MOTOCROSS ACTION’S WEEKEND NEWS REPORT: ARE YOU COMMITED TO GOING 108%? PLUS 20 REASONS WORRY ABOUT THE GP SERIES & LOVE TWO-STROKES

On Apr 21, 2013

HEAR WHAT JUSTIN BARCIA HAD TO SAY ABOUT HIS SEATTLE SUPERCROSS WIN

OUR FAVORITE RUSSIAN TALKS ABOUT HOW HIS 2013 GP SEASON WENT DOWNHILL

KTM REVEALS SOME PLANS FOR HUSQVARNA

In an two-part interview in “Cycle News,” KTM CEO Stefan Peirer revealed some of his plans for Husqvarna (which KTM bought from BMW several months ago).

(1) In the future Husqvarna will focus on its motocross and offroad roots. That means no more 900cc street bikes, Steve McQueen concept bikes, Stradas or twin-cylinder machines.

(2) Two-strokes will play a big role in Husky’s future with new 125cc, 250cc and 300cc motocross models coming. Peirer made reference to projects already in the works at Husqvarna, which implies that the engines will be proprietary to Husqvarna?not shared with KTM and KTM-owned Husaberg.

(3) Word had already leaked out from Husqvarna that they have a revised 250cc four-stroke engine already built for 2014, but Peirer added that they will also have a 450cc four-stroke (to replace the horrible Taiwanese-built BMW 450 engine).

(4) Production of the motocross and enduro models will stay in Italy, but R&D will move to KTM. The Husqvarna plant in Italy is fully automated and virtually new, thanks to BMW’s investments, but it is assumed that at some point KTM would consider moving all Husqvarna production to a cheaper and less union driven country…but where?

(5) The answer could be India. There will be a Husqvarna branch in India. Bajaj, which partners with KTM on the 125 Duke, 200 Duke and upcoming 390 Duke, will introduce a Husqvarna line of dual-purpose bikes for the Indian market. These bikes will be made in India, where the Bajaj/KTM plant has the capacity to build more bikes than they are currently producing. That will give Bajaj three nameplates in the Indian market (Bajaj, Husqvarna and KTM). It is assumed that KTM will be at the top of the pyramid price-wise with Husqvarna second and Bajaj at the entry-level.

(6) Husqvarna will make a big-bore single-cylinder four-stroke, in the 650cc to 690cc range, for the popular supermoto market in Europe.

(7) Existing Husqvarna dealers will be given the opportunity, where possible, to take on the Husaberg line. This will give Husky dealers product to sell while the Husqvarna product line undergoes development. It will also give the dealers more experience with the KTM way of doing business.

To read the whole interview go to www.cyclenews.com.

MY HOW THE MIGHTY HAVE FALLEN: ONLY 20 RIDERS SHOW UP FOR BULGARIAN GRAND PRIX

The low rider turnout expectations that have been set for the 2013 fly-away races of Qatar, Thailand, Brazil and the now-canceled Mexican round have suddenly come to fruition in the European rounds. Only 20 riders signed up for the 450 class at the Bulgarian GP. That means that the starting gate will be half full (assuming that all 20 riders make it through practice and qualifying without bike troubles or injuries). It also means that every rider in the MX1 class will earn Grand Prix points. This harks back to the Brazilian Grand Prix of a couple years ago when Mariana Balbi became the first women to earn GP points…largely because everyone who finished the race earned points. Someone has to be asking themselves?how did the fabled GPs of Torsten Hallman, Joel Robert, Roger DeCoster, Heikki Mikkola and Stefan Everts come to such a sad state that nobody wants to race them? It should be noted that not even the 250 class in Bulgaria has enough riders to fill the starting?they had 31 riders in the 250 class. It’s embarrassing for the FIM President and the manufacturers (who spend millions racing the series) that Youthstream has dragged GP motocross down to this level.

X GAMES ENDUROCROSS RESULTS: TADDY HAS HIS HANDS FULL, BUT WINS AGAIN

Taddy Blazusiak.

