MXA WEEKEND NEWS ROUND-UP: SEE IT, LIVE IT, BE IT

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ANAHEIM 1 TRACK MAP & SEATING CHART: JANUARY 9, 2016
round 1 anaheim_1 a1seating

ULTIMATE MINI-THUMPER: BBR’S YAMAHA TTR-150 FACTORY EDITION

Hand-made frame, one-off plastic & BBR expertise. For more info go to www.bbrmotorsports.com

ASK THE MXPERTS: HELP! I KEEP BREAKING KTM FOOTPEG SPRINGS

450SXF_FE_PEGSOn the 2016 models (including the 2015-1/2 Factory Editions), the footpeg springs mount differently from the 2015 and previous models. This info applies to 2016 Husqvarnas also.

Dear MXperts,
    I just got a brand new KTM 350SXF motocross bike and I have broken two footpegs springs (and one of those was the replacement one). Is there something wrong with the metallurgy on the springs. My dealer was great and gave me new footpegs springs for free. What is the cure?

We hate to say this, because your local KTM dealer has been good to you, but your dealer is most likely the source of your problem. Starting with the 2015-1/2 Factory Editions (and continuing through all 2016 Husky and KTM models) the footpeg springs are installed differently than they were on all previous KTM models. Obviously KTM’s inhouse Service Department has not made this change clear to every dealer (or the mechanic in the back of the shop is just using the old method by rote). No matter how it happens, your dealer is still installing the footpegs the old way. If a KTM dealer does this, the spring will be trapped between the footpeg and the footpeg bracket—and will cause a stress fracture on the spring and snap it in half. It will also make your footpegs angle up significantly.

Below are photos of what the footpeg springs look like when installed incorrectly and correctly.

MXPERTFOOTPEG1Wrong! This what the footpeg spring looks like when it is installed incorrectly on a 2016 KTM or Husky. Note how the top of the spring is trapped between the footpeg and the frame.

ASKMXPERTFOOTPEG2Right! This is how the 2016 KTM footpeg spring should be installed. The tang of the spring goes up into the web recess of the frame.

We recommend that every 2016 KTM and Husky owner pull the black plastic frame guard off their bikes (you can get it far enough out of the way without cutting the zip-tie) and take a quick look at their footpeg springs (on both sides of the bike). If it looks like the photo above (the one above the correct photo), pull the footpeg pivot bolt and reinstall the spring properly (liek the photo directly above). Don’t assume that just because your footpegs are still spring loaded that your springs are okay. It may just mean that they haven’t broken yet. We checked a bunch of KTM footpegs at Glen Helen and a large number of them were wrong.

WHERE TO BE, WHEN TO BE THERE & WHAT TO WEAR

ghHangover
2016 REM MOTOCROSS
Jan. 2…………………………….Glen Helen
Jan. 9…………………………….(off for A1)
Jan. 16……………………………Glen Helen
Jan. 23…………………………..Glen Helen
Jan. 30…………………………..Glen Helen

2016 HANGOVER-AND-A-HALF GP
Jan. 3……………………………Glen Helen

2016 AMA SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Jan. 9……………………………Anaheim, CA
Jan. 16………………………….San Diego, CA
Jan. 23………………………….Anaheim, CA
Jan. 30……………………….….Oakland, CA

2016 KTM JUNIOR SUPERCROSS CHALLENGE
Jan. 16……………………………San Diego, CA
Jan. 23…………………………..Anaheim, CA

2016 AMSOIL ARENACROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Jan. 9-10………………………..Cincinnati,OH
Jan. 15-17……………………….Baltimore, MD
Jan. 22-24………………………Allentown, PA
Jan. 30-31………………………Greensboro, NC

2016 ITALIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Jan. 31……………………………Alghero

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BIRTHDAYS OF THE STARS: THE WHEELIE KING WOULD HAVE BEEN 60

DOUGDomokos
Dec. 31…Doug Domokos 1955


Dec. 31…David Bailey 1961


Dec. 31…Romain Febvre 1991


Jan. 1……Larry Brooks 1967
Jan. 2……Ron Hinson 1972
Jan. 2……James Dobb 1972

DAKAR RALLY STARTS ON JANUARY 3 IN ARGENTINA

DAKARARALLY2016
2106 DAKAR RALLY SCHEDULE
Jan. 1: Administrative and technical checks
Jan. 2: Buenos Aires prologue
Jan. 3: Buenos Aires to Villa Carlos Paz
Jan. 4: Villa Carlos Paz to Termas de Río Hondo
Jan. 5: Termas de Río Hondo to Jujuy
Jan. 6: Jujuy to Jujuy
Jan. 7: Jujuy to Uyuni
Jan. 8: Uyuni to Uyuni
Jan. 9: Uyuni to Salta
Jan. 10: Rest day in Salta
Jan. 11: Salta to Belén
Jan. 12: Belén to Belén
Jan. 13: Belén to La Rioja
Jan. 14: La Rioja to San Juan
Jan. 15: San Juan to Villa Carlos Paz
Jan. 16: Villa Carlos Paz to Rosario

MXA PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: POWERLIFT ELECTRIC BIKE STAND

POWERLIFTDOWNWhen in the down position, your bike can roll over it without having to lift it up. POWERLIFTUP

With just a press of the foot-operated button, the Power Lift lifts your bike up off the ground.

