Click on images to enlarge

MXA PHOTO OF THE WEEK: AND NOW FOR SOMETHING…

This unrestored early 1960s Kawasaki 250, most likely a 238, is a rare find. Note the rotary valve engine with it’s black plastic airbox mounted on the right side of the bike. Looking for the exhaust pipe? Since a rotary valve cylinder does not have an intake port, the pipe exits out of the rear of the cylinder. You can see the stinger on top of the rear fender.

The prototype above would eventually morph into the 1968 Kawasaki F21M Bushwhacker.

WILL HE OR WON’T HE? HE WON’T?

Ryan Dungey.

Ryan Dungey didn’t want to race the Motocross des Nations last year and there is no doubt that he doesn’t want to race it in 2015. He was cajoled into doing it in 2015, but can’t be talked into it for 2015. The three-time MXDN winner has raced on the team six times (and if he thinks that’s enough, then that’s good enough for us). Ryan will be replaced by Justin Barcia, who will join Jeremy Martin and Cooper Webb on Team USA. With Tomac injured, Stewart unprepared and Canard just back in action the choices for the third spot boiled down to Blake Baggett (and MXDN veteran), Jason Anderson, Broc Tickle or Webb. Of the available 250 riders, Cooper Webb raced a 450 in an All-Japan National last year and won both moto by a mile.

AUSSIE MXDN TEAM NAMED…THEY SAY “OI, OI, OI”

Dean Ferris.

The 2015 Motocross des Nations team for Australia will be Todd Waters (currently 11th in the 450 World Championship), Dean Ferris (currently 12th in the 450 World Championship) and Jay Wilson, currently leading the Australian 250 National Championships. The team manage will be Gary Benn, who said, “Both Todd and Dean are having really good second parts of the year in Europe, and obviously Jay has been going from strength-to-strength here, so we’re looking forward to a good race meet from them. With their European racing experience, it’s just another race for Todd and Dean, even though it is the biggest one on the motocross calendar, but I would expect them to go really well. Jay’s deserves his selection—he’s leading the

FRENCH MXDN TEAM NAMED…THEY SAY “DES”

Marvin Musquin be back on the French Motocross des Nations team on September 28. The French, who will host the 2015 MXDN, have picked their team. Marvin Musquin, Gautier Paulin and Romain Febvre will be the powerhouse squad of the event.

 

TIM GAJSER SIGNS A FIVE-YEAR HONDA DEAL

Tim Gajser still has a shot at winning the 250 world Championship, but win or lose he’s at Honda until he turns 23. Honda has signed 18-year-old Slovenian 250 GP star to a multi-year deal that will see Tim Gajser on the team until 2020.

KEVIN STRIJBOS SIGNS TO DEPLETED SUZUKI GP TEAM

Kevin won’t have Clement Desalle to party with in 2016. Kevin Strijbos has signed a two-year extension to his Rockstar Suzuki World  450 GP team contract. As for Clement Desalle, see below.

YAMAHA GP TEAM LOCKS UP ITS MAJOR PLAYERS

Jeremy Van Horebeek will stay on the Yamaha 450 GP team through the 2016 season. The 25-year-old was second in the 2014 450 World Championships and was considered the Yamaha team leader until Romain Febvre came on board. Febvre is signed through 2017.

GUILLOD SIGNS WITH STANDING CONSTRUCT YAMAHA FOR 450 GPs

Valentin Guillod.

Even though Valentin Guillod is in the midst of the battle for the 2015 FIM 250 World Championship, he is looking ahead to 2106. Guillod will be 23 by next year and under Youthstream rules must move out of the 250 class. “It is great to continue with Standing Construct Yamaha and also with Yves Demaria because at the end of 2012 he took the risk to train someone who wasn’t good and it turned out well. At the end of 2013 nobody wanted to sign me and only Standing Constructs Tim Mathys proposed a deal,” said Guillod. “We started this season from zero with the bike and now we are fighting for the title so it is really cool to be part of this team.” Yamaha Standing Construct will expand to a three-rider team, with Julien Lieber already signed to stay.

