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2015 GRAND PRIX SCHEDULE RELEASED: MEXICO, BRAZIL, ARGENTINA (TWICE), QATAR, THAILAND & RUSSIA (AGAIN)

This proposed GP schedule will never hold up to the scrutiny of the factory teams. It is unlikely that the teams will want to fly-away three different times. First to Qatar, Thailand and Argentina, then to Brazil and Argentina (again) and then a third overseas trip back to Mexico.

2015 FIM WORLD MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Feb. 28…………………Losail, Qatar
March 8………………..Si Racha, Thailand
March 29………………Neuwuen, Argentina
April 12………………..Arco di Trento, Italy
April 19………………..Talavera, Spain
April 26………………..Lommel, Belgium
May 10…………………TBA, Russia
May 24…………………Matterley Basin, Great Britain
June 14………………..Maggiora, Italy
June 21………………..Teutschenthal, Germany
July 5…………………..Hyvinkaa, Finland
July 12…………………Kegums, Latvia
July 26…………………Loket, Czech Republic
Aug 9……………………Trindade, Brazil
Aug 16………………….Mendoza, Argentina
Aug 30………………….Assen, Netherlands
Sept 13………………….Leon, Mexico

MIKE LAROCCO GOES INTO HALL OF FAME

Mike LaRocco will be inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony October 17, 2014, in Orlando, Florida. LaRocco is the fifth member of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame class of 2014 to be announced. He joins Pierre Karsmakers, Tom White, George Barber and Scott Summers at the ceremony. Mike won 1993 AMA 500 National Championship and the 1994 AMA 250 National Championship before retiring in 2006. Since 2010, LaRocco has managed the Geico Honda.

UPDATED 2014 AUSTRALIAN SUPERCROSS SERIES SCHEDULE

The 2014 Australian Supercross Championship will feature five rounds over three weekends in October and November. The first two rounds in Bathhurst are paired with the Australian V8 Supercar series, while the next two are part of the Phillip Island MotoGP road race weekend.

2014 AUSTRALIAN SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Oct. 10…………….Bathhurst, NSW
Oct. 11…………….Bathhurst, NSW
Oct.18……………..Phillip Island, Vic
Oct. 19…………….Phillip Island, Vic
Nov. 8………………Brisbane, Qld

RED BUD AMA NATIONAL RESULTS

James Stewart went 39-12 at Red Bud and, although it’s not over until its over, James thinks it’s over.

450 Class:
1. Ken Roczen…KTM…………….(1-1)
2. Eli Tomac…Hon…………………….(4-2)
3. Ryan Dungey…KTM……………(4-4)
4. Trey Canard…Hon………….… (2-4)
5. Andrew Short…KTM……………(5-5)
6. Josh Grant…Yam……………… (6-6)
7. Chad Reed…Kaw…………………(9-7)
8. Brett Metcalfe…Kaw…………….(7-8)
8. Justin Brayton…Yam…………. (10-9)
10. Kyle Chisholm…Yam…………….(13-13)
Other notables: 11. Fredrik Noren; 14. Christian Craig; 15. Malolm Stewart; 17. James Stewart; 18. Nick Wey.

250 Class:
1. Jeremy Martin…Yam…………… (1-2)
2. Marvin Musquin…KTM……….… (4-3)
3. Jason Anderson…KTM……………(3-4)
4. Blake Baggett…Kaw…………….(2-7)
5. Cooper Webb… Yam…………..(14-1)
6. Dean Wilson…Kaw)…………………(9-5)
7. Cole Seely…Hon………………. (8-6)
8. Alex Martin…Yam………………. (6-9)
9. Justin Bogle….Hon…………….. (5-12)
10. Justin Hill…Kaw……………………..(10-8)
Other notables: 11. Kyle Cunningham; 12. Matt Biscelgia; 14. Zach Bell; 16. Christophe Pourcel; 40. Justin Starling.

SWEDISH GRAND PRIX RESULTS

Tony’s cause was helped when second in the points, Clement Desalle failed to a make the top ten in Sweden.

