MOTOCROSS ACTION’S MID-WEEK REPORT BY DARYL ECKLUND… FILLING IN FOR JOHN BASHER (9/4/13)


PHOTO OF THE WEEK

    As summer screeches to a halt and the mercury starts to dip, think back to those warm months. Remember the boys of motocross as they traveled the country bringing great racing to various tracks. When the snow starts to fly, think not of a long and dreary winter, but of times when sunscreen was necessary and it was still light out long into the night.

MINI-VIEW: CHRIS BLOSE
    With the season all wrapped up, Chris gave us an overview of how he felt his season went and gives us the inside scoop to his breakthrough ride to the podium at the X Games.

MXA: Now that the season is over, looking back how do you feel it went?
Chris: I definitely had some ups and downs, but I made a lot of improvements from the 2012 season. In 2012 I injured my shoulder pretty bad, which made it hard to recover back to 100 percent again. This year was a good learning curve. It was good to get a season under my belt, injury-free, with being able to get in better shape and learning about the bike each and every race.

What was your biggest struggle this year?
I look back at my Supercross season and I felt really comfortable on the bike. It just seems that everyone stepped their game up. It made me realize that I needed to do the same and work more on my conditioning and speed to get to that next level that I know I am capable of. Also, this was my first year on the YZ450F. It is a great bike; it just took some time to learn what worked and what didn’t. By the end of the season I feel we started to get the bike dialed.

Congratulations on earning the bronze medal at the X Games! You looked like a totally different rider. Why was this?
The few weeks prior to X Games we had some major breakthroughs with the bike with the engine and suspension. We really hammered down on testing with the N-Fab/TiLube team, and it really paid off. I felt good. I was comfortable, which helped me feel strong and be aggressive, which lead me to the podium. Chad Reed, Justin Brayton and Josh Hill were all going really fast. Taking a third was definitely a big accomplishment of mine.

The X Games track was a tamed down Supercross track. Did this make it easier for you to compete with the factory-supported teams?
I love technical tracks, but the tamed down X Games track definitely made for better racing. This also made it better for the fans. It really leveled out the playing field. With the easier tracks you don’t have to rely on the bike as much, so you can focus more on yourself. It was a confidence builder to see what I really could do.

Now that the seasons over what are your plans for the offseason?
I just would like to heal up from all the wear and tear on the body, relax for a week, and work on getting my company bigger [more on that below]. I’m going to start on some easy road bike rides here shortly to start getting back into it. I know what I need to do to improve my results for next year, so I’m really excited to start my program up again to get ready for 2014.

You also have your own business? Tell us a little about that.
It’s called Phit Designs. I started it about a year ago. We do custom graphics for bikes. Racing still is number one my list of priorities, but I love design and I wanted to have something to fall back on when I am done racing. Since it is the offseason right now I have been putting a lot of focus into the company. I wanted to do something for me to be able to stay connected to the industry long after I retire. So I thought, what better than to do something I love?

What are your plans for 2014?
I’m not sure what’s going to happen for 2014 yet as my contract is up with the N-Fab/TiLube team. I have a great relationship with the whole team and would like to continue my relationship with them for the future. I feel really comfortable there and just feel that that it will get better.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: K&N 2013 CRF450 AIR FILTER
Designed to provide increased horsepower & crisp throttle response, this filter inspires long motos!

     K&N Engineering, Inc., releases an OE Replacement Performance Motocross High-Flow Air Filter for Honda CRF450R Model dirt bikes.  The Xstream Series High-Flow Air Filters are designed to provide high-capacity with very low restriction, resulting in increased horsepower & torque. MSRP:  $85.00.

KEY FEATURES:
Designed to lower air-flow restriction providing increased performance. Deep 5/8″ pleats provide a large surface area, high capacity and long life. “XD” extra-fine weave pleated cotton for excellent filtration. Two-Piece construction allows for easy installation and removal. Durable Urethane molded seals, ensures lasting protection. Washable, Reusable, Pre-Oiled & Ready to ride. One-Year Limited Warranty. No Fuel-management modifications necessary to obtain increased performance. K&N High-Flow Air Filters have been made in the USA for over 40 years. Washable & reusable, pre-oiled and ready for installation.

FMF INTRODUCES THE KAWASAKI LINE-UP

Click on the image above to view FMF’s new line-up.

WILL YOU BE BUYING A 2014 BIKE?
By John Basher

Is a new bike in your future? Find out below!

    Oh, the difficulty of plopping down thousands of dollars of your hard-earned cash on a new steed! I’ll be the first to admit that I’m spoiled, since MXA doesn’t spend lucre on new bikes. The manufacturers provide us with the latest models in every new release in the hopes that we will give them a favorable review. Given that we are MXA, we don’t hold back in our reviews. I’m well aware that some bike companies kick themselves for even thinking about giving us the opportunity to throw a leg over their newest moto weapon.
    Back to the question at hand: will you be purchasing a new bike? Answer these questions to find out if you’re really in the market to spend some money.

