MOTOCROSS ACTION’S WEEKEND NEWS ROUND-UP: FLAT LAKE BEDS EVERYWHERE HAD BETTER BE AFRAID ..VERY AFRAID

                                             
THE SECRET IS OUT! GLEN HELEN IS BACK ON THE NATIONAL SCHEDULE


By now everybody knows that the Glen Helen National has returned to its rightful place as the first AMA National of the year?that year being 2014. We are thrilled that MX Sports and Glen Helen worked this out?it’s great for the sport. Yes, the know-it-alls will be saying that they knew about it months before it was announced?but they didn’t. Ever since the disastrous Lake Elsinore National ended, the MXA gang would ask Jody if Glen Helen was coming back to the AMA Nationals. We knew that Jody would know because he has built the AMA National and USGP Grand Prix tracks since the mid-1990s. He would say, “I don’t know.” But, of course he did know. We overheard him on occasion talking to Lori Bryant or Bud Feldkamp, but could never get enough of the conversation to get any info.

But, on the day of the official announcement Jody was nowhere to be found. We called his phone and he answered. In the background was the hum of Caterpillars. He was at Glen Helen building a track for the World Vet, but from the photos that we saw it looked like he was making a lot of major changes for a Vet race. Here are the photos of what was going on a Glen Helen this weekend.


Glen Helen and Troy Lee combined forces to build a 3400 square foot building next to the track. The exterior walls went up on Sunday. It will be used for a variety of things starting with the World Vet and then the Day In The Dirt and, eventually, the AMA National in May of 2014. The chain link fence is to keep people out during construction.

The interior hasn’t been done yet, but it is massive inside.

Glen Helen’s permanent restrooms have been expanded with four new stalls added to the back of the existing building.

Jody had the double tunnels that MXSports wanted installed a couple years ago removed because they were blocking access to the original Log Cabin jump.

This is twilight looking to the west. That is the Shoei downhill on the left and the Mt. Saint Helen uphill on the right. Come World Vet time all of the Glen Helen hills will be used in unique ways. The first time the complete World Vet track will be used is on Friday, November 1, for pre-entry practice, but sections will be tested this Thursday and the REM Octobercross will run as much of it as they like on Saturday, October 26.

New dirt and new corners have been added after the finish line straight. In the background you can see Glen Helen’s two-story scoring tower and announcers booth and in the distance you can see the REM track an its two-story scoring booth.

The pile of dirt in the background is the Log Cabin jump. Its angle to the start is being changed and it is being made bigger (and steeper on the backside). The dirt in the foreground is part of a new roller coaster section that leads to the Log Cabin.

                                             
VINTAGE RACER MARTY PAYNE INJURED IN HARLEY CRASH

Marty Payne, brother of women’s racer Nancy Payne.

Marty Payne, older brother of Lori Payne (1970’s Women motocross star) was involved in a crash on his Harley. He had just returned home to Arkansas, after a two month stay in California, to attend Marty Tripes Vintage day and the Indian Dunes Reunion. Marty was a motocross racer in the 1970s. Marty is in a coma and needs our thoughts and prayers.

                                             
RALPH SHEHEEN’ MONSTER CUP BIKE PHOTOS: AMATEUR SHUTTERBUG / PROFESSIONAL ANNOUNCER ? NOW YOU KNOW WHY

Justin Barcia’s Honda (1). The 1 is because he was last year’s Monster Cup winner.

Ryan Dungey’s KTM (5).

James Stewart’s Suzuki (7).

Eli Tomc’s Geico Honda (3).

Ryan Villopoto’s Kawasaki (2).

                                             
IS THE UNIT SKYCRAFT THE FIRST…OR JUST THE NEXT STEP IN A LONG LINE OF FREESTYLE INNOVATION?

The carbon fiber Unit Skycraft freestyle machine debuted in Orlando this week.

Officially launched at the American International Motorcycle Expo in Florida, the Unit Skycraft is billed as the world’s first purpose-built freestyle motocross machine. The central goal of the Skycraft was weight reduction. Constructed almost entirely from carbon fiber and titanium the 165 pounds saves weight by using the swingarm as a silencer for the KTM 250 two-stroke engine. The bike has carbon fiber rims, monocoque and subframe.

The A-Loop XMX freestyle machine debuted in the April 2000 issue of MXA (13 years ago).

But, is the Skycraft the “first purpose-built freestyle motocross machine?” The answer is no! Over 13 years ago the MXA test crew tested an special “purpose-built freestyle machine” built by A-Loop’s Pete Denison (who had also founded Moose Racing).

The A-Loop gas tank was hidden under the seat and behind the shock

It was called the XMX (XtremeMotoX). Denison started with a 1999 Honda CR250 two-stroke and redesigned it. He removed the stock gas tank and built a smaller aluminum one behind the rear shock. Pete machined gullwing triple clamps that couldn’t even break under the then-infamous Seth Enslow. The A-Loop bike had a rear grab handle for no-hander tricks. And, it had a smoke system, like those used by the Blue Angels, to leave a vapor trail.

Mike Metzger puts the XMX through its paces over 13 years ago.

When A-Loop delivered the bike to MXA we loved the creative design, but we knew that as regular motocross racers we couldn’t do it justice. So, we called Mike Metzger, who had helped us out many times in the past?and raced at the same tracks as the MXA gang before he became a freestyler. Metzger loved the bike, but wanted the grab bar removed because he felt he could get hooked it. After that he rode it all day and loved it. A-Loop, which made many specialty kits, including a kit to turn a XR500 into a motocross bike, sold the XMX kit for $1700.

                                             
THURSDAY AT GLEN HELEN: EVERYBODY IS TESTING WHILE THE STARS ARE AWAY

The Glen Helen sign.

