MXA’S WEEKEND NEWS ROUND-UP: ALL-NEW BRAKE ROTOR, ALL-NEW BUD RACING NAME, ALL-NEW POINTS LEADER, ALL-NEW KAWASAKI DUAL SPORTS & ALL-NEW NEWS

• WHO’S WHO IN THE SUPERCROSS ZOO? THE CURRENT TOP TEN

Ken Roczen won his first race of the 2021 season in an amazing battle with Eli Tomac and Adam Cianciarulo at Indy #1.

2021 AMA 450 SUPERCROSS POINTS STANDINGS
(After 4 of 17 races)
1. Ken Roczen (Hon)… 86
2. Cooper Webb (KTM)… 80
3. Eli Tomac (Kaw)… 77
4. Adam Cianciarulo (Kaw)… 70
5. Justin Barcia (Gas)… 69
6. Dylan Ferrandis (Yam)… 67
7. Malcolm Stewart (Yam)… 63
8. Justin Brayton (Hon)… 62
9. Marvin Musquin (KTM)… 61
10. Zach Osborne (Hus)…58

Colt Nichols (64) took sole possession of the Red Plate that he shared with Christian Craig at Indy #1. Colt went from being tied for the Red Plate to having an 8 point lead after Craig’s last lap run-in with Jett Lawrence

2021 AMA 250 EAST SUPERCROSS POINTS STANDINGS
(After 4 of 9 races)
1. Colt Nichols (Yam)…96
2. Christian Craig (Yam)…88
3. Jett Lawrence (Hon)…83
4. Jo Shimoda (Kaw)…77
5. Michael Mosiman (Gas)…76
6. Joshua Osby (Hon)…56
7. John Short (Suz)…54
8. Mitchell Oldenburg (Hon)…51
9. Thomas Do (KTM)…47
10. Max Vohland (KTM)…46

• 2021 AMA SUPERCROSS WINNERS AT A GLANCE

Justin Barcia has been fast, but a broken shift lever at H2, a crash at H3 cost him and another crash at Indy #1 have dropped him back from leading the 450 class to fifth in points.

Venue                                                                       450                                    250
Jan. 16 (Sat)…Houston, TX………..Justin Barcia…………….Christian Craig
Jan. 19 (Tues)….Houston, TX…….Eli Tomac………………….Jett Lawrence
Jan. 23 (Sat)…Houston, TX………..Cooper Webb…………..Colt Nichols
Jan. 30 (Sat)…Indianapolis, IN…..Ken Roczen………………Colt Nichols
Feb. 2 (Tues)….Indianapolis, IN
Feb. 6 (Sat)…Indianapolis, IN
Feb. 13 (Sat)…Orlando, FL
Feb. 20 (Sat)…Orlando, FL
Mar. 6 (Sat)…Daytona Beach, FL…
Mar. 13 (Sat)…Arlington, TX
Mar. 16 (Tues)… Arlington, TX
Mar. 20 (Sat)…Arlington, TX
Apr. 10 (Sat)…Atlanta, GA
Apr. 13 (Tues)…Atlanta, GA
Apr. 17 (Sat)…Atlanta, GA
Apr. 24 (Sat)…Salt Lake City, UT
May 1 (Sat)…Salt Lake City, UT
450 points leader…Ken Roczen
250 East points leader…Colt Nichols (tie)
250 West points leader…N/A

• MXA TEAM TESTED: SIDI ATOJO BOOTS

The Sidi Atojo name comes from its developers. The “A” stands for Alessandro Lupino, the “TO” is for Tony Cairoli, and the “JO” for Jorge Prado. These three MXGP racers, along with vetted Sidi technicians, were the significant contributors to the development of the Atojo boot. Their goal was to create a boot that was lighter without sacrificing protection, more comfortable without forfeiting durability and had a fit that would satisfy a broader range of riders without sacrificing its Italian craftsmanship.

The Atojo boot build is all about saving weight without compromising durability or safety. Sidi did most of the weight-shedding on the upper half of the boot by going with a three-buckle system and replacing much of the plastic with a suede material. The lower half of the boot has an all-new hinge system with two flex points. One hinge is below the ankle, while the other is above. This dual-hinge design allows for a limited range of movement to prevent hyper-extension of the ankle, instep and back tendon. There are a total of three anti-hyperextension systems on the Atojo. The first is located on the first hinge, the second on the back of the boot, and the third is an innovative replaceable system on the front of the boot that allows a specific amount of tibia flexion and stops if bending is excessive.The Sidi Atojo is one of the lightest hinged boots on the market at 4 pounds, 3 ounces. In comparison, the Sidi Crossfire weighs 4 pounds, 11 ounces, and the Gaerne Endurance and Alpinestars Tech 7 both weigh 4 pounds, 4 ounces. The three buckles on the Atojo are from the top-tier Crossfire 3 boot. Each buckle is mounted with a single screw that acts as its fixed point. This single pivot allows each buckle to move independently of the other buckles. We did note that our test riders had a harder time lining the buckles up and locking them down.

