MOTOCROSS ACTION’S WEEKEND NEWS REPORT: NO AMA NATIONAL THIS WEEKEND…OR NEXT, BUT THE NEWS MARCHES ON
MOTOCROSS NEWS FROM THE TRENCHES
Team management: Ryan Morais has been named the team manager for the Star/Valli team and Doug Schopinsky has been replaced. World on the street is that Morais wants to return to racing next season, but since he was under contract the team could save money by making him the team manager since he was getting paid anyway. It is a good opportunity for Morais.
New hire 1: Two-stroke hero Ricky Renner has signed to race the remaining AMA Nationals for Munn KTM. Sad news for the smoker faithful, Renner will be racing the 450 class on a KTM 450SXF starting at Southwick on August 11.
New hire 2: Also signing on at Munn Racing for the final 450 Nationals is Robby Marshall. The New England star is a good signing for Munn leading into the Southwick National, where Marshall was fifth last year.
Contract talks: Davi Millsaps move to the Rockstar Suzuki team (not the Yoshimura Suzuki team) for 2013 may seem like a surprise, but Davi wanted a multi-year deal, but JGR only wanted to offer him a one-year deal. Good news for Davi, he almost tripled the salary he was making in 2012.
Golf: The Road 2 Recovery Foundation will host a golf tournament in conjunction with the final AMA National of the year at Lake Elsinore at the “Links at Summerly” on Thursday, September 6. All proceeds benefit the injured rider’s fund.
Idaho race: There will be a Supercross in Boise on August 3-5 at the downtown CenturyLink Arena. There is a $20,000 purse for the two-night event with amateur racing on Sunday, August 5. For more info go to www.IdahoSupercross.com.
Ken Roczen: When current 250 World Champion, Ken Roczen, makes a special visit to the German GP on August he will not race the 250 class. According to MX Pure, Ken doesn’t want to interfere in the 250 World Championship…so instead he will race the 450 GP. Roczen is in Germany this weekend for an German ADAC race…and is on the 450.
Good news: Kim McGrath, wife of Jeremy McGrath, has announced that a match has been found for her bone marrow. Kim McGrath was diagnosed with Leukemia and her treatment includes chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant.
TRAVIS PASTRANA SWIMS UNDER A FROZEN LAKE: WOULD THE KARDASHIANS DO THIS… NO!
COPPINS WINS EIGHTH ROUND OF AUSSIE NATIONALS… AND CALLS IT QUITS ON HIS CAREER AT SEASON END
Josh Coppins.
CDR Yamaha’s Josh Coppins officially announced his retirement at the Appin round of the Australian National Championships and then went out and won the 450 class. Coppins will quit after the end of the season ? which is only two races away. Coppins has the points lead in the Aussie 450 Championship and could win the title. Honda’s Ford Dale won the 250 class, but is 31 points behind points leader Luke Styke. Current points standings in the Australian, British, Japanese, American, Canadian and World series are at the bottom of this page.
450 RESULTS: APPIN ROUND
1. Josh Coppins…65
2. Todd Waters…61
3. Jake Moss…56
4. Cody Cooper…52
5. Daniel Reardon…51
6. Lawson Bopping…45
7. Dean Porter…40
8. Billy Mackenzie…38
9. Jay Marmont…34
10. Brad Anderson..32
250 RESULTS: APPIN ROUND
1. Ford Dale…61
2. Josh Cachia…61
3. Kade Mosig…58
4. Luke Styke…56
5. Adam Monea…47
6. Cheyne Boyd…47
7. Kirk Gibbs..46
8. Scott Columb…37
9. Keiron Hall…36
10. Geran Stapleton…26
GOING HOME WITH JOHN, KATHY & ELI TOMAC: ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH
CHAD REED AND RYAN VILLOPOTO….SAY WHAT?
Chad and Ryan…is it another Reedy fishing expedition?
Chad Reed told Speed-TV in Australia that his TwoTwo Motorsports team has been in talks with Ryan Villopoto to ride for them on Hondas in 2013. Reed said on TV, “”Ryan’s contract is up and we’re talking to him. We really want to try and make it happen.”
