MILLSAPS & ROCZEN NEWS: NEITHER WILL BE AT ANY MORE SUPERCROSS RACES

Davi Millsaps is out at Monster Energy Kawasaki, effective immediately. No word yet on if Kawasaki getting a second rider for the AMA 450 Nationals, but we’re inclined to believe that they will have the spot filled in order to fulfill sponsorship obligations. As for Davi’s plans, no word.

Meanwhile, Ken Roczen will not race any more Supercross races this year, but he will be ready for the Nationals. In fact, based on the times we’ve seen him riding at the local SoCal tracks, he’s healthy and ready to romp.

WHAT IF THE FASTEST QUALIFIER GOT BONUS POINTS?

Justin Barcia set fast time in qualifying at Anaheim II.

The emphasis on setting the fastest time in practice is misplaced, especially because all the fast man gets as a reward is first pick at the gate in his heat race. That is a something worth winning, but not that big an advanatge when you realize that the second fastest guy gets the second pick at the gate and the third guy get the third pick and so on. If it was like Formula 1, where the fastest qualifier get to start on the front row with a car length stagger in front of the second fastest qualifier, then it would mean something. But in Supercross or motocross, you get to start elbow-to-elbow with the next guy on the clock.

So, what would happen if the AMA (or Feld or the FIM or MX Sports or DMG or AMA Pro Racing or whoever is running the show at the moment) changed the rules so that the fastest qualifier at each round got paid 5 AMA points instead of just 40-inches of starting gate space? The points wouldn’t be added to the race results, since the race must be won in front of the crowd during the main event, but, instead, they would be added to that rider’s points total for the season.

If the Alphabet organization of record paid 5 points to the fastest qualifier each week there would be 85 bonus points available over the 17 rounds of the AMA Supercross series. Given that Eli Tomac is currently 82 points behind Ryan Dungey for the already clinched 450 Championship, if Eli was the fastest qualifier at every race he would be able to erase Ryan Dungey’s current points lead. However, as it stands, Tomac was the fastest qualifier 5 times, which would give him 25 bonus points. Since Ryan Dungey set fast time at 3 races (15 points), that would only amount to a 10-point swing for Tomac over Dungey—not enough to make a difference in 2015, but enough to push the series to Santa Clara before it was clinched by Dungey

2015 FASTEST QUALIFIERS
(After 14 of 17 races)
1. Eli Tomac…5
2. Ryan Dungey…3
2. Trey Canard…3
4. Ken Roczen…2
5. Justin Barcia…1

KAWASAKI SELLS SoCAL HEADQUARTERS

Kawasaki headquarters…for the time being.

Kawasaki Motors has sold its U.S. headquarters building to Bixby Land Co. for $44.25 million. They will remain a tenant in the 262,463 square-foot building at 9950 Jeronimo Road in Irvine, California (which sits on 22 acres of land). Bixby is a commercial real estate developer and investment management company. They plan a $20 million redesign “to meet the growing demand for modern work spaces in Orange County, especially from larger tenants.” Bixby will redesign the building to create a main pavilion walkway and then parcel out the interior into separate offices under a high-volume glass canopy. There will be a fitness center and an indoor-outdoor restaurant. Bixby will add multiple entry points with decorative metal canopies. Kawasaki will stay in the building until their new building is ready, but Kawasaki is not saying where that will be.

PIRELLI BOUGHT BY STATE-OWNED CHINESE FIRM

Pirelli is now a Chinese tire company.

The China National Chemical Corp, better known as ChemChina, will buy Pirelli for $7.7 billion. The deal will give state-owned ChemChina access to the technology to make premium tires which can be sold at higher margins and give the Italian firm a boost in the huge Chinese market. Under the deal, ChemChina’s tire division, China National Tire & Rubber, will enter into a joint venture which will buy the 26.2 percent stake that Italian holding firm Camfin owns in Pirelli. Then they will launch a mandatory takeover bid for the rest of Pirelli. The deal has the backing of most of Pirelli’s major investors, thus Michelin or Continental are unlikely to bid against ChemChina. Pirelli’s Italian management will stay on and Pirelli sent a letter to its workers assuring them that the ownership change would not impact their jobs.

WATCH “ON ANY SUNDAY” WITH MALCOLM SMITH & TOM WHITE

April 22 at 6:00 p.m. at Malcolm’s shop in Riverside. Seating is limited — to reserve a seat go to www.malcolmsmith.com

MEMORIES OF THE WAY WE WERE

Before orange was associated with KTM it was used on Can-Ams and Hodakas. Hodaka made 80cc, 100cc, 125cc, 175cc and 250cc motocross bikes before biting the bullet in late 1978.

DEBBI TAMIETTI’S PHOTO OF THE WEEK

The anatomy of a tank slapper at the California Classic at Glen Helen.

 

 

SUPERCROSS AT A GLANCE: SANTA CLARA IS ON TAP

Now that Cole Seely has joined the elite ranks of AMA Supercross winners — can he repeat?