450 CLASS
1. Antonio Cairoli (KTM)……………..1-1
2. Jeremy Van Horebeek (Yam)…..3-2
3. Kevin Strijbos (Suz)………………..2-4
4. Max Nagl (Hon)………………………9-3
5. Tommy Searle (Kaw)……………….6-5
6. Steven Frossard (Kaw)…………….5-9
7. David Philippaerts (Yam)………..10-7
8. Shaun Simpson (KTM)……………7-10
9. Davide Guarneri (TM)…………….12-6
10. Ken De Dycker (KTM0…………..8-12
Other notables: 11.Clement Desalle; 13. Nathan Watson; 15. Rui Goncalves; 18. Dean Ferris; 22, Tanel Leok.

250 CLASS
1. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM)………….1-1
2. Jordi Tixier (KTM)………………..4-2
3. Tim Gajser (Hon)…………………2-6
4. Valentin Guillod (KTM)…………5-5
5. Romain Febvre (Hus)…………..3-11
6. Dylan Ferrandis (Kaw)………….12-3
7. Aleksandr Tonkov (Hus)……….11-4
8. Jose Butron (KTM)……………….8-7
9. Christophe Charlier (Yam)…….7-8
10. Jeremy Seewer (Suz)…………..10-9
Other notables: 11. Julien Lieber; 13. Petar Petrov; 14. Max Anstie; 15. Harri Kullas; 22. Luke Styke; 23.Thomas Covington.

THE MOTO COUNTDOWN UPDATED: HOW MANY MOTOS BEHIND ARE THE CHASERS AFTER RED BUD?

Ken Roczen (94) has a one moto lead over everyone in the field. Ryan Dungey is the closest, but he is 26 points behind.

Since the AMA pays 25 points per moto win (which adds up to 50 points for a 1-1 day), you can simply count how many points behind the chasers are from the points leader or, as the season progresses, you can start to count how many motos they are behind (which then leads to how many complete races they trail the leader).

For example, Ken Roczen has 280 points and Ryan Dungey is 24 points behind Kenny at 2014. That means that Ken and Ryan are still racing in the same moto. If Kenny has a bad moto and finishes 14th or worse— Ryan Dungey will be the new points leader (assuming that Dungey wins the moto that Ken Roczen falters in). With this mathematical concept in hand, let’s list how many motos the major contenders trail Ken Roczen in the 450 Nationals (with 7 races to go — or 350 points to go).

ON THE SAME MOTO (within 25 points)

1. Ken Roczen…………….280

After two terrible weekends  James Stewart is now 84 points behind Kenny (that is more that three motos back).

ONE MOTO BEHIND (within 50 points)

2. Ryan Dungey………….-26

TWO MOTOS BEHIND (within 75 points)

3. Trey Canard………….-54

Brett Metcalfe is 112 points adrift of K-Roc.

THREE MOTOS BEHIND (within 100 points)

4. James Stewart……….-84

Chad Reed is two points shy of being six motos back of Ken Roczen.

FOUR MOTOS BEHIND (within 125 points)

5. Brett Metcalfe………..-112
6. Josh Grant…………….-121

Phil Nicoletti is 197 points back. If he loses three more points at Red Bud he will be four full Nationals behind Roczen after six Nationals.

FIVE MOTOS BEHIND (within 150 points)

7. Andrew Short………..-146
8. Chad Reed…………….-148
9. Weston Peick…………-149

Jakes Weimer has had an injury-plagued year and is now 206 points back.

SIX MOTOS BEHIND (within 175 points)

10. Malcolm Stewart…..-160

Eli Tomac has only raced two Nationals and is just outside of the top ten in points.

SEVEN MOTOS BEHIND (within  200 points)

11. Phil Nicoletti………….-197
12. Eli Tomac……………..-200

Jimmy Albertson (77) is 248 points out of the 450 Championship lead.

