WEEKEND NEWS ROUND-UP: RACE SEASON WINDS DOWN, BIKE SEASON WINDS UP

On Jul 30, 2017 Last updated Jul 31, 2017

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• 2017 AMA NATIONAL WINNERS AFTER ROUND 9

Marvin Musquin won his third 450 National of the year at Washougal and his second in a row.

Date Venue 450 250
May 20……Hangtown, CA……………Eli Tomac……………..Zach Osborne
May 27.……Glen Helen, CA………….Marvin Musquin……Zach Osborne
June 3..……Thunder Valley, CO……Blake Baggett………..Joey Savatgy
June 17..….Mt. Morris, PA…………..Blake Baggett………..Jeremy Martin
June 24.….Muddy Creek, TN……….Eli Tomac……………..Aaron Plessinger
July 1.…..…Red Bud, MI……………..Eli Tomac……………..Zach Osborne
July 8..……Southwick, MA…………..Eli Tomac……………..Zach Osborne
July 22.…..Millville, MN……………..Marvin Musquin…….Joey Savatgy
July 29.…..Washougal, WA…………Marvin Musquin…….Joey Savatgy
Aug. 12..….Unadilla, NY
Aug. 19..….Budds Creek, MD
Aug. 26.….Crawfordsville, IN
450 Points leader...Eli Tomac (Kaw)
250 Points leader…Zach Osborne (Hus)

• CURRENT AMA POINTS STANDINGS: NEXT RACE? UNADILLA IN TWO WEEKS

Dean Wilson kept his string of top ten finish alive at Washougal with a sixth overall and is solidly in fourth in the points standings.

2017 AMA 450 NATIONAL POINTS STANDINGS
(After 9 of 12 races)
1. Eli Tomac…373
2. Blake Baggett…341
3. Marvin Musquin…319
4. Dean Wilson…269
5. Cole Seely…228
6. Jason Anderson…216
7. Justin Bogle…212
8. Martin Davalos…208
9. Weston Peick…197
10. Cooper Webb…177
Other notables: 11. Justin Barcia; 13. Broc Tickle; 14. Josh Grant; 15. Christian Craig; 20 Trey Canard; 21. Josh Mosiman; 24. Dean Ferris

Once Alex Martin got hurt, Zach Osborne’s title chances shot up. He now has a 74-point lead. That is one point shy of a three-moto lead with 9 motos to go in 2017

2017 AMA 450 NATIONAL POINTS STANDINGS
(After 9 of 12 races)
1. Zach Osborne,…377
2. Jeremy Martin…303
3. Alex Martin…296
4. Joey Savatgy…281
5. Dylan Ferrandis…264
6. Aaron Plessinger…256
7. Adam Cianciarulo…254
8. Colt Nichols…213
9. Mitchell Harrison…212
10. Shane McElrath…192
Other notables: 11. Austin Forkner; 12. R.J. Hampshire; 13. Sean Cantrell; 17. Justin Hill; 20. Michael Mosiman; 23. Mitchell Oldenburg

• SIX THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE 2018 YZ450F

Since MXA started testing its 2018 YZ450F on Wednesday at Glen Helen, we took different test riders out on Thursday and went back for more testing on Saturday at Glen Helen (with Yamaha and more test riders). After all of that, we thought we’d show you some of the differences you probably would never see up close. Obviously the two frames, 2017 (front) and 2018 (rear), are different. In fact, they share no parts (except the footpeg mounts). The 2018 frame, although totally redesigned, is no lighter than the 2017 frame.

This is the mechanism that hooks the electric starter up to the engine on the 2018.

This is the kickstarter and idler gear from the 2017 YZ450F.

The 2018 piston gets bridge-box ribbing to make it stronger than the 2017 piston (top). The 2018 piston is laso 6 grams lighter. How much is six grams? One-fifth of an ounce. Which in the reciprocating world of pistons is a noticeable weights savings.

The 2018 shock spring is a 58N/m (left) while the 2017 spring (right) had a 56N/m rate.

The 2018 head stays are cast and mounted lower on the frame and lower on the cylinder.

The 2017 head stays are stamped aluminum and mounted higher on the frame and higher on the engine.

Although Yamaha’s engineers told us that they had never heard of the spark plug cap blowing off when we complained about it for the last three years, they did put a spark plug cap holder on the 2018 model. Hmmm.

In the last four days MXA has had ten different riders, of all skill levels, spinning laps on our 2018 Yamaha YZ450F. We tested four different maps and spent time with Yamaha’s test department on two different days. Here, former AMA National Pro Jon Ortner powers the YZ450F through a corner on Saturday.

