MOTOCROSS ACTION MID-WEEK REPORT

#WHIPITWEDNESDAY 

Rider: Justin Barcia
Bike: 2018 Factory Yamaha YZ450F
Lens: 200mm f/2.8
Focal length: 200mm
Exposure: 1/1250sec
F-stop: f/5
ISO: 640

TWO-STROKE SPOTLIGHT: BOB PATCHETT’S 1979 YAMAHA YZ125

“I completely restored this 1979 Yamaha YZ125. Everything done. Buchanans did the wheels and Matt Crown Racing rebuilt the monoshock. All sandblasted and powder-coated. DC Plastics for the plates. Race Tech did the forks and Dave Bowman did the engine and was a huge help with great advice.” –Bob Patchett

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. Please don’t email me spam or try selling me Taylor Swift concert tickets or email me spam. I already celebrate T-Swizzle’s entire collective, and there will be “bad blood” if you send me junk mail. See what I did there? Happy submitting your smoker.

2019 THOR MX COLLECTION

Marvin Musquin wearing the 2019 Thor Prime Pro gear. 

Press Release: THOR’s 2019 product collection marks new innovations and advancements across the line. Featuring all-new racewear, helmets, boots, bags and more, the 2019 collection delivers a diverse line of purpose built dirt bike goods. When it comes to product input and inspiration, the THOR team has a great deal of insight from the highest levels of the sport, including Marvin Musquin, Cooper Webb, the Star Racing / Yamaha Team, Clement Desalle, Julien Lieber, legendary ambassador Jeremy McGrath and X Games freestyle gold medalists Jarryd McNeil and Jackson Strong. It is THOR’s passion to convert this input into confidence inspiring products for every rider and racer.

PRIME PRO
True to THOR’s mission, the all-new PRIME PRO racewear was tested and developed with some of the world’s most elite racers to deliver unmatched performance. Every stitch is carefully placed to optimize mobility, weight, ventilation and fit, allowing the rider the work more efficiently with the motorcycle. PRIME PRO is constructed with premium materials and detailed craftsmanship for next level comfort and superior performance on the track. Featuring four innovative designs, PRIME PRO is built to stand apart.

Clément Desalle wearing the 2019 Pulse kit. 

PULSE
The tried and true PULSE line receives key upgrades for 2019. Rapid Flex knee panels ensure mobility, while the full grain leather inner knee panels enhance durability and improve feeling on the bike. PULSE also receives all-new looks with five different graphics, each available in multiple color ways.

2019 Sector gear. 

SECTOR
Introduced in 2018 as one of the best values in motocross apparel, the SECTOR line receives a design overhaul for 2019. From race inspired, to mix-n-match, to camo, the SECTOR lineup covers all the bases with class leading performance and style.

REBOUND AND AGILE
When it comes to gloves, personal preference is king. For those looking for that solidly built set featuring the perfect balance of coverage and mobility with features to boot, look no further than the all-new REBOUND. At the opposite end of the glove spectrum, the AGILE is tailor made for riders with an ultra minimalist featherweight approach to flexible and breathable equipment.

TERRAIN
Purpose built for epic single-track adventures, the revamped TERRAIN line delivers both durability and versatility. 2019 brings the addition of the in-the-boot TERRAIN pant, as well as a fully redesigned jersey, that are optimized for the trail. Tested and developed with THOR’s elite Off-road team, the TERRAIN gear stands up to the most brutal conditions.

HALLMAN COLLECTION
The HALLMAN Collection pays respect to THOR’s deep roots in motocross. Vintage inspired designs meet modern tech with the full lineup of jerseys, gloves, and casuals. Built for all things two wheels, the HALLMAN collection offers timeless style for any motorcycle enthusiast.

The Thor Sector helmet includes MIPS. 

SECTOR MIPS™ HELMET
The all-new SECTOR MIPS™ delivers high-end coverage without the high-end price tag. The MIPS™ accompanies a dual density EPS liner and a fully ventilated polycarbonate/ABS shell to make the SECTOR one of the best performing helmets in its class.

Thor’s Transit Wheelie Bag.

