MOTOCROSS ACTION’S MID-WEEK REPORT: (06/16/10)
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
A young Steve Wise hangin’ it out on his Honda Elsinore for the Texas State MX title in 1973. Scroll down to read part two of the Steve Wise story.
MXA PRESS RELEASE: Vote For Fiolek!
Fox television announced today that two-time AMA Women’s Motocross Champion and X-Games Gold Medalist, Ashley Fiolek has been nominated for a 2010 Teen Choice Award in the Best Female Action Sports Athlete category.
Teens 13-to-19 years of age vote on their favorite actors, musicians and sports stars to determine those who will receive the prestigious awards. Teenage fans of Ashley Fiolek are urged to vote for her at Teen Choice Awards. Teens can vote for their favorite nominees daily.
“I just found out that I was nominated for a Teen Choice Award, and I am so stoked!” claimed the 19-year-old motocross star from Saint Augustine, Florida. “I’m the only teen nominated in this category, so I hope to get a lot of votes from my peers.”
The popular awards show airs on Fox August 9 at 8:00 p.m. Fiolek is up against tough competition for the award including snowboarders Torah Bright and Hannah Teter, freestyle skier Sarah Burke and surfer Maya Gabeira, so fans of Ashley need to vote as many times as they can.
MXA MINI-VIEW: Sean Borkenhagen – New Bikes & Frontiers
MXA: So how did your Supercross season end up?
Sean: I finished 15th overall in the west coast series and my best finish was 12th at the Anaheim opener and at Phoenix.
MXA: What was the best lesson you learned?
Sean: Not to over think everything so much. It’s really simple to ride a dirt bike and I just need to do that more often. I broke things down to much and stressed about each one of them. Another thing I need to stop doing is listening to people’s advice when they really don’t know what about ? especially when it comes to how to ride a track.
MXA: So, now that the Supercross series is over, what’s next?
Sean : I’ll be doing a few select Nationals, still riding for KTM, and then I’ll be racing four rounds in the Canadian Nationals. When the races up north are over I’ll be back in the States finishing up at the last few Nationals.
MXA: What is your deal with KTM?
Sean: Well, the deal got started through Michael Sleeter and he has really helped me out a lot. I started out just riding the 250 West coast series, but then I started helping test the new 350.
MXA: So how do you like the 350?
Sean: I’ve been riding it at local tracks for the last couple of months and I have to say that it really is a great bike. You can ride it like a 250, but it runs even with the 450’s. I think the bike represents a real movement for KTM for building better bikes for the future.
LANCE’S TIPS ON STAYING COOL
As the motocross community continues to adapt more and more lessons from the cycling world about how to stay fit; from interval training to heart rate monitors, the cyclists, in fact, remain light years ahead of the throttle twisters. Take for instance all the latest rage in measuring core body temperature. Sure, at the Freestone round the Pro Circuit riders all had their own kiddie pools to jump, but as good of a first step as that was, there’s more science and solutions to fighting heat build-up for those long summer motos than just getting wet.
Allen Lim is one of the brainiacs in cycling who knows something about everything; from aerodynamics to nutrition, and more recently about maintaining a cool core body temperature. Formerly with the Garmin team, he now works with Lance Armstrong and the RadioShack team. Earlier in the year, the cycling world was abuzz with some of the experimentation that Allen was doing with seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong. As much as it may seem odd, the idea of measuring your core body temperature during work-outs makes sense. Making even more sense is learning how to apply new technologies and ideas to lower you CBT to allow you to perform better and win more trophies.
MXA REMINDER…
By the way, if anyone ever tells you that bicycle racing is not dangerous, tell them to watch this finish sprint at Tuesday’s Tour de Suisse.
SPEAKING OF MYSTERIES:
What ever happened to Josh Hill?
MXA PRESS RELEASE: Moose Racing M1 Roost Shield
Riders and racers alike rely heavily on safety products to keep them protected in the event of a crash and as the sport of motorcycling continues to evolve, it is important for safety equipment to evolve as well. Throughout the past few years, neck braces have become commonplace in a rider’s gear bag and until now, if a rider were to wear a chest protector with a neck brace, some extensive modifications would need to be done in order for the two to fit.
