NOT ONLY ARE THE STADIUM DOGS MADE OF CARDBOARD, BUT SO ARE THE FANS

Is this what hardcore motocross fans are going to be reduced to? At the opening games of the Chinese Professional Baseball League in Taiwan, no fans were allowed in the stands because of fears of the coronavirus. To solve this problem the Rakuten Monkeys used cardboard cut-outs and mannequins sporting face masks and Rakuten red shirts throughout the Taoyuan Baseball Stadium in an attempt to make it feel like people were watching the game.

According to USA Today, the Monkey’s general manager Justin Liu said, “We went with 500 robot mannequins to comply with the current CDC guideline.” Fans can purchase the cardboard cut-outs from the club to put their face on to make you feel like you are at the game.

YAMAHA INTRODUCES A TEMPORARY HOME DELIVERY INITIATIVE

Yamaha has launched an all-new “Deliver Your Ride” program that enables complete vehicle purchases without going to the dealership. The bike will be delivered directly to your front door. The new program includes ATVs, side-by-sides, motorcycles, and snowmobiles, and is available nationwide wherever dealers can legally and safely participate. The new “Deliver Your Ride” initiative is a temporary program and implementation is up to your local local Yamaha dealer. This is a voluntary program for dealers, but Yamaha is encouraging each dealer to determine the feasibility of implementing it. If you are interested in buying a new Yamaha, call your friendly local dealer.

WHAT DO MOTORCYCLE RACING FLAGS MEAN? FROM THE KURT CASELLI FOUNDATION

6D HELMETS SPRING 2020 SALE ON ALL MODELS

6D Helmets is offering discounts on all of their helmets, with free shipping, hassle-free returns and buy now pay later plans. This sale will run from now until May 31, 2020. Below is a sample of some of the offers—many of these helmets are available with the same designs, but in different colors combination.For more information go to www.6dhelmets.com

ATR-2 Core Orange/Blue — was $695.00, now $624.99 (also available in black/white and black/grey)

ATR-2 Core Black/Grey — was $695.00, now $624.99 (also available in orange/blue and red/black)

ATR-2 Core Red/Black — was $695.00, now $624.99 (also available in orange/blue and black/grey)

ATR-2 Patriot Red/White/Blue — was $695.00, now $524.99 (also available in matte black)

ATR-2 Sector — was $695.00, now $524.99 (also available in black/white, black/grey and orange/blue)

ATR-2 Shadow — was $695.00, now $524.99 (also available in black/white and yellow/black)

ATR-1 Switch Orange/Grey — was $495.00, now $424.99 (also available in white/grey and yellow/grey)

ATR-1 Point Gold — was $495.00, now $349.99

ATR-1 Flight Red/White/Blue — was $495.00, now $349.99 (also available in blue/white and red/white)

ATR-2Y Aero Youth— was $449.00, now $374.99

WE RIDE ZACH BELL’S 2018 WORLD TWO-STROKE CHAMPIONSHIP TC250 BIKE… BECAUSE WE LENT IT TO HIM

Back in 2018, in the days leading up to the MTA World Two-Stroke Champion Husqvarna asked MXA if we would sponsors Zach Bell on our 2018 Husqvarna TC250 two-stroke for the race. It was a big request because we were already committed to make bikes for all of our regular test riders for the annual two-stroke festival of speed, but we like Zach and Husky promised us that we wouldn’t have to do a thing to the bike.

They had arranged for Three Brothers Racing, STI Tires, IMS footpegs, MotoSeat, Supersprox, Galfer, FMF and AHM Factory Services to take care of modifying the bike to suit the diminutive Zach Bell. Plus, they would return it after the race in tip-top shape so that we could test the bike that won the race (they were confident).

Brian Medeiros pushing Zach Bell’s winning steed close to horizontal at REM.

We gave Zach our bike, and the rest is history. In the end, it worked out great for MXA because one of our test riders, Brian Medeiros just happens to be the exact same height and weight a Zach Bell. This is the raw video that we shot of Brian flying around the Glen Helen REM track. No music, no voiceover—just flat out two-stroke sound. Enjoy!

A happy Zach Bell with his 2018 World Two-Stroke trophy.

TAKE THE MXA 2020 READER SURVEY & HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN FREE THOR GEAR!

Please fill out the entire survey. Click here to start

Score free head-to-toe Thor gear now! Complete our reader survey we’ll take your input to help improve future web and monthly print content of Motocross Action. One lucky winner will be chosen at random to receive a free gear ensemble from Thor (style and/or color may vary). This year’s Thor (www.thormx.com) gear giveaway includes the following: Prime Pro jersey and pants, Sector Split with MIPS helmet, Radial boots, Sniper Pro goggles, and Agile gloves. That’s $750 worth of products, so don’t miss this opportunity to win all this stylish gear for free! Fill out the entire survey!

