Click on images to enlarge

• A HONDA CR500 LIKE NO OTHER ON THE PLANET

Rafik Kaissi creates working motorcycles from junked bikes. They may not be very practical (note the seat), but Rafik loves to work with motocross engines—like the Honda CR500 two-stroke. See more at www.rkconcepts.com.

• BIRTHDAYS OF THE STARS: THE SWINKSTER, BILL NILSSON & BUBBA

James will have his 31st birthday on December 21.

Dec. 16…Brian Swink 1972
Dec. 16…Andy Harrington 1977
Dec. 16…Cassidy Anderson
Dec. 16…Gordon Crockard 1978

Dec. 17…Bill Nilsson 1932
Dec. 17…Danny Dobey
Dec. 17…Justin Buckelew 1981
Dec. 17…Barry Hawk 1972

Dec. 17…Tommy Hahn 1985
Dec. 18…Gerrit Ordelman 1980
Dec. 18…Tim Weigand 1978
Dec. 18…Kei Yamamoto 1991
Dec. 18…Valentin Guillod 1992
Dec. 19… Austin Stroupe 1990
Dec. 20…Jesse Casillas 1984
Dec. 20…Klemen Gercar 1990
Dec. 21…James Stewart 1985

• A LETTER FROM PRO BOOT’S RANDY NAGEL

How to turn a winter work boot into a mountain bike boot.

Hi Jody,
      How’s it going? I rode my fat bike (with 4.8 studded tires) to work today (it’s only 3/4 of a mile), but with the wind chill it was minus-19 degrees. I wore my Airoh helmet with my Pro-Vue goggles and Mechanix wear gloves inside leather mitts. But, my toes were freezing, so I took a pair of Lacrosse boots and went to work on them with a utility knife and mounted mountain bike cleats on them so I can still clip in. Anyway, the reason I’m writing is that now that winter is here, this would be the best time for racers to send their boots in to get them resoled. They won’t miss any racing when the temperature is below zero. That way they’ll be ready to ride when it heats up to 35 degrees. They can reach me at www.pro-bootmx.com.
      Thanks, Randy

• LOOKING BACK AT RICK BURGETT

• IF YOU SPOKE WITH YOUR WALLET, YOU AND A FRIEND CAN RIDE FOR FREE

If you bought a new bike in the month of December, show up at Glen Helen Raceway on December 26th and you, and a friend, can ride for free. All you have to do is bring the receipt (and not the one from Taco Bell).

• CLASSIC MXA TEST RIDER CRASHES

Every since Robbie Madisson went big wave riding on a KTM, MXA’s Dennis Stapleton has been perfecting surfing on a KTM without the wave. Dennis reports that rides of up to 10 feet are possible, but the wipeouts hurt.

• UPCOMING RACES: THE 2016 NUMBER SHRINKS AS 2017 GROWS

Heavy rain in SoCal flooded the REM track to the point where it will not be ready for the Saturday, December 17 race. REM has rescheduled the “Last Race of 2016” to Saturday, December 31, 2016. That is the perfect prelude to New Year’s Eve partying. For more info go to www.remsatmx.com

2016 REM MOTOCROSS
Dec. 17…………………………Glen Helen, CA (canceled)
Dec. 31…………………………Glen Helen, CA (make-up race)

2017 FLORIDA WINTER SERIES
Jan. 1…………………………Diamondback, FL
Jan. 8…………………………Dade City, FL
Jan. 15………………………..Marion County
Jan. 21-22…………………..Diamondback, FL
Jan. 29……………………….Waldo, FL

2017 MTA WORLD TWO-STROKE CHAMPIONSHIP
April 15……………………….Glen Helen, CA

2017 HUSQVARNA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
March 5-6…………………….Cahuilla Creek, Anza, CA

• MXA PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: PRO CIRCUIT KTM SHOCK COLLAR/LOCK RING

Press release: The problem with the OEM preload collar for the 2016 KTM and Husqvarna models is its plastic composition. During use, the heat omitted from the shock body heats up the plastic. A combination of heat, dirt and thread deformation, makes tuning and adjustment the WP shocks spring rate extremely difficult. Pro Circuit’s solution is very simple. We offer a CNC-machined 6061 aluminum preload collar and a zinc-plated steel lock ring for improved durability and much easier adjustments. Discard your problematic, plastic OEM preload collar and replace it with Pro Circuit’s new preload collars to make future shock preload adjustments a breeze. Also fits on Husqvarana shocks.You have to plan ahead to use the new preload rings because on a WP shock the shock collar and lock ring cannot be removed without taking the shock apart—so pair this mod with an oil change or revalve. The retails price is $64.95. For more info call (951) 738-5080.