EIGHT OR MORE MOTOS BEHIND (within 200 points)

13. Jake Weimer………….-206
14. Fredrik Noren………..-208
15. Ben Lamay…………….-210
16. Matt Goerke………….-221
17. Justin Barcia…………-228
18. Kyle Chisholm………-233
19. Justin Brayton……….-238
20. Ivan Tedesco…………-243
21. Killy Rusk……………..-246
22. Jimmy Albertson……-248
23. Ryan Sipes…………….-254
24. Evgeny Mikhaylov….-255
25. Sean Collier…………..-260
26. Tommy Weeck……….-262
27. Christian Craig……….-266
28. Ronnie Stewart……….-268
29. Cade Clason…………..-268
30. Nick Wey……………….-271
31. Nick Schmidt………….-272
32. P. J. Larsen…………….-272
33. Kevin Rookstool……..-274
34. Noah McConahy………-275
35. Kinser Endicott……….-278
36. Sean Hackley…………..-278
37. Joey Peters……………..-279
38. Sergy Astaykin……….-279
39 Stephen Ransdell……..-279

WHO WAS FLYING & WHO LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE FLYING?

Was the Fastest Man on the Planet the fastest man at Muddy Creek in a losing cause? No.

When you are watching a race from the sidelines, some riders look blazing fast, while others look like they are trail riding. Last week at Muddy Creek, James Stewart was “flying” on his way up through the pack…or was he? After every race the AMA hands out individual lap times for every lap of the race. The stop watch is the true test of who’s “flying” and who isn’t—it can’t be fooled by comparative speeds (like when a factory riders is passing privateers).

Who was the fastest man outright? Kenny was.

WHO WAS THE FASTEST? The fastest lap of the second moto of the race was turned in by winner Ken Roczen, who did a 1:56.18. The second fastest lap was by Ryan Dungey, who finished second overall, with a 1:56.51. Third fastest was Eli Tomac, who did a 1:57.46. As for the guy that everyone thought was “flying,” James Stewart’s fastest lap was a 1:59.68. It should be noted that all of these guys set their fastest laps within the first five laps of the moto.

Eli Tomac (3) rode brilliantly in his first National of 2014, but his times fell off from midway on.

WHO WAS FASTEST LATE IN THE MOTO: The real test of speed isn’t always the ability to crank out one fast lap early in the moto, but to still be turning fast laps very late in the moto. For example, Eli Tomac’s fastest lap was on lap two of the race (1:57.46), but by laps 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 he was four to five seconds a lap slower than in the beginning. On lap 14 Tomac did a 2:03.66.

It’s interesting to look at our four fastest riders and see who was really “flying” late in the moto (we selected lap 14 because it was a solid lap for all four riders and in the later laps several of them started to cruise).

Ryan Dungey was the fastest rider on lap 14, with a 1:57.81. That time was only a hair over 1 second slower than his fastest lap (set on lap 5).

Ken Roczen was the second fastest rider on lap 14, with a 1:58.19. That time was almost 2 seconds slower than his fastest time, but since he was in the front he could choose his pace.

James Stewart was the third fastest rider on lap 14 with a 2:02.69. His speed had fallen off the typical amount for a title contender, but it was already slower than the men he was chasing.

Eli Tomac was the fifth fastest on lap 14 (Malcolm Stewart was fourth fastest on lap 14 and his 14th lap was his fastest lap of the moto by 2 seconds). Tomac’s fifth fastest time on lap 14 (2:03.66) was amazing considering that he came off the couch for his first outdoor race of 2014.

SO, WHO WAS FLYING? Ken Roczen and Ryan Dungey…everybody else? Not so much.

ARE YOU READY FOR SUMMER RACING? THE M.PAC PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONER CAN MAKE IT BETTER

The PolarPack foam bricks are frozen and then packed around the 18-volt fan.

It’s hot out there and it is going to get hotter. There is a solution. The M.Pac is a small, lightweight, air conditioning unit that runs off battery power and uses frozen PolarPack foam bricks to keep a rider cool after a moto. Weighing just under 11 pounds, the M.Pac is designed to sit on the rider’s lap, on the tailgate of his truck or on the handlebars on the starting line. Once you are ready for a blast of cool air, just flip the switch. The difference in temperature between a hot SoCal summer day and the PolarPack-cooled air was in the neighborhood of 15 degrees. And, the hotter the day the cooler the air felt. Some MXA test riders even held a spray bottle full of ice water and misted it into the M.Pac’s breeze for more cooling.

It can be used on the starting line or in the pits.

Expect to see Christophe Pourcel using one of these pretty soon, just like this road racer is doing.

