MXA’S FIRST RIDE VIDEO: ALL-NEW 2019 HUSQVARNA FC450

MXA FIRST RIDE VIDEO: ALL-NEW YAMAHA YZ65 JUNIOR CYCLE

MXA’S FIRST RIDE VIDEO: ALL-NEW 2019 KTM 250SXF

MXA’S FIRST RIDE VIDEO: ALL-NEW 2019 KAWASAKI KX450F

MXA’S FIRST RIDE VIDEO: ALL-NEW 2019 KTM 350SXF

MXA’S FIRST RIDE VIDEO: RIDING THE ALL-NEW 2019 HUSQVARNA FC250

MXA PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: PELICAN ENGINE CASE

Pro Circuit is pleased to offer its new Pelican engine case. Utilizing the ultra durable Pelican case and custom-cut foam interior, your engine will have increased protection from damage during shipment and transportation.

Don’t use an ice chest/cooler, get a Pro Circuit Pelican engine case. The foam insert is customizable for most current four-stroke engines. The Pelican cases are special order only.

Contact Pro Circuit today and get the protection your engine deserves! Retail price: $600 at www.procircuit.com

AMA NATIONAL POINTS STANDINGS AFTER 4 OF 12 ROUNDS

Jeremy Martin (6) lost the points lead when his CRF250 blew up while he was leading the second moto at Mt. Morris. It cost him 25 points —with those points he’d have the red plate this coming weekend.

CURRENT 2018 250 NATIONAL POINTS STANDING
(After 5 of 12 rounds)
1. Aaron Plessinger (Yam)…199
2. Jeremy Martin (Hon)…176
3. Alex Martin (KTM)…170
4. Justin Cooper (Yam)…158
5. Austin Forkner (Kaw)…143
6. Shane McElrath (KTM)…133
7. Jordon Smith (KTM)…133
8. R.J. Hampshire (Hon)…120
9. Chase Sexton (Hon)…118
10. Joey Sacatgy (Kaw)…112

Marvin Musquin (25) won the first moto at Mt. Morris and ruined Eli Tomac’s shot at a perfect season, but when Tomac beat Marv by a few feet in the second moto it kept Eli’s unbeaten streak intact.

CURRENT 2018 450 NATIONAL POINTS STANDING
(After 4 of 12 rounds)
1. Eli Tomac (Kaw)…242
2. Marvin Musquin (KTM)…210
3. Justin Barcia (Yam)…184
4. Ken Roczen (Hon)…169
5. Blake Baggett (KTM)…164
6. Weston Peick (Suz)…148
7. Benny Bloss (KTM)…126
8. Phil Nicoletti (Suz/Hus)…118
9. Cody Cooper (Yam)…80
10. Jason Anderson (Hus)…73

MXA AD OF THE WEEK: THE 1973 HONDA XR75 AD

Honda couldn’t make enough XR75s. They sold in the hundreds of thousands over the decades. Every kid in American was ready for one.

THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAY BOYS: JOSH GRANT IS 32

June 20…Ken De Dycker 1984
June 20…Chuck Carrothers 1978
June 20…Nick Schmidt 1990

June 20…Josh Grant 1986
June 21…Andy Jones
June 22…Ronnie Faisst 1977

June 22…Jeff Ward 1961
June 23…Tim Cotter
June 23…Travis Baker 1990
June 24…Tucker Hibbert 1994
June 24…Petar Petrov 1984

June 26…Bengt Aberg 1944
June 26…Carl Nunn 1979
June 27…Craig Rood
June 28…Spud Walters

June 29…Ford Dale 1988
June 29…Fred Andrews 1965
June 29…Bob Haro

June 29…Marty Tripes 1956
June 29…Mart Rebeaud 1982

June 30…Doug Dubach 1963
June 30…Roy Janson

Daryl Ecklund and Kurt Caselli at play.

June 30…Kurt Caselli 1983

MXA’S ODE TO THE DEAR DEPARTED ZACA STATION

In the Santa Ynez Valley, forty five miles north of Santa Barbara just off U.S. Highway 101, is a sprawling ten thousand acre cattle ranch with majestic rolling hills laced with old growth oak trees. An unmarked, locked gate, is a short distance as you drive up Zaca Station Road. If you are fortunate enough to be in the know, to have your name on the rider list and directions through the ranch, a world class motocross track awaits those fortunate enough to navigate the simple dirt road that winds through the ranch, around the trees and through the herds of cattle, to the Zen of motocross.. Zaca MX. If you watch the 2017 KX250 vdeo above you will get a gppd look at Zaca Station’s track.