These aren’t the slim Italian boots that Sidi is known for. Test riders who had wide feet and disliked the tight toe box of previous Sidis felt comfortable in the Atojos. Long-term Sidi fans didn’t mind the extra room and complimented the instant comfort and easier foot ingress and egress compared to the Crossfire 3 boots. The Atojo broke-in fast; however a hot spot developed on the ankle bone in the first few hours of the break-in process. Fortunately, we only felt it when walking in the pits. We wore thicker socks until the boots fully broke in. The Atojo uses the same replaceable sole as the Crossfire 3 SR. You are able to unscrew the four quarter-turn screws with hand tools and replace the middle part of the boots’ sole (the replacement sole costs $35).

We tested a size-10 boot. With the wider toe box, the Atojo had some extra room for our feet in comparison to the tighter Crossfire boots. If you like the tight feel of the Crossfire, then we suggest you go a half-size down. Most of our testers didn’t mind the extra room and kept their standard boot size. We loved the plush feel of the top of the boot. It contoured to our shin bone perfectly, with or without knee braces. On the track, the Atojo boot was great. It offered superb grip and feel on the pegs, the bike and the controls. The boot offered a connected feel to your foot, meaning that it didn’t restrict movement on the bike.

Since there are fewer replaceable parts on the Atojo in comparison to the Crossfire 3, we will have to say that it lessens the durability of the boot; however, the most replaced part is the sole, and the Atojo sole is the same sole that is used on the tried-and-true Crossfire 3 SR. The Atojo’s greatest wear area seems to be the inside of the hinge system. Since this is the widest and bulkiest part of the boot, it takes most of the beating from the bike.

DIGITS? $524.99— www.motonation.com or (619) 401-4100.

MXA RATING: If you couldn’t fit in Sidis because of their slim lasts (“lasts” are the pieces that shape the length and width of the sole), you need to try the wider Sidi Atojo boots. It offers the broadest fit Sidi has ever made. On the track, the Atojo feels very light and nimble. 

• MXA MOTO CHALLENGE QUIZ: WE WERE ALL YOUNG ONCE

Can you name this two-time AMA 125 National Champion? He won back-to-back titles on a Honda and ended his career with 20 AMA National wins.  The answer is at the bottom of this page.

• MXA SHOOTOUT VIDEO: 2021 HONDA CRF450 VERSUS HUSQVARNA FC450

• MXA AD OF THE WEEK: WHATEVER HAPPENED TO UTOPIA GOGGLES?

Utopia goggles were a player five years ago, albeit they seemed to focus fairly heavily on freestyle riders. We haven’t heard word one from them in a very long time.

• MXA SHOOTOUT VIDEO: 2021 KAWASAKI KX450 VERSUS YAMAHA YZ450F

• HAVE YOU SEEN THE FEBRUARY 2021 ISSUE OF MXA YET? SPECIAL SUBSCRIPTION OFFER BELOW

What’s in the newest issue of MXA? How about Shootout between the 2021 Honda CRF450 and the 2021 Husqvarna FC450—go ahead and guess which one won, you have a 50/50 chance of being right. Or how about complete and thorough tests of the 2021 KTM 450SXF, 2021 Yamaha YZ250F, 2021 Kawasaki KX450F cross-country, 2021 KTM 250SXF and Carson Brown’s BBR Honda 190.

We wanted to take a little confusion out of what is the most confusing shootout season ever by doing  shootouts against worthy contenders—this month it was the 2021 Honda CRF450 against the 2021 Husqvarna FC450.

Why is MXA testing the 2021 Kawasaki KX450X cross-country bike? That’s simple, we race cross-country races, SRA GPs, WORCS races and endurance races all the time. And since the KX450X is just a KX450 motocross model with a few off-road concession, we felt right at home on it.

The 2021 KTM 250SXF is a high-rpm rocket ship that just happens to be blessed with a strong midrange and usable low-end. This is the magic formula for success in the 250 class.

The 2021 Yamaha YZ250F has the perfect low-to-mid powerband for the average racer or play rider. It doesn’t have the high rpm power of the KTM, Husky, GasGas and Kawasaki, but it gets out of tight corners better.