BAGS
When it comes to travel, success is in the details. THOR’s all-new bag collection incorporates strategically placed ventilation, micro fleece lined pockets and purpose built storage for all of the essentials.

For more details on the entire 2019 collection, head to www.THORMX.com or visit your local Parts Unlimited dealer.

AUSTIN FORKNER WASHOUGAL CRASH

MXA | MOTO | TRIVIA

Name the rider and year. Answer at the bottom of page.

MXA INTERVIEW | CAMERON MACADOO

Cameron in Washougal. 

Supercross and motocross are no doubt tough sports. While 20-year-old Cameron Mcadoo has shown speed and fitness, the last two years have also been unforging in terms of injuries. Still, number 66 has some final motocross rounds to show he has what it takes to be a factory rider. We caught up with Cameron who sits 18th in Championship points.

BY JIM KIMBALL

CAMERON, LET’S BEGIN WITH YOUR WIN AT THE 2016 MONSTER ENERGY CUP 250 CLASS, WHICH PUT YOU ON THE RADAR. That was awesome. That helped kick off my early entry into the pro ranks for 2017. That was kind of what led into MCR (SmarTop/MotoConcepts/Honda) helping me out in the early 2017 Supercross series and leading into me being here at Geico Honda.

MCR LETTING YOU OUT OF YOUR CONTRACT TO JOIN GEICO HONDA HAD TO BE HUGE. Yes, it was special. Honestly, Mike Genova (MCR Team owner) and Tony Alessi (MCR Team Manager), really made that 250 effort basically get me to the races and to help me out. They are a 450 only team anyway, so that was big of them to just make that spot for me. Then only three races in they say, “Hey, since Geico is offering two years, that would obviously be what was best for you, because it is a factory 250 team and they do outdoors.” For them to let me out of my contract that had to have been a big deal for them, because of just how much money, and the time they spent building that program, to not get much return out of. They really did what was best for me, so that was really special.

I RECALL MIKE ALESSI SEEING YOU RIDE AND TELLING HIS DAD “YOU HAVE GOT TO SIGN THIS KID”! Yes, that’s true. Mike actually was training down at Club MX where I train down in South Carolina. I think he saw a few motos I had put together and saw some potential in me. So, he said to Tony, “Hey, I think you should give this kid a look.” I started talking to Tony, and he came down and talked to me, and it kind of kicked off from there.

OTHER THAN JUSTIN BRAYTON AND YOURSELF IOWA DOESN’T SEEM LIKE A HOTBED FOR MOTOCROSS. I don’t know if I would say that honestly. There has been a lot of guys that come out of Iowa, maybe not been completely full on the Factory American Motocross scene, but maybe guys like Gavin Faith and Cody Gilmore. Those guys are not necessarily forgotten about, but a little bit. Cody was so good as an amateur. He was like the next big thing and he came down with some illnesses which was super unfortunate. Still until just a couple of years ago, he was racing Supercross. Teddy Maier came out of Fort Dodge; Iowa, and the list goes on. Chad Patterson is from Iowa. There is actually a lot of really good talent in Iowa that gets overseen, so I would not say that I am the only guy coming out of Iowa. It is a little bit of an odd place because we get to ride five months of the year, and that is it. Up until I was 16, that was all it was for me. I went to high school, and I just rode my dirt bike for fun.

IS CLUB MX WHERE YOU TRAIN AT A GOOD PLACE FOR GAUGING WHERE YOU ARE AT? Yes, it is awesome. The tracks are so good there. We have a gym, we have multiple Supercross tracks. We have a sand track; multiple outdoor tracks and the list goes on. I get to train with guys like Justin Brayton, so it is really good. It has really been a big part of my career.

WHAT WERE YOUR RESULTS LIKE AT YOUR FIRST COUPLE SUPERCROSS RIDES LAST YEAR? At round one in Minneapolis I had a pretty good heat race, and then I was running fairly good in the main. I was well inside the top ten, but I just had a couple of stupid, obviously like rookie mistakes you would call it. I had a couple of wash-outs, and crashes and I think I ended up like 14th, so results wise, it was not that great. But I showed some speed. Tampa was pretty good for me. Again, results wise it was not insanely good, but I ran up front for a little while. It was a good start.