Taddy said, “Things had been going bad all night, but thankfully everything worked out, it’s great to get another X Games gold medal. The track was really cool, but it just became so slippery that it was a game of survival. It was a warm night, but it was humid. I was pretty much riding in survival mode from the start. I had the 10th pick of the start, but took the very inside gate and managed to take the lead coming off the first rock section. Cody Webb was riding strong, but I knew that pushing too hard wasn’t the way to go. I stuck to a speed I was happy with, and raced the few parts of the track I could. It’s amazing to have won? I just hope things go a little more smoothly at the next X Games event in Spain.”

1. Taddy Blazusiak…KTM
2. Cody Webb……….Beta
3. David Knight……..Hon
4. Colton Haaker……Hon
5. Taylor Robert…….Kaw
6. Mike Brown……….KTM
7. Cory Graffunder…Hus
8. Kyle Redmond…..KTM
9. Alfredo Gomez…..Hsb
10. Max Gerston……KTM


RIDE THIS WEEKEND’S BULGARIAN GRAND PRIX TRACK WITH MAX ANSTIE

WHAT DOES A RACER DO ON HIS DAY OFF…TAKE UP A DIFFERENT MOTORIZED SPORT

Tom and Billy discuss the merits of going 140 mile per hour down the front straight of a super speedway.

With REM Glen Helen not racing motocross weekend, former AMA Grand National dirt tracker (and 1990 Over-40 World Vet Motocross Champion) Tom White decided to try his hand at road racing at a California Speedway track day. Above, Tom gets a little advice from former World Speedway Champion Billy Hamill, who was also racing a Speedway race that night. Plus, on the way out of the super speedway, Tom stopped at the kart track to watch MXA test rider Billy Musgrave spins some laps (when Billy isn’t racing motocross he is an S1 kart Pro). Motocross racers gotta race!


HOW DOES THE 108% RULE WORK IN F1 AND MXGP?

In Formula 1, a team like Marussian could be eliminated from the GP if they failed to make the time cut.

Way back in 1996 Formula 1 began to worry about the danger of slower cars on the racetrack, so, under the sporting regulations, they imposed a 107% rule. During qualifying, any F1 driver who fails to set a lap within 107 percent of the time of the fastest qualifier will not be allowed to start the race (although the race stewards may make exceptions).

After the MXGP debacles in Mexico and Brazil over the past few years, where very slow local riders were allowed, nee’ encouraged, to start the race in hopes of getting more than 20 riders on the track, it was decided by Youthstream and the FIM that they needed a F1-style rule of their own. So, they came up with the 108% rule. Not only is it less restrictive than the F1 rule by 1%, but it is based on the average time of the top ten qualifiers, not the fastest qualifier.

HERE IS HOW IT WORKS

The typical Grand Prix track takes around 2 minutes to circulate (120 seconds) and 108% of 120 seconds in 129.6 seconds. Thus, any rider who qualifies slower than 129.6 will not be allowed to race. Every weekend a handful of riders are eliminated. Sometimes they are just slow riders (with money to burn), but normally they are true professional racers who don’t make the 108% cut because they are injured and just attempting to ride through the pain. Most famously, in Qatar the 108% rule got Livia Lancelot, who was reportedly being paid start money. The 108% rule also eliminated all of the Arab and Thai riders from their home GPs.

THE PROBLEMS AHEAD

This 450 start from Qatar may look good at this angle, but the right side of the starting gate was empty. Photo: Ray Archer

It’s no secret that Youthstream’s oppressive entry fees and lack of any rewards for the riders in terms of purse, start or travel money (save for Livia Lancelot?who was being used a political pawn by the local promoters) has killed their start list. American motocross accepts as many as 109 riders per class and then pairs that down to 40 for the main events. Youthstream doesn’t have to do any trimming of the fat?they can’t get 40 riders. They rarely get 30 riders. This weekend they only got 20 riders for the 450 class. It is shameful to have to race with half full gates. The lack of entries was the that Giuseppe Luongo wants to switch to the “Super Final” format (because then he can make poor rider turnouts in two classes look like a good turnout in the combined final moto). It’s a band-aid on poor management of the series by Youthstream and those that support them.