Well, not anymore! The all-new Moose Racing M1 Roost Shield is specifically designed to fit underneath both of the Leatt and Alpinestars neck braces, and provide the rider with a superior level of comfort and protection.
The lightweight protector features the Flex System that allows a greater range of movement without sacrificing protection. Even if you don’t wear a neck brace, the M1 Roost Shield still provides excellent protection from the unexpected. Safety should be everyone’s number one priority and the M1 Roost Shield offers not only protection but also a level of comfort and style that is second to none.
Additional product specifications are below and the Moose Racing M1 Roost Shield is now available from your local Parts Unlimited dealer. To find a dealer near you or to check out other new products from Moose Racing, please visit Moose Racing
MXA MINI-VIEW: Troy Adams – Reborn & Headed North
For 27-year-old Florida rider Troy Adams, the 2010 season has provided him with quite a few challenges, but it seems they are the sort of challenges he welcomes. For many race watchers, Troy’s career has faltered as of late and the over-the-winter news that he was being signed to ride a 250 in the East Coast series for the Butler Bros. team seemed to strike a few people as odd. Odd in that with his size, he was far from being considered a 250 rider. However, Troy soldiered through, having to lose weight and learn a new riding style. With his effort to start fresh, the rewards have followed.
MXA: How would you describe your last few seasons?
Troy: Not all that good. I was sort of lost the last three years. Last year I rode with Hart & Huntington. I had some personal issues, so we eventually went our separate ways. I didn’t get any phone calls from any teams, so I started looking at going to the police academy and joining the real world ? the 9-to-5 world. I knew that eventually I’d have to move on from racing, but I still wanted to race and if I could get enough to at least pay the bills that would be good. In late December the Butler Brothers team called and said they could get me a ride, but only on a 250. Even though I weighed 230 pounds at the time, I figured it would be better than having no ride at all. But, they said they wouldn’t hire me if I weighed that much. I told them that if they gave me a chance I’d be at an acceptable race weight by the start of the 250 East Coast series.
MXA: So how did the diet go?
Troy: Well, it wasn’t easy, but I was helped out by a weight lifter who put me on a “cutting diet” and I lost 40 pounds. I stopped all my weight lifting and from that phone call on the goal was to lose about four pounds a day eating nothing protein. I was on a pretty strict schedule on what and when I could eat. I’d always have food with me at all times. I had to weigh everything that I ate ? it was strict and complex, but I think it made me stronger mentally.
MXA: How would you describe the difference between racing a 250 and a 450?
Troy: Well, you don’t have to ride a 450 as hard, that’s for sure. I definitely think I’m faster on the 450 now after riding the 250. I hadn’t raced a 250 since 2007 so it was a bit of a surprise to get back on one, but keeping your momentum up is so important on a 250 that it teaches you how not to waste any energy. On some tracks with jumps right after a turn I had to remind myself to not even attempt it because I knew I wouldn’t be able to make it, so I had to be creative with my lines and find a faster way to get around the track. I think I made up most of my time through the whoops and with my corner speed.
MXA: So what are your plans now?
Troy: Billy Whitley called me out of the blue and it looks like now I’ll be riding for a satellite Kawasaki team in Canada on a 450.
MXA: Lessons learned after all this?
Troy: I used to hate all the traveling, but now I love it because it’s tied to me being a racer. I think just seeing how fast it can all go away was the most important lesson I learned. You have to work at it if you want to keep it going. I want people to see that I have a fresh breath of air in me?a fresh breath of enthusiasm. No one sees all the hard work that it takes to stay up there, so to know that people were noticing my effort makes it all worthwhile. I raced for 17 years straight, but this job search gave me a whole new perspective.
MXA UP-CLOSE: Troy Adam’s BBMX/BTOSports RM450Z
Works Connection suspension, Pro Circuit pipe, Polisport plastic, Wiseco piston, Bel Ray lubes, Twin Air filter, Hinson clutch and Applied fork clamps.