CLEMENT DESALLE: GONE AGAIN

Clement Desalle (25) suffered a shoulder injury early in the season and dropped out to have it fixed. He came back for one race and finished third. At the next race he dislocated it again. Now he has to decide what to do about it. Ether way he won’t be back on a Suzuki next year. Rumors have him at Team Kawasaki for 2016.

MAX ANSTIE TO HUSQVARNA IN 2016

Word on the street (Downing Street) is that Max Anstie will be on the Husqvarna GP team next year.

MEMORIES OF THE WAY WE WERE

Jody Weisel and three-time 250 National Champion Tony DiStefano might have been fooling around in their rental car on the way to the 1976 Houston Astrodome. However it happened, they blew the front right on the way to the stadium and waited until after practice to fix it. As you can see, Jody was a big help as Tony changed the tire in his gear.

SEE JODY WEISEL’S “THE LIFE & TIMES OF TONY D” FILM

 

WHAT THE MXA WRECKING CREW WAS UP TO THIS WEEK

This is Daryl Ecklund in Maryland looking good in Fly white on the 2016 Husqvarna FC450.

With a 2016 Husqvarna intro at Budds Creek and a Kawasaki intro at Mt. Morris on the same day, the MXA gang had to split up last week. Daryl Ecklund went to Maryland (he has been to every Husqvarna intro since the company was reorganized), Dennis Stapleton went to Pennsylvania for the 2016 KX450F intro, while Jody Weisel stayed home to work on some 2016 Honda, Yamaha, KTM, Kawasaki and Suzuki tests (with the help of former MXA minicycle test rider Mike Alessi, Randel Fout, Dan Alamangos and Jon Ortner). John Basher is back East on assignments at JGR, Cycra and other East Coast hot spots.

Dennis Stapleton’s KX450F pit pic from Mt. Morris.

While Dennis Stapleton was in Pennsylvania testing the 2016 KX450F, the rest of the MXA gang was doing the same thing back home in SoCal.

Jon Ortner gets a little loosey-goosey on MXA’s 2016 Honda CRF450.

You can read the 2016 KTM 450SXF test in the current issue of MXA right now, but that doesn’t stop the testing as the MXA gang brought its 2016 KTM 450SXF, KTM 350SXF, KTM 250SXF, Yamaha YZ450F, Honda CRF450 and Suzuzki RM-Z450 to REM to race this past weekend. The best test for a motocross bike is a motocross race. Here, Jody Weisel leans in.

The MXA gang has been working on our 2016 KTM 150SX tw-stroke for the last couple weeks. Here, Aussie Dan Alamangos twists his wrist to see how high it will rev at Glen Helen. How high? 14,000 rpm.

Charlie Flippen (left) and Jeff Tigert (right) from Honda helped MXA test different shock springs on our 2016 CRF450.

Mike Alessi on MXA’s 2016 Suzuki RM-Z450.

Mike Alessi on MXA’s 2016 KTM 450SXF.

Mike Alessi and MXA’s 2016 Yamaha YZ450F.

 

Mike Alessi on MXA’s 2016 Honda CRF450. Mike told us that he will be racing Hondas in 2016, but that he will not be at the USGP, Monster Cup or Straight Rhythm. We hope he changes his mind.

 

 

MXA AD OF THE WEEK: A MAN WHO NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION

It seems odd that 40 years ago, Torsten Hallman (now Thor) would have felt it necessary to have Roger DeCoster introduce himself.

MXA SPINS LAPS ON THE 2016 SUZUKI RM-Z450 AT GLEN HELEN

 

MXA PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: PRO CIRCUIT PIT CHAIR

Pro Circuit’s race team needed pit chairs for the riders mechanics and hospitality areas. So, Mitch order a special run of lightweight, durable folding aluminum pit chairs with padded armrests with polyester seat and backrest along with printed Pro Circuit logos, front and back. Perfect for lounging at the semi truck after a hard AMA National moto. People kept asking where they they get these chairs, so Pro Circuit ordered more the public. This is your chance to sit in the same chair that Ryan Villopoto, Dean Wilson, Blake Baggett and Adam Cianciarulo sat in (not the exact same one, but almost). Retail price: $35.00 (shipping extra). For more info go to www.procircuit.com/race-chair.html

THIS IS NOT MOTOCROSS, BUT IT IS COOL

Motorcyclists are good people and Reiman’s Harley-Davidson is run by great people. Thank you for your service Christopher Walters and thank you Reiman’s Harley for recognizing it.