•  HAVE YOU SEEN THE YAMAHA ORT? IT WILL SCAR YOUR BRAIN

 

• PRO CIRCUIT’S 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS SALE IS DOWN TO 2 DAYS

For more info go to www.procircuit.com

• HOW TO SUBSCRIBE & GET MXA FOR FREE: WE ACTUALLY PAY YOU $9.00

Interested in getting a new bike this year? The January 2017 issue of MXA is on the news stands now and includes the long-awaited 2017 MXA 250 Shootout. You should be reading MXA, and if you subscribe now you get a $25 gift certificate from Rocky Mountain ATV/MC which more than pays for your subscription.

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. Better yet get the Digital desktop version at https://hi-torque.com/product/motocross-action-digital-edition/ for $9.99 a year.

The MXA test riders prefer the print version and not just because it is delivered by a uniformed employee of the U.S. Government, but because right now you can get 12 issues for $15.95 and a free $25 Gift Card from Rocky Mountain ATV/MC. That means that there is a profit to be made in this deal for you. For the Print magazine go to: https://hi-torque.com/product/motocross-action/

• YEAR END BUSINESS! ALL THE 2016 CHAMPIONS IN ONE PLACE

Ryan Dungey.

450 AMA SUPERCROSS:  Ryan Dungey
250 EAST SUPERCROSS: Malcolm Stewart
250 WEST SUPERCROSS: Cooper Webb
AMA ARENACROSS: Gavin Faith
450 AMA NATIONALS: Ken Roczen
250 AMA NATIONALS: Cooper Webb

Eli Tomac.

450 USGP CHARLOTTE: Eli Tomac
250 USGP CHARLOTTE: Cooper Webb
450 USGP GLEN HELEN: Eli Tomac
250 USGP GLEN HELEN: Jeffrey Herlings
MONSTER ENERGY CUP: Eli Tomac
SMX RIDER’S CUP GERMANY: Ryan Dungey

Tim Gajser.

450 GRAND PRIX: Tim Gajser
250 GRAND PRIX: Jeffrey Herlings
FIM WOMEN: Livia Lancelot
WORLD SIDECAR CHAMPIONS: Jan Henrickx / Ben Van Den Bogart
MOTOCROSS DES NATIONS: France
INTERNATIONAL SIX-DAY ENDURO: Team USA

Jim O’Neal.

OVER-70 WORLD VET CHAMPION: Jim O’Neal
OVER-60 WORLD VET CHAMPION: Pete DeGraaf
OVER-50 WORLD VET CHAMPION: Kurt Nicoll
OVER-40 WORLD VET CHAMPION: Daryl Hurley
OVER-30 WORLD VET CHAMPION: Mike Sleeter

Davi Millsaps.

450 CANADIAN NATIONALS: Davi Millsaps
250 CANADIAN NATIONALS: Cole Thompson
450 SPANISH NATIONALS: Jose Butron
250 SPANISH NATIONALS: Oriol Casas
450 RED BULL STRAIGHT RHYTHM: Marvin Musquin
250 RED BULL STRAIGHT RHYTHM: Shane McElrath
PARIS-LILLE SUPERCROSS: Marvin Musquin

Tommy Searle.

450 BRITISH NATIONALS: Tommy Searle
250 BRITISH NATIONALS: Adam Sterry
450 DUTCH NATIONALS: Evgeny Bobryshev
250 DUTCH  NATIONALS: Jeffrey Herlings
450 ALL-JAPAN NATIONALS: Akira Narita
250 ALL-JAPAN NATIONALS: Tomohiro Nitsuka

Dean Ferris.

