MOTOCROSS ACTION’S WEEKEND NEWS ROUND-UP: THERE’S NEW RUBBER ON THE HORIZON, TELL TIME THE MUSQUIN WAY & LOTS OF OTHER WORTHLESS TRIVIA
NEW TIRES ON THE HORIZON: THE DUNLOP AND BRIDGESTONE LINE UP TO FIGHT
MXA’S Daryl Ecklund wrings out the Dunlop MX52 tires by winning the 450 Pro class at Glen Helen on Saturday. The MX32 will replace the MX31, while the new MX52 will take the place of the MX51.
The Geomax MX52 has staggered front knobs.
In this display model, you can see the raised knob-in-knob design on the rear Dunlop MX32.
MX52 rear tread pattern.
MX32 rear tread pattern.
Meanwhile, Bridgestone will be releasing two new motocross tires this spring. The Battlecross X40 (left) and the the Battlecross X30 (right). Not surprisingly, they also use a knob-in-knob design.
MARVIN MUSQUIN GETS HIS OWN WATCH
Marvin Musquin has been named an ambassador of Evilard watches. And one of the perks is a special personalized watch. Musquin joins Arnaud Tonus and Cyrille Despres at Evilard.
THE FIRST SHOE DROPS: JAMES STEWART RE-UPS WITH SUZUKI FOR 2015
Somebody had to be the first rider to make a move and James Stewart was that man. James re-signed with the Yoshimura Suzuki team for 2015 and he told Fox Sports that 2015 would be his last year. Stewart has won 47 Supercross races during his career. No one is surprised by the Stewart signing because James can’t go to any team that won’t allow him to keep his lucrative Red Bull contract (and that eliminates Monster Kawasaki, Muscle Milk Honda or any Rockstar team). That only leaves Red Bull KTM (and Roger DeCoster doesn’t want him) or Yoshimura Suzuki.
REM’S “DOWN FOR LOW” RACE ON FEBRUARY 22, BUT YOU CAN SHIFT ANYWAY YOU LIKE
A MESSAGE FROM JAKE WEIMER & IT’S NOT GOOD NEWS
IT LOOKS LIKE WINTER IS HERE TO STAY UNTIL AROUND AUGUST: MOUNTAIN HORSE HAS THE ANSWER
Turn your bike into a snowmobile.
The Timbersled Mountain Horse snow conversion kit comes in Short Track (ST), Long Track (LT), and Snow Cross (SX),models and arrive fully assembled for simple installation on dirt bikes.The most popular Mountain Horse kite is the ST conversion kit. It includes a 120″ long x 12-1/2″ wide track with 2″ tall paddles. The Short Track (ST) kit delivers the best maneuverability and control for dirt biking in the mountains. The Long Track kit (LT) maintains all ST characteristics but has a 17-inch longer track for more traction for use in deep snow.
The Mountain Horse kit bolts on.
The SX conversion kits is made specifically for snow cross racing, hard packed snow, and rough terrain riding. It uses stiffer Snow Hawk track. For more info go to www.timbersled.com.
TOP SUPERCROSS PRIVATEER! WESTON PEICK VIDEO
THIS WEEKEND’S VALENCE INTERNATIONAL CANCELED
Europe has had the same bad weather as the American east coast? so the Valence International has been canceled because the track has been flooded. This is a blow to some GP teams as Valence was going to be their only warm-up race before the start of the GPs on March 1. Valence was the only outing planned by the Kawasaki and Suzuki factory teams, but they could all go to Hawkstone next weekend for one last chance.
BULGARIA FILLS THE VACANT HOLE IN THE GP SCHEDULE
The GP season starts in two weeks, which is when Giuseppe Luongo really starts making money. The riders? Not so much.
The final “To Be Announced” (TBA) date on the 2014 World Championship calendar was filled by Bulgaria on April 20. No surprise here, Bulgaria has been on the schedule for the last few years and is a race that gets government help?which means a big sanctioning fee for Youthstream. The season starts on March 1 in Qatar.
2014 FIM WORLD MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
March 1…….Qatar
March 9……..Thailand
March 30…..Brazil
April 13……..Italy
April 20……..Bulgaria
May 4……….Holland
May 11………Spain
May 25………England
June 1……….France
June 15……..Italy
June 22……..Germany
July 6…………Sweden
July 13……….Finland
July 27……….Czech Republic
August 3…….Belgium
August 17……Ukraine
Sept. 7……….Brazil
Sept. 15……..Mexico
BELIEVE IT OR NOT! GLEN HELEN TO HOSTED FIVE RACES THIS WEEKEND
There was Lucas Oil truck race, REM racer, two-stroke-only race, Yamaha Quad X series race and an iMOTO event all held at Glen Helen this past weekend.