Santa Barbara Vet motocross racer, Ed Guajardo, developed the track some 15 years ago. Ed’s passion for motocross and his investment in the heavy equipment it takes to maintain the elite condition of Zaca MX is admirable. The hours he committed to proper preparation with dozer work, watering, and blending the soil for optimum ride conditions was truly a super effort by Ed, and his crew.

It didn’t take long for the underground drums beating the greatness of Zaca MX for the hottest motocross pros and amateurs from both Northern and Southern California to make the trek to Zaca MX to hone their craft on the natural loam and graceful elevation changes. Soon enough, all of the major manufactures and their team riders started using Zaca MX for testing and developing both their riders, and their motorcycles. From the Factory KTM team, to the TLD KTM team to the Simi Valley Cycles team to Dunlop tires to the Fox to the MXA wrecking crew, all loved coming to Zaca Station.

And now it’s gone. Closed. Zaca’s Ed Guajardo is looking for a new piece of land, near the old location to start over. If he builds it, we will come.

MXA’S ODE TO COVERALLS

Back in the 1970s riders would often wear coveralls over their gear to keep it clean in practice and the first moto. Yes, that is the prototype Kawasaki SR250.

There are motocross condition that don’t favor standard-issue motocross gear. Ake Jonsson demonstrates.

Jody Weisel on a prototype Hodaka 125 Super Combat at Texas’ Mosier Valley track in 1974.

By the late 1970s JT Racing built special Nylon coveralls. They featured mesh panels on the back, two-tone colors so they didn’t look monochromatic and leather straps to tighten the legs around your boots.

THE MOST FAMOUS TAKE-OUT IN MOTO HISTORY?

In 1981 Bob Hannah was coming back from injury and Kent Howerton was the new 250 Champion. Bob took exception to the way Kent was riding and slammed him at the top of Saddleback’s Magoo double jump knocking the Suzuki rider down. What was most interesting about this take-out move? Answer at the bottom of the page. Answer at the bottom of the page

SATURDAY’S MUDDY CREEK 250/450 ANIMATED TRACK MAP

2018 AMA 250/450 NATIONAL WINNERS AT A GLANCE — AFTER 4 OF 12 ROUNDS

Aaron Plessinger has won two out of four AMA 250 Nationals and has the red plate for Muddy Creek on Saturday.

Date Venue 450 250
May 19……Hangtown, CA…………Eli Tomac…………Zach Osborne
May 26……Glen Helen, CA………..Eli Tomac…………Aaron Plessinger
June 2…….Thunder Valley, CO…Eli Tomac…………Jeremy Martin
June 16…..Mt Morris, PA………….Eli Tomac…………Aaron Plessinger
June 23.…Muddy Creek, TN
June 30.…Southwick, MA
July 7..…..Red Bud, MI
July 21.….Millville, MN
July 28……Washougal, WA
Aug. 11…..Unadilla, NY
Aug. 18…..Budds Creek, MD
Aug. 25…..Crawfordsville, IN
450 Points leader…Eli Tomac (Kaw)
250 points leader…Aaeon Plessinger (Yam)

2018 GRAND PRIX WINNERS AT A GLANCE — AFTER 11 OF 20 ROUNDS

With Jeffrey Herlings on the sidelines with a broken collarbone, Tony Cairoli romped to a 1-1 victory in Italy. The 50 points he earned over Jeffrey still didn’t get him the points lead.