450 AUSTRALIAN NATIONALS: Dean Ferris
250 AUSTRALIAN NATIONALS: Jed Beaton
450 AUSTRALIAN SUPERCROSS: Justin Brayton
250 AUSTRALIAN SUPERCROSS: Jackson Richardson
450 NEW ZEALAND NATIONALS: Cody Cooper
250 NEW ZEALAND NATIONALS: Hamish Harwood
450 NEW ZEALAND SUPERCROSS: Ben Townley

Jeremy Van Horebeek.

450 BELGIAN NATIONALS: Jeremy Van Horebeek
250 BELGIAN NATIONALS: Brent Van Doninck
450 ITALIAN NATIONALS: Jeremy Van Horebeek
250 ITALIAN NATIONALS: Michele Cervelli

Mike Alessi.

250 WORLD TWO-STROKE CHAMPION: Mike Alessi
125 WORLD TWO-STROKE CHAMPION: Ryan Surratt
WORCS CHAMPION: Robbie Bell
AMA ENDUROCROSS CHAMPION: Colton Haaker
WMX WOMEN’S CHAMPION: Kylie Fasnacht

Mike Kras.

ADAC GERMAN MX MASTERS: Dennis Ulrich
EMX 300 TWO-STROKE: Mike Kras
EMX 125 TWO-STROKE: Jago Geerts
EMX 250 FOUR-STROKE: Thomas Kjer Olsen

Arik Swan.

AMA LORETTA LYNN NATIONAL AMATEUR:
250A: Bradley Taft (Yam)
Open Pro Sport: Chase Sexton (Hon)
Over-25: Ricky Renner (KTM)
Over-30: Arik Swan (Kaw)
Over-40: James Povolny (KTM)
Over-50: John Grewe (Kaw)
125 Two-Stroke: Jake Swoll (Hus)
85cc: Ty Masterpool (Yam)
Women: Brandy Richards (Yam)

• 2017 MOTOCROSS SCHEDULES: WHERE TO BE & WHEN TO BE THERE

2017 AMA SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Jan. 7…………………………Anaheim, CA
Jan. 14………………………San Diego, CA
Jan. 21………………………Anaheim, CA
Jan. 28………………………Glendale, AZ
Feb. 4……………………….Oakland, CA
Feb. 11………………………Arlington, TX
Feb. 18………………………Minneapolis, MN
Feb. 25………………………Atlanta, GA
Mar. 4………………………Toronto, ON
Mar. 11………………………Daytona, FL
Mar. 18………………………Indianapolis, IN
Mar. 25………………………Detroit, MI
Apr. 1…………………………St. Louis, MO
Apr. 8………………………..Seattle, WA
Apr 22……………………….Salt Lake City, UT

2017 AMA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
May 20……………………Hangtown, CA
May 27.…………………..Glen Helen, CA
June 3..………………….Thunder Valley, CO
June 17..…………………Mt Morris, PA
June 24.………………….Muddy Creek, TN
July 1.…………………….Red Bud, MI
July 8..……………………Southwick, MA​
July 22.…………………..Millville, MN​
July 29.…………………..Washougal, WA
Aug. 12..………………….Unadilla, NY​
Aug. 19..………………….Budds Creek, MD​
Aug. 26.…………………..Crawfordsville, IN

2017 FIM MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Feb. 25…………………….Qatar (Saturday)
Mar. 5………………………Indonesia
Mar. 19…………………….Argentina
Apr. 2………………………Mexico
Apr. 16……………………..Italy
Apr. 23…………………….Holland
May 7………………………Latvia
May 21…………………….Germany
May 28…………………….France
June 11…………………….Russia
June 25……………………Italy
July 2……………………….Portugal
July 9……………………….San Marino (Cancelled)
July 23……………………..Czech Republic
Aug. 6……………………..Belgium
Aug. 13…………………….Switzerland
Aug. 20…………………….Sweden
Sept. 3………………………USA (Monday)
Sept. 10……………………Holland
Sept. 17…………………….France