FOR YOUR FIRST TIME RACING SUPERCROSS, YOUR RESULTS WERE PRETTY IMPRESSIVE. Thank you. I did my best, I got the best people around me to really help me prep, and to get good in Supercross. As an amateur, you really do not race Supercross at all growing up, so it is like you get thrown into the wolves. That was what I thought was really cool about Monster Cup, I got a little taste of racing in front of 70,000 fans which is honestly like a pretty big part of it. You can race a Supercross track all week where you train, and be just fine, and then you line up in a stadium on Saturday night and it is a whole new story.

CAN YOU SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF RACING THIS YEAR? I was feeling so good coming into Supercross. Then I got hit by a flying bike in the first lap of the first main event of the East Coast, in Dallas. It broke my hand, so that was really tough. But I raced Dallas and the second fastest lap time in the main event, obviously coming from way back. That was good, and it felt pretty good for a while. Then the swelling and stuff set in through the week after Dallas. I raced Tampa after that and it was excruciating. It was basically all I could do to just hold onto the bike, and I think I ended up getting eighth at Tampa. Then the following weekend at Atlanta at the Triple Crown, I got crossed jumped by another rider, and it really made my broken hand about ten times worse. It shattered my hand, so I had to take six weeks off. Then actually my second day back on the bike, I was training, had just a dumb crash, and actually broke my scapula. So that put me out for the rest of Supercross, and the first three outdoors this year. It seems like injury has been the biggest thing for me, so really this is like my rookie season of outdoors because, I only got to race Hangtown last year and that was it. So, all of this is new to me, and I am trying to take it all in and learn as much as I can each weekend. I’m slowly building some momentum, and just starting to race with those front guys where I felt like I belong.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT SUPERCROSS VERSUS MOTOCROSS? I like them both, they both have their ways of them being really demanding, like outdoors is obviously just brutal physically, and Supercross is a lot more technical. So, I really like different things about both of them.

SO MANY PEOPLE FORGET ABOUT THE 250 CLASS BEING SO LOADED WITH TALENTED RIDERS. GENERALLY, THERE ARE FOUR FACTORY GUYS COMPARED TO TWO IN THE 450. It is very, very stacked right now and all of the guys are going really fast, but that is what it is. You know, it is American Motocross. It is the best of the best. A lot of people start focusing on how much older some of the 250 class riders are, but we are racing Pro now. It is not age groups, we are not on 85’s anymore and whether you are 30 years old or 18 years old, we are all out there, and all have the same job to do.

IS THIS A CONTRACT YEAR FOR YOU? HAVE YOU BEEN TALKING ABOUT NEXT YEAR? Yeah, it is. The end of outdoors will be when my current contract is up. I have obviously been talking, but I am not sure exactly what we are going to do for next year, but I am sure we will know soon. I still have something to prove, Honestly. I truly do not feel like I have shown everyone really what I have, so I think in these next couple of weeks, we will have something to show.

FLY RACING REFRESHED 2019 MX LINE 

Fly Racing flew the MXA crew out to Idaho for their Summer Camp to check out the Fly Racing 2019 line. 

Press Release: The F2 Carbon helmets are lighter than ever, with better airflow and a one-piece tri-composite carbon fiber shell and mouth guard. The F2 excels at impact technology without compromising a supremely comfortable fit.
FLY Racing is continually working on improving gear lines with the latest in fabric technology which resulted in the completely revamped Evolution DST (durable-stretch technology) racewear line.

The updated F2 helmet.

The low profile, multi-panel stretch construction is designed for maximum performance and a comfortable fit. This moves naturally with your body no matter if you’re a professional like Zach Osborne, or a weekend warrior who loves racing friends.FLY Racing designers re-examined the Lite Hydrogen racewear line and figured out how to reduce the already lightweight design an additional 4.8 ounces, adding even more value to this incredibly comfortable, flexible, and dynamic line.Easily view the full line, including newly developed boots, goggles, protection, casual wear, and Women’s Lite gear at moto.flyracing.com.For more information about FLY Racing, visit online at www.flyracing.com.