There are also concerns that at the pure sand races the Dutch and Belgian sand specialists could push the 108% rule out of reach of more than just the typical two or three riders. Last year at Lierop, Jeffrey Herlings’ time would have eliminated one-quarter of the field. That is why the 108% rule isn’t based on the fastest qualifier, but the average time of the top ten qualifiers. There was no 108% rule last year.

It is important to note that the 108% rule is a good rule. It is there for the safety of the other riders, but when you can’t scrape up enough riders to have a full gate it just makes matters worse. The solution isn’t to relax the 108% rule or offer more exceptions, but to lower the entry fees and reinstate purse money to encourage more entries of qualified racers. With 40 (or maybe even 109) riders trying to make the GP cut, there would be more than enough riders able to beat the 108% rule and fill the starting lines.

But, what is the incentive? MXA’s Dennis Stapleton was in Qatar, and having won the Arab GP qualifier the week before was eligible to enter the Grand Prix of Qatar. He turned the entry down and instead raced the Arab National Championship round that was held as a support race. Why? Because if he paid the $1400 entry fee and raced his heart out, he would go home $1400 in the hole (not counting expenses). Instead he won the Arab National race and received $2500 in purse and contingency money?making him the rider who made the most money at the Qatar Grand Prix.

If there had been a reasonable entry fee and purse, Dennis would have raced the GP. There wasn’t and he didn’t. He saw no reason to race for free…or even worse to race just to go in the hole financially. Which explains why so many capable European riders are staying at home to race their Nationals series and skipping the GPs.


20 REASONS TO BUY A TWO-STROKE


THE VISIONS OF DESIGNER AND DREAMER OBERDAN BEZZI

To see more of Oberdan Bezzi’s work go to www.motosketches.blogspot.com


TEAM HONDA GP NEWS: OUR FAVORITE RUSSIAN WON’T BE RACING IN BULGARIA, BUT MAX NAGL WILL


THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAY BOYS: BIG BASHER BASH
April 19…Larry Ward
April 21…Michael H. Basher

April 22…Gary Jones

April 23…Mike Fisher
April 24…Robbie Skaggs
April 25…Max Anstie
April 25…Erica Vuillemin

April 26…Jeff Matiasevich
April 26…Michael R. Basher

April 26…Mike Jones
April 26…Nicolas Aubin


FINNISH RIDER EELI TAKATALO TO RACE AMA NATIONALS FOR MUNN RACING


AMA 450 SUPERCROSS POINTS STANDINGS

(After 15 of 17 races)
1. Ryan Villopoto (Kaw)……..321
2. Davi Millsaps (Suz)……….296
3. Ryan Dungey (KTM)………295
4. Justin Barcia (Hon)………..245
5. Chad Reed (Hon)………….213
6. Trey Canard (Hon)………..202
7. Andrew Shor (KTM)…….189
8. James Stewart (Suz)…..174
9. Justin Brayton (Yam)…..162
10. Broc Tickle (Suz)………155
Other notables: 11. Matt Goerke (139); 12. Jake Weimer (131); 13. Mike Alessi (107); 14. Weston Peick (79); 15. Josh Hill (72); 17. Bobby Kiniry (50).


BLAKE WHARTON AT MINNEAPOLIS: LIVING BY THE SWORD


AMA 250 EAST SUPERCROSS POINTS STANDINGS

(After 8 of 9 races)
1. Wil Hahn (Hon)…………………178
2. Marvin Musquin (KTM)………173
3. Blake Wharton (Suz)…………153
4. Vince Friese (Hon)……………103
5. Gavin Faith (Hon)………………100
6. Dean Wilson (Kaw)…………..87
7. Cole Thompson………………..83
8. Kyle Peters (Hon)……………..78
9. Jeremy Martin (Yam)…………71
10. Justin Hill (Kaw)………………..68
Other notables: 11. Lance Vincent (66); 12. Jimmy Decotis (66); 13. A.J. Cantazaro (62); 15. P.J. Larsen (54); 19. Zach Bell (37); 21. Tyler Bowers (34); 34. Austin Coon (3).


