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FACEBOOK PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Two-stroke power! This Husqvarna TC125 got over 4000 likes on MXA’s Facebook page! www.facebook.com/motocrossactionmag

FLY RACING 2015 COLLECTION

MXA’S SWEDISH VOYAGE FOR THE 2015 HUSQVARNA INTRODUCTION

By Daryl Ecklund

Any time somebody calls for an adventure you can always count on MXA to take it on. Adventures are part of why we took the job in the first place. We strive on getting to experience anything that is different and we will travel to the edges of the Earth to do so.

Luleå, Sweden 1:00am

Husqvarna has been quite fond of Sweden due to do their long heritage in the Viking land. This is why for the second year in a row the Husqvarna new model introduction was held on Viking turf. For this year, it was held in Northern Sweden, where in the summer time darkness never falls. The sunlight is caught in a beautiful sunset for hours on end. It is tough to take your eyes off it and even tougher to fall asleep.

The Husqvarna crew let us have one grand day on their full line of machines at the Piteå Motocross Park. The track was deep sand and the Enduro loop was about 8 miles of tight forest. We started early in the day so I was able to get through testing all 11 models of the Husqvarna line.

I rode each and every model. Even rode the Enduro models on the motocross track and the motocross bikes on the Enduro loop. Why spend time on the enduro bikes? BecauseI might have learned something from venturing beyond my comfort zone. I will admit, most of my time was spent on the Husky 125cc. Something about being able to hold it wide open in the deep sand around the entire track was exhilarating.

Although I am a moto guy I love to be challenged in every aspect of riding a bike. On the Enduro loop my feet came off the pegs countless times and I found myself in a tree or two, but I loved every second of it.

I was spoiled. Husqvarna fed us like Viking Kings serving reindeer heart and all the drinks and appetizers I could handle. I won’t get into the juicy details of my trip just yet as it will be featured in an upcoming issue of MXA. Make sure not to miss it!

SAMCOSPORT–MORE THAN JUST A HOSE

Samco are the innovator and world leader in silicone hose. Based in the UK for over 25 years, with a proud history of supplying more Formula 1, WSBK, MotoGP teams than any other hose manufacturer, Samco hose kits are available for over 400 dirt bikes.

What temperatures do Samco hoses work to?
Samco hoses are made from premium European automotive grade silicone which ensures each hose can comfortably handle over 350^oF, meaning they stand up to race-intensity temperatures – this is the number one reason so many Pro teams run Samco.

What sort of pressure rating can you expect from a Samco hose?
Each hose has a minimum of 3 layers of silicone, reinforced with hi-tensile strength polyester fabric (stock hoses are typically only one layer!)  – this allows for extreme pressure resistance – often with a operating pressure to burst pressure safety ratio of over 300%

How reliable are the hoses under race conditions?
Compared to stiff/perished OEM hoses or solid radiator pipe, Samco hoses not only offer great flexibility and anti-vibration characteristics, which prevents leaks when pushing the bike hard in terms of RPM or jumps, but in the case of a crash, the hoses strength and flexibility hugely increase your chances of getting straight back on a bike who’s coolant system is still in one piece.

How easy are Samco hoses to install on my bike?
Samco hoses are an easy and quick dealer or garage install – needing nothing more than a screwdriver to fit. You can improve the reliability, performance and appearance of your bike within an hour or two. Single piece “Y” hoses are a simple one-piece install compared to more complex OEM assemblies.

How long will my Samco hoses last? Will I need to replace them often?
Samco’s premium quality materials and craftsmanship (all hoses are 100% hand made and inspected in the UK) ensures that hoses give unparalleled reliability. They resist Oxygen, Ozone and UV degradation all of which eat away at stock EPDM rubber hose. To back this up, each hose is covered by Samco’s unique limited lifetime warranty

Do Samco hoses look the same as my original stock hoses?
Samco hoses are available in an array of slick colors – including the factory matched colors for KTM Orange, Kawasaki Green, Suzuki/Ducati Red, and the world famous “Samco Blue”

Is there any performance advantage of running Samco over my original stock hoses?
An efficient cooling system is key to maintaining horse power   – especially when a bike is being pushed hard. Overheating MX bikes loose power – fitting Samco hoses can reduce the operating temperature of the bike by up to 8 degrees – which can mean gain of a horse power or two! Samco hoses insulate far better than stock hose, ensuring heat is taken away from the engine, to the radiator, allowing the radiator to work on the maximum temperature differential, which makes it more efficient.

