with Justin across the pond and racing Bercy. There’s no rest for you this off-season.
It has been a busy off-season! We raced the Motocross des Nations, followed by the Monster Cup, and now we’re racing overseas again. I’m looking forward to it. Bercy is a fun race, because there’s no stressing over points or dealing with a lot of pressure. It’s also a good experience for my relationship with Justin to get even stronger.

Justin Barcia.

Have you noticed a change in Justin’s riding style since moving to the 450 full-time?
Yes, completely. He has smoothed out. I feel like there’s no more “Bam Bam” in him [laughter]. He’s so much smarter and more consistent. Justin has learned a lot this year. I feel like in the 250 class you can get away with a lot of stuff, but in the 450 class there are five to ten guys that are really really good. Everybody respects each other in the 450 class.

What are your goals for 2014?
We want a championship. I know that 2013 was his first year in the 450 class, so we learned a lot. The goal is to be consistent, get on the podium all of the time, grab some wins, and land a title.

MXA WEEKLY WORKOUT: 60-SEC0ND FITNESS TIP

Tip: Find a workout partner, set a schedule and keep to it. A good workout partner will keep you committed to the schedule and help keep you motivated, even on your bad days.

MXA PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: FPS RACING HIGH PERFORMANCE RADIATORS 

SuperTrapp Industries, Inc. (www.SuperTrapp.com) announces the release of their FPS Racing High Performance Radiators for off-road applications. FPS Racing radiators (MSRP starts at $265.00) are constructed of high efficiency, brazed, aluminum cores.  They allow for a significant increase in fluid capacity.  Their direct fitment design makes installation easy.  FPS Racing radiators reduce engine temperatures by up to 30%.  These radiators are double the strength of OEM parts due to being TIG-welded for maximum strength.  FPS Racing radiator prices are less than most OEMs and SuperTrapp Industries offers off-the-shelf availability of their FPS Racing High Performance Radiators.  Available for various models of Honda, Beta, Kawasaki, KTM, Husqvarna, Suzuki and Yamaha dirt bikes. FPS Racing Flat-Track Universal Radiators are available for unique applications.  Visit FPSRacing.com for specific applications and additional product information.   

2014 YAMAHA YZ250F/YZ450F RIDE DAY AT MILESTONE THIS WEEKEND: PRESENTED BY MALCOLM SMITH MOTORSPORTS

VIDEO INTERVIEW: THREE-TIME ARENACROSS CHAMP TYLER BOWERS

THE DOCTOR IS IN: DUBACH GUNNING FOR TITLE #21

Press release: Dubach Racing Development (DR.D) will be attending the 29th Annual Vet World Championship hosted at Glen Helen Raceway this weekend. The famous “Vet World Championship” is the most prestigious Vet race of the year, with riders flying in from around the world to take their stab at the hilly circuit. Recovering from a crash that left him on the sidelines at the Mammoth Mountain Motocross in June, Doug Dubach is set to make his return to racing this weekend. Doug currently holds the record with 20 Vet World Championships, and is looking to pursue a 21st title that he can add to his resume. This year will mark the first time that Dubach will make his presence in the Over-50 class and he will also return to defend his 2012 Over-40 Championship. Be sure to come out to Glen Helen this weekend, November 2-3, and check out the action!

JUSTIN BRAYTON PREPARES FOR 2014