BLASTS FROM THE PAST: DENTON & THE MAN


AMA 250 WEST SUPERCROSS POINTS STANDINGS

(After 7 of 9 races)
1. Ken Roczen (KTM)…………….163
2. Eli Tomac (Hon)………………..143
3. Cole Seely (Hon)……………….113
4. Zach Osborne (Hon)…………..102
5. Jason Anderson (Suz)………..99
6. Martin Davalos (Kaw)…………..94
7. Kyle Cunningham (Yam)………86
8. Joey Savatgy (KTM)…………….75
9. Tyla Rattray (Kaw)………………74
10. Austin Politelli (Hon)………….72
Other notables: 11. Christian Craig (71); 12. Jessy Nelson (60); 14. Malcolm Stewart (56); 15. Ryan Sipes (45); 18. Jake Canada (28).


FLY RACING KINETIC SHOCK MESH RACEWEAR EXPLAINED


GRAND PRIX STATS AFTER THE FIRST FOUR RACES

Clement Desalle.

Laps led 450 class
1. Tony Cairoli………….68
2. Ken DeDyckler………29
3. Clement Desalle…….8
4. Kevin Strijbos………..6
4. Evgeny Bobryshev…..6

Jeffrey Herlings. Photo: Ray Archer

Laps led 250 class
1. Jeffrey Herlings……70
2. Jordi Tixier………….39
3. Jose Butron…………6
4. Glenn Coldenhoff…..2

Gautier Paulin.

Most 450 podiums
1. Tony Cairoli…………..4
2. Gautier Paulin……….3
3. Ken De.Dycker…..…..2
3. Clement Desalle…….2
5. Evgeny Bobryshev….1

Jordi Tixier.    Photo: Ray Archer

Most 250 podiums
1. Jeffrey Herlings….4
2. Jordi Tixier………..2
3. Jose Butron………2
3. Romain Febvre…..2
5. Dean Ferris……….1
5. Jake Nicholls……..1


TAKE A PIXELATED LAP OF THE SEATTLE SUPERCROSS TRACK


2013 AMA SUPERCROSS SCOREBOARD: BACK TO THE 250 WEST THIS WEEKEND

DATE          CITY                        450SX                        250SX
Jan. 5 ? Anaheim 1…………Davi Millsaps……..Eli Tomac
Jan. 12 ? Phoenix…………..Justin Barcia………Eli Tomac
Jan. 19 ? Anaheim II……….Ryan Villopoto……Eli Tomac
Jan. 26 ? Oakland…………..Ryan Villopoto……Ken Roczen
Feb. 2 ? Anaheim III………..Ryan Dungey…….Ken Roczen
Feb. 9 ? San Diego………….Davi Millsaps……..Eli Tomac
Feb. 16 ? Arlington………….Ryan Villopoto……Dean Wilson
Feb. 23 ? Atlanta……………James Stewart……Wil Hahn
Mar. 2 ? St. Louis…………..Ryan Villopoto……Wil Hahn
Mar. 9 ? Daytona…………….Ryan Villopoto……Marvin Musquin
Mar. 16 ? Indianapolis………Ryan Villopoto……Marvin Musquin
Mar. 23 ? Toronto……………Ryan Villopoto……Marvin Musquin
Apr. 6 ? Houston…………….Ryan Villopoto……Blake Wharton
Apr. 13 ? Minneapolis………Ryan Dungey…….Marvin Musquin
Apr. 20 ? Seattle…………….Justin Barcia………Ken Roczen
Apr. 27 ? Salt Lake………….??
May 4 ? Las Vegas…………..??
Points leaders: 450?Ryan Villopoto, 250 West?Ken Roczen, 250 East?Wil Hahn


WITH X-FIGHTERS HEADED TO GLEN HELEN ON MAY 11, SEE THE DUBAI ROUND HERE


MXA’S 2013 BIKE SHOOTOUT SPECIAL: EVERY BIKE TEST IN ONE EASY TO FIND PLACE

Have you ever wished that you could get every one of MXA’s 2013 bike tests, all the shootouts and the dyno information in one place at one time. Well, you can with MXA’s 163-page “2013 Bike Shootout” Special. It is available for on the iTunes & Kindle Newstands, for your iPhone, iPad or Kindle. Go to to the Apple or Kindle Newsstand & Search “Motocross Action Magazine.” It is available for $4.99.