Are there any other advantages of running Samco besides the performance and looks?
With our in-house development department working closely with top race teams, Samco hoses are often designed to replace multiple OEM hose assembles which contain restrictions to flow. Our unique “zero-block” tooling ensures all hoses are made free from flashing and smooth big-bore Samco hoses maximise your coolant flow, which keep your bike cool, and prevent you loosing power.

Who uses Samco hoses?
Race teams don’t run stock. Samco is not only a supplier to KTM Europe and North America – we also are the first choice for leading teams such as Kawasaki Racing Team and Troy Lee Designs.

Where can I buy Samco Off-Road hose kits?
www.samcosportusa.com

MINI-VIEW: MARVIN MUSQUIN

Already a two-time World Motocross 250 Champ, Marvin Musquin moved to America to race in 2011 for the Red Bull KTM team. Injuries initially stalled his AMA career, but 2013 was a big year for him. Marvin just missed out on the 250 Supercross East Championship by five points to Wil Hahn and finished third overall to Eli Tomac and Ken Roczen in the 250 outdoor series. It seemed logical that the now 24 year old would be a title contender in 2014 in both Supercross and motocross. But shortly before the New Year, Musquin suffered a second ACL tear that kept him sidelined until Glen Helen. We caught up with Marvin after his Red Bud podium.  

By Jim Kimball

Photos by Scott Mallonee

MXA: Marvin, congratulations on your first podium of 2014. Do you think this will be a good turning point for the rest of the series?

You know, I have been waiting for a day like this. It’s better late than never. The goal is to get on the podium in the remaining races and hopefully get a win before the end of the year. I’m pretty far back in the championship, so to take the number 1 plate would be very difficult.

It must have been difficult to come into the outdoor series not yet 100 percent from your injury.

Yeah, I knew that it was going to be pretty hard, and then I dislocated my shoulder in practice. Fortunately it did not dislocate all the way. Still, I did not really need that to happen. I have a contract with Red Bull KTM, so I really wanted to get back to racing as soon as I could. I don’t want to say that racing at Glen Helen was a “good time”, but I was very happy to be back on my dirt bike and be able to race. I didn’t have much time to ride before Glen Helen to do my moto’s and get ready and be able to feel that I could win.

Halfway through the motocross series how are you feeling fitness wise?

I’m feeling a lot better now. I can now do moto’s during the week, and while my knee gets sore and stiff, it does not really bother me much. My ligament is strong, and I’ve been able to ride. That is the most important thing. With the way my knee is, I cannot do everything that I like to do, such as running, but I can bicycle. Also, I am much more confident than I was back in May. I was tentative at first with thinking a lot about my knee and its strength, because it was painful. This was the second time that I had torn my ACL in the same knee. It was pretty painful.

Marvin Musquin earned his first podium of the year at Red Bud after a long layoff due to a knee injury.

It must have been discouraging to be sidelined with this serious injury again.

It was very difficult to be in the hospital bed watching the Supercross races. And as I said, I knew it would be very difficult to come back in time for motocross and be strong. But I am doing better mentally now. I really missed racing Supercross, but now that I am back here I am happy. I’m looking forward to the future with racing the outdoors and getting ready for Supercross.

Speaking of the future, do you have a contract for next year?

I don’t have a contract for next year at this time, but I am talking to KTM. I have been trying hard to do well for them, but so far my starts have not been that well. I know that my speed has been good and now I have the podium at Red Bud. So again, the team and I are talking about next year, but nothing is finalized yet.

It seems as if getting a good start now more than ever is important in the 250 class. 

Yes, for sure a good start is very important now. There are lots of good bikes, and many fast riders this year. The competition is so tough. You must have a good start in order to even have a chance to win. There are some young riders, like Jeremy Martin and Cooper Webb, that are very fast and on a good bike. Both those kids train hard and are very competitive. That is why I am here, because the competition is so strong, and [it’s where] the best in the world [are].

That brings me to Christophe Pourcel. Many may think that because you are both French that you are friends, but I don’t believe that is true.

It’s funny, because we have never really raced together until this year. We did race against each other years ago, when it was my first year on an 85cc and his last year in that class. When he moved to the GP series I was still on the smaller bikes. Later when he moved to America was when I moved to the GP series. We are both French, and he used to win a lot in America, so it is normal that he doesn’t want to see me in front of him! He is very difficult to pass, but that is racing, and the way that it is–you have to fight for your place. I don’t believe he wants to be friends with me. But I like to be friendly and talk to anyone. Back when Wil Hahn and I were battling for the Supercross Championship we would talk a lot. Even Doc G was laughing about it, as Wil and I were friendly while battling for a championship. I don’t know, maybe at times I am too nice and need to be more aggressive on the track.