How many races are held at your local trac? How many on the same weekend? On Saturday, February 15, 2014, there was a Lucas Offroad Truck Regional Short Course race on the Glen Helen truck track and an REM Motocross event on the REM track. If that’s not enough, the front track was available for Open Practice on Saturday.
On Sunday, February 16, 2014, the opening round of the Yamaha Quad X Series was held on the front track, while round one of the MTA Two-Stroke Prequel series ran simultaneously on the REM track. Additionally, there was an iMOTO event for four-strokes partnered with the MTA Two-Stroke warm-up Prequel. What ? No hydroplane races? For more info go to www.glenhelen.com
THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAY BOYS: JOSH HANSEN TURNS 30
Feb. 15…Davi Millsaps 1988
Feb. 16…Josh Hansen 1984
Feb. 16…Don Emde 1951
Feb. 16…Valentino Rossi 1979
Feb. 17…Fredric Bolley 1974
Feb. 17…Heath Voss 1978
Feb. 17…Stefy Bau 1977
Feb. 17…Jason Anderson 1993
Feb. 18…Kevin Foley
Feb. 19…Preston Petty 1941
Feb. 19…Troy Adams 1983
Feb. 19…Michael Young 1981
Feb. 19…Ian Trettel 1992
GOOD NEWS! E15 ETHANOL DERAILED BY THE AGRICULTURAL ACT
The Agricultural Act of 2014 signed by President Obama contains a provision that helps deter distribution of E15 fuels into the U.S. marketplace. The AMA considers this farm-bill provision a major victory for the owners of the estimated 22 million motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles currently in operation. Those vehicles could be damaged by the use of E15 fuel, a gasoline formulation that contains up to 15 percent ethanol by volume. Also, use of E15 can void vehicle warranties. The Agricultural Act prohibits the use of “Rural Energy for America Program” grant money to purchase and install ethanol blender pumps to dispense E15 at the retail level. Although the EPA has approved E15 use in 2001-and-newer light-duty vehicles, which include cars, light-duty trucks and medium-duty passenger vehicles, the EPA has not approved its use in any motorcycles or ATVs.
AMA SUPERMOTO CHAMPIONSHIP TO TRY AGAIN
The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) will join forces with USA Supermoto to form a six-race AMA National Supermoto Championship series. Unlike the previous and failed AMA Supermoto Championship, the AMA promises to embrace amateur and sportsman racers in the future. Most of the six races will be held in conjunction with AMA road races, NASCAR, Offroad Truck or bike festivals.
2014 AMA SUPERMOTO CHAMPIONSHIP
March 7……………Las Vegas, NV
April 19-20……….Lake Havasu City, AZ
May 30-June 1…Elkhart Lake, WS
July 5-6……………Denver, CO
July 26-27………..Salt Lake City, UT
Sept. 13-14………Sturgis, SD
AT A GLANCE: 2014 AMA SUPERCROSS SERIES
Justin Hill (center) joined Jason Anderson, Dean Wilson and Cole Seely in the 20 West win column. Malcolm Stewart (far right) hopes to be next when the West resumes.