The question that everyone asks about the electric start 2018 YZ450F is, “How much does it weigh?” The answer? 239 pounds (exactly one pound more than it weighed in 2017).MXA weighs all of it test bikes with the same system as the AMA and FIM use—all fluids, but with an empty gas tank.

• KTM FINALLY DECIDES TO DO SOMETHING WITH ITS ELECTRIC BIKES

KTM North America is proud of their zero-emission purpose-built electric motorcycle. It is designed to open the door to new and exciting riding areas, but it hasn’t set the sales world on fire (and has never been offered to American consumers). KTM has been hesitant to go all-in on their electric Freeride motorcycle design. But now, they are finally releasing a few electric KTMs through a pilot program, where the KTM Freeride E-XC will be made available in limited quantities and sold exclusively through 11 select authorized KTM dealers in the U.S.

The MSRP for the 2017 Freeride E-XC is $8299.

It comes with a charger.

Here are the only dealers getting them:
Moto City KTM – Avondale, AZ
3 Bros KTM of Orange County – Costa Mesa, CA
CJ KTM of Murrieta – Murrieta, CA
KTM of Roseville – Roseville, CA
Malcolm Smith Motorsports – Riverside, CA
Elite Motorsports KTM – Loveland, CO
Larsons Cycle – Cambridge, MN
Edelman’s KTM – Troy, N.
Solid Performance KTM – Downingtown, PA
Adventure Powersports KTM – McKinney, TX
KTM of North Texas – Arlington, TX

• A BIKE YOU’VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE: STITTS HUSQVARNA FC250

Northern Ireland’s Harry Stitts designed and built the complete front end of this Husqvarna. Stitts races it every week in local races. He calls it “double wishbone suspension.”

• MXA PHOTO OF THE WEEK: OUR BUDLY, TED STUDLY

You may not know Ted Studly, but he was a fixture in SoCal motocross in the 1980s and 1990s. He ran an advertsing agency that produced ads for lots of motocross companies, but mostly he helped young riders, told jokes and went to the races. Ted didn’t race, but that’s because he lacked talent. However, Ted could wheelie a Honda Z500 just by sitting on the rear fender. Ted is still around, but not in motocross as much.

• GLEN HELEN OLD SCHOOL SCRAMBLES PHOTOS

No starting gate, just a grid start.

Glen Helen opened up their Lucas Oil Offroad Truck track so that four-time National Champion Gary Jones could build an old school Scrambles track on it. The course harked back to the days before motocross was established in the USA. It mixed motocross with dirt track racing on a track that every rider thought was a blast to ride on. Bikes ranged from modern motocross bikes to classic vintage iron to hand-built specials and even electric bikes. MXA test rider Dan Alamangos raced at REM on Saturday and then brought his old school Honda minicycle to the Scrambles race the next day. He also brought his camera.

Justin Jones won the Pro class without even getting completely out of this street clothes.

MODERN PRO CLASS
1. Justin Jones
2. Craig McCall
3. Colt Foster

MODERN NOVICE
1. Sam Shank
2. Tony Radford
3. Raymond Blacklock

Gary Jones raced dirt track, speedway, desert and Baja before he became a motocross star. He was right at home on a 1974 Yamaha YZ250A.

POST-MODERN EXPERT
1. Tim Hoole
2. Michele Horton
3. Dan Alamangos

POST-VINTAGE NOVICE
1. Doug Childs
2. William Wallace
3. Sam Shank

We are pretty sure that John Huegel raced a Velocette, but the Indian tank, Honda front fender and mid-70s forks threw us off

500 SCRAMBLES
1. Lance Brown
2. Len Anderson
3. John Huegel

MINI
1. Tim Hoole
2. Dan Alamangos
3. Mike Bierman

Aryton Sieja styles on his spotless CZ. No bumps, rolling whoops, fast sweepers and long sloping jumps made the Old School Scrambles track fun for all speeds and all bikes.

OVER-50 NOVICE
1. Randy Okada
2. Andre Souisa
3. Mark Sieja

Ron Lawson showed up on a Zero street bike. Amazingly it looked right at home on a Scrambles track.

OVER-60 NOVICE
1. Mark Obert
2. Luke Sayer
3. Glenn Brandt

• FIRST LOOK AT THE FOX GEAR YOU’LL BE WEARING NEXT YEAR

• MOTORCYCLE AD OF THE WEEK: NAMES FROM THE PAST

If you raced Saddleback Park in 1981 this was the bike to have. If you’ve never heard of Saddleback, then you’ve probably never heard of Maico.

