MOTOCROSS ACTION’S WEEKEND NEWS ROUND-UP: PRO CIRCUIT RECALCULATED, UKRAINE TURMOIL, GAS GAS BUYS HUSKY (SORT OF) & NEW HELMET PAINT JOBS

On Feb 28, 2014 Last updated Mar 27, 2014

Ryan Dungey’s win, along with Ken Roczen’s crash and James Stewart’s 7th, launched him back into second in 450 points. Photo: KTM

INDY SUPERCROSS RESULTS: 450 CLASS

1. Ryan Dungey (KTM)
2. Eli Tomac (Hon)
3. Cole Seely (Hon)
4. Ryan Villopoto (Kaw)
5. Broc Tickle (Suz)
6. Andrew Short (KTM)
7. James Stewart (Suz)
8. Justin Brayton (Yam) (Suz)
9. Josh Hill (Suz)
10. Dean Wilson (Kaw)

INDY SUPERCROSS RESULTS: 250 EAST

1. Adam Cianciarulo (Kaw)
2. Martin Davalos (Kaw)
3. Justin Bogle (Hon)
4. Matt Biscelgia (Hon)
5. Blake Baggett (Kaw)
6. Vince Friese (Hon)
7. Jimmy Decotis (Hon)
8. Matt Lemoine (Kaw)
9. Cole Thompson (KTM)
10. Kyle Cunningham (Hon)

QATAR RESULTS: 450 CLASS

1. Gautier Paulin (Kaw)……………..3-1
2. Max Nagl (Hon)……………………..1-4
3. Tony Cairoli (KTM)…………………2-3
4. Steven Frossard (Kaw)………….4-2
5. Jermey Van Horebeek (Yam)…5-5
6. Tommy Searle (Kaw)……………..6-7
7. Clement Desall (Suz)……………..9-6
8. Kevin Strijbos (Suz)……………….7-8
9. Evgeny Bobryshev (Hon)………..8-9
10. Joel Roelants (Hon)……………..10-10

Jeffrey Herlings’ (84) bad starts forced him to come from behind, but he still managed to sweep both motos.
Photo: Ray Archer

QATAR RESULTS: 250 CLASS

1. Jefffrey Herlings (KTM)………..2-1
2. Dylan Ferrandis (Kaw)……….1-6
3. Romain Febvre (Hus)…………5-4
4. Arnaud Tonus (Kaw)…………10-2
5. Aleksandr Tonkov (Hus)……..6-5
6. Jose Butron (KTM)……………..4-8
7. Glen Coldenhoff (Suz)………..3-12
8. Jordi Tixier (KTM)……………….7-7
9. Tim Gajser (Hon)………………..8-10
10. Christophe Charlier (Yam)…12-9

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST: DEAN FERRIS INJURED IN PRACTICE CRASH

Dean Ferris.

Although rumors had surfaced from Australia, KTM has confirmed that Dean Ferris was injured in a practice crash this past week and will miss the remainder of the 250 West Supercross Championship Series. During the eight-week break between rounds 6 and 7 in the 250 West series, Ferris had returned to Australia and was at his home riding when the accident happened. Ferris fractured his wrist in the crash and surgery was required to repair the fracture. He is expected to return at some point during the AMA 250 Nationals.

WHO SAYS PRO CIRCUIT HAS HAD A BAD SEASON? LET’S LOOK AT THE NUMBERS

Adam Cianciarulo (46).

If you think about it, the Pro Circuit team has not only dominated the first three rounds of the 250 East with Davalos, Cianciarulo and Baggett sweeping the podium at Dallas and going one-two in Atlanta and Indy, but they were also a powerhouse in the last couple rounds of the 250 West.

Most pit pundits have been saying that Pro Circuit wasn’t any good in the West…and it is true that they are a long shot to catch up to Jason Anderson and Cole Seely in the 250 West Championship points chase—but they were anything but weak in the West.

Martin Davalos (31).