RK chain, Excel rims, Vortex sprocket, Dunlop tires, Outlaw axle adjuster blocks and ICW bike stands.
ASV levers and Vortex handlebars.
Talon/QTM hubs, Galfer rotors and Factory Connection holeshot device.
MXA MINI-VIEW: Steve Wise, Part Two
Following part one of the Steve Wise interview that was posted yesterday, here Steve recounts the major changes that came in his racing career in the early ’80’s, changes which would affect him for the rest of his life.
THE PAVEMENT BECKONS
“I have to be honest, by 1981 I was getting burned out. I’d pretty much lost my desire to race and was starting to get sidetracked a bit. I also broke my wrist which didn’t help. Bob Hannah and I had become good friends that year and we actually opened a track together, “Stormy Acres Cycle Ranch” in my home state of Texas. Man, I have to say I did get bummed out seeing how much he trained. I thought I was doing good by running three miles, only he’d go out and run ten. Fortunately, I did end the season on a high note when I won the ABC-TV Superbikers event for the second year in a row.
“Without a doubt though, 1981 was a big turning point for me and it didn’t have to do with racing. That was the year that I really had an epiphany about life and I accepted The Lord as my personal savior. That was the greatest thing that ever happened to me. By the end of the National series I came to the Trans-AMA series a totally different person.
“At the end of 1981 I wasn’t sure what I was going to do for the following season. I had been talking a little to Suzuki and Mark Blackwell had called and wanted to hire me to ride the GP circuit for Husqvarna. And then, out of nowhere, Honda called with the crazy offer ? their top road race guy, Freddie Spencer was headed to Europe and they wanted me to come and join their road race team for the U.S. Series. Just like before, they flew me out to California, only this time we went to the Willow Springs road race course. I got to ride Freddie Spencer’s Superbike and I practically scared myself to death! I’d brought a Bell Star helmet from my dad’s shop and had these makeshift Lancer leathers, I didn’t know what I was doing, but they hired me.
“The original plan was for me to race the Novice road race class all year and move to the Pro class for 1982, but Dave Arnold lobbied the AMA to change the rules to allow an AMA Expert from one discipline switch to another and be able to retain his Expert class status. They agreed to the idea so I instead of racing the Novice class in California all year I headed straight for the Daytona 200!
“I ended up finishing seventh at Daytona and then finished second behind Eddie Lawson at Talladega. As big of a deal as it was for me to do so well as a road racer, my biggest race that year was racing the TT at the Houston Astrodome. I’d been sick as a dog before the race and qualified 35th fastest. The Honda CR480 I was riding was so pipey it just didn’t work well. Luckily, Jimmy Strait was still my mechanic and he milled the head down and ran some extra head gaskets which made the bike run so much better for the main. I had a back row start and just hugged the corners and worked my way through the pack, passing everyone and jumping over the TT guy’s heads on the jump. I ended up leading and was on my way to win when the back brake rod broke with three laps to go. I ended up third, but that was the most exciting third place finish I ever had.
“The ’82 season was really exciting because I was doing so much that was all new to me. Even though I was doing good as a road racer, I was really all over the place until Honda hired Keith Code to coach me. I have to say, he turned me into a real road racer and probably saved my life. In fact, I led the F1 series most of the year, but missed winning the title by three points to my teammate Mike Baldwin. The year ended with my getting the AMA Athlete of The Year Award which was great, but I still feel it was a disservice both Brad Lackey and Bruce Penhall, both who finally earned world titles that year after years of racing in Europe.”
THE HIGHS & LOWS
“Honda was really excited about my new career and we signed a two-year deal for the ’83 and ’84 seasons. At Daytona that year I qualified third fastest and started on the front row. Unfortunately, with 80 guys behind me, my chain adjuster broke as I shifted into third off the start and I had no power. It was a miracle that I escaped getting hit from behind.
That year Honda probably spent close to a million dollars developing our bikes and that V-4 750 Interceptor was an incredible bike. I wound up leading the Formula One series that year until I had a major crash out of turn nine at Laguna Seca. The pain was immediate and unreal. They didn’t think I was going to make it and the only thing I knew to do was call upon the Lord.