Date             Venue                     450                           250
Jan. 3…..Anaheim I………….Ken Roczen….….Jessy Nelson
Jan. 10…Phoenix……………..Eli Tomac………..Cooper Webb
Jan. 17…Anaheim II………….Ken Roczen……..Cooper Webb
Jan. 24…Oakland…………….Trey Canard….….Malcolm Stewart
Jan. 31…..Anaheim III…….…Ryan Dungey…..Cooper Webb
Feb. 7…..San Diego………..…Trey Canard…..…Cooper Webb
Feb. 14…Dallas……………..….Ryan Dungey…..Marvin Musquin
Feb. 21…Atlanta………….……Chad Reed…..…..Jeremy Martin
Feb. 28…Atlanta………………..Ryan Dungey…..Marvin Musquin
Mar. 7…Daytona………………..Ryan Dungey…..Marvin Musquin
Mar. 14…..Indy…..……………..Ryan Dungey…..Marvin Musquin
Mar. 21…Detroit………….…….Eli Tomac………..Justin Bogle
Mar. 28…St. Louis…..…………Ryan Dungey…..Marvin Musquin
Apr. 11…..Houston…………..….Cole Seely………Cooper Webb
Apr. 18….Santa Clara
Apr. 25….New York
May 2……Las Vegas
450 Supercross Champion…Ryan Dungey (KTM)
250 West Champion…Cooper Webb (Yam)
250 East points leader…Marvin Musquin (KTM)

CURRENT 2015 SUPERCROSS POINTS

There is no pressure any more since Ryan Dungey locked up the title last week. Now Eli Tomac can ride for himself.

2015 AMA 450 SUPERCROSS POINTS STANDINGS
(After 14 of 17 races)
1. Ryan Dungey…318
2. Eli Tomac…236
3. Cole Seely…223
4. Trey Canard…204
5. Chad Reed…199
6. Blake Baggett…175
7. Jason Anderson…170
8. Broc Tickle…159
9. Ken Roczen…156
10. Andrew Short…152

2015 AMA 250 EAST SUPERCROSS POINTS STANDINGS
(After 7 of 8 races)
1. Marvin Musquin…169
2. Justin Bogle…149
3. Jeremy Martin…125
4. Joey Savatgy…113
5. R.J. Hampshire…84
6. Anthony Rodriquez…84
7. Jimmy Decotis…84
8. Kyle Peters…76
9. Martin Davalos…63
10. Kyle Cunningham…60

2015 AMA 250 WEST SUPERCROSS POINTS STANDINGS
(After 7 of 8 races)
1. Cooper Webb…161
2. Zach Osborne…116
3. Shane McElrath…108
4. Jessy  Nelson…106
5. Tyler Bowers…105
6. Aaron Plessinger…99
7. Justin Hill…94
8. Alex Martin…91
9. Malcolm Stewart…89
10. Josh Hansen…89

 

 

WANNA FLAG AT THE GLEN HELEN NATIONAL?

For more info write to [email protected]

DAN ALAMANGOS’ PHOTO OF THE WEEK

TM importer Ralf Schmidt would have preferred tulips from his native Holland, but at speed most flowers just look like a blur anyway.

REM TO RACE AT GLEN HELEN ON APRIL 18 & 25

This Saturday’s race is on the REM track, but the April 25 race will race on the AMA National track. For more info click on www.remsatmx.com

WHO HAS THE MOST HOLESHOTS?

Ryan Dungey (5) is second in 450 holeshots behind Andrew Short.

450 class:
1. Andrew Short…4 (Oakland, Indy, Detroit & Houston)
2. Ryan Dungey…2 (Dallas and St. Louis)
3. Mike Alessi…1 (Anaheim I)
3. Eli Tomac…1 (Phoenix)
3. Jimmy Albertson..1 (Anaheim II)
3. Blake Baggett…1 (Anaheim III)
3. Ken Roczen…1 (San Diego)
3. Chad Reed…1 (Atlanta I)
3. Weston Peick…1 (Atlanta II)
3. Cole Seely…1 (Daytona)

 

 

THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAY BOYS: GARY JONES WILL BE 63 ON WEDNESDAY

Four-time 250 National Champion Gary Jones has a birthday coming up on Wednesday.

April 16…Shaun Kalos 1971
April 16…Keith R. Johnson 1979
April 16…Branden Jesseman 1982
April 16…Damien Plotts 1974
April 18…Jim Holley 1961
April 18…Colt Humphrey 1983
April 19…Larry Ward 1970
April 22…Gary Jones 1952
April 23…Mike Fisher 1967

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE TO MXA AND MAKE MONEY

The May 2015 issue of MXA could be hand delivered to your door by a uniformed agent of the Federal Government. Is this a great country or what?

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 $15.99 (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/

 

 

FIRST LOOK! 2016 HUSKY

This photo of the factory race version of the 2016 Husqvarna TC250, which is based on the 2015-1/2 KTM Factory Edition, is shown here to highlight the “Five Years Ago This Week” story below.

