MOTOCROSS ACTION’S MID-WEEK REPORT: 2008 Bikes & Rumors Ring True

 CHECKING UP ON LANGSTON & HEPLER

Grant Langston and Broc Hepler have had a rough go of things this season due to injury, and we wanted to check in with the factory Yamaha stars to find out how they were doing.

As you might know, Langston took a bad tumble this past Saturday on the Elsinore outdoor track. Grant blew out of a berm and smacked down pretty hard, which led to an ambulance ride to the local hospital. He sustained a bruised sternum and chest, while also suffering from severe whiplash. Grant is going to practice supercross tomorrow and see how he feels. If Langston is up to par then he will race Detroit.

Meanwhile, Broc Hepler hasn’t seen a gate drop yet in 2007. The 250F rider suffered from a severe concussion while practicing for the 250F East Supercross series. Since then Hepler has been staying at home in Pennsylvania, visiting UPMC (the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center), and trying to get back on a motocross bike. Broc has been staying close to fighting shape by weight training and doing slow bicycling, but not very much cardio. As Broc said, “I’m not sure yet when I’ll be back on a dirt bike. If it were up to the doctor then I won’t be back on a bike for quite a while, but I don’t want to wait that long. My balance is pretty good and my memory is back to normal. I just get a little foggy after I work out too hard. When I push too hard then I get fatigued and have a dizzy feeling.”

MXA VISITS THE WORLD MINI GRAND PRIX

This past weekend the MXA wrecking crew headed to the wind banned, yet sunny, city of Las Vegas, Nevada. Why? To watch great racing, as the annual World Mini Grand Prix showcased some of the best amateur racers in the country. Big names like Trey Canard, Austin Stroupe, Jase Lewis, Nico Izzi, Ben Lamay, Terren O’Dell, Blake Wharton, Tyler Wharton, Michael Hall, Mark Worth, Eli Tomac, and Matt Bisceglia graced the roster sheets, an we had an up close and personal look at the future amateur to pro hopefuls.

Who stood out in a sea of promising young riders? Our most obvious choice is Trey Canard. Although results aren’t necessarily indicative of his speed at Las Vegas, Trey was the fastest amateur pro rider in the bunch. Realizing his potential, the Samsung/Factory Connection/Honda team has fully backed him. Canard is sponsored by the Honda team, and will find a spot in the pro semi beginning at Millville on August 12th. Trey is signed to the team through 2009.

A close second in speed was Austin Stroupe. The Kawasaki rider got the ball rolling early in the week, but the Stroupe train was derailed on the final day of pro racing when he crashed shortly after the first turn and had to sit out the remainder of the motos. Still, Austin came away with the 450 Stock Pro title. Although we haven’t heard of anything being set in stone as far as Stroupe being signed, rumors have been speculating that he could be aboard the rather omnipotent Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team.

One rider that particularly caught our eye was Terren O’Dell, the 15 year old Suzuki B rider from Arkansas, who showed blazing fast speed around the rutted and rough World Mini track. Expect to hear his name on a regular basis in the not too distant future.

Who was the king of titles at the World Mini Grand Prix? That accolade belongs to Pilot Point, Texas’ own Blake Wharton. New to KTM’s amateur program, it looks like Blake is adapting extremely well to the Austrian brand. Wharton walked away with the 250 B Stock, 450 B Stock, 125/250 Schoolboy, 450 B Modified, and 112 Supermini. As far as we can calculate, the only class that Blake didn’t win was the 250 B Modified class (won by Michael Hall). If you haven’t read it yet, make sure to check out MXA’s exclusive interview with the Wharton brothers in the May 2007 issue.

In the PW ranks Mark Worth dominated, winning four titles. Cooper Webb won two titles in the JR Cycle divisions, and the 85 classes were split with different champions. Eli Tomac, Jacob Hayes, Matt Bisceglia, Steven Tokarski, Jason Anderson, and Kyle Engle all won on 85’s.

The biggest shocker in the 125/250 Women’s class was that Jacqueline Strong came from behind to beat Ashley Fiolek. Strong, who had a rough go with injuries after the World Mini’s last year, showed in Vegas that she has the speed and skill to win titles.

INTRODUCING THE CAN-AM SPYDER THREE WHEELER

The new three-wheeled roadster is made by Can-Am. The skeleton of the Spyder is built around a surrounding spar technology that features a minimalist steel center beam surrounding the engine. The five-speed gearbox is created specifically for the Spyder, with its 990cc Rotax V-twin liquid cooled engine. The revolutionary three-wheeled stance alters the chemistry between vehicle and asphalt. To see more of this interesting machine visit http://spyder.brp.com/en-US/ 

THE WHOOP MONSTER IS READY FOR MILLVILLE

Jerry Havican is the man dressed up as the “Whoop Monster” at the Millville National every year. You should recognize him by his military garb, the radically different kart that he drives, and his plethora of different sound devices to cheer on the racers. Last year Jerry raised $1,800 by raffle proceeds, and then he turned around and gave the money to various privateers after the Millville National. Expect to see the “Whoop Monster” again this year at Millville, as well as the Motocross Des Nations in September to cheer on the U.S. If you are interested in helping out Jerry in his quest to make life better for privateers, make sure to get in on the raffle at Millville.