In fact, the Pro Circuit team has won the last five races in a row…and if it hadn’t been for a faulty wiring loom in Oakland it would have been six wins in a row. Here they are:

Oakland: Dean Wilson had an easy win the bag in Oakland County Stadium. Dean had a solid lead and only two turns to go when his engine mysteriously quit. It restarted, but Jason Anderson passed him for the win. Wilson was second.

Dean Wilson (15).

Anaheim III: Dean Wilson rebounded from his heartbreaking loss in Oakland to win the third race in Anaheim Stadium (aided when Cole Seely fell down on lap 12).

San Diego: Justin Hill won his first-ever 250 Supercross race (aided when teammate Dean Wilson fell down while leading). Hill led 14 laps of the 15 lap main event.

Justin Hill (35).

Dallas: Martin Davalos led in Dallas, with teammates Blake Baggett and Adam Cianciarulo in pursuit. When Davalos fell, Adam Cianciarulo, in his first Supercross race, took the lead and held off Blake Baggett to win. Baggett was second and Davalos remounted (twice) to finished third for a Pro Circuit sweep.

Atlanta: After 63 starts and no wins, Ecuadorian
racer Martin Davalos led every lap in Atlanta to win his first-ever AMA
250 Supercross. Cianciarulo was second with Blake Baggett, who got a
last place start and fell down once, finished fifth.

Blake Baggett (4).

Indy: Blake Baggett is the only Pro Circuit 250 East rider not to win yet, but if he could get a start it wouldn’t be out of the question. Cianciarulo won Indy after Davalos fell down—but as in Dallas Davalos picked himself up and made the second step of the podium. Baggett was fifth.

YOU ARE THERE! QATAR GRAND PRIX TRACK

GAS GAS BUYS HUSQVARNA TECHNOLOGY FROM KTM

The TC250 Red Head engine is the lightest 250 four-stroke engine made.

The press release says: “Gas Gas Motos, SA has reached an agreement with Moto Italia s.r.l., former Husqvarna Motorcycles s.r.l, to acquire their two- and four-stroke engine technology. This transaction has take place with the approval of the Austrian KTM group who acquired the Husqvarna Motorcycles brand in early 2013. This proves the interest of KTM to reinforce the European motorcycles manufacturing environment.

“The agreement includes the transfer and integration of technology in the R & D department of the Catalan brand, enabling it to manufacture in their Salt factory (Girona, Spain) four-stroke as well as the two-stroke engines, previously produced by Husqvarna Motorcycles s.r.l in Italy.

“The development of this project will lead to further growth and expansion of the Gas Gas model range for the coming years.”

What the press releases means: Spanish brand Gas Gas, which absorbed Ossa a few weeks ago, will buy all of the Italian Husqvarna engines that KTM left behind when they moved everything from Italy to Spain. This includes the 250cc Red Head four-stroke engine and all of the 125,150, 250 and 300cc two-stroke engines.

WILL THE UKRAINIAN GRAND PRIX BE CANCELED?

The Ukraine is a powder keg.

WIth the Ukraine on the verge of civil war, it doesn’t seeM likely that the Ukrainian Grand Prix will be held. in fact, Youthstream told all of the teams not to buy tickets to travel to the Ukraine on August 17. Youthstream’s Giuseppe Luongo said at the press conference in Qatar, “We will look at this race and … maybe we have to cancel…because if the problems there continue, we will not go to Ukraine.”

MATRIX CONCEPTS ANNOUNCES NEW LOWER PRICING ON TRACK NECESSITIES

Matrix Concepts, the number one track necessities product line in the world is pleased to announce new lower pricing on all Stands, Tie-Downs and several other great Matrix items. The same items now being used by nearly every top team including the current AMA National Supercross Champion Ryan Villopoto! For more info go to www.matrixracingproducts.com

GET UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH THE THOR HERO GOGGLE

KURT CASELLI FOUNDATION LAUNCHED

The Kurt Caselli Foundation is a non-profit organization whose goal is to protect and support the lives of offroad riders via a three-part. (1) Encouraging, developing, and standardizing safety precautions. (2) Developing, establishing, and encouraging the use of safety equipment and policies to increase safety of the riders. (3) Providing a safety net that allows and encourages former racers to further their education and reach career goals for themselves and their families.

