MXA MID-WEEK REPORT: Windham Speaks, What Will Be New At Millville, Extremity Games, New Track, How To Change A Clutch Basket, A Hall Of Famer Checks in, & More
MXA MID-WEEK REPORT
By some miscellaneous editors
PHOTO OF THE WEEK 
Jason Anderson has been putting in long motos at Glen Helen’s Saturday REM races in preparation for a coveted Loretta Lynn’s amateur title. The biggest amateur event of the year will get underway next month in Tennessee.
MXA MINI-VIEW: KEVIN WINDHAM
Before this year’s 450 National Championship series began, we asked readers which Supercross-only rider they would like to see race the Nationals. At that point James Stewart, Chad Reed, and Kevin Windham were questions marks. Of course Reed is the only rider to grab his sunscreen and head outdoors, but the vast majority of those that weighed in on the question chose Kevin Windham. K-Dub is wildly popular, and he is also the only one of the aforementioned riders that has failed to win a premiere class championship.ÿ
Would Kevin Windham be leading the Lucas Oil 450 point standings had he raced? No one really knows, but we’re guessing that Windham would have liked his chances against Reed, Andrew Short, Ivan Tedesco and Josh Grant. We called up Kevin and caught him while he was out running errands by his home in Mississippi.
MXA: Kevin, what have you been doing with your down time?
Kevin: I’ve been hanging with my family, wake boarding, party barging, swimming, and all the basic stuff.ÿ
MXA: Is there any truth to possible rumors that you’re going to race an upcoming National?
Kevin: I don’t really know yet. I’m definitely not racing this weekend at Millville. I don’t ride so well there. If they took out about five of those sand whoops then maybe I would do it.
MXA: Okay, so what about the following weekend at Washougal? You love that track.
Kevin: I don’t think I’m going to get that done, either. I have obligations that weekend that I won’t be able to get out of. I definitely won’t be at Southwick, because I struggle there. I do know that I’m going to be at the X Games.
MXA: You’re really in the mood to play twenty questions. Fair enough. Have you been riding at all?
Kevin: Yes. I have doing some outdoor riding on my CRF450.
MXA: What events do you plan on competing in at the X Games at the end of this month?
Kevin: Right now I’m scheduled to do the Moto X race, and I’m thinking about trying my hand at Step Up. I thought doing Step Up would be a good time. I mean, I do like to jump.
MXA: That’s true, so why not compete in Best Whip?
Kevin: I don’t know. That’s a good question.
MXA: Back to the possibility of you racing at least one National this year. Do you really want to race, or is it just something that you’re saying so that people don’t get upset with you for not racing any outdoors?
Kevin: I’m ready to get out there and race. I have some things going that I have to take care of, but I’m looking forward to getting out there. The weather is pretty hot out though. I wish I would have ridden a National before it got hot out!
MXA: Since you’re not going to race Millville, Washougal, or Southwick, we’re going to go out on a limb and guess that you’re planning on racing Unadilla since it’s one of your favorite tracks. Are we right?
Kevin: Well, I’m looking hard at it. I mean, the travel to Unadilla is really easy; it’s the only National where you have to stop at five different cities before you can actually fly into Binghamton. I’m being sarcastic, of course. I do well racing at Unadilla. I’ll probably be at the race.
MXA: You’re still not confirming that you’ll be racing Unadilla, because you haven’t actually said that you’ll be racing, just that you’ll be at the race.
Kevin: I can tell you this, I’m not going to the race without racing.
MXA: Fair enough. Have you been following what’s been going on this outdoor season?
Kevin: I watched the first one or two Nationals, but since then I haven’t seen anything. Last I heard Ivan [Tedesco] went 1-1, and that was in Colorado, right?
MXA: Wow, you really have been out of the loop. That’s all you’ve heard?
Kevin: I hear that Chad [Reed] is having some stomach issues and I hear some of the gossip, but I haven’t been following it. All those guys seem pretty even, and no one is taking over and running away with it. It’s good for the sport. I like not knowing who is going to win.
MXA: You have to be upset that you’re not racing. Everyone knows that you have the talent and speed to be winning races this season. It’s a “What if…” situation.
Kevin: I’m frustrated on a lot of different fronts. I will always feel remorse for not having the hardware of a number one plate on my wall. But there’s another side that a championship would have zero financial value to me. It wouldn’t have taken me much to get out there, not from the fan’s standpoint, but from the manufacturer standpoint. I didn’t get the support and I didn’t feel wanted. I would have loved to be out there battling with those guys, but I don’t think the business people would have been rooting for me because I’m sure that they wouldn’t have wanted to pay the win bonuses. This economy is tough.
MXA: Will you be racing the Nationals in 2010?