In the hierarchy of Austrian motocross bikes the 2021 KTM, 2021 Husqvarna FC450 and 2021 GasGas MC450F managed to use the same shared package three different ways. If you asked KTM what the 450SXF was designed for, they would tell you that it was “Ready to Race.” We concur.

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE TO MXA SO THAT YOU NEVER MISS ANOTHER ISSUE, PLUS GET A $25 ROCKY MOUNTAIN GIFT CARD TO COVER YOUR COSTS

If you subscribe to MXA you can get the mag on your iPhone, iPad, Kindle or Android by going to the Apple Store, Amazon or Google Play or in a digital version. Even better you can subscribe to Motocross Action and get the awesome print edition delivered to your house by a uniformed employee of the U.S. Government. Did we mention the $25 gift card for any part you want from Rocky Mountain ATV/MX? You can call (800) 767-0345 or Click Here (or on the box at the bottom of this page) to subscribe.

• NEW KAWASAKI DUAL SPORT MODELS: 2021 KLX230R-S DUAL SPORT & 2022 KLR650 DUAL SPORT

The 2021 Kawasaki KLX230R-S.

2021 KLX 230R-S: For 2021, Kawasaki has added a new model to its KLX lineup with the KLX230R-S. Keeping pure off-road performance in mind, the KLX230R-S is based off of the KLX230R model introduced in 2020, with modified front and rear suspension that lowers overall seat height by one inch from the KLX230R. The KLX230R-S off-road motorcycle has been purpose-built for serious fun in the dirt, while appealing to riders who prioritize a lower seat height and ample ground clearance while offering a full-size recreational trail bike option.

The forks are 37mm telescopic front forks that offers 8.7 inches of travel. On the rear, a Uni-Trak linkage system and single shock provide 8.8 inches of wheel travel. The four-stroke air-cooled single-cylinder engine offers smooth, reliable and durable performance in a compact package. The bore and stroke is 67.0 x 66.0 mm, with a displacement of 233 cc. Fuel injection ensures consistent fuel delivery regardless of outside air temperature or elevation. There is als f an electric starter, for easy starting at the push of a button, whether the engine is hot or cold. A six-speed transmission offers a gear for every type of condition on the trails, while also allowing for more comfortable cruising on long open straightaways. A short final gear ratio (46/13) was selected, enabling riders to continue moving forward even when navigating challenging trails.

The KLX230R-S takes its styling cues from Kawasaki’s line of KX motocross motorcycles, which gives the bike an agile, aggressive look to match its trail-riding prowess. A 1.9-gallon fuel tank allows the good times to keep rolling over the course of a long day. The California model is Green Sticker compliant, allowing it to be ridden off-road year round. The 2021 KLX230R-S is available in Lime Green with an MSRP of $4399.

The 2022 Kawasaki KLX650.

2022 KLR650: The KLR650 will return to the Kawasaki line-up for 2022. The powerful dual-sport bike is back and better than ever, refined and ready to make new memories. It features new technology you’ve been waiting for, with the same reliability. The 2022 KLR650 receives fuel injection on the 652cc, single-cylinder,air-cooled engine offering increased fuel efficiency. A 10-hole fine-atomizing injector sprays 60 µm droplets, which contributes to efficient air-fuel mixing for efficient combustion. Revised intake and exhaust cam profiles improve mid-range power and torque characteristics. A stronger cam chain guide material and shape add to the increased reliability. The exhaust pipe diameter has been reduced by 7.7 mm to improve mid-range torque.

Several updates have been made to improve shifting feel and reduce weight. In the clutch and transmission, the clutch release bearings were changed from ball to thrust-needle bearings, the gear dogs and shift fork have been revised on third gear, and a new finishing treatment is now used for fourth and fifth gears. A new sealed battery adds to the convenience and is significantly lighter than the previous battery. The starter, ignition coil, and evaporator canister have all been revised and are now lighter than on previous models.

Both front and rear suspension settings complement the new frame to help provide a more planted feel. In order to meet the demands of both on and off-road riding, 41 mm front forks with 200 mm of suspension travel handle the suspension duties up front and add the rigidity needed for superb performance. Firm fork springs provide excellent bump compliance and bottoming resistance while also reducing front-end dive under heavy braking. An adjustable Uni-Trak system with 185mm of suspension travel can be found on the rear and offers progressive rear suspension action while contributing to a low center of gravity.

