Click on images to enlarge

• WHAT THE MXA WRECKING CREW WAS UP TO THIS WEEK

This is the gig of a lifetime. You get to wear funny clothes, ride vividly color machines, frolic in the sun, hobnob with the Tom Moen, and the test brand new 2017 motocross bikes on a perfectly prepped track. Being an MXA test rider is living high on the hog.

The MXA wrecking crew has been at Glen Helen Raceway more days in the past week than there are days in the past week working on our 2017 MXA 450 Shootout. We have been testing the six big bores by racing them whenever possible, doing photo shoots (of which you can see the outtakes below) and filming the shootout video. In our spare time we are preparing to race all six bikes at the World Vet Championship this weekend—and Jody even took time out to design a new track for the Vet race. On a side note, we have buttoned up are 2017 250 Four-Stroke shootout which will be on the newstands soon.

2017 Kawasaki KX450: There is nothing as majestic to do on a motocross bike than to throw in a switchback—with all the dirt going one way and the test rider going the other.

2017 KTM 450SXF: At only 222 pounds, the big Katoom is the lightest 450cc motocross bike made (and would be the third lightest 250 fofur-stroke). It just seems to float above the ground.

2017 Yamaha YZ450F: If you can’t afford repair bills, a breakdown or not getting the holeshot, the YZ450F is the bike for you. It’s a missile on the start and a savior at the wallet.

2017 Suzuki RM-Z450: Suzukis are front end handling machines, with a front tire that sticks like glue to the ground, which makes it all the more fun to power slide it around turns with the rear wheel doing all the work.

2017 Honda CRF450: They are coming to a dealership near you very soon, but for now, MXA’s CRF450 is coming right at you and leaving a spray of sand as crumbs for others to follow.

2017 Husqvarna FC450: Backlit by the sun and framed by the canyon wall behind it, the bright white 2017 Husky FC450 seems to be wheelying through a cosmic glow.

• THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAY BOYS: WEBB, TOMAC & THE BABY-FACED ASSASSIN

Nov. 4…Damon Huffman 1975
Nov. 4…Greg Fox
Nov. 7…Shane Watts 1972

Nov. 8…Weston Peick 1990
Nov. 8…Dave Strijbos

Nov. 8…Tyla Rattray 1985
Nov. 9…Paul Boudreau

Nov. 10…Cooper Webb 1995
Nov. 10…Pat Lio

Nov. 10…Eli Tomac 1992

• MEMORIES OF THE WAY WE WERE: BONANZA

The fuel-injected model with air forks, five-speed tranny and 11 inches of travel costs $9000 more.

• CHRISTINI RETURNS TO ITS MOUNTAIN BIKE ROOT

Chrisitini AWD Fat Bike.

After a ten-year break in production of All Wheel Drive mountain bikes, two-wheel-drive motorcycle manufacturer Christini is relaunching their original two-wheel drive mountain bike concept—and mating it to the popular Fatbike segment. Initially offering both a 4″ split frame and a 5″ wide tire design, the bikes will feature Christini’s patented AWD system providing unmatched traction and control while enabling a rider to conquer the toughest conditions. These two models will also have an electric assist option utilizing a mid drive motor and high capacity battery. For more info go to www.christinibicycles.com.

• 2016 DUBYA WORLD VET RACE SCHEDULE

For more info go to www.glenhelen.com.v

• UPCOMING RACES: WE ARE IN THE SEVENTH INNING STRETCH

2016 DUBYA WORLD VET MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Nov. 5-6……………………….Glen Helen, CA

AUSTRALIAN SUPERCROSS
Nov. 5…………………………..Avalon, Victoria
Nov. 12-13…………………….Sydney, New South Wales

2016 GEICO ENDUROCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Nov. 5………………………….Boise, ID
Nov. 19………………………..Ontario, CA