1. ARE YOU INTERESTED IN BUYING A NEW BIKE?
     Yes – Then move on to the next question.
     No – You’re  either holding out until the next model year, are happy with your current bike, have no interest in riding whatsoever (bring on Anaheim 1!), or think that money would be better well spent on you or your child’s education.

2. IF YOU’RE STILL INTERESTED IN BUYING A NEW BIKE, DO YOU CARE ABOUT NEW TECHNOLOGY?
    Yes – And you love acronyms: PSF, DFI, EFI, SFF?all A-O.K. by you!
    No – Two-strokes for life!

3. DO YOU CARE ABOUT WINNING?
    Yes – You don’t mind shelling out Benjamin’s just as long as you get that $5 plastic gold trophy.
    No – Two-strokes for life!

4. DO YOU EMULATE RYAN VILLOPOTO?
    Yes – Call up all of the major aftermarket companies and warm up that credit card.
    No – Stock is best. Who needs tuned suspension, engine work, an aftermarket exhaust or titanium bolts?

5. DO YOU KNOW THE CHINESE NEW YEAR ANIMAL FOR 2014?
    Yes – Hee haw! It’s a horse, of course!
    No – What does that have anything do with buying a new bike?

6. IT REALLY DOESN’T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING. NEXT QUESTION. DO YOU HAVE A SPARE $9500 LAYING AROUND?
    Yes – There’s a 450 four-stroke in your future.
    No – Read on.

7. WHAT ABOUT $7500?
    Yes – There’s a 250 four-stroke in your future.
    No – Read on.

8. HOW ABOUT $7000?
    Yes – A 250 two-stroke wouldn’t be a bad idea, but refer to question number three before fully committing to this answer.
    No – Sorry, but the well is running dry.

Don’t confused ring-ding with braap braap.

9. NO? MAYBE  $6300?
    Yes – Premix is in your future.
    No – Hmmm, in that case maybe you should take a look at Craigslist, talk to your friends that are selling their bikes, visit your local motorcycle dealership or keep on saving those earnings. Just think, the manufacturers are going to release the ’15 models in eight short months!

10. SHOULD YOU REALLY PURCHASE A NEW BIKE?
    Yes – Well then what are you waiting for?
    No – Why did it take you so long to figure it out?

Good luck in your purchasing decision!

WHAT IT’S LIKE TO RIDE A FACTORY BIKE: TOO GOOD TO BE LEGAL?
By Daryl Ecklund

    Bittersweet. That one word sums up what it’s like for me to ride a factory bike. This is surprisingly an improvement on my reaction back when I was riding Supercross. I used to be nothing but bitter. I worked all of my young life to make a career in professional racing. Not to toot my own horn, but I had talent, fitness, and the same determination as the factory guys. However, I quickly realized that the factory bikes ran circles around me. It can be a bit frustrating.
    This past week I got to ride Adam Cianciarulo’s Pro Circuit/Monster Energy KX250F as is, straight off the track from the last National at Lake Elsinore. The last P.C. bike I rode was Ryan Villopoto’s Motocross des Nation’s bike back in 2007 when I was racing Nationals on my privateer machine. As I opened up the throttle, holding it wide, I screamed the same thing in my helmet as I did last week on AC’s bike, “You have got to be kidding me!” It is a rocket ship to say the least, as I passed 450s down the straightaways, made mistakes that didn’t seem to matter as the bike corrected itself, and I scared myself trying to push the bike to its limits that I couldn’t come close to reaching. You build nothing but confidence riding a bike like this, but instantly lose what you built up stepping back onto a privateer machine.
     Let’s be frank here. These bikes are unfair. If all the riders on the circuit got access to a bike like this, then it would be a level playing field. This is why it is bittersweet for me as I see these talented, hard-working riders, put themselves into debt while putting their life on the line, pushing themselves harder on equipment that just can’t compete. I was once in this position, and I can tell you that it was one of the most frustrating points in my life. I maxed out the credit cards trying to build the best bike possible, injured myself over and over again trying to push myself to the speed I needed to compete at, and lost confidence in myself thinking it was me, rather then the bike. When you give everything you have into something with no return on investment, your mind start going a bit crazy!
    So without emotion attached to riding Adam’s bike, anyone would have a grin from ear to ear. But it is hard not to attach emotion to the situation. I give it up to Mitch Payton and his team of technicians that work countless hours building the best bikes known to man. It is impressive, but also unfair. If the AMA has a goal of weeding out the privateers, they’re doing a great job. It is only going to get worse in the future to come if the AMA regulations don’t become more strict on keeping the bikes on a level playing field. I don’t see many negative’s to this, just better racing!
    