Chad, 30, also said, “At one point in time I kind of had a dream to go V8 racing, but that dream is dwindling and I see myself trying to go the NASCAR route.” Reed has raced a late model event for fellow Aussie Marco Ambrose’s team. Reed is also back on his bike and is interested in the Motocross des Nations. He is a slam dunk for the Australian team for the late September event.
THE NEXT BIG SUPERCROSS STAR IS WAITING IN THE WINGS ? ADAM C
1975 SUPERCROSS CHAMPION JIMMY ELLIS VOTED INTO AMA MOTORCYCLE HALL OF FAME… FOR THE TIME BEING ANYWAY
Jimmy Ellis (upper right) is joined by Gaylon Mosier (upper center), Billy Grossi (upper left), Rick Burgett (lower left), Bob Hannah (lower center) and Steve Stackable (lower right) in this Jim Gianatsis photo.
Jimmy Ellis, the 1975 AMA Supercross 250cc National Champion, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Nov. 16-17. Jimmy Ellis started racing in New England in the 1960s and quickly established himself as a regional powerhouse. His performance attracted the attention of Montreal-based Can-Am, and the growing factory team hired Ellis to race the national circuit. In 1974, riding the works 250 Can-Am, Ellis finished third for the 250cc National title, with two overall wins.In 1975, Ellis won the AMA Supercross Championship by sweeping the four-round series, punctuated by a dominant victory in the high-profile finale at the L.A. Coliseum.
“The L.A. race was certainly one of the biggest races of my life,” Ellis remembered. “I think winning that race had a lot to do with how I felt at the time, and what I was feeling was that it didn’t matter who I was riding against. I knew I could win and was quite confident. And my bike was very quick. That track was a very fast layout, and it suited the bike well.” Ellis continued to give Can-Am top finishes through the 1977 season, after which Honda hired him for its U.S. factory effort. Ellis was a contender on the National circuit for a few more years, finishing second in 1978 to Bob Hannah for the 250cc National Championship.
Ellis is the third member of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame class of 2012 (actually he is the fourth, but the AMA prefers not to talk about that). He joins the late enduro star Rod Bush and pioneering women racer Sue Fish. The remaining 2012 inductees will be announced in the coming weeks.
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: FLY KINETIC INVERSION RACE GEAR DEBUT WITH ANDREW SHORT
MORE JEFFREY HERLINGS NEWS…NO, HE DIDN’T DO ANYTHING WRONG THIS TIME
Jeffrey has some decisions to make before he turns 19 years old. Photo: Ray Archer
Although Jeffrey Herlings has no intention of moving to the USA for 2013, as every 250 World Champion since 2008 has done, he recently read the FIM rule book and has decided that it might be in his best interest to think about leaving Europe in 2014. Herlings is currently leading in 250 points and is the odds-on favorite to win the 2012 FIM 250 World Championship. Whether he wins in 2012 or not, he will stay in Europe and race the 2013 250 World Championships again. Why? Because second, third and fourth in the 250 Championship (Searle, van Horebeek and Roelants) are all over 23-years-old and must move out of the class for 2013. That means that Herlings faces greatly reduced competition next year. So, he will stay where he is.
But, what did he read in the rulebook? If Jeffrey wins the 250 World Championship in 2012 and 2013, then he too will be thrown out of the class. Even though Jeffrey is just turning 18 this year, you can only win the 250 World Championship twice. Unaware of that rule before, Jeffrey is now trying to decide whether to move to the 450 GP class in 2014 or move to America.
MXA’S DENNIS STAPLETON’S STRANGE ZWARTE CROSS SPONSORSHIP
Dennis Stapleton in his Big Pizza garb…sponsors are where you find them. Dennis found this German food company to sponsor him for a Dutch race.
MXA test rider Dennis Stapleton is a world traveler. When he isn’t testing with the MXA wrecking crew, he is racing in some far-off distant lands. Last week Dennis went to the Netherlands for the Zwarte Cross (Black Cross) race?where he had one of the strangest sponsorship deals we’ve ever heard off.
