MXA’S WEEKEND NEWS ROUND-UP: TWO-STROKES GO PUFFEN-SPRITZEN

GODSPEED! RON SUN (1959-2019): A TRIBUTE FROM HIS BROTHER CHUCK

Ron at the 1981 Seattle Supercross. Photo: Dave Porter

“With a broken heart, on the twenty-first of May my brother and motocross hero Ron Sun left us—the result of heart and kidney failure, Ron was 60 years old.”

“In 1979 Ron took to the road, a self-funded privateer in older brother Chuck’s well-used ’65 Chevy truck to hit the 250 National circuit on a Husqvarna. He finsihed as one of the countries top privateers. garnering a top ten overall in the Nationals. Ron carried his top ten momentum to the 1979 Trans-AMA series to secure a runner-up position and catch the attention of American Honda—who signed Ron to campaign the 1980 125 Nationals.”

“Honda contract in hand, Ron, while training on Mt. Hood’s ski slopes, flew too far off a downhill jump to flat land, snapping his tibia. Ron’s leg injury forced him to miss the first few Supercross rounds and spent the rest of the year building strength on a 125, which he was unfamiliar with as Ron had crafted his chops on the more powerful 250 and 430 Husqvarnas.”

Ron with 1980 Honda teammates Donnie Hansen, Jim Gibson, team manager Gunnar Lindstrom and Chuck Sun. (Bottom row) Rich Coon, Ron Sun and Steve Wise.

“Ron rose to World level performance by winning in northwest-like-mud the second moto at the 1980 Mid-Ohio FIM 125 USGP of motocross. Unfortunately, his bike sucked water in the first motos so his overall wasn’t as great as it could have been—a heart breaker.”

“Ron loved to ride, and his talent did not go unnoticed, receiving race promoter invites to South Africa, France and Canada where everyone loved the easy-going Oregonian. Ron grew up in a family of riders (Chuck, Mark and Kenny). Kenny and sister Suzanne, the youngest were twins. Suzie put herself through college at the University of Washington on a gymnastic scholarship. Ron was looking after our dad Roger, who both paid daily visits to our mother Carolyn who was stricken with Alzheimer’s disease.”

Ron at Washougal on his works Honda CR125. Ron made the top ten overall in the 1979 250 Nationals and 1980 125 Nationals.

“Ron dominated Vet Pro payouts into his 40’s, his favorite method of training was riding technical trails of Trask Mountain in Oregon’s coast range and the ridges of Mt. Adams in Washington. Camping at Council Lake in a rig next to Ron and his then wife Rhonda, we all heard the roar of what we believe was a Sasquatch, but no one was willing to step outside to find out what the ruckus was all about! Maybe it really was a Sasquatch!”

“Ronald B will be sorely missed by family and his many friends. Rest In Peace. I love You.”

Chuck Sun

BIKES YOU NEVER SEEN BEFORE: 1966 MONTESA 250 TEXAS SCORPION

This bike played a major role in the growth of motocross in America in the late 1960s—even though it wasn’t a motocross bike. It was a street legal, dual-sport bike with passenger pegs and high-rise handlebars. If you want to know how this bike changed the face of American motocross forever, you’ll have to wait for the July 2019 issue of MXA, which goes on sale on June 10.  In that issue we explain the Texas Scorpion’s importance in great detail.

KTM TO FUEL-INJECT ALL OF ITS OFF-ROAD TWO-STROKES IN 2020

KTM 150 XC W TPI 20202020 KTM 150XC-W TPI.

KTM 500 XCF-W 2020
2020 KTM 500XCF-W

KTM plans to drop all of its carbureted off-road two-stroke models and replace them with their innovative Transfer Port Injection (TPI) system. The 2020 lineup includes the all-new KTM 150XC-W TPI, KTM 250XC-W TPI and KTM 300XC-W TPI 2-strokes, as well as the new offroad-only KTM 350XCF-W and KTM 500XCF-W 4-strokes. Rounding out the new models are the KTM 350EXC-F and KTM 500EXC-F dual sports. That means if you want a carbureted XC model you had better buy a 2019 model because there won’t naturally aspirated XCs in the future.KTM 300 XC W TPI 20202020 KTM 300XC-W TPIKTM 350EXC-F USA 20202020 KTM 350-EXC-F

These 2020 KTM machines feature updated high-performance engines, new chassis, improved WP XPLOR suspension, better handling, new bodywork, new airbox, new cooling system, and redesigned exhaust systems. These refinements will be combined with Neken handlebars, Brembo brakes, No-Dirt footpegs, and CNC-milled hubs and Giant rims.