We’re not sure the world has been waiting for an electric bike stand, but every rider with a bad back, rotator cuff iseues or rising intelligence knows that lifting 240-pound chunks of metal is not on the “want-to-do” list for anyone but a masochist. The Systems Power Lift stand is a battery-powered stand that lifts your bike off the ground without any of the groaning and moaning you normally make. It will lift your bike 100 times before it needs recharging. The retail price is $359.95 at www.powerliftsystem.com.

THE FIRST PRODUCTION REDSHIFT ELECTRIC BIKE ROLLS DOWN THE LINE

REDSHIFTALTAELECTRICThe $15,000 Redshift electric motocross bike.

San Francisco-based Alta Motors delivered their first Alta Redshift motorcycle to BMW Motorcycles of San Francisco, where it was purchased by customers Eric Gauthier and Jeannine Smith, who own Suspension Performance in Scotts Valley, California. Suspension Performance is a Lotus Automobile performance company. Alta Motors, the parent company of the Redshift electric bike brand, was previously known as BRD. The all-electric Redshift MX retails for $14,995. According to Alta Motors CEO Marc Fenigstein, “We’ve been quietly driving towards this moment for over 8 years in pursuit of creating the best motorcycles money can buy. The result is a machine with a whole suite of new technologies, and a very different motorcycle than anything that has come before.” MXA ran it’s first story about the Redshift electric bike back in March of 2012 when the bike was first shown at the Indianapolis Dealer Show.

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THE 2015 BATTLE FOR NUMBER ONE AT GLEN HELEN IS OVER

jonorther1Jon Ortner (10) is now a three-time Champion.

At Glen Helen’s weekly REM races, points are kept on every rider in every class at every race. After the 40-race series is over the points are tallied and the rider with the most points is declared the number one rider at Glen Helen for 2015. REM has been keeping points since 1989 and the list of number one riders reads like a history of SoCal racing and includes nine-time World Vet Champion Alan Olson (1995-1997), MXA’s George Kohler (1994-1996-2003), MXA’s Jody Weisel (1998), Team Honda rider Rich Eierstedt (2000), Swedish racer Bengt Johansson (2002), the late Dennis Boulware (1999-2008-2009-2010), MXA’s Billy Musgrave (2004), Speedway racer Randy Skinner (2001-2012) and Former AMA Pro Jon Ortner (2013-2014-2015).

ralfschmidt2Dutch racer Ralf Schmidt was second in Glen Helen points.

This season, Jon Ortner won his third straight REM number one plate by a 50-point margin over Dutch racer Ralf Schmidt, but the racing was tight farther back in the top ten as the difference between 9th and 5th was determined by approximately 2 points per spot (with only 10 points separating 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th places). Two points is one place in one moto over 40 races, 80 starts and 12 months of racing. The points chase starts again on January 2, 2016—but REM says that they will be moving riders up, reconfiguring the classes, adding an Over-65 Expert class and recalibrating the points system for 2016.
randolph3Zach Randolph earned the third most points at Glen Helen in 2015.

2015 REM GLEN HELEN FINAL POINTS STANDING
(After 40 of 40 races)

1. Jon Ortner……………706
2. Ralf Schmidt………..656
3. Zack Randolph……..627
4. Daniel D’Agostino…620
5. Mike Hillion………….576
6. Val Tamietti………….574
7. Phil Dowell……………572
8. David Cincotta………568
9. Lonnie Paschal………566
10. Robert Pocius………532

THE 2016 BATTLE FOR NUMBER ONE AT GLEN HELEN STARTS ON SATURDAY, JAN. 2

REMRETURNS1216Race one is on Saturday, January 2, 2016. For more info on the 2016 REM race season go to www.remsatmx.com

WHAT THE MXA WRECKING CREW HAS BEEN UP OVER THE HOLIDAYS

YZ450FDUBYA2016It’s no secret that the MXA wrecking crew is all about bikes. We test more motocross bikes than anyone on the planet and this month we have our plate full. We will be started with the Dubya USA Yamaha YZ450F on Christmas Eve. It features every trick in the Dubya USA catalog. This is just one of three YZ450F projects that we are working on this month.