The Zwarte Cross isn’t actually a motocross race. It is a county fair, carnival, rock concert and Burning Man festival with a motocross race in the middle of it.
MXA: WHAT WAS THE DEAL WITH THE PIZZA SPONSORSHIP IN HOLLAND?
Dennis: I was going to the Netherlands for a business meeting with the European Wiseco importer. And, while I was there, my friend Jarno Oldenijens, who handles race management for this giant Dutch event called Zwarte Cross, asked me if I liked to have a sponsorship deal for the race. He said it was a uniquely different deal. Jarno had connections with the German Wagner foods company and they were going to be a big sponsor of the Zwarte Cross with their “Big Pizza” brand. They were looking for a Pro racer to represent them in the premier class. I said that it sounded interesting.
WHAT DID THE “BIG PIZZA” DEAL INVOLVE?
Because I was an MXA test rider, Wagner Big Pizza thought that I’d be the perfect rider to help them with their marketing at the Zwarte Cross. They had a special bike all decked out with Big Pizza graphics. They had printed up special gear for me to ride in. Early in the week I did some photos shoots and videos for them, and then over the weekend I raced in the SuperKlasse.
“I’d like a large pizza with pepperoni and olives,” said the guy next to Dennis on the starting line.
WHAT WAS WITH THE BIG PIZZA BOX ON YOUR REAR FENDER?
As part of the sponsorship deal I had to race the Zwarte Cross with a pizza delivery box bolted to the rear fender. Amazingly, I only noticed the box when I went through the whoops, but it did make a strange whistling sound at speed.
DID THE BOX EVER BREAK?
All the time. I went through five boxes between practice and the three motos. It didn’t fly off the bike, because it was bolted on, but it unraveled like sheet rock. It dangled by my rear wheel.
When you travel the world to race at different events, you have to race the bike that they give you. In Holland, Dennis’ YZ450F came with Ohlins suspension and 30 free pizzas a day.
HOW DID YOU DO IN THE RACES?
In my first race of the weekend the pizza box folded forward and I had to stop and rip it off. I got 26th. In the second race, I only had the box on for the parade lap, but it didn’t matter because I crashed out. The third moto was all about marketing.
WHAT DOES MARKETING MEAN?
At the Zwarte Cross Big Pizza was giving away a free Yamaha dual sport bike to a lucky contestant. The fans had to sign up on Wagner’s Facebook page and 200 of them were selected for a chance to win the bike at the Zwarte Cross. It was kind of like Willy Wonka’s Golden Ticket. Wagner had a special track side viewing area for the contestants and their families. Every lap when I came by, they would cheer me on…and sometimes in the third moto I would stop and rev the engine and do wheelies. Since I had troubles in the first two races, I didn’t have to worry about doing good in the third race.
Dennis picks the winner of the free Yamaha motorcycle ? complete with cheerleaders and a giant styrofoam pizza.
HOW WAS THE WINNER CHOSEN?
I got to choose the winner. After the final lap, I was given a parade lap and rode over to the Wagner area. I got to choose the winner based on their enthusiasm. There was a woman who had made an enormous pizza out of an aluminum disc and styrofoam. It was awesome, so I selected her to win. She actually jumped over the track fence and followed me up on the stage?where she received her free motorcycle. It was an amazing experience because there were thousands of Dutch fans at the presentation. They clapped, cheered and sang some Dutch song that I couldn’t understand.
WHAT ELSE?
It was fun. I was in a foreign land, making money and racing motorcycles?what could be better? Wagner Big Pizza gave me 30 free pizzas every day. I took them back to the semi truck that the promoter had arranged for Austin Politelli, Josh Hansen, Jason Thomas, Kyle Partridge and I to pit out of. We ate pizza for four days. We shared it with everyone in the pits.
You may think it’s cool when you drive to the track in your new Dodge pickup truck, but you’ll never match this guy’s ride.
BUT YOU LOST THE RACE?
Zwarte Cross isn’t about winning or losing ? it’s about having fun. Two years ago I finished sixth overall (Jeffrey Herlings won) and I didn’t have half as much fun. This year I got to experience the whole event; rock concerts, amusement park rides, stunt shows, crazy car competitions and I got to race. I got more publicity this year than when I rode my heart out for sixth. I made about the same amount of money, but I came home with less because I went to the carnival and fair every night.