Date Venue 450 250
Jan. 4…..Anaheim I……Ken Roczen…….Jason Anderson
Jan. 11…Phoenix………Ryan Villopoto….Jason Anderson
Jan. 18…Anaheim II…..Chad Reed………Cole Seely
Jan. 25…Oakland………Ryan Villopoto…Jason Anderson
Feb. 1…..Anaheim III….Chad Reed………Dean Wilson
Feb. 8…..San Diego…..James Stewart…Justin Hill
Feb. 15…Dallas…………James Stewart…Adam Cianciarulo
Feb. 22…Atlanta
Mar. 1…..Indy
Mar. 8…..Daytona
Mar. 15…Detroit
Mar. 22…Toronto
Mar. 29…St. Louis
Apr. 5……Houston
Apr. 12….Seattle
Apr. 26….New York
May 3……Las Vegas
450 points leader………….Ryan Villopoto (Kaw)
250 West points leader…Jason Anderson (KTM)
250 East points leader…Adam Cianciarulo (Kaw)
YAMAHA GP TEAM VIDEO: FROSSARD, CHARLIER AND ROELANTS GETTING DOWN WITH IT IN THE SAND
THIS WEEK’S IMPORTANT RACES
Date Event
February 15…………….Dallas Supercross
February 14-16………..Nampa, Idaho Arenacross
February 16…………….Glen Helen Two-Stroke Revival #1
February 22…………….Atlanta Supercross
February 21-23………..Reno Arenacross
February 23……………..Hawkstone International
March 1…………………..Qatar 250/450 GP
THE CURRENT SUPERCROSS INJURY LIST
Chad Reed is going to ride practice at Dallas. If it goes okay his name won’t be on the injured list. If however…
Rider Injury
Trey Canard……………Broken arm
Davi Millsaps…………..Knee injury
Joey Savatgy…………..Broken wrist,collapsed lung
Austin Howell………….Broken thumb, collapsed lung
Marvin Musquin……….Knee injury (ACL)
Casey Hinson………….Broken hand, facial fractures
Broc Schmelyun………Broken legs
Ben Lamay……………..Dislocated wrist, broken jaw
Austin Politelli………….Broken femur
Dillon Huddleston……..Broken thumb
Shane Sewell…………..Broken foot
Brett Hottel………………Broken femur
Zach Bell…………………Broken collarbone
Cody Gilmore…………..Broken collarbone
Les Smith………………..Dislocated ribs
Kevin Weisbruch………Crushed trachea
Ronnie Ray………………Broken leg
Darryn Durham…………Concussion
Josh Grant……………….Shoulder injury
Zach Osborne…………..Broken collarbone
Kristoffer Palm………….Broken collarbone
Wil Hahn………………….Hand injury
Jake Weimer…………….Wrist and shoulder injury
Chad Reed……………….Collarbone and shoulder injury
HOW TO SPEND A SUNNY 80-DEGREE DAY IN SOCAL…HANGIN’ WITH YOUR OLD FRIENDS
Tom White, Jody Weisel and Doug Dubach like to get together to see which one of them forgot more than the other two know.
CURRENT AMA 450 SUPERCROSS POINTS STANDINGS HEADING INTO ATLANTA
Ryan Villopoto has a nine point lead on Ken Roczen.
(After 7 of 17 rounds)
1. Ryan Villopoto………144
2. Ken Roczen………….132
4. James Stewart………130
5. Ryan Dungey………..116
5. Justin Brayton……….114
6. Chad Reed……………111
7. Justin Barcia…………109
8. Andrew Short…………83
9. Wil Hahn………………..65
10. Broc Tickle……………63
Other notables: 11. Jake Weimer (55); 11. Ivan Tedesco (55); 12. Weston Peick (54); 13. Jake Weimer (50); 17. Mike Alessi (34); 21. Eli Tomac (25).
CURRENT AMA 250 EAST SUPERCROSS POINTS STANDINGS HEADING INTO ATLANTA
(After 1 of 9 rounds)
1. Adam Cianciarulo……..25
2. Blake Baggett…………..22
3. Martin Davalos………….20
4. Vince Friese…………….18
5. Justin Bogle…………….16
6. Cole Thompson………..15
7. Blake Wharton…………14
8. Kyle Cunningham……..13
9. Alex Martin………………12
10. Mitchell Oldenburg….11
Other notables: 11. Kyle Peters (10) 12. Levi Killbarger (9); 13. A.J. Cantazaro (8); 15. Jimmy Decoti (6); 17. Jaclson Richardson (4); 20. Gavin Faith (1).
CURRENT AMA 250 WEST SUPERCROSS POINTS STANDINGS AFTER SAN DIEGO
Jason Anderson has a four point lead and seven weeks to think about it.
(After 6 of 9 rounds)
1. Jason Anderson…….131
2. Cole Seely…………….127
3. Justin Hill………………107
4. Dean Wilson…………..98
5. Cooper Webb…………92
6. Malcolm Stewart……..89
7. Jessy Nelson………….76
8. Shane McElrath………71
9. Zach Osborne…………69
10. Dean Ferris…………..63
Other notables: 12. Dakota Tedder (50); 13. Jake Canada (46); 15. Valentin Teillet (28); 17. Darry Durham (21); 20. Austin Politelli (11).
DON’T FORGET! WORLD MINI GRAND PRIX MOVES TO GLEN HELEN ON APRIL 15-20
For more info go to www.nmamx.com
MXA TESTS A LOT OF MOTOCROSS BIKES. HOW MANY? HERE ARE THE BIKE TESTS IN THE FEBRUARY ISSUE
2014 KTM 300SX kit bike.
2014 Yamaha YZ250F.
2014 Yamaha YZ450F exhaust pipe shootout.
We ride Jacob Hayes KX250F.
We ride DR.D’s Yamaha YZ450F.
We ride a Kawasaki KX144 two-stroke.
2014 Yamaha YZ125.
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