MOTORSPORT AFTERMARKET GROUP (MAG) TO BREAK UP THE OLD GANG

The Mag Group has announced that it is going to release six of its business units, including Tucker Powersports and J&P Cycles, to become stand-alone businesses

Press release: Motorsport Aftermarket Group (MAG) today announced a new and significant change to managing the multi-brand organization to its 1500 employees. “We’ve asked each of our senior leaders to focus 100% of their efforts on creating value, delivering growth and expanding the entrepreneurial mindset within their business unit and their brands. When we do this, we will become more nimble, more aggressive and have a greater focus on the market and on our customers. We’d rather have a portfolio of successful companies with complete independence than force them to integrate, which turned out to be detrimental to several of our brands,” said Hugh Charvat, CEO of Motorsport Aftermarket Group.

“While our business units will continue to collaborate where helpful, there will be no corporate mandate to do so. And we’ll ensure complete independence between Tucker Powersports, J&P Cycles and our four other business units by making them stand-alone businesses. This demonstrates our commitment to supporting our dealer customers. We now have great talent leading each of our business units, so the board and I feel that this is the time to unleash those individuals and all of our great employees to return our brands to the status they’ve enjoyed in the past without the operating restraints that have been in place as MAG.”

Greg Blackwell.

Motorsport Aftermarket Group (MAG) is based in Coppell, Texas, and includes Answer, BikeMaster, Burly, First Gear, Dragonfire Racing, J&P Cycles, Kuryakyn, Mustang Seats, Performance Machine, Progressive Suspension, ProTaper, QuadBoss, Roland Sands Design, Speed and Strength, Tucker, Tucker V-Twin, Twin Power and Vance & Hines. MAG business units employ 1500 people throughout the United States and recently hired industry veterans Mike Kennedy, Greg Heichelbech, John Potts and Greg Blackwell to fill significant roles.

GLEN HELEN FAN APPRECIATION DAY THIS SATURDAY; $10 RIDE DAY & A FREE LUNCH

Glen Helen be opening on Saturday, May 25th for a fan appreciation day, ride day and viewing party. Everybody can come in and ride for a $10 donations to the High Hopes Head Injury Foundation. Not only can you ride for a charitable donation, but Chaparral Motorsports will be providing free lunch to all in attendance (from JoJo’s Grill-A -Dog from 1:30 to 1:30 p.m). All of the Glen Helen tracks will be open and prepped, including the National track, REM track, Pee-Wee track and Stadiumcross track. Plus, there will be a UTV trail ride on Glen Helen’s offroad course starting as 3:00 p.m.

CLASSIC MXA TEST RIDER PHOTO: MXA’S PERSONAL WHEELIE KING

Pete Maly always had a smile on his face, it just got bigger on a 1977 Maico AW400.

MXA’s best known test rider in the early 1970s was Pete Maly. Here is what Pete says about his place in MXA history, “In July of 1973, when MXA was launched, I worked with Pete Szylagi and Paul Boudreau. I was privileged to be a part of the early years of motocross in California in the late ’60s and early ’70s. I stayed on when Jody Weisel came to MXA in 1976, but Lance Moorewood eventually replaced me. When Jody decided in late 1979 to start a race called the “CZ World Championship” he asked me to help him. That event was the first vintage motocross race of any importance. It spawn the current era of vintage racing.”

Pete Maly on the cover of the June 1974 issue of MXA—on a CZ of course.

“The Maico 450s and 490s were the best of all the test bikes I rode,” says Maly. “They had good suspension, broad powerbands, precise steering and terrible brakes. Who needs brakes! I was, of course, partial to CZ (because I owned a CZ shop named Coast Moto Cycles). The worst bikes I ever rode were the Carabela 125 and the Suzuki TM400.”