“After that crash I decided to call it a career. I figured I had had a good run at it, but I was tired of getting hurt. Still, that winter was one of the toughest I’ve ever endured knowing that I wouldn’t be going racing in 1984. After 26 years of racing, January was always the start of the season and racing was all I knew. My soul was vexed and it was really a traumatic time in my life.
“Eventually I attended a bible college and started up the Steve Wise Ministries. It wasn’t a full-time job, but I wanted to take the opportunity to use my racing experiences and spiritual beliefs as a platform for helping people. In the days since I’ve quit racing I’ve raised my family and become a day trader, but I have to tell you, motocross is never too from my mind and it never will be.”
WHAT ABOUT….
His Biggest Regret:
“Looking back, I can also say that one of my biggest regrets was not listening more to Roger DeCoster’s advice. I wasn’t a very good test rider and my setup just wasn’t there. He tried to befriend me and help me, but I wouldn’t listen. After all, I was younger and faster right? Now that I’m older I can look back and see what a mistake it was not to recognize the value of his knowledge and wisdom.”
His Legacy:
“I wasn’t a Hannah or Ricky Johnson when it came to racing motocross. And I wasn’t a Kenny Roberts or Eddie Lawson in road racing, but at the time I think I was the best overall rider. Over the years there have only been a few riders who tried to seriously compete in different types of racing. I think besides myself the list would include all-rounders like Dick Mann and Jeff Ward. I mean look at Ward, he’s even excelled racing cars as well.”
His Toughest Competition:
“Bob Hannah for sure. Although he never really dominated like Stewart does now, the competition was just so much deeper back then. The thing about Bob was that when he got his chance, he wasn’t ever going to let it go. I think I had a lot of drive, but not like Bob’s. I mean, I admit, I was spoiled. My dad was well-off and when my Penton broke we didn’t worry about having to fix it, we’d just get a new bike from my dad’s shop. For me, racing wasn’t my only ticket, which is how Bob saw it for himself.”
His Favorite Bike:
No doubt the 1980 Honda with the ProLink suspension. It was the coolest works bike I’d ever seen. It was light ? just a great motorcycle.”
For the latest on Steve Wise.
MXA REMINDER: Be Part of History
Every true blooded motocross fan within 1000 miles of San Diego should the premiere of Carlsbad USGP: 1980: The Movie next Tuesday night. Marty Moates’ “One Day of Magic” is coming to the big screen on the 30th anniversary of his becoming the “First American” to win the USGP at Carlsbad Raceway. Todd Huffman, producer of the popular The Motocross Files television series, is in the final stages of wrapping up his latest and perhaps most important project of his career. Carlsbad USGP: 1980: The Movie will premier on Tuesday, June 22, 2010, at the historic 1500-seat Spreckels Theatre located in the heart of downtown San Diego. The premiere will be exactly 30 years to the day of Marty Moates historic ride that took place on June 22, 1980.
The USGP at Carlsbad ran from 1973 to 1986. It was televised live on ABC-TV’s Wide World Of Sports program and became the most-watched motorcycle race in history. “1980 was the heyday for American motorcycling, dirt bikes and motocross racing and thanks to ABC and the Wide World of Sports, the USGP became an incredible spectator event that every racer wanted to claim,” Huffman added.
“I have had a great opportunity to work with the legends and heroes of motocross racing while making this film and I can’t think of any project that I’ve ever been more excited to share with an audience,” said Huffman. “The annual Carlsbad USGP (United States Grand Prix) races were legendary. When you consider that a local rider like Marty Moates goes out and beats the fastest, most talented riders on the planet aboard his privateer Yamaha, you begin to appreciate just how special the story is.”
“San Diego has always had a huge motorcycle community, then and now, producing world champion riders like Marty Tripes, Broc Glover, Ricky Johnson, Marty Smith, Ron Lechien and many others,” Huffman said. “In fact, we already have a number of confirmations from many of these heroes who will be at the premier, even if it means flying across the country, from Europe or beyond. June 22nd at the Spreckels is going to be an amazing night.”