So now here at Red Bud you got on the podium, and some of the upcoming tracks seem to suit your style. How are you feeling about the rest of the series?

Red Bud and Budds Creek this next weekend are my two favorite tracks on the circuit. Unadilla is nice, too, and I am looking forward to the new track in Indiana. I think that will be cool because no one will really know anything about it, and everyone will have to learn it. But here in America you don’t really see riders that have specific tracks they do well at. It’s not like in Europe where there is a soft sand track one weekend, and then a hard pack track the following weekend. It seems like the tracks here are all getting more similar–soft and rutted.

#MXATALKSINSTAGRAM

Adam getting some tests done to aid in his training program.

Bam Bam still has some healing to do.

Dean with the leg swag. He says he does this to maneuver in the air to pick the rut of his choice.

Carey Hart putting in some laps at Red Bud.

Cooper Webb in a patriotic background.

Levi Sherwood has been stepping up his game lately!

#realtalk

MXA test rider Tye Hames splattering terra firma all over Glen Helen.

THOR MX-MAMMOTH AMATEUR RACING

RED LABEL GRAPHICS

Press Release–RedLabel is having a July month sale. 10% off any size order with coupon code “RedLabel 10-Off”. RedLabel is a brand new Custom Graphics company with ideas and designs thinking out side the box. Every order comes with free custom work, any logos, any colors, anything you want. Go check out RedLabel’s website at www.REDLABEL.mx and use their JULY coupon code “RedLabel 10-Off” for a deal on a new Custom Graphics Kit. Sale lasts all of July!

FIRST RIDE 2015 KTM 350SXF

MXA FITNESS TIP OF THE WEEK: 10 Things you should know about your core

(1) What is it. When most think of the bodies core they tend to think of the abs. Yet they are included into the building of the cores’ structure, the abs are just a superficial part of what the entire core actually entails. In general terms the bodies core refers to the entire body minis the arms and legs. Look at your core as a bridge between the extremities. If the core is weak, the bridge will collapse which also results into weak arms and legs. If the core is strong, the body will work as an integrated unit allowing the body as a whole to be strong. It is the foundation of all your bodies movements whether it is walking or riding. Bottom-line, a weak core results to an unhealthy body.

(2) What it does. The bodies core is what gives your body posture, balance, spinal support, agility and general back health. The core as a unit aligns the spine, ribs and pelvis of a person to resist a specific force whether it is hammering a whoop section or just sitting up in bed.

(3) Importance. With the changing times over the last few hundred years, life has significantly changed for us. We once were always moving and active just in order to to retain the necessary needs to stay alive. Now, life has become much easier which has lead to a much more sedentary lifestyle. We tend to spend most of our lives in the car, at work and in front of the tube. While sitting for hours on end the bodies core is not being utilized making it weak and frail. This weak core will result in health complications down the road if nothing is done to promote strength.

(4) Major muscles. There are just about 30 different muscles that make up the bodies core. All of them work as a unit to bridge the gap between the extremities. Out of the many muscles that create the core there are a few that play vital roles in the cores function. Such muscles are the pelvic floor, diaphragm, longissimus thoracis, transversus abdominis, internal and external obliques, rectus abdominis and erector spinae.

(5) Isolation. As most the core muscles are in the midsection of the body, people tend to focus on that putting there majority of attention to just working that area. As this might seem like common sense, this is narrow minded thinking. Popular exercises such as crunches and back extensions are isolation movements. These exercises only target a few of the nearly 30 muscles of the core. By doing these open chain exercises you are not only missing out on a major function of the core, but also better strength gains, more efficient movement and longevity of health.

(6) Be functional. Functional movements represent closed chain exercises. These are movements that the limps are stationary while the body moves. Such exercises are deadlifts, squats and lunges. Learning to be able to execute such exercises are the best and most functional way to straighten you core.

(7) Posture. When your core muscles are weak, your spine doesn’t have adequate support to maintain perfect posture naturally. Your other muscles begin to compensate to help you stay erect, which can lead not just to a slouchy stance, but a host of other issues.