Kevin: It’s very difficult right now to say, but it’s something that we’re trying to embrace and get corrected for the future. I know for this season we’re starting to run out of Nationals. I was pretty upset that I couldn’t race this outdoor series. That statement is going to sound funny to some people, but it’s gotta make sense.
MXA: At least if you’re able to get to Unadilla and race then you could play a pivotal part in the outcome of the 450 National Championship.
Kevin: Maybe, but it sounds like any little thing could mix up the point standings.
MXA: Kevin, thanks for your time and we hope to see you racing a National soon.
Kevin: Thank you.
MILLVILLE MOTOCROSS NATIONAL PREVIEW: 10 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD GO AND WATCH
1) Track changes: Shane Schaefer of Schaefer Tracks (www.schaefertracks.com) is based next door in Wisconsin and has a lot of experience building pro tracks from Arenacross to the KTM test track just to name a couple. This year Spring Creek hired Schaefer Tracks to give the National track a face lift, and there will be a lot of changes. Just to name a couple: there is a new, spectacular jump leading into the finish line, and the whoops have been extended by about five seconds in each direction.
2) One day format. The one day format means that the program will be condensed, and action packed from 9am to 6pm. You can see everything and get the full experience without using up your entire weekend.
5) Parking. Parking is in numerous fields around the track, and there is only a short walking distance to the racing action.
6) Pit access: Pits are open from nine to noon (with purchase of an $18 pass).
GUESS WHAT? A MAICO WON, BUT SINCE IT WAS AT THE “MAICO CUP” THAT MAKES SENSE
Factory Maico rider Neil Berry rails a Belgium corner in a mild downpour.
The official Maico International team, loaded up their all-new Maico’s and took on a European flavor when they traveled to Belgium to compete in the International Maico Cup.
Gray skies never dampen the enthusiasm of a European rider.
Since Maico International’s number one rider Keith Ree was unable to attend the meeting, the burden of responsibility fell on the shoulders of Dunlop/Maxima/Maico rider Neil Berry to represent the Maico distributors on the event.
The Maico Internationla booth was bundle up against the weather, but did a brisk business all day long.
Neil Berry elected to race a Maico 320 (as opposed to the available Maico line-up of that includes a 250, 320, 500 and 620) against the competition that was a mix of classic 1981 Maico 490s and more recent 500’s.
Neil Berry found himself on the far outside of starting gate and as the gate dropped he suffered a bad start that left in at the back of the pack. Fueled by anger at his bad start Berry started a relentless assault on the rest of the field and by the end of the second lap had forced his way into the top ten. At the finish Berry had made his way to seventh place.
The Belgian Pulderbos circuit has been used for many in major races. Love the grass start.
Maico International had crossed the Channel to win the Maico Cup, and even though that didn’t happen they were happy to have shown the promise of the new range of Maico motorcycles and to meet with the loyal owners of the marque.
Neil Berry said, “All credit to the promoters for a well organized event, unfortunately I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time in the first race and just didn’t get a good start; the bike was running great and with a few more laps I may well have got into the top five. I made a flyer in the second race and was making ground on the top two for several laps until I felt the front end start to wash out and realized I had a puncture, it was frustrating having to back off but there was nothing else I could do, all things considered I am happy with a sixth place finish.”
HOLESHOT PRACTICE WITH PRO START’S PS-2 START GATE
MXA test riders Dennis Stapleton and John Minert go head-to-head behind the Pro Start Race Gate with holeshot bragging rights on the line.
The MXA wrecking crew always has a bevy of bike hardware and other products to test like Pro Start’s PS-2 starting gate. When we began testing, installation required a few minutes of carful digging and orange helmet riders were soon conducting practice starts. The friendly testing atmosphere quickly escalated into a heated competition for holeshot supremacy, and testers lined up to prove who was the quickest off the line.
If you’re serious about racing, you try to get out and ride during the week. But, chances are you leave out one of the most important parts of the race, the start. The sturdy steel Pro Start gate is best suited for those who have their own area for semi-permanent installation, but it can be transported without too much trouble. A single version of the gate is available and the creative guys at Pro-Start are open to custom jobs as well.
$750.00 (optional colors available for $100)
For more information call (951) 767-2218 or visit www.prostartgates.com
THESE GUYS AREN’T AFRAID TO GO OUT ON A LIMB
If you thought that X-Games athletes were tough, try competing in extreme sports without an arm or a leg! Extremity Games 4 took place last weekend from the ninth through the eleventh in Michigan. The Games include competitions, instructional clinics and exhibitions. The competitions include BMX Biking, Kayaking, Moto-X, Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing, Sit Boarding, Skateboarding and Wakeboarding.