FIVE YEARS AGO THIS WEEK! THE WRAPS CAME OFF THE 2011 HUSKY

The wraps come off of the 2011 Husqvarna TC450.

In light of Husky releasing photos of the 2016 Husqvarna this week, MXA went back five years to this date in history to look at the coincidental release of spy photos of the 2011 Husqvarna TC450 prototype. At the time, BMW owned Husqvarna (it has since been sold to KTM). The 2011 Husky TC450 used the BMW 450X engine. It was developed by Kymco in Kaoshiung, Taiwan, then shipped to BMW’s motorcycle production facility in Berlin and finally to the Husky factory in Varese, Italy. The plastic oozed the “arrow” styling that would become the industry standard with KTM, Yamaha and Husqvarna. The gas tank is hidden under the seat (and the gas cap sticks out behind the seat).

The gas cap.

KEY 2011 HUSKY TC450 FEATURES:
(1) BMW EFI engine w/electric start
(2) Kayaba suspension
(3) All new frame/swingarm with concentric axle traction system
(4) Linkage system on top of swingarm
(5) Fuel tank under the seat
(6) Swingarm pivot in in line with the countershaft sprocket.
(7) Dramatic new styling with in-mold plastic and one piece radiator/side panel/rear number plate.

As close-up look revealed that the swingarm pivot and countershaft sprocket were in line (which means that chain tension would not change as the wheel moves through its arc).

BMW’s engine was tilted forward at a 30-degree angle (which lessened the chassis height). The clutch was mounted on the crankshaft and there were multiple gas tanks. The engine was manufactured in Taiwan…not Germany or Italy.

COMING EVENTS FOR THE IN-THE-KNOW FAN

DIAMOND DON’S VINTAGE NATIONAL
April 16-19………………………..Jefferson, TX

2015 AMA  SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
April 18……………………………Santa Clara, CA
April 25………………..East Rutherford, NJ
May 2…………………..Las Vegas, NV

2015 AMSOIL ARENACROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
April 18-19………………….……Tacoma, WA

NMA WORLD MINI GRAND PRIX (CANCELED)
April 18……………………..Glen Helen, CA

2015 FIM WORLD MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
April 19………………………….Arco di Trento, Italy

2015 WORLD OFFROAD CHAMPIONSHIP (WORCS)
April 19…….……………………Hurricane, UT

2015 AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
April 24……..……………………Broadford, Vic

2015 GNCC CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP
April 25…………………………….Springville, IN

2015 AMA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

Supercross is winding down and the sun, sky and real dirt beckon.

May 16…………….…Hangtown, CA
May 23…………….…Glen Helen, CA
May 30………….……Thunder Valley, CO
June 6………………..Muddy Creek, TN
June 13……………….Mt. Morris, PA
June 27………………Budds, MD
July 4…………………Red Bud, MI
July 18………..……..Millville, MN
July 25……………….Washougal, WA
August 8………….…Unadilla, NY
August 15……….…..Miller Motorsports, UT
August 22 …………..Crawfordsville, IN

2015 GP’S AT A GLANCE: THREE DAYS UNTIL ROUND FOUR

Ryan Villopoto (2) won in Thailand and Max Nagl (12) won in Qatar and Argentina. Cairoli (222) hasn’t won yet and Brit Nathan Watson (991) broke his arm at a local German race this week and will miss the next four to six GPs.

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…………..
April 26……Holland……..
May 10…….Spain………..
May 24…….England…….
May 31….…France………
June 14……Italy…………..
June 21…..Germany…….
July 5………Sweden……..
July 12…….Latvia………..
July 26……Czech Rep….
Aug 2……..Belgium……..
Aug 16……Brazil………….
Aug 30……Holland………
Sept 13….Mexico………..
Sept. 20…Glen Helen….
450 Points Leader…Clement Desalle (Hus)
250 Points Leaders…Herlings/Ferrandis (tie)

CURRENT 250/450 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS

Max Nagl (12) may be doing the majority of the winning, but Clement Desalle (25) leads the points.

2015 FIM 450 POINTS STANDINGS
(After 3 of 17 races)
1. Clement Desalle…133
2. Max Nagl….123
3. Tony Cairoli…123
4. Ryan Villopoto…106
5. Gautier Paulin…96
6. Romain Febvre…95
7. Evgeny Bobryshev…72
8. Todd Waters…62
9. Jeremy Van Horebeek…60
10. Kevin Strijbos……55

2015 FIM 250 POINTS STANDINGS
(After 3 of 17 races)
1. Jeffrey Herlings….125
2. Dylan Ferrandis…125
3. Pauls Jonass…112
4. Aleksandr Tonkov…82
5. Thomas Covington…81
6. Julien Lieber…80
7. Tim Gajser…79
8. Valentin Guillod…73
9. Jeremy Seewer…70
10. Petar Petrov…57

Photos: John Basher, Debbi Tamietti, Dan Alamangos, Massimo Zanzani, Ray Archer, Kawasaki, Husqvarna, Troy Lee Designs, Suzuki, KTM, Honda, Yamaha