Date Venue 450 250
Mar. 4……..Argentina…………..Jeffrey Herlings……….Pauls Jonass
Mar. 18……Holland #1………….Jeffrey Herlings……….Pauls Jonass
Mar. 25……Spain………………….Tony Cairoli…………….Pauls Jonass
Apr. 8………Italy #1………………Jeffrey Herlings……….Jorge Prado
Apr. 15…….Portugal…………….Jeffrey Herlings……….Jorge Prado
May 1………Russia……………….Clement Desalle……….Pauls Jonass
May 13…….Latvia………………..Jeffrey Herlings……….Thomas Kjer Olsen
May 20…….Germany……………Jeffrey Herlings……….Jorge Prado
June 3………England……………Jeffrey Herlings……….Pauls Jonass
June 10…….France……………..Jeffrey Herlings……….Jorge Prado
June 17…….Italy #2………….,,,,Tony Cairoli…………….Jorge Prado
July 1……….Indonesia #1
July 8……….Indonesia #2
July 22……..Czech Republic
Aug. 5………Belgium
Aug. 12…….Sweden (canceled)
Aug. 19…….Switzerland
Aug. 26…….Bulgaria
Sept. 2…….Turkey
Sept. 16……Holland #2
Sept. 30……Italy #3
450 Points leader…Jeffrey Herlings (KTM)
250 points leader…Pauls Jonass (KTM)

MOTOCROSS ACTION READER SURVEY: LET US KNOW WHO YOUR ARE

Make sure to take our detailed MXA Reader Survey so we can accommodate you better.

REM IS RACING AT GLEN HELEN ON JUNE 30

For more information go to www.remsatmx.com.

2018 GREAT PLAINS VINTAGE MOTOCROSS: JUNE 23-24 AT THREE HILLS

For more information go to www.greatplainsvintagemx.org

KURT CASELLI FOUNDATION EVENT ON JUNE 23

For more information go to www.kurtcaselli.com

2018 NORTHEAST VET CHAMPIONS AT THE WICK ON JUNE 23-24

For more information go to www.thewick338.com

AMA VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE DAYS ON JULY 6-8 AT THE MID-OHIO SPORTS CAR TRACK

For more information to go www.amavintagemotorcycledays.com

2018 MONTREAL SUPERCROSS ON SEPT. 15, 2018

For more information go to www.supercrossmtl.com

SUBSCRIBE TO MXA & GET A $25 CHAPARRAL GIFT CARD—YOU MAKE A PROFIT BY READING MXA

If you had subscribed the July 2018 issue of MXA would be in your mailbox, on your computer or in your phone already. It has a test of Zach Bell’s World Two-Stroke Championship TC250, Ricky Carmichael’s 1998 Pro Circuit KX125, MXA’s hopped-up KTM 250SX two-stroke, a shootout between the Pink Panthers and complete details on how to build a Chad Reed Replica Husqvarna FC450.

Do you subscribe to MXA? You should. We know that you think that print magazines are dead and that the internet will fill the void, but most of the stuff in the current issue of MXA won’t appear on the web for several months, if at all. Luckily, you can get all of MXA 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 a $25 Chaparral gift card to spend on whatever motorcycle parts or products you need. You can call (800) 767-0345 or www.hi-torque.com/product/motocross-action or click on the box at the bottom of this page.

JOIN MXA’S FACEBOOK GROUP CHAT OR GO TO OUR TWITTER PAGE

We love everything moto and want to bring all moto junkies together into one place to share their two cents, ideas, photos, bike fixes, bike problems and much more. To check it out first you must need to or already have a Facebook account. If you don’t, it isn’t much work and you could even have an alias so nobody knows it is you. You can go to MXA’s Facebook page by clicking here.

SAVE THE DATE! AMA NATIONALS, MXGP & MUCH MORE

Eli Tomac is three for three or is that six for six.

2018 AMA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
May 19……………………Hangtown, CA
May 26.…………………..Glen Helen, CA
June 2..…………….…….Thunder Valley, CO
June 16..…………………Mt Morris, PA
June 23.………………….Muddy Creek, TN
June 30.………………….Southwick, MA
July 7..……………………Red Bud, MI
July 21.…………………..Millville, MN
July 28.…………………..Washougal, WA
Aug. 11..………………….Unadilla, NY
Aug. 18..………………….Budds Creek, MD
Aug. 25.…………………..Crawfordsville, IN

2018 125 TWO-STROKE ALL-STAR SERIES
May 19……………………….Hangtown, CA
June 2………………………..Thunder Valley, CO
June 16………………………Mt Morris, PA
June 30………………………Southwick, MA
July 28……………………….Washougal, WA.
Aug. 18………………………Budds Creek, MD
Aug. 25………………………Crawfordsville, IN (Finals)

