PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Thomas Pages.

Skeptics believed that freestyle motocross would reach a point where new tricks were no longer possible–that freestyle would hit a ceiling. And, for quite a while they were right. Right-side-up tricks became upside-down tricks once backflips became the norm. Then there was a lull in creativity. Impressive as these combinations were, the sport yearned for ingenuity. That’s when courses started integrating quarter-pipes. Freestyle riders are again taking the sport to new heights thanks in part to quarter-pipes.

Don’t believe me? Then tune into the X Games in June, where riders like Thomas Pages (pictured here) and others will unveil all-new tricks in the Quarter-Pipe contest held at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. Flairs, body varials, backflip combinations…it’s going to be an epic display of what can be done on a 220-pound motorcycle 30 feet above the deck. Photo: Red Bull Content Pool.

YOUR CHANCE TO COMPETE IN X GAMES STEP UP!

Saddle up and step up to Austin!

Press release: Youy can compete in the X Games — all you have to do is qualify for Step Up on May 1 in Vegas. The X Games has announced that there will be an X Games Austin Moto X Step Up Qualifier held in collaboration with Round three of the 2015 Geico AMA EnduroCross Championship Series on May 1, 2015, at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. The qualifier will take place the evening before the Monster Energy Supercross finals and will be open to 30 riders, with the top 10 riders advancing to the evening show. The final top three athletes will be invited to compete at X Games Austin onThursday, June 4, in front of the Texas State Capitol in downtown Austin. To enter the qualifier, go to Endurocross.com. Click on the “entry form” tab and select the Las Vegas event to complete the event registration form. A fee is required to enter.

FUN FACT: WHAT’S IN A NUMBER?

Broc Tickle laid down the fastest lap time in the 450 main, but that time wasn’t as short as Jeremy Martin’s flyer in the 250 main. Chalk it up to an increasingly rough track.

Daytona isn’t a typical Supercross track. The jumps get rutted and straightaways roughen up as the racing stretches into the night. It’s not fair to compare lap times between the 250 class–when the track hasn’t been hammered for an extra 15 minutes–and the 450 class–the final main event of the evening. Even so, it’s interesting to note that several 250 racers logged lap times that were faster than the 450 field. Take a look:

250 Fastest Lap: Jeremy Martin…1:05.688
450 Fastest Lap: Broc Tickle…1:06.361

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: PRO CIRCUIT SERVICE PRODUCTS

Press release: Pro Circuit offers service products like our PC-03 Seal & O-Ring Grease and PC-04 Assembly Lube that are a necessity when assembling any dirt bike or ATV.

PC-03 Seal & O-Ring Grease ($9.95): Pro Circuit’s PC-03 Seal & O-Ring Grease is designed for use on any seal or o-ring during assembly. It’s blended with PTFE, a Teflon like material, creating a super slick surface for less internal wear and friction even at extreme temperatures.

PC-04 Assembly Lube ($9.95): PC-04 Assembly Lube is designed to prevent metal-to-metal contact upon engine start-up before adequate lubrication can be supplied. PC-04 is also excellent for use on bolt threads for accurate torque readings. Visit www.procircuit.com for more information on this and other Pro Circuit products.

VIDEO TIME CAPSULE: JAMES STEWART AT DAYTONA

James Stewart would have won the 2012 Daytona Supercross on a pontoon boat. He was that good in 2012.

The Supercross series hasn’t skipped a beat this year despite the absence of James Stewart, although the Fox Sports highlight reel has been somewhat light on content. James is sidelined until the end of the Nationals, but the factory Suzuki rider’s accomplishments (and crashes) still live on thanks to YouTube. Bubba, a two-time Daytona 450 Supercross winner, has had success as well as a fair number of bone-crunching blows in the infield of Daytona International Speedway. Take a trip down memory lane.