The typical Thursday practice at Glen Helen resembles an AMA National, but this weekend?with the Monster Cup in Las Vegas?most of the stars stayed away. You might think that is a bad thing, but in reality it slows down the pace on the track, allows slower riders the chance to do laps without fear of being blown off the track. This Thursday was the perfect day…for World Vet stars and MXA test riders to do the laps they needed. Here are some highlights.

Newly crowned 2013 WORCS Champion Robby Bell came to Glen Helen to do a promotional video to celebrate his Championship.

Doug Dubach, who wants to win the Over-50 World Vet Championship to go along with his multiple 30 and 40 titles, is still recovering from his massive Mammoth injuries, but Doug and son Carter came out to test some DR.D pipes.

MXA’s Dennis Stapleton was on his way to Las Vegas, but had to do some final touches on Wiseco’s KTM 300SX project bike. It is a kitted KTM 250SX outfitted with a Wiseco 300 piston. It is a test bike for “Dirt Bike,” but the MXA test rider was breaking it in for them.

This is MXA’s personal 300SX engine kit. It is a bolt-on replacement cylinder, head, piston, power valve and black box to turn a 250SX into a 300SX. MXA is building it for the World Vet Championships for Spanish rider Kim Sunol (and will feature it in a future issue), but as for now we are still testing different setups on it.

This is MXA’s stash of KTM 300 pipes. Yes that is a lot of pipes! First, we dyno’ed them to narrow it down to the three best. That’s Jimmy Payton at the controls of the dyno. Then, Jody Weisel, Daryl Ecklund and Dennis Stapleton went to Glen Helen on Thursday to decided what pipe worked best.


Pete DeGraaf from Canada and Pete Murray from SoCal have been arch-rivals for years. Between them the hold 6 World Vet titles and were both at the Glen trying to setup their new bikes for the November 2-3 race. DeGraaf won the Over-50 World Championship in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011. In the last six years Pete DeGraaf only lost twice (to Toon Karsmakers in 2008 and Pete Murray in 2012). Pete Murray won the Over-40 World title back in 2000. It took him 12 years to win again in the Over-50 class (in 2012).

                                             
MXA PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: 2013-14 HONDA CRF ONE PIECE SIDE PANELS


Make life easier by replacing all the extraneous stock Honda side panels pieces with DeCal Works one-piece units. DeCal Works, the leader and innovator of pre-printed backgrounds and custom graphics, has solved the 2014/13 Honda side panel problem; applying backgrounds without destroying the cosmetic appearance of your new ride.  
 
While the stock 2014 Honda CRF250/450 (and also the 2013 CRF450 are receiving rave performance reviews), magazine test riders and owners can’t figure out how to apply pre-printed backgrounds on the OEM side panels without having to hack, slit, or cut the decal for mounting. And what proud new owner wants to cut apart his/her new bike or worse yet, ride around with bubbles and slits? DeCal Works feels your pain and proudly offers a unique restyled set of plastics that are one-piece construction; the airbox and side panel are molded together for a sleek appearance and ease of graphic application. Your new CRF will look factory, the numbers will be more legible and it won’t look like your little sister built your race bike.

Better yet, order restyled plastic with Pre-Printed backgrounds and DeCal Works will do all the mounting for free. The one-piece side panels are only $79.95 and you can add a front plate for $24.95; all with free mounting. Order your set now in White, Red or Black, look more professional and save yourself headaches. Visit www.decalmx.com for more info

                                             
THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAY BOYS…AND ONE GIRL

Oct. 18…David Vuillemin 1977

Oct. 18…Matt Boni 1987
Oct. 19…Vince Friese 1990

Oct. 19…Jimmy Ellis 1955
Oct. 21…Terren O’Dell 1991

Oct. 21…Matiss Karro 1991
Oct. 22…Michael Brandes 1975

 
Oct. 22…Ashley Fiolek 1990
Oct. 24…Teddy Parks 1989

                                             
NIKE’S DABBLE INTO MOTOCROSS BOOTS WAS JUST FLUFF…DUNGEY TO WEAR FOX BOOTS

Ryan and his new boots.

                                             
KTM MOTO TOUR ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 21 AT GLEN HELEN RACEWAY

You have to sign up at your local KTM dealer to get a voucher to ride for free. Try Malcolm Smith Motorsports at (951) 687-1300.

                                                                                  
REM OCTOBERCROSS ON OCTOBER 26 AT GLEN HELEN RACEWAY

The Octobercross will be held on the World Vet track and will be the first time anyone races on the new layout. For more info go to www.remsatmx.com

                                             
THE JAMMER CUP ON OCTOBER 26-277

For more info go to www.jwtfmx.com

                                             
AUSTRALIA RELEASES ITS 2014 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

March 30…………Broadford, Vic
April 13…………..Appin, NSW
April 27…………..Wonthaggi, Vic
May 18…………….Murray Bridge, SA
May 25…………….Waneroo, WA
June 29…………….Conondale, QLD
July 13…………….Swan Hill, VIC
August 3………….Raymond Terrace, NSW
August 24…………Gladstone, QLD
August 31…………Coolum, QLD

                                             
WHAT’S NEXT ON THE 2013 RACE CALENDAR?

2013 REM OCTOBERCROSS (FORMERLY THE COMMOTION BY THE OCEAN)
    October 26, 2013…Glen Helen, CA
JAMMER CUP
    October 26-27…..Maysville, NC
2013 WORLD VETERAN MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
    November 2-3, 2013…Glen Helen, CA
PARIS SUPERCROSS
    November 8-9…Paris, France
2013 AUSTRALIAN SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
    November 16…….Toowoomba, Qld
2013 THOR WINTER OLYMPICS (MINI O’S)
    November 25-30…Gainesville, FL