Powered by a supplied Black & Decker power tool battery, the M.Pac Portable Air Conditioner retails for $240.00 and comes with the cooler case, battery pack, charger, battery and five PolarPacks foam bricks. For more info go to Facebook and search “M.PAC portable air conditioner” or just click here www.facebook.com/pages/MPAC-Portable-Air-Conditioner/644440695645624.

ALL TO OURSELVES: TAKE A LAP OF SOCAL’S MILESTONE TRACK ON THE 2015 KX250F

SIX RULES THAT CHANGED FOR THE 2014 AMA NATIONAL SEASON

You gotta wonder if this rule applies to MX Sports officials.

How do you define “safe speed” and is it different for factory guys than privateers?

Let’s keep lowering it every year until the manufacturers give up on trying to comply —which several already have.

The trick word here is “exclusively.” Parsed to the nth degree, a carbon fiber hub with an aluminum sleeve molded in would be legal.

This is the old “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” philosophy of rule making. The AMA has never caught any team breaking this long-standing rule, even though they do it in the open, so the AMA  just made it legal. Problem solved. It is amazing how many problems the AMA solves this way.

What’s next? The T-shirt guy’s phone number. Actually this rule is fairly common in all racing organizations — except for the T-shirt part.

WANNA $3.5 MILLION HONDA? IT’S A TWIN

The HondaJet is a very advanced light jet that incorporates Honda’s patented Over-The-Wing engines, natural laminar flow wing and composite fuselage. It has now passed all of its FAA tests and is being prepared for production by 2015. The HondaJet flies at a maximum cruise speed of 483 mph and has a maximum altitude of 43,000 feet. The aircraft seats five passengers in a standard configuration and can travel 1357 miles on a fuel load. For more information visit www.HondaJet.com.

THE HONDAJET FLIES

WHO’S WHO IN THE AMA NATIONAL ZOO: HEADING TO BUDDS CREEK

Jeremy Martin gained back the points he lost last week at Muddy Creek at Red Bud.

DATE………..TRACK………..450………………..250
May 24………Glen Helen……….Ryan Dungey……….Jeremy Martin
May 31………Hangtown…………Ken Roczen………….Jeremy Martin
June 7……….Thunder Valley….Ken Roczen………….Blake Baggett
June 14………Mt. Morris……….James Stewart………Blake Baggett
June 28………Muddy Creek…..Ken Roczen…………..Cooper Webb
July 5…………Red Bud………….Ken Roczen………….Jeremy Martin
July 12……….Budds Creek…….
July 19……….Millville…………..
July 26……….Washougal………
Aug. 9…………Unadilla…………
Aug. 16……….Indiana…………..
Aug. 23………..Miller …………..
450 Points Leader: Ken Roczen
250 Points Leader: Jeremy Martin

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE WORLD OF MOTOCROSS?

This week’s Grand Prix is in Uddevalla, Sweden.

July 12……..Canadian National Championship………..Gopher Dunes
July 13………Australian 250/450 National………………Connondale, Qld
July 13………Finnish 250/450  Grand Prix……………….Finland
July 13………300cc Two-Stroke Championship…………Finland
July 13………WORC Offroad Series……………………….…Cedar Ridge, UT
July 13…..…World Sidecarcross…………….………………..Belgium
July 18-23…NMA Grand National Championship.……Oklahoma City, OK
July 19………Mid-Ohio Vintage Championship………….Lexington, OH
July 20……..All-Japan National Championship…………Fujisawa, Japan
July 20……..Maxxis British National Championship…..Doncaster, GB

ASK THE MXPERTS: 2013 KTM WATER PUMP LEAK

Dear MXA,
The water pump cover on my 2013 KTM 450SXF leaks. I have tightened the bolts, replaced the O-ring and surfaced the cover, but after a little while it starts dripping water again. It is not a deal breaker of a leak, but irritating. My dealer had no answer, so I am turning to MXA. What can I do?

In the past we have had issues with the KTM water pump seal leaking. The best solution is to order a 2014-15 KTM 450SXF water pump cover. In 2014 KTM redesigned the cover with a deeper O-ring groove and a thicker O-ring. The 2014 water pump cover will retrofit on your KTM, but you must use the new O-ring to get a leak-proof seal.

THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAY BOYS: BAD BRAD IS 61, LARS 73

July 4…Dean Ferris 1990

July 4…Billy Mackenzie 1984
July 5…Kyle Cunningham 1989

July 5…Lars Larsson 1941
July 6…Heikki Mikkola 1945

July 6…Rick Johnson 1964
July 7…Jim Chester
July 7…Steven Clarke 1990

July 8…Brad Lackey 1953

July 8…Max Nagl 1987

USED IT, ABUSED IT, TESTED IT: MOTION PRO TITAN THROTTLE TUBE  

Motion Pro tested many different materials by hitting them with hammers and dropping weights on them before a deciding on the exact recipe for the Titan’s plastic. The secret formula had the right combination of strength and flexibility, plus low-friction properties for easy twisting.

VERDICT: Motion Pro didn’t want to settle for a better-than-stock throttle tube, they wanted to build the most crash resistant throttle tube on the market. How can a piece of plastic be more durable than a CNC’ed piece of aluminum? If aluminum is bent or dented in a crash it will deform and not return to it’s original shape. The Titan Tube is more rigid than OEM plastic throttle tubes, but more flexible than aluminum. That flexibility may make a material seem weak, but it adds resilience. The result is an amazingly durable throttle tube. $24.99 —  www.motionpro.com or (650) 594-9600.

MXA PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: MARTY SMITH: AMERICAN MOTOCROSS LEGEND DVD

Marty Smith is the man who popularized motocross in America in the 1970s. The three-time AMA motocross champion has documented his amazing career as a rider in his own DVD.The film includes never before seen race footage from some of the most intense races of the 1970’s. See exclusive interviews with Dave Arnold, Tommy Croft and Bob Hannah. The film also features a once in a lifetime interview between Smith and Hannah ? the only time the two have ever been on camera together. Get ready to experience motocross like you have never seen before! $29.95 (plus S&H) at www.martysmithmotocross.com/dvd.php

CUSTOM 6D HELMET TO BE AUCTION OFF TO HELP THE KURT CASELLI FOUNDATION

To help the Kurt Caselli Foundation, Tagger Designs and 6D Helmetts are offering up for auction a one-of-a-kind custom helmet with 100% of the proceeds going to the Kurt Caselli Foundation. The Kurt Caselli Foundation’s focus is the safety of riders and racers in the off-road motorcycling industry. The paint job symbolizes Kurt Caselli’s life includingt eh races he won, his Captain America nickname and some of his most memorable  quotes. This helmet is truly one of a kind.

You may view the auction at www.ebay.com/itm/ONE-OF-A-KIND-TAGGER-DESIGNS-6D-KURT-CASELLI-TRIBUTE-HELMET-CASELLI66-KC66-/111396874247?pt=Apparel_Merchandise&hash=item19efc56807&vxp=mtr

USED IT, ABUSED IT, TESTED IT: VP RACING VPR OXYGENATED/LEADED RACE FUEL

VPR is designed as a stable, consistent and less expensive leaded and oxygenated two-stroke fuel that bridges the gap between pump gas and race gas. It is fuel that a racer can depend on. Pump gas varies from summer blend to city blend to winter blend  (and contains ethynol). With VPR you are assured that your bike has the same formula every time. This makes it the perfect fuel for racers on the national amateur circuit who might be in Nevada one week and Tennessee the next week.

VERDICT: Thanks to its higher oxygen and octane content, VPR produced more power than pump gas. During testing the MXA wrecking crew ran both dyno and race tests. VPR showed horsepower increases at every rpm. It made anywhere from a quarter of a horse more to a full horse at peak. Test riders reported a noticeable improvement in throttle response and a more stable feel at overrev. VPR is the leaded version of VP T4 four-stroke fuel and because of the lead is better for two-strokes. Four-stroke owners should use unleaded T4. $65.00 (average price for five gallons) —  www.vpracingfuels.com or (210) 635-7744.

 

 

Photos by Geico Honda, KTM, Suzuki, John Basher, John Ker, Mark Chilson, Scott Mallonee, Hondajet