MOTOCROSS AT THE STURGIS RALLY? YOU COULD SEE THE DUST CLOUD IN GRAND FORKS

 

 

2015 AMA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AT A GLANCE (AFTER UNADILLA)

With two races to go in the National Championships, Ken Roczen can write off the defense of his number one plate. He won’t be running it on his RCH Suzuki next year.

WHO’S WON WHAT, WHEN THEY DID IT AND  WHERE
Date               Venue                       450                                    250
May 16…..Hangtown, CA………….Eli Tomac…….….Jeremy Martin
May 23…Glen Helen, CA………….Eli Tomac…….….Marvin Musquin
May 30…Thunder Valley, CO……Ryan Dungey……Jeremy Martin
June 6…Muddy Creek, TN………..Ryan Dungey……Jeremy Martin
June 13…Mt. Morris, PA…………..Ken Roczen….….Marvin Musquin
June 27…Budds Creek, MD………Justin Barcia…….Marvin Musquin
July 4…Red Bud, MI……………….Justin Barcia….….Jeremy Martin
July 18…Millville, MN………………Ryan Dungey……Cooper Webb
July 25…Washougal, WA………….Ryan Dungey……Cooper Webb
Aug. 8…Unadilla, NY………………..Ryan Dungey……Joey Savatgy
Aug. 15…Miller Motorsports, UT
Aug. 22 …Crawfordsville, IN
450 Points Leader…Ryan Dungey (KTM)
250 Points Leaders…Jeremy Martin (Yam)

2015 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS AT A GLANCE: SUMMER VACATION

Pauls Jonass is now the 250 World Championship points leader by 4 points and, with the Brazil round canceled, the next MXGP race isn’t until August 23.

WHO’S WON WHAT, WHEN THEY DID IT AND  WHERE
Date             Venue                              450                                    250
Feb. 28……Qatar………….Max Nagl……………..Jeffrey Herlings
March 8..…Thailand……..Ryan Villopoto………Jeffrey Herlings
March 29…Argentina……Max Nagl……………..Dylan Ferrandis
April 19……Italy…………..Max Nagl………………Tim Gajser
April 26……Holland……..Gautier Paulin…….…Jeffrey Herlings
May 10…….Spain…………Tony Cairoli………..…Valentin Guillod
May 24…….England….…Tony Cairoli……………Valentin Guillod
May 31….…France……….Romain Febvre……….Jeffrey Herlings
June 14……Italy…………..Romain Febvre……….Tim Gajser
June 21…..Germany…….Romain Febvre……….Tim Gajser
July 5………Sweden…..….Romain Febvre……….Tim Gajser
July 12…….Latvia……..….Glenn Coldenhoff……Max Anstie
July 26……Czech Rep…..Romain Febvre………..Valentin Guillod
Aug. 2……..Belgium………Shaun Simpson………..Max Anstie
Aug. 16……..Brazil (canceled)
Aug. 23……Italy………….
Aug. 30……Holland………
Sept. 13….Mexico………..
Sept. 20…Glen Helen….
450 Points Leader…Romain Febvre (Hus)
250 Points Leaders…Pauls Jonass (KTM)

THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAY BOYS: THE JUNYARD DOG IS 50

Although Max Nagl has more room to complain about the turn of events than anyone else, this year’s 450 World Championship was his to win. He got hurt first.