WORCS RACING: ROUND 8 AT HONEY LAKE

JARDINE’S RT-99 RACING SYSTEMS

    SuperTrapp Industries, Inc. (www.SuperTrapp.com) announced the release of their Jardine RT-99 exhaust for off-road applications. The RT-99 slip-ons and systems (MSRP starts at $380.00) were designed using a Resonance Chamber on the headpipe.  This helps reduce sound levels and increases power across the rpm range.  The RT-99 is designed for amateur and every day racers.  It will easily pass the AMA standard for amateur racing at 99 decibels.  The RT-99 is available for various Honda, Husqvarna, KTM Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha dirt bike and ATV applications.  Visit JardineProducts.com for specific applications and additional product information.      


    Jardine Performance Products (www.JardineProducts.com) is a leader in the manufacture of high performance exhausts, highway bars, forward controls, mini floorboard kits, back rests, racks, fender kits and accessories for the Harley, metric, sport, dirt bike and ATV markets.  
    For 42 years, SuperTrapp Industries, Inc. has been a leading manufacturer of performance exhaust products for motorcycle, ATV and automotive applications. In addition to their signature tunable disc diffuser exhaust systems, SuperTrapp manufactures the Kerker brand of exhaust systems, Road Legends Series, designed by master bike builder, Paul Yaffe and TC Racing exhausts, designed by master ATV engine builder, Tom Carlson.  SuperTrapp also manufactures the JayBrake (www.jbrake.com) product line which includes forward foot controls, handlebar controls, foot pegs, grips, brake calipers, and other motorcycle accessories to fit Harley-Davidson and American V-Twin motorcycles as well as FPS Racing (www.FPSRacing.com) and manufactures high performance radiators, oil coolers and accessories directed towards the off road dirt bike, ATV & UTV markets.  Made in the U.S.A.

CHAMP FACTORY TO HOLD SPECIAL TRAINING CAMP AT GLEN HELEN OCTOBER 29-30, 2013
Same week of the 29th ANNUAL MTA WORLD VET CHAMPIONSHIP

    San Diego, California?two time MX World Champion Sebastien Tortelli from Champ Factory Motocross School is pleased to announce a full 2-day training camp October 29th & 30th, 2013 at “Glen Helen raceway” in San Bernardino, California.
    The track will be reserved exclusively to the students of the ChampFactory MX camp to perfect their riding and get ready for the World Vet Championship.
    Seb and his professional staff will have the students from 9:00am to 4:00pm with for 2 full days with an hour lunch break each day. The camp will be open to all levels of racers of the World Vet Championship or riders that want to learn. We will focus on technique in cornering, jumps, line selection, starts, passing and more.
    The 2-day training camp is $400 for both days and you can reserve a spot by signing up at www.champfactory.com. Space is limited so sign up in next week to get a ChampFactory T-shirt, special discount from Matrix Concepts, 100% Goggles and more ChampFactory partners.
    If you have additional questions please call (858) 866-6107.
    
DO YOU OWN ONE OF THE BEST MOTOCROSS BIKES OF THE PAST 33 YEARS?

Find out here! (Hint: The Cannondale isn’t  on this list)
   
YAMAHA’S $3.76 MILLION 2014 CONTINGENCY PROGRAM

Yamaha has a new 2014 YZ/WR Contingency plan with with $3.76 Million up for grabs. Oddly called, and equally oddly spelled, the Yamaha Blu Cru contingency program will include payouts every Pro to make an AMA Supercross or AMA National main event. Plus, Yamaha will expand the coverage to the top ten riders in eligible classes at 9 premier Amateur races: Loretta Lynn’s Amateur National Championships, AMA Winter Olympics, Mammoth Mountain MX, GNC Int. Final, Freestone Spring Championship, NMA Grand National, AMA Spring Classic, Ponca City Amateur Nationals and World Mini GP.

All payouts to Blu Cru amateur members will be made via the new Yamaha Blu Cru debit card. Registration is open now for the 2014 Racing Season for rider who own a 2012, 2013 or 2014 YZ or WR. Go to www.yamahabLUcRU.com to sign up.

DUNLOP SPECIAL OFFER REBATE ON GEOMAX TIRES

Dunlop has announced a special, limited-time rebate of up to $50 with the purchase of four Geomax tires. Eligible purchases include a wide range of Dunlop’s Geomax Geomax MX11, MX31, MX51, MX51FA and MX71 off-road line. In addition to this rebate, purchasers of three or four tires will also receive a pair of race style Geomax tire stickers for every tire purchased?as many as eight tire stickers! With one tire purchased the rebate is $10; for two tires $20; for three tires $30 and for four Geomax tires the rebate tops out at $50. This consumer mail-in rebate will be paid in the form of a Visa Prepaid Card, and the offer is valid on tire purchases made between September 1 and October 31, 2013?so act quickly.

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