The first Extremity Games were held in 2006, and extreme sporting competitions for individuals living with limb loss or limb difference. Due to success of the first event, the Extremity Events Network, nonprofit corporation was founded the following year to ensure the future of the event by getting sponsorship and involvement from orthotic and prosthetic manufacturers and professionals, and outside industry sponsors.
Mike Schultz, who finished second in Moto-X Premier event at Extremity Games 4, used to race professional snocross and lost his lower leg.ÿ Now he uses prosthetic leg equipped with a FOX Air bicycle shock. Coincidentally, he equips his Yamaha has the FOX Podium RC3 shock too.
EXTREMITY GAMES MOTOCROSS TOP THREE FINISHERS:
Moto-X Light
1. George Hammel
2. Theodore Hiracheta
3. Sampie Erasmus
1. Chris Ridgeway
2. Mike Schultz
3. Jason Woods
THE NEW STATUS SYMBOL OF THE PROS: YACHTS GONE WILD
Valentino’s latest purchase is a $2.5 million Pershing 56 luxury yacht. The yacht is 59.9″ long, weighs 59,000 pounds, holds 845 gallons of diesel fuel and is powered by two 1360 horsepower MAN diesels. It is named the Tittilla II (Rossi sold his 50 foot Tittila I yacht to make room for his new Pershing 56). It sleeps six and has four bathrooms.
It’s unlikely that any American motocross star will pop for a 60 foot luxurt yacht, but this is the new Gold Standard.
MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE: A NOTE FROM LARS LARSSON REGARDING THE MOSQUITO HUNT
The Njurunda track.
ÿÿÿÿAnyway, we got this letter from Lars yesterday:
ÿÿÿÿ“Hi. Geetings from sunny/rainy Sweden?all in a daily mix. Been up at the “Mosquito Hunt” over the weekend at the Njurunda track, designed by Rolf Tibblin, and among other things ran in to this Norwegian Suzuki racer named Niklas from Team Motorsenteret.
ÿÿÿÿ”Niklas’ Sprinter van had some messages written on it. Below the side window it says, “sponset av mamma” (sponsored by Mom) and on the top of his van he wrote If motocross had been easy, we would have called it football.”
ÿÿÿÿ”I Thought I’d share this with you. Show it to the guys at Glen Helen. It will bring memories to some of them.”
ÿÿÿÿLars
NEW SOCAL MOTOCROSS TRACK:
HEREDIA’S MOUNTAINTOP MOTORPLEX
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“I was in the local motorcycle shop in Anza, and a CHP handed the store owner a map of local riding areas, and except for some BLM land way up on the mountains of Cahuilla, and the other tracks in the area weren’t open all the time to the public,” says Joe Heredia. “We just wanted open a place for locals to come and ride.”
But, the Heredia’s venture has met with some concern by the competing Cahuilla Creek track. In attempt to keep from making too many waves, Heredia switched to Quads only on the weekends, to avoid competing for business with their motocross only neighbors. Although they had originally planned to open six days a week, the track is currently open weekends for quads, and operating by private rental on weekdays. New tracks are always looking for sponsors to get involved, and Heredia’s Mountaintop Motorplex has plenty of open real estate for track banners etc. (call (951) 992-6559).
For more info click http://herediasmtmp.webs.com
MX SIMULATOR WILL MAKE YOU LEARN TO RIDE ALL OVER AGAIN
Features include:
ÿÿ Online multiplayer with automatic prediction to compensate for lag.
ÿÿ 8 different bikes based on real life dyno, gear ratio and weight information.
ÿÿ Intelligent computer riders. The computer riders in this game do not cheat. They obey the same physical rules and use the same exact bike as the player does.
ÿÿ Fully adjustable suspension and gearing.
ÿÿ Physically modeled engine noise for both 2 smokes and thumpers.
ÿÿ 12 event points series with novice, amateur and expert classes. Realistic tracks including Budds Creek and RedBud replicas.
ÿÿ Flexible race format. Motos can be time or lap based.
ÿÿ Up to 40 riders. Run a full gate if your computer is fast enough! (A 2 GHz CPU will handle 10 riders smoothly, a 1 GHz CPU will handle 3.)
ÿÿ No monster trucks.”
For more information click http://mxsimulator.com
TECH CORNER: HOW TO INSTALL A CLUTCH BASKET
ÿÿÿ STEP 1: The first step is to remove your old clutch. The trickiest part is holding the basket. Use a gear jammer, rag or clutch basket holder while you spin the clutch hub nut off (with an impact wrench or breaker bar).
ÿÿÿ STEP 2. You will need the ring gear off the back of your old clutch basket for the new basket. Center punch the rivets and drill them out. Most aftermarket clutch baskets come with a new retainer plate, but if your new basket doesn’t, be gentle with the old one. Once the ring gear is off, pay attention to which side of the gear is up (it needs to be put on in the correct orientation).