YZ450FXuptoIt looks like a YZ450F, but is it? Yes and no. It is a Yamaha YZ450FX. The “FX” means that this YZ450F has electric starting, mellower mapping, an 18-inch rear wheel, kickstand and a wide-ratio gearbox.

450SX-FFactoryedWe expect our 2016-1/2 KTM Factory Editions to be here next week. The production version will trail behind us by a month.

TM144MXThe next two-stroke on MXA’s agenda, now that we have checked the 2016 Service Honda CR500AF off our list for the upcoming February issues, is the 2016 TM 144MX two-stroke.

dicksfc450Husqvarna has been making great strides towards total public acceptance, but that won’t happen until WP gets right with the world. Until then, the MXA wrecking crew is testing a Dick’s Racing Husky FC450 with MX1 suspension. Dick Wilk has been a Husky/Husaberg/KTM maestro since long before they became the flavor of the day.

YZ450F20THINGSIgnore the glitz of the Decal Works graphics because MXA’s 2016 Yamaha TTZ450F is more of a rolling laboratory of YZ450F science than a show bike. Virtually every part on it has been massaged to improve the handling—from its threaded-rod subframe to its lowered radiators to its longer link to its narrower plastic to its moved forward engine to its borrowed JGR parts, this is MXA’s handling project for 2016.

TM450fi-mxuptoMXA has been making progress on our test of the 2016 TM 450FI-MX. However, we have sent the shock off to MX1 Suspension to revalve it. They are the only suspension company that we trust to have experience with the TM-built shock. www.mx1suspension.com.

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MXA’S MOST WATCHED VIDEO OF ALL TIME: DEAN WILSON’S HELI SHOOT (670,000 VIEWS)

MXA’S MOST WATCHED VIDEO OF 2015: SEAN COLLIER’S KX500 VS. KX450F (471,000 VIEWS)

MXA’S MOST WATCHED VIDEO OF THE PAST WEEK: SERVICE HONDA CR500AF (72,000 VIEWS)

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE TO MXA AND MAKE MONEY

MX JAN2016webIf you had subscribed to MXA, the January 2016 issue would be sitting in the throne room right now. It’s chock full of good stuff — including the only 2016 450 shootout worth reading.  Plus, subscribers get a $25 Rocky Mountain gift card that pays for their $15.99 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/ 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 for only $15.99 you get 12 issues 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: http://hi-torque.com/product/subscribe-to-motocross-action-magazine/

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ALL THE BIG RACES OF 2016: MAKE PLANS NOW

SXSCHED20162016 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

lucasnationalmotocross
2016 AMA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

May 21……………………Hangtown, CA
May 28.…………………..Glen Helen, CA
June 4..…………………..Thunder Valley, CO
June 18..…………………Mt Morris, PA
June 25.………………….Muddy Creek, TN
July 2.…………………….Red Bud, MI
July 9..……………………Southwick, MA​
July 16.…………………..Millville, MN​
July 23.…………………..Washougal, WA
Aug. 13..………………….Unadilla, NY​
Aug. 20..………………….Budds Creek, MD​
Aug. 27.…………………..Crawfordsville, IN​

usgplogo500
2016 FIM MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Feb. 27……………………..Losail, Qatar (Saturday)
Mar. 06……………………..Suphan Buri, Thailand
Mar. 13……………………..Sepang, Malaysia (canceled)
Mar. 28……………………..Valkenswaard, Holland (Monday)
April 10……………………..Neuquen, Argentina
April 17……………………..Leon, Mexico
May 1……………………….Kegums, Latvia
May 8……………………….Teutschenthal, Germany
May 15……………………..Pietramurata, Italy
May 29……………………..Talavera de la Reina, Spain
June 5………………………St Jean d’Angely, France
June 19…………………….Matterly Basin, Great Britain
June 26…………………….Mantova, Italy
July 24………………………Loket, Czech Republic
July 31………………………Lommel, Belgium
Aug. 7……………………….Frauenfeld, Switzerland
Aug. 28……………………..Assen, Holland
Sept. 3………………………Charlotte, USA (Saturday)
Sept.11……………………..Glen Helen, USA

2016Arenacrosslogo
2016 AMSOIL ARENACROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Jan. 9-10………………….Cincinnati,OH
Jan. 15-17………………..Baltimore, MD
Jan. 22-24………………..Allentown, PA
Jan. 30-31………………..Greensboro, NC
Feb. 4-7…………………..Colorado Springs, CO
Feb. 13-14………………..Omaha, NB
Feb. 20-21………………..Tampa, FL
Feb. 27-28………………..Birmingham, AL
Mar. 12-13………………..Lafayette, LA
April 2-3…………………..Ontario, CA
April 9-10…………………Salinas, CA
April 16-17………………..Tacoma, WA.
April 22-24………………..Nampa, ID
May 6-8…………………..Las Vegas, NV