The foundation’s first initiative for the 2014 is to provide providing two pre-sweep trucks at the SCORE San Felipe 250 event. The trucks will pre-sweep through highly populated spectator areas prior to the race to help clear any inherent danger. The Kurt Caselli Foundation is proud to launch its official website at www.kurtcaselli.com.

INTRODUCING THE ATLAS CARBON—NOW IN LARGE

Atlas now offers the Atlas Carbon in a large size, to go along with their small and medium sizes. The Atlas Carbon offers the ultimate strength to weight ratio, and it is beautifully crafted. Each layer is hand laid into each a mold by skilled craftsman, then cured, sanded, and finished all by hand. This is the neck brace that Ryan Villopoto chooses. The retail price is $499 (carbon) and $299 (original). For more info go to www.atlasbrace.com

CAN ANYONE BEAT JEFFREY HERLINGS IN THE 250 CLASS? PROBABLY NOT

BUD RACING OPENS ALL-NEW USA EFFORT

For more info go to www.budracing-usa.com or call (951) 245-2660.

HINSON DOMINATES GRAND PRIX MOTOCROSS

Since winning their first FIM World Championship in 2000 with Frederick Bolley on his Factory HRC Honda, Hinson Clutch Components have accumulated 20 World Motcross Championships—including the 2013 Championships of Antonio Cariolli (450) and Jeffrey Herlings (25).Hinson Clutch Components sponsors these GP teams:24MX Honda Racing, Ice One Husqvarna, Wilvo Nestaan Husqvarna, Monster Kawasaki, CLS Kawasaki, Red Bull KTM, Standing Construct KTM, Rockstar Energy Suzuki, Rinaldi Yamaha and KEMEA Yamaha. For more info on Hinson products go to www.hinsonracing.com.

LOOKING FOR A NEW HELMET PAINT SCHEME? TRY ONE OF THESE

FROM THE WILD TO THE WANKY: ELECTRIC BIKES ABOUND

Lotus C01 carbon fiber electric superbike. It can be equipped with either a four-stroke twin or an electric motor.

The inevitable push for electric cars is now spread into the bicycle and motorcycle world. What’s next? Electric toasters? Even if a company has never made a motorcycle or they are the biggest player in the two-wheeled world, everyone seems to be working on concept bikes and prototypes. MXA went to www.electricbikeaction.com and www.facebook.com/ElectricBikeAction to track down some of the futuristic, retro and postmodern visions of what might be coming in the world of volts, amps and watts.

KTM e-Speed scooter.

Otocycle retro bike.

Audi Worthersee E-Bike.

Ossa Monocasco electric bike.

Honda Oree.

Yamaha PES-1 sport bike

Caterham Classic.

Caterham Carbon.

DAYTONA SUPERCROSS SIGNS A FIVE-YEAR DEAL TO BE TELECAST LIVE ON FOX SPORTS 1

For those who don’t know, the Daytona Supercross is not part of the Feld Motorsports group and thus it is not part of the Feld TV contract. Daytona is free to sign its own deals and recently announced a five-year, multi-platform agreement to air the Daytona Supercross from 2014 to 2019‚ starting on Saturday, March 8, 2014 (at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time). Patrick Crakes, Fox Sports Vice President of Programming said. “The agreement solidifies the Fox Sports family of networks as the long-term home of the complete Supercross schedule and strengthens our position as the leader in motor sports programming.”

THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAYS: SURPRISE! THEY ARE THE SAME AS LAST YEAR’S BIRTHDAYS EXCEPT FOR ONE DETAIL

Feb. 28…Wayne Hinson

Feb. 28…Glenn Hansen

Feb. 28…Kevin Windham 1978

Feb. 28…Ryan Clark 1978

Feb. 28…Cameron Steele

Mar. 1…Dan Reardon 1986

Mar. 1…Harry Kullas 1992

Mar. 3…Shawn Norfolk

Mar. 4…Malcolm Smith 1941

Mar. 4…Sandy Egger

Mar. 4…Xavier Boog 1988

Mar. 6…Paul Buckley

Mar. 6…Eddie Cole

NEW RACETRACK TO OPEN IN JERSEY

Field of Dreams, an 85-acre offroad park, will be built across the street from New Jersey Motorsports Park on Buckshutem Road in Millville, New Jersey. The opening is planned for late June or early July. The facility will be built on land purchased from the city for $400,000. There will be three tracks within the facility: Beginner, Intermediate and Expert. The park also include a half-mile “straight rhythm” course. Plus, there will be bike and ATV rentals. For the latest information on the NJMP Field of Dreams project, visit www.njmpfod.com.

SEE THE INDY TRACK HERE & WATCH IT LIVE ON FOX SPORTS 1 ON SATURDAY NIGHT

QATAR GP WINNER GAUTIER PAULIN: FLYING THE FRENCH TRICOLOR ON A GREEN CANVAS

By Eric Johnson

Technically stylish and equally skilled in both Supercross and motocross, Gautier Paulin, 23, will lead the Kawasaki Racing Team into battle this Saturday in Doha, Qatar. Last year Paulin pulled down four GP moto wins and a further eight podium placings before an awful concussion suffered at the Circus Maximus circuit at the Eurospeedway outside of Berlin, Germany, derailed what had been an excellent run at Antonio Cairoli’s stranglehold of the FIM 450 World Championships.

For 2014 Paulin believes he is in possession of everything he needs to get down to the business of becoming a first-time World Champion. The following is what the former BMX World Champion and seven-year GP veteran had to say.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF HAVING THE FIRST GRAND PRIX IN QATAR?

I really like to go over there because the team puts the bike in the crate and once the bike leaves there is less pressure on the mechanics. I also like to go to Qatar because we are in the MotoGP paddock and everyone is close. I also just like it as the first GP of the new season.

LAST YEAR YOU DID WELL AT THE FIRST TWO GRANDS PRIX, NAMELY QATAR AND THAILAND. DO YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT QATAR, THAILAND AND BRAZIL?

I go to each GP to do my best and to do something good or special. I want to be good at the flyaway races this year. I like these GPs. Not more than a normal GP, but I like going to these races because they are something different for us.

HOW IS YOUR BIKE? YOU’RE KNOWN AS A RIDER WHO LIKES TO TEST.

I really like the technical side of motocross. It’s special to do something where I can feel the difference. I don’t want to have a mechanic tell me something, I want to feel it. I like to test and we improved the bike a lot for this year. The bike is actually real good. Kawasaki has been great and we got more money from them to spend on development . I don’t want to say my bike is perfect because there is not one bike that is perfect. I’m quite confident with the 2014 setup.

IS 2014 YOUR YEAR?

We’ll see. I’m not going to say I’m going to win. That’s really not my vision of the thing, you know. There are many things that go together in winning a Championship.

LAST YEAR YOU WERE WINNING GPS AND HAD A SHOT AT THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, BUT YOU HAD A BAD CONCUSSION AT ROUND 13.

Last year was a great year and I won many motos, but I had some bad luck. There were times that I had the best lap time of the moto, but I didn’t end up in the top three. Things need to go together, you know? My fitness level was great and I was the faster than Cairoli at times, but Cairoli was always in the best position. I need to learn from that.

DO YOU HAVE THE SPEED AND THE FITNESS TO BEAT CAIROLI?

Yes, I have the speed to ride like Cairoli and I have the speed to be even faster. But, he’s a seven-time World Champion and he knows what to do and when to do it. That is where he is strong. I just need to be at the right place at the right time, like he always is, to beat him. He’s a seven-time World Champion and to have a goal to beat him makes me very motivated.

