MOTOCROSS ACTION MID-WEEK REPORT

#WHIPITWEDNESDAY

Rider: Josh Grant
Bike: 2007 Honda CR250F

TWO-STROKE SPOTLIGHT: RAY BARROW’S 2003 HONDA CR250 PROJECT

“In February of 2019, my hero passed. The person in my life introduced me to dirt bikes when I was 6 years old. And from that day, he always grinned when he saw my bikes. I’m 58 now and last year, no matter how hard it was for him to walk out to the trailer, he always wanted to make that walk to look and see what I was riding. When I brought all three home the first time, I told him, “This XR75 was the first one you worked hard to get me. This RM125 was the last one you worked hard to get me, and this CR250 was the one I always wanted but, you always said, ‘work hard you’ll get one one day.'” He walked over to the CR250, patted it on the seat, didn’t say a word, smiled and went back into the house.

“I always wanted a 2003 Honda CR250, even knowing they had so many issues with the powerband being horrible. There’s a certain character to the older bikes in my eyes, so when my friend found this 2003 CR250 with only 22 hours om it, I jumped on it. Renthal Fatbars were the first purchase, then the call to ARC levers for a custom set of offset levers to make the clutch pull to the complete Hinson clutch kit bearable for my old fingers. My cousin Clark Jones at Noleen J6 helped me set the suspension to my weight and speed to balance the bike out. DirtTricks are very good to me and sent over a complete sprocket set for the bike, adding one tooth to the rear for a little help down low. The original carb and reed cage were tossed out and a VForce Reed and PW Airstriker Carb put in their place, then a VHM head with an FMF shorty silencer which helped the low end on the bike more when married to a Pro Circuit pipe. It’s not perfect down low, but I don’t yell cuss words near as loud now when it blubbers. My very good friends at Dubya USA hooked me up with an amazing wheelset of Kite/DID for the bike, which is wrapped in Michelin Starcross 5 tires. Ride Engineering sent over some 22mm offset triples to help her turn better and calm down more in the straights and Galfers 270mm front kit and rear disk help in the fear stops. Lightspeed rear chain guide and TM Designworks kit keep everything moving along outback. A Throttle Jockey pleated HRC cover keeps my old rear end planted in the saddle, and Pro Pegs titanium foot pegs with Hammer Head controls down low, keep my feet where they belong since I have a tendency to ride like a newborn baby giraffe learning to walk.

“MXGurl graphics and a host of other company’s helped out and I can’t thank them enough. The bike was built to be durable and as maintenance-free as a two-stroke can be since my time doing movie stuntwork can keep me away for long periods. It draws a lot of attention, but was built to race and enjoy, the cool factor was an aftereffect, which is pretty awesome. It’s the bike I never got to build when I was younger. I grew up on two-strokes and my heart just can’t walk away from the smell and sounds they generate, it makes me feel like a 6 year old kid again every time I kick one over and slowly let out the clutch.” –Ray Barrow.

EDITORS NOTE: Please keep those submissions coming. If you would like your bike to be featured in the “Two-Stroke or Four-Stroke Spotlight,” please email me at [email protected]. All I ask is that you give a breakdown of your bike and a detailed description of the build. Please also send a few photos of your steed. By submitting your bike, you agree to release all ownership rights to the images and copy to MXA.

WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE? MXA BACK ON THE 500cc TRAIN

Twisted Development built us some trick 500cc smokers. Here are our test riders Josh Mosiman (on the KX500) and Ezra Lewis (on the CR500) having fun. We have lots of cool 500cc content coming out in the coming months. 

MOOSE RACING BAR HANDLEBAR END MOUNTS

Moose Racing introduces their new Nylon Handguard/Handlebar End Mount. Offer secure mounting of handguards or bar ends to aluminum handlebars with these end mounts. Exclusive material provides the strength of aluminum and the vibration absorption of nylon. These mounts also stay tighter than conventional, anchor-style mounts and are also very easy to install. Suggested retail is listed at $17.95. Head on over to your local dealer or to www.mooseracing.com to check these out!

DYLAN FERRANDIS IS RUNNING AIR FORKS | HERE ARE A FEW REASONS & MORE

MXA | MOTO | TRIVIA

Larry Brooks 1986Who is this rider? Answer at the bottom of the page.

ASK THE MXPERTS: “I DON’T KNOW ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE, BUT I’M PRICED OUT OF THIS MARKET”

CHAD REED FC450MXA project bikes, like our Chad Reed Replica FC450, are designed to catch the reader’s eye and serve as an inspiration of what is possible, but that scenario is only a small slice of what riding dirt bikes is all about. Mostly, it is about riding dirt bike.