STUTTGART SUPERCROSS
Nov. 11-12…………………….Stuttgart, Germany

TAMPERE SUPERCROSS
Nov. 11-12……………………..Finland

2016 REM MOTOCROSS
Nov 12…………………………Glen Helen, CA
Nov. 19………………………..Glen Helen, CA

PARIS/LILLE SUPERCROSS
Nov. 12-13…………………….Lille, France

MUNICH SUPERCROSS
Nov. 18-19……………………Munich, Germany

2016 THOR WINTER OLYMPICS
Nov. 21-26……………………Gatorback, FL

2016 DAY IN THE DIRT 19
Nov. 25-27………………….Glen Helen, CA

GENEVA SUPERCROSS
Dec. 2-3………………………Geneva, Switzerland

• MXA AD OF THE WEEK: A MOTCROSS BIKE WITH A SPEEDO AND TACH

This 1975 Yamaha MX250 and MX400 ad featured Pierre Karsmakers and was an excellent use of a factory rider to sell machines. The manufacturers often shy away from using factory riders in their ads because they feel it promotes the rider at the expense of ad space for the bike. This was a good use of a racer.

• HOW WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION DYNAMICS WORK

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

None of these schedules are set in stone, but you can count on the Supercross and Arenacross schedules to be accurate.

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

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………………………Indonsia
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 9……………………….San Marino
July 23……………………..Czech Republic
Aug. 6……………………….Belgium
Aug. 13…………………….Switzerland
Aug. 20…………………….Sweden
Sept. 3………………………USA (Monday)
Sept. 10……………………Holland
Sept. 17…………………….France

The 2017 Glen Helen Motocross des Nations will be held in England.

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

2017 SMX RIDERS & MANUFACTURERS CUP
October 7………………….Gelsenkirchen, Germany

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 WORLD OFF ROAD CHAMPIONSHIP (WORCS)
Jan. 6-8…………………….Taft, CA
Jan. 27-29…………………Primm, NV
Feb. 17-19………………….TBA
Mar. 10-12…………………Lake Havasu, AZ
Apr. 1-2…………………….Las Vegas, NV
Apr. 21-23…………………Hurricane, UT
May. 19-21…………………Cedar City, UT
Jun. 9-11…………………..Adelanto, CA
Sept. 8-10…………………Glen Helen, CA
Oct 13-15…………………..TBA

2017 MAXXIS BRITISH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Mar. 12……………………Culham
Apr. 9………………………Lyng
Apr. 30…………………….Canada Heights
May 14……………………Hawkstone Park
June 18……………………Desertmartin
July 16…………………….Blaxhall
July 30…………………….Preston Docks
Aug 27……………………..Foxhill

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…………………….Victoria
April 23……………………New South Wales
May 7……………………..Queensland
May 21……………………Victoria
May 28……………………South Australia
July 2……………………..New South Wales
July 16……………………Victoria
July 30……………………New South Wales
Aug. 13…………………..Queensland
Aug. 19-20………………Queensland

• WORLD VET MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP ON NOV. 5-6

Now that the young guy’s Championships are decided, all eyes will turn to the older set at the 2016 Dubya-sponsored World Vet Championships. There are Pro classes for the Over-30, Over-40 and Over-50 racers. Expect the competition to be intense. For more info go to www.glenhelen.com

• IDAHO ENDUROCROSS THIS SATURDAY NIGHT

For more info go to www.endurcross.com

• LAKE ELSINORE GRAND PRIX BACK FOR ANOTHER TRY: NOV. 12-13

For more info go to www.dirtseriesracing.com

• ROUTE 66 VINTAGE SCRAMBLES AT ROY ROGERS RANCH ON NOV. 20

For more info click here.

• THOR MINI O’s ON NOV. 21-26

For more info go to www.unlimitedsportsmx.com

• DAY IN THE DIRT 19 COMING ON NOV. 25-27

For more info go to www.dayinthedirt.com

• HOW TO SUBSCRIBE & GET MXA FOR FREE: YOU WILL ACTUALLY MAKE MONEY

Interested in getting a new bike this year? The November 2016 issue of MXA will be on the news stands soon and has test of seven bikes that you could own—including the 2017 KTM 150SX, 2017 Suzuki RM-Z250, 2017 Yamaha YZ450F, 2017 Husqvarna FC450 and 2017 KTM 250SXF. Plus, if you subscribe now you get a $25 gift certificate from Rocky Mountain ATV/MC which more than pays for your subscription.

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 for only $19.99 you get 12 issues 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: http://hi-torque.com/product/subscribe-to-motocross-action-magazine/

Photos: Cory Walters, Daryl Ecklund, Brian Converse, Massimo Zanzani, Debbi Tamietti, Dan Alamangos,John Basher, Yamaha, MXA, Honda