MXA’S TWO-STROKE PRE-MIX RATIO CHART

This chart tells you how many ounces of oil to mix with 1 gallon, 2 gallons, 2.5 gallons, 3 gallons, 4 gallons and 5 gallons of gas to achieve ratios from 20:1 to 100:1. The MXA wrecking crew runs 40:1 (which is 16 ounces of oil to 5 gallons of gas).

THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAY BOYS: REMEMBERING ANDREW MCFARLANE

Durham2.jpgMay 24…Darryn Durham 1989
May 24…Steve Hatch 1969
May 25…Chad Pederson 1971

Brylyakov_MXGP_5_MEX_2016May 29…Vsevolod Brylyakov 1995

robbiereynardaction
May 27…Robbie Reynard 1977
May 29…Donald Upton
May 29…Ben Lamay 1991

OVELUNDELL
May 29…Ove Lundell 1930
May 29…Jeff “Iron” Montgomery

AndrewMcFarlane
May 30…Andrew McFarlane 1977
May 31…Graeme Irwin 1991

May 31…Gary Semics 1954
May 31…Rick Burgett

Dylan Ferrandis
May 31…Dylan Ferrandis 1994
June 1…Tanel Leok 1985
June 1…Matt Biscelgia 1995

STEVEWISEBD
June 2…Steve Wise 1957
June 2…Ray Sommo 1968

MXA PHOTO OF THE WEEK: ANDREW MCFARLANE FLYING HIGH

Italian photographer Antonio Scagnell sent us this photo of Andrew McFarlane in the 2005 FIM 250 World Championships. Antonio said, “I want to remember Andrew McFarlane with a picture that I took in the Castiglione del Lago round of the Motocross World Championship in June 2005. That’s Andrew with the red plate flying high over the other riders in moto one.”

THIS WEEK’S AMA NATIONAL TV BROADCAST TIME & CHANNELS

As with all AMA National races it is shown on a variety of cable channels, networks and apps. For the average person, the Pala National will be on NBC-Sports starting at 3:00 p.m. (Eastern time), which is 12 Noon on the West Coast. Check your TV listings for possible time changes (click on the chart above to enlarge).

EVERY AMA 250/450 NATIONAL WINNER IN 2019

Ken Roczen 2019 Hangtown outdoor motocross national-2096Ken Roczen had the crowd behind him in the mud of Hangtown as he put two years of suffering behind with his first win since breaking his arm.

Date                   Venue                                           450                                250
Mar. 18……Hangtown, CA…………………Ken Roczen…………Adam Cianciarulo
May 25……..Pala, CA
June 1……..Thunder Valley, CO
June 15…….Mt. Morris, PA
June 22…….Jacksonville. FL
June 29……..Southwick, MA
July 6………..Red Bud, MI​
July 20………Millville, MN​
July 27………Washougal, WA
Aug. 10……..Unadilla, NY​
Aug. 17……..​Budds Creek, MD
Aug. 24……..Crawfordsville, IN
450 points leader………Ken Roczen (Hon)
250 points leader……..Adam Cianciarulo (Kaw)

2019 TEXAS NIGHT SERIES ON JUNE 1

For more info go to www.freestonemx.com

HOOLIGAN STADIUM STEEPLECHASE ON JUNE 2 ON LUCAS OIL TRUCK TRACK

A TT-Style race on the Glen Helen Lucas Oil Truck Track. Gates open 8:00 a.m./practice 10:30 a.m. Classes for Minis, 100cc, 150cc, pre-74, pre-unit twins, 1975 to 1979 Bomber, Hooligans, tank shifters and modern support. For more info Click Here.

SOCAL VINTAGE MX CLASSIC 10 ON JUNE 15 AT GLEN HELEN

You can download the 8-page entry form and see all the classes by Clicking Here

NEXT OLD SCHOOL SCRAMBLES AT GLEN HELEN ON JUNE 30

For more information, please visit www.OldSchoolScramblesRacing.com

20TH ANNUAL HODAKA DAYS IN ATHENA, OREGON, ON JUNE 27-30, 2019

For more information go to www.hodakadays.org

GREAT PLAINS VINTAGE SERIES ON JUNE 2, JUNE 30, AUG. 18, SEPT. 15 & Oct. 20

The six-race Great Plains Vintage motocross series starts on May 5 at Three Hill Raceway in Nebraska City. For more info go to www.greatplainsvintagemx.org.