The 2022 KLR650 is available in Pearl Sand Khaki or Pearl Lava Orange. There are four models: The base $6699 KLX650, the $6999 KLR650 ABS in Pearl Sand Khaki, the $7399 KLR650 Traveler model in Pearl Lava Orange (with ABS) and the $7999 KLR650 Adventure model in Cypher Camo Gray (with ABS).

• HAVE YOU SEE “THIS WEEK IN MXA #5?” YOU REALLY SHOULD

• NEWS FROM THE TOP MOUNTAIN CROSSPOINT MUSEUM DISASTER

From the owners of the Top Mountain Crosspoint Museum, that burned down last week:

“Last week, a defective monitor triggered a disaster for our Top Mountain Crosspoint. Our motorbike museum with almost 300 unique exhibits caught fire and was unfortunately almost completely destroyed. Only the exhibits of the special exhibition “Indian Motorcycles” on the ground floor could be saved. The exhibits in the main hall of the museum are all irretrievably lost, 15 years of passionate work destroyed, an incredibly great loss for us and the entire motorbike world.

What it looked like last week.

“Luck of the draw: no one was harmed, no one was injured and the entire cable car and restaurant area of the Top Mountain Crosspoint Museum remain unscathed.
At this point we would like to thank the volunteer fire brigades of the Ötztal and the rescue and police forces for their great efforts! At the moment the clean-up work is in full swing and we will start rebuilding our Top Mountain Motorcycle Museum as soon as possible. We will be back and it will be spectacular, we promise!”

•MXA PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: MOOSE YAMAHA PW50 HANDLEBAR KIT

Four-post bar mounts and a clamp to hold the brake lever to the bar make the PW50 more versatile.

Moose Racing introduces its new Yamaha PW50 handlebar kit. With the high demand of the bike that starts it all, we bring you the upgrade you need with the Moose Racing PW50 handlebar kit. It lest you replace the OEM non-adjustable handlebars with a four-post clamp system that allows you to adjust handlebar position and includes a brake mount so you can swap your OEM lever to the handlebars.

The Moose PW 50 handlebars.

To reduce arm fatigue, the bars are designed to fit smaller children’s hands with a smaller diameter bar than the normal adult-size handlebar. This upgrade is a must for any young rider! It retails for $114.95. See your local dealer or go to www.mooseracing.com to check these out!

• A NEW NAME FOR THE BUD RACING TEAM

The French Bud Racing Kawasaki team has signed a multi-year contract with “9mm Energy Drink.” Stephane Dasse, team manager of the “9mm Energy Drink/Bud Racing Kawasaki team said, “On behalf of the entire team, I would like to express the pride and enthusiasm of being associated with 9mm Energy Drink. Even before tasting the product, we were already conquered by the logo and especially the fantastic design including this ingenious cap.”

Dasse continued, “Thanks to their involvement and a multi-year contract, we will do everything possible to “reach our target” both in competition and distribution, where Bud Racing will also be involved alongside its new partner. I would like to welcome 9mm Energy Drink to the team andhope we will share many victories and podiums with our other major partner—Kawasaki.”

• PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: NIHILO BRAKE ROTOR ALLOWS 2018-2020 WHEELS TO FIT ON THE 2021 KTM 85XSX

The new Nihilo Concepts 220mm Thick rear rotor is designed with four mounting holes to work on your new bike when using 2018-2020 rear wheels and hub. The new 2021 bikes comes with an entirely different rear wheel set up, a different 6-bolt hub and different diameter rotor. The engineers at Nihilo realize that many of you have both 2018-2020 and 2021 bikes in your fleet and would like the ability to use your perfectly good wheels from your 2018-2020 bikes on your new 2021. For $99.95 you can with the Nihilo erar brake rotor. For more info or to order go to www.nihiloconcepts.com

• MXA’S 2021 HUSQVARNA FC350 FIRST RIDE VIDEO

• 22ND ANNUAL TEXAS WINTER SERIES ROUND 4 AT OAKHILL ON FEB. 6-7

For more info go to www.freestonemx.com

• WATCH TUESDAY’S HOUSTON #3 450 MAIN EVENT IN UNDER THREE MINUTES

• IT’S STILL HARD TO BELIEVE THAT JOEL ROBERT IS GONE

For many in the sport, the loss of Joel Robert was a major blow—not just because we believe our heroes are indestructible, but because it means that all the racers from the late 1960s and early 1070s must face mortality head-on. This is Joel’s granite plaque before it was put into the Walk of Fame in 2006. 

• RYAN DUNGEY TELLS ALL! DID HE WANT TO RACE IN ’21? WHAT ABOUT THE AIR SHOCK? CUP OF JOE, ANYONE?