2018 FIM MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Mar. 4……………………..Argentina
Mar. 18…………………….Holland 1
Mar. 25…………………….Spain
Apr. 8……………………….Italy 1
Apr. 15……………………..Portugal
May 1……………………….Russia
May 13……………………..Latvia
May 20…………………….Germany
June 3………………………England
June 10…………………….France
June 17…………………….Italy 2
July 1……………………….Indonesia 1
July 8……………………….Indonesia 2
July 22……………………..Czech Republic
Aug. 5………………………Belgium
Aug. 12……………………..Sweden (Canceled)
Aug. 19……………………..Switzerland
Aug. 26……………………..Bulgaria
Sept. 2……………………….Turkey
Sept. 16………………………Holland 2
Sept. 30………………………Italy 3

2018 MOTOCROSS DES NATIONS
Oct. 7………………………Red Bud, MI

2018 REM GLEN HELEN CHAMPIONSHIP
Jan. 13……………………Glen Helen, CA
Jan. 20……………………Glen Helen, CA
Jan. 27……………………Glen Helen, CA
Feb. 3……………………..Glen Helen, CA
Feb. 10…………………….Glen Helen, CA
Feb. 17…………………….Glen Helen, CA
Feb. 24…………………….Glen Helen, CA
Mar. 10…………………….Glen Helen, CA
Mar. 24…………………….Glen Helen, CA
April 7………………….…Spring Series #1
April 14……………….…..20th Anniversary #2
April 28……………….…..Spring Series #3
May 5………………….….Spring Series #4 (National track)
May 12……………………Spring Series #5
May 19……………………Spring Series #6
June 2…………………….Glen Helen, CA
June 16…………………..Glen Helen, CA
June 30…………………..Glen Helen, CA
July 14……………………Summer Series #1
July 21……………………Summer Series #2
July 28……………………Summer Series #3
Aug. 11……………………Summer Series #4
Aug. 25………..………….Summer Series #5
Sept. 1……………………Summer Series #6
Sept. 1…………………….Glen Helen, CA
Oct. 6……………………..Glen Helen, CA
Oct. 20……………………Glen Helen, CA
Oct. 27……………………Glen Helen, CA (National track)
Nov. 17……………………Glen Helen, CA
Dec. 1……………………..Glen Helen, CA
Dec. 15……………………Glen Helen, CA
Dec. 22……………………Glen Helen, CA
Dec. 29…………..………Glen Helen, CA

2018 WORLD OFFROAD CHAMPIONSHIP (WORCS)
Feb. 2-4…………………..……Las Vegas, NV
Feb. 23-25……………….……Phoenix, AZ
Mar. 23-24……………….……Lake Havasu, AZ
Apr. 20-22……………….……Hurricane, UT
May 25-27……………………Cedar City, UT
Sept. 14-16……………………Glen Helen, CA
Oct. 19-21………………….…Adelanto, CA
Nov. 9-11………………….…..Primm, NV

2018 AMA SUPERMOTO CHAMPIONSHIP
April 14………………………….Boise, ID
May 13………………………….Tucson, AZ
June 8…………………………..Austin, TX
June 9…………………………..Austin, TX
Aug. 3-5………………………..Quebec, CN
Sept. 8………………………….Sturgis, SD

2018 OLD SCHOOL SCRAMBLES CHAMPIONSHIP
Feb. 11………………………Glen Helen, CA (canceled)
Mar. 24-25………………….Glen Helen, CA
June 17……………………..Glen Helen, CA
Aug. 19………………….…..Glen Helen, CA
Dec. 9………………………..Glen Helen, CA

2018 ENDUROCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Aug. 25………………………….Prescott, AZ
Sept. 15…………………………Costa Mesa, CA
Sept. 22…………………………Reno, NV
Oct. 20…………………………..Denver, CO
Oct. 27…………………………..Everett, WA
Nov. 3……………………………Boise, ID

2018 MAXXIS BRITISH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Mar.11…………………………..Lyng, England (canceled)
Apr. 1……………………………Culham, England
Apr. 22………………………….Canada Heights, England
May 6…………………………..Blaxhall, England
June 24………………………..Desertmartin, Ireland
July 29………………………….Duns, England
Aug. 12…………………………Hawkstone, England
Sept. 23………………………..TBA, England

2018 MICHELIN BRITISH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
April 8………………….…….Lyng, England
May 20……………..………Preston Docks, England
May 27…………….……….Hawkstone Park, England
July 1………….…..………..Sherwood, England
July 15………….…..………Canada Heights, England
Sept. 2…………….…..……Cusses Gorse, England