2017 MOTOCROSS DES NATIONS
October 1…………………..Matterley Basin, Great Britain

2017 SMX RIDERS & MANUFACTURERS CUP
October 7………………….Gelsenkirchen, Germany

2017 AMSOIL ARENACROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Jan. 7-8…………………….Cincinnati, OH
Jan. 13-15…………………Grand Rapids, MI
Jan. 20-22…………………Baltimore, MD
Jan. 28-29…………………Nashville, TN.
Feb. 4-5…………………….Louisville, KY
Feb. 18-19…………………Kansas City, MO
Feb.y 25-26……………….Tampa, FL
Mar. 3-5…………………….Southaven, MS
Mar. 11-12…………………New Orleans, LA
Mar. 18-19…………………Portland, OR
Mar. 24-26…………………Reno, NV
April 1-2…………………….Sacramento, CA
April 21-23…………………Denver, CO
May 5-7…………………….Las Vegas, NV

2017 WORLD OFF ROAD CHAMPIONSHIP (WORCS)
Jan. 6-8…………………….Taft, CA
Jan. 27-29…………………Primm, NV
Feb. 17-19………………….TBA
Mar. 10-12…………………Lake Havasu, AZ
Apr. 1-2…………………….Las Vegas, NV
Apr. 21-23…………………Hurricane, UT
May. 19-21…………………Cedar City, UT
Jun. 9-11…………………..Adelanto, CA
Sept. 8-10…………………Glen Helen, CA
Oct 13-15…………………..TBA

2017 ITALIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Jan. 29…………..………..Riola Sardo.
Feb. 5………………………Malagrotta.
Feb.12………………..……Ottobiano

2017 MAXXIS BRITISH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Mar. 12……………………Culham
Apr. 9………………………Lyng
Apr. 30…………………….Canada Heights
May 14……………………Hawkstone Park
June 18……………………Desertmartin
July 16…………………….Blaxhall
July 30…………………….Preston Docks
Aug 27……………………..Foxhill

2017 BELGIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Mar. 12……………………Moerbeke-Waas
Mar. 26……………………Kruishoutem
Apr. 2……………………..Genk
Apr 10…………………….Mons
Apr. 18……………………Axel
Apr. 30……………………Wuustwezel
June 11…………………..Comines
June 18………………….Genk
July 22……………………Axel
July 23…………………..Hasselt
July 30…………………..Gooik
Aug. 15…………………..Balen
Aug. 20………………….Wachtebeke
Aug. 27………………….Orp le Grand

2017 CANADIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
June 4……………………Whispering Pines, BC
June 11………………….Blackwater, BC
June 18………………….Wild Rose, AB
June 25………………….Moto Valley, SK
July 9…………………….Gopher Dunes, ON
July 16…………………..Ulverton, QC
July 23…………………..Pleasant Valley, NS
July 30…………………..Riverglade, NB
Aug. 6…………………….Deschambault, QC
Aug. 13………………….RJ Motosport, ON

2017 DUTCH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Mar. 26…………………..Oss
Apr. 9th…………………..Harfsen
May 14……………………Emmen
July15-16t………………..Lichtenvoorde

2017 ADAC GERMAN MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIP
Apr. 9……………………….Muhlberg
Apr. 30…………………….Jauer
May 14…………………….Molln
June 18……………………Bielstein
July 16…………………….Tensfeld
Aug. 27……………………Gaildorf
Sept. 24…………………..Holzgerlingen

2017 AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
April 1-2…………………..Wonthaggi, Victoria
April 23…………………..Appin, New South Wales
May 7……………………..Connondale, Queensland
May 21……………………Horsham, Victoria
May 28……………………Murray Bridge, South Australia
July 2……………………..Nowra, New South Wales
July 16……………………Shepparton, Victoria
July 30……………………Port Macquarie, New South Wales
Aug. 13…………………..Toowooba, Queensland
Aug. 19-20………………Coolum, Queensland

2017 AUSTRALIAN SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Sept. 9…………………..Queensland
Sept. 23…………………Queensland
Oct. 14…………………..TBA
Oct. 26…………………..South Australia
Nov. 4…………………….Victoria
Nov. 11-12……………..New South Wales

Photos: Daryl Ecklund, Brian Converse, Massimo Zanzani, Scott Malonee, Debbi Tamietti, Tom White, Dan Alamangos, John Basher, Yamaha, MXA, KTM, Husqvarna, Honda