2014: JUMPING INTO ORBIT

2013: ONBOARD WITH BUBBA —LISTEN TO THE PANIC REV AT 1:06

2011: WATCH HIM CLEAR THE WALL AT 7 SECONDS & ENDO AT 1:46

2006: A TRIP THROUGH THE TUFF BLOCKS

KTM (NEARLY) SWEEPS THE WORLD

This past weekend there were a lot of major races taking place around the world. More specifically, Florida. The Sunshine State held the famed Daytona Supercross, as well as the GNCC and EnduroCross series opening rounds. There was also “The Tough One,” a Hard Enduro race in England. Halfway around the globe the Grand Prix racers were wilting in the Thailand sun as they fought for glory. Take a look at the winners (all photos courtesy of KTM Racing unless otherwise noted):

DAYTONA SUPERCROSS: 450 Class – Ryan Dungey…KTM

DAYTONA SUPERCROSS: 250 Class – Marvin Musquin…KTM

DAYTONA ENDUROCROSS: Pro Class – Cody Webb…KTM

WILD BOARD GNCC: XC1 Pro Class – Kailub Russell…KTM

TOUGH ONE HARD ENDURO: Pro Class – Jonny Walker…KTM

GP OF THAILAND: 450 Class – Ryan Villopoto…Kawasaki

GP OF THAILAND:  Jeffrey Herlings…KTM

Of the seven events, KTM won six. Only Ryan Villopoto, racing a KRT Kawasaki in Thailand, kept KTM from sweeping everything. Additionally, Kacy Martinez won the WXC (Women’s Pro GNCC race) on Sunday…on a KTM. And at the Red Bull X-Fighters opener in Mexico City KTM nearly won again, thanks to Levi Sherwood. Clinton Moore (riding a Yamaha) barely edged out the New Zealander, but that would have been another win for the orange crew. Congratulations to KTM on a dominating weekend in all things two wheeled.

2015 AMA SUPERMOTO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

April 3-5: Adams Motorsports Park, Riverside, Calif.
May 29-30: Road America, Plymouth, Wis. Held in conjunction with MotoAmerica
June 19-21: New Hampshire, Loudon, N.H.
July 3-4: Colorado National Speedway, Denver, Colo. Held in conjunction with Nascar
Aug. 1-2: Sturgis City Park, Sturgis, S.D. During 75th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally*
Aug. 14-15: Miller Motorsports Park, Salt Lake City, Utah. Held in conjunction With AMA Pro Motocross
Sept. 18-20: Downtown Sturgis, Sturgis, S.D. Street race.
Nov. 6-8: Muscle Man Honda, Tucson, Ariz.

* Non-points-paying event

For more information please visit http://www.amanationalsupermoto.com/

TUF TALK: MID-SEASON REPORT

 

RYAN DUNGEY’S BANNER SUPERCROSS SEASON

Ryan Dungey.

Ryan Dungey began the 450 Supercross series with a fourth place finish at Anaheim 1. Since then he has finished on the podium at every round, having won four the past six races, and accumulated a 40-point lead over second place (Trey Canard). How does his season thus far compare to the point leaders from the past ten years? Take a look.

Year…Points Leader…Podiums……..…Points Lead Over Second Place…Wins
2015…Ryan Dungey………nine podiums….….40 point lead over Trey Canard……….four wins
2014…Ryan Villopoto….…six podiums……….28 point lead over Ryan Dungey………three wins
2013…Ryan Villopoto…….seven podiums….…2 point lead over Davi Millsaps………five wins
2012…Ryan VIllopoto….…eight podiums…….29 point lead over Ryan Dungey…..…five wins
2011…Ryan Villopoto….…eight podiums…….26 point lead over James Stewart…..…five wins
2010…Ryan Dungey…..…seven podiums…….17 point lead over Ryan Villopoto……..three wins
2009…Chad Reed…………ten podiums………..11 point lead over James Stewart…..…two wins
2008…Chad Reed………….nine podiums…..…24 point lead over Kevin Windham.…six wins
2007…James Stewart…….nine podiums…..…24 point lead over Chad Reed………….seven wins
2006…Ricky Carmichael…nine podiums…..…2 point lead over Chad Reed………..…six wins
2005…Ricky Carmichael…ten podiums………32 point lead over Chad Reed………..…seven wins

Depending on how you look at it, Ryan Dungey is having the most dominating year from this sample of riders. While he doesn’t have the most podiums or the most wins in a ten-race span, he has the largest points lead, at 40. Of course these numbers really don’t mean anything, because there are still seven races to go. A lot can happen in the next month and a half. Just ask Chad Reed, the only racer in last ten years to lead the point standings after ten rounds and lose the 450 Supercross Championship.