THE FIRST 2008 MODEL BIKE ARRIVES

With the growing trend of progressive off-road motorcycles hitting the market (think the CRF450X and WR450F), it was only a matter of time before Kawasaki entered the mix. For 2008 Kawasaki has crashed the market with the KLX450, which many pit pundits are claiming to be an extraordinary off-road bike. The spec sheet is as follows:

Engine: Four-stroke, DOHC, four-valve single

Displacement: 449cc

Bore x stroke: 96.0 x 62.1mm

Compression ratio: 12.0:1

Cooling: Liquid

Carburetion: Keihin FCR40

Ignition: Digital AC-CDI

Starting: Electric, with primary kick backup

Transmission: Wide-ratio five-speed

Final drive: Sealed chain

Frame: Aluminum, perimeter design

Rake / trail: 27.7 degrees / 4.8 in.

Front suspension / wheel travel: 48mm inverted

AOS-type cartridge fork with 22-way compression

damping and 20-way rebound damping / 12.0 in.

Rear suspension / wheel travel: UNI-TRAK? single

shock system with 22-way low-speed, two-turn

variable high-speed compression damping and 22-way

rebound damping / 12.4 in.

Front tire: 80/100-21

Rear tire: 110/100-18

Front brake / rear brake: 250mm petal rotor with hydraulic dual-piston caliper/ 240mm petal disc with hydraulic single-piston caliper

Overall length: 85.8 in.

Overall width: 32.3 in.

Overall height: 49.4 in.

Seat height: 37.0 in.

Wheelbase: 58.3 in.

Ground clearance: 12.6 in.

Fuel capacity: 2.1 gal.

Dry weight: 253.5 lbs.

Color: Kawasaki Lime Green

MSRP: $7,299

For more information, visit http://www.kawasaki.com/Products/Detail.aspx?id=207

THE JUNE ISSUE IS HERE!

The June issue of Motocross Action is due to hit newsstands and mailboxes in the next week or two. In the issue we ride Ryan Villopoto’s 250F West Supercross winning bike, a $20,000 Honda CRF250, a top privateer’s CRF450, and a potent RM-Z250. We also discuss the Daytona Supercross, WORCS Racing, and we tell you what it feels like to do a double backflip, go 245 MPH, jump 310′ 4″, and to holeshot Glen Helen (among other things). Also, you won’t want to miss our comprehensive guide to the outdoor Nationals, which includes a number of historical photographs that you won’t find anywhere else.

We would like to mention that in the “What We Want” monthly feature we showcase a Troy Lee Designs Jeff Ward Supermoto Hot Wheels Collectable, which we listed at $80.00, but is in fact only $15.00. Make sure to pick up your Jeff Ward toy, as it can be enjoyed by kids and grown adults alike. For more information on the Hot Wheels collectable, call (951) 371-5219.

WBR AND ROCKSTAR SUZUKI GO THEIR SEPARATE WAYS

After hearing a number of rumors about the Rockstar Suzuki team, we have discovered that Williams Brothers Racing and the Rockstar Suzuki team have gone their separate ways, effective immediately. Yoshimura and Suzuki have upped their efforts to compensate for the loss of WBR as a sponsor, so the Rockstar team is far from going away. Since WBR leased the semi the team was left without a fifth wheel. Fortunately for Rockstar Suzuki, they were able to find the BooKoo Honda semi used last year. In one day they wrapped the semi in Rockstar Suzuki logos, loaded up the trailer, and drove to Detroit for this weekend’s Supercross race.

BIG GUN INTRODUCES EVOMX FUEL TANK FOAM

(Press Release)

Evomx fuel tank foam is the latest technology in foam for your fuel tank. Evomx foam has been race proven to be one of the latest accessories to improve handling and track performance for any watercraft, dirt or street motorcycle and atv. Evomx foam is military spec foam that contains thousands of pores, which eliminates sudden and violent sloshing of fuel within the tank. These effects are mostly felt in tight turns, braking bumps, and G-outs. This is where your 12-15 lbs. of fuel can feel more like 25-30 lbs. sloshing front to back and side to side. With the fuel being stabilized from the Evomx foam in your watercraft, dirt or street motorcycle and atv tank you can experience your vehicle feeling 15-20 lbs. lighter. The foam is also so porous that it only takes 2-3% of the volume of the tank and also has a 30 year lifetime.

For more information, contact Big Gun at (800) 870-4461.