Aug. 7…Max Nagl 1987
Aug. 7…Todd Jendro
Aug. 7…Scott Myers 1968
Aug. 7…Jeff Willoh

Aug. 8…Mike Bell 1957
Aug. 8…Kyle Bentley
Aug. 9…Aigar Leok 1985

Aug. 10…John Dowd 1965
Aug. 10…Jack Phinn
Aug. 11…Josh Licthle 1987

Aug. 11…Shane McElrath 1994
Aug. 11…Jonathon Shimp 1982
Aug. 12…Ivan Tedesco 1981
Aug. 12…Steffy Laier 1985

Aug. 13…Ryan Villopoto 1988
Aug. 13…Denny Stephenson 1970
Aug. 13…Kevin Strijbos 1985

“THE ART OF MOTO” VIDEO NOW ON DVD AND iTUNES

Previously only shown in theatres, the “Art of Moto” has been released on DVD and is also available on iTunes, Amazon, Google play, Sony and Xbox. “Art of Moto” is a feature-length documentary about the sport of motocross. Told and seen from a very different perspective than most films of this genre, “Art of Moto” will have you riveted on the edge of your seat as you fly over jumps and come in contact with the dirt, rocks and other racers. Features Roger DeCoster, Ricky Carmichael, Gary Jones, Ryan Dungey, Ashley Fiolek, Sara Price and over 60 other racers. The DVD retails for $24.95 from www.theartofmotofilm.com

OVER-THE-HILL 9-11 MEMORIAL RACE IS ON SEPTEMBER 13

 

REM’S “STRAIGHT EIGHT” IS NOW THE “STRAIGHT FIVE”

Three down, five to go. The “Straight 8” is now the “Straight 5.” Race 4 of 8 will be this Saturday (August 15). It’s not a series, just 8 weeks of consecutive races without a break. REM holds 40 races a year at Glen Helen. For more info go to www.remsatmx.com.

2016 AMA SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

If you are a privateer, you should race the 250 West. The 2016 Supercross season starts with 6 straight West Coat rounds, all of which can be done in a pickup truck (and for four of them you can be sleeping in your bed in Temecula that night).

2016 AMA SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Jan. 9…………………….Anaheim, CA
Jan. 16………………….San Diego, CA
Jan. 23………………….Anaheim, CA
Jan. 30………………….Oakland, CA
Feb. 6……………………Glendale, AZ
Feb. 13………………….San Diego, CA
Feb. 20………………….Arlington, TX
Feb. 27………………….Atlanta, GA
March 5………………….Daytona, FL
March 12………………..Toronto, CAN
March 19………………..Detroit, MI
April 2………………..….Santa Clara, CA
April 9………………..….Indianapolis, IN
April 16………………….St. Louis, MO
April 23………………….Foxboro, MA
April 30………………….East Rutherford, NJ
May 7…………………….Las Vegas, NV

2016 FIM WORLD MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

The preliminary MXGP schedule has three “To Be Announced” dates and a couple maybes. Don’t be surprised if all of the TBAs end up in Italy.

2016 FIM MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Feb. 27……………………..Losail, Qatar
Mar. 20…………………….Johannesburg, South Africa
April 10…………………….Neuquen, Argentina
April 24…………………….TBA, Italy
May 1……………………….Valkenswaard, Holland
May 15…………………….Teutschenthal, Germany
May 22……………………..Matterly Basin, Great Britain
June 5………………………St Jean d’Angely, France
June 12…………………….Lommel, Belgium
June 26…………………….Kegums, Latvia
July 3……………………….Uddevalla, Sweden
July 10……………………..TBA
July 24………………………Loket, Czech Republic
Aug. 7……………………….Frauenfeld, Switzerland
Aug. 14……………………..Assen, Holland
Aug. 28……………………..TBA
Sept. 4……………………….Leon, Mexico
Sept.11………………………Glen Helen, USA
Sept. 25……………………..Motocross des Nations…Maggiora, Italy

WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON? WHERE TO BE & WHEN TO BE THERE

Tony Cairoli will be back for Glen Helen, but Jeffrey Herlings won’t. There will be new faces on the GP podium. How many of them will be Americans on September 20.