• SEE THE 2018 YAMAHA YZ450F IN ACTION

• SEE THE 2018 KAWASAKI KX450F IN ACTION

• SEE THE 2018 KTM 350SXF IN ACTION

• SEE THE 2018 KAWASAKI KX250F IN ACTION

• SEE THE 2018 HONDA CRF450 IN ACTION

• THE BIGGEST MOTORCYCLE SHOW OF THE YEAR—SEPT. 23-24

For more info go to www.aimexpousa.com.

• MEMORIES OF THE WAY WE WERE

Not every rider who jumped down Saddleback Park’s Banzai Hill made it. Here, Chappy Blose (33) augers in, while the late Danny “Magoo” Chandler sails on by. You can tell what year it is by the radiators mounted on the triple clamps of their YZ125s. If you can’t guess, the answer is at the bottom of the page.

• MXA BUSINESS NEWS: JOHNNY JUMP JUMPS JOBS

Long-time K&N filters front man Johnny Jump has moved to ODI Grips to serve as their Powersports Sales & Marketing Manager

• THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAY BOYS: JOSH HILL IS 28

July 28…Aleksandr Tonkov 1993
July 29…Matt Rebeaud 1982
July 30…Jeff Dement 1975

July 30…Josh Hill 1989
July 31…Blake Wharton 1991

Aug. 1…Broc Hepler 1986
Aug. 1…Monte McCoy 1957
Aug. 1…Vince Arimitsu

Aug. 1…Samuele Bernardini 1995
Aug. 1…Frankie Latham

• 2017 GRAND PRIX WINNERS TAKE A WEEK OFF

Tony Cairoli has won six 450 GPs so far in 2017.

Date Venue 450 250
Feb. 25………..Qatar…………….Tony Cairoli…………..Pauls Jonass
Mar. 5…………Indonesia………Shaun Simpson………Jeremy Seewer
Mar. 19……….Argentina……….Tim Gajser…………….Pauls Jonass
Apr. 2…………Mexico……………Tim Gajser…………….Thomas Covington
Apr. 16………..Italy………………Tony Cairoli…………..Jorge Prado
Apr. 23……….Holland………….Gautier Paulin………..Pauls Jonass
May 7………….Latvia…………….Jeffrey Herlings……..Thomas Kjer Olsen
May 21……….Germany…………Tony Cairoli……………Jeremy Seewer
May 28……….France……………Clement Desalle………Pauls Jonass
June 11……….Russia……………Clement Desalle………Pauls Jonass
June 25……….Italy………………Tony Cairoli……………Jeremy Seewer
July 2…………Portugal………….Tony Cairoli……………Jeremy Seewer
July 23……….Czech Republic…Tony Cairoli……………Pauls Jonass
Aug. 6…………Belgium
Aug. 13……….Switzerland
Aug. 20……….Sweden
Sept. 3………..USA
Sept. 10……….Holland
Sept. 17……….France
450 points leader…Tony Cairoli (KTM)
250 points leader…Pauls Jonass (KTM)

• GP POINTS STANDINGS: THE NEXT RACE IS IN BELGIUM

Clement Desalle is one of the old guys, but in 2017 the old guys are running one-two.

FIM 450 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
(After 13 of 19 Rounds)
1. Tony Cairoli…523
2. Clement Desalle…431
3. Jeffrey Herlings…418
4. Gautier Paulin…417
5. Tim Gajser…353
6. Romain Febvre…338
7. Max Nagl…308
8. Jeremy Van Horebeek…294
9. Evgeny Bobryshev…286
10. Arnaud Tonus…279

Pauls Jonass has led the 250 GP series since the first race.

FIM 250 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
(After 13 of 19 Rounds)
1. Pauls Jonass…548
2. Jeremy Seewer…501
3. Thomas Kjer Olsen…403
4. Benoit Paturel…398
5. Julien Lieber…374
6. Thomas Covington…339
7. Brian Bogers…273
8. Jorge Prado…268
9. Brent Van doninck…226
10. Hunter Lawrence…225

• HOW TO SUBSCRIBE & GET MXA FOR FREE: ACTUALLY, WE PAY YOU

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. Better yet get the Digital desktop version at https://hi-torque.com/product/motocross-action-digital-edition/ for $9.99 a year.