MXA went to downtown Boise, Idaho, for the Fly 2019 launch. 

The Fly Racing CEO Craig Shoemaker made an appearance and talked to the media about their new line. 

Cole Siebler (left) and Damon Bradshaw (right). 

Fly’s new goggle.

THEY SAID IT | WASHOUGAL (ROUND 9 OF 12)

Ken Roczen: “Today went pretty well. I’m so close, but yet so far at the same time! [laughs] I can’t complain with how this season has been going though. We’ve found ourselves in second on the podium for the third weekend in a row. I think that’s pretty good, so I have to be happy with that. I’m so close to another moto win, but I just need to put together that last five minutes. We keep making progress though; we’re learning each week and trying really hard, so as long as we leave the races healthy and I know I did the best I could, then it’s a great day. This isn’t a track that I’ve really enjoyed in the past, so I kind of expected today to be more of a struggle, which makes me even happier with my finish.”

Eli Tomac: “That was unbelievable. After the fall I thought maybe I could get to second, but I didn’t think I’d get the win. To make it happen is kind of crazy. Once I got going [after falling] I really had a great pace. I found some lines and just started cranking. The track allowed you to be aggressive, but you still had to toe the line, so it was importance to have that balance. This feels awesome.”

Weston Peick: “I had some issues with my hand, because the track was hard-pack and choppy. There wasn’t much forgiveness on that track, so I had to back my speed down quite a bit in order to survive. We made a few changes in between motos, and I ended up sixth in the second moto. I still struggled with my hand. Fortunately, I had a gap in the middle of the moto and was able to relax for a few laps before charging hard at the end. I’m counting down the days until I can get surgery on my hand.”

Marvin Musquin: “Honestly, I expected a little better weekend. I love Washougal but it was definitely a tough track and it was hot out there so it was hard for the guys to keep the moisture and the softness in the ground, as expected. My starts were decent, not great, and I was able to put myself in okay position both motos and fight hard for the lead, but I came up short in both motos with second and third.”

Aaron Plessinger: “I definitely did not know I won. I had luck on my side in that one. Shane [McElrath] was riding awesome. I got the start, passed me, and pulled away form me. That was that. Then I crashed and got behind Ferrandis and couldn’t get back by. That’s what happens. These guys are riding so good and you can’t afford to make a mistake, but somehow everything worked out for us today.”

Justin Hill: “Qualifying went well and I was very comfortable on the Suzuki RM-Z450. I had a great start in the first moto, but expended too much energy trying to get around my teammate [Justin Bogle]. I was smoked by the time I was in third place. I learned quite a bit by being up front with those guys. Then, while running third in the second moto, I had a huge crash. It was a strange deal where I landed sideways in some ruts. I tried to blast out of it and straighten up the bike. By doing that I swapped even harder and flew straight into a tree. I’ve definitely felt better than I do right now. My left knee is swollen up almost as big as a volleyball right now. It seems that I’m just tough enough to not get broken, but I’m wimpy enough to get hurt every time I hit the ground [laughter].”

Joey Savatgy: “While I felt good enough to get the overall, getting the moto win and on the overall podium is a step in the right direction. The track was tough and technical so after my bad start in Moto 2, it was good to at least get into the top 10. I’m ready to close out the season stronger than ever.”

Phil Nicoletti: “Today was up and down. The first moto was decent and I had a hard-fought race. I went down in the first lap of the second moto. I got up, made some quick passes and started coming back. Then I crashed before the whoops. I literally picked my back up and tried to take off but then went down again. It took the wind out of my sails, but I’m going to keep plugging away.”

RAW | DENNIS STAPLETON’S KTM 250SX PROJECT BIKE

CLASSIC MXA PHOTO

John Dowd on a Factory Kawasaki in 2000.

Moto Trivia answer: The year was 2000 and number 32 on an FMF Honda CR125 is Danny Smith. Danny finish 10th overall in the 125 National series that year.