EVO Foam Kits (125CC-800CC Off-Road) – $49.95

EVO Foam Kits (125CC-800CC Oversized Tank) – $59.95

EVO Foam Kits (Mini Off-road) – $45.95

EVO Foam Kits (All Street Bike Applications) – $59.95

QTM/BREMBO 270mm FULL FLOATING BRAKE KIT

(Press Release)

QTM Inc. based in Anaheim, California, now offers 270mm QTM/Brembo Exclusive Oversize Full Floating Rotors with a billet bracket and slider pin (we recommend using OE brake pads) for new model Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki and KTM’s. QTM also offers complete brake kits for the CRF150.

QTM is the exclusive distributor of Brembo Supermoto components and Marchesini forged aluminum Supermoto wheels in the U.S. QTM currently works with most of the top Supermoto teams in the U.S., including Jeff Ward, Cassidy Anderson, and Micky Dymond. Currently Motosport Kawasaki, Team Solitaire/Honda, Brock Sellards, and Will Hahn are a few that use QTM Oversize kits in supercross and motocross. QTM brake kits are used by Pro Circuit and Tokyo Mods for their customers as well.

  QTM can be reached at (714) 575-5000.

MORAIS, TOWNLEY, OR LANGE – WHO WILL WIN?

With the 250F West Supercross title already decided (Ryan Villopoto) and the 450 championship all but decided (James Stewart is in the driver’s seat), the most exciting series to watch is the 250F East. With eight points separating Ryan Morais, Ben Townley and Darcy Lange (and only three points between Townley and Morais), Saturday night in Detroit is going to be a barnburner. Instead of gazing into our crystal ball, we asked a number of industry insiders who they think will win the 250F East title. With 67% of the votes, Ben Townley was by far the most popular choice. Ryan Morais garnered 22% of the voting, while Darcy Lange received 11% of the votes. Only time will tell on who will hoist the number one plate.

MXA Mini-View: Bob Weber – Managing Troy

MXA: How is the Supermoto team going?
Bob: We’re getting set-up for the new season. The team truck pulls out in a few days to take the bikes to the Miller Motorsport track in Utah to get some testing done. All the riders will fly up there including Troy.

MXA: How is Troy as a racer these days?
Bob: He’s really smoothed out since we put him on a 250. It’s really gotten a lot better for him than when he was on a 450. He finished the series in 11th place last year.

MXA: There’s been some more turnover at the AMA recently – how is the series going these days?
Bob: They are listening and working to improve the racing. They just need some good press, but first that takes a good performance on their part. The worst part about the series was seeing Doug Henry get hurt. Doug was great for the racing and we really enjoyed competing against him he is definitely missed.

MXA: The Troy Lee Duel at the Docks supermoto race really set a new standard in terms of event management.
Bob: Yes, we were extremely pleased with how that event went off at the Queen Mary. We’re hoping that some of the other promoters will look at that race to get an idea of what can be done with marketing their races so that people will want to come out and watch the races.

MXA: What’s the latest at Troy Lee these days?
Bob: The SC2 helmet is doing great and the gear is selling really well too. Our global business has really developed and we’re working to help our guys overseas to build their infrastructure and internal processes. The paint department is of course the core of our business and they continue to challenge themselves to come up with new colors and designs. I have to tell you though, the staff whole staff at TLD is dedicated to the brand and working really hard. Luckily, we still have a lot of fun I mean it’s Troy Lee after all!

Mini-View: Troy Lee, the Man

MXA: We’ve been hearing a lot about your supermoto team what’s the latest?
Troy: Supermoto is really starting to come on strong. I think the X-Games is driving some of it, but all the factories are starting to get involved. Reed & McGrath will be doing some races before X-Games and Carmichael is in as well. I know Stewart has also been testing a supermoto bike with Kawasaki. We just tested out at Miller in Utah and the Governor came out to ride some laps with us and when he was finished he said he wanted to buy two supermoto bikes I think that says a little about how exciting supermoto is.

MXA: Do you see anybody new coming in?
Troy: I talked to Suzuki’s Pat Alexander recently and they’re building bikes for Tommy Hayden, Danny Eslick and Arron Yates. Although we don’t know the specifics, everyone knows that Buell is coming in with a 450 and supermoto probably makes more sense for them than Supercross, so they might get in. BMW is sponsoring Micky Dymond and even though he’s riding a Honda here now, he’ll be going to Europe to test a 650. I recently saw some photos of a prototype Ducati race bike that looked really cool, and Honda just sent our own supermoto concept bike to Japan for the factory to use as a design model.

MXA: What is the attraction of supermoto?
Troy: You know I love motocross, I’ve been racing for years, but supermoto is so much fun. You can’t believe how sticky the tires are and how far over you can lean over without falling. There’s a segment of bikes missing in the marketplace that I think supermoto bikes are the perfect bike to fill the gap. The scooters are getting bigger, but they’re still just scooters, and then you have this big jump to the full-on street bikes. The 450 supermoto bike is a great city bike because not only are they easy to ride, but they’re fun to. I have my own supermoto course in my neighborhood that I ride just on the way to work, jumping curbs, taking some tight turns and when I come home from work I put my son Max on the bike with me and we practice our wheelies!