MEET THE OTHER SIPES ? 24-YEAR-OLD JUSTIN


2013 SUPERCROSS TV SCHEDULE: CBS IS CODE FOR “NOT LIVE”

Date…………Event………………TV network…………Time
Apr. 21……Seattle……………CBS/Speed……..12:00 p.m. (Eastern)
Apr. 27……Salt Lake…………Speed…………….9:30 p.m. (Eastern)
May 4…….Las Vegas…………Speed……………10:00 p.m. (Eastern)


WHAT’S LEFT? 2013 AMA SUPERCROSS SCHEDULE & EVERY OTHER IMPORTANT DATE

2013 AMA SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
April 27…Salt Lake City, UT
May 4…Las Vegas, NV

2013 AMA 250/450 NATIONAL MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
May 18…Hangtown, CA
May 25…Lakewood, CO
June 1…Muddy Creek, TN
June 8…Mt. Morris, PA
June 22…Budds Creek, MD
June 29…Southwick, MA
July 6…Red Bud, MI
July 20…Washougal, WA
July 27…Millville, MN
August 10…Unadilla, NY
August 17…Tooele, UT
August 24…Lake Elsinore, CA

2013 250/450 WORLD MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
May 5…Portugal
May 19…Brazil
May 26…Mexico (canceled)
June 9…France
June 16…Italy
June 30…Sweden
July 7…Latvia
July 14…Finland
July 28…Germany
August 4…Czech Republic
August 18…Belgium
August 25…Great Britain
September 8…Belgium

2013 FIM MX3 MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
May 26…Ukraine
June 2…Croatia
June 9…Slovenia
June 16…Italy
July 21…Ukraine
Aug 4…Brazil
August 25…Great Britain
September 1…Czech Republic
September 8…Slovakia

2013 WMX WOMEN’S NATIONAL MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
May 18…Hangtown, CA
June 8…Mt. Morris, PA
June 29…Southwick, MA

2013 FIM WOMEN’S WORLD MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
June 2…Croatia
June 9…Slovenia
June 16…Italy
August 25…Great Britain
September 1…Czech Republic
September 8…Slovakia

2013 FIM SIDECAR MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
May 19…Ukraine
May 26…Germany
June 9…Czech Republic
June 16…Holland
June 23…Belgium
July 7…France
July 21…Germany
August 4…Estonia
August 11…Latvia
August 18…Switzerland
September 8…France
September 15…Germany
September 22…Belgium

2013 AUSTRALIAN MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
April 28…Murray Bridge, SA
May 5…Wonthaggi, VIC
May 19…Broadford, VIC
June 2…Conondale, QLD
July 14…Appin, NSW
July 28…Hervey Bay, QLD
August 11…Swan Hill, VIC
August 25…Toowoomba, QLD
September 1…Coolum, QLD

2013 WORLD OFFROAD CHAMPIONSHIP (WORCS) SERIES
May 10-12…Surprise, AZ
July 12-14…Pala, CA
August 9-11…Glen Helen, CA
September 20-22…Honey Lake, CA
October 11-13…Taft, CA

2013 AMA VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE DAYS
July 19-21, 2013…Lexington, OH

2013 NMA GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
July 21-26…Norman, OK

2013 LORETTA LYNN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
July 29-Aug. 3, 2013…Hurricane Mills, TN

2013 MOTOCROSS DES NATIONS
September 29, 2013…Teutschenthal, Germany

2013 WORLD VETERAN MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
November 2-3, 2013…Glen Helen, CA