MOTOCROSS ACTION MID-WEEK REPORT
#WHIPITWEDNESDAY
Rider: Eli Tomac
Bike: 2011 Geico Honda CRF250
Lens: 200mm f/2.8
Focal length: 100mm
Exposure: 1/250sec
F-stop: f/9
ISO: 100
TWO-STROKE SPOTLIGHT: PATRICK JOHNSON’S 1978 KAWASAKI SR125 REPLICA
“Hello MXA! Forty years ago, Kawasaki Motor Corporation hired renowned Open Class specialist, Gaylon Mosier to contest the 1978 125cc Championship. KMC armed Gaylon with a “one-off” SR125, arguably a blend of the 1978 KX125 A4 and the yet to be released 1979 KX125 A5 production bikes. The SR125 used many parts off of Kawasaki’s production bikes, but also incorporated unique design features intended for the future UniTrak rear suspension. Like most works bikes of the day, at the end of the 1978 season, the bike was destroyed and put into a dumpster in the back of KMC’s race shop.
To commemorate the 40th anniversary of Gaylon’s 1978 125cc campaign (placing 2nd behind Broc Glover), I created this exact replica of the 1978 SR125. To quote Marty Tripes, it’s a “works bike made in America.” Starting with a 1979 KX125, I reverse engineered the chassis and engine into a replica works racer.” –Pj
EDITORS NOTE: Please keep those submissions coming. If you would like your bike to be featured in the “Two-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 for the “Two-Stroke Spotlight,” you agree to release all ownership rights to the images and copy to MXA.
WATCH EVERYTHING THAT WENT DOWN LAST WEEK IN MOTO
NIHILO MADE MXA CUSTOM GRIP DONUTS
Add a little style to your dirt bike with Nihilo Concepts Grip Donuts! Our Grip Donuts help prevent blisters on your thumbs as you tackle all types of terrain with your dirt bike, ATV, and bicycles. Pick up a pair today so you can start riding and racing in comfort for much longer. These grips work great for Motocross, Supercross, Enduro, and any other discipline. Made in the USA!
MOTO | TRIVIA
Name the rider and year. Answer at bottom of page.
MXA IS WORKING ON THEIR 250 SHOOTOUT
We are close to finishing this year’s 2022 250 four-stroke shootout. The full 16-page story will be in the March issue on MXA (avialable in early February). So make sure to subscribe now! We will only have a full-blown video out in the next month or so. To get a notification to subscribe to MXA’s YouTube channel (you will find other great stuff there as well.
PLESSINGER/STEWART/HAMPSHIRE/WILSON SUPERCROSS PRACTICE RAW
HAVE YOU SEEN THE JANUARY 2022 ISSUE OF MXA? IT IS THE BEST DEAL IN THE SPORT!
If you don’t subscribe to MXA, you are missing a whole different world of motocross news, facts, tests and photographs. For example, the just-released January 2022 issue includes a complete and thorough test of Jo Shimoda’s Pro Circuit Kawasaki KX250 and Dilan Schwartz’s Bar-X Suzuki RM-Z250. Not only did Jo become the leading rider on the Pro Circuit team (after being picked up in a try-out after the Geico Honda team folded and left Jo without a ride), better yet Dilan did what they said couldn’t be done when he put his often-berated RM-Z250 into the top ten at the 2021 AMA 250 National Championships.
If that’s not enough, we give the 2022 Husqvarna FC450 the full test treatment and tell you all the things we found to make it better. Plus, we run the 2022 Yamaha YZ450F and Honda CRF450 through their paces. When you’re done reading the bike tests, take the time to sit down and read Jim Kimball’s interview with Billy “Sugar Bear” Grossi and Josh Mosiman’s interview with EKS Brand’s Rich Taylor. You will be surprised by their takes on living the motocross lifestyle. Plus, much, much, much more.
YOU CAN’T AFFORD NOT TO SUBSCRIBE TO MXA! IT’S FULL OF THINGS YOU CAN’T LEARN ANYWHERE ELSE, YOU PLUS GET A $25 ROCKY MOUNTAIN GIFT CREDIT TO COVER YOUR COSTS
You can’t afford not to subscribe, because when you get an order for a $19.99 subscription, Rocky Mountain ATV/MC sends you a $25 gift credit to use on anything you want from their massive selection. Plus, subscribers to MXA can get the digital mag on their 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. Do we have to mention the $25 Rocky Mountain ATV/MC gift card again? You can’t lose on this deal? Call (800) 767-0345 or Click Here
2022 GASGAS TEAM LAUNCH \\ Photos by Trevor Nelson
The GasGas rig for 2022.
The helicopter that brought the riders on to Blackmore Ranch.
The riders got out of the helicopter and got right on to flat track bikes.
The factory GasGas team had fun sliding their bikes around the oval.
The team.
Justin Barcia rode a GasGas MC 250 two-stroke for the event.
The legend—Troy Lee!
10-time trails champ, Geoff Aaron put on a show for the crowd.
Ryan Sipes was out there with the team spinning laps.
ASK THE MXPERTS: HOW TO RAIN PREP YOUR HELMET’S VISOR
Christian Craig.
Dear MXA,
It rains a lot in Oregon and tear-offs and Roll-Offs are a must at many races, but I occasionally see riders with extended visors that they use to block roost and rain. Who sells these? Or, is there a kit I can buy?
Some helmet companies make visors that have a sliding or clip-on extension, but most helmet companies do not. Every couple of years an aspiring entrepreneur will make a visor extension kit, but he always goes out of business because very few motocross racers realize the need before it arises. Plus, fashion consciousness keeps many riders from wearing anything that is not status-backed. The quickest and easiest way to make your own visor extension is to use two-sided tape and a spare goggle lens (you choose the color). Apply the two-sided tape on the nose side of the goggle lens and then attach it to the underside of your visor. We use Scotch Brand Extremely Strong mounting tape. It is rated to hold a 30-pound object. This trick should extend your visor by 2- 1/2 inches. And, it is easily removed when you get so fast that no one could ever roost you.
Danny Magoo Chandler and his duckbill visor.
One more thing. To make an extended visor work, you still have to duck. The reason that motocross racers in the 1970s and 1980, most notably Bob Hannah and Danny ‘Magoo’ Chandler, wore duckbill visors is that with open-face helmets the only defense for your face was to duck—and a longer visor protected more area.
Blake Baggett.
MXA YOUTUBE CHANNEL | HIT THAT SUBSCRIBE BUTTON
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.
TALK MOTO WITH ON MXA’S FACEBOOK GROUP CHAT
We love everything moto and want to bring all moto junkies together into one place to share their two cents, ideas, photos, bike fixes, bike problems and much more. To check it out first you must need to or already have a Facebook account. If you don’t, it isn’t much work and you could even have an alias so nobody knows it is you. To join click HERE. After you request to join we will accept your request shortly after.
CLASSIC PHOTO
The starting line-up of the 125 Supercross class in Vegas. Riders from right to left: Casey Lytle (30), David Pingree (35), Shae Bentley (1w) and Chris Gosselaar (55).
Moto Trivia answer: The year was 2000 and the rider is Casey Johnson on a Yamaha of Troy YZ125. Casey finished 8th overall in the 125 Nationals that year.
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