EnduroCross-logo
2016 GEICO ENDUROCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP

Aug. 27……………………..Atlanta, GA
Sept. 3………………………Sioux Falls, SD
Sept. 10…………………….Salt Lake City, UT
Sept. 24…………………….Phoenix, AZ
Oct. 1………………………..Denver, CO
Oct. 22………………………Everett, WA
Nov. 5………………………..Boise, ID
Nov. 19………………………Ontario, CA

KTMjuniorSX
2016 KTM JUNIOR SUPERCROSS CHALLENGE

Jan. 16……………………..San Diego, CA
Jan. 23……………………..Anaheim II, CA
Feb. 6……………………….Phoenix, AZ
Feb. 20……………………..Dallas, TX
Feb. 27……………………. Atlanta, GA
Mar. 12…………………….Toronto, CAN
Mar. 19…………………….Detroit, MI
April 9………………………Indianapolis, IN
April 16…………………….St. Louis, MO
May 7……………………….Las Vegas, NV

CANADAMX
2016 CANADIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
June 5…………………..Kamloops, BC
June 12………………….Nanaimo, BC
June 19………………….Calgary, Alb
June 26………………….Regina, Sask
July 10…………………..Courtland, ON
July 17…………………..Ulverton, NS
July 24……………….….Pleasant Valley, NS
July 31…………………..Moncton, NB
Aug. 7……………………Deschambault, QC
Aug. 14………………….Barrie, ON

italy_poster
2016 ITALIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Jan. 31…………………….Alghero
Feb. 7………………………Lamezia Terme
Feb. 15…………………….Ottobiano

worldtwo500
MTA WORLD TWO-STROKE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Mar. 26……………………..Glen Helen, CA

VINTAGEmotorcycleDAYS
2016 AMA VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE DAYS
July 8-10…………………..Lexington, OH

AMA-Amateur-MX-Logo-2015
2016 AMA NATIONAL AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Aug. 1-6……………………..Loretta Lynn, TN

MXDNlogo
2016 MOTOCROSS DES NATIONS

Sept. 25………………………Maggiora, Italy

OCTOcross
2016 REM OCTOBERCROSS

Oct. 29……………………….Glen Helen, CA

2016worldvet
2016 DUBYA WORLD VET CHAMPIONSHIP

Nov. 5-6…………………….Glen Helen, CA

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DEBBI TAMIETTI’S PHOTO OF THE WEEK

IMG_4338The competition to shoot the best motocross photos often comes down to creativity, but not always with the camera, but often with where to shoot from. In his photo, Dan Alamangos has tucked himself into a crevice on the side of the track.

MXA PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: PRO CIRCUIT HI-COMP CRF450 & YZ450F PISTON KITS

CRF450pistonkitPro Circuit’s high-compression piston kit comes with rings, wrist pin and circlips.

Pro Circuit’s newest product is our high-compression piston kits for the 2013-16 Honda CRF450 and 2014-16 Yamaha YZ450F. Manufactured by JE Pistons to our exact specifications, Pro Circuit piston kits are CNC-machined from aircraft-quality aluminum alloy using the most advanced technologies available. The result is a significant gain in low-end torque and high-RPM performance. Pro Circuit High-Compression Pistons are designed for superior performance in either stock or modified engines. The retail price with coated wrist pin is $369.95 at www.procircuit.com.

GOOD NEWS! ZACH BELL RETURNS TO 6D

zachbell6D
Zach Bell’s career has been hampered by a series of concussions, so last year when he switched teams and signed a deal to leave 6D helmets we were worried. Wearing the 6D had helped Zach immensely when he was at Geico Honda, so it is good news to hear that Zach will be wearing a 6D again on his new 51Fifty Energy Drink Yamaha YZ250F in 2016.

$10,000 MTA WORLD TWO-STROKE CHAMPIONSHIP ON MARCH 26

MTATWO-STROKEFLIER2The 2016 MTA World Two-Stroke Championship will be held on March 26, 2016, at Glen Helen Raceway. It will have a $10,000 purse, classes for all skill levels and engine sizes. Entry is $40 for Amateur and Vet classes ($85 for the Pro class). There is no charge for transponders. For more info go to www.glenhelen.co

Photos: John Basher, Justyn Norek, Daryl Ecklund, Massimo Zanzani, Brian Catterson, Mechanix Wear, Alta Motors and MXA

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