MOTOCROSS ACTION’S BEAUTIFUL BIKES: VIDEO ESSAY ABOUT THE 1976 PUCH MC250 TWIN-CARB
AUSSIES TO PAIR SUPERCROSS WITH MOTOGP AT PHILLIP ISLAND ON OCTOBER 27-28
It has been announced that round two of the Australian Supercross Championship will be featured alongside the 2012 Australian MotoGP road race from October 27-28.
The Supercross track will be located in the Lukey Heights precinct at the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit. The purpose-built arena will feature racing on the Saturday and Sunday of the Grand Prix event.
JOE’S MINIBIKE REUNION COMING ON AUGUST 4 TO LA CRESCENTA, CALIFORNIA
For more info go to www.joesminibikereunion.com
CLARIFYING THE TRANSPONDER SITUATION…TWO YEARS AFTER THE ARTICLE RAN
MXA,
I’m the CEO of Weer Timing and Scoring Systems, and I’m writing you after reading your article “Are Transponders A Motocross Scam? (www.motocrossactionmag.com/Main/News/ASK-THE-MXPERTS-ARE-TRANSPONDERS-A-MOTOCROSS-SCAM-7100.aspx). In this article you have used an image of our transponder, we do not want to discuss the substance of the article, we could also agree with that, we just want to be remarked that we are a company that produces transponders and we have nothing to do with the promoters’ way of operating. Most of all, Weer has nothing to do with Trackside anymore. Trackside has been our reseller in the past and since the end of 2011 Trackside is owned by our competitor Mylaps. No Weer transponders are now rented in the US market and in all other nations our customers do not require any payment from the rider’s to be scored.
Sincerely
Mauro Santamaria
CEI, Weer Timing & Scoring systems
JOEY PETERS CRASH AT WASHOUGAL: THIS COULD BE AN OLYMPIC SPORT WITH JUDGES GIVING 10 POINTS FOR THE DISMOUNT
TEAM ITALY CHOSEN FOR MXDN
Alessandro Lupino.
Italy will send Antonio Cairoli, Alessandro Lupino and Davide Guarneri to the MXDN at Lommel. Lupino will be on a TC250 Husqvarna.
MXA PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: KEN ON THE SPROCKET STUFF COUNTERSHAFT SPROCKET TOOL
“It was horribly stressful getting the countershaft nut off my son’s YZ250F. I make a lot of little knickknack tools to do specific jobs on my son’s bike, so I decided to give it a try and go into business. Because of the tool’s arms, you don’t generate side-load on the bearing. Plus, you can use a torque wrench,” Sprocket Stuff’s Ken Stub. $29.99?(760) 500-3397 or www.sprocketstuff.com.
SPENT SOME QUALITY TIME WITH OUR FAVORITE RUSSIAN IN…WHAT ELSE, BUT RUSSIA
GODSPEED PAUL IKEDA
Long-time SoCal motocross competitor Paul Ikeda lost his battle with cancer last Sunday night. Many SoCal motocrossers knew Paul because he worked in the Honda R&D department for 20 years and raced almost every weekend. Paul is survived by his ex-wife Shirley and daughter Sarah, 15. Paul was an enthusiastic racer and incredibly helpful person who loved the sport. He will be missed by his family (at home, at Honda and at the races).
THE LAZY HAZY DAYS OF SUMMER, MXA-STYLE
The MXA gang has had a busy week of testing 2013 bikes at Piru and Glen Helen, so every now and then they like to sit down and relax. John Basher and Dennis Stapleton enjoy a break at Glen Helen on Thursday. Jody photo.
MXA PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: JIM ON THE BLUR B1 GOGGLE
“I really enjoy our Blur B1 goggle and use it a lot. I especially like the fit. It has quality foam, a good tearoff system and all the normal features. It’s basically a $35 goggle that compares to most of the $60 goggles. We don’t do a lot of marketing or sponsor athletes with it because we don’t need to. It sells really well on its own merit,” Blur’s Jim O’Neal. $34.99?(800) 326-6325 or www.bluroptics.com.