ÿÿÿ STEP 3. Remove the rubber cushions from the old basket. Many rubber cushions only fit one way, but some can be flipped. Don’t flip them.
ÿÿÿ STEP 4. If the kickstarter gear in the center the clutch basket isn’t separate from the ring gear, you have to press it out of the clutch basket. Heat the area around the center gear to expand the aluminum basket enough to drive the kickstarter gear out (a hydraulic press is best, but not necessary). Put the old kick start gear in your freezer and the new clutch basket in your oven (at low heat).
ÿÿÿ STEP 5. After waiting for the heat to expand the basket and cold to shrink the kick start gear, install the kickstarter gear and the rubber cushions into the new clutch basket.
ÿÿÿ STEP 6. If you don’t remember which side is up on the ring gear, check for a beveled edge on the gear–it should face the basket. If your ring gear isn’t beveled, put it on both ways and the direction that it fits the flushest is the correct way.
ÿÿÿ STEP 7. Most aftermarket baskets come with a new retainer plate and screws. If the screws don’t have Loc-Tite on them, apply a dab of red Loc-Tite to the new screws before installing them.
ÿÿ STEP 8. Once you have the screws installed in the retainer plate, take a center punch and peen the edge of the screws so that they can’t back out. Peening the screw is tricky; you have to hit the center punch so that it dimples the edge of the screw into the retainer plate. Now, reinstall the basket, hub, plates, pressure plate, springs, screws and clutch cover.
MXA PRESS RELEASE:
PIT POSSE ADJUSTABLE SUSPENSION SAVER
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“Pit Posse’s adjustable suspension saver is one of a kind. The adjustable suspension saver keeps your bike strapped down tight without damaging fork seals and springs from prolonged pressure of tie-downs during transportation. The suspension savers are made of aluminum,ÿhave four adjustment points to fit most off-road motorcycles and are adjustable from 7«” to 12. The uniquely designed arch keeps it locked in place to eliminate shifting and movement during transport.
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The Pit Posse Adjustable Suspension Saver Tool is available from Pit Posse and retail shops for $29.95, or by visiting www.pitposse.com. To find your local Pit Posse dealer, please visit our website for our dealer locator option. For product information or dealer inquiries, call toll free (866) 447-6773.”
For more Information click: www.pitposse.com
ALPINESTARS STORM MX CHEST PROTECTOR
“Designed exclusively for MX riders, the advanced chest protection features exclusive features to provide excellent safety, support and flexibility. Alpinestars’ exclusive pivoting shoulder design and articulated rear panels allow unrestricted mobility, while biofoam padding at all contact areas ensures comfort.
Can be worn as an under or over protector, with removable upper arm protectors. Pivoting shoulder design ensures maximum safety and allows greater freedom of movement. Adjustable arms and shoulders for a perfect fit. Adjustable waist with Kidney support straps. Semi-auto locking YKK zipper closure. Available in Clear/ Black, Clear/Red and Clear/Blue in small to extra large. The price is $129.95.”
For more information click www.alpinestars.com
K&N XSTREAM SERIES MOTOCROSS HIGH-FLOW AIR FILTER
“The “NEW” XStream Series Motocross, High-Flow Air Filters are performance designed to provide increased airflow, resulting in increased horsepower & torque.ÿ The specially pleated media provides a large filtration area offering long service intervals and excellent filtration.ÿ This two-piece designed filter fits specifically into your OE Air Box Assembly, with easy installation & removal.ÿ Pliable application specific sealing beads ensure an air tight fit against the backing plate.ÿ Injected with the highest quality urethane offers a positive seal and extra long life.ÿ No cutting or fitting required.ÿ These filters are washable & reusable, pre-oiled and ready to race. Fuel management modifications are not necessary to obtain increased performance, and the product is covered by the K&N Limited Warranty? for One-Year. Key updates for this year include integrated tongue & groove designed top-seal, a Tri-Star injection molded top that improves strength, deep pleats for increased dirt capacity in extreme conditions, and a pliable, double-beaded lip for positive base seal. The MSRP is $109.00.”
For more information go to www.knfilters.com
MXA PRESS RELEASE:
POTPOURRI OF TRICK, SHINY ZETA GIZMOS
“Zeta magnetic drain bolts are designed to pick up excess bits of metal in your engine oil, Include safety wire holes and come in blue or red.”
“Zeta CNC Machined steering stem nuts are made of lightweight aluminum, are washerless for easy maintenance, and are available in red, blue and orange anodized.”
“Zeta CNC machined aluminum oil filter covers are anodized, feature the “ZETA” logo, are lighter than stock oil filter covers, and have cooling fins for heat dissipation.”
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