Tickets for the Carlsbad USGP:1980: The Movie premier are $20 each or $30 per pair. A commemorative 1980 USGP program is even included with the ticket price. For more info head to the USGP The Movie.
THE MOVIE COMES TO DENVER: USGP Showing to coincide with Lakewood National
Coinciding with the AMA National MX series returning to the Thunder Valley Motocross facility Lakewood, Colorado, will be a Colorado premiere of the documentary Carlsbad USGP: 1980 – One Day Of Magic. The movie premiere will be held at the Landmark Mayan Theatre Thursday, June 24th with a special reception starting at 6:30 p.m., followed by the film at 8 p.m.
It will be hosted by motocross hero Chuck Sun, who won the USGP himself in 1981. “Denver has always been one of my favorite riding areas having won AMA National events here in the past,” says Sun. “As the second American to win the fabled Carlsbad USGP, I really wanted to share this inspirational story with the racing enthusiasts of Colorado.” Sun’s 1981 MXDNeammate and former Supercross/motocross champion Donnie Hansen will be joining the AMA Hall Of Famer to help kick off the movie along with Mark “The Bomber” Barnett. “Many of Colorado’s top 50 riders are expected to attend, including Arlo Englund,” adds Sun. “With the AMA National MX in town, expect many more surprise appearances that make this a must-attend premiere party! Thanks to the support of Doug Gagnon and Vickery Motosports in Denver, we are excited to bring the movie premiere to the Landmark Mayan Theatre,” said Sun.
To view the trailer and get information on the Denver premiere, visit carlsbadusgpmovie.com or contact The Mayan Theatre box office at (303) 352-1992. Tickets are $22.50 each, including tax and handling fees, or $33.50 for a pair.
ANNOUNCING THE LAST TWO BELATED MID WEEK REPORT CONTEST WINNERS
Moose Racing Contest
1. Moose Racing’s XCR Racewear is available in how many different colors?
2. What was the most recent title won by a Moose sponsored rider?
3. Who will win the East/West 250 shootout this weekend?
4. Your favorite rider of the 2010 Supercross series is who & why?
Monte Hall
1. Moose Racing’s XCR Racewear is available in 5 different colors.
2. Josh Demuth won the Arenacross Championship
3. I think Pourcel will not be motivated, so I’m picking Jake Weimer to win the shootout.
4. My favorite rider of the 2010 Supercross series is Trey Canard, mostly because of how he rode in the 450 class, finishing on the podium 5 out of 6 races. Trey kept it clean, regularly beating the other Factory Honda guys, especially the last lap pass on Windham.
Craig Russell
1. 5 colors!
2. AX Championship! Josh Demuth. The Babbits team swept the podium. Also the AX West and East Coast Championships!
3. Pourcel will win if he feels motivated enough to win. I am sure he will be smart as I am sure he has his eye set on the Championship that slipped out of his hands last year, the outdoor 250cc/Lites/other class/not the main class or whatever name it has these days? I cant believe he was forced to waste another year in the 250 class. The guy who won the other SX coast and kind of lucked in to the outdoor championship as Pourcel had a DNF and lost the lead he held in that class almost all season just won the 450/Heavies/main class this season. It would have been interesting if Pourcel had moved to the 450 to see where he would have finished this year? One thing is for sure the guy knows how to win championships, Honda would do well to hire the guy and I cant believe that they didnt for 2010. If Pourcel goes into safe mode then several guys could win. Barcia if he doesnt crash, Hansen as he seems to excell at weird one off races that dont mean much.
4. Favourite of 2010 SX. Ryan Dungey. The guy seems like the real deal, a nice guy who is marketable and wins! Second goes to Pourcel as I think he would have been in the thick of it if he had been given a chance on a 450. Most mysterious goes to Windham. Why is it when there is nothing left to win that he finally decides to turn up the after burners? Where was this guy at the start of the season?
“Holeshot” Howie Lloyd – winner
1. 5 different colors- blue,bronze,orange,red and stealth.