2019 AMA VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE DAYS ON JULY 5-7 AT MID-OHIO

For more information go to www.amavintagemotorcycledays.com

CLASSIC MOTOCROSS ADS: CAN YOU RIDE A CYCLONE?

SUZUZKITM400ADConsidered one of the worst motocross bikes ever made, the Suzuki TM400 Cyclone deserved all the criticism it ever got.

HOW THEY RANK: MXA’S 2019 250 FOUR-STROKE SHOOTOUT

MOTOCROSS MOVIE FROM HOLLYWOOD: BENNETT’S WAR

THE FIRST SIX GRAND PRIX WINNERS: 4 OUT OF 6 FOR TONY & 5 OUT OF OF 6 FOR JORGE

Argentina MXGP Jorge PradoJorge Prado has won four in a row (five out of six if you want to be picky).

Date               Venue                                            450                                250
Mar. 3……. Argentina……………………….Tony Cairoli…………Jorge Prado
Mar. 24……England………………………….Tony Cairoli…………Thomas Kjer Olsen
Mar. 31……Holland…………………………..Tony Cairoli………..Jorge Prado
Apr. 7……….Trentino, Italy………………..Tim Gajser………….Jorge Prado
May 12…….Lombardia, Italy……………Tony Cairoli………..Jorge Prado
May 19……..Portugal………………………..Tim Gajser………….Jorge Prado
May 26…….France
June 9…..…Russia
June 16……Latvia
June 23……Germany
July 7………Palembang, Indo.
July 14……..Semarang, Indo
July 28….…Czech Republic
Aug. 4………Belgium
Aug. 18….…Imola, Italy
Aug. 25….…Sweden
Sept. 8……..Turkey
Sept. 15…..Shanghai, China
Sept. 22…..Hong Kong, China (Canceled)
450 points leader…………..Tony Cairoli (KTM)
250 points leader…………..Thomas Kjer Olsen (Hus)

CURRENT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS

Tony Cairoli started the season worried about Jeffrey Herlings, but now he needs to keep an eye on Tim Gajser.

450 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS
(after 5 of 18 rounds)
1. Antonio Cairoli (KTM)…285
2. Tim Gajser (Hon)…251
3. Gautier Paulin (Yam)…197
4. Clement Desalle (Kaw)…175
5. Arminas Jasikonis (Hus)…166
6. Jeremy Seewer (Yam)…153
7. Pauls Jonass (Hus)…137
8. Jeremy Van Horebeek (Hon)…136
9. Arnaud Tonus (Yam)…122
10. Glenn Coldenhoff (KTM)…120

Thomas Kjer Olsen MXGP of BelgiumThomas Kjer Olsen held the 250 GP points lead for five races, but now trails Jorge Prado by  3 points.

250 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS
(after 5 of 18 rounds)
1. Jorge Prado (KTM)…250
2. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Hus)…247
3. Henry Jacobi (Kaw)…193
4. Jago Geerts (Yam)…170
5. Tom Vialle (KTM)…164
6. Mitch Evans (Hon)…155
7. Ben Watson (Yam)…155
8. Davy Pootjes (Hus)…128
9. Adam Sterry (Kaw)…127
10. Calvin Vlaanderen (Hon)…122

BIG BIKE RATING: MXA’S 2019 450 FOUR-STROKE SHOOTOUT

YOU DO THE MATH! SUBSCRIBE TO MXA & GET A $25 CHAPARRAL GIFT CARD

If you subscribed to Motocross Action,  the June 2019 issue of MXA would be in the throne room right now.

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 a $25 Chaparral gift card to spend on whatever motorcycle parts or products you need. You can call (800) 767-0345 or CLICK HERE or click on the box at the bottom of this page.

2019 RACE SCHEDULE: THE SEASON IS STILL YOUNG

Starting line_Glen Helen World Vet 2019
Start planning now to join riders from over 20 different countries at the 2019 Dubya World Vet Championship on November 2-3. If you thought last week’s World Two-Stroke Championship was big, wait until you see the World Vet.