DO YOU HAVE A PARTICULAR STRATEGY FOR THIS YEAR’S CHAMPIONSHIP?

To have a strategy is pretty hard because we are doing a mechanical sport, so there is a mechanical side to it. Then there is the body and the ground—because in the World Championship you have to race on hard ground, stony ground, sand and the mud. I like to ride on every type of terrain so that’s cool

DO YOU HAVE AN APPROACH TO BEATING ANTONIO CAIROLI?

There is no strategy. The strategy is just to enjoy and to be up front every time. You cannot have a strategy when you see Antonio Cairoli’s year. Even at his worst, he was just one spot from the podium. You can’t say, “I’m going to have a strategy for that.” I think the strategy is that you have to go for big points in every moto. That is how Villopoto and Roczen are doing it in America. You just have to be up front every time.

SPEAKING OF AMERICA, YOU RACED FEW ROUNDS OF 2010 AMA 250 WEST. DID YOU LIKE IT?

It was pretty good. I had some potential. I love to ride Supercross.With my riding style Supercross is way easier to do on a 450 than a 250. When I was in the USA I was in the 250s and it was tough because I put a lot of weight on the bike.

WILL YOU EVER RACE THE SUPERCROSS SERIES?

I signed my 2014 contract to be the World Champion and that’s my goal. I could stay in Europe and ride the GPs for my whole career, but it would be good to come to America to ride outdoors and Supercross. I like both of them. I will see. My goal for the moment is to ride the 2014 World Championships, but if I got a good opportunity with a teamwith the best bikes and had the time to get ready for Supercross, I would take this opportunity.

DO YOU LIKE THE BIG STADIUMS, BIG CROWDS, THE HYPE AND ATTENTION THAT AMERICAN SUPERCROSS ENJOYS?

Of course I like it! The people in Europe, when you speak of motocross they are like, “What is motocross?” In America if you say you are a motocross rider, things are easier because everyone respects you. They respect what you do. They know it’s hard. In Europe it’s more like, “Oh, you do motocross? But there is an engine on the bike so it’s easy.” People really respect motocross in America.

YOU HAVE THE REPUTATION FOR BEING VERY PROFESSIONAL. DO YOU SEE YOURSELF THAT WAY?

I agree that I am professional, but it’s something I want to do. In life I like to do everything clean and to do everything perfect. That’s how I am every day. I like people and I love sports and I love what I do, so it’s kind of easy to be professional. The life I have right now is the life that I like. For sure I want more and more and I want better and better, but when you speak to me about motocross—I love to ride my bike. I like the whole culture surrounding motocross, so it’s pretty easy for me to be who I am. I’m professional and it’s how I am, but it’s easy to be like this when you love the sport like I do.

AT A GLANCE: 2014 AMA SUPERCROSS SERIES

Although not as dominant as in the past, Ryan Villopoto (1) still has the red plate of the 450 points leader.

Date Venue 450 250

Jan. 4…..Anaheim I……Ken Roczen……Jason Anderson
Jan. 11…Phoenix………Ryan Villopoto…Jason Anderson
Jan. 18…Anaheim II…..Chad Reed……..Cole Seely
Jan. 25…Oakland………Ryan Villopoto…Jason Anderson
Feb. 1…..Anaheim III….Chad Reed………Dean Wilson
Feb. 8…..San Diego…..James Stewart…Justin Hill
Feb. 15…Dallas…………James Stewart…Adam Cianciarulo
Feb. 22…Atlanta………..Ken Roczen…….Martin Davalos
Mar. 1…..Indy…………….Ryan Dungey…..Adam Cianciarulo
Mar. 8…..Daytona
Mar. 15…Detroit
Mar. 22…Toronto
Mar. 29…St. Louis
Apr. 5…. .Houston
Apr. 12.. .Seattle
Apr. 26. ..New York
May 3……Las Vegas

450 points leader …………..Ryan Villopoto (Kaw)

250 East points leader …..Adam Cianciarulo (Kaw)

250 West points leader ….Jason Anderson (KTM)

USED IT, ABUSED IT, TESTED IT: MXD LABS MOTO APP & CLICK MOUNT

MXD Labs has developed an iPhone app that allows riders to uses their iPhone’s for data acquisition. Additionally, they offer a hard plastic case, with shock absorbing insulation, to hold your iPhone on your bike. Most MXA test riders were nervous about putting their expensive iPhone on their bike, but we never had an issue.