(8) Low back pain. It is known that in the United States that around 50 percent of people suffer from low back pain. Why such a staggering number? Because people try to find the solution where the problem is. A majority of low back pain either comes from a weak core or tight muscles. Target those areas and your back pain will subside.

(9) Strength for riding. When we ride our feet are planted on the pegs and are hands are cinched around the handlebars. Now when we go through a set of whoops what primary muscles do you think are used? Your core. If you are looking to strength training to improve your riding, focus on your core. A strong core on the bike will improve your agileness, balance and safety when riding.

(10) Safety. A strong core will help keep you off the ground when riding. Imagine you start to lose the back end through a big set of whoops. If you engage your core and it is strong enough, you will be able to bring the bike back into a straight line, saving you from a dirt digger.

VOTE FOR RYAN DUNGEY TO BE THE FIRST MOTOCROSSER TO BE ON A WHEATIES BOX

MINI-VIEW: RYAN SIPES

Surprising many with his retirement from professional Supercross and outdoor racing last year, Ryan Sipes turned his sights to the less hectic GNCC schedule. But now that the GNCC series is on summer break, the Kentucky native is again racing motocross. And what started as a couple rounds on his practice bike has now turned into a fill-in gig at the Rockstar Energy Racing team. It was at Red Bud where Sipes rode the team bike, and where we caught up with him.

By Jim Kimball

Photos by Scott Mallonee

MXA: Ryan, so what is bringing you back to AMA motocross?

I never really stopped because I didn’t enjoy it. I just wanted to spend more time with my family. Now I can do what I need to do at home and race some of these rounds. I was going to do just a few on my own this summer, but the Rockstar Energy Racing team needed a fill-in guy. With the GNCC series on summer break I decided to take the step and do some additional races.

How have you been enjoying racing GNCC?

It’s been a real challenge. Doing as well as I had wanted to do has been pretty tough. I’ve been finishing around 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th. I’ve been really shooting for top three. It’s been a bit of a struggle for me, and I think that it’s going to simply take more experience to where I feel more comfortable. Hopefully I’ll be able to figure it out soon. A big part of getting more comfortable is the fact that the GNCC races are three hours long. The terrain is really different, too; it’s definitely not a prepped track. In GNCC there are rocks, roots, trees, and mud holes. There’s just a lot of obstacles to deal with. It’s definitely not what I am used to!

Going back to last year, what prompted you to retire? Was it simply because you wanted to spend more time at home?

Yeah, I just wanted to spend more time at home with my wife and daughter. I didn’t think that it was in my best interest to be gone all the time like I have been the past ten years. So I decided to call it quits for a while. It wasn’t like I was never going to race again. I hoped to maybe take a fill-in ride once in a while, but I didn’t want to have a full-on ride and be away from home for nine months. It became more important for being there for my girls than just doing something for myself.

Ryan Sipes still has the speed to run top ten, despite focusing his efforts on the woods and rocks of the Eastern U.S. in the GNCC series.

What are your thoughts on returning to Pro motocross?

I thought that High Point went very well, where I showed up and rode my GNCC bike. The set up was a bit off. But with all that and not racing motocross for a year I went 11-15 for 13th overall and I was pretty happy with that. But Muddy Creek was just an overall bad day for me. In the first moto I was running eighth and got together with someone. So I went down and tore my bike up pretty badly. I couldn’t finish the second moto because my bike was messed up from the first moto crash. They were just some things that we missed catching. So Muddy Creek was just a bad day. That happens from time to time.

For some of the tech guys out there, what are some of the biggest differences between motocross setup vs. GNCC setup?

Obviously suspension will be different. GNCC suspension will typically be a lot softer than motocross suspension. Also, there are a lot of things that you add to a GNCC bike to make it more durable. You really beat up a dirt bike racing a GNCC; you truly torture it for three hours. You put on things like skid plates, all kinds of different strengthening braces, and just tons of other stuff to make it last, and not have a mechanical failure. It’s suspension and about twenty pounds of added stuff that makes a GNCC bike.

And your new Rockstar KTM is different than the bike that you raced at Muddy Creek.

Yes, it is mainly with some suspension and geometry changes. So it’s been another bike to get used to, but I’m glad to be on it!

What other motocross rounds do you have coming up?

Budds Creek, Millville, and Washougal for sure–maybe more. After these next three I don’t know what I will do. I may stay on and do this for the rest of the year, or maybe just take a little break. For sure though I will do the rest of the GNCC races this year, which start back up in September.

MXA ARCHIVES
Bob Hannah and Rick Burgett.