2018 DUTCH MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIP
Mar.11…………………………..Markelo, Holland
Apr. 2……………………………Oldebrook, Holland
May 6…………………………..Mill, Holland
July 14-16…………………….Lichtenvoorde, Holland

2018 GERMAN ADAC MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIP
Apr. 22………………………….Drehna, Germany
May 27………………………….Molln, Germany
June 24…………………………Bielstein, Germany
May 6……………………………Blaxhall, Germany
July 15………………………….Moggers, Germany
July 29………………………….Tensfeld, Germany
Aug. 26…………………………Teutschthal, Germany
Sept. 9…………………………..Gaildorf, Germany

2018 LORETTA LYNN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
July 30-Aug. 4…………………Hurricane Mills, TN

2018 MONSTER ENERGY CUP
Oct. 13………………………….Las Vegas, NV

2018 REM OCTOBERCROSS
Oct. 27……………………………Glen Helen, CA

2018 DUBYA WORLD VET CHAMPIONSHIP
Nov. 3-4…………………..…..Glen Helen, CA

2018 PARIS SUPERCROSS
Nov. 17-18………………………Paris, France

2018 THOR MINI OLYMPICS
Nov. 19-24…………………….Gainesville, FL

2018 DAY IN THE DIRT
Nov. 23-25………………………..Glen Helen, CA

RACES YOU MISSED! WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR (ALTHOUGH NOT FOR ARENACROSS)

Don’t worry! They’ll be back in January.

2018 AMA SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Jan. 6……………………..…Anaheim, CA
Jan. 13………………………Houston, TX
Jan. 20………………………Anaheim, CA
Jan. 27………………………Phoenix, AZ
Feb. 3……………………..…Oakland, CA
Feb. 10………………………San Diego, CA
Feb. 17………………………Arlington, TX
Feb. 24………………………Tampa, FL
Mar. 3……………………..…Atlanta, GA
Mar. 10………………………Daytona, FL
Mar. 17………………………St. Louis, MO
Mar. 24………………………Indianapolis, IN
Apr. 7……………………..…Seattle, WA
Apr. 14………………………Minneapolis, MN
Apr. 21………………………Foxborough, MA
Apr. 28………………………Salt Lake City, UT
May 5…………………….…Las Vegas, NV

2018 AMSOIL ARENACROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Jan. 6-7………………………….Dayton, OH
Jan. 13-14………………………Worcester, MA
Jan. 20-21……………………….Wilkes Barre, PA
Jan. 27-28………………………Greensboro, NC
Feb. 10-11………………………Madison, WI
Feb. 17-18………………………Florence, SC
Mar. 17-18………………………Denver, CO
Mar. 24-25………………………Nampa, ID
Apr. 7-8………………………….Wichita, KS
Apr. 21-22………………………Portland, OR
Apr. 28-29………………………Reno, NV
May 4-6…………………………Las Vegas, NV

2018 BRITISH ARENACROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Jan. 6…………………………..Manchester
Jan. 13………………………….Newcastle
Jan. 20…………………………Birmingham
Jan. 26-27…………………….Belfast
Feb. 10………………………….Sheffield
Feb. 17………………………….London

2018 HAWKSTONE INTERNATIONAL
Feb. 11………………………….Hawkstone, England

2018 RICKY CARMICHAEL AMATEUR SUPERCROSS
Mar. 11-12……………..…….Daytona, FL

2018 WORLD TWO-STROKE CHAMPIONSHIP
Mar. 31…………………..…..Glen Helen, CA

2018 GLEN HELEN NATIONAL 250/OPEN TWO-STROKE INVITATIONAL
May 26.…………………..Glen Helen, CA

Photos: Jon Ortner, Debbi Tamietti, Jody Weisel, KTM, Kawasaki, Brian Converse, Ray Archer, Daryl Ecklund, Spencer Owens, MXA, MXGP

Answer: Hannah felt bad about what he had done and slowed, whether it was guilt or just nerves, Bob didn’t seem to want to win the moto. Kent Howerton got up off the ground and caught and passed Hannah for the first moto win. Hannah would win the second moto and the overall, but by season’s end, Kent Howerton was the 1981 250 National Champion.

MXA’S WEEKEND NEWS ROUND-UP: NEW BIKES ARE HEADED YOUR WAY