2. Arenacross Championship- Josh Demuth, way to go Josh!
3. Christophe Pourcel will win for the second year in a row!
4. Ryan Dungey. He is my favorite rider because if Roger DeCoster (My Hero) likes him, then so do I! Ryan shows how a professional athlete should represent himself at all times. I could see Ryan being the Manager of the USA MXDN team in 20 years! (just like “The Man”). Thanks to MXA and Moose Racing for this contest! (My mortal hero is Jody!)
Scott USA Contest
1. Who will win the 250 & 450 overall at Hangtown and why?
2. If you were stuck on a desert island and could watch either Supercross or Motocross re-runs on Speed, which would it be and why?
3. Name rider # 37.
4. Which lens is the Scott Pro Stack tear-off system designed specifically for?
5. What did Jeff Emig use to make his prototype Scott EFS work.
Sean Nichols
1. I believe that Christophe Pourcel will win the opening round at Hangtown in the 250 class since he is coming hot off an East Coast Supercross title and he is probably looking to repeat after his solid win at Hangtown last year. As for the 450 class I believe that Mike Alessi will be the winner on his new KTM 350. I believe that Mike will be very hungry for the championship after what happened last year and will be extremely prepared as he has focused solely on nationals since he did not compete in the Supercross series.
2. It would definitely have to be Supercross as the racing tends to be much tighter and mistakes can hurt the rider a lot more than in Nationals due to the nature of the track, shorter moto times and lap times. Don’t get me wrong it was definetly a tough choice but supercross never fails to disappoint.
3. This was a tough one but I am going to have to with David Bailey.
4.The Scott USA pro stack tear off system is designed specifically to be used with the WORKS lenses.
5. I believe that Jeff Emig modified the scott EFS system to lift the film off the lens to break the surface friction between the film and lens in wet conditions. I have also heard that some other riders put baby powder on the lens to aid with breaking the surface tension in situations involving moisture.
Daniel Matis
1. Dungey in the 450cc class because he is the fastest rider without Bubba or Villapoto. He is also in great shape and doesn’t fade. I’ll go with Weimer in the 250cc class as he has shown he is the real deal and his confidence is high right now.
2. Motocross every time?because the speed and variation of the tracks are what I like about our sport.
3. Daniel Turner.
4. For the Voltage lens.
5. Jeff blew into a straw!
Jeff Fisher
1. 250 – J. Barcia (17), 450 M. Alessi (800).
2. Outdoor Nationals – There is seriously few things on this earth as impressive as watching the worlds best and fastest riders hammer their way around a “MOTOCROSS” track. There is nothing like the surge of adrenaline and then the goosebumps you get when the 30-second board goes sideways at an outdoor National.
3. The “Icon” David Bailey
4.”Pro-Stack” specifically designed for the “Works” lens
5. Damn Zap — ya got me–I don’t know!!! Hope in 4 outta 5 scores me some of your sweet schwag!!! Thanks a million.
Mark Edwards
1. 250 – Pourcel, he is the most natural on a bike and being the first National I think he has the experience to be calm and get it done.
450 – Dungey, he has proven himself and is the most consistent. He is ready for the outdoors.
2. Motocross, I grew up riding in the late 60’s and 70’s. Motocross was and will always be my first love.
3. David Bailey
4. 80 series lens
5. Jeff Emig used a straw on the first Scott prototype EFS
Rob Mundt – winner
1. Barcia because he’ll channel his Magoo-ness in a positive manner. Bubba if he races cause he’s the fastest, Josh Grant if he doesn’t cause he hauls at Hangtown and he’s missed Supercross
2. I’ll pick motocross, because Supercross sucks.
3. The Little Professor
4. Works.
5. A straw.
PARTING SHOTS
Quote: “He had a tendency to get tired back then. I wouldn’t say Troy was the model of fitness that he is now!” Mitch Payton recalling the days when Troy Lee was a Pro Circuit team rider.
MXA REMINDER…
Hey all you kids, take a tip from Steve Wise and don’t forget how much your parents sacrifice for you and your racing career. Be thankful.
NEVER FORGET…MARTY MOATES
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