CLASSIC MOTOCROSS ADS: 1952 CLYMER DELUXE ALUMINUM HELMET

If you had $25 back in 1952 you would be one of the elite wearing a Clymer Crash helmet. It came with a smooth aluminum top, leather ear pieces and visor and a belt buckle style chin strap. It came in brown, but for $1 more they would paint it white.

MXA PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: RISK RACING’S ADJUSTABLE ATS STAND

Yamaha two-strokes hang their front wheels down when on a bike stand, as do KTMs and Husqvarnas, but Hondas sit on a stand with the rear wheel down. The only solution is to put an aftermarket wedge on the top of your stand to make the Yamaha, KTM. Husky and Honda level. No more! The Risk Racing ATS (Adjustable Top Stand) stand uses turn buckles to allow the angle of the top of the stand to be changed. Additionally, it has magnetic tool holder panels on the sides of the stand. The Risk ATC stand is made from powder-coated steel with an oil drain hole and non-slip rubber pad. The retail price is $139.95 at your local dealer.

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THE PERFECT BACKYARD BIKE: THE ELECTRIC OSET MX10

The OSET MX-10 is designed as the perfect bike for young motocross riders. It features a ground-up design with a powerful 48v OSET drive system (complete with 3-dial adjustability, powered by a 20ah lithium battery. The MX-10 features a custom upside-down fork built to OSET’s specifications and an adjustable oil shock at the rear. Hydraulic disc brakes with reach adjustable levers for small hands provide plenty of stopping power. With the dials are turned up, the acceleration is spectacular. With they are turned down, the MX-10 is very tame and ideal for first timers and rider from as young as 5.

The OSET MX10 will grow as the rider grows thanks to adjustable seat height. When lowering the bike, the geometry alters to provide more stability for raw beginners. The front forks, rear shock and brakes are all designed to suit the bike and young riders – they’re lightweight and adjustable because one size does not fit all. Current retail price is $2899. For more info go to www.osetbikes.com

FAMOUS CZECH JAWA BRAND IS NOW A FAMOUS INDIAN BRAND

The 2020 Jawa has a 293cc  displacement with a 76mm bore by 65mm stroke producing 27 horsepower from a single-cylinder engine with twin exhaust pipes.

Most Americans know about Jawa from their speedway bikes, the 350 California twin, their success in the ISDT and for the 1964-1966 Banana frame Jawa motocross bikes. The Czech company was started in 1929. Under communist rule after WWII, Jawa absorbed both ESO Motorycles and CZ under one umbrella company. But none of the three brands could stay competitive and faded from the American scene.

The six-speed Jawa engine is based on a previous Mahrindra-built design, but it has been updated. Don’t let the fins on the cylinder and head fool you, it is a water-cooled four-stroke.

Now, they are back and according to reports selling very well—although not with ISDT or motocross bikes, but instead with Indian-built, Mahindra-financed, retro-machines for the Indian domestic street market. A company named Classic Legends owns the rights to the Jawa and BSA names in India and with Mahindra’s help (especially in the engine department where the new Jawa engine is based on the old Mahindra Mojo engine).Jawa India hired a Milan, Italy, designhouse to work on the overall look of the 2020 Jawa. However, look below and you will see a 1962 Jawa Type 353 that bears a striking resemblance to the 57-year newer model.

Ampelio Macchi, a former Cagiva and Husqvarna engineer, who is the man behind the resurrection of the SWM brand, was hired to update the Mahindra engine to focus on reliability and midrange performance.

1962 Jawa Type 353 two-stroke.

Although Jawa India claims that a Milan Design house did the look of the bike, we think they just Xerox’ed a 1962 Jawa and went to lunch. We forgive them because it is marketed as a “retro classic.” The Jawa line is built in a former Honda factory in Pithampur that is now run by Mahindra. These bike will not be coming to America.

HAVE YOU SEEN THE MAY 2020 ISSUE OF MXA? IT’S BIG, IT’S BOLD, IT’S COLORFUL AND IT’S 16 INCHES WIDE

Aren’t you tired of looking at awesome motocross photography on the tiny little screen of an iPhone, while holding it at odd angles to figure out what you’re looking at.  Get the real deal and see those giant spread photos at 11-inches by 16-inches and live a little.

If you subscribe to MXA you can get the mag on your iPhone, iPad, Kindle or Android by going to the Apple Store, Amazon or Google Play or in a digital version. Even better you can subscribe to Motocross Action and get the awesome print edition delivered to your house by a uniformed employee of the U.S. Government. You can call (800) 767-0345 or Click Here (or on the box at the bottom of this page) to subscribe.