2019 AMA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
May 18……………………Hangtown, CA
May 25.…………………..Pala, CA
June 1..……………….….Thunder Valley, CO
June 15..…………………Mt. Morris, PA
June 22.………………….Jacksonville. FL
June 29..…………………Southwick, MA
July 6.………………….….Red Bud, MI​
July 20.……………………Millville, MN​
July 27.……………………Washougal, WA
Aug. 10..………………….Unadilla, NY​
Aug. 17..………………….​Budds Creek, MD
Aug. 24.…………………..Crawfordsville, IN

2019 FIM MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Mar. 3…………………………… Argentina
Mar. 24……………………………England
Mar. 31……………………………Holland
Apr. 7………………………………Trentino (Italy #1)
May 12…………………………….Lombardia (Italy #2)
May 19…………………….……..Portugal
May 26……………………………France
June 9…………………………….Russia
June 16…………………………..Latvia
June 23…………………………..Germany
July 7……………………………..Palembang (Indonesia #1)
July 14……………………………Semarang (Indonesia #2
July 28……………………………Czech Republic
Aug. 4…………………………….Belgium
Aug. 18…………………………..Imola (Italy #3)
Aug. 25…………………………..Sweden
Sept. 8……………………………Turkey
Sept. 15…………………………..Shanghai, China
Sept. 22…………………………..Hong Kong (Canceled)

2019 WORLD OFF-ROAD CHAMPIONSHIP (WORCS)
Jan. 18-20………………………..Primm, NV
Feb. 1-3……………………………Glen Helen, CA
Mar. 1-3……………………………Lake Havasu, AZ
Mar. 22-24……………………….Peoria, AZ
Apr. 12-14………………………..Las Vegas, NV
Apr. 26-28………………………..Taft, CA
May 24-26……………………….Mesquite, NV
July 30-Aug. 4…………………McCleary, WA
Sept. 13-15……………………..Glen Helen, CA
Oct. 4-6……………………………Milford, CA
Nov. 15-17……………………….Primm, NV

2019 MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN MOTOCROSS
June 21-30……………………….Mammoth Lakes, CA

2019 CANADIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
June 1………………………………Wild Rose, AB
June 8………………………………Blackwater, BC
June 15…………………………….McNabb Valley, MB
July 13……………………………..Gopher Dunes, ON
July 20……………………………..San Del Lee, ON
July 27……………………………..Riverglade, NB
Aug. 3………………………………Deschambault, QC
Aug. 17…………………………….Walton, ON

2019 AMA NATIONAL AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
July 29-Aug. 3………………….Loretta Lynn, TN

2019 BRITISH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Mar. 10……………………………..FatCat
Apr. 14………………………………Lyng
May 5……………………………….Canada Heights
June 2………………………………Blaxhall
June 30…………………………….Desertmartin
July 21……………………………..Hawkstone Park
Aug. 11……………………………..Foxhill
Sept. 15……………………………Landrake

2019 BRITISH APICO TWO-STROKE FESTIVAL
May 25-26……………………….Marshfield MX
Aug. 3-4……………………………Iron Works Moto
Sept. 21-22……………………..Sellindge MX

2019 GERMAN MX MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIP
April 14…………………………….Princely Drehna
June 2………………………………Moggers, Austria
June 30…………………………….Molln
July 21……………………………..Tens
Aug. 11…………………………….Gaildorf
Sept. 1……………………………..Biel
Sept. 15……………………………Wood Gerlingen

2019 AMA VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE DAYS
July 5-7…………………………….Lexington, Ohio

2019 AMA NATIONAL AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
July 29-Aug. 3………………….Loretta Lynn, TN

2019 RYAN VILLOPOTO AMATEUR MOTOCROSS CUP
Aug. 22-25………………………..Grays Harbor, WA

2019 MOTOCROSS DES NATIONS
Sept. 29…………………………….Assen, Holland

2019 MONSTER ENERGY CUP
Oct. 21……………………………..Las Vegas, NV

2019 WORLD VET CHAMPIONSHIP
Nov. 2-3……………………………..Glen Helen, CA

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Photos: Dan Alamangos, Ray Archer, Brian Converse, Travis Fant, Daryl Ecklund, John Basher, Jody Weisel, Debbi Tamietti, MXA

 

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