2015 AMA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
August 15……….………Miller Motorsports, UT
August 22 ………….…..Crawfordsville, IN

2015 FIM WORLD MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
August 16……………….…Trinidade, Brazil (canceled)
August 23…………………Mantova, Italy
August 30…………….……Assen, Holland
Sept. 13…………………..…Leon, Mexico
Sept. 20………………..…..Glen Helen, USA

2015 AMA SUPERMOTO CHAMPIONSHIP
August 14-15………….……Miller Motorsports, UT

2015 AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
August 23 ………………..…Toowoomba, Qld
August 30 ……………….….Coolum, Qld

2015 CANADIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
August 16……………………..Walton Raceway

2015 GERMAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
August 23…………………….Lichtenvoorde

2015 WORLD SIDECAR CROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
August 30……………….….Switzerland

GRAND PRIX OF USA
Sept. 20……………………….Glen Helen, CA

MOTOCROSS DES NATIONS
Sept. 27……………………….Ernee, France

WORLD VETERAN MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Nov. 7-8……………………….Glen Helen, CA

SUBSCRIBE TO MXA AND MAKE MONEY

Don’t miss your chance to get the September 2015 issue of MXA. It is packed full of info. Do you wonder what it’s like to ride Cooper Webb’s Star Yamaha YZ250F? We tell you. How fast is Zach Osborne’s Husqvarna FC250? Ride with us. Interested in the 2016 KTM 450SXF? Read our test. Have questions about how Sean Collier’s KX500 two-stroke differs from a 2015 KX450F? We answer them. But only if you get MXA delivered directly to your sweaty palms. Plus, subscribers get a $25 Rocky Mountain gift card that pays for their subscription and then some.

Do you subscribe to MXA? You should. We know that you think that print magazines are dead and that the internet will fill the void, but most of the stuff in the current issue of MXA won’t appear on the web for several months, if at all. Luckily, you can get all of MXA on your iPhone, iPad, Kindle or Android by going to the Apple Store, Amazon or Google play, but better yet get the Digital desktop version at https://hi-torque.com/product/motocross-action-digital-edition/ or click on the link below to get the print version delivered to your door for only $19.99 (plus you get a free $25 Gift Card from Rocky Mountain ATV/MC just for subscribing). There is a profit to be made in this deal for you. For the Print magazine go to: http://hi-torque.com/product/subscribe-to-motocross-action-magazine/

2015 LORETTA LYNN CHAMPIONS: ALL 38 OF THEM

450 A: Bradley Taft
250 A: Mitchell Harrison
Open Pro Sport: Benny Bloss
250 B Limited: Joey Crown
250 B: Austin Forkner
450 B Limited: Brandon Hartranft
450 B: Jon Ames
450 C: Dylan Gillespie
250 C Limited: Sam Franklin
250 C (12-16) Limited: Levi Newby
250 C: Sam Franklin
Two-Stroke (16+): Justin Cooper
College (16-24): Justin Cooper
Junior 25+: Ricky Renner
Over 30+: Paul Perebijnos
Over 35+: Sebastian Tortelli
Over 40+: Douglas Flinner
Over 45+: John Grewe
Over 50+: Earl May
85cc (9-11) Limited: Jett Reynolds
85cc (9-11): Jett Reynolds
Mini Senior 1 (12-13): Carson Mumford
Mini Senior 2 (12-14): Pierce Brown
Super Mini 1 (12-15): Garret Marchbanks
Super Mini 2 (13-16): Garret Marchbanks
Schoolboy 1 (12-16) B/C: Marco Cannella
Schoolboy 2 (13-16) B/C: Austin Forkner
65cc (7-9) Limited: Ryder Difrancesco
65cc (10-11) Limited: Maximus Vohland
65cc (7-11): Matthew LeBlanc
51cc (4-6) Special Limited: Emile Lacher
51cc (4-6) Shaft Drive Limited: Canyon Richards
51cc (4-6) Limited: William Canaguier III
51cc (5-7) Limited: Casey Cochran
Women (16+) All-Star: Mackenzie Tricker
Women (14+): Gracie Van Horn
Girls Senior (12-16): Hannah Hodges
Girls Junior (9-13): Jazzmyn Canfield

 

Photos by Ray Archer, Husqvarna, Troy Lee Designs, Honda, John Basher, KTM, John Ker, Yamaha, Massimo Zanzani, Jody Weisel and MXA