VERDICT: The app tracks speed, lap times, fastest lap and allows the rider to analyze and share the data through Facebook or Twitter. We also used other available Apple apps, like Strava, to chart laps, speed and time.

DIGITS: $44.95 (Click Mount), $1.99 (MXD app)—www.mxdlabs.com.

THE CURRENT SUPERCROSS INJURY LIST

Chad Reed made the injury list two weeks ago, but tried to race anyway. Now, he’s really on the injury list.

RIDER INJURY

Trey Canard……………Broken arm

Davi Millsaps…………..Knee injury

Joey Savatgy…………..Broken wrist,collapsed lung

Marvin Musquin……….Knee injury (ACL)

Casey Hinson………….Broken hand, facial fractures

Broc Schmelyun………Broken legs

Ben Lamay……………..Dislocated wrist, broken jaw

Austin Politelli………….Broken femur

Dillon Huddleston……..Broken thumb

Shane Sewell…………..Broken foot

Brett Hottel………………Broken femur

Zach Bell…………………Broken collarbone

Cody Gilmore…………..Broken collarbone

Les Smith………………..Dislocated ribs

Kevin Weisbruch……….Crushed trachea

Ronnie Ray………………Broken leg

Darryn Durham…………Concussion

Zach Osborne…………..Broken collarbone

Kyle Partridge…………..Torn ACL

Brady Kiesel…………….Broken jaw

Kristoffer Palm………….Broken collarbone

Jake Weimer…………….Wrist injury

Chad Reed……………….Shoulder/collarbone

Anthony Rodriquez…....Broken collarbone

Dean Ferris……………….Broken wrist

Justin Barcia……………..Will be back at Daytona

THIS WEEK’S IMPORTANT RACES: USE THOSE FREQUENT FLIER MILES

DATE EVENT

March 8……………………Daytona Supercross

March 7-9…………………Albuquerque Arenacross

March 9……………………Thailand 250/450 GP

March 9-10……………….WMX Daytona

March 9-12……………….GNCC Florida

March 14-16……………..WORCS Lake Havasu

WHO’S WHO IN THE AMA SUPERCROSS POINTS CHASE

If looks could kill…oh, maybe not. Adam Cianciarulo leads the 250 East points after two rounds.

CURRENT AMA 450 SUPERCROSS POINTS STANDINGS HEADING INTO INDY

(After 9 of 17 rounds)

1. Ryan Villopoto………184

2. Ryan Dungey………..161

3. Ken Roczen………….158

4. James Stewart………154

5. Justin Brayton……….143

6. Chad Reed……………111

7. Justin Barcia………….109

8. Andrew Short………..109

9. Wil Hahn………………..93

10. Broc Tickle……………93

CURRENT AMA 250 EAST SUPERCROSS POINTS STANDINGS HEADING INTO INDY

(After 3 of 9 rounds)

1. Adam Cianciarulo……..72

2. Martin Davalos………….67

3. Justin Bogle……………..56

4. Blake Baggett…………..54

5. Vince Friese…………….48

7. Cole Thompson………..40

8. Blake Wharton………….33

9. Kyle Cunningham………33

10. Mitchell Oldenburg…..30

THE WAY WE WERE: FIGHTING BACK AGAINST THE BLACK LEATHER JACKET AND MOTORCYCLE BOOTS IMAGE

In early 1960s Honda was only selling 40,000 motorcycles a year. For 1964 Grey Advertising produced the “You Meet The Nicest People On A Honda” campaign, which included a TV spot on the Academy Awards show. The rest is history.