WASHOUGAL RECAP THROUGH THE EYES WESTON PEICK, CHRISTIAN CRAIG, ALEX MARTIN, JOSH GRANT, TRAVIS BAKER & JESSY NELSON
THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAY BOYS
July 29…Matt Rebeaud
July 30…Jeff Dement
July 30…Josh Hill
July 31…Blake Wharton
Aug. 1…Broc Hepler
Aug. 1…Vince Arimitsu
Aug. 4…Mike Gosselaar
THIS IS NOT MOTOCROSS: MOTO GP RIDER STEFAN BRADL DOES LOMBARD STREET… SLOWLY
What it looked like from Bradl’s view:
AUSTRALIAN TWO-STROKE NATIONAL AT COOLUM ON AUGUST 25-26
Even though 250 two-strokes are legal in the 250 Four-Stroke class at the Australian Motocross Championships, the final round of the Aussie Nationals will host the KTM Two-Stroke National. Australian National promoter Kevin Williams said, “Depending on the success and entry numbers at Coolum, we may look to increase the opportunities to field a dedicated two-stroke category in the 2013 series.”
KTM Australia general manager Jeff Leisk said, “We think it’s pretty neat to have the KTM Two-Stroke National at the final round and it will be quite good to hear that ring of the two-stroke on the day. There are a lot of fans out there from back in the day who will really enjoy seeing the two-strokes get out there and go at it.” Entries are now open on the official MX Nationals website, via www.mxnationals.com.au.
WHO’S WHO IN THE MOTOCROSS ZOO…POINTS STANDINGS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE
450 AMA NATIONAL POINTS STANDINGS
(After 8 of 12 events)
1. Ryan Dungey…….383
2. Mike Alessi……….303
3. Jake Weimer…….280
4. Andrew Short……247
5. Broc Tickle……….220
6. Justin Brayton…..183
7. Josh Grant……….169
8. James Stewart….151
9. Brett Metcalfe……142
10. Kyle Chisholm…137
250 AMA NATIONAL POINTS STANDINGS
(After 8 of 12 events)
1. Blake Baggett…..355
2. Justin Barcia…….344
3. Eli Tomac…………323
4. Ken Roczen……..305
5. Marvin Musquin…256
6. Wil Hahn…………..218
7. Blake Wharton…..185
8. Jason Anderson…168
9. Jessy Nelson……..144
10. Travis Baker……..134
450 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS
(after 11 of 16 events)
1. Antonio Cairoli………..442
2. Clement Desalle……..422
3. Christophe Pourcel….393
4. Gautier Paulin…………376
5. Ken de Dycker…………341
6. Kevin Strijbos………….304
7. Xavier Boog……………277
8. Tanel Leok………………253
9. Rui Goncalves…………247
10. David Philippaerts….212
250 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS
(after 11 of 16 events)
1. Jeremy Herlings…………..478
2. Tommy Searle…………….429
3. Jeremy van Horebeek….417
4. Joel Roelants……………..344
5. Jordi Tixier………………….309
6. Jake Nicholls………………289
7. Max Anstie………………….238
8. Jose Butron………………..218
9. Dylan Ferrandis…………..213
10. Alessandro Lupino…….196
450 CANADIAN NATIONAL POINTS STANDINGS
(after 6 of 9 events)
1. Matt Goerke……………..292
2. Bobby Kiniry……………..253
3. Dusty Klatt……………….190
4. Tyler Medaglia………….182
5. Colton Facciotti…………175
6. Gavin Gracyk……………156
7. Tyler Villopoto………….155
8. Morgan Burger………….136
9. Jason Burke……………..122
10. Shawn Maffenbeier….76
250 CANADIAN NATIONAL POINTS STANDINGS
(after 6 of 9 events)
1. Teddy Maier…………….278
2. Jeremy Medaglia……..251
3. Jared Allison……………177
4. Kyle Beaton…………….168
5. Topher Ingalls………….166
6. Brad Nauditt…………….163
7. Parker Allison………….143
8. Dylan Kaelin…………….141
9. Spencer Knowles…….138
10. Richard Grey………….122
450 AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL POINTS STANDINGS
(After 8 or 10 events)
1. Josh Coppins……..480