• 2021 AMA NATIONAL MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP STARTS ON MAY 29

• 2021 AMA SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP IS UP TO ROUND FOUR ALREADY

• THE COMPLETE 2021 MONSTER ENERGY SUPERCROSS TELECAST SCHEDULE: DON’T TRUST IT!

*Same-day delay, ^ Taped coverage

• KEEPING TRACK OF THE 2021 RACE SCHEDULES

The 2021 Supercross series has one more night in Houston and then it heads to Indianapolis for three races on Saturday, Tuesday and Saturday.

2021 AMA KICKER ARENACROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Jan. 8…….Starkville, MS
Jan. 9…….Starkville, MS
Jan. 15…….Lubbock, TX
Jan. 16…….Lubbock, TV
Jan. 22…….Guthrie, OK
Jan. 23…….Guthrie, OK
Jan. 29…….Denver, CO
Jan. 30…….Denver, CO
Feb. 5…….Reno, NV
Feb. 6…….Reno, NV
Mar. 5…….Amarillo, TX
Mar. 6…….Amarillo, TX

REVISED 2021 AMA SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP (UPDATED)
Jan. 16 (Saturday)…Houston, TX
Jan. 19 (Tuesday)….Houston, TX
Jan. 23 (Saturday)…Houston, TX
Jan. 30 (Saturday)…Indianapolis, IN
Feb. 2 (Tuesday)….Indianapolis, IN
Feb. 6 (Saturday)…Indianapolis, IN
Feb. 13 (Saturday)…Orlando, FL
Feb. 20 (Saturday)…Orlando, FL
Mar. 6 (Saturday)…Daytona Beach, FL
Mar. 13 (Saturday)…Arlington, TX
Mar. 16 (Tuesday)… Arlington, TX
Mar. 20 (Saturday)…Arlington, TX
Apr.10 (Saturday)…Atlanta, GA
Apr.13 (Tuesday)…Atlanta, GA
Apr.17 (Saturday)…Atlanta, GA
Apr. 24 (Saturday)…Salt Lake City, UT
May 1 (Saturday)…Salt Lake City, UT

2021 AMA NATIONAL MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
May 29…Pala, CA
Jun 5…Thunder Valley, CO
June 19…Mt. Morris, PA
June 26…Southwick, MA
July 3…Red Bud, MI
July 17….Millville, MN
July 24….Washougal, WA
Aug. 14…Unadilla, NY
Aug. 21…Budds Creek, MD
Aug. 28…Crawfordsville, IN
Sept. 4…Pala, CA
Sept.11…Hangtown, CA

2021 PROVISIONAL GRAND PRIX SCHEDULE (UPDATED)
Apr. 3…Muscat, Oman
Apr. 25…TBA, Italy
May 16…Agueda, Portugal
May 23…Oss, Holland,
May 30…Teutschenthal, Germany
Jun. 13…Orlyonok, Russia
Jun. 20…Kegums, Latvia
Jul. 4…Jakarta, Indonesia
Jul. 11…Semarang, Indonesia
Jul. 25…Locket, Czech Republic
Aug. 1…Lommel, Belgium
Aug 8…Uddevall, Sweden
Aug. 22…KimiRing, Finland
Aug. 29…Igora, Russia
Sep. 12…Afyonkarahisar, Turkey
Sep. 19…TBA, China
Oct. 10…St, Jean d’Angely, France
Oct. 17…Intu Xanadu, Spain
Oct. 31…TBA
Nov. 14…Neuquen, Argentina

2021 SCOTTISH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Mar. 27/28…Tain
Apr. 24/25…Duns
May 15/16..Lochgilphead
Jun. 26/27..Reserve date
Jul. 10… Doune (Youth)
Jul. 17…Doune (Adult )
Aug. 14/15…Rhynie
Sept. 4/5…Desertmartin, Northern Ireland

2021 AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Apr. 11…Wonthaggi, VIC
May 2 …Canberra, ACT
May 30…Gillman, SA
Jun. 27…Maitland, NSW
Jul. 25…Wodonga, VIC
Aug. 9…TBA, QLD
Aug. 14….Coolum, QLD
Aug. 14….Coolum, QLD

2021 ADAC GERMAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Apr. 18…Dreetz
May 16…Moggers
Jun. 6…Reutlingen
Jul. 3…Bielstein
Jul. 18…Tensfeld
Sep. 5…Princely Drehna
Sep. 9…Gaildorf

2021 MOTOCROSS DES NATIONS
Sep. 26…Imola, Italy