PRICED OUT OF THE MARKET

Dear MXA,

In every issue of MXA I see tests of expensive four-stroke project bikes that are so complex and fancy that it would take at least $4000 to duplicate them. I don’t know about other people, but I am priced out of this market.

You are not priced out of the market. You are just caught up in the hubbub about exotic bikes. MXA tests motocross bikes for the education and edification of our readers — whose main interest is in modern motocross machinery. MXA rarely worries about the budget of a project bike for one simple reason—we want to cover as many mods as possible to allow owners of that model to know the options that are available and what they do. Not everyone will buy $750 SFS air triple clamps, a $1300 titanium exhaust system or $3500 aftermarket forks, but shouldn’t the readers see that they are available and make the financial choice for themselves? Project bikes are the things that dreams are made of—they aren’t a reality for everyone.

A used Yamaha YZ250, even as old as this 2006, can still be competitive at local races.

Relax. No one needs an exotic factory bike except an exotic factory rider. You should think about getting a good used YZ250. It is a competitive motocross bike at the local level and you can rebuild it with a nutcracker and a butter knife. The parts are cheap, the maintenance is simple and the fun is off the chart. Don’t keep up with the Jones — blow by them on the back straight.

TEAM ITALY WINS 2021 MXDN

At the 74th Motocross of Nations in Italy, Tony Cairoli, Mattia Guadagnini and Alessandro Lupino celebrated victory for their country on home turf.

The Motocross of Nations’ traditional September slot meant that the third running of the annual competition in Italy since 2009 fell midway through the delayed 2021 FIM MXGP Motocross World Championship (Jorge Prado was one rider that elected not to take part). Even though the event was not the usual end-of-season finale, a decent crowd braved overcast and showery/stormy conditions at Mantova and to watch 33 countries battle for the Chamberlain Trophy.

Tony Cairoli added Motocross of Nations victory to his glittering career record thanks to 7th position overall in the MXGP class. Cairoli, who had seen ‘MXoN’ and Grand Prix promoters Infront Motor Racing and the FIM formally ‘retire’ his #222 number before the races, was a first corner faller in the opening moto but rode back to 21st. The Italian was still sore after his heavy practice crash the previous Sunday at the Grand Prix of Sardinia, but took 2nd place in the final moto to give Italy the precious points they needed.

Tony will retire from Profession racing at the end of the MXGP season. 

More from the 2021 MXDN here. 

THE SWEET SOUND OF JOSH GRANT’S YZ300

LOST BUT NOT FORGOTTEN | 1998 YAMAHA YZ400F

1998 Yamaha YZ400F

SUBSCRIBE TO MXA SO THAT YOU NEVER MISS ANOTHER ISSUE, PLUS GET A $25 ROCKY MOUNTAIN GIFT CREDIT TO COVER YOUR COSTS

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 the awesome print edition delivered to your house by a uniformed employee of the U.S. Government. Did we mention the $25 gift card for any part you want from Rocky Mountain ATV/MX? You can call (800) 767-0345 or Click Here (or on the box at the bottom of this page) to subscribe.

2022 SUPERCROSS SCHEDULE: YOU KNOW IT’S REAL BECAUSE THERE ARE 3 ANAHEIMS

WANNA RACE IN SOCAL? WORLD VET IS COMING UP! NEED TO RENT A BIKE? FIND A PLACE TO STAY? JUST CALL STAPO WHEN YOU CAN TRAVEL AGAIN

Stapleton Husky TC250 project bike--1709Dennis Stapleton at work.

In his spare time, when he’s not testing with MXA, racing in a foreign country, going to Japan or helping many of his motocross buddies, MXA test rider Dennis Stapleton opens up his house, garage, bikes and mechanics to help riders who would like to come to SoCal on a motocross vacation—and when all the countries open back up, foreign riders will be able to come to America to race, train and sightsee again. You should plan ahead and make your reservations now for the upcoming World Vet Motocross Championship in November.

Dennis offers full service to all of the Southern California tracks for racers or play riders. Whether you want to rent a bike, move in for a week, race at Glen Helen or take motocross lessons—this is one-stop shopping. Just send them an email ([email protected]). If you’d like to live the SoCal lifestyle for a day, a weekend, a week, a month or three months, visit Dennis Stapleton’s’ website at www.knobbyshopsouth.org for more details!

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The MXA wrecking crew is everything moto related. Check out our MXA YouTube channel for bike reviews, Supercross coverage, rider interviews and much more. And don’t forget to hit that subscribe button.

CLASSIC MXA PHOTO

Steve Lamson 2001Steve Lamson back racing Supercross for the factory DKNY Husky team on their 250cc two-stroke back in 2001.


Moto Trivia answer: Larry Brooks back in 1986.

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