2. Todd Waters……….468
3. Lawson Bopping…420
4. Brad Anderson……412
5. Cody Cooper………388
6. Jake Moss………….311
7. Jay Marmont………288
8. Daniel Reardon…..278
9. Dean Porter………..257
10. Daniel McCoy…….249
250 AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL POINTS STANDINGS
(After 8 or 10 events)
1. Luke Styke…………..477
2. Ford Dale……………446
3. Josh Cachia……….429
4. Kade Mosig………..395
5. Adam Monea………374
6. Cheyne Boyd………366
7. Kirk Gibbs…………..347
8. Scott Columb………286
9. Justin McDonald….282
10. Lewis Woods……..255
450 ALL-JAPAN POINTS STANDINGS
(after 6 of 9 events)
1. Akira Narita……………297
2. Hiroaki Arai……………239
3. Yu Hirata……………….227
4. Yohei Kojima…………190
5. Yoshitaka Atsuta……183
6. Makoto Ogata………..157
7. Yoshiki Inagaki……….138
8. Yutaka Hoshino………132
9. Kazumasa Masuda….126
10. Yoshiki Kitai………….118
250 ALL-JAPAN POINTS STANDINGS
(after 6 of 9 events)
1. Kei Yamamoto……254
2. Yui Hoshino………254
3. Takuya Mihara……231
4. Masami Tanaka….217
5. Toshiki Tomita…..192
6. Jun’ya Takenaka….170
7. Takashi Saitoh…….144
8. Kouhei Ogawa……143
9. Kouhei Ueda……….113
10. Takasi Okano…….112
450 BRITISH NATIONAL POINTS STANDINGS
(After 6 of 8 rounds)
1. Kevin Strijbos………388
2. Shaun Simpson……339
3. Matiss Karro………..308
4. Gert Krestinov………264
5. Martin Barr…………..243
6. Kristian Whatley……201
7. Jamie Law…………..200
8. Stephen Sword……198
9. Alex Snow…………..186
10. Dorron Coutts…….170
250 BRITISH NATIONAL POINTS STANDINGS
(After 6 of 8 rounds)
1. Mel Pocock………………343
2. Elliott Banks Browne…327
3. Neville Bradshaw……..271
4. Steven Lenoir…………..254
5. Nicolas Aubin…………..239
6. Graeme Irwin…………..239
7. Bryan MacKenzie……..235
8. Stuart Edmonds……….174
9. James Cottrell………….152
10. Lewis Tombs………….141
MARTY SMITH MOTOCROSS PARK UPDATE
1. The grand opening weekend of July 14th and 15th was a lot of fun for several hundred riders and Marty looks forward to your return visits and to your first visit if you haven’t been out yet!
2. The web site has been updated with some great new information as follows:
a. Several Go Pro track videos
b. Pics of riders at the track
c. More pics of the track itself
3. Marty has been working hard changing and improving items that he asked riders their opinions on including:
a. Greatly improved watering
b. Deep churning and digging of the soil and then watering again, all steps to condition “virgin” (to motocross) soil
c. Building up the jump faces just enough to help give us the extra “pop” we need to clear the relatively small jumps cleanly without too much speed
d. Changing a few jumps that didn’t flow
e. Adding gravel to the driveway and parking lot to reduce dust
4. Marty has been teaching students at his track this week today and tomorrow and is available to you for private, semi-private, and group lessons!
5. The conditions this coming weekend of the 28th and 29th should be great:
a. 85 degrees maximum at 2 pm
b. 4 mph wind
c. 9% humidity (dryer than recent humidity)
d. Several weeks of watering/churning of the dirt is making better and better
e. There are many trees to park under
f. We are at 4000′ so the weather is great
g. The drive out is mellow, just put your high performance truck on cruise control and enjoy the country drive on a quite freeway!
h. Marty is at the track all day watering and asking how he can improve your track experience!
6. For more info go to www.martysmithmotocrosspark.com
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