The MXA test riders prefer the print version and not just because it is delivered by a uniformed employee of the U.S. Government, but because right now you can get 12 issues for $19.99 and a free $25 Gift Card from Rocky Mountain ATV/MC. That means that there is a profit to be made in this deal for you. For the Print magazine go to: https://hi-torque.com/product/motocross-action/

• HOW IS YOUR TWITTER GAME GOING? UP IT BY FOLLOWING MXA

• THE PARIS SUPERCROSS ON NOVEMBER 18-19

The 2017 Paris Supercross will move to the brand new U-Arena in the Paris business district. The U-Arena seats 24,000 spectators and has a larger floor area than Lille or Bercy. The 2017 Paris Supercross will be held on November 18-19, 2017.

• 2017 MOTOCROSS SCHEDULES: WHERE TO BE & WHEN TO BE THERE

The 2018 Supercross schedule has some surprises. There is two Anaheim events. Detroit, Toronto and New Jersey are gone. Houston, Boston, Atlanta and Tampa are back.

2018 AMA SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Jan. 6……………………..…Anaheim, CA
Jan. 13………………………Houston, TX
Jan. 20………………………Anaheim, CA
Jan. 27………………………Glendale, 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 FIM MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Mar. 4……………………….Argentina
Mar. 25……………………..Spain
Apr. 8………………………..Italy 1
Apr. 15………………………Holland 1
Apr. 29………………………Russia
May 13………………………Latvia
May 20………………………Germany
June 3……………………….England
June 10……………………..France
June 24……………………..Italy 2
July 8………………………..Indonesia
July 22………………………Czech Republic
Aug. 5……………………….Belgium
Aug. 12……………………..Switzerland
Aug. 19……………………..Sweden
Sept. 2………………………USA
Sept. 9………………………Mexico
Sept. 23…………………….Holland 2
Sept. 30…………………….Italy 3

2018 MOTOCROSS DES NATIONS
Oct. 7………………………USA

2017 AMA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
May 20……………………Hangtown, CA
May 27.…………………..Glen Helen, CA
June 3..………………….Thunder Valley, CO
June 17..…………………Mt Morris, PA
June 24.………………….Muddy Creek, TN
July 1.…………………….Red Bud, MI
July 8..……………………Southwick, MA
July 22.…………………..Millville, MN
July 29.…………………..Washougal, WA
Aug. 12..………………….Unadilla, NY
Aug. 19..………………….Budds Creek, MD
Aug. 26.…………………..Crawfordsville, IN

2017 FIM MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Feb. 25…………………….Qatar (Saturday)
Mar. 5………………………Indonesia
Mar. 19…………………….Argentina
Apr. 2………………………Mexico
Apr. 16……………………..Italy
Apr. 23…………………….Holland
May 7………………………Latvia
May 21…………………….Germany
May 28…………………….France
June 11…………………….Russia
June 25……………………Italy
July 2……………………….Portugal
July 23……………………..Czech Republic
Aug. 6……………………..Belgium
Aug. 13…………………….Switzerland
Aug. 20…………………….Sweden
Sept. 3……………………..Jacksonville, FL
Sept. 10……………………Holland
Sept. 17…………………….France

2017 MOTOCROSS DES NATIONS
Oct. 1………………………Matterley Basin, Great Britain

2017 AMA LORETTA LYNN AMATEUR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
July 31-Aug. 5……..……Hurricane Mills, TN

RED BULL STRAIGHT RHYTHM IV
Oct. 21………………….….Pomona, CA

2017 WOMEN’S MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Mar. 13…………………….Daytona Beach, FL
Mar. 25……………………Wortham, TX
Apr. 9………………………San Diego, CA
May 5………………………Las Vegas, NV
May 18-19………………..Hangtown, CA
June 2…………………….Thunder Valley, CO
June 16……………………Mt. Morris, PA
Aug. 5……………………..Hurricane Mills, TN

2017 WORLD OFF ROAD CHAMPIONSHIP (WORCS)
Jan. 6-8…………………….Taft, CA
Jan. 27-29…………………Primm, NV
Feb. 17-19………………….Taft, CA
Mar. 10-12…………………Lake Havasu, AZ
Apr. 1-2…………………….Las Vegas, NV
Apr. 21-23…………………Hurricane, UT
May. 19-21…………………Cedar City, UT
Jun. 16-17…………………Glen Helen, CA
Sept. 8-10…………………Glen Helen, CA
Oct. 6-8…………………….Adelanta, CA

2017 MAXXIS BRITISH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Apr. 9………………………Lyng
Apr. 30…………………….Canada Heights
May 14……………………Hawkstone Park
June 18……………………Desertmartin
July 9………………………Sherwood
July 16…………………….Blaxhall
July 30…………………….Preston Docks
Aug 27……………………..Foxhill