MXA PHOTO OF THE WEEK: ONE YEAR AGO JOHN GREGORY MADE A TREE TOP LANDING

One year ago, 79-Year-old John Gregory had engine troubles on his Piper Cub and was forced down into a precarious perch on the top of a tree. John, who was the founder of JT Racing, was uninjured, but he had to spend some time in the top of the tree waiting for help to arrive.

WHERE THE 2020 AMA SUPERCROSS SERIES STANDS NOW!

The first 10 races of the 2020 AMA Supercross series will count, but the following seven were canceled. The Supercross promoters have a tentative plan to complete the missing 7 races at one stadium over a three-week period, but even that is in doubt.

REVISED 2020 AMA SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Jan. 4…Anaheim, CA (Held)
Jan. 11…St. Louis, MO (Held)
Jan. 18 …Anaheim, CA (Held)
Jan. 25…Glendale, AZ (Held)
Feb. 1…Oakland, CA (Held)
Feb. 8…San Diego, CA (Held)
Feb. 15…Tampa, FL (Held)
Feb. 22… Arlington, TX (Held)
Feb. 29… Atlanta, GA (Held)
Mar. 7…Daytona Beach, FL (Held)
(The plan is to replaced the canceled Indianapolis, Detroit, Seattle,  Denver,  Foxborough, Las Vegas and Salt Lake City rounds by holding seven hurry-up races at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The races were planned to be held on Friday and Monday nights as Made-for-TV events with no spectators allowed in the stadium. Originally scheduled to start on May 15, the latest word is that the promoters are backing the starting date up by two weeks. However, it is conceivable that even that might not be possible given the unpredictability of the coronavirus. If they did start late in late May the first two rounds of the AMA National Motocross Championships could be in jeopardy. If the Supercross series can not be finished in late May and early June, then they could fall back to September and try again.

WILL THE 2020 AMA NATIONALS HOLD RACES WITHOUT SPECTATORS?

The AMA Nationals need stand-room-only crowds for the tracks to get their money back. No spectators would mean no AMA Nationals.

The answer is no! MX Sports is the body of record for the outdoor Nationals. They collect a series of fees from each track that can adds up to a very hefty tariff that the race track must pay. Plus, the promoter has to pay the $70,000 purse money. When you add up all the fees, purse money, cost of security, personnel, equipment rental and diesel fuel, it is hard to even break even on a nice sunny day. A rainy day can wipe out any profit. The race tracks only source of money is from ticket sales and small sponsors (that don’t conflict with MXSports’ sponsors). MX Sports has the rights to all the big sponsors and bring their own T-shirt concessionaire. Thus, without spectators, the race tracks could not afford to host a National. And without the race tracks, MX Sports would not be able to fulfill the promises they made to series sponsors.

MXA TEAM TESTED: SPROCKET STUFF COUNTERSHAFT SPROCKET TOOL

Sprocket Stuff makes a very special tool that allows you to easily remove your bike’s countershaft sprocket without having to stand on the rear brake or shove rags into the engine cases. It fits on 13- 14- and 15-tooth sprockets. All you have to do is move the pins that slip into the grooves between the sprocket teeth.

How to use the tool: In step one, you have to remove the chain. Why? Because the pins of the Sprocket Stuff tool have to fit into the teeth of the countershaft sprocket, and they can’t do this if the chain is on the sprocket. At the KTM race shop, they often work on engines that are out of the frame, and the Sprocket Stuff tool is the best way to remove a countershaft on the workbench.

Step two is to bend the locking tab away from the countershaft nut. Step three is to slip the Sprocket Stuff countershaft sprocket tool onto the sprocket with the two elongated arms positioned above and below the swingarm pivot. The arms lessen side load on the countershaft bearing.

The final step is to put the proper size socket on the nut and turn it with a ratchet or breaker bar. Sprocket Stuff does not recommend using an air impact wrench for this job. To install a new countershaft sprocket, you simply reverse the direction of your motion. You can hand-crank it into place or, if you are smart, use a torque wrench to set it at the proper torque setting (found in your owner’s manual).  Of course, there are other homegrown ways to remove and install a countershaft sprocket that don’t require a $20 tool, but most mechanics are tool junkies, and if a tool exists to do a job, they want it.

DIGITS:  $19.99—Click Here.

MXA RATING: If you don’t work on engines, this is a tool that will mystify you, but for anyone who has struggled to split cases or get a frozen countershaft sprocket off, the Sprocket Stuff’s countershaft tool is a must-have. We use this tool.

SPROCKET STUFF COUNTERSHAFT TOOL VIDEO

REVISED & UPDATED 2020 WORCS OFF-ROAD SCHEDULE