PRODUCT OF THE WEEK: ALPINESTARS ELI TOMAC L.E. TECH 10 BOOT

“We put ourselves on the line with every race, which is why I use Alpinestars gear because it provides the best protection and performance for me. I couldn’t race without my Tech 10 boots, knee braces, gloves and gear; they give me the comfort and confidence I need to race at my very best. I also love being able to contribute custom colors to a limited edition series of boots and gear for Alpinestars.” ~ Eli Tomac

Visit www.alpinestars.com for more information.

DAYTONA: A TRUE TEST FOR THE NATIONALS?

There’s no question that Daytona is the toughest Supercross track on the schedule, but is it a true test of impending outdoor success? Based on 20 years of comparative results, the answer probably isn’t what you might think. Sure, there are odd circumstances, Supercross-only contracts for some (Jeremy McGrath) and injuries that kept race winners from racing the Nationals (or in the case of Ricky Carmichael in 2004, racing at Daytona). Since 1995 the Daytona Supercross winner has gone on to win the 450 Supercross title nine times. Ricky Carmichael, the freak of nature that he was, won Daytona and the Nationals in the same year a record four times in a row. People put an emphasis on Daytona being a good indicator for the Nationals, but don’t believe the hype.

Year…Daytona Supercross Winner…National Champion

2015 – Ryan Dungey…???????

2014 – Ryan Villopoto…Ken Roczen

2013 – Ryan Villopoto…Ryan Villopoto

2012 – James Stewart…Ryan Dungey

2011 – Ryan Villopoto…Ryan Villopoto

2010 – Ryan Villopoto…Ryan Dungey

2009 – Chad Reed…Chad Reed

2008 – Kevin Windham…James Stewart

2007 – James Stewart…Grant Langston

2006 – Ricky Carmichael…Ricky Carmichael

2005 – Chad Reed…Ricky Carmichael

2004 – Chad Reed…Ricky Carmichael

2003 – Ricky Carmichael…Ricky Carmichael

2002 – Ricky Carmichael…Ricky Carmichael

2001 – Ricky Carmichael…Ricky Carmichael

2000 – Ricky Carmichael…Ricky Carmichael

1999 – Jeremy McGrath…Greg Albertyn

1998 – Jeremy McGrath…Doug Henry

1997 – Jeff Emig…Jeff Emig

1996 – Jeremy McGrath…Jeff Emig

1995 – Mike Kiedrowski…Jeremy McGrath

LACR ST. PATRICK’S DAY GP THIS SUNDAY

Click www.lacrmotox.com for more details.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: MATRIX CONCEPTS M21 PRO TRAY

Press Release: The M21 Protray is a lightweight plastic work tray for any sear or flat surface. Purchase one today and receive a bottle of 1.7 Formula 1 – Wash Degreaser Concentrate for free! * Aluminum magnetic handle helps keep the small pieces in one place. * The tray has tackle box style partitions in the tray to segregate various bolts and pieces. * Designed to slip under the Matrix stands. * 16″ X 9″ rectangular tray that has wing-like lips to hug the seat. * Fits on all bike seats. * Six color combinations available. * Customize it! Add your unique race team/name and number. * MSRP: $59.95. * Contact www.matrixracingproducts.com

Photos by Drew Ruiz, John Basher, KTM Images, Red Bull Content Pool, MXGP, Alpinestars, Massimo Zanzani and Travis Fant