2017 BELGIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Mar. 12……………………Moerbeke-Waas
Mar. 26……………………Kruishoutem
Apr. 2……………………..Genk
Apr 10…………………….Mons
Apr. 18……………………Axel
Apr. 30……………………Wuustwezel
June 11…………………..Comines
June 18………………….Genk
July 22……………………Axel
July 23…………………..Hasselt
July 30…………………..Gooik
Aug. 15…………………..Balen
Aug. 20………………….Wachtebeke
Aug. 27………………….Orp le Grand

2017 CANADIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
June 4……………………Whispering Pines, BC
June 11………………….Blackwater, BC
June 18………………….Wild Rose, AB
June 25………………….Moto Valley, SK
July 9…………………….Gopher Dunes, ON
July 16…………………..du-Bon-Conseil, QC
July 23…………………..Pleasant Valley, NS
July 30…………………..Riverglade, NB
Aug. 6…………………….Deschambault, QC
Aug. 13……………….….RJ Motosport, ON

2017 ADAC GERMAN MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIP
Apr. 9……………………….Muhlberg
Apr. 30…………………….Jauer
May 14…………………….Molln
June 18……………………Bielstein
July 16…………………….Tensfeld
Aug. 27……………………Gaildorf
Sept. 24…………………..Holzgerlingen

2017 AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
April 2……………………..Wonthaggi, Victoria
April 23…………………..Appin, New South Wales
May 7……………………..Connondale, Queensland
May 21……………………Horsham, Victoria
May 28……………………Murray Bridge, South Australia
July 2……………………..Nowra, New South Wales
July 16……………………Shepparton, Victoria
July 30……………………Port Macquarie, New South Wales
Aug. 13…………………..Toowooba, Queensland
Aug. 20……………………Coolum, Queensland

2017 AUSTRALIAN SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Sept. 9…………………..Queensland
Sept. 23…………………Queensland
Oct. 14…………………..TBA
Oct. 26…………………..South Australia
Nov. 4…………………….Victoria
Nov. 11-12……………..New South Wales

2017 AMA SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Jan. 7…………………………Anaheim, CA
Jan. 14………………………San Diego, CA
Jan. 21………………………Anaheim, CA
Jan. 28………………………Glendale, AZ
Feb. 4……………………….Oakland, CA
Feb. 11………………………Arlington, TX
Feb. 18………………………Minneapolis, MN
Feb. 25………………………Atlanta, GA
Mar. 4………………………Toronto, ON
Mar. 11………………………Daytona, FL
Mar. 18………………………Indianapolis, IN
Mar. 25………………………Detroit, MI
Apr. 1…………………………St. Louis, MO
Apr. 8………………………..Seattle, WA
Apr. 22……………………….Salt Lake City, UT
Apr. 29……………………….New York, NY
May 6………………………….Las Vegas, NV

2017 AMSOIL ARENACROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Jan. 7-8…………………….Cincinnati, OH
Jan. 13-15…………………Grand Rapids, MI
Jan. 20-22…………………Baltimore, MD
Jan. 28-29…………………Nashville, TN.
Feb. 4-5…………………….Louisville, KY
Feb. 18-19…………………Kansas City, MO
Feb.y 25-26……………….Tampa, FL
Mar. 3-5…………………….Southaven, MS
Mar. 11-12…………………New Orleans, LA
Mar. 18-19…………………Portland, OR
Mar. 24-26…………………Reno, NV
April 1-2…………………….Sacramento, CA
April 21-23…………………Denver, CO
May 5-7…………………….Las Vegas, NV

2017 ITALIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Jan. 29…………..………..Riola Sardo
Feb. 5………………………Malagrotta
Feb.12………………..……Ottobiano

RICKY CARMICHAEL AMATEUR DAYTONA SUPERCROSS
Mar. 12-13…………….Daytona, FL

MTA WORLD TWO-STROKE CHAMPIONSHIP
Apr. 15…………………..Glen Helen, CA

2017 TRAVIS PASTRANA’S NITRO WORLD GAMES
June 24……………….Salt Lake City, UT

2017 DUTCH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Mar. 26…………………..Oss
Apr. 9th…………………..Harfsen
May 14……………………Emmen
July 15-16……………….Lichtenvoorde

ANSWER TO THE MAGOO QUESTION

The 1981 Yamaha YZ125 came with the radiator mounted on the triple clamps. Riders hated the added weight.

Photos: KTM, Husqvarna, Dan Alamangos, Daryl Ecklund, John Basher, Massimo Zanzani, Brian Converse, Scott Mallonee, MXA, Jody Weisel